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Topics - b15erk

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166
Patterns Discussion / Another Vivienne Dress
« on: April 30, 2018, 09:58:35 AM »
This is Lilya's birthday dress.  I've made this a lot for her because I know it fits her beautifully, and she loves the twirly circle skirt.

It needs hemming, this means taking the lining up too, hence the zipper lining hasn't been sewn down yet.

I love sewing this Marina Brumpton dress, I just change the fabric and it has a different look.

Jessie

167
Technical Help / Simplicity 4043
« on: April 25, 2018, 16:16:16 PM »
Not really a pattern question, but no idea where else to put this.

I'm making a mermaid.  It's all very straightforward really, but, there are several elements of the pattern which need added bling and there is a pattern template to show how to arrange this on the bodice, and the fin.  The bodice wasn't a problem, I just used tracing carbon, and an old pen, the fin now, is proving a bit more problematic.

Firstly, it's slightly padded, so the first tracing was invisible as I couldn't press hard enough on the pen. So I unpicked the padding and traced again on the wrong side ready to sew from the right side with the padding on....  you guessed, the padding fouled up the feed dogs.  I resorted to laying a sheet of paper down over the feed dogs before sewing.  Then the needle was plucking at the cheap satin fabric....  :'(

Does anyone have any tips please?  I'm driving myself daft - and this is only a practise!

Jessie

Jessie

168
Patterns Discussion / Free Pattern Reviews
« on: April 20, 2018, 09:16:21 AM »
When I buy a pattern, I can go to Pattern Review to see what other people make of the pattern I'm buying.  This makes it a bit easier to decide whether to proceed or not.

Now I use a lot of free patterns, usually sourced from the internet, and I also link to free patterns.  Some have been very poor, but others have been excellent.  It would be good to have a place to go to, to find out whether it's worth giving certain free patterns a go. 

Would anyone be interested in some form of review for free patterns? No idea how to go about it, but it would be useful to hear from people who have tried these patterns and either had a good result, or wasted time and money.

Jessie




169
Your Favourite Suppliers / Prym Snap Suppliers?
« on: April 17, 2018, 13:01:17 PM »
I've been finding lately, that I've fallen out of love with KamSnaps.  Nothing they've done you understand, but I think they limit me to use for just Children's wear, and I would like to use snaps for some of my own stuff.

I've tried the really cheap kits you get with sample snaps, and they are not really the quality I want, I also wanted Nickel Free if possible.  I found what I wanted on Ebay yesterday afternoon, and I've just received these snaps from a company called ProSewDarlington,  David Pegg - not sure which is the name of the company.

Prym Snaps

Delivery was excellent, and the pack was cheaper than any of the others I looked at, but I would like to buy in bigger quantities.  Problem is, I want larger quantities, and not sure that some of the companies out there would be selling genuine Prym snaps.  They say they are, but I've been taken in by them before, which is why I've bought in branded packs.

So, my question is, does anyone know where I can buy genuine Prym Snap fasteners, at a reasonable price - preferably Nickel Free?

Jessie


170
In the wardrobe / Weekend woes....
« on: April 16, 2018, 09:36:22 AM »
I had a few projects lined up for the weekend, and as OH has a bad leg he was unlikely to want to go out anywhere  ;), so, I set to.

I finished tracing off my Vogue pattern, and found some lovely fabric in the stash - a strange shaped remnant, but plenty of it, so I set to, to cut it out. 

Vogue 1387

I just had just enough fabric!  Until I realised that I'd missed the front band off..... :'(  This has now been put to one side waiting for me to calm down and think of a solution.

So, I cut out a nice romper pattern for Theo, Simplicity 1447. I bought this, because up to now, I've gone by the seat of my pants with the techniques and thought a 'proper' pattern would be a good idea.  Whilst I still like the pattern - only 5 pieces for the one I'm doing, I'm really unimpressed with the fact that the neck is bound with bias, and the opening is a zipper!  ><

Simplicity 1447

To add insult to injury, the collar is only on the front, and I've lost one of the pockets I made!  This last has driven me mad.  I've looked everywhere.  I could have made 6 other pockets in the time I've wasted looking for it....

I'm feeling very incompetent this morning, and even the arrival of the Mermaid fabric hasn't bucked me up.  :(

Jessie




171
The Show Must Go On / I'm making a Mermaid!
« on: April 14, 2018, 11:30:49 AM »
I've felt very under par since Christmas, so when I saw the pattern in the reduced box, I knew it would cheer me up.

The pattern is Simplicity 4043 0630 Mermaid

I've ordered the fabric, and just been out to buy 'extras', so it's looking promising.

I just need to finish Theo's Romper, then I can make a start.  I haven't made a Mermaid before, so this will be something different - the fabric is lovely, and when it arrives there will be pictures.

I've looked on Pattern Review and there don't seem to be any particular issues, but if you've made it and know something different, please let me know - it may save me some stress!

Copying the pattern today, and may toile it - just because I'm itching to go! :)

Jessie

172
Vintage Machines / Spoilt for choice
« on: February 21, 2018, 09:18:46 AM »
I decided that I would give my Pfaff1475 a bit of a break, as I do realise that she isn't getting any younger.  So, I moved over to the Bernina 730 Record.

