My parents bought me one for my birthday, and now that they've left, I'm finding the patterns a bit daunting.
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 19:05 (seventeen years ago) link
I barely know how to do anything. threading the bitch was more difficult than imagined.
but to be truthful I haven't tried too much, still have to many grand knitting plans.
i want to make a skirt though, they seem fairly easy.
― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 19:07 (seventeen years ago) link
Also, the brand name Baby Lock just sounds perverse. But it's a nice little machine!
I bought a skirt pattern, that my mother thought was fairly simple, and probably my speed (sidenote: my mom's a great sewer (that looks awful! Should I say seamstress? Or quilter?).
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 19:11 (seventeen years ago) link
("Sewer" or "home sewer" is correct! I think "seamstress" is a professional designation...? Quilting is a totally different art, unless your mom does in fact quilt.)
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 19:25 (seventeen years ago) link
― elmo argonaut (allocryptic), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 19:35 (seventeen years ago) link
The word "sewer" just doesn't seem right on a message board. Too close to the pronunciation of the the bits that carry sewage.
My skirt is pretty boring, actually, but it will suit my librarian ways. It's just a regular A-line type get-up, and probably good for someone who hasn't sewn anything substantial in several years.
Laurel! Tell me what you've sewn! I'm so excited to hear what others have created, as it will give my inspiration that I will get better and I won't look like a crazy hippy in my big goofy, oddly puckered shirts.
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 19:37 (seventeen years ago) link
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 19:41 (seventeen years ago) link
― Fetchboy (Felcher), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 19:53 (seventeen years ago) link
Otherwise, I do like to make fabric pouches, fill them with feed corn (rice would work, too, I think), close them and give them to people as gifts. They are cheap and easy to do, and once you explain "heat this up in the microwave and stick it in your bed or tuck it into your coat when it's cold," they are very appreciated.
― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 19:53 (seventeen years ago) link
http://www.simplicity.com/assets/4047/4047t.jpghttp://www.simplicity.com/assets/4112/4112t.jpghttp://www.simplicity.com/assets/4122/4122.jpghttp://www.simplicity.com/assets/4086/4086.jpghttp://img.sewingtoday.com/cat/20000/itm_img/V8129.jpghttp://img.sewingtoday.com/cat/20000/itm_img/V7937.jpg
Plus more I can't find right now.
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 19:57 (seventeen years ago) link
I'm going to bring my machine (I have a blue carrying case!) and my disaster of a top to Ben's parents house tonight, where I'm hoping his mother can help me sort out the collar. It's not so great-looking. I need help.
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 20:09 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 20:15 (seventeen years ago) link
I completely feel your pain! I have a hell of time finding pants / skirts / tops that are long enough, as I seem to have freakishly long extremities. And, well, the thought of only spending about $5 for fabric plus the time it takes to make a crappily-made garment seems a lot better than spending at least $35 for a crappily-made garment with a label. I can make my own poorly constructed work clothes, thank you very much! Are you listening Banana Republic?
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 20:25 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 20:28 (seventeen years ago) link
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 20:35 (seventeen years ago) link
Another mistake I will never make again, is when making a simple elastic waistband a-line skirt. I measured my waist for the elastic but totally didn't take into account my hips. So basically, it was hell trying to get it over my ass.
I would sew more if I had a nice big flat surface for cutting and ironing and if I had a dress form. And if I weren't so lazy. I tend to just get Franz to mend my clothes. He sews better than me anyway.
― eatadick.com (Carey), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 20:36 (seventeen years ago) link
― eatadick.com (Carey), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 20:39 (seventeen years ago) link
I layout and cut on the floor. I actually kind of miss having wall-to-wall carpeting with padding underneath, because I could pin the whole thing to the floor for stability while cutting (probably the only good that carpet ever did). A dress form is never gonna happen in my life, I don't think, but it would improve my tailoring HUGELY if I had, and could use, an upper-body sloper. I feel like I don't do enough sewing to justify it these days...but I could start!
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 20:48 (seventeen years ago) link
My kitchen table is now solely used for cutting and sewing purposes.
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 20:51 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 20:58 (seventeen years ago) link
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 21:02 (seventeen years ago) link
I have a nice cutting table in my knitting/sewing room. now just to actually sew something.
― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 21:04 (seventeen years ago) link
Sewing for Dummies: no -- I have a couple of basic sewing books (like the Dorling Kindersley one from when I worked there) but I haven't found them ALL that useful -- the Internet is probably better when you have a specific question, like "HOW THE FUCK DOES AN INVISIBLE ZIPPER GO IN WITHOUT SHOWING, GODAMMIT?". I am totally in love with Threads magazine, though, for secret tips and technique hints. Lots of stuff I didn't really understand has turned out to be useful later.
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 21:13 (seventeen years ago) link
I'm going to have to get a copy of Threads. My house is already filling up with knitting books and magazines. Why not fill it up more with sewing stuff as well?
I'll try to take a picture of the shirt I'm working on tonight. It's not awful... just very novice. My mom also bought me a purse pattern (fun black handles were purchased). She tried to explain interfacing to me, but I think I just ended up blankly staring at her from information overload.
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 21:21 (seventeen years ago) link
Capish? :)
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 21:22 (seventeen years ago) link
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 21:25 (seventeen years ago) link
― patita (patita), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 21:47 (seventeen years ago) link
― j.lu (j.lu), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 23:43 (seventeen years ago) link
― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 00:05 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 12:36 (seventeen years ago) link
I have already been looking for a sewing machine. Any tips?
― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 12:45 (seventeen years ago) link
― Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 12:51 (seventeen years ago) link
My daughters talked me into it ... they will have one each plus give one to each of their three Best Friends, and then everyone will buy a small gift for everyone else to go in each of the stockings, rather than buying one bigger gift each for every friend. I thought that sounded a really cool idea of theirs (except I'm the one lumbered with having to make the stockings now!)
― C J (C J), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 13:01 (seventeen years ago) link
― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 13:04 (seventeen years ago) link
http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/craftimages/1103_stocking_fancy_boot.jpg
― C J (C J), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 13:15 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 13:22 (seventeen years ago) link
― molly d (mollyd), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 15:10 (seventeen years ago) link
I went to the site for Threads magazine and downloaded a 'teach yourself to sew' pdf that I might give a whirl this weekend.
expereinced ladies, how did you learn? did you just dive into a project or did you just practice sewing lines and curves and corners on scraps?
― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 15:44 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 17:00 (seventeen years ago) link
― molly d (mollyd), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 18:16 (seventeen years ago) link
― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 18:19 (seventeen years ago) link
It looks awful!
I'm going to wait to embark on something new until after my first sewing class on Saturday.
― molly d (mollyd), Thursday, 28 September 2006 13:48 (seventeen years ago) link
― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Thursday, 28 September 2006 13:50 (seventeen years ago) link
I need these little old ladies to help me.
Maybe I should try a less ambitious project first, like a pouch or something. Frustrating!
― molly d (mollyd), Thursday, 28 September 2006 13:52 (seventeen years ago) link
All I've made so far were dog toys. they're appreciation is only so-so.
a top only takes a week or so, whereas a sweater takes ages.
This is why I love making purses!
Plus, knitting's more portable. hard to sew on the bus.
― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Thursday, 28 September 2006 13:54 (seventeen years ago) link
Sewing is really just lots of direction-following + a working ability to think in 3-D. Ie, remember which armhole is the left one even when yr shirt is inside-out, see in your head how things are going together before you sew them. That is sometimes hard, I have definitely sewn the wrong things together based on inside-out-ness or similar confusion. And my mother once made a set of lace curtains with one somehow six inches shorter than the other, and she's been sewing all her life! Concentration is key.
― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 28 September 2006 13:54 (seventeen years ago) link
I have a purse pattern! I may be asking for y'alls' help. Interfacing is involved. I am frightened.
Thanks, Laurel! I think I just need more practice. Reading patterns confusing, esp. when you have no clue what they're talking about. I did have to run to the computer several times last night to figure out certain mystifying phrases such "basting." Do you usually do that by hand or just use a big stitch? I used a long stitch on my machine which is the same one I used to gather fabric. Perhaps that's why my shirt looks like crap.
― molly d (mollyd), Thursday, 28 September 2006 14:02 (seventeen years ago) link
Haha, XP!
― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 28 September 2006 14:05 (seventeen years ago) link
Exception: I use a long machine stitch if basting is to stabilize a curved edge, ie the edge of a neckline or the top of a skirt. That kind of basting is used wherever fabric has to hang on the bias, to keep the fibers from getting pulled out of square while you work on the pieces (too much handling can be hard on the grain).
