Project 1 - continued

Hi,

An update on the 6871 New Look pattern. Nearly finished! No photographs as of yet but some lessons learnt for next time.

- The size I chose was too big. Somehow, although I measured myself (on my own, in front of the tinniest bathroom mirror imaginable), I had to take the sides in by 1 inch (1/2 an inch on the fold) and cut 1.5 cm around the arm whole. If you wander why I'm going from imperial to metric is that I got help yesterday from my gran who does imperial and my mam who does metric.
So I will be 'downsizing' so as to speak and getting my measurements done. while my mam is still in the UK. 

- Make sure I have everything as stated at the back of the envelope of the pattern as I had to return to the town on that same afternoon for some interfacing (and it's not easy to get to either).

- Stop myself from pushing myself to keep going. You know the feeling 'just that last seam before I stop' or 'I really want to get these pleats done tonight'. Both times I ended up making either a big mistake, first time messing up to the point that I had to cut out pieces out of remaining material the next day, the second, ending up in A&E with a snapped needle through my finger.  

Some good things came out of it too:

- I discovered loads of new techniques and new vocabulary like interfacing, pleats or gathering (depending on what you want the pattern to look like), baste etc.

- I managed to do a massive chunk of the pattern myself (apart from the adjusting which is more tricky) so it has really help my sewing confidence especially for a first pattern.

- My machine is a vintage awesome Singer which doesn't get used enough so it was nice to be using it after all this time.

Till next time and hopefully some photographs of the finished item!

Project 1 - New look 6871.

Morning!

 

As promised an update on the top I was sewing. I had a little accident with the machine after which a doctor in A&E had to extract a machine needle from the tip of my left index. However I am still not put off. Nursing my finger with yummy homemade banana bread and a cup of tea :-)

(I will put a link when I think about it to the recipe).

 

The pattern I used for the top is New Look 6871, which has got mixed reviews online. I really liked the design though so I thought I would try it. I was initially going to do view E, but I was given a light blouse which has the extract same pattern so I intend to wear them as a twin set to wear with view D.

 

I will say that I found it was a tricky pattern until I got my head around it. 

Because it was my first pattern in a while, instead of cutting the pattern, I transferred the pieces onto massive tracing paper sheets which I cut out to size. They were quite thick so I could pin them onto the material and cut around them. At least the pattern would be intact for the next time I use it.

 

I chose a size 14 from my measurements however I think it has come out too big for me. Since I forgot to prewash the fabric in case of shrinkage (because it is 100 %  cotton), I will wait until adjusting seams.

 I have also adapted the pattern slightly as I have gone along. For example, instead of gathering the front and back, I made pleats as I found them somewhat easier to make and prettier. I am also putting bias tape I made from the material to put on the arm holes tomorrow.

 

This sewing malarkey is going to be quite addictive I can tell. I have already found promising material to buy for view E (my favourite). I haven't bought it as I want to train myself to finish a project first before starting a new one.

How did you find your first pattern?

Was it successful? What did you learn from it?

Until next time!

Starting at the very beginning

So I do have to admit it's not going to be easy. I'm a typical 'I want things to go fast' kind of girl, banging stuff in the oven for tea, buying stuff in high street shops and somehow thriving on the constant busy-ness of life- up to a point.
 
So I have set off to rediscover the art of doing things slowly and patiently, including skills and crafts which were traditionally used for generations in families all over the country.
So here is my first one. I am nearly a beginner as I did have the chance of having a mother who would let me use her machine, although I have never made clothes from a pattern on my own before (just once with my mam 10 years ago!). The whole sewing thing started a few days ago when I discovered a material shop in town and I felt inspired. My sewing machine is getting well used after years in the cupboard. Let's hope it's not a phase.

 
I have started a top from a pattern (I'll talk about it in my next post), and with some of the leftover material made a pin cushion as I don't have one. I bought a lot more than needed just in case of mistakes, but since it was reduced I thought it would be okay.

So what are people's motivations in starting to sow?