My trusty Sidekick of a husband is working late tonight and I'm feeling antsy. I have had the most God-awful month at work and keep fantasizing about liquidating our assets, buying and RV and becoming Ren Faire Gypsies. However, to make that work, I need some sort of skill to either earn money, or at least to save money. My day job skills are not transferrable in this case. Neither are Sidekick's, but he's a little more handy than I am.
Sidekick wants to make a doublet of his very own because he can't find one that suits him just so. I have this pair of bloomers that suffered a horrible accident with Rit dye. That was Sidekick's doing - I KNOW better than to go anywhere near dye. We've been discussing and plotting and planning how the two of us non-sewers are going to make a pair of bloomers and then move into making a doublet, for weeks. We both read these forums and if I haven't quite figured out what a serger or a princess seam are, I have learned that you need to pre-wash fabric, iron it, and make a mock up for something like a doublet!
I have not touched a sewing machine since a really bad experience in 7th grade Home Ec which involved a really horrible vest. I haven't touched an iron in 23 years after I melted Sidekick's US Navy dress whites when we were first married. Hey, I may have issues but not touching an iron in 23 years is NOT one of them!! I have been known to sew on buttons backwards when hand sewing; cannot tie a knot to save my soul; have butchered those yarn and grid thingies; and if it involves glue, I need to be in the next room so that things don't get glued to the wrong parts.
Well, the bolt of muslin is sitting on the table mocking me. I had a beer and worked up the gumption to measure off a chunk, cut it and start the bloomer project. It took me 10 minutes to not only figure out how to thread the bobbin, but to get it back in it's little home with the thread coming out in the right direction. It took me another 20 minutes to figure out how to thread the machine with it's REALLY REALLY tiny diagrams and instructions which might as well have been in Greek. Honestly, the term "automatic threader" should be a little more automatic!
I have achieved zig-zag stitches on the raw edges of the fabric! Wheeee! I've tossed it in the washing machine for it's prewash. And I didn't break the sewing machine, or sew myself or the cat to the fabric.
I think I'll let Sidekick read this later tonight instead of telling him what I've done. The look on his face should be priceless.
If my fabric survives it's prewash without falling to pieces, we'll provide work in progress pics, but for now, I thought you all would appreciate these first steps!
In our house, "iron" is a four letter word. I harass (in a joking way) our friend Richard for ironing his shirt before faire. I was actually devastated when Lady Rosalind said in a clothing demonstration at the Dubuque Renaissance Faire that they actually did iron clothing back in the day. The only person who knows where my iron is, is my cousin, who borrows it.
I have just taken 4 yards of blue broadcloth out of the dryer to begin to make an Italian style gown - definitely not H/A - for when it's 90 degrees and I will pass out from the heat if I wear a bodice.
And I don't sew, except for bloomers that I had to have my sewing friend rescue me (photo on another thread, it's really bad!). So I feel your pain - and your misgivings. I will enjoy reading about your efforts and seeing the finished product, which I'm sure will be lovely.
And guess what? I had such a bad experience in 7th grade sewing, my mother ended up calling the school principle and chewing off his ear about the witch of a sewing teacher who was so mean to me.
I am so glad I talked my way out of Home Ec in school and got to take a different class instead ;D
But I am sure you can do it Lady Kett. And I wish you the best of luck. And I do agree about how annoying it is to thread the bobbin and the machine. It took me almost a year to figure out that I was taking too many steps to change out the bobbins on my machine.
Ummm, Lady Kett... did anyone mention at some point that you should wash the fabric before you cut it? You know... in case it shrinks...? :o
Just, y'know... asking. ;)
I've loved sewing forever and my home ec teacher almost turned me off from sewing too! Don't let that stop you. It takes time and patience and a certain amount of swearing and threatening to throw projects out the window, but it's so great when it all turns out right in the end. And although I do love to sew it does not always come easily. Sometimes instructions seem impossible- like they are disobeying the laws od physics. And because I am a walking calamity I often cause a lot of my own problems. I know that if I can get through this you can too! Good luck and have fun!
What's an iron? ???
Lady Kett, all sewers (seamstresses) had to start somewhere. Just go ahead and jump in, and if you mess up? Who cares, the world won't end, you just gather up some more fabric and start over! Eventually, you'll produce something wonderful! :)
Quote from: Rani Zemirah on June 28, 2010, 11:47:09 PM
Ummm, Lady Kett... did anyone mention at some point that you should wash the fabric before you cut it? You know... in case it shrinks...? :o
Just, y'know... asking. ;)
If you have just cut a chunk off the toile fabric to make a mock-up, or enough to make bloomers, it'll be fine. If the bloomers run a little short, add some nice broiderie anglaise on the bottom to lengthen them.
