Crafty Thread - what are you working on at the moment?

[RubyToogood]

O terrific, RubyToogood. I have a metre of gorgeous printed spandex (fromm Spoonflower)...and various bits of kit (twin needles, folding elastic) with the intention of making a swimsuit for grand-daughter...but have been too anxious to hack into the (spendy) material. So, practicing on some cheaper stretchy jersey. I have booked myself an afternoon sewing class (Starting Dressmaking), hoping to acquire a bit more polish. Also joining in a weekly sewing circle on the 19th (stab me in the eye if I ever refer to it as 'stitch and bitch'). My sewing is generally simple and a bit childish...but there is a whole heap of oversized linen garments and patterns out there, requiring very simple shapes and gathers. Back in the day, I used to be a lot more confident and fabric was considerably cheaper. Still, I have 6 metres of linen and cotton on the way (from Pound fabrics)...also where I bought the orange poplin (£3.50 per m).
Always on the look out for good cotton sheets and even curtaining.

Oversized linen things are all the rage in sewing circles!

I have some tablecloths and things waiting to be turned into another one of these, which is designed to be made with scraps.

 

[campanula]

Oversized linen things are all the rage in sewing circles!

I have some tablecloths and things waiting to be turned into another one of these, which is designed to be made with scraps.

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I went to Strumpshaw tree fair a few weeks ago, where there was a sewist using 'vintage' tablecloths, attaching them to old cotton T-shirts, and overdyeing in bright colours. While they were a bit too hippyish (and youthful) for me, my daughter and D-i-Ls would go mad for them. I have a heap of Turkish powder dyes and quite a few such tablecloths (often embroidered), so I will definitely be trying to make some when Grand-daughter (an enthusiastic learner sewist) comes for the last week of the school holidays. She would go mad with delight to make an item of clothing for her mum (although I was planning jersey dungarees for baby. brother). I think it would be a huge leap forward (from patchwork pet cushions and little bags and such), if she made a wearable item for herself. I was looking at your stripey, gathered top (photographed upthread) and thinking that would be a real possibility.

 

[RubyToogood]

I went to Strumpshaw tree fair a few weeks ago, where there was a sewist using 'vintage' tablecloths, attaching them to old cotton T-shirts, and overdyeing in bright colours. While they were a bit too hippyish (and youthful) for me, my daughter and D-i-Ls would go mad for them. I have a heap of Turkish powder dyes and quite a few such tablecloths (often embroidered), so I will definitely be trying to make some when Grand-daughter (an enthusiastic learner sewist) comes for the last week of the school holidays. She would go mad with delight to make an item of clothing for her mum (although I was planning jersey dungarees for baby. brother). I think it would be a huge leap forward (from patchwork pet cushions and little bags and such), if she made a wearable item for herself. I was looking at your stripey, gathered top (photographed upthread) and thinking that would be a real possibility.

It's pretty simple and a fun sew. The neckline is bias bound and there's the gathering but otherwise it's pretty much just straight stitching. It's this: Collage Gather Top PDF Sewing Pattern — Matchy Matchy Sewing Club

 

[Boudicca]

I went to Strumpshaw tree fair a few weeks ago, where there was a sewist using 'vintage' tablecloths, attaching them to old cotton T-shirts, and overdyeing in bright colours. While they were a bit too hippyish (and youthful) for me, my daughter and D-i-Ls would go mad for them. I have a heap of Turkish powder dyes and quite a few such tablecloths (often embroidered), so I will definitely be trying to make some when Grand-daughter (an enthusiastic learner sewist) comes for the last week of the school holidays. She would go mad with delight to make an item of clothing for her mum (although I was planning jersey dungarees for baby. brother). I think it would be a huge leap forward (from patchwork pet cushions and little bags and such), if she made a wearable item for herself. I was looking at your stripey, gathered top (photographed upthread) and thinking that would be a real possibility.

I've got quite a few stained 400 thread count cotton sheets which I'd like to turn into something. The cotton is lovely and soft but it has stripes which I think will always make it look like old sheets even if I dye it. But tell me more about Turkish powder dyes!

 

[Boudicca]

That is fabulous.

I've been experimenting with swimwear, starting with a remnant pack of fabric. I have actually been for a swim in this and it was fine, comfy etc. The pink is kind of unfortunately fleshy though and there are things I would do differently. I have another pattern to try with a more substantial top.

