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16

Technical Help / How to pattern match perfectly?

« on: September 19, 2020, 15:52:33 PM »

Strictly speaking this shouldn`t be in the Wardrobe section as it concerns curtain fabric but presumably it is the same technique.
I need to pattern match 2 pieces of curtain fabric so I can use them to cover a flat headboard - there will be a vertical join which will be in the centre of the headboard. I`ve now made 3 pairs of curtains with this fabric - each curtain being 2 widths so I`ve already done a fair amount of pattern matching - but although it is fine for a gathered curtain it wouldn`t be good enough for the headboard (I want the join to be as invisible as possible).

Any advice would be much appreciated. I can`t work out how to exactly line up the design and then stitch in the right place

This is the fabric
https://www.terrysfabrics.co.uk/products/field-flowers-curtain-fabric-elderberry

17

Fun with Fabric / Cheap Christmas fabric

« on: September 12, 2020, 07:53:29 AM »

I`ve had an email from Pound Fabrics advertising their Christmas fabrics

https://poundfabrics.co.uk/search?options%5Bunavailable_products%5D=hide&type=product&q=christmas

18

House Beautiful / Dunelm foam rubber?

« on: September 11, 2020, 18:35:35 PM »

I`m going to make a new headboard. We went into Dunelm last week (first time for me) and I noticed there was a piece of foam up on the wall but didn`t think to look closer. Does anyone know if it comes in different thicknesses and if they will cut it to size?
Otherwise I will go back to my favourite online supplier (whose name escapes me at the moment)

19

House Beautiful / A little knowledge is a GOOD thing

« on: August 30, 2020, 11:51:54 AM »

I`ve been making curtains for 30+ years, basically taught by a friend who scribbled a few instructions on a bit of paper. Since then I`ve made many curtains, for myself and others, and they`ve all hung well and looked absolutely fine.
However since moving house I decided I wanted to do things "properly" so I bought the Merrick and Day Encyclopedia of Curtains. Well, it appears I`ve been doing everything wrong! I only allow about 4 inches for a hem - they allow 10. I only turn over the top about an inch - they allow 2 inches. I do likewise at each end of the tape - they allow 8 extra inches of tape per curtain. I also put the tape on first and then hem. They do the opposite.

For about 30 seconds I panicked. Then I thought Blow It. My existing curtains look good. Why pay for fabric and tape that nobody sees? So Merrick and Day have been put away and I shall carry on doing things wrong

20

Fun with Fabric / Looking for plastic coated fabric

« on: August 14, 2020, 18:57:42 PM »

I want to replace the fake oilcloth tablecloth that protects our dining table.
Does anyone have a favourite supplier?
It won't get much wear so it doesn't need to be super high quality.
It's currently dark green with gold stars and a lot of paint splodges . Something lighter and floral would be nice

21

Tech Know How / Internal server error

« on: July 11, 2020, 18:05:06 PM »

The website has been very slow today and this evening I'm getting Internal Server Error messages when I try to view different threads

22

House Beautiful / Potato storage bag?

« on: July 02, 2020, 14:53:46 PM »

Not exactly "House Beautiful" but never mind
We don`t eat a great many potatoes and I`m fed up with them going green or sprouting before we`ve had time to use them. I don`t have room for them in the fridge and I don`t know if they should go in there anyway. At the moment they are loose in a plastic drawer thing in the utility room and that`s no good. So I`m wondering about making a simple bag to put them in first. I assumed dark fabric would be best to stop the greening but most "potato bags" for sale look like cream calico

Any thoughts? It won`t be on show so it doesn`t matter what it looks like

ps I know the ideal solution is to not buy so many potatoes but we are relying on supermarket deliveries at the moment and the options are limited

23

Fun with Fabric / Article about African wax print fabric

« on: June 26, 2020, 12:08:50 PM »

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/4fq4hrgxvn/wax-print

24

The Haberdashery / Most useful Bias Tape Maker?

« on: June 23, 2020, 13:16:58 PM »

I am assembling a package of "extras" for a friend who has recently returned to sewing. I thought I would include a bias tape maker. I`ve got 3 Clover ones of different widths - I think I got the widest one when I had a go at bag making.

If you just had one which width would you find most useful? And are Clover the best? I have seen sets of 3 unbranded ones which are considerably cheaper but don`t want her to be put off by trying to use one that doesn`t work properly

25

Machine Accessories / Hump jumper advice

« on: June 16, 2020, 20:48:06 PM »

I have got a Jean-a-ma-jig which I thought was the only hump jumper you could get. But when I searched for one for a friend I discovered there is another - so now I can`t decide which to get her. Any thoughts?

https://jaycotts.co.uk/products/jean-a-ma-jig?_pos=1&_sid=642a67e9e&_ss=r

https://jaycotts.co.uk/products/bulky-seam-aid

26

Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside / Joining bias strips

« on: June 10, 2020, 20:06:15 PM »

Don't worry, I haven't got lost and ended up here by mistake. But I understand you ladies spend a lot of time binding things and I want to know if there is a good way to join two bias strips so you end up with a nice long bias strip with a nice neat diagonal seam - without spending ages trying to remember how to position the 2 pieces and then sewing the seam the wrong width so you end up with a crooked long strip

27

House Beautiful / curtain fabric suppliers - recommendations?

« on: June 07, 2020, 16:57:56 PM »

I have worked out that I`m going to need about 45 metres of fabric for our new sitting room - and that`s assuming no pattern repeats. There are two very large picture windows. It`s going to be quite a task and expensive so I`m hoping to do it only once. The plan is to do it in the Autumn but I`m doing a bit of preliminary research. I`ve bought from Terry`s Fabrics in the past - ok but I haven`t seen anything suitable. And JustFabrics are now local to me.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I`m hoping I might be able to persuade someone to give me discount for a large order

28

Fun with Fabric / Viscose/linen supplier - forgotten (now remembered!)

« on: June 04, 2020, 09:19:17 AM »

Last year I found what looked like a very good selection of viscose / linen (suitable for summer trousers). It was available in several plain colours and there was also a choice of 2 weights. I was intending to send for a couple of samples but life got in the way, and I didn`t make a note of the supplier.

Any idea who it was?

29

Technical Help / Bias tape question

« on: June 01, 2020, 07:18:05 AM »

Possibly a daft question. I`ve got a pattern which requires 1/4inch double bias tape. Am I right in thinking that if I make 1/2inch tape with my bias tape maker and then fold that in half I will end up with 1/4inch double tape?
The pattern refers to the "wider folded edge of the tape" - I`m not sure how to end up with a "wider folded edge"!

30

Fun with Fabric / Calling batik experts!

« on: May 22, 2020, 16:37:26 PM »

I`m very partial to a bit of batik and am looking for some to make a dress. Last year I had some really nice (but expensive) from Croft Mill but they have sold out of that quality this year. I`m now looking at Doughty`s and Empress Mills - obviously they are aiming mainly at patch-workers so I wonder if it would be too stiff to make a dress?

https://www.doughtysonline.co.uk/quilting-fabric/batiks/new-doughty-s-exclusive-bali-batiks/

https://www.empressmills.co.uk/fabrics/quilting-fabrics/batik-fabrics

Any thoughts?

Topics - sewingj