Installing a zipper

Hey there,

So today Mr P and I got back from Amsterdam and I had a sudden need to share with you how I installed the zip on my new Frankenstein skirt.

(I will share some pics of this skirt (and jasmine together - girlfriend made herself 'an outfit') - I am just waiting until I get home and it is light enough to snap some  - but I am super pleased and cant wait to show (off) and tell)

I sewed the zip in the skirt a different way this time, and its left a look which I much prefer. Here is how I did it (for my own reference as much as anything).

• I marked on the skirt where I wanted the zip to end (as seen on the outside of the skirt), and then I basted to that point with my machine. 
• Then I cut the thread, lifted the needle, and changed the stitch size back to normal and started to sew (including backstitching) a couple of millimetres away from where my basted stitch ended (but following the same line). 
• Then I finished the seams on my serger.
• I then pinned the zip to the seam allowance and sewed from the bottom up on each side (only stitching the zip to the seam allowance here so the stitches wont be visible on the outside).
• I then pressed the zipper flat and hand sewed the zip and seam allowances to the skirt using tiny prick stitches. 
• Then I ripped out the basting stitches.

You can barely see the stitches - it looks awesome ! And it is super strong as the zip is anchored into the seam allowance.

I always have trouble with zippers, I can honestly say this was the least painful way to install one and I will be using this method everytime I can ! (I guess it does not hurt that I enjoy sewing by hand).

The only bad thing is that now I have shedloads of study to do,and its super busy at work and I fear there may not be that much sewing time to be had over the next few weeks !

Dang it ! Cos I am already pretty excited about what I may sew up next. These are my thoughts for next projects in no particular order.

1. Sencha in white with red stars fabric and red ribbon neck tie.
2. Jasmine in white cotton fabric peppered with some small blue and green flowers.
3. Another Frankenstein skirt but in crazy happy large floral print fabric (it will be my third !).
4. Jasmine in white cotton voile patterned with a burgundy red abstract circular print (which I think will look ACE with my brown skirt).

And this is just for starters ! PHEW ! I need a sit down !!

Come back again sometime and see how I am getting along   :-)

In other news I am hoping to post the patterns from my last give away at the weekend - so sorry its taken a wee while, I not been able to make it to the post office - but they will be with you next week !

K xxx

From here to infinity

Hello !

Well, after buying this .....

And watching these ....

And using some of this.......

image source

I made this .....

And a view from the side ....

It's my version of an infinity scarf / cowl (which I originally spoke about here after feeling inspired by Tasia)

I LOVE IT !! It is by no means perfect - but then neither am I      :-)   However, I could already see a difference in my knitting skill by the time I got to the end of the scarf. Tres excitmon !

Overall I am quite pleased with it as a first project, and pretty much cant wait to start something else. I have literally knitted non stop since Thursday to get it finished up.

I didn't use a pattern, I just casted on 46 stitches and kept on going (and going and going and going  - you get the drift). I knitted one row of knit stitches and one of purl in a continuous cycle. It is lucky that knitting is fun ! I used exactly 4 x 50 g balls of wool/yarn. I am going to make a few versions of this type of scarf as I always wear scarves in winter and this particular type of scarf I love alot.

It is very satisfying to see the creation of a fabric right under my very fingertips !

Next project for me is the Jasmine for sure.(er - maybe after another scarf !) I have seen lots of pretty versions of Jasmine made up on blogland, and you can see it is a very flattering top. Feel quite frightened about working with silk though - have read quite a few horror stories !

What has everyone else been doing ?

K xxx

Facings

Hello people,

Almost made it to the weekend ! Yipppeee !  :-))

Tonight I have been working on making new facing patterns, as the original bodice has been altered so much the originals no longer fit.

Just checking if anyone has any tips for creating new facing patters, not sure I have done mine correctly ? Basically I used tracing patter to trace the armholes on the amended pattern, with a width of about 2 inches all the way through the width of the tracing. Does that sound right to you ?

Also the pattern talks about under-stitching the facings and illustrates this with a picture that means absolutely nothing to me (like AT ALL).

