tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post6060255549375212278..comments2024-01-24T11:28:22.701+00:00Comments on 'So, Zo...': Sewing When You're SkintZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10893813529679767893noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-78857364627859264122016-01-11T13:51:14.528+00:002016-01-11T13:51:14.528+00:00I think I was at that meeting up and it was one of...I think I was at that meeting up and it was one of my firsts. Sewing books are another resource. I think we tend to go straight to paper patterns and there are some lovely patterns in Tilly's book and in the current GBSB book. Keep you going for months. Plus they probably work out cheaper than paper patterns. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-64161659630123624502016-01-11T10:10:23.419+00:002016-01-11T10:10:23.419+00:00This is a really good article especially when in n...This is a really good article especially when in need of <a href="http://artcraftsewingdaily.com/sewing-machines-for-beginners" rel="nofollow">additional resources</a> (but lack the money) to buy the things we need to start on a project. I find it a good thing I have a group of fellow female friends and we usually hang out in each other’s homes and we do fabric swap from time to time! There are times I end up getting free buttons or zips that they don’t plan to use, too.Kristine Abathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15642402249685425823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-41353963882953879352016-01-08T15:27:14.826+00:002016-01-08T15:27:14.826+00:00Brilliant! and I can absolutely recommend the Bri...Brilliant! and I can absolutely recommend the Brindille and Twig hoodie freebie pattern online, which I made out of old sweater/sweatshirts. Free, practical, and adorable!Kimbersewhttp://seamstresskim.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-33458032976271121702016-01-08T01:38:32.763+00:002016-01-08T01:38:32.763+00:00Thank you for all these great ideas! Think I'...Thank you for all these great ideas! Think I'll spend tonight reorganizing the stash and see what strikes me. :) I went down to part-time in September, so things have been a little slim around here for a while now. I'm treating it as an opportunity to work on my pattern-drafting skills, since a roll of butcher paper is like a thousand times cheaper than store-bought patterns... it's harder, but man is it rewarding when it works! :)kirstenatxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06604855285131769998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-82596893068724311122016-01-07T22:50:47.188+00:002016-01-07T22:50:47.188+00:00I had good luck with your last tip. A woman start...I had good luck with your last tip. A woman started working in our office, found out that I like to sew, and told me that her cousin was wanting to get rid of her fabric stash. My offer of $100 for the lot was accepted and she delivered her cousin's fabric to my house. 155 pieces worked out to $0.75 per piece. Some of the pieces were 3 metres or more. I have sewn up maybe 40 pieces and will be sewing from that stash for years to come.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-70352359000837314652016-01-07T20:21:12.643+00:002016-01-07T20:21:12.643+00:00What a brilliant (and timely) post. I think we are...What a brilliant (and timely) post. I think we are all a bit skint in January. I always am anyway. One of the plus points of moving has been exactly what you propose - looking at my patterns and fabric as I put them away. I have been tempted by all the shine new things but have started having a look through my massive stash of Burda mags going back to 2005, vintage patterns and other mags. I have been very lucky to have been gifted several sewing machines and a lot of vintage fabric and notions over the years. People are really kind when they learn that you sew. XxMother of Reinventionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14409826036412353940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-26973816029478555312016-01-07T14:00:36.691+00:002016-01-07T14:00:36.691+00:00Haha, I love the title of this post. I sometimes f...Haha, I love the title of this post. I sometimes feel disheartened seeing many blog posts showing lots of new fabrics used.But I embrace sewing when skint. I have been lucky to receive binbags of fabric in the past because people knew I sewed. I also tend to eyeball new patterns, then go see what in my Ottobre stash or Built by Wendy books can fit those patterns.My new resolution is to only buy fabric with my paypal money made by selling excess stuff online, sort of creating a closed circle of spending. Make sense? I hope I can stick to it. xx Minnadohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02838971800070422776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-82175463268734233932016-01-06T22:44:30.344+00:002016-01-06T22:44:30.344+00:00Great post,especially as I'm really feeling th...Great post,especially as I'm really feeling the pinch this month!