The Sewing Place
Reception => Hi, I'm new... => Topic started by: EdTheMaker on June 29, 2020, 00:03:21 AM
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Hello everyone!
I'm a 41 year old Manchild who has always loved making things, be it electronics, mechanical or crafty. I convinced my wife to buy a sewing machine a couple of months ago on the pretence of making facemasks for the extended family knowing full well I just wanted to explore a new craft... Anyway, I am now completely hooked!
I've done a few standard projects so far such as lined tote bags, zippered bags, tool roll and a kitchen apron. I must say the great thing about sewing is because it is all about making functional practical projects you really get a great high after you finish which just motivates you more to make something else.
My latest project is a casual short sleeve shirt which I am half way through a testing toile from an old bed sheet which is going OK but I think I may have a few questions about some of the trickier techniques I have been coming across(fitting sleeves, seam finishing etc.) before moving on to the real thing.
Looking forward to getting and maybe even giving some advice to others in the future.
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Welcome @EdTheMaker :toast:
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Welcome Ed. Our boy-gang is growing. :)
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It is indeed ... A sudden influx of
toyboys gentlemen ...
Excellent, lets see if we can lure you into the Darkside @EdTheMaker
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Welcome @EdTheMaker I've only recently moved to Gloucester from Binton so I know Bidford very well! Perhaps we bumped into each other in Budgens!
Looking forward to hearing more about the things you make.
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Welcome @EdTheMaker. I am sure we can help you along the way, but I must warn you against the siren lure of @Iminei and going down the rabbit hole to the darkside. 0_0
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Hello there...
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Welcome to TSP @EdTheMaker
Sounds as though you have been making excellent progress from 'square' things like tote bag and tool roll through to a shirt in a very short time. The good news for shirts is that the correct way to attach sleeves before the side seams are closed. On other garments where the sleeve head is more shaped the correct way is to close the side seams and then set in the sleeve.
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Hello and welcome!
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Hello Ed! Looks like you're off to a good start. Your avatar mask looks very well crafted. Welcome to the group.
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Good morning, and welcome from me.
I think the others have failed to tell you that we love pictures of your makes, lots of pictures 0_0
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Hello @EdTheMaker and welcome from me too, you seem to have got off to a good start and we love to see pics.
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Welcome from me too @EdTheMaker :)
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A warm welcome from me as well. :)
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Welcome @EdTheMaker we are here ready and waiting to
tempt and corrupt help and advise you :devil:
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A welcome from me too, @EdTheMaker . Excellent progress indeed.
Beware of temptations that abound here - the acquiring of sewing machines and stashes of fabric are just two. I only came here for a bit of help with my overlocker and have now succumbed to the Dark Side. - though I think chaps may well be more able to resist
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A hundred thousand welcomes to the forum. Best wishes on all your future endeavours.
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A huge welcome from me, too, @EdTheMaker ! :toast: Enjoy your new hobby x
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Hello from me too, you certainly have got off to a great start, just reading your list of 'makes'. Once you have mastered a shirt well the skys the limit but be warned they may be quite a bit of "can you just do this?"
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Welcome @EdTheMaker from me too
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Wow, thanks for the warm welcome everyone! Today was a bit of a mile stone as I finished the short sleeve tester shirt I mentioned made from an old duvet cover. Quite a buzz as it is the first item of clothing I have made. One thing I have noticed about garment sewing is it seems to be about 80% about the pressing not the actual sewing. I may need to buy a small iron so I don't annoy my wife too much..
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One thing I have noticed about garment sewing is it seems to be about 80% about the pressing not the actual sewing.
You've got it in one
Well done, it looks as if youve made an excellent job of that. Now you have an excuse to go fabric shopping. :)
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I have always thought of it as three equal parts - cutting, sewing and pressing. None of them more important than the others.
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Lovely job! 0_0
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You'll be able to start your own diary in the wardrobe now ...
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Wow! That's pretty impressive for a first garment
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That is one great shirt. I think any of us would be proud to have produced that! Well done.
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Welcome and well done
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Lovely collar, very impressed.
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Looks wonderful...well done.
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@EdTheMaker Nice shirt! I notice the top-stitching is perfect. That lifts it into another class.
fabfabricsbymaggie on ebay often has decent shirting at a sensible price, if you are interested. There are lots of others, but I have found her to be reliable. I also like fabworks, they have their own website.
