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Reverend Cheddar
Nov 6, 2005

wriggle cat is happy

Bean posted:

I think I'm working with a bum pattern. Surely you've all felt this.

I'm trying to make a suit coat. I've actually put suit coat sleeves in before, but not on this particular pattern, and it's giving me fits.

After working on it and trimming away the corners in the arm holes in the back (seriously -- do they think I have back spikes?), this is what I'm getting:



With the shoulder pads placed in and with me inside



Just on a hanger

It LOOKS like there's too much cloth in the front, and I could solve some stuff just by making the armhole come in a little more, but I figured I'd check with some people who knew what was up before I started doing the whole scissors thing. Ideas?

First thing that comes to mind is that you might need a sleeve head (and your shoulder pad should be out a little more. Match it to the edge of the selvedge, not the seam). Have you put the liner in yet? That's usually what causes the problem for me.

edit: also, I'm sure you've done this, but measure the seams on your pattern of the bodice armhole and the sleeve seam, to see how much you need to gather the amount on the sleeve.

Reverend Cheddar fucked around with this message at 01:31 on Jul 24, 2012

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Josh Lyman
May 24, 2009


My office was a little chilly so I put on a jacket and zipped it up. At some point, I noticed that the zipper was undone below the main slider (it has two sliders), so I slid up the secondary slider, and then this happened.



I've tried to google for how to fix a stuck zipper, but none of the solutions seem to pertain to my situation.

Coopsy
Jan 30, 2011
I also have a very deep tuck at one of the weakest points so interfacing would make me lose some drape. Otherwise it would be the first thing i'd try too! I've gone with a combination of rearranging the seaming and understitching (thanks so much!) which should take away most of the strain that was scaring me.

Asstro Van
Apr 15, 2007

Always check your blind spots before backing that thang up.
Does anyone have experience making a sofa slipcover? Our loveseat is an awful pattern but the size and shape doesn't play nice with any of the commercially available covers. My new sewing tank, recent project successes, and flattering fiance are all convincing me that it is worth trying to make my own and I have found a few nice tutorials. If there are any tips/tricks/warnings, I would appreciate the input. Otherwise, I will keep you all posted of my foolhardy undertaking. I am planning on making a muslin pattern soon.

On a related note, I discovered that my mom used over 5 yards of muslin as packing material for a box that she sent me a long while back. I have no idea why she picked that as padding, but it certainly gives me a good start for my pattern making. :iia:

Vulvarine
Mar 23, 2008

Josh Lyman posted:

My office was a little chilly so I put on a jacket and zipped it up. At some point, I noticed that the zipper was undone below the main slider (it has two sliders), so I slid up the secondary slider, and then this happened.



I've tried to google for how to fix a stuck zipper, but none of the solutions seem to pertain to my situation.

I've had this happen before a few times, but managed to just unzip it with a decent yank, even with the kink. Maybe some lubricant and a little wiggling will help if it's stuck?

Not an Anthem
Apr 28, 2003

I'm a fucking pain machine and if you even touch my fucking car I WILL FUCKING DESTROY YOU.
Anyone take (or know of people who take) commissions to replicate a piece? I have a Uniqlo japan only collaboration piece that is awesome, but I want a copy of it in this high tech sail cloth I have a bunch of. There are a few details that aren't necessary to copy or would be impossible without the machines, but the basic form/collar/sleeves/cuffs definitely.

Pile of Kittens
Apr 23, 2005

Why does everything STILL smell like pussy?

Wheeeeee! I just started working for a lady that makes custom clothing and accessories locally. I was working as a seamstress on my own six months ago, but I have no head for business. I'm glad I'll pretty much be doing the same thing, but with someone to remind me to go to work! :D

Fenchurch
Feb 25, 2011
My first sewing project other than a curtain. Based on the Easy Drawstring Bag pattern by Purl Soho. (http://www.purlbee.com/easy-drawstring-bag/)

Jyrraeth
Aug 1, 2008

I love this dino
SOOOO MUCH

Will one pre-wash take care of any shrinking that will happen with the fabric? I washed a swatch and it did shrink (from 15x13cm to 14x12cm) but I've hear that flannelette is notorious for shrinking.

(I wasn't nice to the swatch either, I put it in the washer/dryer with my towels)

Pile of Kittens
Apr 23, 2005

Why does everything STILL smell like pussy?

It gets like 90% of the shrinking done. A second wash/dry will finish the job if you're paranoid, but you're looking at maybe a few mm per foot shrinkage at this point, so I wouldn't worry about it.

madlilnerd
Jan 4, 2009

a bush with baggage
I finally got round to finishing off a quilt I was making from old pairs of jeans. Broke 2 needles binding this bloody thing. NEVER AGAIN.



