AilbheMy sewing machine is back! They put all the screws I moved around back in the right places. It's covered in oil. I haven't turned it on yet but I feel better just because it's here.
#sewing #repair #janome
I rehemmed a couple of teatowels, so they're shorter but have no ragged trailing strings to tangle in things and break stuff.
The red cotton velvet is going in the wash -- I might be able to sew it later today
I'm back at the hassock today. I used bits of a ragged bedsheet to make an interior cushion casing for the stack of quilted pads. The red velvet exterior will be slightly more complicated I think.
Previous hassock mention: https://mastodon.art/@artbyailbhe/109361133167159580
Ailbhe (@[email protected])
Attached: 2 images I need to dismantle my sewing machine to clean fluff out of the tensioning spring I think. But I got a second flat cushion sewn up today and now finally the stack is 15cm high uncompressed and 13cm compressed, which is the required height and so now I can make the exterior of the hassock, which is in theory the easy part. #sewing #recycling
Starting the velvet exterior using bought-new velvet and zipper, but that's the only new bit. The dark zipper should be ok with the dark velvet -- it didn't show up at all until I photographed it against the wrong side of the fabric. Reds seem to be very difficult to photograph. #sewing #recycling
Yesterday I did a bunch of draping and pinning and today I've decided on a plan, I think. I'm measuring a bit, cutting a bit, measuring a bit, cutting a bit. I had to repair my table first and I have to keep lying down but it's all progress.
Ok I've cut cotton velvet, cotton batting, and ragged sheet for lining/backing for the top, bottom, closed side, and three zipper sides of the hassock cover. And two little bits for a carry handle.
I've pinned the first bits to the zipper. I always think I'm going to sew these on the wrong sides. I'll find out when I'm well enough to sit at the machine I guess.
I can tell there's going to be ironing though. Ironing. Again.
I'm sewing! This hassock project has been going since 1 September. https://twitter.com/artbyailbhe/status/1565389820104507392?t=6NDKGfeEstvQo1i6pKtgwA&s=19
The velvet needed cotton batting and solid sheeting behind it to be strong enough so I had to sew the zip in between the layers on each side, making a lined inner. Then I basted the three layers of each piece together before assembling the cube. #sewing
I had to bind the internal edges before I could use the cushion cover because the raw edges of the velvet shed continuously.
But it's done. I'm going to make another cover as soon as possible because this was VERY EDUCATIONAL but it's better than no cover. The handle seems firm. It's about the right size. #sewing
Recycled and washable.
The external velvet, the outermost padding, the thread, and the binding on the internal seams are the only non-recycled parts. The binding is a polycotton because I had some from a remnants bag, but the rest of the new materials are plastic-free. Because it's stuffed with a stack of quilted pads, it can be laundered and line-dried if pets happen to it. I'm tired but pleased. #sewing #recycling
Today I ironed my pyjamas. Ugh. But I needed to fauxverlock the seams and stitch down the facings properly so ironing was non-negotiable. I also discovered that sewing the cotton velvet was EXTREMELY FLUFFY. #sewing @sewing
I later sewed a bit of a wall covering -- there's a patch of our front wall that's definitely losing heat to the outside and I want to give it a quilted jacket. Mockup One is in situ but I was too wrecked by the time it was finished to take a photo or anything.
I think I'm going to make a rectangle with a hole in it for the guitar hanger, maybe a mylar backing, and attach it to the very top of the wall using cable clips like for the phone wires. #mecfs #warmth #sewing
I'm replacing the black straps (as required by the original recipient of the bag) with matching-the-main-fabric straps, so that I can give it to a friend. Today I cut, interfaced, and ironed them into shape. Tomorrow I'll stitch them on. #sewing
Really, really securely. Oh god.
That took just under two hours and I'll definitely need a break before I use my hands for anything else.
Yesterday was too #mecfs for #sewing but today I'm getting the straps on the bag. I semi-basted them on with big machine stitches because it's six layers of canvas and three of interfacing and pins just don't cut the relevant piquant condiment of your choice.
I do keep fabric I'm #recycling and fabric I bought new separate, and use them for different kinds of projects. Most of the stuff we stop using and put in the stash is too worn out to make a new garment from.
Almost all of this is fabric for #recycling too. Why am I doing this? I did #UFYH, I know not to marathon-clean. But I have to tidy this or I can't rest. #sewing
I got it all boxed or bagged. It's almost entirely what Middlest Child says Bernadette Banner calls "cabbage" but I call "really useful". #sewing #ufyh
As a reward for tidying, I cut out the fabric for a pair of toddler leggings halfway through and promised myself the #sewing of them when I finished.
#Sewing the twin-needle topstitching inside the ankle cuffs on toddler leggings is a bit fiddly. It's too small to slip over the machine.
The finished leggings, with a button to show which way round they go, and the waistband edges stitched down inside so they don't tickle -- this is a major reason I use a twin needle, I do all my underpants this way too -- all ready to inflict on a child who didn't even ask and may hate them.
I enjoyed #sewing them ANYWAY though and I'm sure someone will want them.
Middlest Child sewed the button on for me because I avoid handsewing whenever possible. It does not play nicely with my joint issues.
I wanted to do #sewing but it turns out that first I need to do #ironing. I've ironed the paper pattern and cut out the bits I need and folded the rest back into the packet, and I've read the instructions and figured out what fabric I need, and next I need to iron the blasted fabric. This is ridiculous. I don't want an ironing hobby.
I've ordered a bag of crushed walnut shells. And I'm trying to decide what to do about binding. The pattern calls for the edges to be bound, but I'm making this from velvet and it's going to be much thicker than the designers intended. Maybe French seams? French seams conceal a multitude. #sewing
OR I could try to make my own extra wide velvet bias binding, but that's #ironing again.
Ok I'm not going to make a new thing until I work through a pile of #mending. I have sewing and gluing both queueing and it will be much less chaotic if I get them done.
Here's the A1 drawing board I use for my extra table space when I have something bigger than A4 to cut out. It currently also has an ironing mat and a laptop on it. #sewing
When I buy fabric for #sewing I do put it through a hot wash and iron it on high before I put it away, because that works better for me than trying to slot it into the household laundry cycle when I want to actually use it, but it still needs ironing before use because it's folded for storage.
Violet@artbyailbhe that sounds super helpful! Do you have an easy trick to prevent fraying when you wash it? I feel like it is a lot of work to get it ready for that stage 😝
@MsFairyViolet no, I just accept a bit of fraying (or sometimes use a laundry bag). I also wash everything on hot because if it's going to be destroyed by a hot wash I'd rather it happen before I use my time and energy on it.
@MsFairyViolet If I very seriously cared I might run a row of fine machine stitching around the edges but I haven't cared enough yet.
@artbyailbhe ah oke! I've been a bit scared to see what would happen without stitching it, but I guess it's worth a try! Thanks!