SEWING

carola
carola Member Posts: 786
edited 6. Aug 2010, 17:24 in Community Chit-chat archive
Righto!

My boyfriend Taz bought me a sewing machine a year back and predictably I have only managed cushion covers and a shopping bag which went so wrong I can only fit weirdly shaped things in it.

Anyone have any ideas what I could try to make when my hands are behaving?

I am very impatient therefore need to feel that I am making something fabulous immediately. Ideally, I would like to progress to dressmaking.

Many thanks in advance.
Carol

Comments

  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    first do not run before you walk or you will put yourself off shorts or cropt trousers easy with elastic waist find patternes that have easy on them till you get more confidance good luck val
    val
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I love the line 'I am very impatient and would therefore like to feel that I am making something fabulous immediately' or words to that effect. My parents bought me a sewing machine for my 21st and I have never used it, for the impatience reason. Oddly enough though, I do have the patience to knit complicated Arran sweaters, not that I've done one of those for years now. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,026
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I like it too DD :lol:

    Soooo like me!!

    I have no patience at all :shock: sewing a button on is about it :lol:

    Having said that if you are determined - I endorse Val's suggestion of slightly easier items.

    I did curtains in a former life you know.....

    Love

    Toni xx
  • joanlawson
    joanlawson Member Posts: 8,681
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Carol

    I have done a lot of sewing in my time on my trusty Singer sewing machine which I had for my 21st birthday. I was offered the choice between a gold watch or a sewing machine, and I have always been glad that I chose the latter, as it has saved me a lot of money over the years. I made my own wedding dress, which was in silk and lace, and it took me six weeks to complete. When I look at the photos now, it gives me a sense of satisfaction that it has stood the test of time, and it doesn't look dated.

    For a simple start, I would suggest you could make a Caftan for relaxing in. There are instructions on this link, and you don't need a pattern.

    http://wkdesigner.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/caftan/

    Once you have cut out the fabric, the seams are straight sewing, and you could decorate it with lovely braid or sequins.

    Joan
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  • carola
    carola Member Posts: 786
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you for your messages, Ladies.

    The Kaftan Joan mentioned is a BRILLIANT idea - lovin' it. I shall have a look just now at the link - much appreciated.

    I shall add some twinkley sparkles to it.

    Aaran jumpers? Far too complicated for me, DD. I tried a scarf once with hairy fluffy wool but I kept adding stitches by mistake and it ended up so big I use it over the bottom of my bed :lol:

    The sewing machine has button functions and everything but I think I will need to have a wee peek at the instruction DVD for that.

    Thanks again and let me know any of your success stories!
    Carol, keep smiling :D
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I used to do Fair Isle as well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • ninakang
    ninakang Member Posts: 1,367
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Just saying hello, Ladies, my limit is sewing on a button but I need half an hour first to thread the needle :) I can also mend small tears in fabric but it takes a long time and a LOT of swearing.

    My mum still has her Brother sewing machine from at least 30 years ago and used to make all her own outfits on it. She tried in vain to get me interested but I've never had the patience for it.

    I have a pretty sewing kit though!

    Nx
  • trisher
    trisher Member Posts: 9,263
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Do simple things first otherwise you will put yourself off sewing.

    Crop trousers is simple and good how about a skirt with elastic waist?
    Depends on what you wear really.

    You could have a go at chair backs.
  • tarasmygirl
    tarasmygirl Member Posts: 70
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    dreamdaisy wrote:
    I love the line 'I am very impatient and would therefore like to feel that I am making something fabulous immediately' or words to that effect. My parents bought me a sewing machine for my 21st and I have never used it, for the impatience reason. Oddly enough though, I do have the patience to knit complicated Arran sweaters, not that I've done one of those for years now. DD

    With complicated arans you can see the pattern 'coming to life' and growing every few rows. that usually satisfies the impatience. I haven't knitted for years, but didn't like doing jumpers etc if only in stocking stich as I couldn't 'see' it growing. Anything with a stitch or colour pattern was different - I always felt I was getting somewhere even if I'd only done a dozen rows

    Cath
  • mummyb
    mummyb Member Posts: 1,231
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You could set yourself a little business making funky shaped perfumed sachets a bit like lavender bags but a bit more up to date. Or you could try dolls or teddies??? Just a thought, good luck whatever you try xx
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Very true, tarasmygirl, I hadn't thought of it like that. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,026
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    [I have a pretty sewing kit though!

    Nx[/quote]

    Now THAT...

    I beleive :wink:

    Love

    Toni xx

    I still remember all those things me mum made for me on her sewing machine:roll:

    Shudder!!!!
  • carola
    carola Member Posts: 786
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Excellent suggestions, my Friends.

    Love the idea of crop trousers however I suspect that they will end up as hot pants by the time I keep trying to have the legs in line with each other :lol:

    I am hoping to be agile enough to go to the material shop in a few days so I can commence my sewing empire!

    Have a good day today.
    Carol
  • carola
    carola Member Posts: 786
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Aha! Just had a brilliant idea for a wee project ...... eye masks with sequence and sparkles.

    Righto, that's Christmas pressies all decided then ..... I'll try to sew names on each of them too.

    Apologies in advance to my suffering friends and family receiving these monsters!
    :lol:
  • cthornley
    cthornley Member Posts: 627
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I got a sewing machine for my 21st too, unfortunately for me I had already struggled through sewing a ball gown by hand in my 1st year at uni:?
    I love sewing but don't have a lot of time nowadays.
    If you want to jump to fabulous from the start why don't you try altering stuff and making it originally yours. When I get a chance I trawl charity shops for fabulous fabrics and recut and alter to make things work for me or my son.
    I also buy plain T-shirts, jumpers etc for myself and my son and make them individual with applique, which is fab when we are trying to sort my son's stuff from the other kids at nursery.
    When he was wee I made a fab patchwork play blanket for him , I could work on a little bit at a time....each patch is embroidered with animals, numbers, cars etc. He loves it, I love it and its something we will keep forever.
    Simple stuff I've made....kids play aprons, bags, duvet covers, cushions, purses
    Good luck
    Chrissie
  • ironic
    ironic Member Posts: 2,361
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Shame is'nt it I used to do all my soft furnishings and loved to knit. Well just plain knitting or fair isle. Now it is cheaper to buy everything. Even used to do Jams!!!
    If I ever get to retire I will take some of these things up again. I really enjoyed making things.
    I have lots of embroidery pictures on the walls from my more productive days.

    Good luck with the sewing. Enjoy.

    Lv, Ix
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    The joy of fair-isle was two-fold: choosing the colours and then seeing the pattern emerge. With aran the colours didn't matter but the pattern was enough. Perhaps I should start again! DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben

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