AilbheToday I've started ironing my dungarees. The legs are wider than my ironing board. They are vast and will contain multitudes. I'm taking lots of breaks from standing but ironing is one of those tasks which make a clear and visible difference so it's good for feeling like I'm achieving something. #sewing
I ironed, finished some of the piecing seams, added the straps, and put in buttonholes with my Greist buttonhole maker. Tomorrow I hope to tidy the stray threads, add buttons, and wear it. #Sewing
I think it wants appliqué.
FINISHED. I will probably do nicer seam finishes inside sometime, and it will probably grow appliqué over time, but I'll be wearing these now! #Sewing #dungarees (Yes, I can just about fit in one leg)
I got so bored I made a remote control holder for my freshly-covered armchair. #Sewing
To go with my armchair cover, a desk-chair cover. The red was ok but clashy, and adding the black just made it miserable to look at. So I'm using the last few inches from the roll to make it a matching cover. First pin/clip to get an idea of what shape I'm going to need, then I'll baste, then decide on hems and sew it on the machine. #Sewing
Finished! I don't know why I put in a little pocket, other than that it saved me from having to cut and hem the selvedge? #Sewing
Today's #sewing was ironing. Three metres of cotton shirting in preparation for making another from my McCall's pattern. This one will be longer and have sleeves, but will be of a reasonably civilised fabric, so that's exciting. The first one was made of extreeeeeeeemely slippery linen and was like sewing a teflon-coated octopus.
Today I'm lengthening the shirt pattern - starting with two inches front and back and on each sleeve, and I'll see how that suits my victim.
Cut out the fronts, back, and sleeves. Smaller bits tomorrow. Tired now.
The blue I'm using for this shirt is School Uniform or possibly Nurses Scrubs. But the pleats are in the back and the yoke is on. Attaching the fronts to the shoulders now. #Sewing
I've topstitched the yoke facing into place and it involved more ironing. Next is more basting, then putting away the body of the shirt and starting on the sleeves.
I have read the instructions for the continuous lap next to the cuffs and I strongly suspect them of being very "now draw the rest of the owl."
I'm sewing this at 15 stitches an inch, as a compromise between easy to undo errors and small enough to look ok. I can see myself doing the next one at 20, with 30 for topstitching, if none of this one needs unpicking. #Sewing
Last time I made a shirt, the collar confused me until I had finished it. This time, the sleeve end and cuff are extremely confusing so I hope they'll also become obvious as I plough through.
But I am afraid of the continuous lap. #Sewing
I think I have sewn the continuous lap but I don't understand how it's supposed to look. There's no mitre at the top of the split or anything.
Ohhhh, I *see*!
Today I'm attempting to attach sleeves. I used fabric clips to match notches, then pins to get the pieces lying flat together, then machine-basted, then unpicked puckered bits and rebasted them, and now I'm having a rest before I change the stitch length and nail them on for good. #Sewing
I was sufficiently tired to double double check and *anyway* attach one sleeve inside out. So I'm glad I only basted. I'll unpick today.
Today I have unpicked and rebasted one sleeve, fully stitched both sleeves, and unpicked both sets of basting.
Next is trimming half one side's seam allowance, ironing in the other side's, and stitching all THAT. So I'm not congratulating myself on my lack of puckering just yet.
The only downside to my beautiful sewing machine (see link below) is that using one hand to crank it means I only have one hand to guide the fabric. I'm considering my options. #Sewing https://mastodon.art/@artbyailbhe/110780146951341100
Ailbhe (@[email protected])
Attached: 4 images The case of my 1940 Singer 201K handcranked sewing machine. The way the storage and case works is so, so simple and clever. #SewingMachine #Sewing
Trimmed seam, ironed seam, folded seam, pinned seam, ironed seam, basted seam, ironed seam, stitched seam (swearing elided for brevity).
