Lots of questions - help with first ever sewing project.

[Calluna]

I bought 5m of 100% cotton drill today. I intend to make a wrap carrier. Had a play with it and the length is just about perfect, but it is way too wide (110cm). Folded in half it was about right. So I obviously need to cut it down.

How do I do that, keeping it nice and straight and how wide should it be?
How much extra do I need so I can hem one side?

I've never used a sewing machine before, but I do have one that I was gifted last year. So any help you can offer with that would be much appreciated!

The lady at the shop said the other long side doesn't need heming, but would you do it any way for the sake of looks or do you think it won't be noticable?

I also want to dye it as its white and won't stay that way for long. Do I need to do that before I hem it or can it wait until I have bought the dye and find somewhere to do it?

Eta- do I need tho wash it first or should I wait till it's hemmed?

I'm scared to do anything with it in case I stuff it up

[LimeSlice]

I would wash, cut, dye, sew. From a sewing perspective only - I have NEVER made my own carrier, so this is purely from a sewing POV!!

I would hem all sides, for safety. In terms of width, you probably want it around 70 cm wide. So wash it, dry it and iron it, then fold it in half (Length ways, ends together) to make your life easier and iron flat again. Make sure you keep the straight edges straight and even. Pin down the edges every few inches and using a ruler, measure 78cm (70 cm for the width, plus 2 x 1cm hems on EACH side.) from the side edge, every few inches down the length, mark it with a pen or dressmaking pencil, or chalk. Take a long ruler, or a long quilting ruler will work well, and a rotary cutter and cut along the line you have just made. This will give you the right width plus hem allowances on each long rail.

Measure 1 cm in from one edge, fold and press flat with our iron and pin, stitch. Fold over on itself again (another 1 cm hem) and press, pin, stitch. Repeat for opposite length.

For each END, I would use a wider hem, probably 2 x 1 inch folds, and I would use a double stitch.

Does that make sense? I am sure if you go a bit of a Google trawl you will find some sew-your-own tutes with photos and things, written by people who have experience making carriers specifically, but this is how I would approach it as a sewer. HTH somewhat.

[Calluna]

Thank you SO much! That is extremely helpful. I'm going to need a few tools before I can tackle this... and a table LOL

[LimeSlice]

Yep, an uber large cutting mat too! LOL

[HomeStyleMumma]

Spotlight also do basic sewing classes if you'd be interested in doing that? Good on you for giving it a go.... Every time I'm pg I tell myself I will start sewing again... 4 (& 1/2) children later sewing machine is still packed away!!

[Calluna]

I wonder how much itd cost to get someone to hem it for me? The outlay sounds like more than I have.

Lol HSM! you sound like me.

[LimeSlice]

If you can cut straight, you can cut it with a good pair of sewing scissors.

Realistically though, you can buy a second hand woven for under $100.

[Calluna]

Hmm, I'll have to investigate a bit. Check out prices.
If I mark where I need to cut I should be able to get it straight.

I'm not too keen on the idea of buying second hand online. It'd be just my luck to get ripped off.

[LimeSlice]

Head over to the Babywearing Buy Sell Swap page - you won't get ripped off.

[Mrs P]

Do you know someone who sews and would have all the equipment? The rotary cutter, good scissors, cutting mat etc can add up! Especially if you are an infrequent sewer

[Calluna]

Thanks LS, I'll have a look. Got no money left now though lol!

Mrs P - I'd like to be frequent but not sure how good I'll be at it lol. Who knows, it might work out.

HSM - With the spotlight classes, do you do your own thing or do they tell you what to do? Maybe I could use thier tools ..

[anney]

Hi calluna, have a think about whether you are a person who gets satisfaction from making things yourself or if there is something else you would rather be doing. Sewing at home used to mean you saved money but these days this is not necessarily so. I think you really should enjoy it to make the time you spend worthwhile. I made dd leggings a few weeks ago. Material cost $30 and today we were out shopping and we got leggings for $15. Dd was thrilled she had something no one else had but it would have been easier just to go out and buy some! (LOL)

[Calluna]

Haha! Thanks Anney, I think if I can pull it of I'd be pretty darn proud of myself. But not sure if its something I want to do a lot until I've tried itms.
I got the material for $45, so much cheaper than buying a new wrap but not if its going to cost me a bomb for the set up.
I doubt I would make another wrap, but I had thought about making clothes for DS or myself..

[HotI]

you can do it just with sewing machine, thread, scissors, measuring tape, pins, iron

you only need straight stitch, and if you want to practise get an old teatowel or pillow case and practise sewing straight rows.

i make clothes for my kids, and sometimes for me. you can get cheaper clothes at the main shops, but i like it because i can make funkier clothes that you can't get at the shops.

if you lived closer, i would be happy to give you a hand. do you know anyone who sews who could help you cut and get ready to sew?

i did a spotlight course a few years back, and everyone was working on their own projects. You use their equipment in class, and if you can, work on your project at home and then get help with difficult bits the next class.

[Calluna]

I was hoping someone would say that Thanks HotI
I have some bits and prices I can practice on.
I'm not sure, I'll put the call out on FB and see
Great, I'll have too see how much the classes are if I can't find someone to help me out.

I wouldn't be stressing about it if it wasn't for the size. I'm not worried about the ends, just the long sides.
How do I work with that?

[LimeSlice]

It is really just a matter of measuring well, pressing well and pinning, and going slowly. As you feed the fabric through the machine, don't pull on it and have it folded fairly straight and evenly on your lap to take the weight off, so it doesn't tug, and do the same as it comes out the other side. So easy does it really. Set your machine to stitch slowly and if you have the option on your machine, keep the needle dropped, so when you stop to manage the fabric you aren't losing your position and inadvertently losing your true direction.

[Calluna]

Thanks LS, I think I can manage that!
Now I just need to find a surface to do it on. We dont even have a dining table at the moment.

[HotI]

i would wait til your son is in bed, and lay the material out on the floor.

decide on the width you want, and fold material lengthwise on this line. measure often to make sure it is the same width all along. you could iron or pin the material along fold. cut along fold. (*make sure you include the amount you need for hems as LS described)

once you have it cut, fold over hem 1cm and iron. then fold over again 1cm and iron - this way you won't see cut edge. To do this with long material, i would have it looped over ironing table kinda like this (___/--\____), pulling material towards you as you iron the hem and then have it layered near your feet. The prep will take a little time, but it will help to get the width all even when you sew.

when sewing, i would set the machine up at end of a kitchen table, and have material stretched out on the table. you want to make sure it can go through the machine without it being pulled back by anything.

The side that is not cut, you don't have to hem OR you could fold and hem just 1cm instead of 1cm twice.

Because the wrap will only by 70cm wide (or whatever you decide), you should be able to lay it flat on the table while you are hemming the edge.

just take it slow and you will be fine. and always measure twice and cut once!