Comments on: Very Secret Mysteries, no. 2: Sewing http://www.string-revolution.com/2009/07/very-secret-mysteries-no-2-sewing/ Creative life of an Irish needlewoman :: Tips, techniques, patterns passion Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:53:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=6204 hourly 1 By: hydraulic presses http://www.string-revolution.com/2009/07/very-secret-mysteries-no-2-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-2509 hydraulic presses Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:54:06 +0000 http://www.string-revolution.com/?p=219#comment-2509 shares use a perfect website decent Gives bless you for the effort to help me shares use a perfect website decent Gives bless you for the effort to help me

]]> By: leannich http://www.string-revolution.com/2009/07/very-secret-mysteries-no-2-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-50 leannich Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:53:22 +0000 http://www.string-revolution.com/?p=219#comment-50 @Mollydot: Oh, no! I'm so sorry about the fear and loathing - that's terrible! How disrespectful of that teacher. I seethe. Patchwork is great, though it's not the easiest sewing because straight stitching and even seam allowances are so important (they're less so in, e.g., loose-fitting clothes). Good luck with the coasters. @Ailbhe: The tidy seams story made me smile. Also, GAWD forbid you should make anything but the BEST thing to make - learning curves are for other people, right? :-) @Longtime: Glad I could help :-) And yes, I really hope you're right about the pent-up creative energy. There's enough of it in there to fuel a small Renaissance! @Mollydot: Oh, no! I’m so sorry about the fear and loathing – that’s terrible! How disrespectful of that teacher. I seethe. Patchwork is great, though it’s not the easiest sewing because straight stitching and even seam allowances are so important (they’re less so in, e.g., loose-fitting clothes). Good luck with the coasters.

@Ailbhe: The tidy seams story made me smile. Also, GAWD forbid you should make anything but the BEST thing to make – learning curves are for other people, right? :-)

@Longtime: Glad I could help :-) And yes, I really hope you’re right about the pent-up creative energy. There’s enough of it in there to fuel a small Renaissance!

]]> By: longtimenotknitsouthamerican http://www.string-revolution.com/2009/07/very-secret-mysteries-no-2-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-49 longtimenotknitsouthamerican Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:30:53 +0000 http://www.string-revolution.com/?p=219#comment-49 yes, Léan, it was the blanket stitch! Thanks for finding that for me! I guess that when you actually start sewing again, all that pent-up creative energy will help you do some of your most awesome work yet. (Plus you have a couple of live dolls to dress now ¡) ) yes, Léan, it was the blanket stitch! Thanks for finding that for me! I guess that when you actually start sewing again, all that pent-up creative energy will help you do some of your most awesome work yet. (Plus you have a couple of live dolls to dress now ¡) )

]]> By: Ailbhe http://www.string-revolution.com/2009/07/very-secret-mysteries-no-2-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Ailbhe Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:13:53 +0000 http://www.string-revolution.com/?p=219#comment-48 Léan - my mother's expertise is the stuff of legend. She used to make her little sisters' clothes from when she was in her early teens and her mother used to complain that her seams were so tidy she couldn't tell which way out the clothes should be. I might make something for the children. Of course, the BEST thing to make would be Rob's shirts, because he actually needs some, but stuff for the children would be a lot easier than a man's collared shirt. Léan – my mother’s expertise is the stuff of legend. She used to make her little sisters’ clothes from when she was in her early teens and her mother used to complain that her seams were so tidy she couldn’t tell which way out the clothes should be.

I might make something for the children. Of course, the BEST thing to make would be Rob’s shirts, because he actually needs some, but stuff for the children would be a lot easier than a man’s collared shirt.

