Sewing Machine Musings

The late summer heat deterred me from offering any sewing sessions in early September although I did attend an excellent ‘couture’ workshop at Raystitch in Islington.

From Persephone Books, my favourite bookstore/publisher, a suggestion to read an article by ‘Yarnstorm’ about the importance of sewing machines – I loved it and highly recommend.

I also, not surprisingly, value my sewing machines (see Loft Treasures). Currently, I have five machines in good working order for use at S-I-C sessions: a small 1970s Elna inherited from my grandmother; my mother’s solid, ‘school model’ Husquavana; my own 1980s Husquavana; a powerful, newish Bernina and a basic overlocker. I also have a few, rather rusty, vintage machines which I cannot bear to part with!

On Sunday, I spent a very helpful morning at the local Community College being instructed on how to ‘make friends’ with my ‘basic’ overlocker (bought over 5 years ago and barely used).  It was not an entirely successful session as even the tutor could not sweet-talk the tension into behaving.  It may have been my fault for transporting the machine over the handlebars of my bicycle – apparently, they are very sensitive!

Quiet Summer’s End

Despite the weather, S-I-C sewers have not been idle. 

• Star of the class, Edwina, has completed a joyous elephant beanbag. 

• Edwina has also, very ingeniously, pieced her grandson’s old denim jeans to make him a birthday beanbag – a perfect way to recycle old favourites.

• The covering of the old, much-loved Ikea sofa has continued – necessitating a branching out into timber repair (using a very sturdy plank salvaged from my mother’s 1960s sofa).

• I have also enjoyed completing a classic 1960’s-design ‘frock’ – the half-made garment was found in my mother’s loft in a very grubby state (and, not by design, the dress fits my daughter perfectly).

A cooler day today, so perhaps time to think about creating for Christmas?

Joys of January!

A quiet, chilly dull month – a good time for catching up with ‘small’ projects:

– two bicycle seat covers completed using more of the desconstructed anorak (Anorak Adaptations) and fabric from an old umbrella (recently my town bike saddle was so sodden that it was leaving embarrassing patches on my trousers) + a repair to a supermarket bag that had been damaged in an accidental melting incident over Christmas;

– Brian’s favourite PJ bottoms lengthened (I had previously cut off the cuffs for ease of dressing resulting in complaints of cold ankles);

– a lovely soft scarf (a birthday gift) turned into my favourite style of snood; insect damage darned on a sweater;

– resourcing materials (fabrics, embroidery, piping cord & zip) for a good friend to make a cushion as a gift for her son;

– a button repair on my favourite sheepskin jacket – see Making do and mend week;

• a birthday gift snood made from one of my mother’s 1950s silk scarves with a fantastic retro design.

Beautiful Tweed

A few year’s ago, my mother started making a skirt at a workshop in a stunning, cheerful tweed.

Too good to throw out, I have altered it to fit me and used my mother’s trick of pulling a thread from some spare fabric to invisibly darn the moth holes!

I love feeling like her when I wear it!

I also tailored a plain charcoal grey wool flannel skirt which is of the same fabric as my favourite coat (I also have a tunic, trousers, culottes and a worn-out skirt made from this fabric) .

I subsequently discovered a roll of 10 metres of the same fabric hidden under a sofa – it must have been a fabric warehouse bargain! Happily, it has not sustained serious moth damage so I hope that it will be of use in future workshops.

New Machine Cover Up

In August, my sewing computer’s button-hole facility decided to malfunction – which lead to me succumbing to the opportunity for a ‘bargain’ upgrade! The ‘new’ machine came in a very robust, but cumbersome, zip-up bag – an excuse to make something which is simple to pop on and off.

Four, plain, lint-free, ribbed fabric Ikea placemats were repurposed!

Patching

Three repair/alterations requiring neat use of patching.

1. Work trouser crotch frayed: loose threads hand tacked into place, an iron-on patch applied, then top-stitched.
2. Silk Monsoon dress with a split seam: loose threads tacked neatly, some interfacing ironed on and the seam taken in a ‘smidgen’.
3. 20th-century white crepe wedding dress, cropped to make a top: clumsy machine finished rolled hem replaced with facing of white silk to create a neat hem line.

New Machine

I have finally replaced my much-loved Husquavana, bought when pregnant with my first child in 1986 – the button-holer had given up and stiching was becoming erratic.

A new Bernina 550 ‘sewing computer’ is the new love of my life!