Molly, do you have the pattern number for yr shirt? Am curious.
― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 28 September 2006 14:10 (seventeen years ago) link
i didn't make it far enough in to see how many people were in there. i'm guessing they meant 10 customers? but maybe that does seem somewhat crowded for jo-ann at that time of day! i'm taking my business to fabric.com.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Wednesday, 18 March 2020 22:09 (four years ago) link
yeah i have been using fabric.com for years. I just stocked up on a suitcase full of kona cotton last year in anticipation of making a lot of quilts.
― Yerac, Wednesday, 18 March 2020 22:11 (four years ago) link
There is this (from a medical center) for facemasks too . I skimmed the video and there seems to be some pleating. https://www.deaconess.com/SpecialPages/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask
I was going to try to work on this this weekend. I have some commercial masks but Iike the idea of a fabric one maybe over it so that I can wash it. I just looked through my sewing stash and I have about 15 yards of elastic 1/4 -1 inch width.
― Yerac, Friday, 20 March 2020 13:10 (four years ago) link
another hospital prefers this pattern (but four layers) https://buttoncounter.com/2018/01/14/facemask-a-picture-tutorial/ .
― Yerac, Saturday, 21 March 2020 22:09 (four years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/m7mev5U.jpg
On a more frivolous note, I finished that nightgown.
― Life is a banquet and my invitation was lost in the mail (j.lu), Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:58 (four years ago) link
hey! it looks like a nightgown!
― forensic plumber (harbl), Sunday, 22 March 2020 21:08 (four years ago) link
nice!
(also joann's fabric is now giving away kits to make masks)
― Yerac, Tuesday, 24 March 2020 18:17 (four years ago) link
i'm going to try some masks, but with ties because no elastic
― forensic plumber (harbl), Friday, 27 March 2020 20:46 (four years ago) link
yeah i saw a video like that. do you have one you are using. i saw considering this one for one without ties. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YXQ0Y1NxdY
― Yerac, Friday, 27 March 2020 23:16 (four years ago) link
damn, i cannot type coherently these days.
this has three patterns, A and B can be made with ties https://www.stationnorthtoollibrary.org/masks?utm_term=0_3b8a77f9aa-c7eaf1bb51-154304013#sew
― forensic plumber (harbl), Friday, 27 March 2020 23:35 (four years ago) link
video using pipe cleaners for the nose piece https://youtu.be/bCCtGq6maw8
― forensic plumber (harbl), Friday, 27 March 2020 23:37 (four years ago) link
i am almost done with this bag (in the denim because i had bought it for the bag i made above) https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2013/05/02/mollys-sketchbook-everyday-tote/i'm...better at the bias tape binding than i was. but it's not really possible to do well around the boxed corners because you are working over two thick seams in the middle. even if they aren't stacked on top of each other that's a lot of layers of denim to get around and my sewing machine hates it too. i have one more corner to sew tape onto. have to pick out what i had done because i got too close to one of the edges when sewing. but i've put it down and my cat is sleeping on it. it's really cute though, and no one will see the messiness.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Friday, 27 March 2020 23:40 (four years ago) link
what color is your bias tape.
Yeah, I totally am not doing any metal nose piece. I have no ways to source that here.
― Yerac, Saturday, 28 March 2020 00:41 (four years ago) link
i did the same color as the pattern--orangey pink
― forensic plumber (harbl), Saturday, 28 March 2020 00:47 (four years ago) link
fabric is coming via ups today so i can make bags for my friend in germany and my mom. i'm a sewing maniac now. nothing else to do. this morning i was watching youtubes of more expensive sewing machines. which i will NOT buy now. maybe for my birthday in the fall.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Saturday, 28 March 2020 16:29 (four years ago) link
For those making masks, it seems like there are facebook groups (Crafters against COVID) for most cities, and they'll take orders from hospitals, clinics, etc. and then tell you the specifications. You sign up to make masks and they arrange a pickup. That way you don't have to worry about making something that won't be used.
― The fillyjonk who believed in pandemics (Lily Dale), Saturday, 28 March 2020 16:34 (four years ago) link
I tried to learn to sew but never got very far; two people on a local FB group came by today to pick up bags of fabric I had so that they can make some masks for our local hospital. Good luck mask makers of ILX!