]]> By: mollydot http://www.string-revolution.com/2009/07/very-secret-mysteries-no-2-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-47 mollydot Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:02:06 +0000 http://www.string-revolution.com/?p=219#comment-47 Sewing fills me with a degree of fear and loathing. Perhaps reading your posts will get me over it! I think it stems from being bad at it at school, including having the teacher tear a toy I'd made to show that it wasn't properly sewn. I did do a patchwork class at Art in Action, cos it was only a fiver and nothing else I wanted to do was available at that time. And it was soooo different! I was the slowest, but I got nothing but encouragement. Haven't done any since - they let me take away my unfinished project (a coaster), of course, but also let me take a few other kits so I can make matching ones. Sewing fills me with a degree of fear and loathing. Perhaps reading your posts will get me over it!

I think it stems from being bad at it at school, including having the teacher tear a toy I’d made to show that it wasn’t properly sewn. I did do a patchwork class at Art in Action, cos it was only a fiver and nothing else I wanted to do was available at that time. And it was soooo different! I was the slowest, but I got nothing but encouragement. Haven’t done any since – they let me take away my unfinished project (a coaster), of course, but also let me take a few other kits so I can make matching ones.

]]> By: leannich http://www.string-revolution.com/2009/07/very-secret-mysteries-no-2-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-46 leannich Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:00:13 +0000 http://www.string-revolution.com/?p=219#comment-46 @Alison: A ROOM. I am ridiculously jealous :-) And I want to hear about that party dress! @Delphine: That's such a cute little toy! I have a lovely memory of your grandmother letting me raid her fabric drawer so that I could make a doll and some clothes. I think I was homesick - sewing made everything feel more familiar :-) @Longtime: I wonder what that stitch is. <a href="http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=%22blanket+stitch%22&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g2" rel="nofollow">Blanket stitch</a>, maybe? I use an old Singer machine, but with a motor rather than the old-style iron foot pedal. And I haven't sewn any clothes for years - I really want to get back to it. @Alison: A ROOM. I am ridiculously jealous :-) And I want to hear about that party dress!

@Delphine: That’s such a cute little toy! I have a lovely memory of your grandmother letting me raid her fabric drawer so that I could make a doll and some clothes. I think I was homesick – sewing made everything feel more familiar :-)

@Longtime: I wonder what that stitch is. Blanket stitch, maybe? I use an old Singer machine, but with a motor rather than the old-style iron foot pedal. And I haven’t sewn any clothes for years – I really want to get back to it.

]]> By: longtimenotknitsouthamerican http://www.string-revolution.com/2009/07/very-secret-mysteries-no-2-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-45 longtimenotknitsouthamerican Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:09:49 +0000 http://www.string-revolution.com/?p=219#comment-45 Loved this post Léan. I learnt basic hand-stitching and embroidery (from my grandmother again) when I was 5 or 6. The first thing I made was a green felt heart-shaped pin cushion, festooned in a stitch whose English name I don't know (it's one which can be used to stop fabric from unraveling). She had a beautiful pedal Singer machine. I wish I had inherited that! I learnt to use a sewing machine at school but haven't since, and I've been toying with the idea of buying one for a while. I do have this dream of designing and sewing my own clothes, you see. Loved this post Léan. I learnt basic hand-stitching and embroidery (from my grandmother again) when I was 5 or 6. The first thing I made was a green felt heart-shaped pin cushion, festooned in a stitch whose English name I don’t know (it’s one which can be used to stop fabric from unraveling).
She had a beautiful pedal Singer machine. I wish I had inherited that! I learnt to use a sewing machine at school but haven’t since, and I’ve been toying with the idea of buying one for a while. I do have this dream of designing and sewing my own clothes, you see.