The inside isn't great but the outside is fine. #Sewing
Today I finished the seams up the sides and along the sleeves. Is there an easy way to handle sewing the seam flat along the arms? I tried two different ways of scrunching the tube up and sewing kind of inside a tunnel/bucket but neither was satisfactory. And wouldn't be possible with a slimmer sleeve, like on one of my own garments. #Sewing
I was really tired when I cut this out and today I discovered that a lot of collar pieces were cut with the folds in the wrong place. Luckily I have enough spare fabric to redo it. Yikes. https://mastodon.art/@artbyailbhe/111093363364440828 #sewing #mecfs
Ailbhe (@[email protected])
Cut out the fronts, back, and sleeves. Smaller bits tomorrow. Tired now.
I've started on the collar and it says to trim seams and turn right side out and baste but I'm pretty sure I have to press it first. I can't imagine how I'll baste it neatly without pressing it. #Sewing
I've been too cold and tired for anything requiring precision but my feet got cold so... #Sewing
I'm still too brain fogged to tackle the collar and cuffs in the shirt, but I did make a cover for my A1 drawing board, various cutting boards, A2 sheet of heavy interfacing, and other things that are big and flat and need to be stored upright because that A1 board on top of a folding table *is* my large horizontal surface and I don't have one for just putting things on.
#sewing #organisation
#sewing #organisation
I'll finish the internal seams one day.
So it's day 35 of making this shirt but yesterday I did iron the collar pieces and pinned the outside and facing to the inside already on the shirt. So I'm making progress. I really do find the collar very confusing, both times I've made it so far, and I need my brain to be unfoggy to attempt it. #Sewing
https://mastodon.art/@artbyailbhe/111053979534985785
https://mastodon.art/@artbyailbhe/111053979534985785
Ailbhe (@[email protected])
Today's #sewing was ironing. Three metres of cotton shirting in preparation for making another from my McCall's pattern. This one will be longer and have sleeves, but will be of a reasonably civilised fabric, so that's exciting. The first one was made of extreeeeeeeemely slippery linen and was like sewing a teflon-coated octopus.
This is the previous attempt, in drapey linen instead of crisp cotton. A new shirt every 2½ months might be excessive but how else am I to learn? https://mastodon.art/@artbyailbhe/110672112282380483
Ailbhe (@[email protected])
Attached: 1 image I finished the shirt. It's a little short so I'll make it longer in future, but it's GREAT. I'm so pleased with it. The linen is much too drapey and soft for the pattern but it's a functional garment and all the internal seams finished nicely so the wearer is almost completely unaware of the clo once clothed. #Sewing
I think I need extra instructions for the collar. I don't know what they are though.
It's the bit where I attach the lapelly parts to the placket facings. That's where I do not know what the instructions intend me to do even after I do it (other confusing bits become clear after I've followed through in bewilderment). #Sewing
I think it's day 42 of making a shirt and today I ironed and hemmed the facings and the, er, hem. So that's something.
All that's left to do is attach the cuffs and do the buttons and buttonholes. I just assembled the cuffs just now. The victim tried the shirt on yesterday and it's a good fit -- I added 2" to the length of the body and the sleeves, and although next time I'll add another 3" to the body this length is fine for most things. I think it will come untucked when cycling uphill. #Sewing
Buttonholes on the Singer 201k with the Greist buttonholer are an absolute doddle. I'm not yet completely accurate with my starting point placement but everything else is just drinking tea and turning the handle.
https://mastodon.art/@artbyailbhe/110820830320708682
Ailbhe (@[email protected])
Attached: 3 images Today my Greist buttonholer arrived. It comes with five templates, a thingy to cover the feed dogs so that only the buttonholer will move the fabric, and a sense of simplicity and elegance. It's like a walking foot: when the shaft for the presser foot is screwed in place, the lever will fit over the screw that holds the needle in place, and the movement of the needle will operate the buttonholer mechanism. If kept oiled and free of rust, it will last forever. #Sewing #SewingMachine #Buttonhole
Ok for neater buttons, marking my spots on the back of the fabric helps a lot. With more practice I'll get better at knowing what I'm doing.
