I want to learn to sew
- Thread starter Looby
- Start date
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
I've been having a lot of trouble finding anywhere in London that sells those sort of interesting prints, apart from one shop in Kew: http://www.tikkilondon.com/
I'm really wary of buying fabric or knitting wool online because I just don't think computer images represent things that well. Anyone know of anywhere else? If the green dress turns out well I might well make another.
I'm really wary of buying fabric or knitting wool online because I just don't think computer images represent things that well. Anyone know of anywhere else? If the green dress turns out well I might well make another.
Biddlybee
making knots with sticks
cool, if you go to morley, you'll have to get the head of department to sign your application - I've no idea why, cos she doesn't do anything than just sign the form
and you can only get that done on one day I think, which isn't the day of enrollement. and on enrollment day you need to be there a good couple of hours before it starts! that's what put me off going on to the next level, I didn't have enough leave left to take the days off to get on the course.
Bugger, the morley course starts on Monday
I'll knit until September and see if I can get on that course. Then I can save up for a sewing machine 
Vintage Paw
dead stare and computer glare
Can I ask a potentially stupid question please?
I want to make some blinds of some sort. I've got an idea in my head that it's going to be some sort of romanish blind made from muslin. I'm looking online at the moment and can see somewhere that sells muslin quite cheap, but only in white or natural. Can I dye it? How? I haven't dyed anything before. My local haberdashers I know have some sort of fabric dye. Can I wash muslin in the washing machine? God, I'm so dim
I want to make some blinds of some sort. I've got an idea in my head that it's going to be some sort of romanish blind made from muslin. I'm looking online at the moment and can see somewhere that sells muslin quite cheap, but only in white or natural. Can I dye it? How? I haven't dyed anything before. My local haberdashers I know have some sort of fabric dye. Can I wash muslin in the washing machine? God, I'm so dim
you'd never have got on it anywayBugger, the morley course starts on Monday
all the people that have done the last two terms will have filled all the places.
madzone
Physically unfavourable
Yes, yes and yes. Muslin is cotton. Any dye that will dye coton will dye muslin. I'd probably wash it (to remove any dressing) and dye it before sewing it as it will shrinkCan I ask a potentially stupid question please?
I want to make some blinds of some sort. I've got an idea in my head that it's going to be some sort of romanish blind made from muslin. I'm looking online at the moment and can see somewhere that sells muslin quite cheap, but only in white or natural. Can I dye it? How? I haven't dyed anything before. My local haberdashers I know have some sort of fabric dye. Can I wash muslin in the washing machine? God, I'm so dim
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
But I would add that muslin generally is cheap and you might well be able to find some that's the colour you want. Dyes tend to fade and blinds of course will be seeing a lot of sunlight.
Vintage Paw
dead stare and computer glare
Thank you and thank you!
I'll continue my search for muslin in a suitable colour then. Apologies for being the dimmest person on the thread
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
Try Ikea perhaps. Actually I was looking at Ikea fabrics online earlier and wondering if any of them would be a suitable weight for dressmaking, because they've got some lovely patterns.
Ceej
Where is my mind?
This place is good for fabrics - sheer and normal-ish. Not great for wild and wondeful prints, but cheap and cheerful for basics and very fast delivery.
http://www.cheapfabrics.co.uk/thest...-fern/cName/couture-collection-couture-panels
http://www.cheapfabrics.co.uk/thest...-fern/cName/couture-collection-couture-panels
Mrs Magpie
On a bit of break...
Pip sews brilliantly. She's not on U75 now owing to a nasty incident allegedly involving doctored PMs, abusive phone calls and facebook so PM me.