Lady Kett, you have started well. A little tip for those teeny weeny pix: scan them into the pooter and enlarge them!
And eventually, with practice, you can get threading the machine down to seconds rather than minutes.
Rit dye . . . evil in a bottle . . . last month I thought I'd get crafty and over-dye a plus-size ladies' linen poet shirt to make a peasant top for my DH. I diligently followed all instructions, but the shirt ended up splotchy brown and the thread stayed *bright pink.* Eh, I'll probably make him wear it anyway.
Bobbins . . . evil in a shuttle . . . threading and changing a bobbin is a two-vodka project for me. Maybe you were just short by one beer. Hang in there, lady! :-)
This area of the forum is , to my mind, the very best part of RF. So many wonderful projects in the works and so many wonderful seamstress's willing to help out those of us who don't quite know what we are doing. I love to read along even if I don't plan to make anything myself. I especially appreciate those that take the time to document their progress. I never really did and I often think my mistakes would have been just as helpful as my succesess.
Good luck with your projects Lady Kett! Bloomers are, I think, the perfect first project. If they dont come out exactly perfect on the first try they can still be tweaked, as Kate suggested, and put to use. Add some frills, or pass along to a friend if they dont fit well at all. A good way to learn what your machine can do.
Best advice I can give....Go slow when reading your pattern instructions, and think twice before cutting. I've done some really dumb stuff (like laying patterns backwards...). Have fun.
Wait a minute - you mean that you guys, who sew all those amazing costumes, have just as much trouble with it as I do? I thought I just sucked at sewing! I mean, I can thread my machine, but I can't pin two pieces of fabric together evenly to save my life. And I can never seem to cut anything properly, it rarely ends up the shape I want it. I don't actually really like sewing, I just do it to get the costumes I want.
I have no problems pinning most things... well, if both pieces are the same shape, anyway. :P What I have huge problems with is sewing something that's been pinned! I have more luck sewing things evenly that I'm just holding together with my fingers than something with pins in it, and I can't figure out why! Oh, and I'm terrified of anything with sleeves!!! How on earth they moved from sleeves that tie on to those that are sewn on I'll never figure out... ::)
Quote from: PrincessSara on June 29, 2010, 10:26:29 AM
Wait a minute - you mean that you guys, who sew all those amazing costumes, have just as much trouble with it as I do? I thought I just sucked at sewing! I mean, I can thread my machine, but I can't pin two pieces of fabric together evenly to save my life. And I can never seem to cut anything properly, it rarely ends up the shape I want it. I don't actually really like sewing, I just do it to get the costumes I want.
Well, I can't speak for THEM, but yup! To this day, I am AMAZED if something I make turns out properly! For a while I hung out at the PatternReview boards (mundane sewing), and discovered that EVERYONE has trouble with fitting. Unfortunately, hanging out over there made me feel like it was impossible and if they were having trouble, I'd *never* figure it out... so I quit visiting. ;D
Oh yes!!! We have our troubles when something does not fit quite right!!! Which it is why it so important to make sure when a pattern piece is cut on the STRAIGHT, the verticle arrow on the pattern piece must be exact top, middle, and bottom. Make little snips where the notches are, so that all pieces fit and lay nicely when sewn.
Mockups for Bodices are a must before cutting out the main fabric.
Also, buying more fabric for a gown than is needed is not a bad thing!! Having extra comes in handy when a boo boo does happen!! And they do!!!
Just a few key items that have helped me immensely (if you are unfamiliar with any of the terms or processes, a quick google search usually brings up lots of help):
1. Follow the grain marking on your patterns as precisely as possible, even if it means taking off your glasses, and getting up close and personal to the fabric. This will help things stay the right shape.
2. Cut out your pattern pieces at the right size prior to pinning them to the fabric. This will help you get the most use out of your yardage, plus make it easier to see where you have to cut.
3. Iron the pattern paper before cutting out your pattern pieces to size! This will help make sure that you are cutting on the right line for the size, and that there are no folds or wrinkles that can mess with the size of the cut piece.
4. When you get ready to start sewing a seam, pull the upper thread and the bottom thread to the back, and hold them while you sew the first few stitches. This will help you avoid snarling the thread.
5. Use the right needle for the fabric. The packages will tell you which ones work for what type of fabric.
6. Change your needles frequently! KateXXXXX suggested long ago to use a new needle for every project. After awhile, you start to get a good idea of when you should change the needle.
7. Prewash, straighten, and iron your fabric before you begin pinning or cutting.
8. Make mock-ups while fitting things like bodices or corsets. It is far better make fitting adjustments on cheap fabric rather than your more expensive fabric.
