Is anyone sewing?

I’m making a bag for a yoga mat as a present for a friend ( she asked for it, having seen mine). I’ve got some lovely mandala fabric which I’ve interfaced to give it some body, and am lining it with a Liberty cotton. It rained all day yesterday so I’ve almost finished it!

I do have lots of wearable toiles in my wardrobe and the next stage for me is to be critical about the garments, style, fit, fabric etc, bearing in mind that the toiles are not made with my best fabrics

I believe that the next stage will be very enjoyable, making final pattern adjustments and final garments. Pattern alterations can take me hours, essential for a good fit on my changing body

I've dropped out previously because I re-make rather than make so am never sure if I fit the bill for 'sewing', although what I do does involve my sewing machine! My passion is denim and right now I'm deciding what to turn a child's jumpsuit and an adult's dress into by combining them somehow. They're both charity shop purchases. I'm also turning some corduroy dungarees into a dress. I've been reshaping fitted sheets to make them bigger because they kept popping off the bed. I wouldn't win The Sewing Bee! 😁

I have just made a suit cover for my OH - the previous one, which came with the suit, was made of plastic and wasn't really much good so I rescued the zip and made a new one. Got some brownie points too

I’m making a bag from old jeans…very slowly.

I still do a lot of sewing but not clothes. A furniture store near me gives me 'retired' fabric curtain samples and I make tote bags which I donate to charity shops or for neighbours who have fund raising for their children's school / nurseries. I also sometimes get given new duvet sets which have damaged packaging or slight damage - I make these into shopping bags or use the fabric to line the tote bags.

I have recently begun sewing, dressmaking, again after a very long gap. Here are me and DD. I finished knitting the sweater for her and the dress for me yesterday! We were at a family party.
It's very satisfying and empowering, I find but can also be slow and frustrating.

At the moment.
A new top where the shoulder seam is too wide.
A pair of trousers that have to have the scoup area reduced 😄
2 bed pillows that I’m going to cover with a beautiful navy brocade. This was a dress that was going into the rag sack at the charity shop where I sort donations.
Changing some flat double sheets into single fitted.
Un-pick a tunic style top ( again from the rag bag) this is an absolute perfect fit for me on the shoulder/ sleeves.

Don't really make garments anymore, the last garments I made were scrubs for hospital workers during Covid (there was a shortage of them and certain charities asked for help with supplies). My sewing now mostly consists of alterations - I'm only 5' tall and I still have to alter lots of my clothes! I also still make cushion covers and curtains (when I can be bothered 🙄).

Grammaretto

I have recently begun sewing, dressmaking, again after a very long gap. Here are me and DD. I finished knitting the sweater for her and the dress for me yesterday! We were at a family party.
It's very satisfying and empowering, I find but can also be slow and frustrating.

Grammaretto, you look amazing and so different. I usually see you in a wooly hat and winter coat. 💕

I get into sewing from time to time, and like a few others here, like to recycle/remake things.

Recently I tie-dyed a piece of an old sheet and made a skirt for 2 year old GC. Last week Primark were selling off summer stock extremely cheaply. I bought a long, strange shaped dress for €3 , initially thinking of "dressing up" box. Then I realised I could rip and re-sew into 2 scarves - it's a very light, fine cotton.

Yes, I'm a re- maker rather than a maker, for me and the family, relining old curtains, renewing buttonholes worn large, adding ties to the back of a child's dress to enlarge it etc.
However, I am planning to dust off the sewing machine soon.. I'll be looking for advice then.

I'm making a box cushion for a window seat and a matching roman blind I've had an issue with my machine which I amazingly managed to fix myself before calling out an engineer. All it was to do with was the tension but it caused such problems and I'd even been put off trying to fix it as I find it so frustrating.

I've been very influenced by Patrick Grant's book "Less" and am now only making things I need. This year that's just been a top and a pair of linen trousers (plus a cushion for DIL). Patrick would be very pleased to hear how many of us are now re-making!

The willow on the garden den had become brittle and was degrading so we took it all off.
The older grandchildren have been learning to use a sewing machine while making a patchwork cover for the frame. The youngest (not quite sitting up on his own yet) has enjoyed being in the new tent with various colourful and sparkly things to amuse him.
I think our creation will be used for many years for one thing or another!

I’m currently making a lined velvet cloak for DD2. The pattern didn’t have a lining so I’m making it up as I go along. It’s taking ages as lots of my get up and go isn’t around a lot at the moment.

Recently I made my older grandson a silk jacket using a pattern made from an old one. I have so much fabric and scraps that I’m finding it difficult to use them all.

I have to get my machine out and put it away after each session which is rather off-putting. We only have a small flat.

I’m getting lazier by the year and my family seems to take up more and more of my time. DH is not as well as he used to be and life can be a bit tiring mentally.

I'm a complete sewing fanatic. I'm in my sewing room most days, and when I'm not, I'm thinking about future projects or scanning the internet for fabric.
I've kept a spreadsheet since May 2015 showing all my makes - most garments for me! and so far this year I've made 25 items, almost clothing. I do occasionally on request make things for my grandchildren. I made a sparkly outfit for my 13 year old GD to go to the Taylor Swift concert in Wembley.
I love to be creative and also do cross-stitch and embroidery in front of the tv each evening and knitting and crochet occasionally.
Luckily my twin sister is as obsessed with sewing as me so we love to get together to discuss our successes (and occasional failures).

I have always loved sewing and still do. I recommend watching Sewing Street, it is on each morning 8.00 to 1.00 Freeview 73 etc... has a great online following on facebook too.

I do some sewing most days and get a bit twitchy if I havn't been able to for any length of time.
I will have a look out for Sewing Street, thanks.

I love sewing, having taken it up just before the first lockdown. My smallest bedroom is now a sewing room with lots of lovely fabric and I spend at least a couple of hours every day up there sewing away! Mostly stuff for myself and my two youngest GC, although occasionally for my daughters if they request something particular.

My mum was a professional dressmaker and tried to get me interested when I was young, but like many others of my age then I wasn't really that fussed - but she did teach me the basics which I have found are still up there in my brain somewhere!

I enjoy reading about what others are making, what problems they have solved and realising that I am not the only one who does daft things sometimes (like sewing sleeves in the wrong armholes once or finding out I have used the "wrong" side of the fabric for the back of a shirt!)

Please keep posting karmalady - I love reading about your sewing adventures!

Haven't done much machine sewing lately but love hand sewing to fit linings/give structure to the crochet festival & mermaid tops I make for gorgeous GD.
Crochet is my passion atm but it's annoyingly very stretchy sometimes.

I am sewing a whole lot of dolls' clothes, and hope to get round to sewing a new skirt for myself soon.

I have just finished six roman blinds for a narrow boat. They have been made from a pair of Orla Kiely, second hand curtains.

I'm trying to make some dining chair covers out of old damask curtains, but not getting far.

I've measured and cut the pattern out and am just about to make a test one to ensure it fits (the width of the back varies so I need to check it can be pulled on and off okay).

That was two weeks ago and for some reason I have stopped and cannot get restarted. I think I have lost confidence for some reason.