<br /><br />I thinking of trying to combine all the odd half metres of leftover fabric to make a (hopefully cool) clashing print top. Any leftovers after that are destined to never be used, so they can be recycled (to make room for new fabrics, when funds permit!)<br /><br />I'm also trying to put some leatherette to use that I bought a while back, by making bags and jewellery. It's been quite fun to try something I wouldn't normally do! <br /><br />http://magnificent-thread.blogspot.co.uk Shauni Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12962760401014329900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-7448800274791676662016-01-06T22:28:53.681+00:002016-01-06T22:28:53.681+00:00My tip would be to get out your scraps and see wha...My tip would be to get out your scraps and see what you've got lurking around. I often over estimate fabric when buying it for a dress, so have at least half a metre left over. I recently wanted to make a sleeveless blouse, and had enough fabric just from the scraps I had left over from a dress I made. I also have made a pincushion, jewellery purse and pencil case from scraps, and have other things planned, so always keep my scraps.<br /><br />Another good place is eBay. I got two big pieces of jersey for about a tenner, which I'm making a tshirt and skater dress from. :)<br /><br />Sewbellebeau.blogspot.comromykatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07299027874672730911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-60037110755517500942016-01-06T19:48:39.258+00:002016-01-06T19:48:39.258+00:00Great ideas! I've been meaning to go through m...Great ideas! I've been meaning to go through my fabric since I know I've forgotten some great pieces (I found one the other day while looking for something else.) I do have quite a few projects already in the works though.Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17455960552860567288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-70869957081533664962016-01-06T16:27:20.546+00:002016-01-06T16:27:20.546+00:00Great advice - but...I don't have a fabric sta...Great advice - but...I don't have a fabric stash to refold and find wonderful stuff in :( Used bits and bobs to make some morsbags for xmas, into which went things like hand-knitted socks and home-made jams.<br />Don't even have much or wool stash left now.<br />I have patterns, folks on freecycle and the like are kind enough to give them away, but no fabric.<br />PathWalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06971040384086734061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-76573117468186545462016-01-06T15:42:50.960+00:002016-01-06T15:42:50.960+00:00Hi there, I'm a sew-newbie, so I'm eager t...Hi there, I'm a sew-newbie, so I'm eager to here saving money tips (I have no clue why, but whenever I try a new pattern it will end up as a disaster!). That is why I re-roll patterns (if one finally works ;). I will grab Ashley's thrift trick next time before I work on the 'real deal'. Very smart, thank you! In France the sales started today and I got some fabric to sew me some skirts.. which will hopefully for once turn out as a bargain in comparison to store bought clothes ^^.Gisahttp://atelier-mirabelle.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-39164739072412729352016-01-06T15:04:22.161+00:002016-01-06T15:04:22.161+00:00I sew almost everything these days from thrifted s...I sew almost everything these days from thrifted sheets! The fabric is already nice and soft and a hot wash before hand makes it cootie free. The prints are great for sewing for kids. I originally started doing this to make muslins before I cut into my "good fabric" but after a while I realized the sheet items were my favorites because of their softness and drape. I also reuse the crap out of patterns, mostly because I'm not very good at fitting, so when something works it gets used to death. And anytime I cut something from jersey/knit, I always cut a pair of your panties (pants) from the scraps. There is almost always enough with creative positioning.<br /><br />Ashley Jeanne Espyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11677124465486141027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-14919866520670890172016-01-06T09:16:51.179+00:002016-01-06T09:16:51.179+00:00Ahhh yes, I have 2 bags of fabric that I keep mean...Ahhh yes, I have 2 bags of fabric that I keep meaning to sort through... gah! But I'm not buying anything new until I've gone through and actually used some if it. It's amazing how one day a fabric can seem useless and the next you have a million ideas for it...Rebecca @ pattydoohttps://www.pattydoo.de/en/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-7247430500667687242016-01-06T08:31:19.549+00:002016-01-06T08:31:19.549+00:00It's not going to work for everyone it if you ...It's