General chat thread for BB girls who like sewing

ss_storm ~ I made a cover for DD's change mat out of what I had left of it, put some microfibre on the inside to absorb any unsuspecting wee's and just some while fleece on the otherside, I should have maybe put a waterproof backing but in the end the mat it goes over is waterproof. And it just slides over with long pieces of elastic to keep it firmly in place :D

Gotta love spotlight fabrics, I was hunting for a rainbow strip flannel all of winter last year in pastel tones (they had the bright ones) couldn't find it anywhere, I eventually found it in January at a new store and it was of $3 a m, I was in heaven and bought about 5m :lol: going to make sheets and hopefully some PJ's for DD :D

Ohhh the constumes sound great Astrid, do you have a photobucket account or something like that you can uplad them to? I thought the gallery here was working again, or maybe it is just that the link is back...

Im a lazy sewer. Or rather, I had sporadic bursts of energy and motivation.
So a challenge would possibly be just the buttkicking I need.

My main love is patchwork and quilting, Its very difficult when you are a perfectionist bordering on OCD though, because if its more and 1mm out, I unpick it. :redface:

Well, no thats a lie.

My main love is FABRIC. I have boxes of it. fat qurters, 1/2 metre lengths and charm squares mainly at the moment plus metres of bamboo, velour and flannel. I only have one box to go and I can gradulate to a wheely bin - you know like the ones for the garbage :)

I buy old clothes and sheeting at op shops and unpick everything to use it in patchwork too.


So....tell me about this challenge

Arcadia - I love the bag! It looks great! :)

Very cute flares wysiwyg :)

*beema* - I have seen your pics on FB and your creations are just gorgeous!

maz - I like the idea of a challenge, but I'm not sure if I'd finish something in a month :rofl: I'm too slow because I'm such a n00b at sewing. But I will give it a red hot try!

Audax - I bought a pattern the other day to make myself a dress (have never made one before) but I just haven't found the right fabric yet. I want something soft and flowy that's not clingy with a bit of a pattern on it. I LOVE your wedding dress and am super impressed that you made that!

ryatha - oooh another blog to follow ;)

Pandora - that IS a lot of fabric! :) I'm interested in getting into quilting as well. When I was in Spotlight the other day, I actually looked at buying a rotary cutter and ruler and mat, but had no idea what size or shapes to get, so I left it. Any advice?

eta: this is the only thing I've made so far

I wont tell you guys how much fabric ive got then will i :redface: Ive spent close to $2000 int he last 2-3 weeks (granted some of it is for work).

Ry - Ichecked out the curtain section...found some gorgeous fabric and thought....of foot rug for the end of the bed...hmmmm challenge coming ;) then i got on line tonight and obught some tillbrook fairy fabric fro mini me's dollies bed.....she doesnt need it cause mini me co sleep's with her baby too :D but likes the 'pretty ladies' material.
I then went and bought some via a FB garage sale type thing...I gotta stay away I tell ya!!!!

See what happens when you do have sex anymore...material is your high, your love making :ROFL: probably get more out of the fabric then spanking the monkey half the time hahhahaa

Have been thinking about this challenge.....would we say make something the same or say give us a target...say 2m of the same fabric (not everyone has to have the same) and see what we can make out of it?

Wow! I love all the creations!
Ss-storm- can you use two different colours for the door snakes? So create four quarters to make up the oblong, then sew the quarters together using fabric that works together either lengthwise or around.

I have waaay too many projects underway ATM so maybe the first challenge can be 'last stitch' to finish all the works in progress.

Then for the scrap heap challenge, maybe they can be themed, like baby or adult, home or leisure etc?

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I'm interested in getting into quilting as well. When I was in Spotlight the other day, I actually looked at buying a rotary cutter and ruler and mat, but had no idea what size or shapes to get, so I left it. Any advice?

eta: this is the only thing I've made so far

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Ooh thats all eh?! It's soooo cute :D

Hmm.. I guess it depends what you want to make. bigger quilts can have blocks that are 12"x12" or bigger, so I got a cutting mat large enough to easily fit that plus room to work around it.

The thing is that DH let DS use it as a placemat for craft so its covered in glue, paint etc so I need to get a new one.

Oh dear that might mean going in to a fabric shop..hmm..

Rulers: I have a 6" square, 60degree triangle, and 12" ruler. I need a longer one though I remember it being a PITA only having 12" as the longest rectangular one.

