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Topics - Kittensposies

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In the wardrobe / Extreme UFO - Sewaholic Fraser started in 2016!!!
« on: April 23, 2020, 20:23:19 PM »
This sweatshirt has been a looong time coming!

I started in at Christmas 2016, and shortly after discovered I was pregnant. I lost that baby to an ectopic pregnancy that almost lost me too and I was very ill for some time.

By the time I felt up to sewing again, it was summer 2017, and there were holidays and house extensions. Then in that autumn I became pregnant again, with morning sickness so bad even my sewing machine made me ill. Then came the baby - who is now almost 2 and who still hasn’t slept through, so I’m exhausted - and sewing has just been way down my priority list.

I’ve made quite a few things from scratch, maybe 1 every other month, but this sweatshirt has been sat in a carrier bag until I just decided sod it, I’m going to finish it.

And I did! Definitely fit issues as my boobs are much bigger than before, but it fits and it’s comfy so I’m happy!   [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  

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In the wardrobe / Made myself a coat!
« on: February 17, 2020, 22:09:41 PM »
Made my first ever coat! It’s a very simple one with not much fitting needed, but I’m still super chuffed with it. I lined it and all! I was going to bag the lining but I couldn’t get it right in my head so just hand sewed it.

Pattern is Riga by Orageuse patterns. I used mohair coating and viscose twill lining both from Fabworks. It’s not as warm as I would like, I think I should have interlined it, but at least I can wear it well into spring and again in autumn!

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Morning all!

I’ve been dithering about buying a coverstitch for months, got to try a few out at the knitting and stitching show, and have a dilemma.

I have seen a few really good deals on the Janome CoverPro, but I’ve read that it’s not a great machine.

There’s the Britannia machine, but I’m concerned that I’d be stuck for accessories as the guy at the show said you couldn’t use universal accessories.

I’ve found a Singer coverstitch which I’ve heard nothing about, but it’s a reasonable price... I know the Elna is the same as the Janome, but Singer doesn’t appear to have comparisons.

Then I’ve found a Juki, which is double my budget. But it’s fabulous.

What would you do?

I am soooo sick of my awful twin needle hems, so many things that are unwearable because the twin needle hem is a disaster (tunnelling, so many skipped stitches).

I did consider selling my overlocker and getting a combined machine but older posts on here suggested that was a false economy.

Hmmmmmm. Decisions. Any advice?

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In the wardrobe / A baby coat!
« on: October 31, 2019, 15:05:45 PM »
My first proper bit of clothing for my wee man. A softshell coat with teddy fleece lining. It is sized for 2T, and he’s 16 months, so we’ll hopefully get a whole winter out of it.

I sewed almost the whole thing on the overlocker as the fleece kept getting chewed up by the sewing machine. Overlocker has no such problem.

It still needs fastenings (Kam snaps are on the way, along with some decent pliers) and a few bits of hand stitching where I didn’t quite catch all the layers of fabric, but I’m pretty chuffed with it!

Some matching snow trousers to follow. That might make him looks slightly less like a wizard/ Star Wars character!

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Events / Knitting and Stitching Show, Harrogate - 28th Nov to 1st Dec
« on: October 31, 2019, 14:46:02 PM »
Is anyone going?

Has anyone been before?

I really want to go but not sure whether to book any workshops or just treat it as a shopping day!

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In the wardrobe / First proper sew in 2 years!
« on: September 01, 2019, 17:05:18 PM »
I sewed something!! For the first time in 2 years!!

I couldn’t stand sewing when I was pregnant, then my son was not the kind of baby that would be put down for long enough to sew anything other than baby leggings or top. He’s now 14 months and I took a day off work, when he’s in nursery, and sewed a T-shirt for myself!

The neckline is weird (I generally have issues with necklines) but it felt really good.

 

Weird discovery: my son is terrified of the over lockers but loves the sound of the sewing machine. Baby logic!

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For Sale, Wanted & Free to a good home / Wanted: Coverstitch machine
« on: September 01, 2019, 16:56:22 PM »
Hello all!
I’m on the hunt for a decent second hand coverstitch. I’m sewing a lot of jersey for my son and twin needle hemming is making me really cross  :S
I’ve seen the thread on the Britannia machines and the available ones are just above my comfortable budget. I’d like to spend £250 max.
Thank you!

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House Beautiful / Cushion covers... how hard can they be??
« on: January 26, 2018, 16:10:39 PM »
Afternoon all,

After the renovations-from-hell left my poor sewing machine confined to storage for 9 months, I am tentatively dipping a toe back in. 

We have just got a new sofa, and was looking at new scatter cushions to go with it, but they were £60 in the nice Abraham Moon fabric I wanted.  Looking at the fabric online, it is around £50 a metre and is 130cm wide... surely I could get two small cushions out of that?

