The Sewing Place

Reception => Hi, I'm new... => Topic started by: aprilla on January 25, 2019, 10:46:36 AM

Title: Just joined
Post by: aprilla on January 25, 2019, 10:46:36 AM: Hi
I've taken out my sewing machine again (Janome SMD1000) in hopes of using up fabrics bought in enthusiastic bargain beginner mode a few years back, much of it a mistake if I'm honest :P
Garments (pants/tops) are my main interest and I look forward to going through the posts here to get me into gear, get ideas and maybe keep me on track. I've promised myself if I get through some of this fabric stash I'll be able to buy more purposefully...
I knit and crochet as well and have a bit of interest in learning - is it called embellishing? - fabrics to add a little interest.

Nice to be here :)
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: b15erk on January 25, 2019, 10:57:06 AM: Hi there aprilla! Welcome to TSP. Lots of knowledge to be found here, and many experience sewists who are happy to help.

Grab yourself a brew, and join the fun.

Jessie
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: Greybird on January 25, 2019, 12:36:56 PM: Hello and welcome!
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: Ellabella on January 25, 2019, 13:03:49 PM: Hello, you’ll get lots of help and support here.
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: Lachica on January 25, 2019, 13:33:15 PM: Welcome @aprilla. If you have stash fabric that you've fallen out of love with, use it for toiles, try selling it on or even giving it away. Spending precious time making garments from fabric you don't like is a recipe for disappointment. It's even more likely when you've just returned after not sewing for a while. Looking forward to seeing what you make.
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: fajita on January 25, 2019, 13:35:47 PM: Welcome @aprilla :drink: :flower:
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: Ploshkin on January 25, 2019, 13:46:28 PM: Another welcome from not quite as far west as you.
Why did you give up before? Did other things (life) get in the way or wasn't it going as well as you wanted it to or something else?
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: aprilla on January 25, 2019, 13:55:18 PM: Thanks all ... I've been having a wander around and wow! I didn't realise the extent of this place. Does it count for sewing time if I place the machine beside me while I read, maybe read bits out loud to it? I'm hoping so, I have a lot to get through.

Quote from: Lachica on January 25, 2019, 13:33:15 PM
Welcome @aprilla. If you have stash fabric that you've fallen out of love with, use it for toiles, try selling it on or even giving it away. Spending precious time making garments from fabric you don't like is a recipe for disappointment. It's even more likely when you've just returned after not sewing for a while. Looking forward to seeing what you make.

Yes, toiles, this makes sense thanks. I'd be slow to get rid of it as some of it might be OK once I've learned a bit more, and I'm remote so picking up more means online and that means postage and time.
I never realised there was as much - or maybe more - to learning about fabrics as there is about actual sewing. Some fabrics actually want to be something, and not necessarily what you thought to make with them LOL
Experimenting with what I've collected should help a bit.
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: WildAtlanticWay on January 25, 2019, 13:59:40 PM: Hello aprilla,

fáilte romhat chuig TSP. :)

Which county are you in? I’m a blow in, in West Cork.

Looking forward to nattering with you and finding out which are your favourite fabric shops. :woof: :thread:
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: WildAtlanticWay on January 25, 2019, 14:01:38 PM: I have no idea how/why I posted a dog emoji in my last post?? :S
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: aprilla on January 25, 2019, 14:09:09 PM: Quote from: Ploshkin on January 25, 2019, 13:46:28 PM
Another welcome from not quite as far west as you.
Why did you give up before? Did other things (life) get in the way or wasn't it going as well as you wanted it to or something else?

Hi Ploshkin ... I can't really say I gave it up, more a time out, it might be about a year since I sewed. Back then I was a beginner and got on fairly well, wearing what I was making... then I started getting braver, making little pattern adjustments etc and all of a sudden the possibilities just became too much. A natural ditherer (lol) I just couldn't focus, decide what to make, so I put it away. I think I needed the breathing space.
I'm hoping I can face into it better this time round. Make decisions and at least use up the fabric!
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: aprilla on January 25, 2019, 14:22:49 PM: Quote from: WildAtlanticWay on January 25, 2019, 13:59:40 PM
Hello aprilla,

fáilte romhat chuig TSP. :)

Which county are you in? I’m a blow in, in West Cork.

