General chat thread for BB girls who like sewing

WOW! This thread has really kicked off!! Good work girls....!! I'm glad I started it!! I knew there had to be other sewers out there in the BB community :confetti:

Well my next project I'm about to begin is a pillow case cover for DD's junior size pillow I bought her! Cute!! I am making two, I have two different fabrics. One for her cot and one for her play area and to use when reading her books on her couch.

I'm also going to make my friends 19mo daughter, a cute skirt like the Bandana one I made for DD!! :D

Eluned - have fun with the flanny PJ's! That's on my list next ready for winter!! Just gotta find a pattern! Cute! :D

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Ive not used Satin Biased Binding before as I usually make my own from off cuts :redface:

I usually iron it in half and then iron one of the edges in half again or to the correct width. Then sew the unironed side into place with the machine and slip stitch the ironed sideof the binding on the behind side of my item by hand. Makes for a neat finish. HTH.

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Thanks Molly :D Bibs are all done!

*QUESTION* I have a blanket that I am doing for my nephew and I just need to edge it, I am guessing that I would just make my own biased binding but wider? Do you just cut strips of material, sew them together, the iron the edges in and the stitch on, probably by hand? It is just two layers of cotton and a wool inner layer for the blanketing, this is the last bit I need to do for my WIP :)

I made a top on Friday and wore it out to our BB catch up, it was so cool To actually make something for myself and be happy enough with it to wear it :rofl: Will have to get a photo of it and post a link :)

Hvae to make some flannies for DD as well, got a pattern from MIL, and found some gorgeous flannelette with ducks on it, DD is completely addicted to ducks, and she was ver excited to see the material :D

Beema, I made my own bias binding for my first quilt and I have to be honest, it was a disaster :lol:
but maybe you can learn from my mistakes....
For starters I didn't cut it anywhere near wide enough, also I probably could have been a bit more finicky, I was getting impatient to have it done.
But basically you cut strips of fabric on the bias - that is for strength I think - and join them. If you Google it I found instructions online.

For my second quilt I bought wide binding from spotlight :D

Good luck, and I can't wait to see the pic of your top!

So if mine is a disaster that's ok :rofl: I do have some wider stuff from Spotlight tht I use for other stuff and I can fold that over and see how it looks, I am jsut not sure of what colour to get or use as the quilt has lots of greens, plain green with different green and white dots on the back and the front has jungle animals, but an outer strip that is about 2" wide had a zebra stripe border happening, so I am guessing that black would porbablt be the best colour...

I will try and get a photo of the top and happy to share the pattern as it was just from a blog - love free patterns that work!! :dance:

I made a skirt for my good friend's daughter the other night, did it in about 1.5-2hrs! I was sooo proud of myself :dance: i'm getting faster and more confident with this sewing stuff now!! ;)

That reminds me, should pay a visit to the local library soon and borrow a sewing book for some tips and ideas!!!

Good work Shanti!

I'm still working on the PJ's. Plus last night I mended DH's soccer shorts as they had a hole in the crotch lol. Stitching wasn't 100% straight but it was good enough :)

Beema, how'd the binding go?

In spotlgiht you can buy a bias binding making tool, you cut the material into strips, feed it through the tool & iron it as it comes out. Im not sure how big they go though

I haven't made the biased binding yet, I have been updating my Blog :lol:

Thanks Molly for the link, that really makes sense of how to make it :)

Daydream ~ That tool sounds really interesting, I might go and have a look at it and see how it works :)

Here is a link to a blog which has a free pattern you can follow to make a top ~ this is the one I made on Friday :D Spring Time Top It will work throughout my pregnancy as well, plenty of room for my belly to grow!! :dance:

That's a cute top Beema!

I've got a bias binding tool. Haven't used it yet though, I figure I'll get good at binding first...it's something I bought in a fit of optimistic enthusiasm. :lol:

Shanti that's ace about the skirt! You also reminded me that my sewing books were due back yesterday. Nuts.

im after a new sewing machine.. who has what?

been looking at a brother,

I have an ELNA, got the ELNA Sew Easy for Christmas, great machinie to start out with, very reliable and my Mum, Sis, Nan and MIL all have them and I know that Mum and MIL's are over 30 years old and going strong! :)

Beema, love that top. That's going on my to do list for sure!

