Friday 25 April 2014

Adventures in Overlocking

After a month sitting neglected in the corner, i thought it was about time to crack open my overlocker and give her motors some exercise...


Spot the common theme - yes i do like me a singer!!

She (yes I'm giving her a female status) came preloaded with white so as i was needing to edge finish my current project, i thought why not try overlocking them edges?!

I'm really glad I did as well as it was a lot quicker and safer than using the old overlock foot on my regular machine!! (i've lost two needles recently to a 'straight stitch on an overlock foot' mishap - DOH!!)

so heres the results (the fabric is a 60" cotton from Remnant Kings)


 Yeah I even overlocked  my pockets!



So I left the ends long at the end of each piece in the hopes that I can catch them in the side seams - will this work? I'm hoping they don't unravel! Could be very embarrassing!!

Definately hope to use more of my overlocker...I have one patern cut out and ready to be sewn up on it I just fear the threading of the loopers when changing to the required dark thread!

Happy weekend folks!

JCS

Tuesday 22 April 2014

What a Find!

First I must start off with how good it is to be back....AHEM! After spending the last 10 days in Norfolk, reacquainting myself with my shadow Glasgow really knows how to rain on that parade!

Not only did my break present me with sun sea and relaxation, it also presented me with this FANTASTIC find....



This beautiful mechanical singer machine. I'm still working on its  origins however the serial number plate is intact and the presence of this thread guide suggests that it is a later model.



the mechanism is smooth as could be, I reckon that whoever refurbished it with a new base also gave it a good oil! It runs like a dream.

Possibly as a slight oversight we didn't take the car down to collect it so the two of us hauled it up from the town.*manfully* haha I love the intricate detail :-)



*complete with charity shop sticker*



Best holiday find ever.

also coz they're cute....





we saw these at a farm park somewhere near Norwich

JCS

Thursday 3 April 2014

FINISHED New Look 6144

Finally! After what seems like an eternity I have finally finished New Look 6144.
After a long and traumatic few weeks we finally got there!

 The dress is made from 45 " cotton poplin and instead of keeping the colours the same I decided to do some colour blocking with another cotton poplin.
The materials were really easy to work with but it would appear that my head was up my ass for the the first two weeks of the construction.

I decided to do view C - i'm not a huge fan of sleeves but i liked the 3/4 length so decided to mix things up a bit :-P.
After trying the dress on I had to cut about 4" off the bottom of the dress coz it must have been designed for a human giraffe. like serously. Although to be fair looking at the pictures im glad i didn't cut any more off the bottom....



I also reeeely should have measured my back length and waist length too. the waist length could do with having an inch removed. Its soo runkled. There was also meant to be a vent in teh back at the bottom - that got cut off but yeh the main issue is the waist of giraffe like proportions. :-\. Its also looking a little tight around the back however thats the result of a hen do last weekend, ahem...

So I thought on Tuesday the dress would be finished however who knows what I was thinking with the facings on the neck line and sewed them on wrong sides together. No matter 1/2 an hour with the stitch ripper and all is good. Double pointed dartmaintained and no further disasters!! *cue selfie*


Also side view

Bottom hem is even. I got some bad ass french seams going on inside.
I don't think ill be making this again in a hurry but to be fair I dont think it's a problem with the pattern just me. I think this may just languish in my wardrobe until I find a charity willing to take it!

So on to patterns new - got a few things planned which hopefully will not be such an epic adventure!!

JCS