76
Hi, I'm new... / Re: Hello new, many hobbies.
« on: October 25, 2018, 11:39:52 AM »
Welcome @Nerys! I hope you find lots of inspiration here, and looking forward to seeing some of the things you are making. 
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77
The Show Must Go On / Re: The Divas latest costume
« on: October 24, 2018, 16:24:39 PM »
That's so sweet! Well done!
78
The Show Must Go On / Re: Behind the Seams - tour of DSI-London
« on: October 24, 2018, 16:23:45 PM »
Oh and for thin threads, William Gee carries the Gutterman Skala in 200, 240 and 360, which are really thin and come in lots of colours.
https://www.williamgee.co.uk/product-category/sewing-threads/overlocking/
Going back to a much earlier discussion on TSF, I think, I've been using ordinary Gutterman Mara 120, but a teeny tiny 8 needle (right only) and that has seemed to work well on chiffon.
https://www.williamgee.co.uk/product-category/sewing-threads/overlocking/
Going back to a much earlier discussion on TSF, I think, I've been using ordinary Gutterman Mara 120, but a teeny tiny 8 needle (right only) and that has seemed to work well on chiffon.
79
The Show Must Go On / Re: Behind the Seams - tour of DSI-London
« on: October 24, 2018, 16:15:59 PM »
@Marniesews that sounds just fantastic, so glad you had a good time, and you look great in the dresses. The blue one is much better on you than it was on Susannah!
I'm booked onto the one on the 12th of November - can't wait. I was going to go on the 10th, but suddenly thought it might be more interesting if there were more people working, although it sounds like there were at least some on the Saturday. Anyone want to come with me??
And @Catllar (and Marniesews) - I've used that double zigzag technique, which I invented myself rather by accident (nothing new under the sun, eh?) before I had an overlocker. It works really well, although you have to be fairly accurate in your cutting as there is no knife to do it for you. It lasts very well. I have a practice skirt that I made 6 years ago with Fabricland chiffon that has been through the washer any number of times, and it is still fine. A little hairy, maybe, but nothing major, and the hem hasn't come off anywhere. I think that was two passes with the zigzag. If you do three, it can get a little stiff, a bit like a soft fishing line.
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I'm booked onto the one on the 12th of November - can't wait. I was going to go on the 10th, but suddenly thought it might be more interesting if there were more people working, although it sounds like there were at least some on the Saturday. Anyone want to come with me??
And @Catllar (and Marniesews) - I've used that double zigzag technique, which I invented myself rather by accident (nothing new under the sun, eh?) before I had an overlocker. It works really well, although you have to be fairly accurate in your cutting as there is no knife to do it for you. It lasts very well. I have a practice skirt that I made 6 years ago with Fabricland chiffon that has been through the washer any number of times, and it is still fine. A little hairy, maybe, but nothing major, and the hem hasn't come off anywhere. I think that was two passes with the zigzag. If you do three, it can get a little stiff, a bit like a soft fishing line.
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80
Tech Know How / Re: No picture attachemnt option any more?
« on: October 19, 2018, 20:20:39 PM »
Sorry, I was experimenting to see if a pdf worked any better, which it didn't. It also happens with .jpg's I tried my 8kb photo and got [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
I do "chose file", select a jpg from my desktop, click "insert attachment", and get that message. It lists the file name, but below it says "insert attachment 0"). I'd attach a screenshot but....
I do "chose file", select a jpg from my desktop, click "insert attachment", and get that message. It lists the file name, but below it says "insert attachment 0"). I'd attach a screenshot but....
81
Tech Know How / Re: No picture attachemnt option any more?
« on: October 19, 2018, 18:18:44 PM »
Hi - I may be being dim, but I despite being a subscriber, and having the attachment button, I just can't seem to make my attachments attach. I've downsized my files (.jpg), but even the one that is only 8kb won't load and what should be the link just says [ You are not allowed to view attachments ] Any thoughts? Thanks, Carol x
82
The Show Must Go On / Re: What are you all working on?
« on: October 19, 2018, 18:14:18 PM »
Those are great @eclectic - I'm always impressed by people like you and @Catllar who have the patience to sew for others. Sewing for my finickity self is bad enough, I can't imagine trying to please others.
