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Topics - ClareInStitches

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1
Publications / The Fitting Book by Gina Renee Dunham?
« on: August 05, 2023, 17:55:06 PM »
Has anyone seen this book in person, please?

On the one hand I have a whole shelf of fitting books. On the other, I still struggle with fit and just maybe this would help. 

Anyone got any thoughts on this particular one?

Thanks.

2
Fun with Fabric / Open to interpretation
« on: November 14, 2022, 16:52:01 PM »
 :thinking: I do have very strange eyesight, but this print?

https://www.fabricgodmother.co.uk/margot-ecovero-crepe-emerald/

My brain interprets as, Alien women wearing weird bras or upside-down insects with blobby antennae.
I'm sure that someone will just love it.    :loveit:


3
There is currently a free exhibition at Guildford Cathedral running until 16th.October.  Details here:

https://www.visitsurrey.com/whats-on/jacqui-parkinsons-threads-through-creation-at-guildford-cathedral-p2069561

and on the Guildford Cathedral web site:

https://www.guildford-cathedral.org/events/art/threads-through-creation

A friend came across it completely by accident and said that the pieces are huge and spectacular.  HTH.

4
The Haberdashery / Sewing Velcro - any tips?
« on: September 19, 2022, 18:12:52 PM »
Hello Folks,  I want to sew some Velcro to a waistband. Do you have any tips on which size or type of Sewing machine needle or thread to use, please?  I seem to recall trying to sew some on a very long time ago ( in the dim and distant past) and the result was a complete mess of uneven stitches and loops of thread.
Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Thanks,

Clare

5
A Good Yarn / Invisible Jumpers
« on: May 29, 2022, 14:28:36 PM »
Apologies if this has been posted before. I am not a knitter, but found the work here to be wonderful and amazing. Enjoy!

https://www.auxx.me/camouflage-knitwear-sweaters-joseph-ford/?fbclid=IwAR3SyJgN40MwJecsGEBXNP1WOynXx-wT2OLf1MiP_weCEGdvudIlqDe4z-Q

6
Sewing Machines / How do I choose between Vintage machines?
« on: January 29, 2022, 16:40:18 PM »
I have a dilemma and should be grateful for your thoughts:  I already have my mother's 'electric' 201K and my Mother-in-Law's Hand Crank Jones Family CS. Not to mention my older, - just in case -, Husqvarna .  I didn't intend to start a sewing machine museum, but nobody in the family sews and I couldn't bear to see them to go to the tip!

1. My Mother's Singer 201K needs new leads and PAT testing. It has had a motor and a light attached at some point. It
    also has Accessories.

2. Mother-in-Law's Jones is the most basic model ever; no built in accessories box, but it does have the two bullet
   shaped bobbins and it works. She was given it at age 21 and it was second hand. It also has the original needle!
   ( M-i-L was shocked at the idea of ever having to change it. :faints: )

My Brother is offering me these two 'vintage', family owned machines or else they go, pronto!

3. My Grandmother's Singer 99K. We have just found her receipt from April 1918,  paying £6.10s for the machine. The price included conversion to a Hand Crank and Lid was included. At some point a motor has been added and a hand wheel removed. I don't know if it works. The leads look lethal. ( My brother was most amused at the idea of a cast iron machine being 'Featherweight' and spent time weighing and measuring. Would have purchase included delivery?)

4.  My Aunt's  Singer 66. It is a hand crank and has been put into a new base box. There is a built in Accessories box which appears to be full of something! I hope it is attachments rather than dust.

Now,  :thinking:  What would you do?  Would you just give up the unequal struggle and give a home to all four machines? Or would you say that one model is is obviously the best and the others should be cast off without a thought?

I would be very glad of your input.

Clare

7
In the wardrobe / Are these buttons going to work?
« on: April 09, 2021, 17:07:24 PM »
I am making a light weight cotton blouse and have found that I have buttons of the perfect number, dimensions and colour in my stash. Good Heavens, I hear you cry, That's a first!

Any way, they have a little oval shank on the back, rather than two holes. Will I be trying to do the impossible if I use them on my blouse? Will the shank always push the fabric apart so that the fabric won't lie flat? Is there a buttonhole made for this style of button?   

Many thanks for your thoughts,
Clare.

8
Has anyone heard anything about the Croft Mill site?   I wanted to access their latest online catalogue, but Norton blocked me. Tried to contact CM by messaging from FaceBook, but that was inaccessible, so was going direct via the web page address.   

I do hope it's just a hiccup in the system.

I'll try again tomorrow and phone during office hours if necessary.

9
Dress Forms / Draping a basic Sloper on my 'Me Shaped' Dress Form
« on: January 08, 2020, 17:21:06 PM »
 8)  I have a paper tape double, which approximates me as I was several years ago. So, in an effort to make better use of it, I checked my measurements and added various bits of padding, with a view to draping a usable basic master pattern with all of my figure foibles built in. i.e. no more major pattern adjustments. Ha Ha!