12"x12" ruler would be handy though, or whatever size is the most common if doing a block quilt - its a lot easier to see if everything is square.

My rotary cutter is just a midrange one I got at spotlight, the wheel is about 2 inches in diameter.

I'm going to hang round in here, have recently set up my sewing desk and wanting to get started.
Has signed up for sewing classes but they changed the nights and of course the 2 nights they have them are the 2 evenings i work.
But MIL has volunteered to teach me, going to take me to cheap material shops she has hunted out and she also has overlocker too.

Eluned - that little blanket is so cute!!! MIL made DD a Winnie the Pooh cot quilt which is cute ( cot quilt ). I don't think I'm talented enough to make something big like that though! Lol.

Arcadia- I thought about using two colours but don't know if it would look quite right... talked to my mum this morning and she has a huge piece of fabric (about 2.5m x 1.5m!) she said it's been sitting in the cupboard for years and she has no idea what she bought it for, so she's going to post it to me and I'll use it to make the larger snakes.

I'm on a fabric bying ban until DH is working, so only about 8 weeks :crossfingers: but until then I am using up scraps that lovely ladies have sent me and my other fabric I have accumulated lately (other than the microfleece I ordered the other day oops!)

So a challenge to use up current materials and or finish projects that we have sitting around? I have 4 nappies I need to finish for DD2, a dress for lumpy, some liners for a friend and a skirt for me. mmmm sounds like a lot doesn't it :rofl:

ss - the door snake project sounds great and we need them too, but our dog would just see them as toys and try to play with them and eat them. :doh:

I just got a rotary cutter (thank you spotlight gift card) but I don't have a cutting mat so I cant use it yet. It would make cutting out curves much easier and a number of layers at the same time. Hopefully it will speed up my project a bit too.

Astrid - I would love to see the dressed you are making

ah, no hubby or DD1 today - going to get unpicking all the mistakes I have made recently so I can get back to creating :)

im just getting back into sewing.
found mums old overlocker so will eb bringing that home, found my old stash of fabric from my dancing days

so im going to start by making some taggie style blankies and stuff like that simple yet cute.
also do a bit of hand made quilting got a few on the go lol typical really.

once we move i have told hubby i want a room where i can set up my sewing stuff and lock the door with me inside..

love the idea of a challenge, will get me motivated to start something i think :D

I've just started sewing again- probably because i've finally got a sewing machine earlier in the year(My parents gave it to me as a birthday present). But I think you girls all put my work to shame :redface: cos the stuff i've seen so far is really good. I seem to use the quick unpick an awful lot lol.

I started by making my own cloth pads- thought they looked easy, but nope not as easy as they look. But have made a few and I think they're pretty good :rolleyes: - well they work so that's the main thing.

I guess i can almost join in here!!

I am a bit of a beginer but i have made a few things this year!
i have made 32 library bags for everyone in DS kindy class lol
i made pillow cases and a cot quilt cover
and little patchwork quilt thingos for my DD's dollies

and my mum helped me make my DD's curtains!

my project at the moment is curtains for my bedroom.. i am doing them all on my own haha

speaking of spotlight... did anyone else just get a thing in the mail?
i got a card saying if i spend $100 i will get $40 off!! just for next week! i think i may have to have a look! lol

Spotlight sending those things out again...grrr typical after i spend $100 there yesterday!!!

Ive been wondering what I can make for me...and im thinkinking of starting a family blanket. You know a patch work one of sorts were I have a square for each of us that is applicated with what represents each of us. And as my family then grows...eg when my children have children, I can add to it and make it a family heirloom KWIM???

Have to play with my machines soon but its work related :( not for me

Fat Quarter Projects Sew,Mama,Sew! Blog

what about for the challenge one of these fat quarter projects??

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Fat Quarter Projects Sew,Mama,Sew! Blog

what about for the challenge one of these fat quarter projects??

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Oh I should not have looked at that link...LOL. Too many temptations :lol:

Although there are quite a few things there that would be useful, I really need some doorstops!

Family Quilts are wonderful Maz, we have one in our family and as children we were able to do some aplique ourselves for our own sqaures :)

yummymummy - :o That website is so so dangerous!!! I want to quit work and sew :rofl: I have like the bunting, there are a few people who sell it on etsy and it looks so pretty :)

OMG yummy woman!!!! I absolutely love some of that stuff!!!

I LOVE the "Last Stitch" idea! I have two dresses that I really really should get finished so I can get at least one wear before I get too fat!