I'm surrounded by an explosion of fluorescent highlighter yellow (Chrisanne's "tropic lime") chiffon and organza for a new ballroom dress. I can't seem to upload pictures, but I have the godets sewn on and the underskirt made but not yet attached. Now I have to trim all the hems.
It is asymmetrical with has one mesh long sleeve in the Tropic Lime, and the upper bust and one side in nude. The nude section will be all over stoned in AD. There will be stoned straps at the back, and feathers around the neck somehow if I can work out where best to put them!
I'm surrounded by an explosion of fluorescent highlighter yellow (Chrisanne's "tropic lime") chiffon and organza for a new ballroom dress. I can't seem to upload pictures, but I have the godets sewn on and the underskirt made but not yet attached. Now I have to trim all the hems.
It is asymmetrical with has one mesh long sleeve in the Tropic Lime, and the upper bust and one side in nude. The nude section will be all over stoned in AD. There will be stoned straps at the back, and feathers around the neck somehow if I can work out where best to put them!
83
The Show Must Go On / Re: Tour of DSI workrooms
« on: October 17, 2018, 11:08:39 AM »
Success!!! But for the 10th of November, not this weekend. Thank you for encouraging me to persevere.
And @Marniesews - she said they do have some things in more sensible sizes from previous years, so just ask!!
And @Marniesews - she said they do have some things in more sensible sizes from previous years, so just ask!!
84
The Show Must Go On / Re: Tour of DSI workrooms
« on: October 16, 2018, 22:41:17 PM »
They've announced more dates here. I understand there are only 10 places per tour so I wouldn't wait too long.
Unless they have some ex-Strictly competitors' dresses for the over 50s I can't imagine there's a dress I'd fit in or might be brave enough to try - even after 4 years in Slimming World!
Thanks for the link for the new dates. It's not for want of trying - I've sent three emails and tried calling....! I nearly went in on Sat, but decided I didn't have quite enough time to get there and get to my lesson elsewhere in Croydon. I'll see if I can get them tomorrow.
They might well have some of the more mature competitors' dresses. If you wanted to try (and why not!), why not call them and ask them if they have and can get some things out in larger sizes. When I went into Chrisanne a couple of weeks ago, they had a 24 on display!
85
The Show Must Go On / Re: Tour of DSI workrooms
« on: October 11, 2018, 00:05:49 AM »@Sewingforfun the info is here but I had to chase them so if they don't reply to your email the same day, send a follow-up. I'm going with a friend and hoping to meet Skatersmum there so it would be lovely to meet up with you too if you can make it.
Thanks - I've sent them a chasing email and will try to find time to give them a ring tomorrow. I imagine they have been flat out with the Internationals this week as well as Strictly. Hopefully there is still space, it would be great if we could all go together.
And yes, the pros and serious competitors are mostly teeny tiny - of the ones I know, a lot of the girls are actually also quite short/petite as well as slender, but there definitely also lots of issues with eating disorders (like ballet) and lots of pressure on both sexes to be slim from coaches and judges. One of my ballroom teachers says he specifically avoids arm workouts to avoid bulking up his arms so they look good in his tailsuit (which is stretch and skin tight over the arms).
What I really notice is the slimness of the guys' waists, especially the ones who do Latin, with super toned cores from all the wiggling!! They are proof that the exercise in magazines that promise to whittle your waist really do work, so long as you do about a million zillion repetitions.
86
The Show Must Go On / Re: Tour of DSI workrooms
« on: October 10, 2018, 23:04:32 PM »
@Marniesews - how did you do that? Did you call? I wrote off to ask, but they haven't got back to me. Trying stuff on is just a matter of rocking up and asking to do so (it is a shop after all...!), but I'd love to get into the workrooms.
And speaking of getting into dresses, I had an amusing time at Chrisanne a couple of weeks ago. I went in to pick up some fabric and ended up trying a few things on. Their idea of a 12 and mine are clearly not the same, although the saleswoman did warn me that they come up small! It's odd, as their practice wear comes up large. Even the undecorated Principle dresses were too small in what should have been my size. Still, it was fun to play, and they really are amazing. The construction is (relatively) simple, but it was the level of detail in the decoration that made them so outstanding. It's not just one layer but several (eg lace and net and different sized stones and bead droppers) to give a richer effect.
