It's November! What’s up?

[nou]

Hello sewists! What’s up? Have you finished anything recently? Started anything new? Learned a new technique or read a new sewing-related book?

I finally got all the stupid crinkle linen cut out and have started assembling it. I’m using french seams because it’s very inclined to fraying, but I’m doing them a bit differently from usual. I stay-stitched all the edges on the individual pieces at (not inside) the seam allowance with soluble basting thread, then sewed the narrow part of the french seam at the width I wanted it to be, rather than sewing it wider and then trimming. The stay-stitching meant that (a) sewing an extra-narrow seam to start was easier than it would have been otherwise, and (b) I could see exactly where to sew on the second pass.

Still to do: bias binding on the bottom hem, elastic casing for the sleeve hem (I want to be able to push the sleeves up and have them stay where I put them).

I also made myself another silk pillowcase, since only having one was annoying (you’re not supposed to dry silk in direct sunlight, so getting it washed and dried in between getting up and going to bed could sometimes be challenging).

Comments

[zenigotchas]

Made socks into gloves following this handy dandy tutorial! They're so comfy! I wanna do something with my pants too now (not turning them into socks lol)

[bugshaw]

I bought a modern sewing machine (Janome 5060 with quilting attachment set for those who care about such things) and set it up today. It makes sewing so fun and easy! I've been struggling with mum's 1960s Singer until now and never got it to be quite satisfactory.

[shermarama]

I haven't sewn much in a while - had some other craft project going on, including knitting and shawl and making an illuminated tree thingy for a local art event - but I'm just starting to look at Christmas presents. I'd like to make some boxers for my partner, but here in New Zealand, I think the hardest thing to get is probably going to be decent plush waistband elastic. I can find one stockist online, and they sell a lot of bra stuff so it's probably decent, but it would be nice to be able to see before buying... But, New Zealand.

For the jersey part, I think I'm going to try and get some merino / elastane jersey, but that would also be online, with limited colour choice. Why *do* the big in-person fabric shops only have rubbish fabric?