The Sewing Place

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Topics - Vezelay

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16
Sewing Spaces and Furniture / Organising feet, rulers and needles.
« on: February 06, 2022, 11:38:51 AM »
I don't know why I didn't do this years ago - it would have saved a lot of grief hunting for feet in drawers (and down the back of cabinets), as well as remembering which foot did what. The larger foot box came from Powerfix via DH. Labels are from my gem of a Brother M95 mini printer.

I posted the needle holder when it first arrived, but just updating because it's been a very useful buy. I put a red marker in the compartment of the needle that's currently on my sewing machine so I always know what type and size - since I seem incapable of remembering -<.
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And an obvious one: now rulers are no longer cluttering shelves - maybe need just one more wall screw for the French curve.
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The Haberdashery / Origami bias tape
« on: January 30, 2022, 19:47:12 PM »
I haven't often had call to make my own woven bias tape, and the few times that I did all that geometric cutting and joining ends at odd angles put me off repeating the exercise. But I remembered seeing a way of avoiding the faff and decided to track it down. Now for all I know, everyone here except me might already use this method, but in case there are one or two of you who don't and would find it useful...

So I've just made 94 inches of continuous 2" bias tape (1/2" when folded) from a 14 1/2" fabric square, with just two 10" seams. I then used my cheapo Ebay bias tape maker set to fold it.  All very quick and easy. From a FQ I could make nearly 5m of tape.

Here's the method: https://makeit-loveit.com/make-continouos-strip-bias-tape-binding. It works too :). I've seen a variation on YT so maybe there are a few out there.

18
Access All Accessories / Vezelay's crafty makes
« on: January 29, 2022, 16:25:47 PM »
In this thread I plan to record my various non-garment stuff - but I'll continue posting any clothes I sew in In the Wardrobe (there is a reason). This section seems like the right place to do that.

These are mostly small, fun, easy makes that I do between my main projects. I tend to use patterns, often free or low cost, or tutorials for these rather than inspired guesswork so I'll post links to the sources. I use whatever fabric I have around, could be FQs, scraps or recycled - I've loads of each. And I like the result to be useful. I might also post about some of my favourite past crafty makes, we'll see ;).

First off is this hanging wall organiser. The idea came from Damjana at Applegreen Cottage but she used recycled place mats. I found another from Debbie Shore on Youtube using cotton fabric and fusible foam stabiliser - I've plenty of Bosal. No snap hooks though. Blue decor fabric was once my MIL's curtain's, also used for my overlocker cover.

I like my crafty makes to be useful but the jury's out on this. Maybe it'll find its niche when I (or he) get round to drilling hook holes in the sewing room wall so I can position it near my machines.

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19
Anyone looking for a small quick and easy project might find something of interest here. My sewing room really could do with a hanging wall organiser and a desk tidy.


20
Access All Accessories / What did I buy these for?
« on: January 14, 2022, 18:24:09 PM »
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I knew my efforts to re-organise my sewing room would cause trouble. I keep finding items I bought a while ago and never used - some of which, like this one, I've no idea what they are or what I had in mind when I bought them. It must be something bag or craft related, but what? Each is about 3mm x 4mm and it's a pack of 60 in 3 different colours.

Google Lens thinks they're a "nock set" useful for archery so that's no help, name doesn't ring a bell either.

Any ideas?

21
In the wardrobe / Stash buster self-drafted gilet
« on: January 10, 2022, 00:01:35 AM »
Two Christmases ago I made neck warmers for gifts, and the leftover polar fleece in several colours has been taking up sewing room space ever since. So I went out of my comfort zone and semi-cloned an old M&S gilet that's seen better days.

It has princess seams, in-seam pockets and a decent size collar - lots of fiddling about with the pattern, adjusting the fit, improvising, but in the end I got pretty much what I wanted. Best of all it's a better fit than the Simplicity pattern I used before, and and even than the M&S gilet. The inside is not a thing of beauty but only I will see that. Lining fabric inside pocket and grey sweatshirt fleece inside collar are from my scraps box (sorry, one of several scraps boxes :embarrassed:) and grey zip is from stash. It's only a simple vest, not exactly rocket science, but at least I stretched myself.

The pants are an Elle/Vogue mash-up in purple ponte - think I posted those a while back.
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22
Overlockers & Coverstitchers / Janome or Babylock? Hmmm
« on: January 01, 2022, 17:46:50 PM »
After seeing @datcat23's new Janome AirThread 2000 I suddenly realised  :) I need a new overlocker to replace my old Brother 1034D. The Janome looked perfect until I saw someone in another forum got a Babylock Victory for Christmas. Just wondering does anyone have any comparative thoughts about these two machines?

It looks as if they're both in stock from lovely John in Waterford and I'll be talking to him before I buy. The Babylock is €300 more but since I've spent so little since the pandemic started I'm fine with that. There's nothing actually wrong with my Brother - it's a basic machine that's never let me down, and was recently serviced and it can go in part exchange.

I use my overlocker more than my sewing machine, in every garment and most bags. Mostly just 3 or 4 threads. But I like to colour coordinate with my fabric and changing threads can be a pain. I'm trying to justify the purchase now, you realise?

Any thoughts or experience of either machine please?

