Sewing Bee 2024 thread 2 - 5 down, 7 to go!

[SoupDragon]

The other thread was getting too slow (and we were running out of space faster than the thread on a bobbin)

Following along I love it and so does DH!

I out my mark on the reverse, then, for example, stick a pin through at the time I need it if it's for eg the corner of a pocket or then add a mark to the right side if it can be easily removed. I like the blue washable markers but sew an awful lot of blue or dark fabrics so they're not always ideal but I've never found the lack of actual tailor's tacks a problem except when they've been pulled out before I need them or I've decided to use them then managed to stitch right over them and can't cleanly remove them.

I do. It's the way I was taught at school in the 60s.

Thank you for the new thread @SoupDragon

I use tailor's tacks too. With notches and darts I find them easier to see and more precise.

i use a spoked wheel thing and sewing-carbon paper (i have different colours) that you layer between fabric and pattern/fabric and cutting board for things at the edges of fabric, sometimes also mark a complete dart like that. But i always use tailor tacks for pocket positions and ends of darts

@SoupDragon any chance of more details of the gadget? are they still available (i love gadgets, the more the better)

Thanks for the new thread

Mine is exactly this one. It's from at least the 70s!

thanks - i will scour the interwebz for one

They are a real bastard to thread I found. I guess it was always threaded when I wanted to use it at home!

I remember pushing it through the fabric into a foam seat pad which caught the lower thread when you pulled it back out again. I suspect I wasn't meant to be using the dining room chairs in that way!

Thank you for the new thread @SoupDragon

Not sewing bee related, but is it easy to remove the sleeves from a top to turn it into a sleeveless one?

In my head, it's simple. But I'm not sure!

Yous probably need to reshape the sleeve openings, and add facings of some sort. But definitely worth a go.

( Now why isn't this sort of task a thing on the Bee?)

Yes, I thought it would probably need at least facings. I think reshaping the opening is possibly beyond my skill set.

added complication is that it's satin and thus a slippery pain in the neck!

It would look far better sleeveless. Or I could return it.

Now why isn't this sort of task a thing on the Bee?

things like "reshape the neckline" were the original transformation challenges.

In a satiny fabric, there is a danger that the sleeve openings could stretch out pretty badly. Also, if it was cut for sleeves, there's a risk of the armhole being bigger, anyhow, leading to serious gape.

Plus there's a good chance I'd make a complete mess of it without all those potential issues 😂

Two sided tailor tacker. I had one about 50 years ago, no idea whether they're still available but it worked a treat.

whoops

I saw that image when I was googling them earlier - I think there were maybe some on Etsy or something.

This is what RRR week should be about. And the transformation challenge.

I'd do bias facings or just bias trim ager reshaping. The arm hole might be a bit low underarm if the sleeves were roomy.

Sleeves were roomy but they were roomy on top IYSWIM. Gathered round the very top.

Anyway, I saw sense and returned the jumpsuit today! Shame as it would have looked great without the sleeves. Just possibly not in my ability range (although I would have happily have tried it on something like a cheap Primark version!)

You could have used a bit of sleeve fabric to infill the sleeve opening under the arm
Too late...!

I'm not convinced it would actually have needed filling. It didn't seem roomy around the armpit. As it still had the tags on and was within the return window the sensible option was to take it back though.

I've moved onto making a pair of shorts for my holiday and thinking about a shift dress type cover up (both out of a duvet cover in true RRRecycle style 😂)

Evening all

Hello my lovelies.