It looks better than this pic, the light in my room is really lovely.

whereismyshoe
Oct 21, 2008

that's not gone well...
Can someone help me out and tell me what the pattern from something like this would look like:




From what I can see, there's two trapezoidal sides and a bottom, zippered at the top. i'm just having trouble envisioning how big all the parts would need to be in order for everything to fit together and be a functional bag...here's my (rough) approximation of what makes sense math wise in my head. am i even close?


e: forgot to slash the top Z in this..that's a Z not a 2. last one is y/2.

whereismyshoe fucked around with this message at 02:08 on Aug 11, 2012

Nettle Soup
Jan 30, 2010

Oh, and Jones was there too.

madlilnerd posted:

I finally got round to finishing off a quilt I was making from old pairs of jeans. Broke 2 needles binding this bloody thing. NEVER AGAIN.



It looks better than this pic, the light in my room is really lovely.

I love this!

madlilnerd
Jan 4, 2009

a bush with baggage

Nettle Soup posted:

I love this!

Thank you! I took it out to Potter's Field today to have an Olympic picnic and a load of dead grass stuck to the fleece blanket underneath :saddowns: So in future I need to remember that fleece blankets are not good as picnic blankets on dead grass. It was pretty comfy though, the denim was good padding.

Goldaline
Dec 21, 2006

my dear
Madlilnerd--Great quilt! It reminds of me of traditional japanese indigo quilts. I bet it's super heavy and cozy too.

I've been busy teaching a highschool experimental costume class, but I've manage to work on a few things.


My colorwash Irish Chain quilt is growing! I don't think I quite realized how big it was going to be though. No clue how I'm going to lay it out to baste it.


I did a quick Hawaiian-sort of shirt in white broad cloth to show my students how to ice dye. I know the hem's a little wonky, that's what I get for slapping it together in a few hours. But it was neat to dye it in class then wear it to the next session.


And my Braid-coat is now sort of looking recognizable. The mid-point of the long strips is basically the shoulder seam. The end of the short strips between them is the neck line. It's like a big vest laid flat with the side seams open. Can't wait to start putting it together, just 5 strips left.

taiyoko
Jan 10, 2008


Well, I'm finally getting my rear end around to working on some projects I'd already bought fabric for...only to run into one snag just with the pattern.

I got this pattern, and for view B in my size, it says 2 yards of 60" knit fabric. Well, I bought the fabric before the pattern, and so I only have a yard and a half. Also, I was going to modify it from a regular t-shirt style neck to a square neck, and I wanted to put some ruffles on it. Am I just plain screwed and need to go hunt down some more of this fabric? Can I do ruffles/binding on the lengthwise grain (the neckline binding is originally on the bias)?

Edit:

Just cut out the pattern tissue, and it looks like it may not be as much of an issue as I thought....the pattern as printed comes down to my loving knees! Definitely going to be shortening it up before I cut fabric.

taiyoko fucked around with this message at 03:55 on Aug 14, 2012

Stool Sample
Nov 8, 2006

EVERYONE Poops!?

Lipstick Apathy
I have a sewing machine issue.

The thing that holds the bobbin in while stitching keeps shifting around, and jamming my drat needle (bent one to almost 90 degrees once.) After reading my instruction booklet, I figured out that it was probably scratched and needed a new one, 30 dollars later I had a new one. It still shifts around. I bought it according to my model number (looked it up on amazon and google, etc,) so I'm pretty sure it's the right one for my machine, and I put it in according to the diagram in the book (plus, it's the kind of thing that usually just...goes in.) What the hell.

I have no idea what the issue is. Please help goons, there's a pair of shark patterned pajama pants at stake here!

handbags at dawn
Mar 8, 2007
What kind of machine is it? That makes a difference because I don't know if you're talking about a removable bobbin case or a drop-in bobbin case.

Stool Sample
Nov 8, 2006

EVERYONE Poops!?

Lipstick Apathy

handbags at dawn posted:

What kind of machine is it? That makes a difference because I don't know if you're talking about a removable bobbin case or a drop-in bobbin case.

It's a Brother with a removable case.

handbags at dawn
Mar 8, 2007
The first thing I would say is that to make sure when you seat the bobbin case into its spot, make sure you feel a "click/light snap," that'll let you know it's seated correctly. Something is allowing your bobbin case to shift forwards into the needle's path and this is the quickest thing I can think of to check.