9. Linings are good! You can make cheaper, lighter fabric look sturdier with a good lining. I like to use cotton drill for lining items that need boning, and quilters cotton or linen for linings that will show (for doublets, for example).
10. When the directions say to cut on the fold, I don't, especially for bulky, or patterned, or velvet fabrics. Instead, since I trace all of my pattern pieces, I make sure to flip and copy the pattern so that I have a full pattern piece, rather than just half. This helps me keep things on grain or on pattern.
11. Basting is good! If you baste curved seams rather than pin them, things work more smoothly.
12. Go slow! Machine sewing doesn't mean you have to sew fast. Mistakes are easier to avoid when sewing at a slow, steady pace rather than putting the pedal to the metal...
And most importantly of all - don't give up! The finished product doesn't have to be perfect! I got so discouraged when I was younger, and my mom was teaching me to sew, as she insisted that every seam be perfect. It killed a lot of my enthusiasm for sewing. Even now, there are problem areas in some of my seams, but I've taught myself that as long as it doesn't show, and it doesn't cause problems with the fit, I can let it go.
Just enjoy yourself, and sew often!
I learned how to overcome my errors of pieces not matching up before or after sewing ;D I think it is becoming a special talent of mine.
I am also very notorious for having to take out stitches because I sewed the right side of this to the wrong side of that, or accidentally pinning another piece from some where else in the seam.
As much as you hate it, get to be friends with your iron. Pressing seams as you go along really does make things lay better and therefore look nicer.
How one cannot sew with a good iron is beyond me.
A serger helps too!!
I'm facing that problem right now. I think I will have to break down and buy an iron and board. Any recommendations?
I have a tiny travel iron that I use, and the small half size table top ironing board, as well... and the only things I ever iron are things I'm about to sew! :D
As big and sturdy and ironing board as you can find, and a steam generator iron. I have a lovely Morph Richards job now, and am loving it.
Gem, I tend to lurk on PatternReview.com unless i have something come up. I still review any and all patterns there. Some of the advise I have learned there about tailored coats has helped me make the Pink Pirate's coat alot better.
All of the advise people have given has been wondeful. I will second the basting. There are many projects where I would rather baste something than deal with the pins. I will also second the "right needle for the right job" comment. Yes it does matter if you are using a twill needle on a sheer fabric. There IS a difference.
All of us are learning something new each day with our sewing. This week it was that Men's ties are NOT as easy as you might think, especially on very little sleep.
Also this month, I learned that pleather can be both fun, and a nightmare to work with.
As long as you are having fun that is what matters. ;D
Rebecca, I have a Euro Pro Select. I dont know if it stacks up to a professional steam iron. but I love it. Nice features are it has both veriticle and horizontal steam and it detaches from its corded base so I can go to the project even if it's too far from a plug. I've had it for years, but I dont recall that it was crazy expensive.
If you get a modern enough of an iron it should have a chart on the iron itself telling you what settings to use for different types of fabrics. cotton polyester etc. That should help prevent melting so long as you check the tags first or when making something make sure you read the bolt to know what it is. My iron came from walmart as did my ironing board. The iron is a proctor-silex and has the chart i refered to and has steam. nothing fancy but works just fine.
Serger is basically a type of sewing machine, if you look at how tshirt sleeves are attached on the inside it sews kind of like that basically.
Princess seams are a seam on womens clothing that arcs from where the front half and back half meet under the arms down to the bottom...not ren HA but used in alot of modern patterns to allow space for a female chest.
Also a sewing buddy with more experience is a vital resource. If theres anyone near you or any fabric stores with classes or anything like that I HIGHLY suggest you make use of them. that way they can answer any questions you have/talk you through anything you arent familiar with. If you can find someone familiar with garb that'd be best cuz they'd be more familiar with the best way to do all the historical things that modern seamstresses wouldn't necessarily be familiar with.
If theres no one near by who can help feel free to ask as many questions as necessary. I agree about the sewing section being one of the best here at RF. All of us here help each other out no matter if you need help with anything from basics all the way up thru the pros that have been sewing for 30+ years.
Quote from: ArielCallista on June 29, 2010, 05:29:35 PM
All of us here help each other out no matter if you need help with anything from basics all the way up thru the pros that have been sewing for 30+ years.
This is why I continue to visit the forums. I have never felt so welcomed and accepted as I do here!
Quote from: Lady Rebecca on June 29, 2010, 04:10:37 PM
I'm facing that problem right now. I think I will have to break down and buy an iron and board. Any recommendations?
I bought a nice Shark Iron. Ran me a bundle, but steams nicely.
