Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Sewing
Jul 23, 2018 10:17:20 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2018 10:17:20 GMT
Don't sew as much as I used to. At 75 with mobility problem, I don't go out dancing like I used to! Last thing I did was alter some long skirts for the hot weather, having lost 3 stone since last year. Clothes tend to be pull on for comfort now. Rheumatoid arthritis makes hand sewing difficult, but I make bobbin lace and, having got rid of my super duper embroidery/sewing machine that weighed a ton, have invested in 2 seperate machines, both light weight, one sewing and the other just embroidery. I'm editing downloaded embroidery designs and adorning T-shirts and other stuff to put my mark on them.
Glad I didn't go down the textiles route for a career - think it would have taken the enjoyment out of it - but down the science/computing route instead. Now I have a problem with retirement - I don't get a day off
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Sewing
Oct 23, 2018 9:31:53 GMT
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2018 9:31:53 GMT
This is a lovely thread. Like your quilt and Christmas decorations from a while back, toggy. I make quilts and never make bias binding - with a straight edge that isn't needed - cutting across the width of the fabric in 2.5" widths, removing the selvedge then stitching the lengths together using a 1.5mm stitch is far easier. Then fold down the whole length and press. Stitch with raw edges flush on the right side of the quilt, turn the folded edge over and hand stitch down.
I turn the corners of my quilts using a mitre which means there is no cutting and starting again. Difficult to describe so I'd suggest looking on youtube - fabulous tutorials and I've been quilting for over 30 years now, still learning new ways - for mitred corners on quilts.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Sewing
Oct 23, 2018 9:45:02 GMT
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2018 9:45:02 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Sewing
Oct 23, 2018 9:54:31 GMT
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2018 9:54:31 GMT
My currrent sewing project is bras. Having lost 2 and a half stone, I needed new ones, but wasn't sure of the size. I know what I think my size is but did the measurements - under bust plus 4 inches for the actual bra size. Over bust to determine cup size depending on the difference between the two measurements..
So I bought 2 good ones at the size I think I am and 2 good ones cheaply from a clearance site the size the measurements say I am. The size I think I am fit beautifully, the ones I'm supposed to be according to the measurements are too big both in back size and cup size. So I've deconstructed them and am remaking them as an exercise in something I've never done before. Surprisingly it's working out OK.
|
|
|
Sewing
Oct 23, 2018 10:19:26 GMT
Post by Miranda on Oct 23, 2018 10:19:26 GMT
Wow! Bras are notoriously tricky. I wish I could adapt all my old ones but they all need to be way bigger!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Sewing
Oct 23, 2018 11:40:32 GMT
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2018 11:40:32 GMT
Show off!
|
|
|
Sewing
Oct 23, 2018 11:55:31 GMT
Post by Miranda on Oct 23, 2018 11:55:31 GMT
TBH, I wish they had stayed the same size. Along my tummy and my bum! A whole new wardrobe has been expensive!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Sewing
Oct 23, 2018 14:35:18 GMT
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2018 14:35:18 GMT
I stayed the same size and weight for over 20 years. The weight loss was due to not being able to swallow because of inflation caused by radiotherapy for oesophageal cancer. Not a recommended way of losing weight and the first time I've ever been told off for losing weight. It also meant a whole new wardrobe for stuff I couldn't alter. It also means I now feel the cold because of less insulation.
|
|
|
Sewing
Oct 23, 2018 14:54:22 GMT
Post by Miranda on Oct 23, 2018 14:54:22 GMT
Ooh no. Not a good way to lose weight. My weight gain is just middle-aged-spread. All of the women in my maternal family put weight on really quickly once we hit 50. So I knew it was going to happen and there's nothing to be done about it. Still bloody annoying though.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Sewing
Oct 23, 2018 16:46:51 GMT
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2018 16:46:51 GMT
janet, that sounds really nasty and I hope you're better now and free of anything hideous.