I've always like this machine, but had a major niggle with the footpedal, and the jerky start at the beginning of seams sometimes.  I seem to have resolved that, and I can report that the Bernina is running beautifully - the embroidery stitches are a particular delight. I had run out of blue ricrac braid for the Dorothy blouse (for Lilya), and as it was just a try out, I decided to give the ricrac stitch a go.  It looks beautiful.  Pic below.

Then I moved on to the Singer 611g, which I haven't used for a while, and is mainly kept set up to do the most beautiful buttonholes.  So, after a bit of a clean, and a drop of oil, I put her through her paces.  She is lovely.  She makes a wonderful sound, very quiet, but quick.

I am very spoilt. 

Just the Featherweight, and the 15k, to bring up to speeed, and I have the most wonderful team of machines to play with at home.   :)

Jessie


173
Vintage Machines / Bernina 730 footpedal
« on: February 19, 2018, 09:32:29 AM »
I decided to give this old girl an outing at the weekend to give the poor old Pfaff a break. 

I now know why I don't use it more - the footpedal!  It's a great clumpy, brute of a thing, and hard to get the right pressure on the foot.  You need to press down pretty firmly, but if you press it slightly too hard in the wrong spot, it snatches at the fabric and runs away with it.  I decided that using it sideways on was giving me more control, but I was wondering if other people have the same problem with these old footpedals?  Is there anywhere to lubricate, or just make it lighter to press?

I also had a bit of an issue with the presser foot lifter not operating properly, but that seems to have been resolved by generous lubrication - by jove these old Bernina's have plenty of lubricating points!  :o

The old girl is running beautifully, but if I could sort out the foot pedal, I'm sure I would use her more often.

Jessie



174
Overlockers & Coverstitchers / Riccar RL624 Overlocker
« on: February 12, 2018, 15:57:34 PM »
I have had this machine from new, and a few months ago I broke the feed dogs while trying to replace the stuck blade.

The blade has been replaced, and the feed dogs (thank you Helen Howes), but the machine has been sitting there for some time now as I can't get a stitch out of it, and it's making a noise that it wasn't making before.

I'm going to have one last stab at it, before sending it to the tip.

Anyone worked on overlockers before?  Any tips?

Technical information on Youtube is very thin on the ground, and I can't get hold of a repair manual anywhere.

Jessie

175
I saw this & I thought you may be interested! / Stitch My Style
« on: February 06, 2018, 09:18:03 AM »
I stumbled across this on YouTube, and thought it may be of interest to those of you who like sewing videos.

She does remind me of Trudy from Hot Patterns, but can't seem to find out much about this sewer - not even her name!

Entertaining though.

Jessie

176
Technical Help / Repairing a cut
« on: February 01, 2018, 10:07:35 AM »
I've been asked to repair the dress DGD was wearing when she cut her leg.  The cut is just over 2" but not straight.

I would normally butt the edges of the fabric together, neatening any loose fibres, stabilise, and zig zag.

The dress is 100% cotton and quite a busy print, so should be easy enough, but I don't do many repairs, and it would be good to know if anyone has any better ideas?

I've attached a picture.

Jessie

177
I saw this & I thought you may be interested! / Rolls of fabric in St Helens
« on: January 25, 2018, 09:16:25 AM »
I popped in to the Willowbrook Charity Warehouse yesterday.  Not much to interest me - but, they have lots of end rolls of furnishing fabric.

The warehouse is in the old BT building facing Morrrisons in Sutton.  If anyone is interested I'll happily provide better directions.

Jessie

178
Technical Help / How do you attach a collar and stand?
« on: January 23, 2018, 10:12:52 AM »
I know there are several ways of doing this, but thought it worth asking the question as techniques do tend to evolve.

I'm tempted to try the one pass method where you press up the sa's on the collar stand and slip them over the neck edge.

Your thoughts please, will as always be much appreciated.

Jessie

179
In the wardrobe / It's time for plan B....
« on: January 23, 2018, 09:10:42 AM »
Well, it would be if I had one.  I'm feeling great sympathy with Lowena atm and wonder what I learnt in all the years I've been sewing.

From the beginning.  I need a frock for a Christening at the weekend, and decided on a shirtdress.  Made the toile with just a few small concerns which were mainly about sleeves.  I wore this toile on Sunday, and was very pleased with it.

The usual agony over fabric for the 'real' frock, but I went with the one which went best with my new shoes, and I was ggod to go.  All cut out, then decided to line the body, not a big problem.  Back pleat and little hangy thingy done, front pleats done, and on to the placket.  This went in beautifully, perfectly aligned and just ready to stitch the bottom down - when IT happened.  I went to fit the collar, and realised - I hadn't done the yoke!!

At that point, I restrained myself, but walked downstairs and had a rather large V&T.....

I really don't want to attempt to unpick the placket on this one just yet, I think it might just make things worse as I've already clipped into the corners.

So, I've chosen to start again with new fabric.  A bit more boring compared to the first one, but I can't face the unpicking, and don't have enough fabric to re-cut the front.

Wish me more luck with this second one, I think I'll need it....

Jessie  :'( :'( :'(


180
I saw this & I thought you may be interested! / Simplicity 8269
« on: January 22, 2018, 10:32:43 AM »
If anyone is interested, these are available on FB for £4.

Looks like a very versatile pattern, and my OH needs pyjama bottoms!

The lady is Peta Yates.  I think hope this is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fabricsellingpage/permalink/932914173542922/?comment_id=933317410169265&reply_comment_id=933346940166312

Jessie

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