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Topics - Flobear

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1
Your Favourite Suppliers / Online fabric shops new thread for 2024
« on: February 23, 2024, 10:28:22 AM »
A new member has asked the perennial question, where do you buy fabric online. As the previous thread was started in 2017 and getting very long, I think a refresh of this topic is due.

Please recommend any stores you think are good, for whatever reason, and if possible mention in general the types of fabric supplied. ie Quilting, dressmaking, upholstery, etc.

Many thanks  :thumb: :thumb:

2
Current Projects / Bookcase / Bookshelf Quilt
« on: January 10, 2024, 14:31:30 PM »
I know several people have made these but as the search facility is a bit hit and miss** unless there is a precise title available I thought I'd try and gather information all in one place.

Having never seen one in real life, I bought and downloaded a simple pattern just to get me started with every intention of 'doing my own thing'. I understand that I need to make blocks and have made one so far!!
I'm unhappy that the leaning books don't have right-angled bottoms
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and I've solved that one. Above is not my block.


However, I'd like to know:

1)  if I need to make all the blocks then piece them together before sandwiching - it doesn't seem to tell me on the instructions. Blocks will all be the same height but not necessarily the same width though I know what the total width needs to be. I'm wondering about QAYG (quilt as you go) in strips using the bookshelves as sashing.

2) how I embroider titles on the spines of some books. Elvistoo is keen to help! Presumably I use backing 'stuff' but I'm still not confident with the thickness required. Also, is it better to embroider before cutting the book shape, after the block is assembled or at some other time?

3) for an appliqué item, what is the best way to fix it on to the block?

I am happy to be pointed in the direction of YouTube especially for item 3 but I'm hoping a TSPer or two will have some hints too.

Here's the pattern I'm basing my quilt on.

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**Query for @Mr Twingo  please?  Or anyone else who knows the ins and outs of this site.
Is it possible on TSP to limit a search with two words so when searching bookcase quilt it doesn't return every occurrence of both words individually? In the olden days we'd put bookcase +quilt in a search engine so the results contained both words together.

3
Sewalongs and Competitions / Warm and Cosy contest - Jan & Feb 2024
« on: December 31, 2023, 19:41:35 PM »
Happy New Year one and all

Although we haven't got the full schedule available yet, we have decided on the first of 2024. Thank you to realale for the idea  :thumb:

Warm and Cosy

1st January to 29th February 2024

In this winter season we are looking for anything
that can keep the warmth in and the cold out.


Light and Darksiders as well as free and easy types are encouraged to join in.

Knitted or crocheted items - could be socks, hats gloves, jumpers, shawls, perhaps dog coats, cat blankets...

P&Q - lap quilts, back of the sofa quilts, even teapot cosies  :D

Clothing - Items made from fabrics that keep out the cold, indoors or outdoors, also nightwear, dressing gowns and the like

It would be great to see a goodly number of entries and a progress pic or two 'pour encourager les autres'.


:vintage: :vintage: :sew: :sew: :thread: :thread:

Please submit your entries by 1st March in this thread using the template below

Details to include:

Your User Name and Entry Number (if entering more than once)

What it is with a short description on how you made it, any problems overcome etc.

Up to 4 photos.

There will be a poll for Forum members to vote for their favourite(s).
(Number of votes will be proportional to the number of entries. If there are only 1 or 2 entries we won't run the poll.)

The winner can choose from The Sewing Place
Prize Winners' Enamel badge or Sew on Embroidered Patch.
 

     



4
Sewing Spaces and Furniture / Table protection
« on: December 31, 2023, 10:53:45 AM »
I have been a Very Good Girl and used the search facility but have only found one comment about the topic of table protection - which happens to be what I currently use.  It doesn't help that the search facility will also include words with 'table' in them - like suitable, inevitable, etc  :[

Any'ow, I would like to canvass some opinions on what I could use to protect my dining room table when it's being used as a temporary sewing table. 

It could be something that stays permanently on there as I always have a tablecloth on it (except when sewing) or something removable that can be folded or rolled for storage. It can't be anything that will slip off the table too easily nor anything that will be caught up with pins.

Your experiences and suggestions welcome, dear TSPeeps.