I don't know about shops at your end of the country, but someone on here is bound to know. Just post with what you are looking for and you will get lots of recommendations. It's always nice to handle fabric before you buy, if you can.
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Welcome to the forum. Love the avatar. Wish we had more people wearing masks.
As for the shirt, well I am super impressed. Great job. And yes, pressing is very important. I spend more time with an iron than I do at the sewing machine. Something to remember......
Good pressing can make bad sewing look good. Bad pressing can make good sewing look bad. :)
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You should be very proud of yourself @EdTheMaker, it looks beautifully sewn more especially as it's your first attempt, keep it up
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Very well done @EdTheMaker that shirt is impressive! and for a first garment not one of the easier things to make! :vintage: :)
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Welcome from Evesham!! I take it you know about the fabric and haberdashery shop in Avon Street, Evesham plus the quilting shop in Oat Street. :P Not too far to travel either. Happy sewing.
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Welcome from Evesham!! I take it you know about the fabric and haberdashery shop in Avon Street, Evesham plus the quilting shop in Oat Street. :P Not too far to travel either. Happy sewing.
Hi, I'm originally from Stratford-upon-Avon so for some reason we normally go that way even though Evesham is about the same distance. I'll definitely check them out, thanks!
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@EdTheMaker In case you aren`t aware - The Fabric Hut in East Green Drive, Stratford is good for sewing thread and they also have some other habberdashery. They primarily do curtains but I found them very useful and helpful.
I was also going to point you towards Loubodu at Blackminster Business Park but they have very recently rebranded as
https://themakersmerchant.co.uk/. I`m not sure if their shop has re-opened yet but I`ve had some lovely jersey fabric from her in the past (and there`s an excellent cafe on the site!)
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OK, just to conclude this. I have now, after my test shirt, finished my first wearable shirt! The Pattern (McCalls 6044) called for a large but it did turn out a bit baggy(don't know why I didn't realize this when trying on the test shirt). Anyway this was I suppose a good thing as it's taught me that with some careful unpicking it is a pretty easy job to tailor. I bought the buttons, which are made from olive wood, and was really pleased with the overall look.
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Wow, @EdTheMaker that is pretty impressive.
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Showing some of us up already! Lovely shirt.
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I'm very impressed you tackled buttonholes - lots of us struggle with them.
Pattern pieces should have "finished measurements" on them which will help you work out how baggy it will be - you might find you can go down a size
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@EdTheMaker that's one great shirt and a good fit. You invariably have to make a few alterations to start but once you've got it completely right you have a trusted pattern that you can just pick up and use. Isn't it great to be able to use the fabric you want and not be restricted to plain, stripes or checks.
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@EdTheMaker that is one impressive shirt.
It’s lovely fabric my husband would love it. Can I ask where was it from?
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@EdTheMaker that is one impressive shirt.
It’s lovely fabric my husband would love it. Can I ask where was it from?
Thanks, I go the fabric and buttons from ebay and both were dispatched quite quickly, I've got a feeling I'm not allowed to post links here but if you google the following for the fabric:
Sky Blue Hawaiian Palm Tree & Pineapple Printed 100% Cotton Poplin Fabric
And if interested in the italian olive wood buttons which are really nicely made, Google:
10 X FLAT WOODEN NATURAL ITALIAN OLIVE BUTTONS
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Great shirt, well done, love the fabric.
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The Pattern (McCalls 6044) called for a large but it did turn out a bit baggy(don't know why I didn't realize this when trying on the test shirt).
That is the devilry of garment fabrics!! You know where you are with a good 100% quilting cotton ...
I once tried to make some pedal pushers ... yes really ... and I made a toile pair out of some sort of faux denim fabric which fitted fine ... I then set out to make the pair proper out of a stretchy gingham fabric ... before adding the waistband i tried them on ... and stood there as they slithered straight off me to puddle around my ankles!!!
Exact same pattern, cut and stitched the same as the well fitting toile ... but the devilry of a different fabric!
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Well that was a very pleasant rabbit hole I've just fallen down @EdTheMaker.
There are some very nice fabrics on there. I may just have to copy your shirt for my DH. Don't worry we are a long way from Bidford on Avon.
For everybody else this (https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/JJ-Textiles-Manchester?_trksid=p2047675.l2563#) is a site I've never encountered before but looks good.