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
This is a useful site by the way: http://sewing.patternreview.com/
Amy Butler seems to be all the rage at the moment: http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/mainmenu.php
Amy Butler seems to be all the rage at the moment: http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/mainmenu.php
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
I've been making this pattern:
and have all but finished except for doing the hem and a bit of internal finishing stuff. It was always a bit of a gamble as to whether this style would suit my, to put it kindly, pear-shaped figure, and I'm not sure about the results. I genuinely liked the fabric when I bought it, and now think perhaps it is actually a bit terrible (it was incredibly cheap). The bodice is a bit weird and makes me look oddly flat-chested: the bust seam is a bit high on me (I thought this when I started, then changed my mind). I let the stomach section out to accommodate my pot belly and now think perhaps it was a mistake and I should have just squashed myself into it as it was. And the colour makes me look ill which was a surprise because I always thought green suited me:
I just think it's a bit meh, and actually a bit frumpy. It was partly a trial run to see if I would like to make it in something more expensive, but I'm not sure I'll bother. It might be better if I shortened it when I do the hem. It might be better if I changed how I did the bodice. It might be better with a net petticoat underneath. But it might not.
and have all but finished except for doing the hem and a bit of internal finishing stuff. It was always a bit of a gamble as to whether this style would suit my, to put it kindly, pear-shaped figure, and I'm not sure about the results. I genuinely liked the fabric when I bought it, and now think perhaps it is actually a bit terrible (it was incredibly cheap). The bodice is a bit weird and makes me look oddly flat-chested: the bust seam is a bit high on me (I thought this when I started, then changed my mind). I let the stomach section out to accommodate my pot belly and now think perhaps it was a mistake and I should have just squashed myself into it as it was. And the colour makes me look ill which was a surprise because I always thought green suited me:
I just think it's a bit meh, and actually a bit frumpy. It was partly a trial run to see if I would like to make it in something more expensive, but I'm not sure I'll bother. It might be better if I shortened it when I do the hem. It might be better if I changed how I did the bodice. It might be better with a net petticoat underneath. But it might not.
pennimania
still dre and drooling
And me 
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
Trouble is, people always say that on the internet... Anyway, may as well finish it so my mother gets the pleasure of crawling round on her knees with a ruler pinning up my hem... she says she remembers the nightmare of hemming circular skirts from her youth, and did I want to put horsehair braid in the hem.
madzone
Physically unfavourable
I think it looks lovely ruby, though I can see what you mean about letting the bodice out. I wonder if it would look even nicer with the bodice taken in a bit (it would also make your tits look bigger ) I think the colour is lovely but as I can't see your face in the pic, that's just guesswork 
I don't think it looks frumpy.
) I think the colour is lovely but as I can't see your face in the pic, that's just guesswork I don't think it looks frumpy.
madzone
Physically unfavourable
That's sweet of you
Spangles won't let me wear anything that goes straight accross my chest though
Ms Ordinary
randompointlesschemistry
Thank you and thank you!
I'll continue my search for muslin in a suitable colour then. Apologies for being the dimmest person on the thread
Asian fabric shops often seem to have cheapish cotton muslin in lots of colours - the actual sari fabrics or whatever might be hugely expensive, but I think the muslin may be for linings
which may be why there's a wide colour range.Muslin = the really thin cotton ie would let lots of light through? But lovely diffuse light, especially when its coloured.
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
Thanks. I've tried it on again and have come to the conclusion that it's not so bad I can be bothered to unpick the seams and redo them - it's not the sort of bodice that lends itself to being adjusted at a late stage because of complicated linings and facings. It's a wee bit roomy - but then it's comfortable. I think in fact I've just lost a bit of weight since I started it, which in theory I should be going on doing, so I might adjust it further down the line.I think it looks lovely ruby, though I can see what you mean about letting the bodice out. I wonder if it would look even nicer with the bodice taken in a bit (it would also make your tits look bigger
I partly went for cheap material so I could treat this as a practice run - so I'll know for next time, if there is a next time.
(Mem to self: let shoulder seam out a bit and don't add so much to midriff section.)
Meanwhile what I REALLY need is a plain A line skirt pattern so I can make a skirt out of this lovely Liberty fabric I've had lying around for far too long. I originally thought I'd make a sort of sundress out of it, but then thought a skirt would be nicer but haven't been able to find just a plain A line pattern in a plus size. Or I suppose it could be something else. Tops I could do with. I've got 2 pieces that are about 110cm long each, and it's 135cm wide.