Augh, shirt got finished, worn, and sent for laundry, all without a photo. Today I'm mending winter pyjamas.
I'm making myself a waistcoat for practice at various techniques and I just realised MY PATTERN HAS FAKE POCKETS I'm going to set things on fire #sewing #pockets #PocketsOfSedition
Cut out the two front pieces. They need darts and stuff, and the original denim is stretched thin in some places and patched almost rigid in others, but I think this is going to work. #Sewing #recycling
I'm dismantling more jeans legs for fabric but for some reason I'm unpicking all the stitching and keeping the thread, which is incredibly tedious because overlockers use LIGHTYEARS of thread. But it *will* be useful for basting and buttons so...
I made the back and did the first front piecing and darts and attached the shoulders and the darted side, and it's going to work! The jeans I made the back from are significantly darker than the fronts but I don't think I care. #sewing #reduce_reuse_recycle (thanks to @pauamma for alt text)
OMG I'm so tired I forgot alt text. Aaand I can't remember the hashtag to ask for help with it. Help.
Mastodon•ART 🎨 CuratorPic 1: A work in progress denim bodice with floral embroidery on the front sides
Pic 2: the back of the bodice
Pau Amma@artbyailbhe
Is "waistcoat" the right name for this?
Left pic: "The front of a waistcoat in the making hanging down, made from blueish white fabric with floral embroidery."
Right pic: "The back of a waistcoat in the making hanging down, made from faded denim."
@pauamma I'm using that word but the pattern says "vest" and someone else says "bodice"
Crafts Siets@artbyailbhe @pauamma I believe it depends on where you live (and also the intended use, so formal or casual) what word to use 🤷🏻♀️😅
@artbyailbhe Since this is for you, the word you'd use works for me.
@pauamma there are many perfectly cromulent words
Today I've been cutting facings and linings, which involved ironing ¾ of a shirt -- I'd already used the other ¼ as interfacing for something. I'm too tired for a photo but I'm very pleased with the use of my old jeans so far. I loved the embroidery on them and I'm going to be able to reuse all of it, I think.
I've made progress! The back and fronts are darted, the side seams are done, and the front facings and collar pieces are pieces and pinned so I know they will work. I have yet to piece the armhole facings and line it, but it's well on the way. #Sewing #reduce_reuse_recycle
I've cut out the back lining and sewn and ironed the pleats and darts, but I seem to have LOST the front lining pieces. Gah. Confusing and frustrating.
I cut out a fresh lining piece for each front side and subsequently found the original pieces. The picture shows how I avoid needing precision of movement when outlining pattern pieces onto fabric -- I use the paper to mask, and rub the chalk widely over the edge, leaving a crisp outline I can follow with a scissors or cutter.
No pictures, but I've finished except for tidying stray threads, adding fasteners, and attaching the lining to the hem.
This is because I attached the lining to the hem yesterday but I did it wrong and it's pulling everything weirdly and I have to do it again. Unpick unpick unpick. #Sewing
The original idea was to make a wearable mockup from scrap denim, mainly to practice welted pockets before using my wool and velvet. But then I found that the pattern had fake pockets, little patches to mimic a welt but no pocket bags. And then I found my old embroidered jeans. And now it's this.
Next time I make it I will take an inch off the height at the true waist. #sewing #reduce_reuse_recycle #upcycling
Miriam's on Medical Leave@artbyailbhe That is GORGEOUS. Well done!
@miriamrobern Thank you! I'm still mainly seeing flaws but I'm sure that is temporary.
Red and the Wolf Designs@artbyailbhe looks so great with the embroidered denim
@RedandtheWolfDesigns thank you. I loved those jeans so much I wanted to keep wearing them.
beverly_gardner@artbyailbhe I love the way you incorporated the embroidery.