Looking forward to nattering with you and finding out which are your favourite fabric shops. :woof: :thread:

Hi WWW, I'm on the WWW in Clare, near Miltown Malbay (about halfway between Doonbeg and Lahinch).
I don't actually have any fabric shops, favourite or otherwise. So far I've done all my buying online mostly through eBay except a few bits in Joanne's when my son was going back and forth to the USA. My sister picks it up using coupons and he carries it back for me ... they are good to me. But he's not travelling so much now, maybe just as well ;) I like fabric (and yarn). I guess Limerick and Galway, both ~2 hours away, have Hickey's but I've not shopped them yet.
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: Kenora on January 25, 2019, 14:35:28 PM: Hi @aprilla - welcome from me too. Lovely part of the world you're living in. It's nice to meet you and I look forward to seeing what you decide to make. :)
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: hernibs on January 25, 2019, 15:24:57 PM: Hello and welcome Aprilla - can't manage a Gaelic greeting like Wild Atlantic Way - I'm one of a few from the North...(Mid Ulster)...and although I'm here and feel at home I don't do a lot of sewing like most folks here...I do have a stash of fabric but I do other work from home and time is limited.....very limited and I would love to tell my customers to go elsewhere (but there is no elsewhere) while I get the machine out and back to making something for myself.
Best Wishes on all your endeavours - there is lots of help here both about sewing and any other topic in the journey of life!
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: Sewingsue on January 25, 2019, 15:37:42 PM: Welcome, Aprila.
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: Nevis5 on January 25, 2019, 16:05:41 PM: and a warm welcome from me, too @aprilla ! :toast:
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Post by: Surest1tch on January 25, 2019, 18:53:20 PM: Hello Aprilla, a big welcome from me too although I'm not sewing at the moment
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: BrendaP on January 25, 2019, 19:12:13 PM: Welcome to TSP.
:fabric: :snip: :sew: :frock:
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: Renegade Sewist on January 25, 2019, 19:56:33 PM: ceud mìle fàilte to TSP! :toast: Rest assured you are not the only one with a selection of "what was I thinking?" fabric bought in a frenzy of excitement and possibility. No, there are more than a few of us

You'll get all the assistance and input you could ever want from the kind folk here at TSP. Just ask away; I'm sure there will be a useful answer or two every time.
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: aprilla on January 26, 2019, 11:11:26 AM: Such a nice welcome here thank you all :)

I had a great day yesterday meandering through the posts here, getting used to the 'geography' (it's huge, but feels so friendly - yet honest which is so important) and giving my machine a good clean and oil. Then I went through all the bits and pieces I've gathered (patterns, feet, zips etc) getting familiar with them again and opened ONE fabric bin. Luck was with me for on top was a piece of jersey fabric left from a top which was relatively successful, so I set to making a little skirt to go with. It felt good to be back at it but I got as far as the elastic waist to discover I didn't have enough elastic to go around me (!!!) which was a bit disappointing on many levels LOL

A good start made I think :)
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: aprilla on January 26, 2019, 11:18:45 AM: Quote from: WildAtlanticWay on January 25, 2019, 14:01:38 PM
I have no idea how/why I posted a dog emoji in my last post?? :S

There must be a connection, I am very much a doggy person :woof: :woof:
I thought to say a cat might have been a mistake but that's not true, we are very pet friendly :meow: :fish:

I meant to ask yesterday .... Are you lucky enough to have fabric near to you?
Title: Re: Just joined
Post by: WildAtlanticWay on January 26, 2019, 13:53:27 PM: The nearest large fabric shop is vibes and scribes in Cork city, about 90 mins away. It’s a great shop with a wide range of craft supplies and they have a good website too. I only go into Cork city occasionally as it’s a bit of a trek and I do all the driving. Hickey’s in Cork used to have a fairly decent range but it closed down last summer. :(

Online, I also like lovefabric.ie for their range of fabrics.

We’ve got a large mixed breed dog, 2 cats and 4 chickens but I’m definitely more of a cat person. :meow: