ABOUT ME

I am Angela and I love to sew. I started sewing as a child and by the time I was a teenager I was wearing the very latest fashions to go out in. All me-made. I am passionate about reducing the amount of textiles sent to landfill, and encourage you to repurpose fabrics and clothes I started this blog in order to have a way in which to pass on my gained knowledge, and my professional knowledge to you, Sewing is empowering, you can save money by making items, make money by selling then, You can pass your knowledge on to others. What is there not to love? Interestingly I am a direct descendant of the Flemish weavers who came over to England in the 1300's. I find that fascinating especially as most of my family from as far back as I can trace are somehow involved in the manufacturing of fabric . . I have a degree in tailoring with a special interest in WW2 fashion.
Showing posts with label stretch fabrics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stretch fabrics. Show all posts

Tuesday 7 March 2023

Sew House Seven Cosmos Sweater and skirt in Stretch Sweater Knit

 The Sew House Seven sweater and skirt 

A Minerva.com post 




I have a page on Minerva.com where you can find more of my posts. This is one such post so to read more on 

My posts on Minerva.com are on this link so do click on the text where you will find photos and fabric details etc

 







The pattern I used is this top and skirt combo from Sew House Seven details on my Minerva.com page 





The fabric is a glorious sweater knit,which is an absolute breeze to sew 







I took the hem up by about 8" in order to balance the loose fitting top 




The skirt needed taking in quite substantially 





I am very happy with the results so please don't forget to follow the link at the top of this post and see what else I have been making



#Sewangelicthreads 

#sewingblogger

#sewist 

#sewing

#sewhouseseven

#sweaterknit

#fabric

#knitfabric

#tutorial 

#MinervaBrandAmbassador

#minervamaker

Saturday 3 December 2022

Vogue Designer lounger wear using gorgeous French Terry Fabric

 

Loungewear Set.





Iam greatly impressed with this fabric. I received 2•5 metres which meant that I could make not only a tunic top but trousers too. It was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle fitting all of the pattern pieces onto the fabric, and keeping the animals the right way up and the grain line accurate, but in the end it was not so difficult.




The fabric is exclusive to Minerva.com and is available here:_ French Looped Back Terry

I have parkinsons disease and have a lot of days when just the act of getting dressed exhausts me and I will not be able to do anything for the rest of the day. I find that if I spend a day doing housework, shopping or even just meeting with friends means that I have to pay it back for the next day or so.
I therefore love nice loungewear which is easy to put on is comfortable to wear especially if I am going to be resting a lot, but it has to look amazing too, because quite frankly wearing something lovely really cheers me up. We all need to look good don't you think. Of course a chocolate biscuit always helps 






I do love Vogue patterns and for the top I used a Marcy Tilton design for Vogue. You will. No doubt notice that I have used this pattern before. Each design has its own set of pattern pieces which means in effect that you,In this case, get four patterns!
For the pants I used an old pyjama pattern, I am sure that you will have a suitable pattern to use.


I am excited about this project, the French Terry is so gorgeous. Plus it is mostly cotton, this is important to me as natural fibres help to regulate my body temperature



It is always the same for me - I try on a new Minerva Make in order to take photographs and I love it so much that I do not take it off!
This is my new loungewear, different to pyjamas as loungwear, to me anyway, is just a but smarter and more fitted, the pants in particular.
This Vogue pattern is so very easy to make and with three separate patterns in the envalope there are lots of choices to vary each make.









The pants are from a old pyjama pattern, but I took the width in to give them a more streamlined look.
And as for the fabric! Wow! This French Terry has such an amazing print, very much like the jungle prints I wore in the late 60's yes, sadly I am that old.
For me, loungewear is a special part of my wardrobe, as I have mentioned before I have parkinsons and need plenty of rest days, but I still love visitors - I had a coffee morning yesterday, so even if I am not going anywhere I boost my own self esteem by dressing nicely but comfortably. This outfit is perfect


Do look at the fabric, it is gorgeous 





 Thank you to Minerva.com for the fabric.  Do please follow this link to view the entire website including sale items Minerva.com



#sewing #sewingblogger #Sewangelicthreads #minervabrandambassador #minervamaker #loungewear #voguepatterns

Sunday 11 September 2022

Re-use, recycle. Will you take the challenge?

 Re-use, recycle.  Make Do and mend. What is this all about?  Why should it affect me?


I am alarmed after doing some research  just how much clothing, some of it unworn, goes to landfill. We purchase a lot of cheaper clothes which soon lose their appeal and out they go. Our wardrobes are crammed with things we hardly ever. Or never wear.

