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Messages - Esme866

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16
Sewing Spaces and Furniture / Re: Sewing Room Organisation - patterns/magazines and etc
« on: December 18, 2021, 05:46:38 AM »
I really have no use for commercial patterns any longer. I have to draft my own. But when I was still using them, I purchased cardboard boxes from the fabric store, I think I have 6, sized for patterns. I eventually decided to store them based on what I thought I would use in the next year. I still store this way, as I keep my commercial patterns that have features I might want to use - collars, pockets, necklines and such.

My self drafted stuff is still on brown craft paper, bit I'm thinking of ordering some oak tag/Manila soon. I use binder clips to hold the pieces of each pattern together and use the binder clip to hang them from the wall. This way, I don't have to fold them.

Notions (threads, zips, etc) are kept in translucent plastic shoe boxes, except for the ones I need for a current project. Those are in a box at the machine til needed.

17
Technical Help / Re: Poor buttonholes on Janome machines?
« on: December 14, 2021, 18:57:21 PM »
I have a 30 year old mechanical Janome that only has one built in buttonhole that has always been consistently adequate. Not perfect, but NEVER pucker-y. I've seen several bespoke shirt makers whose buttonholes I would consistently place beneath mine TBH. My machine also came with an additional buttonhole maker which is superb. Definitely wouldn't spend $1000 or more to replace the machine for that reason.

18
Access All Accessories / Re: cat bag
« on: December 14, 2021, 18:48:22 PM »
Very cute! The Japanese love their kitties, don't they? I wish we had cat cafés here. :meow:

19
Patterns Discussion / Re: New Style Arc Richmond skirt
« on: December 11, 2021, 07:51:49 AM »
It's a cute skirt, but even in my youth, I would've edge stitched those pleats 'cause my belly and butt didn't need the extra volume.

When I was young, I would've worn the skirt frumpy and casual. At the age and size I am now? Let's just say, looking frumpy requires zero effort these days.

20
Access All Accessories / Re: Lining for glasses case
« on: December 10, 2021, 06:34:27 AM »
Quote from: Renegade Sewist on December 10, 2021, 04:04:41 AM
I imagine everyone here will be testing any glass cleaning cloths in their possession after reading this thread.

I know! I am so wanting to try this. Soft fabric that needles can hardly penetrate. There's a magic trick in there somewhere.

21
I saw this & I thought you may be interested! / Re: International Quilt Museum Quilt of the Month
« on: December 10, 2021, 06:30:15 AM »
Very cool and great to see it photo'd to see the detail! Thank you!

22
Access All Accessories / Re: Lining for glasses case
« on: December 09, 2021, 20:53:26 PM »
I'd go with silk. Sounds a bit decadent to have a leather glass case with a silk lining.

Any thrift store here has infinite colors and patterns of silk for $2. Men's neckties. I use them regularly for hongkong finishes.

Even cheaper when someone will let you shop their closet! :rolleyes:

23
Access All Accessories / Re: More leather, but no ideas - yet
« on: December 08, 2021, 06:06:13 AM »
Gloves, yes!

24
Access All Accessories / Re: More leather, but no ideas - yet
« on: December 07, 2021, 22:35:20 PM »
@Bodgeitandscarper It would be difficult to misplace a shiny silver poo bag holder.

I use mineral makeup. I'd be making a holder for my makeup brushes. My shiny silver vinyl one is 10 years old, and mostly cracked and beige.....

A new leather makeup bag would be nice.

But in all honesty, I have truly been sketching ideas for making my own shoes....I'll not go into the details but all of my 8 arches have fallen.

Ooooh! On that vein.....house slippers!

25
Technical Help / Re: Feeding elastic through channels.
« on: December 06, 2021, 10:03:59 AM »
The only elastic I've used in recent history is when I use 1" elastic in the back of my trousers for a Daks waistband. I'm so sick of wearing stretchy clothing in RTW, I avoid it in my sewing.

On another note, as mentioned, I bought some iron on lightweight interfacing a few years back that has threads spaced a perfect 1/8" apart in one direction to stabilize it. Those lines make bound buttonholes a breeze. I actually think they're fun to make now and I've detested making the things most of my life!