Any comments/ideas would be greatly appreciated  -  if you felt you wanted to share.   :-)

***UPDATE  Delightful Gertie (and her new blog for better sewing) has provided info for making facings on her blog - you can read about it right here.***

The reason I am not waiting until (the final) sewing school to ask the tutor re these questions is because I am supposed to have made a good old attempt at finishing the bodice before class. So far things don't look good on that score, and I only have until Saturday morning to get it shipshape.

Oh well, wish me luck ! I do have a seam ripper after-all, may as well get used to using it, ha !

K xxx

Threading the serger.

Hello people.

I was recently lucky enough to receive a serger/overlocker (dependant upon your country of origin) to assist me in my quest to make beautiful clothes that fit me well.

The serger was an absolute bargain ! I got it from a lovely woman on Ebay for half the price that it is in the shops. I was gutted to find that upon receipt the telescopic rod had broken, even though the seller had packed it wonderfully.

There is a sewing machine shop across the road, and I was thinking 'wonderful', they could fix my telescopic pole, until I actually went the place and found the guy very rude and more than a little odd, it was the most surreal shopping experience I have EVER had.

After half an hour with the 'oddest man in the world' TM, Mr P and I were still unsure as to whether he was agreeing to actually fix the machine. We were actually on the doorstep, leaving, when I asked 'so can you fix it'. To which he replied 'yes'. I then asked if he could show me how to thread it (as it had become un-threaded in transit), he again replied yes, but that he would charge me £65 for the pleasure !

Readers, £65 !!!  I was shocked ! And declined.

When Mr P and I got home, he got busy on-line, and ordered a telescopic pole for £10 including postage, and I got busy on you tube looking for cheaper ways to thread the serger. Thus negating the need for the assistance of the 'oddest man in the world', TM.

I am happy to report that I found this AMAZING man, and I threaded my machine using his tutorials, in ten mins (max !) and for FREE !! And although my serger is not the same as his, the principles still worked.

I thought I would share this wonderful man with you (not Mr P ! the serger guy !!). Sewists unite ! Never be ripped off by the 'oddest man in the world', TM, when you can do it yourself for free and for not alot of bother.

So, without further ado - here he is !

                                                                source for tutorials

Thank you Mr Serger ! And thank you You Tube.  :-)

Honestly, I was well scared of trying to thread this machine, but following this guy was so useful. I have totally lost my fear now. Yes, it was little fiddly sometimes, but it WAS NOT difficult.

I hope maybe these links are as helpful to you as they were to me.

K xxx

Piping and new stuff !

Hello friends,

I am working on the ginger still, but I had to wait for the following to arrive in order to make the job of making piping a little easier.

I am exceptionally pleased with these purchases !

I could not resist cutting the corner off some fabric, my word the blade is sharp ! I was totally blown away !

This is the fabric that I am making piping out of for my ginger...

Friends, I am EXCITED !

Here are a triple of absolutely brilliant you tube vids on making piping, this lady's example is for a chair cushion, but the process is the same for any piping.

This woman is a legend, and see how she joins all of her bias pieces together ! She shows time no mercy ! Absolutely spot on skills for a sometime seamstress.

People, I have been very lucky, its my birthday on Friday and Mr P has purchased me a Babylock 750 overlocker/serger, and a dressmaking dummy. Excited ? Moi ??

I have bought batting to pad the dummy out, and I am excited about turning Dolly into Kirsty ! (in body shape at least - no more awkward back fitting for me - collette crepe you will be mine !)

Unfortunately the overlockers telescopic rod was broken in transit, but as she was half price I am keeping her and will just replace the rod. I am excited about using her - and I will share more with you once she is up and running. Of course, as it is not officially my birthday yet, I am not allowed to play with these new toys until Friday so no photos yet.

As it is my birthday I treated myself at Heathcotes (of course) and I will share the new purchases with you soon. I also bought rotary cutting blades, babylock serger feet, a bottle of pink champagne, a square curve and a double tracing wheel ! Its turning into a tailors shop in here, a tailors shop without (so far) any garment output.   ;-)

In other news I have been harvesting blueberries from the garden this last week, its all very exciting !

I hope you are all happy and well,

K xxx