I have worked on several pieces for myself, and I have gotten good at taking out seams and resewing over and over again. I am new at this. I tried to make my husband a simple vest the other day, and I'm not sure how I did it but one arm hole ended up in the center of his chest, and the other out his back. It was too funny. He put it on and he looked like he was doing the "Walk Like An Egyptian" dance. Then next one I did turned out just right! Oh well I'll live and learn with help from the forum :)
Now that's a good one! ;D
Soon as my grandmother heard that I was doing sewing professionally she dragged me out to a store and bought me a REALLY nice Rowena Iron. I think it set her back like $100! For her that was a fortune, but that thing has been through the mill and back, but still works wonderfully. I've had it almost 10 years and no problems.
Then again I didn't want to haul my good one to the theater when they had one on site. It did not have steam. I just got a clean cotton towel and kept it damp and sewed away. Cheap or High class. As long as it does the job you need it to, that is what matters.
I used to love ironing back home in Romania. In a cold winter day it was the best way of staying warm, doing something and see a movie at the same time.Also shirts and pants look much better after are ironed.
I agree, and iron does wonders when sewing. It's a must have. I even iron my patterns when I first open them. Because they are so wrinkled when they come out. Makes them much easier to work with.
What setting do you use on the iron to iron patterns? I'm always soooooo afraid of burning them, I usually tape mine as flat as possible on the table and draw onto some paper that I have.
I use the lowest heat setting when ironing patterns and have never had so much as a scorch mark.
I use whatever setting the iron was on for the fabric - usually hot! never scorched a pattern yet.
Wow. thank you guys, I'll have to give it a try next pattern
Bless me Father for I have sinned...a LOT! It's been a loooooong tyme since my last confession...
Sorry - I've been ACHING to say that since I saw the subject lyne. ;)
I now return you to your much more productive discussion. ;D
LOL @ Molden
I turn mine on dry, no steam, and medium to high heat. Never scortched one yet. Same as Kate
If you press them after you use them they can even go back in their original sleeve, belive it or not. Me I just press them then put them in their baggie. Then they are filed in their correct box. Less mess that way, and no more "What happened to that one really important piece I need for that project?" syndrome when you want to use the pattern again.
I press them all back into place and shape AND add the traced off ones! They all go back in the envelope!
TAH DAH! We have bloomers! Well, mostly. I need to re-engineer the bottom part to put some trim and a ribbon-tie in (on?) but that will have to wait till I can pester Sidekick. He's the one who ripped apart the originals and I can't quite figure it out. Yet! :)
Sorry for the crappy picture. I'm about as good at photography as I am at sewing, ha!
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_22ILTtRL3Cg/TC1Y0svCAuI/AAAAAAAABGI/W7xraFPx6pk/s720/100_0881.JPG)
Yea! Great job!
Awesome!!! :D
BLOOMERS!
I put eyelet lace on these. They have been much admired! Vicky thinks it's hilarious that people want to photograph her drawers! ;D ;D
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3599/3468207476_7f247e4701_o.jpg)
Victorian pattern slightly adapted for modern use.
Great job Lady Kett.
Ooh, them is fine bloomers! I love the lace, which imho belongs on every underthing in copious quantity. Nice work Lady Kett!
Nice bloomers!
I decided I needed a new pair of bloomers (additional, actually, since one pair got ripped in the front, and will be difficult to repair). I raided the clearance rack at Target, and found a cute, if somewhat wild, pair for about $6:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41h%2BrbOdsqL._AA260_.jpg)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41h%2BrbOdsqL._AA260_.jpg (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41h%2BrbOdsqL._AA260_.jpg)
A new confession, in the "Oh, PHOOEY!" category:
Yesterday I started a simple jerkin to wear for today's faire. First beginner's mistake: trying to work in a hurry.
I thought, since I was fully facing it anyway, it would be convenient to make it reversable. Second beginner's mistake: "Oh, reversible would be so easy!"
Then I sewed Tab A onto Slot B, or Slot C into Tab D, or some-such-thing, and preened over the lovely finished product. Third beginner's mistake: check the fit before trimming off seam allowances!
After fixing that little issue, I sewed up the sides. Fourth beginner's mistake: make sure you can turn the thing inside-out *before* sewing up the sides. I ended up with what another member nicely termed "lining origami."
By this time 'twas late in the evening. I ripped a couple seams to facilitate the turning. But they were the wrong seams. Then I tried to hand-sew them to fix 'em. But that gave me a sloppy seam line.
Eventually I decided I'd enjoy the faire more if I had a good night's sleep, so I picked out another outfit instead! The poor abused jerkin awaits more tender attentions in the coming week.