23
In the wardrobe / Kwik Sew 3658
« on: December 29, 2021, 17:29:55 PM »
Proof that if I just stop procrastinating and make snap decisions I might actually use up some of my fabric and pattern stashes  :).  Here is Kwik Sew 3658 in dark navy cotton/lycra.
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I'm not totally smitten with this pattern - there's some extra fabric round the high bust which may be related to the full facing or to my random shoulder narrowing technique. Others have said it could use a few darts which I agree with.  But it's comfortable, looks fine and the collar and facing make it cosy. I raised the V neckline a full 2" btw, and I wouldn't want it much lower even for a summer top.

It's not a conventional construction - someone either here or on PR described it as origami - but it's not difficult either. Would I recommend it? Probably for someone with a larger frame than mine. Make it again? The jury's out - never say never.

But at least Ive added one more garment to my 2021 tally. Now to think about another... :thinking:

24
In the wardrobe / Not much to show for 2021
« on: December 26, 2021, 20:50:57 PM »
Just done an end of year reckoning and bar a few masks and a couple of alterations I can find only a paltry seven things I've sewn in 2021. :embarrassed:
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On the plus side they all get regular wear bar the bum bag - I prefer my ancient battered model. But six garments and a small bag really isn't much to show for a year of semi-lockdown! The jeans are another Eleanore/Elle mash up, sweatshirts are Grainline Linden, his (second) zip jacket is from Wardrobe by Me, and mine are both Jalie 2795. So only two original garment patterns here when I have dozens unused in my stash!

Except for the jeans I already posted these, so I'm only trying to embarrass myself into action here. I wonder if I got cracking could I maybe make a vest and a top - well anything really - before this year ends? We shall see...or not. :)

25
In the wardrobe / Another Jalie 2795 zip jacket
« on: November 11, 2021, 12:53:04 PM »
I don't need any more clothes but my fabric and pattern stashes are an embarrassment so I needed to sew! Had this French terry for at least 4 years so made another Jalie 2795. I really like Jalie patterns - they're reliable and run true to size. This one has 27 pieces to sew and lots of top-stitching so it's not a quick sew but I'm happy with the final garment. It looks good on the dress form anyway :). I don't wear patterned clothes that much but hopefully I'll wear this with jeans and tees.

The inside collar is the same brushed cotton jersey as the sweatshirt I'm wearing here but with the brushed side out. I used a metal zip i had for a change, think it works with this fabric.

Alarmingly while overlocking a seam I carelessly sliced into the back piece!! This meant unpicking the raglan sleeves from the back, recutting the back and two side pieces and resewing all that. I had barely enough fabric left so was lucky to get away with it. Lesson learned.

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The Haberdashery / Love vario pliers - tool advice please
« on: May 17, 2021, 15:58:51 PM »
I still don't understand why when I bought this Love Vario pliers a couple of years ago (after some serious enabling on the forum :[) it included no tools of any practical use! I already have Kam snap pliers so the Love Vario have never even been used.

So I want to buy the tool set for applying 8/9mm - and preferably also 6mm - double cap rivets. That's all I need really. I wonder can anyone show me a picture of exactly which tools I would need? A picture would be great.

I have the rivets but the hand tools in the set are useless and I'd rather not spend £50 on a rivet press unless I have to.


27
In the wardrobe / Grainline Linden sweatshirt
« on: May 06, 2021, 18:38:06 PM »
I've had this pattern and fabric in my stash for years so it's about time they were put to some use. Its a bit jazzy for me but it's a lovely quality fine French Terry from Girl Charlee (when they had a UK outlet) and having worn it during an outdoors chat today it's grown on me.

This pattern has been around a long time and is dead easy and a fast sew. Made a straight size 4, no alterations except for shortening the sleeves 2", and the fit is exactly as I'd hoped.

I love the comfort and practicality of wearing sweatshirts, so going to make a couple more of these now. It's not summer here yet!

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In the wardrobe / Wardrobe By Me Men's Fleece Jacket
« on: April 10, 2021, 18:25:14 PM »
Just finished second of these for himself - it has invisible zip pockets, side pieces, a three piece sleeve - which I decided to topstitch - and a slightly shaped back hemline . Despite the name, fleece is only one of the fabric options. I used a cotton/lycra interlock which wasn't as easy to work with as the French terry I made the first one from, so lots of Wonder tape required. It fits well and the fabric is lovely and soft, and exactly the colour I hoped so we're both pleased. And he actually wears it :)

Of course now he wants another!

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In the wardrobe / Jalie 2795
« on: March 29, 2021, 10:38:01 AM »
Just completed this 25 piece Jalie 2795 zip cardi in French terry print and cotton lycra plain, colour blocked. I took my inspiration from this great example and the fabrics are from my all too static stash.

I reduced collar length by an inch, similarly the bodice length, also 2" off the sleeves which are still quite long. No other changes as it's a great fit, thanks Jalie. Can't wait to make another one now. It's just a pity that - as Hawk-eye aka DH pointed out - my birds would appear to be mostly flying upside down!! Duh :S - at 2 metres hopefully no one will notice  :rolleyes:.

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30
Technical Help / How do I shorten three piece sleeves?
« on: March 20, 2021, 12:58:29 PM »
This is the jacket: https://jalie.com/products/zip-front-jacket-and-hoodie?currency=eur. And here's the sleeve pattern layout - as you can see it's actually four pieces, and will be colour blocked (the two underarm pieces different) so I can't just substitute another sleeve. And there's a cuff which I'll be shortening too.

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I need to shorten somehow by a good 2" but if I take a line straight across the outer pieces will end up wonky. Just wondering is there a formula for this, a correct method, or do I just wing it?



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