# Fellow sewing Dopers... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2007, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057 "2007-01-30T02:15:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/41 "2007-01-31T04:36:09Z")
[QUOTE=dangermom] Oh, and I do agree that cutting out is the hardest worst part. If you mess it up, there’s no going back! [/QUOTE] No kidding. I never cut out all the pieces at once. Learned a long time ago to make a test block. A friend used Thangles (paper patterns) to make 300 half-square triangles for sashing. The Thangles were the wrong size. “Finished size” in Thangle-speak means the size **after** you’ve used the half-square triangle in a block. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/42 "2007-01-31T05:57:09Z")
[QUOTE=Miss Purl McKnittington] I much prefer draping things on my dummy in muslin. By the time I’m done, I have a pattern that fits and the lining all ready to go. I just need to cut out the fashion fabric, and get to skip that nasty paper pattern step. [/QUOTE] That’s interesting–how is it done? Nowadays I mostly cook without recipes–I became able to do that once I’d mastered the principles behind the recipes. To take that approach to garment creation, skip storebought patterns and just make up something in 3-D, would be a great skill to learn. How did you learn that? ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/43 "2007-01-31T13:38:12Z")
I don’t know how **Miss Purl** learned it, but I got a dressform and started pinning and slashing. It’s _very_ similar to cooking without recipes. If you’ve got any experience sewing (or were a fanatic child doll-dressmaker :rolleyes: ) then you have an idea of how things fit together, and what creates certain silhouettes. And if you’re designing on your dressform, then you end up with a much better fit than a commercial pattern, because it’s exactly right for you. I wrecked a lot of cheap fabric learning to sew, but it’s been fun. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/44 "2007-01-31T14:59:50Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] [Here](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/AuntiePam/kimquilt22.jpg) is one I did for a friend, using batiks. I have yet to master quilting on a frame or hoop, so I just pin the layers and work on a table and hope for the best. This one wasn’t quilted when I took the photo, so it looks pretty wrinkly. [This one](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/AuntiePam/ChunkyChurndash.jpg) is my favorite. I don’t have a clue how to quilt it, so when I get some spare money, I’ll have a pro do that part. [/QUOTE] Wow, those are both beautiful. As far as quilting them, may I recommend quilting in the ditch? It hides any imperfections and reinforces the geometry of the pieces rather than flattening them the way an all-over design does. Then you can quilt another line parallel, out past the seam allowance, which gives great texture. I’ll post a close-up photo tomorrow in case this doesn’t make sense! I use a large oval hoop (the kind that’s usually on a stand) and just hold it in my lap. As long as the quilt is basted well it will remain stable for you to work it. Plus the quilt keeps you warm during the winter. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/45 "2007-01-31T15:04:36Z")
I love this. Maybe we should start another thread, so people who may have missed this one can also post their stuff? I won’t have any of mine up until the weekend, but I hope to have several up then. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/46 "2007-01-31T18:31:03Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] I love this. Maybe we should start another thread, so people who may have missed this one can also post their stuff? [/QUOTE] Good idea. **gigi** , I thought about quilting in the ditch. It’d be the perfect thing to do for that quilt. But I can’t see what I’m doing when I stitch in the ditch, even with an Ott light, so I can’t tell whether the stitches are even. But now that I’ve said that, if I can’t see the stitches, nobody else can either, so maybe it doesn’t matter if the stitches aren’t even. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/47 "2007-01-31T20:22:17Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] But now that I’ve said that, if I can’t see the stitches, nobody else can either, so maybe it doesn’t matter if the stitches aren’t even. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Exactly! That’s why I stitch in the ditch with a thread that blends well, to get the quilt all stabilized, and then take time to be more careful with the "set-away\_ parts. Or you could quilt with a contrasting color to be able to inspect your stitching more easily. OTOH, even if no one else knows, _you’ll know_, so you definitely have to do what makes you feel happy with it. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/48 "2007-01-31T21:37:31Z")