@beverly_gardner I loved those jeans so much that some of it has two or three depths of denim patching behind. Some of the denim is as soft and pliable as a silk scarf and some of it is almost cardboard from being reinforced. It's "only" machine embroidery but I love it so much.
@artbyailbhe It makes me happy you have given them another life.
Sarah E Bourne@artbyailbhe That came out great!
@sbourne but a month a little month and the jeans' funeral baked meats did furnish forth the waistcoat table. I'm going to be *unbearably* smug for the rest of the day.
@artbyailbhe Gosh, just a day? I think you've earned smugness for a year, at least!
Rebecca Banner@artbyailbhe that looks fantastic! The first time I made a waistcoat I found the pattern had fake pockets, so I thought sod the pattern and went ahead and learnt how to do real pockets anyway. One of the benefits of making your own clothes - you are the one who decides whether that garment has pockets or not.
@rebeccabanner I was going to until I found the embroidery. There isn't space.
Kincaid@artbyailbhe at first glance at the thumbnails I thought you'd been weilding a chainsaw in Asda again...
@kincaid we're 200 metres from Lidl but I'm not allowed to buy the good things from the middle.
Jane Kulesza@artbyailbhe Looks great! What a fun way to repurpose.
@WorstedSkeins thank you!
Sarah@artbyailbhe It look fantastic!
@Sarah thank you!
Chris 🏳️🌈🧵🧝🏼@artbyailbhe OMG this vest is the business!!!
@elfkin I'm so pleased! The waist dart on the front left is in a weird place because of the embroidery but I don't really care. It was a voyage of discovery and I can wear it. Do you think reducing the height of the back by 1-2cm just above the waistline will help the fit? Next time won't be denim.
@artbyailbhe As well you should be. It’s a gorgeous piece!!! Reducing the back height might help, but honestly, I think the fit is perfectly serviceable as it is.
@elfkin I think I want to try it because the next one will be Real Fabric and fit issues can't hide as well there.
@artbyailbhe Makes sense.
Fred_SL@artbyailbhe That is BEAUTiful.
@Fred_SL thank you
DriftlessRoots@artbyailbhe That’s great! I like the placement of the butterfly on the lapel.
@DriftlessRoots thank you! The design is based on holding paper pattern pieces over scraps of denim and seeing what will fit. It couldn't have gone on the other lapel.
Femme Malheureuse@artbyailbhe This is stunning! I am so damned sorry I didn't keep some embroidered denim items I once owned including a skirt. Now I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for similar items in my thrift store hunting. Thanks for sharing this, it's inspirational!
@femme_mal I'm so glad! I fell into the project accidentally and it has been very satisfying. And I do think avoiding new denim and reusing existing denim is a good idea, it's such a water and labour and resources-in-general user.
@artbyailbhe Agree entirely about denim reuse/recycle. I reuse as much of any old clothing I have which isn't up to resale standards. I've even made tug-of-war toys for my kids' dogs with seams and waistbands from jeans. Almost indestructible stuff!
After learning about sashiko and boro work, I can't think of a good reason not to reuse every bit of fabric especially denim. https://www.openculture.com/2020/10/the-japanese-traditions-of-sashiko-boro.html
@artbyailbhe ...sadly, I sent my 1990s-era embroidered denim pieces off through a garage sale nearly 20 years ago. I loved those pieces but they were passé at the time. Had I seen a project like your vest back then I would have kept them. Hope they've become a project for someone else and not ended up in a landfill. *sigh*
@femme_mal I mean. I bought my jeans second hand before I wore them to death. So yours might have served extremely well.
Irina@artbyailbhe oh wow that looks awesome!
@irina thank you, I'm extremely hopeful for it
Natalie@artbyailbhe I absolutely love the random effect of repurposed denim! It's one of the best things about recycling jeans. It's looking so cool.