Sew Sisters United #3

[Happy Girl's Mum]

Hello ladies,

Ok, so I haven't done any sewing in 10 years! But I thought I'd ask anyway... Is it hard to make curtains? We have bought the material as MIL said she'd make them for us, however I'm not sure if she is now too keen on it and I'd like to get them done by August (baby #2 due Sep). Will I be way out of my league here? Could anybody tell me how or have some sort of pattern (if they do patterns for curtains). I'm thinking of Pleated in our lounge and "normal" plain straight on the rod for my DD room?

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

TIA.
Rachel.

[theoreticgal]

Mell
lovely job as usual your girls as so lucky
and sometimes I must say I am happy I have boys becasue I think I would never get any other sewing done with all the girly stuff to create.

Hello ladies,

Ok, so I haven't done any sewing in 10 years! But I thought I'd ask anyway... Is it hard to make curtains? We have bought the material as MIL said she'd make them for us, however I'm not sure if she is now too keen on it and I'd like to get them done by August (baby #2 due Sep). Will I be way out of my league here? Could anybody tell me how or have some sort of pattern (if they do patterns for curtains). I'm thinking of Pleated in our lounge and "normal" plain straight on the rod for my DD room?

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

hi Rachael

The ahrdest thing with curtains is dealing with the bulk and weight of the fabric.
make sure the fabric doesn;t drag on the needle as it sews. Sometimes an extra pair of hands is great .
The other trick is to hang the curtains for a week or so before hemming them as they can drop a lot. Remeber to pretreat any fabrics that might require laundering in the future, that is if they are washable wash them to reduce shrinkage. I have heard many times of people washing/drycleaning curtains to have them shrink by 10-20 cms.

I have a curtain to make for the nursery at the moment but it's a roman blind.

Spotight have all the tapes and hardware for the blinds.
here's a link that might help
http://www.alternative-windows.com
also check your local library as they often have books on DIY'ing curtains and soft furnishings.

[Mell]

Thanks Theoreticgal.

Ummmm....did I say that there was a bit of a break for me? I should have known better, straight from one into the next.

We're doing a Tinkerbell costume next, and I get the distinct feeling it won't be a simple "dress ups" type thing either :S

[UniMum]

Mumma Bear - I LOVE that colour for a quilt!!!!!! Where did you get the edging material from???? Would love to make a special blanky like that for bubs!

Mell - WOW that dress is just beautiful - was the material hard to sew??? I am hopeless at such soft material, seems to slip and slide all over the place.

Welcome Rachael!!! I agree with Theoreticgal its the length and bulk that makes curtains tricky.....I started out with short curtains for DD's room and worked up from there. GOOD luck though!!!

Theoreticgal - Thanks for the japanese patterns - SOOOO elegant and simple!!!

Me - haven't been sewing at all - I do have some material and ric rac that I bought on special but haven't a clue what to do with them. The season seem to govern a lot of what I want to sew - given I bought summer fabric I can't think of a single thing to sew....oh well inspiration will hit soon...I hope....

Happy sewing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
xoxo Kath.

[Mumma Bear]

its just ordinary chinese brocade you can get from any fabric store I got that from spotlight about $10 a metre that took half a metre as its only cot size

I feel the same about sewing atm cant get motivated

but I need to make some baby gifts so I am trying to get this fabric

http://www.runawayquiltbook.com.au/c...es=0&lastmenu=

to make some cushions/cot blanket or something for two friends and my SILs bub

I did find a very cute unisex/soft green beatrix potter fabric panel that I might use instead as I already have it so may as well use it
its more pastel boyish but could be cute in a girls room also

BBL

[Happy Girl's Mum]

The ahrdest thing with curtains is dealing with the bulk and weight of the fabric.
make sure the fabric doesn;t drag on the needle as it sews. Sometimes an extra pair of hands is great .
The other trick is to hang the curtains for a week or so before hemming them as they can drop a lot. Remeber to pretreat any fabrics that might require laundering in the future, that is if they are washable wash them to reduce shrinkage. I have heard many times of people washing/drycleaning curtains to have them shrink by 10-20 cms.

I have a curtain to make for the nursery at the moment but it's a roman blind.

Spotight have all the tapes and hardware for the blinds.
here's a link that might help
http://www.alternative-windows.com
also check your local library as they often have books on DIY'ing curtains and soft furnishings.

Thank you!! That's great advice. I actually even had a friend today say that she might be able to help me, so fngers crossed

Thanks again all! Will be popping in here more to see what's been happening.

Rachel.

[Mell]

Good Luck Rachel!

I've never really done any curtains, so can't offer any tips I'm afraid.

Guess who's spent the afternoon at the sewing machine??

I've run up a Hooded pouch pocket jumper out of Dora polar fleece for miss T who is most impressed. I then put together a "gumby"...which is a pair of pants that are extended to the armpits, elasticised at the top and have shoulder straps, again made from polar fleece. The girls seem to have a craze going on these things at ballet atm, and if it's going to keep DD warm, then I'm all for it.

It's the oddest looking thing out, but she loves it!

[theoreticgal]

Good Luck Rachel!

I've never really done any curtains, so can't offer any tips I'm afraid.

Guess who's spent the afternoon at the sewing machine??

I've run up a Hooded pouch pocket jumper out of Dora polar fleece for miss T who is most impressed. I then put together a "gumby"...which is a pair of pants that are extended to the armpits, elasticised at the top and have shoulder straps, again made from polar fleece. The girls seem to have a craze going on these things at ballet atm, and if it's going to keep DD warm, then I'm all for it.

It's the oddest looking thing out, but she loves it!

LOL gotta love a weird trend with a cute name
Gumby indeed
so they are over the bust like an overall


MB knows but though you guys shoudl know too
I got my very hungry caterpillar fabrics from http://www.shop.someartfabric.com/ca...de=Caterpillar
I love eric carle and often buy a book and toy for a 1st birthday present.
( DH once found the caterpillar at my sisters house and hid it in the vegetable crisper then a few days later rang and asked my sister about the grubs in her lettuce giggle)

BTW if anyone sees any dr suess fabric anywhere I would love some

[Mell]

I know....it's funny huh? you should see her right now.....hair in a tight bun, gumby, velour jacket and uggies. Very stylish indeed!

I've had a disaster. I washed the jazz costume, which I've done a number of times before successfully. This time though, for some reason (which I'm putting down to different detergent) the black ran. I'll need to make new leggings, and then replace the sequins on the skirt because the gold has come off of them.

Grrrrrr.....silly me should have known better

[Mumma Bear]

BTW if anyone sees any dr suess fabric anywhere I would love some

will do


post is too short