Kawa, I've got a brother. DH bought it for me for Christmas. It's a newbie machine so suits me really well atm. It does all the basics, does 25 stitches, button holes, zipper feet.

Beema - thannks for the link for that top, I would love to make one like that :)

I have a janome sewing machine but my overlocker is ELNA. I have to say that I love both of them but the janome I have had for 10 years and nothing broke but the ELNA I have has aready done two cutters and a light :doh:

I have 6 hrs with out DD1 and DH on saturday so I hope to get heaps of sewing done. :dance:

Kawazuki- I have a Janome sewing machine and a Janome overlocker, and I have found them both to be quite good. My sewing machine is the breast cancer one that came out christmas 2008. It came with a few different feet, automatic buttonhole. I guess it depends on what features you are after.

Beema, that is such a cute top! I think it could make a cute dress for DD too :)

Might have to add that to the looong list... still no sewing here :wall:

well i have a janome overlocker. and its doing most of what i need, but need teh sewing machien for zippers elastic and finishing touches.

i have found an embroiderer and sewing machine i love but teh $$$$$ is tooooo much for now lol.. ill keep dreaming about that one.

i only want basic and automatic button hole would eb great and the feet needed..

i have got so many things 90% done as now i need teh sewing machine lol

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Kawazuki- I have a Janome sewing machine and a Janome overlocker, and I have found them both to be quite good. My sewing machine is the breast cancer one that came out christmas 2008. It came with a few different feet, automatic buttonhole. I guess it depends on what features you are after.

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Ive got the same, I like mine. It does everything I need it to do

hmmmm janome seem popular.. thanx girls, my old one that i had for 22 years just died.. well it was mums before mine and i learnt to sew on it, it was a brother.. but its beyond repair now :( sad to see the monster go

How have I only just found this thread, I love to sew, so far I have been making babie blankets for everyone who is having a baby atm, which might I had feels like everyone....

next I want to try MCN, I have no idea where to start or what to do, but I know I want to give tham ago... if they go to crap then the dolls in our house will be very well dress indeed...

Daydream Believer- I am yet to use any of the extra feet that came with it.

Kawazuki- I think I paid around the $300-$400 mark for mine. I know they are still selling them, as my local sewing centre still have them.

Kaw - now would be the time to buy a machine...there are always specials on around mothers day and you might even be able to trade your broken machine in on one.

Tal - hon you need to move back down south so we can have sewing days again and teach ya :)

Beema - hon that top is gorgeous! Nice an roomy not just for pg ladies but for fat ladies...hmmm :think:

I bought a quilt pattern yesterday.....Im going to experiment and make myself a bag first with the patch pattern. They had these lovely blankets made in strips and then they had rick rack sewn over the joins on a scattered few. Looks like ive found what I want to make for mini me :dance:

Bridg- I've used the buttonhole foot a couple of times & the zipper foot once.

Maz- I bought a sewing magazine yesterday, its a UK one & they had a how to quilt thing for a basic quilt. It's called Sew Hip

The janome shop have a sale on at the moment, I have the catalogue sitting here, coz Im going to try to persuade my mum to get me the embroidery machine :crossfingers:

*maz writing down mag* thanks hon.
what embroidery machine are you looking at?

The MC350E, the one with the purple E on the front. It's $800 off, and if I do get it it'll probably be my last ever birthday present from mum LOL

ohhh thanx maz, thats a good idea, i didnt even think of trading it in...

off to look at janome site now... *evil laugh*

You know im going to have to go have a squiz now dont you Sal :ROFL:

Kaw hon if you can save some $$$ you gotta do it some how. Actually I thought that Janome had a $200 trade in offer again...let me know how you went

Read this article about your crafting personality in a magazine today - and thought it might be fun to see who we all identify with

What crafting type are you?

4 types

Gina Go Getter
Polly Planner
Penny Procrastinator
Jenny Junkie

So I am 70% Jenny Junkie 30% Gina Go Getter I reckon, definitely not Polly Planner - might get better results sometimes if I was though!

(if I knew how to create a poll I would have done one, if anyone wants to feel free)

mmm I think I am Gina go getter and Jenny Junky... I love starting new projects and trying new things. I ALWAYS have heaps of projects on the go... some take 6 months to get finished :redface:

But I just got a new project :rolleyes: for school - helping to make the flying monkey costume for our wiz of oz school production :) I'm working with fur for the first time so it should be interesting

I still haven't done the biased binding :redface:

But here is a link to my top, I did it without the ruffles as I am not a ruffles girl, but I am making a second one with ruffles so will post that up when it is done! funky Spring Top Fabric is 100% cotton, quilters fabric from Spotlight, I used 75cm of the red and white rings and 25cm of the dotty fabric :D

Love the top Beema!!