The first machine I had was the Brother machine in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbxAmvyAKuE

and I did the same thing he did. If your machine is like this, make sure those two pieces he shows first are in the right places.

Stool Sample
Nov 8, 2006

EVERYONE Poops!?

Lipstick Apathy
I should definitely take a closer look/listen when I next tinker with it, I was mostly going by how the diagram in my book looked.

Unfortunately, my machine has a top-loaded bobbin case and not a front loader (I had no idea front loaders existed!) Maybe youtube has a video like this for a machine like mine?

Also, that dude has an adorable accent :3:

edit: Looking through my google search history, my machine is apparently a Brother xr 7700, if that info helps at all.

handbags at dawn
Mar 8, 2007
Oh, I see now. When you said bobbin case I assumed you meant the solid metal front loading kind. I'll look some more.

Stool Sample
Nov 8, 2006

EVERYONE Poops!?

Lipstick Apathy
Google isn't being very helpful, even with the the model number all I'm getting is customer reviews and general faqs. I looked at the machine again today, and the case is certainly moving around when I press on the pedal. I've tried lining the outside of the case with paper to see if I could keep it in place, but that doesn't seem to work.

taiyoko
Jan 10, 2008


Looking at the manual for your model of machine, it seems you have a drop-in bobbin, and it specifies that you have to use their bobbins in it, as they're slightly larger than regular generic bobbins. The manual also has how to remove/reinstall the bobbin case, and it sounds like maybe you're just not getting it back in quite right. I'd suggest taking it in for repair if you keep having trouble with it.

handbags at dawn
Mar 8, 2007
Yeah, if the case is moving when you press on the pedal you don't have it installed correctly at all. I looked up your machine online and mine is a Babylock but Brother and Babylock are manufactured by the same people, so your bobbin case is like mine.

I wish i could describe it better, but your bobbin case has a notch on the lower right hand side and there is a notch in the case that that notch has to line up with or the bobbin case will not be seated correctly. There's a diagram in your manual, probably towards the end, in the "cleaning your machine" section. The bobbin case should fit into that spot and not move at all when the machine runs.

Asstro Van
Apr 15, 2007

Always check your blind spots before backing that thang up.
gently caress sleevesDoes anyone have a link to a good sleeve tutorial? Attaching these things without making it look like I'm a renfaire princess~ is too much of a challenge for me to take on alone.
:negative:


e- I found one that was super helpful. One sleeve down! Now I just need to do the other and finish up the hem.

Asstro Van fucked around with this message at 15:23 on Aug 17, 2012

armorer
Aug 6, 2012

I like metal.
I have been trying to learn to sew, and I figured that making clothes for my 2 year old niece might be a good way to get to know the "lay of the land". I tried my hand at the Imke shirt in Sewing Clothes Kids Love and these two shirts resulted.




Unfortunately my niece lives hundreds of miles away, so I can't easily check the fit and adjust the pattern. My sister told me that (while she loved them) the necks on the shirts were much too large, and I don't know enough to know if I botched the assembly or if the pattern is just not quite right for my niece.

I know that I had some issues keeping the neck from stretching out as I stitched it. I felt like the feed dogs were stretching out the fabric as it pulled through the machine, and I wasn't really sure how to fix that.

I don't have the shirts anymore, or I would take some closeup images of the collars. They are made from some double fold bias tape that I made using a little thing from Clover where you pull a strip of fabric through and press it.

If anyone has experience with this sort of thing, or can critique my two t-shirts I would appreciate it.

Dr. Kloctopussy
Apr 22, 2003

"It's time....to DIE!"
When I was a kid, my mom bought this stuff--it was like a roll of metallic paper, but it was heat-transferable (iron-on). So we could cut shapes out of it and make cool t-shirts.

Does anyone know what this is called/if it still exists?

Comrade Quack
Jun 6, 2006
Witty closing remarks have been replaced by massive head trauma and general stupidity.

Dr. Kloctopussy posted:

When I was a kid, my mom bought this stuff--it was like a roll of metallic paper, but it was heat-transferable (iron-on). So we could cut shapes out of it and make cool t-shirts.

Does anyone know what this is called/if it still exists?

I'll skip the part where the link might get horribly borked but if you search for metallic tshirt transfer on amazon a bunch of stuff that looks right comes up.