I haven't read all the posts yet - will go back in a minute :) cause geez this thread is busy! :lol:

I made two quilts for Pie while I was pregnant, they are on my FB, and i started the patchwork top for Panda's but that was a year ago :redface:
so a last stitch challenge is exactly what I need.

Panda's quilt top is nice but the fun part is done, now I want to make it bigger so I am going to cut strips of black cotton to place between the blocks ITMS. Still not exactly sure how I'm going to do it & I'm procrastinating....

I will get around to posting pics later

ETA - have just been through all the posts & looked at pics - wow you ladiers are clever! I can't believe some of the stuff you are making!

Apart from quilts, I have made cushion covers in the past, and beanbag frogs for the older kids when they were younger. Oh and some felt elephants which were really cute.
I have some cute cherry pattern fabric that i was going to make a summer dress for Pie out of...only summer is over now...I'm wondering if I might make it anyway & put it over a tshirt or skivvy :think:

My biggest problem is time, with work & kids stuff, and space, we have NO room for anything here, we are 6 of us in a 3brm townhouse plus we have BIL living here atm. If I want to sew, I have to set up on the dining table then take it all down so people can eat :( makes it a bit of a PITA
gonna have to find a way around it though, I have too many things I want to make :)

oh wow - that sewmamasew site has some great stuff in it. I bookmarked it ages ago and just had another look at it... I wish I had more time to sew :cry:

Google threadbangers & check out their site. They do a lot of recycling & upcycling.

Ok, finally set myself up a picasa web album.
Picasa Web Albums - 11040415895906480... - Sewing Projects

Realise that many of the photos have not been taken so that you can really see the detail. My Halloween costume has a tonne of detail, so I may need to find it and take close up shots

astrid, those dresses are fantastic and your littleone's outfit is soooo cute!

Wow Astrid, your costumes are fabulous!!! So very clever!!! :clap:

For anyone interested, I started a Last Stitch challenge thread here https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...tml#post226237

ohhh i cant wait to see some more prjoects..

will have to show some of mine off when i find them, most were dance constumes.

Thanks for starting that one Arcadia :)

Well, when I went thru my sewing things to find my patchwork tools I found my QS bed sampler quilt that I started. I think I mentioned it earlier.

Anyway its a 16 block sampler with ashsing and 2 borders. Ive done 6 blocks, and I have precut about 3-4 more ready to go.

I've decided I *need* to finish it this year. and I need to do it in line with my BOTM as DH will quite rightly say "You cant do another one, you didnt finishe the one you've started"
Im not happy with the colours, but Im not happy to scrap ot all when a lot of the blocks are precut and the ones I've done are pretty good. Plus I see it as skills practice.

I can always give it to my mum when Im finished and make her use to cos it was made by me LOL

Bring on payday. once I get my cutting mat and new ruler I will be set.

Pandora, thanks for the quliting ruler info...adding them to my Spotlight shopping list :)

Astrid, love the costumes! You are very talented!

I've just started cutting out the pattern for DS's flannel pyjamas and have realized that my fabric is not wide enough by about 10 inches :( so I think I will make the top part as the pattern pieces for that fit and then buy some more fabric that is wide enough to do the pants....unless someone knows how to make it fit?

Also, it's a multisize pattern and I want to use the smaller size but don't want to mess up the other pattern sizes, so is it best to just trace the pattern onto some other paper and use that to get the right size? I have never used patterns before!

what i do is trace the size i want and keep the original looking pretty so i can use it for any size.
i use butchers or brown paper. anything that will hold the shap and is long enough etc so i dont have to many joins in my pattern

this is also how i make my patterns.

sometime sits a bit of a jigsaw puzzle maybe could you make shorts then make leg bottoms and have them kinda patchwork like>??

I use baking paper to trace them.
You canbuy paper specifically for this purpose but Ive found baking paper works fine.

I buy this really thin material from Spotlight to trace my patterns, I wish I knew the name of it, but it lasts ages and no tearing when you put the pins in and out, it is also really cheap, wide and only a $1 or $2 m :D

I just lay down the pattern piece, then draw around it with chalk, just trying to follow the lines I want by eye.

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.

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.

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

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?

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 :lol: 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.

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

google wil be your friend maz ;)

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

Maz, the sewing shop in Pakenham specialises in quilting I think. You'll just have to visit. :lol:
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! :lol:

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? :think: 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.)

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.