(no subject)

[geekchick]

Today is Setting Orange, day 73 in the season of The Aftermath, 3268.

One of the things I'm determined to do in the next year is learn how to sew. This conveniently overlaps with Joann's having dress forms on sale for $70 off. It's a sign, I tell you.

(Oh, and tomorrow is 99-cent Simplicity pattern day too.)

Comments

[greendalek.livejournal.com]

Allow me to plug my wife's Pattern Drafting site:

http://www.geocities.com/noelfigart

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Aggh! Just picked up 2 Simplicities yesterday at half price. Dammit!

But if you're looking to sew, I'm willing to help if I can. Drop me an email.

Sewing -- I've heard rumors that there was a technology to shape cloth

[telnar.livejournal.com]

I think that I'll stick to learning skills that I have a more realistic chance to master like teleportation or building intergalactic empires.

Good luck with it :)

[geekchick]

Oooh, thanks!

[geekchick]

If there are any more Simplicity patterns you might want, let me know the numbers. It's "in-stock only", but if it's there I'm happy to pick them up for you.

And thanks for the offer of help. I may pick your brain again for ideas on good basic sewing machines for beginners who don't need two million fancy stitches; I know I've asked before but I don't remember what the advice was.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Thanks but no thank you for the patterns - if I need more I will almost certainly conduct a personal raid on my local Jo-Ann's.

Re: sewing machines - we can discuss in detail later, but I can definitely say now - do not get a new Singer-brand machine. If you can score an older model with all its parts from the 1970s or earlier, great, but the new versions are like cheap plastic toys.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Sewing... hmm, that involves playing with strips of fabric and needles, right? Some kinky play subset?

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Can be, though honestly this is more of an arts/crafts/woodwork book than pure sewing.

$.02 on sewing and dress dummies

[hawkegirl.livejournal.com]

I'd say not to buy a dress dummy to start out with (unless you don't mind throwing money around needlessly). First, it's not that important if you're sewing for yourself or friends, and you can always use your body or your friends to pin and mark and get an even better fit as the person can move around a bit with the pins in (if the pins are put in the right way) and actually see if they can still move with it in that shape etc. Far better then a dummie can. Also, as you get better at sewing what you want/need in a dummy will change. They are adustible in many, many ways, and some folks want different things out of a shape then others. Anyhow, I guess what I'm getting at is if I were going to recomend someone spend $70. in their learning how to sew I would spend it in other ways. There is a good singer book, there's tons that are "basics of sewing" or "basics of sewing machines" that are very very good, and always helpful to have on hand for refrence. I've heard alot of people go on and on about how great some local class they took was. Fabric stores should have adds for local groups and classes, if you're the type to learn best with someone helping you. Personally how I would do it is spend the money on fabric, a GOOD PAIR OF SCISORS, and GOOD THREAD, and just play! :> (Gutterman thread is awfully good, coats and clark is -crap- a good pair of scisors you will be greatful for, bad scisors will cost you more money in the end with screwing up fabric - just only use your fabric scisors on fabric no paper) OH NO. I should quit now... LOL

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Yes - always clearly mark your sewing scissors to they are never used for anything else! Also make sure that they are comfortable in your hand as it's easy to rub blisters if you're cutting out many pieces at once.

Also good for starting - pins and pincushion (and store in a plastic bag/tupperware so your cat can't get at them). Hand sewing needles, tape measure, and tailor's chalk/blue marking pen.

Taking your measurements correctly is a must - I have this slick little chart that lists every concievable measurement known to man. Again, I can help if needed.