See also: tshirt transfer foil

Comrade Quack fucked around with this message at 19:07 on Aug 18, 2012

fanpantstic
Jul 30, 2010

inner breathlessness
outer restlessness
I'm looking at getting a serger off craigslist, there are often some nice looking ones for <$100. I haven't used a serger since high school sewing class (10 years ago), so I don't really know what to look for as far as what might be wrong or right about it. Any ideas?

nolen
Apr 4, 2004

butts.

fanpantstic posted:

I'm looking at getting a serger off craigslist, there are often some nice looking ones for <$100. I haven't used a serger since high school sewing class (10 years ago), so I don't really know what to look for as far as what might be wrong or right about it. Any ideas?

Make sure the blade is still intact and sharp/easy to sharpen. Ease of threading is something I would look for as well.

Amykinz
May 6, 2007
Damnit. Earlier this summer I had a friend from high school post a dress on facebook that she wanted for her wedding. I found a pattern that would work and sent her the link to the webpage. She asked if I could/would be willing to make it. I told her sure, ordered the pattern and we agreed on a price for my work. I got all excited, not only because I'd be making a wedding dress for someone, but if she was happy with it I could wrangle this into a business and get a little extra money for me and my husband.

Well, I told my friend I was home all day, all the time, and she needed to get to me so I could measure her and start on the muslin. Silence. I didn't hear from her for a month. FINALLY I get a message that she wears a "size 14". Fine, I start on the largest size the pattern will make, and after a few more weeks she comes over and trys it on. I get started on fitting it, tell her what and how much fabric and notions to buy (she INSISTED on buying her own fabric), and we agree she'll come by the next week to try on the bodice with alterations.

Haven't heard from her since. She's been on facebook, I've sent her a message, and now her wedding is a week from tomorrow. The last message I sent is "hey, haven't heard from you in a while, checking in. What's going on?"

I'm kinda grumpy about the whole thing because I did buy a pattern and use up my time and fabric making the muslin. And we agreed she would pay when she dropped off the fabric. I wanted to make a dress and now I feel like people won't want to choose me to make stuff for them because I don't have any "testimonials" on how awesome I am. Has anyone else started doing small business sewing? How did you build a "portfolio"?

Vulvarine
Mar 23, 2008
Based on my experience with brides "hiring" you to do anything for their wedding, she will ignore you until three days before the big day and then suddenly demand really annoying changes and modifications to the work. Good luck.

Rufus En Fuego
Oct 19, 2011

HOUSE BARK

"Winter is Potato"
It's probably far too late in the game to get the dress done for her, so I'd just go ahead and grab some inexpensive white brocade and finish the dress for your portfolio. Hell, I even have 110 yards of exactly that if you want some of it! Picked it up last summer at a textile moving sale (they do the upholstery and bedding for all the casinos) and I've only made a single corset from it so far.

Unfortunately, unless you have really trusting customers or friends and family who need sewing done, you're probably going to have to build your portfolio on your own dime. Are you looking to specialize in wedding dresses or would other types of sewing be good for you, too?

ETA: Okay, so I just got asked by a drag queen friend to make Katniss's red interview dress from The Hunger Games, but I only have 2½ weeks to get it done in time for a parade. I have a day job and my own business, so drafting a pattern's pretty much out. Have any of you seen a commercial pattern similar enough to this?


Rufus En Fuego fucked around with this message at 19:25 on Aug 22, 2012

Amykinz
May 6, 2007

Rufus En Fuego posted:

Are you looking to specialize in wedding dresses or would other types of sewing be good for you, too?

ETA: Okay, so I just got asked by a drag queen friend to make Katniss's red interview dress from The Hunger Games, but I only have 2½ weeks to get it done in time for a parade. I have a day job and my own business, so drafting a pattern's pretty much out. Have any of you seen a commercial pattern similar enough to this?


Well, it's way to late to have the dress done properly. I could do it according to the pattern and the first set of changes I made with her fitting, but it was a Vogue pattern and I had to modify the fit quite a bit to have it not look dumpy.

I'd honestly like to do costumes (period or not), fun dresses, and more offbeat style wedding dresses (especially plus sizes), I don't want to do regular wedding dresses. This was gonna be an awesome 50's style dress and I was pretty happy about it. I would LOVE to make dresses for drag queens, that would be too much fun. You can get away with so much more awesome trim and stuff.

Katniss's dress, underneath the details, looks like a strapless, backless princess seamed sheath dress.

Here's one from Butterick

downloadable pattern only

I'd use the pattern for the dress part, then just gather a ton of netting (or whatever the mermaid skirt part is, it's hard to see in the pictures) in cartridge pleats and make the skirt, and the top looks like just a swag of the same fabric with a poofy flower. I wish I could see a bigger picture.

Not an Anthem
Apr 28, 2003

I'm a fucking pain machine and if you even touch my fucking car I WILL FUCKING DESTROY YOU.

