General chat thread for BB girls who like sewing

[Ryatha]

I use the spot light paper as well, but then I also have a friend who has some fabric/paper that has a grid on it so it makes drafting a patter much easier. I'm going to try to borrow some of that.

[Laranna]

Cool thanks girls. I couldn't wait to gt to Spotlight so I've just traced it out on baking paper. Now to just work out how to make the pants fit. The pattern is a few cm's wider than the fabric. Kawazuki, thought about that but it's not the length, it's wider at the front and back seams.

[kawazuki]

can you turnit on a diagonal or something? if its flannel it shouldnt have too much stretch so diagonal stitching wont affect it to much. or do you have enough to put a stip down the leg so say make it 3cm short from front seam to side seam then add the strip down the legs??
dont know if that made sense, so on the side you will have 2 seams

[Daydream Believer]

If you are making something without a pattern, do you make it out of a cheap material first or make you own pattern with paper first?

[maz]

coudl someone PLEASE point me in the direction of a quilting for dummy's....I have no idea about quilting and realy, really want to make something for Vy quited.

when I make a pattern, I make it out of paper all sticky taped up then when I know it works I buy that clear tablecloth plastic and trace the pattern out on that so I can see the fabric below and have a strong pattern for ever.

[kawazuki]

there must eb one of those quilters for dummies book, like the internet for dummies book.

google wil be your friend maz

[Nelle]

I love reading all these questions. What will mine be? Um. How do you sew?

Maz, the sewing shop in Pakenham specialises in quilting I think. You'll just have to visit.
Probably there are some decent quilting books that teach the basics - Sal got a good one for crocheting from Spotters (how's that going anyway?), I think I saw a quilting one in the same range?

Anyway. You will have to excuse this pleb for sharing - if you weren't completely blown away by my boast that I made a calico bag, I thought you should know that I made a pincushion last night. I know I know. I'm awesome. Funnily enough, I handsewed it and really struggled to find pins for it!

But my real question is - what should I sew next? Is an apron (like maybe just a waist one) too ambitious? Or one that slips over the head? Gran gave me some of hers to trace a pattern for.
And Sal gave me some brilliant tips, not that I'm sure I can actually achieve any of them...I don't know how to pin, I'm not sure how bias tape works (I've never used it), I'm not sure what all the knobs on my sewing machine are for...

Do I just resign myself to screwing up again and again and learning that way? Hope that doesn't prove to be too expensive...

(actually, does anyone in my area know of anywhere I can do sewing classes/lessons? I thought Spotlight might, but the website doesn't include my local one in their details.)

[Pandora]

Maz - whats sort of quilt? patchwork or applique?

Spotlight have easy quilt patterns - and classes - usually for both patchwork and applique.

Sampler quilts are good for learning patchwork basics as you get lots of different blocks and learn different techniques.

However they tend to be large (the finished quilts)

I reckon your best bet would be to get a kit thats easy for beginners. You can either get just a pattern and instructions or you can get all the fabric as well.
Let me know if you want the names of some specific quilting places, but if your spotlight has a craft section then they will likley have staff who know most of the local quilters anyway.

[ss_storm]

Nelle - don't worry hun..everytime I drag my sewing machine out I have to find it's instruction book to re-learn how to do everything
I just kind of go with it...I don't know much about sewing or the 'right' way to do things, I just do it how I think i should try it, if it works: great! If not..it's a learning experience and then i ask for advice! Lol. I think I've taught myself pretty much all I know (which doesn't amount to much) just by getting in and trying it.

I would love to be able to sew a zipper...I have quite a few cushion covers ready to be sewn together but i don't know how to sew a zip...the last and only one i did DF sewed it in for me

[Ryatha]

Maz - I can't help with the quilting thing - I have no idea and have never done it! My MIL is very good at it but you probably don't want to come to SA for classes! Oh and the suggestions for the pattern on clear plastic tablecloth is fantastic - thank you for sharing

Nelle - A waist apron would be fairly easy, all you need is a large square that has been hemmed on three sides, a long strip of the fabric folded lengthways right sides together, sewn and then turned to rightside out. To attach the two gather the big square on the side that hasn't been hemmed and sew that to the long strip. I hope that make sense.... Othewise google for a tutorial, there are so many out there with pics and probably explain it a lot better.

Sal - if it is the first time I am making something I make it with cheap fabric so I can make mistakes with that. Once I have worked out the order and how to make it, I use my expensive fabrics.

Ok, now that one bag is made, and I worked out how to use interfacing, I'm thinking about making a purse/wallet and a nappy bag... mmm might have to go to the WIP thread and remind myself of my other projects first

[~Raven~]

Just quickly poking in to say hi

I try to find the time to sew but not often enough! I'm attempting to make a pettiskirt ATM and have cut it out lol. Probably won't get to sew it up for about 3 years though

Also am considering making drapes too...I siad considering. Haven't made them before so that would be an underatkaing of epic proportions

[Pandora]

Nelle- what about the sewing shop you spoke of? Even smaller shops often run classes, especially if they sell machines.

[wysiwyg]

I went to a sewing basics class in North Melbourne as a Christmas present (google Thread Den), was three hours on a Sunday for the basics and was great. I hadn't used a machine since school (I don't have a machine only a mini one) but you can go there and use their machines and helped me with the mini one. Not sure where you are in Melbourne Nelle but they have a whole range of classes and quite a few are just one off three hour sessions on weekends which for me really worked as opposed to going every evening for a few weeks. Our local community house offers evening classes (Camberwell), but I only know that because go there for Mothers Group - so there might be similar where you are is just often hard to find out about.

[Nelle]

Ah a community class, I will have to have a looksee. I'm in Pakenham, and the sewing shop does seem to run classy sort of things, but it's aimed at quilting, and I'm sort of not in that headspace yet.
I shoulda done a class when I lived right near Bayswater Spotlight!

[~Raven~]

Nelle I'm sure they do general sewing classes and not just quilting. When I bought my overlocker and I was being taught how to thread it out the back, there was a bunch of girls in there too with their sewing machines sewing along paper with lines ruled on it

[Nelle]

Ah thanks Raven! I really shouldn't trust websites should I...I might try to pop in and ask...

[kawazuki]

so what shops does everyone get their fabric from..

espeiclaly online as i have minimal time to actually go out to shops..

[shellbell3]

Check your local rec centre or community house too, sometimes they have.

I have just about finished a baby sleeping bag I started 2 years ago for DD1, so will now be for DD2, lol. Got a bit confused with the instructions so made up my own a bit and it all worked out, just left to do the neck and armholes.

Next job flannelette PJs.