And speaking of getting into dresses, I had an amusing time at Chrisanne a couple of weeks ago. I went in to pick up some fabric and ended up trying a few things on. Their idea of a 12 and mine are clearly not the same, although the saleswoman did warn me that they come up small! It's odd, as their practice wear comes up large. Even the undecorated Principle dresses were too small in what should have been my size. Still, it was fun to play, and they really are amazing. The construction is (relatively) simple, but it was the level of detail in the decoration that made them so outstanding. It's not just one layer but several (eg lace and net and different sized stones and bead droppers) to give a richer effect.
87
The Show Must Go On / Re: New pattern, want to get started
« on: October 10, 2018, 22:50:29 PM »Quote
I'd echo the stretch needles, not ballpoints - ballpoints are for jersey, not lycra, and I find that when sewing woven to lycra, it feeds better if you put the lycra on the bottom, so the feed dogs carry it along. I also have a teflon foot, but a lot of people like a walking foot.
For top stitching (eg over elastic) a plain zig zag is fine. Don't pull the fabric any more than you have to - pulling makes the stitches skip.
88
In the wardrobe / Re: I just can’t....
« on: August 29, 2018, 08:04:36 AM »
That’s ridiculous! It might be worth writing to Minerva and saying you thought about buying it, but it’s too much.
89
Courses & Classes / Re: Trouser Block with Alice Prier
« on: August 15, 2018, 11:44:19 AM »
I saw this thread and have dithering about doing the course at RayStitch. I've had the window open on my computer for several days. I finally thought it's silly not to, as it's something I really want to do and have the day free. I refreshed the window to book just now and they had dropped the price for this Sunday's class (19th) by 20% to £98!! Anyone fancy coming with me??
Carol xx
Carol xx
90
A bit of a 'do' / Re: A purple velvet ball gown, or, what was I thinking?
« on: August 03, 2018, 13:02:44 PM »
That's going to be amazing!
I'd use about 4" (10cm) or so horsehair braid (crinoline or crin), I think. Narrower and it may not have enough body, while the 6" (15cm) might be hard to adjust to the skirt curve. Try to get the kind that has the string along one edge - it's more expensive but well worth it. You sew it to the hem along the unstringed edge, then when you fold it in, you can pull up the string to make the braid fit the curve of the skirt. The ebay ones are usually stringless - millinery suppliers are better, or dancewear fabric shops.
As to doing the lining or not, it would make it fuller for sure - you can also pleat or tuck the crin at internals and stitch it to the rightside of the lining like a ruffle for an even fuller effect. The alternative would be a petticoat, which are easily bought, and would help hold the upper part of the skirt out, too.
Whatever you do, if the skirt and lining are the same pattern, try to use a different application of the crin on the two layers - either different widths if you do both as a hem facing, or hem facing on the velvet, ruffle(s) on the lining. If they are the same, they tend to fall in the same folds and not have much motion.
I'd use about 4" (10cm) or so horsehair braid (crinoline or crin), I think. Narrower and it may not have enough body, while the 6" (15cm) might be hard to adjust to the skirt curve. Try to get the kind that has the string along one edge - it's more expensive but well worth it. You sew it to the hem along the unstringed edge, then when you fold it in, you can pull up the string to make the braid fit the curve of the skirt. The ebay ones are usually stringless - millinery suppliers are better, or dancewear fabric shops.
As to doing the lining or not, it would make it fuller for sure - you can also pleat or tuck the crin at internals and stitch it to the rightside of the lining like a ruffle for an even fuller effect. The alternative would be a petticoat, which are easily bought, and would help hold the upper part of the skirt out, too.
Whatever you do, if the skirt and lining are the same pattern, try to use a different application of the crin on the two layers - either different widths if you do both as a hem facing, or hem facing on the velvet, ruffle(s) on the lining. If they are the same, they tend to fall in the same folds and not have much motion.