Have never tried making a bra or, for that matter, re-making a bra but they are they very devils to buy to get the right fit. I'm not overly endowed in that area (or in any area really, having lost the stone and a bit I gained over the years) just average. Some years ago we were in Kensington so thought I'd try Harrods for a new bra. Very helpful girl took one look, told me my size, led me to a changing room then went off to look fo my preferences, i.e. white and nothing fancy. She returned with an armful then left me to get undressed. But. She came back and before I could say "elastic" found her hand down one cup of the bra, scooping me in. Apart from my doctor I'd never had another woman touch me there. Was disconcerting to say the least.
Usually buying my undies in M&S, it was an experience but one I've never repeated. I bought the bra, though. It lasted a goodly while, if memory serves.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Sewing
Oct 23, 2018 19:44:40 GMT
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2018 19:44:40 GMT
Didn't know I had a cancer problem. I've had rheumatoid arthritis since 1992 and am on a low dose chemotheray drug (Methotrexate) which requires regular blood tests. A few years ago one of those tests showed that I'd become anaemic and I had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy to see if they could find out why I wasn't absorbing iron. No reason found. Happened again just over a year ago and a small red patch was found which turned out to malignant. Fortunately it hadn't spread beyond that patch. So 5 weeks of chemotherapy an radiotherapy sorted that out. Have to be checked every 4 months now I'm in the 2nd year after treatment and all still seems fine. Didn't lose my hair - it just thinned. I'm still very dark at 75 and hoped I'd turn grey if I did lose it. Also decided I'd have a blond plaited wig like Elsa in Frozen - if you can't have a laugh with cancer, when can you?
As for being 50, I'm sure that women at least put on a stone in weight overnight between the day of being 49 and the next being 50 and it's impossibe to shift. At least nowadays nice clothes in larger sizes are available so there's no need to look like an old lady as women did in the past, but also not to look like mutton dressed as lamb.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Sewing
Mar 24, 2019 19:41:39 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2019 19:41:39 GMT
Has anyone done applique on a T-shirt attaching it just with Hemline paper back fusible web and no stitching? I've just done this with an applique with a very complicated outline (lots of small petals and leaves sticking out) so I don't want to sew round it if I can avoid it.
The last of the instructions on the packet says "Finish the applique by stitching aound the edge as desired." I'm wondering if it will stay attached through washing wthout stitching.
|
|
|
Sewing
Mar 24, 2019 20:07:32 GMT
Post by Miranda on Mar 24, 2019 20:07:32 GMT
I've never tried that but fusible web on hems usually survives being washed. Suck it and see, I think.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Sewing
Mar 27, 2019 0:54:02 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2019 0:54:02 GMT
Has anyone done applique on a T-shirt attaching it just with Hemline paper back fusible web and no stitching? I've just done this with an applique with a very complicated outline (lots of small petals and leaves sticking out) so I don't want to sew round it if I can avoid it. The last of the instructions on the packet says "Finish the applique by stitching aound the edge as desired." I'm wondering if it will stay attached through washing wthout stitching. Janet don't know if this is any help but I use Bondaweb or suchlike all the time. For the past couple of years I have made quite complicated fabric banners for the am dram group I'm involved with. I fuse the fabric with bondaweb and when the text is cut out I iron it on. I'm sure you have all done similar work but these banners are put up in the town centre end of Jan through February. I was worried that the ferocious winds and lashing rain would cause the letters to fall off. Amazingly they didn't!! Even after being up for weeks and again this year too. I think it helped that the fabric I used for the letters was quite thin and didn't fray much, but the bondaweb worked brilliantly! Oh and my local shop sells the bondaweb which is sheer and doesn't show through the fabric. There is another type with a herringbone pattern which shows through. I work with organzas and so need the sheer. Hope this helps Janet
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Sewing
Mar 27, 2019 9:15:15 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2019 9:15:15 GMT
I've used Bondaweb for hems and lightweight stuff, but this is quite heavy. I bought several embroidered flowery trims - similar to the type you'd put on underwear, but these are heavier. The one I've just attached is about 16 inches long and 5 inches wide at its widest part. I was surprised at the compliments I got for livening up a black T-shirt when I wore it on Monday at my lacemaking group.
|
|