@Gnuj Gnuj, meet Henry. Isn't he great?
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@Gnuj Gnuj, meet Henry. Isn't he great?
Yes made drapes for MIL & her friends. PITA but finally got me accepted into the family. Introduced them to my wholesaler & did a few rooms. No furniture upholstry Have done our sofa & chairs but never again. You have to preshrink the fabric (cotton) so it looses some stability. Cutting, making & insetting the self cording into all the seams zippers on various cushions was detail work.
Would do sample washed & pillows to get a feel for the fabrics limitations.
Sorry too much I’d going on here & can’t apologize enough for not answering other queries.
Our drapes are PEI natural bed/lap rugs on big wooden rings & the curtain hooks are just pinned into an ornamental edge.
Hand wash w/ Laundress (believe discontinued now)
DH likes Dr Bonner or unscented health store shampoo
Any way, which ever product, just a tiny drop, gently rub, don’t stress fibres. Rinse until water runs crystal clear.
Stains on his Tommy Bahama silk “Hawaiian” shirts all go to to a specialty cleaner.
Refuse to wash his stuff but will very occasionally steam out creases if no stains if/when I get out the steamer to go over a piece of furniture. (Very rarely)
Henry is so photogenic. He's a natural in front of the camera.
I can't remember why but Henry is at one of the Australia centers that care for wild animals until they are well enough to release of, otherwise, just keep them on display. So I imagine he's photographed quite a lot. Good lookin' koala-dude for sure.
I was reading a NY Times advice column where the columnist remarked that prospective in-laws really should woo the person that's coming into the fam by marrying their son or daughter. Well, no argument there! But my experiences with in-laws supports the drapery theory, that it's necessary for me to suck up to them. My FIL was struggling with writing the opening pages of an opinion piece for a journal. I asked if I could see it and then I started editing it. He got a huge huge grin on his face. I did get a little disgusted, and gave it back to him shortly. I mean, it's not my place to do this sort of thing, it's his article. But i could see he was floundering a bit to identify the point he was trying to get across.
Myself, if I write something I go over and over the text to polish it. Eventually, the topic comes into clearer focus.
Making draperies, fabric choice, measurement, visual appeal, cutting out and sewing up is a lot of work. I know from my experience with fabric that it's important to concentrate, especially when cutting out the pattern because the grainlines are super important get the proper hang of a garment or draperies. I've had experiences where a sleeve or pant leg will twist and the other one will hang straight. I know someone who made a pair of pants in corduroy where both legs were skewed.
Heavy cotton that's patterned attractively can be quite appropriate for upholstery. If that's what you used did you stabilize the back by fusing interfacing to it? If so, what kind of interfacing did you use? I understand that drycleaners can fuse a backing to stabilize loosely-woven fabrics but I never used them.
I have a some more sewing comments but that's for tomorrow.
Yes! These are marvelous fun to make and wear! You get to play and work with really luscious, wonderful fabrics, trims, and buttons.
The recent turn of the conversation to sewing machines, sergers and types of sewing piqued my interest. I am a keen hobby sewist and sew a little nearly every day. For the most part, I sew clothing for myself. Chanel style jackets are fun to make and I love taking the time to make them. My other sewing passion, Alabama Chanin, is also slow sewing and is made entirely by hand.
My 2 main sewing machines are Berninas - one larger one which stays put, and a smaller, lighter one for retreats and workshops.
I have an 8 thread Babylock Evolution serger that is about 5 years old. If I had the space, I would probably have separate machines for overlocking and cover stitch. The cover stitch capability seemed like a good idea but, it practice it rarely gets used.
I have to say, I used to change the machine over rather than get out my regular coverstitch as the baby lock was so much less temperamental even in coverstitch mode. If I were to get another coverstitch (I have a Juki) I would get a baby lock stand-alone coverstitch.
I always look at the Berninas, but I learned on a different style of machine and a lot of my workflow now centers on how the Janome must be used - and I have to say the HP straight stitch plate that does 1200 stitches makes for quick work and lets you use some industrial techniques, which have really made my sewing more efficient.
I really only sew “special” items now, because it’s just not time efficient to make things like t shirts. I’ve been thinking about revisiting a pair of jeans, though…
@iloveelmo, you can start a Maline thread in the Clubhouse, print an eye-catching picture, and Maline lurkers and wannabe's will eventually post there. You could be launching a trend, what a nifty thing to do.
Patti Palmer just came out with a book on making jeans. I like her various fitting books. If you can't locate the jeans book I'll look up the exact reference.
Sewing enables me to match or coordinate things nicely. I am from the matchy-matchy era. Life may be kinda chaotic but at least I match (pretty-much, anyway). The closets are sectioned according to colors.
It's not time efficient to make ORDINARY t shirts, though if you think along the lines of Alabama Chanin, you can create something really special.
I received the Palmer Pleltsch Jeans book for Christmas and I just took the first step of buying the Closet Case Ginger jeans pattern. Don't want to rush this, I have other things on the go right now.
I’ve made the gingers. It’s a pretty good pattern, especially if you are new to pants alterations like crotch curve etc.
I have a pants block and a pair of jeans I like the fit of, so I need to just sit down and pattern them myself. I just haven’t had the time to get on with it - my dress form still has a muslin on it for a Gucci inspired coat that I haven’t managed to finish yet…
That's how sewing is, multiple projects in mind or in various degrees of start-up or completion. I don't have to rush any particular project as a rule. I am at the point where I can choose to do a nice job so the garment looks nice inside and out. I am trying to learn things as I go along, too, fitting and finishing techniques. I'm sure you've heard people say about your clothing, "You made that????" Or they ask when they see you, "Did you make that?"
I may have said this already but about 20 years ago I made a jacket out of Chanel deep purple boucle. I loved that jacket to death and I'm a bit sorry I eventually purged it from the closet. I do get attached to some items. (A lot gets donated tho, usually from size changes or fashion evolution from large strong shoulder look to more natural shoulders).
If I don't have to rush the project is more enjoyable.
Getting back into online life again
Silk as washed by hand w/ a drop of laundress unscented soap or unscented organic shampoo. Just a drop in lukewarm water is plenary.
Then rinse & rinse until the water runs completely clear.
Then spread out on sweater drier mesh stands to dry out of the sun.
I pin pattern pieces together then stitch. I talked with someone who was accustomed to industrial sewing methods -- you undoubtedly know this already -- but it's supposedly much faster to used, say, 1/4 inch seam allowance (maybe 3/8 inch) and hold or move along curves using fingers, not pins.
Tried that method. I could make myself adroit enough to use it but I have to pin-fit the garment maybe several times to adjust for curves that skim the figure, not cling to it. The way the fabric drapes influences this process.
I have saved time by creating an A-line skirt which is a master pattern b/c I fitted it very carefully. When I sew up the pattern I know how to curve the pattern so that it fits (repetition works). I do pants pretty much the same way. But skirts need less fitting. I've made culottes from corduroy and worn those like crazy.
A master jeans pattern makes sense. It's the fitting that takes time. And preshrinking the fabric so the jeans are washable at home, makes sense, too.