Thanks Tamnymore it is always nice to hear good recommendations for on line bought fabrics.

I should have also mentioned that I indulged in yet another book 'Master the Coverstitch Machine by Johanna Lundstrom' - the cover says The complete coverstitch sewing guide, and I have to agree this is an excellent book for a novice in this field like me!!

Incidentially and changing subjects, another book by this lady Johanna Lundstrom is  'Sewing Jeans - the complete step by step guide' and I believe it is from this book that Realale found the best way for her to sew the jeans fly.

As I am so new to sewing modern day knits on modern day machines, I have equipped my sewing room accordingly, I have tape/clear elastic for sewing into the shoulder seams, I have bought some woolley nylon, some ball pointed pins, some duckbilled scissors, some ball pointed hand sewing needles and of course various packs of stretch, jersey, or ball pointed sewing machine needles, some stretch interfacing should I need it.  Now back in the 1960's/70's I am afraid I just used my ordinary dress patterns for wovens, used a 5/8" seam allowance and treated the then knits as if they were woven fabrics and it worked for me, and luckily I had no problem with popping seams and the dresses were never too tight - so I rather got away with it.  However how things have changed, now we can get patterns that are designed especially for knits, I have put on a lot of weight since those heady days of long ago, and nowadays I do not want clothes that cling to me, so I am being very cautious both with the type of knit fabrics I buy and the patterns I choose - this is a new adventure for me and one I am looking forward to very much.  Incidentally the fabric I bought from pound Fabrics was the stuff I was after - it is  double jacquard type knits so no curling edges like on the single knit fabrics - so we will see how these make up.

I am here already as I am determined to finish these mattress covers, what seemed to be a simple job has taken a lot longer than I wanted it to, but it will be worth it in the end.  The machines will certainly need a good clean out when I have finished and some nice new needles and a good drink of oil.

Loved the comments made about my disappearing under all this bedding, and yes I am somewhat.  Have come across a hurdle in that this rather oversized mattress cover supposedly for a 6ft bed is actually only 180cm either way and thus is too short in length for my mattress, so I am going to add a strip of cotton sheeting to one end i.e. the end under the pillow, and then box both ends, just a little more work but I am sure it won't matter, after all it is only me and my husband using these beds.  However when I am either overlocking or using the sewing machine, there is such a volume of white fabric being whooshed under the needle - luckily my cabinet opens towards the back so I have quite an area which is just right for this volume of fabric - I am so glad that I thought about this when I chose my cabinet.

I am here still playing with my blouse.

Just glorious Stitches, love the colours as well.

I have been here too, still messing about with the coverstitching on my vest sleeves, what a fiddly job it has turned out to be and I haven't finished them yet!!.  I do have a free arm on this machine, and I have also reduced the pressure on the foot, and I am still undecided whether I like this or not - still they are only long sleeved winter vests so nobody is going to see them.

I just want to get these finished and out of the way so I can get on with something else, and this is taking far too long - perhaps what I deemed to be an easy job on these sleeves was wrong as it is quite stretchy and so difficult to keep lined up with a strip marker on the needle plate.

Again thank you to all  who  have given me plenty of ideas on my journey into modern day knits.  Over the weekend I intend to shorten all the sleeves on my M&S heatgen long sleeved vests I need to take about  8cm off.  I am still waiting for some really decent weather so I can wash my haul of knit fabrics so they can go out on the line to dry, I do not have anything to drape them over to dry indoors and some say do not tumble dry.  At least once they are made up they will be easier to manage rather than yards and yards of fabric to deal with.

You have been busy Sheilago, a lovely collection for a new mum and new baby.  I remember those lovely hooded tops when my two were small, so very useful especially when they did not need a coat as such on, but something to keep out the chill especially on nice spring days.