]]> By: Delphine http://www.string-revolution.com/2009/07/very-secret-mysteries-no-2-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Delphine Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:06:59 +0000 http://www.string-revolution.com/?p=219#comment-44 I have the same pair of small cissors! Started learning to sew only last year, and oh do I wish I had been interested in it as a child. My grand-mother would have been a perfect teacher. I'm not sure why I suddenly decided I had to learn how to make clothes. So far I've only made 2 or 3 baby things, and tag toys like this one http://crevettefabrique.canalblog.com/albums/les_p_tits_trucs_que_d_autres_blogueuses_ont_fait_a_partir_de_me/photos/35507384-delphine.html. Mainly, I've been tearing my hair out with : understanding patterns, and how pieces fit together, and which side the bias has to be sewn on, and how my god one shoulder is just wider that the other one, and this is not quite straight, and oh how do you place the thread in this machine again and... Last blunder : I did a pair of trousers for a little girl, with some African fabric then a matching top. Took me hours and hours to complete it (pattern a bit too complex for me I guess). I did the last finishing stitch, turned it around and : the masks on the front part were upside down! Never noticed it. I have the same pair of small cissors!
Started learning to sew only last year, and oh do I wish I had been interested in it as a child. My grand-mother would have been a perfect teacher.
I’m not sure why I suddenly decided I had to learn how to make clothes.
So far I’ve only made 2 or 3 baby things, and tag toys like this one http://crevettefabrique.canalblog.com/albums/les_p_tits_trucs_que_d_autres_blogueuses_ont_fait_a_partir_de_me/photos/35507384-delphine.html.

Mainly, I’ve been tearing my hair out with : understanding patterns, and how pieces fit together, and which side the bias has to be sewn on, and how my god one shoulder is just wider that the other one, and this is not quite straight, and oh how do you place the thread in this machine again and…

Last blunder : I did a pair of trousers for a little girl, with some African fabric then a matching top. Took me hours and hours to complete it (pattern a bit too complex for me I guess). I did the last finishing stitch, turned it around and : the masks on the front part were upside down! Never noticed it.

]]> By: Alison http://www.string-revolution.com/2009/07/very-secret-mysteries-no-2-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Alison Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:00:38 +0000 http://www.string-revolution.com/?p=219#comment-43 Now that I have a whole ROOM all to my self for my sewing, I keep telling myself I want to get out some of the things my parents rescued from my grandmother's house, and somehow display them for inspiration. Thank you for a little more encouragement! Maybe someday I'll write about the party dress I made myself out of Winceyette when I was 12 or so... Now that I have a whole ROOM all to my self for my sewing, I keep telling myself I want to get out some of the things my parents rescued from my grandmother’s house, and somehow display them for inspiration. Thank you for a little more encouragement!
Maybe someday I’ll write about the party dress I made myself out of Winceyette when I was 12 or so…

]]> By: leannich http://www.string-revolution.com/2009/07/very-secret-mysteries-no-2-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-42 leannich Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:27:32 +0000 http://www.string-revolution.com/?p=219#comment-42 @Ailbhe: Huge-headed pins are definitely the way to go, I think. I need new pins anyway (must ask my hozzband for some pin-money, ahahaha). Your mother's expertise alarms even me! Experience pays off, and she has bags more than I have. I've seen her window-seat furnishings, and I'd love to see clothes she's made. I get a ridiculous thrill from well-made things. If you want to sew, I'd say sewing for children is a great starting-point - they don't need things to be as fitted as adults like. But maybe start with some things that don't need to be quite as articulated as real-people clothes? My Sindy couture was a pretty excellent foundation, in retrospect. @Glitzfrau: "Vintage" is the word, isn't it? But in my mind, that's just "some of the stuff that's in my workboxes" - I still have so many things that I inherited from the great-aunts and my grandmother. (Yes, I chose consciously, but still.) @Ailbhe: Huge-headed pins are definitely the way to go, I think. I need new pins anyway (must ask my hozzband for some pin-money, ahahaha).

Your mother’s expertise alarms even me! Experience pays off, and she has bags more than I have. I’ve seen her window-seat furnishings, and I’d love to see clothes she’s made. I get a ridiculous thrill from well-made things.

If you want to sew, I’d say sewing for children is a great starting-point – they don’t need things to be as fitted as adults like. But maybe start with some things that don’t need to be quite as articulated as real-people clothes? My Sindy couture was a pretty excellent foundation, in retrospect.

@Glitzfrau: “Vintage” is the word, isn’t it? But in my mind, that’s just “some of the stuff that’s in my workboxes” – I still have so many things that I inherited from the great-aunts and my grandmother. (Yes, I chose consciously, but still.)

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