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Saturday, 28 March 2020 18:02 (four years ago) link
https://scontent.fnyc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s960x960/91698130_10157980815494000_5242286220771328000_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=CvvvncvQbDUAX92pp6Z&_nc_ht=scontent.fnyc1-1.fna&_nc_tp=7&oh=5832cb85af5fdfaeb56fd79468a3ccdf&oe=5EAE7F33
My first face mask...and my first selfie. Much room for improvement evident.
― Life is a banquet and my invitation was lost in the mail (j.lu), Saturday, 4 April 2020 14:11 (four years ago) link
looks good! I can't see. did you use elastic or make fabric ties?
― Yerac, Saturday, 4 April 2020 15:18 (four years ago) link
Elastic. It's based on the buttoncounter.com pattern. I figure on wearing it to Trader Joe's later today, to see if I should add a metal nose piece.
― Life is a banquet and my invitation was lost in the mail (j.lu), Saturday, 4 April 2020 15:46 (four years ago) link
i still didn't do it but i will tonight or tomorrow. i'm having extreme laziness problems. i am going to try to see if there's any wire in the basement, or will break off the ends of file prongs i have for work. i also have a seltzer can that i exploded by leaving it in the freezer, which i could make into strips and fold.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Saturday, 4 April 2020 19:48 (four years ago) link
My mask was okay as-is for the hour or so it took me to get into Trader Joe and come home. I don't go out very much, so it should be acceptable for when I do go out.
On another forum someone suggested using a plastic-over-metal produce bag tie, or an unbent paper clip, to make a nose piece. Any thoughts on these ideas?
― Life is a banquet and my invitation was lost in the mail (j.lu), Saturday, 4 April 2020 21:21 (four years ago) link
i was thinking paperclips might be too inflexible, produce bag tie might be ok
― forensic plumber (harbl), Saturday, 4 April 2020 21:47 (four years ago) link
i am not doing any nose pieces. I feel like things I have seen about fit for home made masks, the only thing that really makes a difference is double sided tape.
― Yerac, Saturday, 4 April 2020 21:50 (four years ago) link
how do you use double-sided tape in it? is it in the pattern you linked above?
― forensic plumber (harbl), Saturday, 4 April 2020 22:45 (four years ago) link
oh no, it's for masks that don't fit properly (and you work in a medical setting), people use double sided tape to ensure a seal.
― Yerac, Saturday, 4 April 2020 22:52 (four years ago) link
the thing about the blue shop towels (being able to filter out a lot more than cotton) is very interesting but it looks like those have kind of sold out everywhere anyway.
― Yerac, Sunday, 5 April 2020 16:39 (four years ago) link
i am obsessed with quilt patterns
― forensic plumber (harbl), Wednesday, 6 May 2020 17:20 (three years ago) link
is quilting the new knitting
― mom tossed in kimchee (quincie), Wednesday, 6 May 2020 17:28 (three years ago) link
it's the old and new knitting. I am trying to figure out how to make a certain pattern without needing to paper piece fuck that bs.
― Yerac, Wednesday, 6 May 2020 17:34 (three years ago) link
it is my new knitting because i'm not getting a lot of knitting done. i am going to try a quilt soon and there are so many options for a first quilt that are not beginner-looking at all. i need to just pick one. oh yeah, that time i said i would wait until fall to buy a better sewing machine, i lied. i got myself a present and it's coming friday.
― forensic plumber (harbl), Wednesday, 6 May 2020 18:26 (three years ago) link
this was the first quilt pattern i did. it was simple enough while being interesting. https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2007/12/29/mollys-sketchbook-a-quilt-for-a-baby-boy/
― Yerac, Wednesday, 6 May 2020 18:53 (three years ago) link
i started this today https://www.instagram.com/p/B7SCagbnj3T/have to make 8 squares of strips and i already made 7. i did screw up a couple by putting them in upside down--you are supposed to go toward the printed selvage so you when you trim the squares down they disappear, but i had the colors in the wrong order to do that because i wasn't paying attention (i sewed them in pairs first). i just measured; think there will be enough room to trim it off still and if there is any left it may be within a seam allowance on the next step so it should be fine.
― contorted filbert (harbl), Tuesday, 2 June 2020 01:35 (three years ago) link
Harbl that is gorgeous!
Anyone still looking for mask nose piece ideas - the recloser strips from bags of coffee work great. Vinyl coated and wide enough plus hold up to bending.