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This is fantastic! What stitching/machine did you use? I had a go at swimming costumes (I had some plan about getting a hut on a beach somewhere and sewing bespoke costumes for tourists) but got overly hung up on the maths of elasticity and disappeared down a rabbit hole.

 

[RubyToogood]

This is fantastic! What stitching/machine did you use? I had a go at swimming costumes (I had some plan about getting a hut on a beach somewhere and sewing bespoke costumes for tourists) but got overly hung up on the maths of elasticity and disappeared down a rabbit hole.

Just my bog standard domestic Janome, I don't have an overlocker. I tried a few stretch stitches and they were all fine - it has a stretch stitch which is a tiny zigzag which is my favourite.

There is a bit of an art to judging the amount of stretch as you apply the elastic and there are a couple of alterations I want to make.

It was originally a bralette and pants kit from Made My Wardrobe. As well as sending you all the bits they have sewalong videos. They added kits and a written tutorial for making it as a bikini recently. The handholding is useful, and the sourcing of supplies. They say just use a zigzag.

 

[campanula]

I've got quite a few stained 400 thread count cotton sheets which I'd like to turn into something. The cotton is lovely and soft but it has stripes which I think will always make it look like old sheets even if I dye it. But tell me more about Turkish powder dyes!
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I use Viktoria textile dyes from Turkey. I generally use 10gramme sachets, which dyes about 200gr of dry material. Like the old fashioned Dylon tins, you need to fix it with salt. I bought mine off Ebay and they were about £1.25 each - (might be more like £2 each). I think you can buy directly from them...but, cos of Brexit, a lot of import rules have changed. Anyway, they have a really good range of colours - at least 10 different blues for example, and half a dozen greens, plus many earthy colours.

I think the fabric would look lovely, even with stripes, especially given the number of no waste, gathered, floaty dresses about...such as the zero waste, gathered dress designed by Birgitta Helmerssen.

 

[Boudicca]

I use Viktoria textile dyes from Turkey. I generally use 10gramme sachets, which dyes about 200gr of dry material. Like the old fashioned Dylon tins, you need to fix it with salt. I bought mine off Ebay and they were about £1.25 each - (might be more like £2 each). I think you can buy directly from them...but, cos of Brexit, a lot of import rules have changed. Anyway, they have a really good range of colours - at least 10 different blues for example, and half a dozen greens, plus many earthy colours.

I think the fabric would look lovely, even with stripes, especially given the number of no waste, gathered, floaty dresses about...such as the zero waste, gathered dress designed by Birgitta Helmerssen.

Ooh, thank you. I've used the Dylon machine dyes a lot (we made loads of money in Camden market dyeing cleaning cloth to make hairbands) but they are very expensive.

 

[spirals]

Just finished making this cowl ready for when it gets colder

 

[nottsgirl]

Just finished these gloves. They’re a bit rough round the edges but they’re ok.

 

[nottsgirl]

These.

 

[cesare]

These.

They look snuggly and I love the colours.

 

[RubyToogood]

I've just made a draught excluder for the back door which is right by my desk. It was surprisingly quick. Made a long flat inner tube out of plain cotton, filled it and sewed the end shut on the machine. Then an outer cover exactly the same.

The filling is a bag of wood chips from the local reptile/fish shop, which came out just the perfect amount. I probably could have used my fabric scraps but I think this is better.

 

[RubyToogood]

I'm really fed up of sewing projects that turn into a huge mission

I bought some neoprene to make a short sleeved wetsuit jacket and this pattern, which should have been perfect, except that I failed to spot it needs fabric with 60% stretch and my neoprene has 40% max.

I don't really know where to go with it now. I can't make a bigger size as I was making the largest.

 

[Boudicca]

I'm really fed up of sewing projects that turn into a huge mission

I bought some neoprene to make a short sleeved wetsuit jacket and this pattern, which should have been perfect, except that I failed to spot it needs fabric with 60% stretch and my neoprene has 40% max.

I don't really know where to go with it now. I can't make a bigger size as I was making the largest.

I feel your pain. I disappear down a rabbit hole of mathematics when it comes to fabrics with different stretches. On the other hand, they are more forgiving so perhaps there is more chance of successfully altering the pattern?

