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Messages - Mick

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1
The Haberdashery / Bench ruler.
« on: September 13, 2023, 05:35:50 AM »
Lidl are doing these for £1.99.

A metre long, mm and inch scales. And quite strong adhesive.

It's also centre-zero, so good for finding the middle of things you don't want to fold.



2
Dolls and Toys / Gastropod anyone?
« on: August 28, 2023, 22:47:51 PM »
Must admit, this is one part of this forum I never imagined contributing to. Nevertheless, here I am.

My wife has something of a fascination for toy snails. (She's not so keen on the real ones when they are eating her garden, but still.)
And despite neither of us exactly being in the full flush of youth anymore, still thinks of herself as a bit of a "rock chick".

So, if I was going to make one, it seemed like studded leather and denim might be appropriate. 🤘


3
I'll have number 8, if it's still available. Please.

Thanks.

4
Did you buy the Lidl desk @Mick ?


Yes I did buy one, and to be honest I'm quite impressed with it.

It works exactly how it should, goes up and down smoothly, and seems pretty well made for the price.

At full height it's just right for me to stand at, and take the strain off my creaky, life-ravaged back. Cranked down it's perfect for sitting sewing, reading or wasting my life on the internet.

If I was being picky, I could say the top flexes a bit if I lean on it. Simple answer to that is to not lean on it, of course. But if I did get a bit fed up with that, I'd happily replace it with a piece of kitchen worktop or thick plywood, and still think it didn't really owe me anything.

5
The Haberdashery / Re: William Whitley scissors
« on: July 12, 2022, 21:00:13 PM »
I have used the Wilkinson / W. Whitely tailors shears. (Not mine I borrowed them off someone). As has been said, they cut superbly but are certainly heavy. I must admit that when there are a few pennies in the kitty I'll probably invest in a pair of my own. Even if it's just for the sake of supporting one of the last traditional scissor makers left in this country.

One bit of advice I would give is that if you buy the "Xtra Sharp" models, they have micro-serrated blades. They cut brilliantly but can not be re-sharpened. I don't know how much use it would actually take to blunt a pair of scissors that well made. Probably a lifetime or two, but just something to bear in mind.

As for the arthritis.
As a fellow sufferer, I can tell you that it's not the weight of the scissors that causes a problem, it's the hard metal edges of the bows putting pressure on the joint.

This is my solution, just some thick cotton cloth bandaged around the thumb bow and stitched in place.
As crude as it looks, it works surprisingly well.

20220712_201845 by Mick, on Flickr


6
@SewRuthieSews

Looks even better on you than on the dummy.

 :thumb:

7

And some fab matching across the front, though I say so myself  :embarrassed:

  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Yep.
That is pretty impressive. 
 :thumb:

8
Bit of a last minute dash to get this one done in time, but here goes.

Mick's entry for the competition.

I've had this tiny enamelled badge on my bike jacket for years.

20220423_205922 by Mick, on Flickr

Took a picture, printed it out as an A4 enlargement.
Cut the pieces out and used them as pattern for what I hoped would be a bit of raw-edge applique.

20220601_132728 by Mick, on Flickr

Although in the event, the edges turned out not to be quite as "raw" as I'd hoped.
The tee shirt pattern was a freebie from Melly Sews, and the fabric is some stretchy stuff from the Dalton Mills "pot luck"
 bargain page. You never know what colours you're going to get, but in the event they do work quite well together.
20220601_130953 by Mick, on Flickr

9
Oops, just realised I put IKEA in the title.

Meant to say Lidl, of course... :facepalm:

10
@Mick   did you find this on Lidl's website - I couldn't find it ... :cry:

Never looked on the website. They have some in the local store.

11
Yes I know, it's lidl and all that, but some of their stuff is OK.

So, obvious question,  has anyone bought / used one of these, have any real-world experience?

At that price it's about half of the ones on Amazon, and an awful lot cheaper than any thing similar at IKEA.

I don't have room for a separate cutting table, and just wondered if it might be a solution to cutting-out-induced back ache.


12
For Sale, Wanted & Free to a good home / Re: Embroidery threads
« on: January 22, 2022, 09:32:58 AM »
Thanks for the replies.  :thumb:

Not wanting to pull this thread too far off course, but...

@Starryfish  Trust me, I've seen bikers wearing stranger things. :rolleyes:

@Lilian Yes, thanks for asking, back to my normal, vulgar good health.


13
For Sale, Wanted & Free to a good home / Re: Embroidery threads
« on: January 21, 2022, 22:24:27 PM »
Might be a daft question, but can this thread be used for normal sewing on a "non-embroidery" machine?

Please feel free to call me a pillock if I'm overlooking something obvious about it.

 :thread:

14
Overlockers & Coverstitchers / Re: So, I need an overlocker...
« on: January 01, 2022, 21:55:55 PM »
I don't know about your shop but the man who has the tiny shop from which I got my overlocker, coverlock and main machine will service and repair machines that he has sold.


Yes, it turns out that this place does servicing and repairs, does classes and training, as well as selling spares, bits, bobs, and notions.

Strangest of all is that the shop is six miles from my front door, and I didn't know it even existed until I did a search for that particular machine and Google pointed me at the place.




15
Overlockers & Coverstitchers / So, I need an overlocker...
« on: December 29, 2021, 23:08:45 PM »
No, really I need an overlocker.

Ok, I want and overlocker.

Thanks to the helpful advice from the people on this here forum, I managed to swerve the dubious  Lidl, Aldi etc. machines and decided on one of these.



Obviously, they are available on-line, but it turned out that there is a genuine, bricks-and-mortar sewing machine shop just a few miles away from where I live. And they have them in stock, for exactly the same price as the online suppliers.

Went to the shop and the conversation went like this...

Really Nice Person In The Shop. "Is it for yourself, a gift for someone?"

Me "It's for me"

RNPINTS "Used an overlocker before?"

Me "No, not really"

RNPITNS "Are you OK with it just in the box, then?"

Me "Sorry...just in the box?"

RNPITS "I'll unpack it for you, and run through how to use it."

Me (Very short of time) "Err, I think I'll be alright, probably..."

RNPITS "OK then, if you're sure. There's an instruction DVD in the box, and some really good tutorials on YouTube. But if you're struggling with anything, just call in and we'll help you out. I've registered the warranty for you. Enjoy your sewing."

Bearing in mind that this was the cheapest, most basic machine in the place, this level of service is definitely worth going out for, and better than just pressing the button on Amazon.




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