[Lightning McStitch]

Pattern busting time. I made an Ice Cream dress and managed to get completely muddled attaching the neck lining/outer at the back. It worked in the end but not the way Liesl intended and not quite as neatly as it should have done. I’ve got View A cut out and ready to go so a focussed re-read of the instructions and I’ll see if I can get it right next time…

[Nicole]

I am making a Tea Party dress for Liddy,love this pattern!

McStitch,is this any help? http://fiveandcounting-motherof5.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/ice-cream-with-some-body.html

[Mama_Knowles]

I do love this pattern too Nicole!

I am still working on pj’s, slowly. Yesterday I had to bake 48 cupcakes, one birthday cake and 20 cookies all that have a Ninjogo theme so I didn’t finish as I was to last night. I have all two tops done and almost done with the third op all I need to do is finish G’s pants today for his birthday. Lucky me the pants are quick to sew!

[DianaH158]

Finally back to sewing last night although it almost didn’t happen. I took a break, of course with the holidays, then hubby got a virus/cold and chose to recuperate in the bonus room where my sewing is set up so that caused a few more days delay. Last night I was ready to go finish the PJs started before the holidays when I came down with a terrible headache! Thankfully, it was short lived and I managed an hour of sewing time.

Once I finish Lillian’s pj’s I am hoping to make a sketchbook shirt for Henry before getting into some pattern busting of my own – so many to do plus I just ordered two more and two Celver Charlotte’s (trying them for the firsat time)! Whew!

How do you all manage to reconcile your plans with what you actually accomplish??

Diana

[avashmava]

I always come here when I need inspiration to work on my project list–your accomplishments are so encouraging!

I do not thoroughly enjoy the fabric cutting process, so I am cutting as much as I can today in an effort to just be able to “play” for the next few weeks.

I am cutting:

3 pair of Sleepover PJ bottoms, sizes 8, 10, and 12

2 short sleeve Field Trip Raglan Shirts, sizes 8 and 10

a Valentine color block Ice Cream Dress, size 12

a School Photo dress, size 12

a Jump Rope Dress, size 12

2 pair of Field Trip Cargo Pants, sizes 8 and 10

I am waiting for several more patterns to come in the mail (yay!) and will cut more when those arrive. I also need to print, tape, cut the School Days Coat pattern so it will be ready when I find the right fabric.

I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m newish to sewing clothing (I’m a quilter) and am SO.SLOW. at cutting out the fabric! I have used both the freezer paper method and the pinning method. I also use a rotary cutter as much as possible, but going very slow so I don’t botch it all. I’m just slow. This is nothing like just zipping through strips for quilting. I suppose I’m just used to being able to go faster.

Anyone have any tips to share in speeding up this process? I would greatly appreciate any ideas. I think this is the sole reason I do not enjoy cutting.

[Maggie]

I’m also a quilter new to sewing clothes, so maybe the more experienced sewers will have other ideas. I only use a rotary cutter. (Except for cutting notches and such.) For tighter curves and smaller pieces, I switch to my small rotary cutter. I find it gives me more control.

Do you have a big area to cut? I like getting out the giant cutting mat so there is room to spread out.

[Mama_Knowles]

avashmava I find cutting to always take me longer than the sewing. After a few times of cutting out the same pattern though it seems to get quicker. Good luck!

[avashmava]

Thank you, Maggie and MamaKnowles. I have a 24 x 36 mat that I cut with on the dinner table and do have both a regular size and small size rotary cutter that I switch between. I also use my ruler to zip through any straight edges I can find. I even cut through 4 layers of fabric if I’m cutting the same size same pattern twice!

I still keep thinking that I’m surely doing something wrong. I’m waiting for that, “Doh!” moment when I realize what it is! Lol!

[Tamara]

I use a rotary cutter because 1, it gives a nice straight edge and the fabric doesn’t fray as much. 2, I feel it helps me get the cutting out done a lot quicker – the most time consuming bit for me is laying out the pattern. 3, being left handed I am continually finding it harder and harder to get decent scissors that won’t hurt as I cut – they aren’t truly lefty scissors if they do that and now that I am so used to the rotary cutter I don’t think I’ll be returning any time soon. 4, the scissor in our house go “walkabout” a lot so the kids know my rotary cutter is off limits we both win! You just need to be careful when cutting the notches and maybe keep a pair on side for that purpose only. I have had cases where I cut well past the seam line and I’ve had to start again because of it.

T shirts today …. School holiday sewing is hard!

[DianaH158]

So glad to know I’m not the only one who dreads the cutting. Justsewit – I am a lefty too and agree some of those scissor really do hurt! I also tend to procrastinate the begnnings of a pattern – the fidly bits where you need to add interfacing or press a fold… once I get past it I find I am so much more into whatever project I’m doing!

Made some good headway on the PJ’s this afternoon. It feels good to be back at it!

[Tamara]

Have you tried doing all your interfacing bits in one go Diana? This is what I do and it saves having to get the interfacing out with each garment. I cut what I need for all the items I’ve cut in one go and take them all to be pressed then put them back in their respective piles. That way I know they are done and ready to go. I have done the “as you go” method but this is where I also procrastinate and it ends up that it takes ten times longer to make the garment that way.

Try it and see if it works for you.

Tamara

[with love Heidi]

I’m with you on the cutting out. When I made hte last 4 Harry potter robes I cut them all out in one day, and sewed them ove the next two. But it was the cutting that i found the hardest and least inspiring. I find it helps me to cut one garment or two and sew those before I begin the next one, it also cuts down on the unfinished project guilt. I also tend to interface all thepieces when I get to the first piece that needs interfacing as that way I often get a little bit of sewing before i stop to do interfacing.

I made a set of wings with fabric feathers yesterday for my playgroup, so it counted as work! So i get to spend a few work hours today fiishing them.

[Nicole]

I really don’t mind it.

I use a special wash powder and softener for prewashing my fabric so it smells lovely. I usually put a CD on and just work along. I take a lot of care when cutting.

I probably don’t enjoy drafting as much…..

Thoroughly enjoying sewing a Tea Party dress.

Next is a Fairy Tale for Zara or a Traveller shirt for me.

[DianaH158]

Tamara, sometimes I remember to do them all in one go but it still leads me to procrastination because I forget to cut them out when I cut the fabric and I dislike cutting! I admit I typically only cut one or two projects at a time so I am going to try to cut a few out before sewing like you all do – maybe that will help too!

Nicole, I agree the tea party dress is such fun to sew. Which reminds me I want to make one for a friend who just had a baby girl – add it to the list!

[avashmava]

Thanks for your replies! I’m finding I can cut faster with scissors if I pin like crazy–which I also don’t like! Years of sewing straight seams on small pieces eliminated the necessity of pinning. Oh well, I just bought some nice, fine pins that make the process easier, so I shouldn’t complain!

I was wondering if any of you have nice dress makers shears? I have some Fiskars that are sharp and angled, but wonder if “real” shears would have a better angle or are easier to use? Maybe I should start a different thread with all my questions!

Anyway, I have gotten 7 of my 10 items cut out and think I can finish and start sewing pj bottoms before bed!