No piping or anything planned, and I am not fussy about matching patterns, I just want some nice cushions without having to sell a kidney.

Now all of this is feasible based on cushions being easy to sew... hence my question, how hard can it be?  I've watched a few online tutorials and thought "yeah I can handle that" but is there anything hideously complicated that I have not anticipated? 

Thanks all, hope you have a lovely Friday  :toast:

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Vintage Machines / Frister and Rossman Model 45 mk1
« on: April 24, 2017, 20:58:21 PM »
Visiting my parents at the weekend, I pestered my mum to get her sewing machine out. It's a Frister and Rossman model 45 mark 1.

She grumbled about it being heavy, and I remember never being able to lift it when I was a kid, but I was totally unprepared for how heavy it is!! Good grief.

We had a play around with it and my husband commented how smooth and quiet it is compared to my machines, and he's right! It sounds heavenly!

Unfortunately despite running smoothly it can't make stitches. We had a total nightmare getting the bobbin loaded, and pulled through to the top. The machine can only do one or two stitches before the upper thread gets tangled around the bobbin case.

When we opened the compartment I found a lot of bits of tangled thread, so I suspect this is why my mum stopped using it. She stopped sewing when we moved to the house my parents live in now, approx 25 years ago, and she couldn't remember why at first but now recalls having a lot of issues with her machine (not even thinking about how much it weighs!).

Anyhoo, the point to all this is that although it's not a vintage vintage machine, I am still in love with it! Am trying to persuade mum to let me have it so I can see if I can get it repaired, and am advising her on a new machine as she is fairly keen to get back into sewing with something a bit less temperamental!

I can really see how people get hooked on older machines.... this may be a slippery slope!!!

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Patterns Discussion / Help me solve this fitting issue...
« on: April 24, 2017, 18:23:37 PM »
I've just finished a 60s style A-line dress (Tilly and the Buttons 'Francoise' dress), and despite fitting well everywhere else, the dress stands almost 2 inches out from my back. 

I have been through my copy of Fit for Real People and it suggests a round back, but visually it doesn't look like I have that.  Also the same issue arises on my dress form, which I'm fairly sure wouldn't have a round back problem!??

This is the second time I've made this dress and had the same problem both times.  This time the fabric is cotton sateen-ish fabric, and the neckline thing is driving me bonkers.  Help!

(Link is Instagram - sorry for those who can't access it - I can't remember how to get the image code but will try later!)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTRqj__B5BE/?taken-by=kittensposies

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Patterns Discussion / Recommended trench coat patterns?
« on: March 31, 2017, 20:32:31 PM »
Good evening all!

I discovered this week that I have given my favourite trench coat to the charity shop. At least, it is nowhere in the house.

So I wondered about making one...

I have googled a few patterns and I quite like to look of the StyleArc Prue and the Sewaholic Robson coat, but neither are lined and I much prefer lined coats.

Has anyone made a trench coat? Would you recommend the pattern you used? Any hints or tips (including "don't do it, just buy one!!") welcome!!

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Sewing Machines / Broke a needle, skipping stitches :/
« on: March 04, 2017, 17:40:40 PM »
Sewing machine doctors, I need your help! My  :sew: is sick  :'( (we need an 'ill' emoticon!)

The other night I started sewing a jersey t-shirt, started with new stretch needle, threaded from scratch etc.  All going well.  The following evening my sewing machine started skipping stitches and was making an odd noise, kind of like it was hitting pins but there were no pins in my fabric.  Then the thread kept snapping... I rethreaded it time and time again but still skipping stitches and snapping thread. 

I ploughed on as I was going to overlock everything anyway, but then there was a loud crack and the needle snapped into 3 pieces, one hit me in the face.  Thankfully not my eye!  The stitch selector knob seemed to have been pushed out, too.  After that I changed the needle (obviously!) and started with some scrap fabric, but it kept skipping. 

Also I had a funny feeling the feed dogs were not pulling through at one point too but couldn't tell if was because of the stretchy fabric?  Is that normal?

I've taken the plate off and given it a bit of a dust (wasn't too manky but I have never cleaned in there and I've had this machine for 18 months) and it seems to be behaving better, but still the occasional skipped stitch.

Anyone got any ideas?  It's a Janome SMD 6125QC.  I've never had it serviced but it's not that heavily used.  The only thing that I can think of is that the  :meow: :meow: may have banged into it as they like to sit on the table next to it, and usually I put it away at the end of the day but this time I didn't.  It's in the same room as the washing machine (long story) so also lots of vibrations.  Ugh.  I don't want to have to get it fixed, I have such a huge backlog already!

Thanks for any insights/ advice!!

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