Not just clothes, I have been rescuing furniture too







Did you know that Dunelm take back textiles? I shall be doing this 

The website is Dunelm Take Back Scheme

Monday 7 February 2022

1940's Vintage Blouse in 100% Premium Organic Cotton Fabric from Jaycotts

 I am so excited to be back blogging, and a little nervous too, but doesn't it feel great to be moving forwards at last

The Simplicity 8593 vintage blouse collection.

 A Jaycotts post 


The Fabric is an Organic Cotton fabric by Cloud9



Everything used in this post is from Jaycotts Jaycotts web site and I will give links as I write the post. For any queries or to place an order do not hesitate to contact them direct.





Saturday 7 November 2020

Easy to sew Lounge wear

 More loungewear to sew, easy for beginners 


I have shown you how to sew loungewear before but I don't know about you but I need some more.

This is a post for beginners and those not used to sewing stretch fabrics. Use the search tool in the sidebar to find mote posts for "sewing Newbies "

I have a disability as you know, I have Parkinsons, so please never give up on doing what you love, its just a question of finding different ways to do things. 


I have been raiding my stash and finding any fabric with stretch, from Ponte Roma to a wool melange knit and this is my result.

 


I have had a strange sort of year,  I don't know about you but I expect many of us have struggled.
I think that it is mood boosting to have smart but comfortable clothes to wear indoors , preferably something stretchy to encourage  a little exercise - yes  I am exercising indoors. ( smug face )

Wednesday 21 October 2020

Sewing stretch Fabrics the easy way

Sewing for Beginners

An easy to sew dress in fabulous Stretch Velour




I have had such a lot of good feedback from my previous post for Jaycotts about sewing stretch fabrics that I decided to show you a very easy to make and extremely easy to wear stretch dress.
If you think that stretch fabrics are not for you then think again


ain. A figure hugging garment in the correct size looks great on most figures.
This is how to wear a stretch dress

  • Don't make it too clingy or it will show up the lumps and bumps we all have.
  • Choose a thicker fabric with just a small amount of stretch 
  • Choose a darker colour and possibly a print
  • Wear the correct underwear - there is a lot of very good shapewear and it will help you to feel confident
  • Don't be frightened of accentuating your waist with a wide belt





The pattern I chose is McCall's 6886 it can be ordered from Jaycotts on this link.
It is a pattern which uses a medium weight, moderate stretch jersey knit fabric, so it is perfect for what we want.


Tuesday 6 October 2020

Very Pretty In Pink. A lovely dress in Art Gallery Jersey Knit

 This is a Minerva Crafts Blogger Network Post.

                                       Pretty In Pink 


A Beautiful Dress In Art Gallery Fabrics,  Lets Chalk Joyful Stretch Jersey Knit Dress Fabric
This fabric certainly is Joyful, I love the white design on this beautiful bright pink.

The fabric itself is 95% Pima Cotton with 5% Spandex which means that it stretches (and recovers) with ease. It is a medium weight fabric so perfect for a dress

The tutorial for this simple, elegant dress is on The MinervaCrafts web site, so do hop over to read it and hopefully make it.


    Click here                     Very Pretty In Pink




 Thank you  to Minerva for this absolutely gorgeous fabric 

                                         Angela

                                  Sewangelicthreads


#SewAngelicThreads #bestof2020  #sewing #handmade #tutorial #sewsewsew #sewingblogger #sewinginspiration #minervamakes #minervamakers #isewlation #isewmyclothes #sewingteacher #sewover50 #isew #isewmyownclothes #sewsewsew 

Thursday 21 May 2020

Make some super smart Stay At Home wear


Let's make some lovely staying at home clothes to wear 


Maybe like me you never thought about what to wear when staying indoors for long periods of time. I know some people are wearing PJs but really I think it is better for morale to make a clear distinction between day and night. If you are wearing something which you feel good in and which is comfortable you will feel more " normal"

These are some items I have made for myself to wear and I am really happy with them.


I made a pair of trousers in a stretch fabric (another pair is cut out ready to sew)
The top I am wearing is a piece of jersey with a silver sparkle running through it.
The front top I am holding is made from the same fabric as the trousers with the addition of a scrap of fabric taken from a t-shirt I never liked.



The top on the left is made from a more cuddly knit fabric and it has a cowl neckline.



Tuesday 25 October 2016

Using an Overlocking foot on your regular sewing machine .Making warm jersey tops.

A review for Jaycotts.co.uk 

Do you have an overlocker? They are great and I would not be without mine, I love owning one, but sometimes it seems too much hassle to re-thread it when you only want to overlock one thing, or you do not want to go out and buy overlock threads in a colour you will not use again.
What is the answer?  I recently made this stretch jersey top using just my sewing machine with an overlock foot. I have to say it was no trouble at all to switch feet and choose a different  stitch in fact it was quick and enjoyable.



I found a piece of this unusual burnout fabric at Abakhan Fabrics. It is a soft feel stretch jersey, there was just enough to make a top.