OK, here’s my last two creations. [This is the star quilt](http://www.roadq.com/jleek/quiltpics/star_quilt.jpg)I just made–it’s just the top, and you can’t really tell that it has a very pale greeny/aqua batik for the background. Instead, you can see the nine-patch quilt underneath showing through! (The top is lying on my bed, which has a laprobe I made years ago keeping us extra warm just now. I couldn’t hold the camera high enough to get all the quilt in, sorry.) I made [this one for Christmas](http://www.roadq.com/jean/hqt.jpg), and it’s all countrified and stuff. Really, it’s my own design that I made myself (!) of Danish Christmas hearts, which are woven out of paper. I lived there for a while, so this is a nice one for me. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/49 "2007-01-31T22:42:58Z")
Oooooh, I’m lovin’ that star quilt. I’ve never seen the points done like that, and the little stars nestled in the bigger stars – very interesting. Can you share the pattern? I’ve only done one [star quilt](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/AuntiePam/kimquiltonwall.jpg). This one’s on a friend’s wall. The hearts are cool – I love tans and reds together. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/50 "2007-01-31T23:27:25Z")
I love both the star ones! ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/51 "2007-02-01T01:28:25Z")
Oh, that’s a nice star quilt; the design so clear. My star quilt is from Judy Martin’s _Cookies and Quilts_, and it’s called, for some reason, “I have a dream.” The stars-on-stars were a little tricky, but fun. If you google it, you will find many links, and it’s available at Amazon. It’s got some very good patterns. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/52 "2007-02-01T02:09:14Z")
Cool. I’ve put the book on my wish list. 🙂 Can we see the quilt that was underneath the star quilt? It looks intriguing. Here’s [another easy peasy quilt](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/AuntiePam/chain.jpg). It’s a modified Irish Chain, I guess. I found this pattern at the Quilters Cache website. They’re the best resource I’ve found on-line, for pattern selection and good instructions. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/53 "2007-02-01T03:33:27Z")
Oh, I’ll see if I can do that tomorrow. Meanwhile, I found [these pictures](http://www.roadq.com/jean/) that were already on our website. They’re a couple of years old. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/54 "2007-02-01T03:48:06Z")
Wow. Love the embroidery, and the quilting in the first one is totally gorgeous. Did you do it? Would you do mine? (Just kidding). ---
**Author:** ![AveDementia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@AveDementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AveDementia)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/55 "2007-02-01T05:56:38Z")
[QUOTE=kittenblue] My son sliced his hand quite badly while misusing my rotary cutter…and he was maybe 15 at the time. Keep them put away! I don’t use my rotary cutter for garment cutting because there are too many fiddly bits like notches to cut around to make it worthwhile, plus the danger of all those pins holding the pattern to the fabric! But I do use it for most of my quilts. I have the hardest time with the pattern pinning and cutting out process in garment making, and am so relieved when it is over. But the worst part is getting myself to throw away the scraps of fabric. I don’t need to save them for doll clothes and craft projects anymore, but my mother’s Depression-Era mindset of “throw nothing potentially useful away” has rubbed off on me, and it’s a real strain to throw away even small, useless scraps [/QUOTE] You know, you can donate the scraps to your local charity second-hand shop. Just put them in ziplocs and write “fabric for quilting” on them. I’ve seen some for sale around here like that, and people bought them. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/56 "2007-02-01T06:33:48Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] Wow. Love the embroidery, and the quilting in the first one is totally gorgeous. Did you do it? Would you do mine? (Just kidding). [/QUOTE] Heh. Nope, I sent that one out for quilting. I send about half of them out, depending on what seems to fit the quilt. And hauling large quilts around my table and through my machine is very tiring! The woman I go to is very reasonable and only charges about $30-$40 for most things unless they’re very large. If you like embroidery, you should see the one I just started–I’d give you a link but it’s a local pattern and has not been put up on their website yet–it’s four panels on-point, all the same embroidery pattern, and it’s all swirly and elegant. I’m doing it in a dark green, with a green velveteen for the frames and a large print for the settings. It will take a while to do the panels, though. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057/57 "2007-02-01T16:18:25Z")
[QUOTE=kittenblue] But the worst part is getting myself to throw away the scraps of fabric. I don’t need to save them for doll clothes and craft projects anymore, but my mother’s Depression-Era mindset of “throw nothing potentially useful away” has rubbed off on me, and it’s a real strain to throw away even small, useless scraps [/QUOTE] Sounds like my mom. It was a big step for her a few years ago when she decide that if a scrap was less than an inch square, she was allowed to throw it out. I think it was a huge shift in her worldview and took a load of her shoulders (and closet!). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-sewing-dopers/390057.md?page=2)