I am definitely mostly Gina go-getter, I always have stuff I have started & full of good ideas :p a bit of Jenny Junkie in there. Not a planner at all :D

Thanks Fleur :dance:

Wooo Hoooo!!! I layby-ed a new overlocker!!! :dance:
It is a Janome 8002 DX Overlocker with Bonus Overlocker Feet Valued At $147, reduced to $399 from $599, the place I have bought it from also offers 12 months worth of lessons for FREE!!! Such a good deal and they are really close to my house, can't wait to have it paid off! :leap:

Reading that article, I think I'm Penny Procrastinator with a little bit of Polly Planner thrown in the mix :)

Beema, yay on the overlocker! How long before you get it?

I ordered some very cute fat quarters online last week and they arrived today. I'm so excited. Got a few ideas running through my head but I am making sure they sit there until I finish DS's pyjama's. I'm thinking of starting a quilt or maybe making some taggies....

I finally bit the bullet and made something for me...well not for me but for mini me but still for me ;) :dance:

Mini me has been asking for a carrier so I put the call out on FB and sat down tonight and had some fun,
I made a pink (of course) mei tei with green straps, pink body and applicated it with tillbrook fairy fabric...I lined it with minkee on the back.

It felt so good to do it and it was fairly easy (especially for someone who hates patterns lol).

Plus I couldnt do my normal stuff tonight....my 5 month old baby lock that I paid $1600+ is in the shop because the top plate came off and broke the needles...lets hope thats all the damage.

So my next project is 2 make 2 single bed minkee blankets for a friend of mine's girls....and some curtains for my 4 poster bed.

I am trying to sew little cushions at the moment, just using some calico, then stuffing them with filling from old pillows, and then making little covers from Fat Quarters - I'm making them small because of the fat quarter thing - I'm thinking it could be a cheap fun thing to do, just sew a new cushion cover whenever I see some FQ material I like. We'll see.

I say 'trying' because you know how it is with little ones, wherever mum is they are, and they sabotage sewing pretty well. #2 tipped a tin of pins all over the floor yesterday. Thankfully Thomas and Emily the trains were at hand with their magnetic fronts and backs so I got some help picking the pins up. :lol:

Nelle that is so cute using the trains to pick up the pins :D

Saw the photos of your creation maz - it looks great. I bet Lumpy would love one of them too. She just got a heap of clothes for her baby and took it to bed last night after feeding her and putting her pj's on - sooo cute

Finally got the monkey costume finished for school. The production goes on next week so I'll be able to get some photos of it. But the man sized furry nappy does look very funny.

I got some patterns for nickers last week so I have been trying them out for Lumpy and she seems to like them. I might need to get some underwear elastic cause I only have my nappy elastic and it doesn't work that well.

Oh I also ordered a patter for a long skirt. I was having a bad day and made the mistake of going into spotlight. I saw some really fab orange cord that looked so rich and warm so I got 2m of it to make a skirt. I can't wait to make it.

Nelle - what a fantastic idea!!!!! I didnt even think to make pillows from fat quarts!!! As for littlies....mine are sitting cutting out with their safety scissors and pasting away. They dont play with my stuff...never really have.

Cat - I would love to see apic of the costum...ROFL fury man sized nappy

I have mojo...grrrr at my overlocker getting fixed....what the hell can I make now??

Yipee! I have just completed the flanny PJ's for DS :) :dance: I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself as it's my first clothing item which included a collar and buttons/buttonholes LOL...here's a pic

Great work Eluned! :clap: Very brave of you to sew a collar, that is one thing I am so hesitant to do.

i ended up with a brother and am saving my pennies for an embroidery machine..

today it is my mission to attempt to make some Pj's out of uddle fleecec i have here fro DD1.. she loves it so guess i should make it
but ill be snapping it not buttons lolill do each ovne a different colour so she learn to do them up properly lol

love the Pj's Eluned.. very clever

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but ill be snapping it not buttons lol ill do each one a different colour so she learn to do them up properly lol

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what a good idea (file that away for future reference)