[Nicole]

I have gas hot plates,I use an old butter knife,heat the end until it is glowing and slice the ribbon on an angle.

Use a bread board so that you don’t mark your cupboards tops.

[Lightning McStitch]

Wow that’s what I thought (but remember I’m the one who thought a blog for bishops was referring to the intended audience). I’ll have to hunt out an old knife with a non metal handle.

Thanks

[Nicole]

The handle won’t get hot,the tip is thinner therefore heats quicker.

I use an old knife as the end will go black. Mind you,the Twins do it for me now so as you can imagine I have 1/2 dozen black end butter knives now….

I am still giggling about your Bishop blog.

[wendy]

I use a lighter for ribbon ends. I just quickly run the end through the flame, enough to melt it a wee bit. After a couple of practices it’s easy enough to get a nice, even end.

I like the knife trick, but I’m usually doing so many (big batches of doll clothes) that it would be tedious. I’ve been meaning to try just touching the end to a hot iron. Will do soon.

[with love Heidi]

Justsewit, i love the image of the couch grass, it was always such a pain to get out of the garden beds and would run everywhere! But it was almost unkillable.

Yep, my stash has mad it to the floor and is creeping.

[Masha Richart]

Working on a long-anticipated purple corduroy Jumprope dress (my first of this pattern). Everything is going wrong, however. First, it seems like I did not buy enough for the dress; so I had to shorten the sleeves. Then, after I cut it out in the 2T size, I realized I had neglected to add the necessary 3T length. And now my placket is wonky – the top bit does not fully cover the bottom part. Oh well, I persevere. She’ll wear it anyway (even if I will be a little ashamed to display it on the flickr group).

[Tamara]

Wonky plackets and being too short wouldn’t worry me and inch! It happens to the best of us believe me. I did a wonky tab on my 2+2 top the other day – probably explains why I haven’t uploaded a photo!

I have just had a teaser email come through from Janome regarding their new machines being launched. Someone PLEASE tell me to resist the urge to even THINK of trading up! I have got a GREAT machine that was only launched some two years ago – besides even though I love learning about the new things that come out I CAN’T STAND the temptation it brings!!!

Today I did practically nothing! All these plans put in place and well…. the time went before I got motivated! Nevermind though as whilst waiting for the kids to have piano lessons, I made my ever growing list … grow! Thinking about what I want to put into the kids’ summer wardrobes this year and of course incorporating the things that have already been cut out.

This is the week of cutting out. Friday will be the day of trying to get something resembling swimming gear into action for both kidlets as Tuesday is swimming club enrolment day and they want to join (yay!) I’m really hoping it won’t start at 5.30pm like it did last year and I really hope I get enthusiasm from these two all the way through as last time we tried they gave up two weeks in – they just weren’t ready!

On the sewing side of things though it means that I can sit and stitch while they are (hopefully) being supervised by the supervisors.

So this week (like I said somewhere up above) I’m cutting things out. Friday I’m sewing bathers (swimmers,togs or any other word meaning clothing for the pool or beach) Sunday I am sewing things that I can handstitch during the week and then it is Monday again.

With love Heidi, wouldn’t it be fun if someone made a Youtube video detailing an ever growing stash of fabric resembling couch grass making tracks and taking over the place? Worthy of brightening everyone’s day I’m sure – horror movie for all sewists! Reminds me of the Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horrors! “FEED me Seymour!”

[Mama_Knowles]

Roundtheworldgirl, please do post pictures of your finished dress! I know I am way pickier about my sewing than anyone else. I had some off places on my jump rope dress too but Sweet pea and I still loves it.

Right now I am starting on costumes! (it’s about time seeing Halloween is very close.) Sweet pea’s is first. I am useing the Sail boat pants and tea party dress in a tunic length for the top. She is wanting to be a winter fairy from teh new Tinker bell movie. I am very excited to make this.

[Masha Richart]

Thanks for the encouragement – I will post it. I just am so in awe of so many of the posters here – you all sew lovely things. I am still learning (and these patterns are really helping that process!)

Justsewit … I guess I should tell you to step away from the advertisement? I could say that the money you will save not buying a new machine would buy lots more fabric, but then no one here seems to suffer from a stash shortage 😉

MamaKnowles, can’t wait to see the fairy costume! My older girl is starting to want princess dresses … I have a Belle and a Cinderella in the mental works.

[Lightning McStitch]

I realised after I took the picture of my recent 2+2 that I “luckily” had one of the ties hanging over the spot where there’s an ugly pucker at the side of the tab. How about that for luck?! 🙂

Every garment is worth a picture, whether it’s a wonky placket or a cranky model, we’ve all been there.

Justsewit, I would say buy that new machine then I’ll upgrade to your “old” one! – The exploding fabric stash come to life is too scary to contemplate.

We really don’t get into Halloween over here, and when we do it’s still ghouls and witches, but all this talk of costumes is getting me excited about my Evel Knievel outift. Maybe I’ll make Oct 31 a deadline just for the sake of having one…

[Nicole]

Just button holes and buttons……then I am uniform free-yippee!

[Mama_Knowles]

I know your excited Nicole! I can’t wait to see what you sew next!

Right now I am working on blue frosted leave fairy pants, a.k.a. sail boat pants. So far so good! I am a bit nervus about the bottom hem. I have a plan so I am hoping it works out well. If not plan B.

[with love Heidi]

Yay, Nicole, nearly there!

Roundtheworldgirl, please do put up the dress in to the flicker group! I was just thinking if you are concerned about the length maybe add a band to the bottom or a ruffle? This would give you some extra length and be really cute.

[Masha Richart]

I put the dress on flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23557464@N03/8094453239/). I like it despite its flaws. I thought about adding a ruffle or even just piecing some length to the bottom, but I literally did not have enough of the corduroy left and I didn’t want to introduce a third print/solid. Then I thought about hemming it with the bias trim to make it just a little longer, but in the end decided to give the dress to little sister, whom the 2T fits nicely. She’s wearing it now. If only I could get her to stand still long enough to take a photo!

[Lightning McStitch]

I made a pair of Nature Walk pants today while everyone was napping (unheard of to have such peace at our place so it was lovely). They’re a kind of thin, rib knit and look so cute on P’s little backside.

Tonight I was working on the top but now I’ve realised I forgot to cut a second lining panel, so I’m retiring for the night.

I’m really imagining how these two can attach to each other to make a jumpsuit. I think it could be awesome…