YouTube has some quite useful draping videos. The oldest ones are the best, as they show a lot of detail, but not everything. Even they 'cheat' by presuming that I am using a professional dress form with Princess lines, etc., marked. My body doesn't come with those!  At least these old ones show draping for a four dart sloper. The newer videos are generally posted by enthusiastic youngsters who drape on a size 6 form, without wearing ease and only use Bust and Waist darts on the Front. The back might have a tiny waist dart. The possibility of a Back shoulder dart is mentioned in passing. Huh, have you seen my shoulder!

I don't want to decry their efforts, but I have to laugh. I'm a real person. I have bumps and hollows.... that need darts...and wearing ease! I really don't want to go back to pattern drafting from numbers; measuring ones self is a trial - everything keeps shifting! Toiles will still be needed, but Oh, to have a pattern me shaped!

Here are links to the videos that I have found most useful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqlv9X-08NE            There are parts 2, 3 and 4, but she skips over how the                         
                                                                                    Back bodice is draped.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo8s7jykqt8              I shall use this one for the Back Bodice, she does have one
                                                                                     covering the Front, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScYU6ntbAfk            A Jacket Sleeve by Shingo Sato. Might be able to crib ideas for
                                                                 draping a one piece sleeve, especially the underarm shape for the Armscye.

Anyone found any other useful draping ones.

Clare.



10
The Haberdashery / Measuring yourself
« on: December 07, 2019, 16:07:18 PM »
On the browse for sewing gifts, I came across this from Sewmesunshine.co.uk: A Self Measuring Tape.

https://sewmesunshine.co.uk/products/self-measuring-tape-sew-to-grow?_pos=1&_sid=3cde7aea7&_ss=r&mc_cid=a6f81a7fb9&mc_eid=bbd76b7a81

My first thought was, Oh That's a good idea. Second thought was, But can't you just use an ordinary tape measure? :)
This gadget might just possibly be more accurate. It looks like fun and isn't too expensive for a gift. On the other hand do I really need it..... ;)

 I might have to leave it up to Father Christmas to decide for me.

11
I have been lusting after various T.shirts on the White Stuff web site, but I'm not prepared to pay £37.50 each,. plus p&p, even with today's 20% discount!  :S

The fabrics are all a cotton stripe with the occasional embroidered motif. Here are a couple of examples:

https://www.whitestuff.com/action/ViewProduct-Start?SKU=426308117

https://www.whitestuff.com/womens/tops-and-tees/laundered-blue-stripes-galore-jersey-top/

The fabric must have been designed exclusively for WS, but I have hunted the ethernets for something vaguely similar and come up blank. I could create something on my embroidery machine, but..... :[

If anyone has happened to chance upon any similar yardage on their travels, I would be delighted to hear.

Many thanks,

Clare.

12
Fun with Fabric / Smallest fabric samples?
« on: February 21, 2019, 19:32:18 PM »
I paid Caboodle Textiles £1. to send me two samples, so that I could get an idea of the scale of the print and the quality of the fabric. They arrived today.

One was 5.5cm x 2cm, the other 2.5cm x 6cm. By my reckoning, pretty mean and not particularly representative of the whole! 

I realise that cutting samples takes time, effort, postage and packing and reduces the amount of stock they have available for sale. However, I paid them for these and even at £13.50 per metre x 150 cm wide, I think that they could have spared me just a little bit more! 

Has anyone received samples smaller that this?

13
If you are keen on buying Organic fabrics from the UK, you might like to take a glance here:

https://www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk/fabric-shop

Their main retail business is in ready made clothing, but they also sell their own design Organic Cotton Fabrics. I didn't think the prices too eye watering.

I bought a couple of jersey tops, so asked if they might consider selling Jersey fabric, too. Their reply indicated that they might consider it. Possibly a question of sufficient demand?

Enjoy.



14
In the wardrobe / Sewing Mistakes. Grrrrr!
« on: February 13, 2018, 16:08:50 PM »
Aaaargh! Pressed my jacket shoulder seams. Stood back to admire the beauty ...... and realised that I had sewn the outsides to the insides, and it's black tweedy fabric!
Nothing to do, but unpick and try again. Bother, Grump, Mumble.

Thank you for letting me get that off my chest.

Clare

15
Spotted a new-to-me sewing machine shop, whilst I was driving past the end of Ruxley Lane, yesterday. Couldn't believe my eyes! If you are a Bernina, Pfaff or Juki user, you might already be aware of it. However, here is the link:

 http://thesewingplace.org.uk/index.php?action=post;board=49.0

The introductory video is manic and loud. Turn your sound off. The owners seem to be well trained in these brands and advertise :sew: service and repair.

HTH.

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