not going to work for everyone it if you can find a friend who sews, and has similar taste in patterns it's fab to swap or borrow patterns, and try on their garments - saves you time and money in toiles, and reduces the wasting of money on fabric and patterns! Also consider using old op shop sheets for toiles so your precious fabric isn't wasted. I was a bit shocked at the price of basic calico from my local fabric store recently too! Fabric Tragichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04183274071484362265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-5481826721669978472016-01-06T02:19:07.837+00:002016-01-06T02:19:07.837+00:00I love to sew frugally. I use thrift stores a lot ...I love to sew frugally. I use thrift stores a lot for fabrics & patterns, and love to refashion what I already have. Thanks for reminding me of all these great ways to save money while still enjoying one's sewing.Melwykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04885378201188978664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-70755134894856094252016-01-05T22:48:30.350+00:002016-01-05T22:48:30.350+00:00This is so timely for me, since I'm currently ...This is so timely for me, since I'm currently reorganizing my sewing room, was planning to see how long I can go without buying fabric or patterns this year as part of our efforts to pay off debt, and just got a call from my mother in law about some potential refashionable clothes she wants to give me!Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09913795373618902575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-31497946393805557042016-01-05T22:40:15.357+00:002016-01-05T22:40:15.357+00:00Good suggestions! I recently weeded my patterns s...Good suggestions! I recently weeded my patterns since I had taken to just grabbing any that someone offered me. There was a lot in there I never would make. Now I've got my mind set on trying some of these new-to-me, fun patterns! I am also going to try more refashioning this year. Its something I've wanted to do, but never have.<br /><br />And the last one is a really good one--and the fabric swap! I almost never buy fabric because of swaps or people (often my relatives) giving me some of their unused stash. That really is the biggest "secret" to my ubber-cheap sewing. I (and I almost hate to admit it) almost never buy fabric. I oggle it at the shops--and resist, somehow.BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06449967376288331137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-38029059698190630712016-01-05T22:14:07.255+00:002016-01-05T22:14:07.255+00:00im with you on the let the cat out of the bag comm...im with you on the let the cat out of the bag comment! one of my mums friends recently gifted me two rolls [yes rolls!] of fabric that she found in a house clearance, my fellas nan gave me all of her oddmants of wool and a lovely lady who reads my blog sent me a parcel with fabric, carbon paper, pins and patterns all becuase it was stuff she wouldnt use!!!!!<br /><br />Frankie<br /><br />www.knitwits-owls.blogspot.co.ukKnitwitsowlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15341832224447601797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-16294312084264201942016-01-05T21:32:55.025+00:002016-01-05T21:32:55.025+00:00I have taken the time to go through my patterns (o...I have taken the time to go through my patterns (oh the shame, I even had two doubles). I need to go through my fabric next. 35 yrs ago, I combed the thrift shops for clothes to refashion for my new baby. It was the thing to do in my family. Both grandmothers had raised large families during the Depression, and often refashioned clothes. I agree, if you put it out there , you will be gifted all kinds of sewing supplies. It happens to me on a regular basis. I go through it all right away, and find homes for everything. Local schools with sewing programs and church groups that make quilts for charity love to get boxes of excess from me.I only keep what I can truly use. Happy sewing in 2016.<br />Barb from Canadabbarnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15399421440007975826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-34854655001199177482016-01-05T21:02:57.447+00:002016-01-05T21:02:57.447+00:00I shall take your advice and refold my fabric. I a...I shall take your advice and refold my fabric. I agree that it fires your brain with inspiration. LouiseAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01590212324752526648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464662522153586853.post-12976676381235430872016-01-05T20:57:29.672+00:002016-01-05T20:57:29.672+00:00Oh good lord I can't believe that photo was ta...Oh good lord I can't believe that photo was taken 4 years ago! I think we need another Brighton Meet up simply for the Swapping alone! Great tips Zo!Steviehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04709713600015401053noreply@blogger.com