 

[Artaxerxes]

Something fun, to small to be much use but I enjoyed the challenge.

 

[Dovydaitis]

I’m crocheting a bride and groom as presents for friends. All going ok so far, even if the pattern is written in Turkish. Google translate is earning its keep

 

[Boudicca]

OK, this one is for bimble who I haven't seen around for a while.

I told my friend it was too much work to reupholster her chairs, but that I'd always wanted to have a go at painting upholstery if she was prepared to be part of an experiment. It looks OK, but I'm not sure how long it will last. It's done with half satin paint and half fabric conditioner, the mixture has some kind of weird chemical reaction, it curdles and then goes really thick. I think I should have watered it down more. Anyway, it will be a talking point in her craft shop!

 

[bimble]

Excellent. Also proves that as usual it wasn’t the idea that was wrong it was my ridiculously crap execution of the idea.

 

[Edie]

Something fun, to small to be much use but I enjoyed the challenge.

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Ooh I love these! Do you sell your stuff?

 

[Artaxerxes]

Ooh I love these! Do you sell your stuff?

Not as yet but I’m hoping to attend my first market in December (Turning Earth) with a bag of stuff.

I might do the snails as wall/Xmas decorations because snails rock

 

[RubyToogood]

Excellent. Also proves that as usual it wasn’t the idea that was wrong it was my ridiculously crap execution of the idea.

I was trying to remember who it was that had the sofa painting disaster

 

[Epona]

I was trying to remember who it was that had the sofa painting disaster

Poor bimble - I think that's one of the momentous moments of U75 (or at least Suburban 75) history and although may fade with time, there are always going to be people around who recall it

 

[RubyToogood]

I feel we need a refresher.

I’m in the middle of a terrible idea right now and it’s too late to reverse so have to press on. I saw a lady on youtube paint her velvet sofa with paint and so I thought I could do that. It’s a fucking disaster and now I have nowhere to even sit down to contemplate my idiocy cos sofa is covered in a blotchy layer of wet green paint.

That post was in itself was pretty terrible idea.
it's coming along , i mean you can't buy one like this anywhere .
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Oh bless your heart. Was ‘bread mould’ the colour you were aiming for?

Don’t know what you mean it’s a rich olive.

Malaise longue.

The Piece is back under it’s throw, never to be mentioned again.

Yep, don't worry, nobody here will ever bring it up in the future at all.

saves thread

 

[bimble]

I’m really glad I confessed to that situation on here whilst it was happening, think it made it easier to laugh at self and has lessened the shame.

 

[David Clapson]

It's done with half satin paint and half fabric conditioner

Someone has commercialised your idea already. I got an email today, selling fabric paint. £35 per litre. Not a bad profit margin for fabric conditioner FabriCoat Fabric Paint

 

[furluxor]

I darned a sock and sowed up the rips in the arm of my pyjamas yesterday. The pyjama company sent me a new pair after the seams came apart, but now the fabric itself is ripping (of the old pair, I'm using both). I might be thrashing around in my sleep but I kinda expect cotton pyjamas to withstand that.

 

[Boudicca]

Someone has commercialised your idea already. I got an email today, selling fabric paint. £35 per litre. Not a bad profit margin for fabric conditioner FabriCoat Fabric Paint

Hum, I wonder what magic makes it worth £35.

It all started with watered down chalk paint, which I think was what bimble tried. The mixing with fabric conditioner is a newer idea and came up when I had another look at Youtube prior to my own attempt. I thought it was worth a try as at least it would smell nice.

I might see what my brother-in-law thinks as he is a paint chemist.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Leaf bowls

 

[Epona]

I got this compartmented box off freecycle - saw it and immediately thought my mum would like it, it says "Cuisine" on it so would have been a gift box of tea or spices originally, I reckon she's more likely to use it for knick-knacks or jewellery though.

The glass is a little chipped and rough around the edges in places in the interior of the lid, any tips for covering that? Was thinking some narrow velvet ribbon glued inside just around the edges of the glass.

Also any tips on getting the glass clean and streak-free preferably while leaving the little flower decal thingies in the corners undamaged? It doesn't honestly matter too much if they end up looking a bit worn/distressed or removed entirely, I'd rather keep them if poss but it's more important to get the glass looking nice and clean.

Photos to follow shortly!