5
Embroidery Machines / Elvistoo's new owner - finding her way
« on: December 03, 2023, 10:46:28 AM »
Having finally hemmed the landing curtains yesterday, I felt justified wheeling out Elvistoo to see if I could 'go it alone' without my mentor  ;)

I'd thought of stitching out small Christmassy designs to make festive cards and had a practice go. It went well but when I took off the stabiliser then pressed it a bit, the fabric went wiggly around the design. I'm guessing the fabric was not ideal - it was a spare bit of something that is thinner than usual quilting cotton and a bit polyestery - and the design was fairly dense in places. Wondering if I should have left the stabiliser in place as it's only for a card.

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If anyone can offer useful advice, I'd be grateful.

PS. I did fit the fabric into the hoop as tightly as I could.
PPS I can see the pic is sideways but it doesn't matter for the question  :P

6

Autumn 3 piece clothing collection

Make 3 items of clothing for Autumn / Winter of which any 2 or all 3 could be worn together

1st September to 31st October 2022 (may be extended if need be)


Timeframe:
Construction starts on 1st September and the items must be completed by 31st October.
Pattern adapting and cutting out, however, may start before the 1st.

Let's see photos of your fabric, pattern, cut-out pieces - progress piccies are always welcome
in this thread even though they're not part of the sewalong rules.

All entries need to be uploaded with the template below and at least one photo by 5th November 2022 

               

Please submit your entries in this thread using this template:

Details to include:

Your User Name and Entry Number  - 1, 2 etc if entering more than one item
What is it and for whom? (if applicable)
Fabric and Pattern/instructions used  - commercial, frankenpatterns or self-drafted, anything goes
A short description on how you made it  - any problems overcome etc.
Up to 4 photos shown on a dress form or modelled  (preferably no hanger shots, it doesn't do your creation justice)


PLEASE INSERT PICTURES WITHIN YOUR TEXT!

The winning entry will receive an exclusive TSP patch or badge
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I would like to add that if 3 items is/are too much for anyone, please go ahead with 2.  A lot of people have had very busy or demanding lives lately and it would be lovely to have as many participants as we can.

   

7
Tech Know How / Can't find 2021 Darkside BOM gallery
« on: June 14, 2022, 09:46:20 AM »
 :boohoo:
It's driving me demented, where is the flipping thing? I have seen it before so I know it exists. Maybe it's like that village - Glockawotsit - that only appears once every hundred years.

To show that I've made a decent effort, here's what I did:

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There is a link to Darkside Galleries which I used to find this:

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There is no 2021 gallery mentioned so I have no idea where to look now  -<

8
March into summer


 
Be prepared with some lovely warm-weather clothing

1st to 31st March 2022

Make any item/s of summer wear such as dresses, shorts, T shirts,
beachwear, perhaps sportswear for a summer sport.

Timeframe:
Construction starts on 1st March and the items must be completed by 31st March.
Pattern adapting and cutting out, however, may start before the 1st.

Let's see photos of your fabric, pattern, cut-out pieces - progress piccies are always welcome
in this thread even though they're not part of the sewalong rules.

All entries need to be uploaded with the template below and at least one photo by 6th April 2022 

               

Please submit your entries in this thread using this template:

Details to include:

Your User Name and Entry Number  - 1, 2 etc if entering more than one item
What is it and for whom? (if applicable)
Fabric and Pattern/instructions used  - commercial, frankenpatterns or self-drafted, anything goes
A short description on how you made it  - any problems overcome etc.
Up to 4 photos shown on a dress form or modelled  (preferably no hanger shots, it doesn't do your creation justice)

PLEASE INSERT PICTURES WITHIN YOUR TEXT!

The winning entry will receive an exclusive TSP patch or badge

  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]    [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  

 





9
House Beautiful / Refurbishing 1970s dining room chairs
« on: October 30, 2021, 11:49:09 AM »
My G Plan dining chairs and table, that I obtained second-hand in 1976, have given sterling service over the years but the chairs in particular need some love and some new clothes.

I've seen seat fabric in Doughty's but I presume the padding underneath will need replacing too by now and I expect I'll need to buy online. The upholstery is not a difficult task and I have done a little in the past but had an upholstery supplies shop 3 miles down the road where I lived before.

Any suggestions of where to obtain supplies online would be welcome.

The main problem for me is what to do with the wooden frames. They are polished (not shiny) wood - teak, I think - and in some parts look faded or have had things dropped on them which has taken colour out. I am happy to bingle and see what I can find out but, if anyone with some experience can offer advice, I like to get it from real people!

Many thanks, dear TSPers, for reading my ramble.