26
Technical Help / Re: Feeding elastic through channels.
« on: December 04, 2021, 07:32:31 AM »
Sounds like the channels are a bit snug, but that happens sometimes.

Am I understanding the elastic is out on both ends but it just needs to have the fabric distributed evenly over the elastic?

I usually just use the fingernails on my right hand to work the fabric, but if that's too difficult perhaps a pair of needle-nosed pliers would help get a better grip. I'd be shocked if you guys call those pliers by the same name. I'll try to find a pic.

27
In the wardrobe / Re: 1970s disco wear suggestions please
« on: December 04, 2021, 07:22:14 AM »
Ok, sorry guys, but I think I've determined I'm the baby in this bunch. Hot Pants were in 7th grade. Can't remember any disco music.

I started hitting the disco in Winter of '77. No one - and I mean NO ONE  - would have been caught dead in a pair of bell bottoms. And 76/77 was the beginning of the great disco music here. The pants were an obligatory "stove pipe" - straight up and down, no flare, no taper. I think I gave one of my boob tubes to my flat chested friend and I think the other is still in a dresser drawer. Why? No find memories - pure torture. Only wore each one once, 34C's squished into a shiny spandex, "one size fits all" tube proved an engineering disaster. Push up bras with a low cut peasant blouse from shiny fabric and cotton/polyester crepe back satin for those stove pipe pants with a 37" or 38"inseam to accommodate the platform 4"heels. Large hoop earrings.

Favorite dress: shiny Qiana nylon in medium blue, almost a circle skirt - no gathers at the waist, to accentuate its tiny proportion, sleeveless yet shoulder seams extended and a plunging neckline that stopped 2" above my navel. Strategically placed brooch which kept the girls covered while making the cleavage worthy of a spotlight.


I'd settle for just a hint of a reminder of that tiny waist......sigh...........alas, nowhere to be found....... :boohoo:

28
A bit of a 'do' / Re: Impossible wedding dress alteration
« on: December 01, 2021, 20:28:09 PM »
Gorgeous dress! Yes, a TON of work.

But what am I missing here? The scalloped edge appears to be stitched over the top of the front motifs already. As pictured on the model, those motifs would still look fine if 8" were cut out. Obviously though, the beading would be problematic. Is there enough scalloped edging to not have to remove all of it from the back and simply allow for an extended train?

Turning the 32B into a 36F sounds like the biggest challenge. My best friend at uni measured for a 42DD but refused to wear anything larger than a 38D. Physically, I don't know how she did it, the pain would be excruciating to me, but she always looked great in her clothing, even though she was large. I'm guessing your friend may be used to dressing similarly as accommodating 36F's into today's RTW can't be easy.

If the front motifs were shortened, they would provide extra lace for the chest area work that needs to be done.

Any chance of recommending someone else do the job? Around here marked down wedding dresses have been unreturnable/no refund/no exchange for decades. Unless she can find an online buyer, your friend is stuck with this dress. (Online buyers aren't that hard to find.)

29
Current Projects / Re: Dresden Plate.....
« on: December 01, 2021, 19:10:32 PM »
@Bill It does seem it may be a bit large for a pocket, but also seems it would be a good size to fit on the chest area and color coordinating pockets could be added.

Just a thought, just in case.

30
Courses & Classes / Re: Online Class with Rory Duffy for Ladies Tailoring
« on: December 01, 2021, 18:12:49 PM »
@WildAtlanticWay  :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

He does seem to be a really decent guy along with being an exceptionally gifted tailor!

A few years back, I posted a similar announcement - though much shorter - about his YouTube videos on another sewing forum. Almost immediately the "mean girls" on the site began attacking me as they often did. Rory joined, and thanked me very nicely for making the announcement. It was amazing how quickly those "girls" (in truth, women old enough to know better!) were silenced.

May I also take this time to thank everyone on this forum for always being so gracious and civilized. The community here is just so refreshing compared to so much of what many of us endure on a day to day basis. Thank you!

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