Thank you all very much for your most helpful answers, much appreciated.

I'm now having a re-think! 

Thank you, Greybird, that's very informative and off-putting 

I'm trying to opt for roller blinds throughout as I strongly believe they will be least attractive to those you know whats that have eight legs which scare the living daylights out of me. I've never had a roman blind, are they the sort of place scary things will lie in wait?

Hello again, long time no post, I've been busy having my house renovated never again.

Can I make my own roller blind from quite thick furnishing fabric? Would it be too big a roll when it's open as the fabric's so thick? It'll be about 2m wide and 1.4m long.

If it's a possibility, could someone talk me through the process please?

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere, I had a look and couldn't find anything.

I am working on a scrappy diamonds something or other, maybe a quilt. The blocks are made up of nine diamonds sewn into one big diamond. Matching up the seams is the tricky bit (I assume because there's a lot of bias stuff going on in the edges) so I had a brainwave that starching the fabric would help it not to shift. Trouble is, I've already cut out a lot of the diamonds. I did starch some the other day (but now know that you're not supposed to iron them whilst still wet  ) and they're nice and firm it'll be like sewing cardboard

 Before I go any further, should I (a) starch the fabric I haven't cut yet; (b) starch everything, including the already cut bits, to within an inch of its life or (c) forget starching and just woman up and work harder on matching seams?

Help! I've been helping someone who has dug out an old Jones 451 sewing machine. We've got it threaded and going  . In the days between seeing it for the first time last week to now it has changed from straight stitch to zig zag. There is a button with M and a couple of zig zag/button hole options. It's on M but sewing zig zag. Does anyone have any experience of this machine and can point me in the right direction? I don't have the machine here so will have to relay any suggestions to the owner. 

I got the walnut shells with lavender and made this pincushion which I was wanting to have a go at. It's a bit big but good and sturdy 



I had enough filling left over to do a little one, that's not as full so I have to be gentle when putting the pins in.



My pins have never been happier  , thank you for the advice  :thumbsup:

Thank you, Brenda. According to a fitting I had in Bravissimo a few years back 36 and somewhere in the Gs  but I lost weight so the cup size has reduced a bit. The strapless one I tried was an E but it was a tad on the small side so I think I'd need an F.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/al/padded-plunge-set-with-strapless-/p/DSdac348163bd7c94a53d8f6c7d08d4021.html looks like the answer to my dreams at the moment. I might need to have a word with Markies about their sizing on that one   

Ah, I've just found the guidance on the sizes - doh!