10
Previous sewalong entries / Autumn / Winter 3-piece Sewalong
« on: September 21, 2021, 17:15:34 PM »

When you've had enough of sweeping leaves, why not join in TSP's

Autumn/Winter 3 piece clothing collection
1st October - 31st December 2021

Aim: Sew a 3 piece clothing collection for the coming season
(Autumn/Winter here in the UK, but Spring/Summer in Australia/NZ).

It could be outerwear such as trousers/skirt jacket and blouse
Or indoor wear such as jogging bottoms/leggings, T-shirt and hoodie

Three items intended to be worn together. One of them could be a knitted piece.

It's your choice


Timeframe: Construction starts on 1st October and the items must be completed by 31st December. Pattern adapting and cutting out, however, may start before October 1st.

Let's see photos of your fabric, pattern, cut-out pieces - progress piccies are always welcome in this thread even though they're not part of the sewalong rules.

All entries need to be uploaded with the template below and at least one photo by 7th January 2022  amended to 10th January (due to all the bank holidays!)

Please submit your entries in this thread using this template.

Template:

Details to include:

Your User Name and Entry Number  - 1, 2 etc if entering more than one ensemble
What is it and for whom? (if applicable)
Fabric and Pattern/instructions used  - commercial, frankenpatterns or self-drafted, anything goes
A short description on how you made it  - any problems overcome etc.
Up to 4 photos shown on a dress form or modelled  (no hanger shots thank you)

PLEASE INSERT PICTURES WITHIN YOUR TEXT!


The winning entry will receive an exclusive TSP patch or badge

 




11
I have been very good and done a search but 'binding' returns a lot of results so I think it's quicker just to ask a question that has probably been answered somewhere - for which apols.

Very taken with some binding I saw that happened to have diagonal stripes  ;) I bought some lovely striped fabric but they aren't diagonal. Simple solution, cut crossway strips (thanks for the practice all those years ago Sister Mary Joseph  :ninja: )  However, as a newish Darksider, still sporting the green P plate on my quilting hat, I am wondering if crossway strips are a bad idea for quilts for any reason.


12
I decided to make a smallish quilt thingy as a wall-hanging after thinking how bare the wall looked when the C :ninja::ninja: s cards came down.

Went for out-of comfort-zone colours to contrast with the rest of the decor. Happy with what I've done but feel it's too 'inyerface' for a hanging so it is to become a throwish item for the new chair. However, it needs to be rectangular - at least 12ins longer - and was designed as a square so I'm not sure how to proceed and would value advice. I have more of all the fabrics and also a number of others that I bought as possibilities but didn't use.

The colours I based it on are shown in the fleece stripey thing and the cushion cover (somewhat faded). The main colours in the room are a couple of shades of turquoise and faded pinky-terracotta carpet.

Here is a pic. I can supply more info if it would help but I feel I have droned on long enough put my points across succinctly  ;)




13
I have done some searching on the site but can't find a direct reference to which order blocks should be sewn together. I expect it depends somewhat on what you're doing.

There are 16 blocks, like this, to be arranged as 4 rows of 4. No complicated matching up is needed.


The thing I'm wondering is, should I start from the middle of the piece and work outwards so any imperfections in sizing / joining happen nearer the edges or just go along in rows or columns? I have cut and measured as carefully as I can but things are never as perfect as you hope they're going to be.

14
Patterns Discussion / Culottes / Divided Skirt
« on: June 29, 2020, 17:28:08 PM »
I wonder if any kind TSPer knows of a pattern, or could suggest which companies might have such patterns.

My sis-in-Dorset wants to make culottes but can only find designs that look like wide-legged trousers whereas she wants it/them to look like a skirt. She's in the 18-20 (UK) dress size range and the only pattern I have is old size 12 (which would be about 8 - 10 these days) from when I was a skinny-ish thing so I don't really know why I've still got it!

15
Your Favourite Suppliers / Sew Essential Customer Service
« on: March 13, 2020, 19:21:50 PM »
A hearty cheer for 'Sew Essentials' in Bolton, especially Irena who is a treasure.

Both occasions when I've ordered from them, a message has flashed up on the screen saying there's a problem and I need to contact them.

When I phoned, it was answered quickly by a real person (Irena) who seemed genuinely interested in helping me. When further information was required that she didn't have she promised to phone me back and did so.

I called today as there was no news about my overlocker that I ordered last Tuesday. It appears that the customer before me ordered the last of the stock. Irena was incredibly helpful giving me alternatives and also gave me various tips about overlockers - she teaches classes on using the bloomin' things!

 A little ray of light in my day and a splendid example of customer service.


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