Sewing Bee

[Davros]

Just saw a lovely trailer, it starts on 26th May. Can't wait

Just remember not to use the edge stitch foot -- that seemed to go wrong for all of them.

It did look as though it wouldn't be too hard if you had enough time to work slowly and carefully -- it was the time pressure that had all of them on the ropes a bit.

I reckon Charlotte is definitely on MN -- references perfect school run outfit: www.instagram.com/p/BHfEbdsh4Ey/

silverpussycat I'd love to knit beautiful beautiful things, I have made arm warmer things once but generally it's just scarves :( tried to make a baby hat and turned into a hat big enough for my DP :) well not quite that big but looking at it, scared the life out of me! That is firmly in my mums camp as she knits amazing things - am always jealous of her garments compared to mine that always seem to have holes

Funny about the Zips and the 1970's my nan was a tailor and taught my mum and regretted it in the late 1960's when she used to make a lot of modifications on her clothes :)

Back to the sewing bee :) some of those challenges if they had all the time they needed I have no doubt the results would have been very different! I do like them all, but still think it should have been Jade :) not budging but then who am I to argue really with the fabulous judges! I love Esmme :)

The universe has come together - zip, ribbon, fabric all arrived today and the a4 pattern has now been uploaded on the website. It's fate...

Is there a website with patterns on it then? I have spent a few hours sticking a pattern together and then tracing my size off it today because Dd will wear the same dress. What an ordeal! Look at the mess, I won't be using a new pattern for a while! PITA

They're all here in A0 and A4 size www.quadrille.co.uk/fromstitchtostyle

I've also now found a website which will print off A0 size stuff for 70p a page... www.printingandplotting.co.uk/ Minimum order £5 and £5 postage for folded pages, seems fairly reasonable tbh because it turns out the A4 size skirt pattern is 52 A4 pages too much cutting and sticking even for me

Wow, they appear to be free , or am I missing something.

The skirt was easy to trace, I just had to use two widths of my paper stuck together for the lower pieces. 50 sounds like too many tbh.

The dress I stuck together today was 50 pieces in total and that was a dress with an alternate bodice and two tops with alternate bodices incl 9 or 10 pages of instructions.

I would much rather buy a pattern.

Thanks for the links, I would love to get things printed, but most of the patterns I have bought in pdf are a4 I think, I have never seen a larger option before.

I have just checked .... I have some A0 patterns! Well, almost, as the sizing is US paper.

seamwork is Colette's monthly emag and for $6 a month you get to download two patterns, they come in a 33.5" version. I am definitely going to try your link.

The downloads are free, but the pattern instructions are in the book :o tbh though if you're a decent sewer I think you'd be able to busk it.

I think you could wing it too! I sort of feel cheated .

SoupDragon I haven't worn a skirt since school, and that was many many years ago - but I just have to make it as you say from a challenge point of view. I just bought some cheap suitable fabric £3 a metre.

I'm going to have to find someone to make it, aren't I? So, what fabric? (clueless)

Kittens I have perfect tension, but am a v slow knitter and have to look at what I'm doing. Haven't done any for some years time, but have a jumper awaiting the final bit - which begins with picking up 160 stitches IIRC after all this time.

Could it be made from a lighter fabric? How could the edge be dealt with to stop it fraying?

Although I am aiming slightly lower and making a kindle cover from this fabric in taupe for DD.

I don't think it would work with a lighter fabric. Joyce got the best result from something similar to neoprene.

Fraying aside, I thought it might work with something lighter if the yoke was stiffened.

I think it needs to be a sightly heavier fabric so that it hangs properly, I imagined a lightweight boiled wool type fabric but I'm talking the talk, I'm not walking the walk (I'm not making it!)

Something like this and they have some sort of Sewing Bee offer on!

I have cut it out in light/medium weight denim. Not sure how it will be yet though, it was just something I had.

I would like to make it a bit more casual than in the book I think if I can get it to work. I would like it in a baby floral needle cord I have got sitting here.

In a casual form I don't think that the fraying will matter. I did try a rolled over locked edge on the bit that was left after cutting out the yoke and it might be ok.

If I was going to get someone to make it for me, not a trial and error using up stuff I to see how it works , I would go for a boiled wool, like this.

In a casual form I don't think that the fraying will matter

That's a good point. Maybe a row of small zigzag near the edge to stop the fraying going so far that the seam came undone....

I'm just musing anyway as I have neither time, fabric or pattern!

I've bought scuba jersey from Fabricland, 2m was £13 delivered I think. Never sewn with it before, it's slightly odd but feels nice to handle.

In other news, Fabricland have a new, transactional website!

Does it still require the use of sunglasses?

remarkably not so much!

We knew Charlotte was our kind of person. She's just revealed that she misses Sewing Bee being on telly because she was enjoying Monkseal's blogs so much.
mobile.twitter.com/charlotte_sews/status/751330488493674496

God, you are making me feel very old, scuba jersey! I could imagine making some hold you in pants out of it but other than that I can't imagine it being for little old me.

The fabric land website looks all tasteful and professional... I'm sad :(

I've just read his blog for the final episode and it was hilarious!

"Were Charlotte and Joyce excited by the prospect of turning a dinner jacket into a Little Black Dress?
No, not really. The inspiration for this round quickly became clear – apparently Esme Young is a Little Black Dress fanatic. In fact, she once got a Little Black Dress into the permanent collection at the V & A.
Then a security guard came and bundled them both outside and that was the end of that. "