Goldaline posted:

Madlilnerd--Great quilt! It reminds of me of traditional japanese indigo quilts. I bet it's super heavy and cozy too.

I've been busy teaching a highschool experimental costume class, but I've manage to work on a few things.


My colorwash Irish Chain quilt is growing! I don't think I quite realized how big it was going to be though. No clue how I'm going to lay it out to baste it.


I did a quick Hawaiian-sort of shirt in white broad cloth to show my students how to ice dye. I know the hem's a little wonky, that's what I get for slapping it together in a few hours. But it was neat to dye it in class then wear it to the next session.


And my Braid-coat is now sort of looking recognizable. The mid-point of the long strips is basically the shoulder seam. The end of the short strips between them is the neck line. It's like a big vest laid flat with the side seams open. Can't wait to start putting it together, just 5 strips left.

Awesome stuff as usual. Where would I get started making shirts like that?

madlilnerd
Jan 4, 2009

a bush with baggage

Not an Anthem posted:

Awesome stuff as usual. Where would I get started making shirts like that?

Simplicity sell this pattern which covers a whole range of different shirts:
http://www.simplicity.com/p-2184-boys-and-men-shirts-and-pants.aspx

And this one, which is specifically Hawaiian shirts and shorts:
http://www.simplicity.com/p-2252-boys-and-men-shirts-shorts-hat.aspx

There's also this Vogue pattern, which is rated easy:
http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8759-products-14729.php?page_id=174

And here is a men's shirt sew-a-long:
http://malepatternboldness.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/mens-shirt-sew-along-1-lets-get-started.html

Hope this helps.

Rufus En Fuego
Oct 19, 2011

HOUSE BARK

"Winter is Potato"

Amykinz posted:

Well, it's way to late to have the dress done properly. I could do it according to the pattern and the first set of changes I made with her fitting, but it was a Vogue pattern and I had to modify the fit quite a bit to have it not look dumpy.

I'd honestly like to do costumes (period or not), fun dresses, and more offbeat style wedding dresses (especially plus sizes), I don't want to do regular wedding dresses. This was gonna be an awesome 50's style dress and I was pretty happy about it. I would LOVE to make dresses for drag queens, that would be too much fun. You can get away with so much more awesome trim and stuff.

Katniss's dress, underneath the details, looks like a strapless, backless princess seamed sheath dress.

Here's one from Butterick

downloadable pattern only

I'd use the pattern for the dress part, then just gather a ton of netting (or whatever the mermaid skirt part is, it's hard to see in the pictures) in cartridge pleats and make the skirt, and the top looks like just a swag of the same fabric with a poofy flower. I wish I could see a bigger picture.

I was looking at that pattern and another similar one on McCall's, but now I'm debating having him get a cheap commercial dress that fits and just doing a red taffeta overlay. That way I can sit back and concentrate on the madness below the knee. All this depends on getting his measurements on time, though...the ones I have from last year are about 30 pounds out of date and apparently a third party is giving me his current ones.

I hate relying on third parties. They always manage to eff things up.

Costume/historical sewing for money is awesome, but generally doesn't pay well, in my experience. Unless the customers are kind of on the hardcore side they generally tend to be tightwads. Drag queens, however, typically have at least a passing knowledge about what it takes to make fantasy looks from having done it themselves more than once, and also seem to have relatively bottomless bank accounts (at least the ones here in Vegas).

Amykinz
May 6, 2007
I live about an hour's drive out of San Francisco. You figure I'd be crawling with queens, but we have a range of hills between here and there and it's like a whole other region of the state here. It kinda sucks. I've done Renn fairs, and I love to make my own stuff, but there is too much drama involved by using my current connections to "get into" the costume making there. I'll just keep making stuff for friends for that.

If you can get him to get a commercial dress that fits that would be the way to go. Then you could really work that skirt.

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Goldaline
Dec 21, 2006

my dear

Not an Anthem posted:

Awesome stuff as usual. Where would I get started making shirts like that?

I'm a big cheapo so I just trace off things I own that I like the fit of. This was pretty much unmodified from a sweet Liz Clairborne hawaiian shirt I have from the 90's.

If you're asking about the ice dying there's a good write up about it [url="https://"http://www.bloombakecreate.com/2011/02/ice-dyeing/"]here.[/url]

Update: the Irish Chain quilt is about 5/6th done, so close! I think I'm just going to back it with muslin, I looked at buying fabric for the back and it was like $30. Nope, already paying for the batting, that's quite enough thanks.

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