― Jaq, Tuesday, 2 June 2020 02:43 (three years ago) link
God, I can't wait to get out of my parents house and back to the sewing machine.
― trishyb, Tuesday, 2 June 2020 07:56 (three years ago) link
That is such a cool quilt, harbl.
― trishyb, Tuesday, 2 June 2020 07:57 (three years ago) link
Gorgeous quilt! I love Moda fabric.
― The fillyjonk who believed in pandemics (Lily Dale), Tuesday, 2 June 2020 15:29 (three years ago) link
i finished the top, sort of. i have to rip out the seam between rows 2 and 3 and do it again. i was marathoning and i get lazy when i'm tired. the fabric migrated between the two sides as they were getting heavy. i will do it with walking foot next time. https://i.imgur.com/LRZ0N7W.jpg
― contorted filbert (harbl), Monday, 29 June 2020 21:47 (three years ago) link
oh and i really underestimated how hard it is to get those angles to line up at the points. i'm glad you can't see it as well in the photo, most of them are a little off.
― contorted filbert (harbl), Monday, 29 June 2020 21:49 (three years ago) link
beautiful!
― Yerac, Monday, 29 June 2020 22:37 (three years ago) link
yeah points are hard to line up. I made a chevron face mask and it was crazy with the center seam and completely still off.
― Yerac, Monday, 29 June 2020 22:38 (three years ago) link
Ooh, lovely!
― Lily Dale, Monday, 29 June 2020 22:52 (three years ago) link
yes i did start quilting that but i really need to clean off my table so i didn't get very far
i hadn't been sewing much but now i remembered it's fun to finish things. i just finished a little storage box that will hopefully help me get the small things off my table. i started it a month ago but it would have only taken one day. except i try not to finish things in one day because i make mistakes if i work for too long. i am off today so i'm going to jo-ann to buy some interfacing to make some zipper pouches. i bought too much fabric over xmas lol.
― superdeep borehole (harbl), Tuesday, 19 January 2021 17:01 (three years ago) link
nice! I too had a table clutter issue ... which I finally resolved by moving the clutter onto another surface. I have this cutting machine that I got with a groupon several years back, and I need to configure it with the laptop I bought last year ... the plan is to use it to cut out shapes which will become embroidery patterns for sweatshirts -- like a fire extinguisher and a traffic cone. That is the plan ... lol
― sarahell, Tuesday, 19 January 2021 18:13 (three years ago) link
yeah table clutter is the worst thing in this room. Table I do everything on is the main surface in this cluttered room so gathers more and more stuff accumulates unless I watch it.So it takes me ages at times to get down to a point where i can get a garment started.I woiuld probably hve doe a lot more last year if it wasn't for taht.I did get some good stuff done but could have done more.
So far this year i have done one shirt minus the buttons and am about 1/3 of the way through another. & I'm trying to get one I all but did finished last year but it needs a new collar done and I can't find the pattern at the moment. Not feeling great so hope I'm not about to go down with something.
― Stevolende, Tuesday, 19 January 2021 18:52 (three years ago) link
I want to start quilting again this spring. I moved my sewing machine out of my room when I started teaching remotely, because I needed the space to make a home office. So now it's on the third floor, which is an okay workspace but very cold. Once it warms up, I've got a bunch of quilts I'm somewhere in the middle of - one that just needs its border quilted and a binding, one that's just a quilt top with no border, and one that's halfway through the patchwork stage. My goal for this spring is to finish at least one of them, so I'm posting this here in hopes that I can hold myself to that.
― Lily Dale, Friday, 26 February 2021 01:03 (three years ago) link
maybe crosspost to knitting thread but i just got a year craftsy premium subscription for $2.49. just need to set a reminder to cancel it before they autobill me a year from now. ime the classes are pretty good. i did a knitting one several years ago and i became a way better knitter.
― superdeep borehole (harbl), Wednesday, 21 April 2021 20:45 (three years ago) link
I got obsessed w knitting in college when I didn't actually know how to knit but thought I would learn, so I have a few books with socks and sweater patterns in them. I could send them to an interested party!
― Ima Gardener (in orbit), Wednesday, 21 April 2021 20:48 (three years ago) link
i would but i'm on an embargo from obtaining books and things in general so you will just have to learn to knit :)
― superdeep borehole (harbl), Wednesday, 21 April 2021 21:15 (three years ago) link