Top Tips For Cutting Out

Cutting out before starting sewing is one thing that has people divided. Some love it some hate it. I'm not sure which category I end up in. Sometimes I love the process of playing pattern tetris and sometimes when the fabrics off grain for its been cut wonky I just want to scream.

But I've put together a few top tips for when It comes to cutting out your patterns to hopefully make it less painful! And then you can get onto the really important business of sewing. 

1. Use a flat surface. For woven fabrics you can hang your fabric over the end of the table but for stretch fabrics are fine slippery fabrics your best cutting it out with no fabric hanging down so it doesn't distort. I personally use the living room floor. [In fact one of the things I checked when we got our new sofa was that I would still have enough room to cut out patterns on the floor!!!]

2. Use sharp scissors. As someone who's pretty thrifty with money I actually kind of hate this one. But its true a good pair of scissors will make your cutting out experience 100% more enjoyable. Now this doesn't mean you have to spend upwards of £50 both of my favourite pairs of scissors were under £25. One pair were under a tenner and the others were £25 but also came with a small pair of scissors and a thimble. I personally would buy the best you can afford and make sure you keep them in good nick by only using them for sewing and not for cutting paper or god forbid sellotape.......

3. Use sharp pins! I know I know it seems like I'm just trying to convince you to buy stuff but sharp pins are your best friends. Bin any that get blunt or bent and replace them when needed. 

4. Use pattern weights for fabrics that move or knits. Some fabrics just don't like having a patterned pinned too them. So I use pattern weight, I personally have these donut ones but I believe the lady is no longer making them. You can also use metal washers from your local DIY shop or big stones from the beech or even tins of beans etc. Basically anything heavy and flat with do. [we used to have some great coasters that I used that had felt on the bottom which stopped them shifting around. 

5. Iron your pattern pieces. This was actually suggested to me by a lady I know and I haven't looked back since. Its especially useful for accuracy especially if you stuff your patterns back into the envelopes like I do!!! 

6. Keep a fabric marker/chalk handy for marking dots, darts and cut lines. BUT make sure you can remove it from your fabric afterwards!!!

7. Clip notches [little triangles] as soon as you've cut out the pieces so you don't forget. I am so guilty of forgetting to clip my notches and then sitting and trying to work out how things go together! Clip them straight away and then everything should go together smoothly.

8. Be mindful of pattern placement. I'm not talking perfect pattern matching here because half the time I'm winging that I'm talking about making sure that you don't end up with embarrassing placement on your boobs or foof areas. For example you wouldn't want to make a polka dot dress and have a large circle over each nipple would you???? Just something to bear in mind!!! 

And that's all of my suggestions. How do you make pattern cutting more fun!!! 

Much Love 

Frankie 

xxx

7 Tips For taking Blog Photos

It does occur to me that I should have written this post for me made may when everyone was taking 100million selfies a day for instagram but hey ho! 

Personally I hate having my picture taken, I'm very awkward in front of a camera and have a pretty gawky smile. I especially hate candid pictures where people take them and I don't know because 60% of the time I'm talking and the other 40% I'm eating and neither of those things are flattering in picture form. 

But writing this blog and uploading to instagram has meant that I've had to get over my fear pretty quickly. So here's some of the tips I use to help me take pictures that I don't fell like deleting straight after!

1. Use Natural Light

I don't know what kind of magic it has behind it. But natural light is your best friend, we're not talking sunshine here just regular day time light preferably without a cloud in the sky! Even for bog standard selfies natural light can really help.

2. Have Someone Take It/ Don't 

This is completely up to you, but for me I hate having other people take my picture because Its too off putting so I do it myself. However I know a lot of bloggers who prefer to have a family member or friend take their pictures because they think it puts them at ease. 

3. Use a Tripod

I use a tripod because I take my own photos so Its an easy way of getting the camera at the right height. But even if a friends taking them for you a tripod can be useful to make sure the image doesn't blur so it comes out pin sharp. I got mine as an aldi special buy [but they also have cheap ones on amazon] and and the base plate is standard so it fits both of my cameras and I got a mount for my phone too.

4. Remote Control shutter

I have two of these now, a posh one that I use with my slr and a small one that will link to basically any phone or digital camera in the world and they are invaluable! Not only do I use them for my blog photos so I can take them by myself, but I also set up the camera on the tripod and the remote control at Christmas/birthdays. Basically I set up the camera in a corner of the room where it can see all three of us and then every now and again I'll click the remote to take a picture. Which means we get nice candid shots of us all opening our presents without one of us having to be behind the camera! 

5. Use Props

Sometimes just having something to hold in your hands can make you feel 100% more comfortable infront of the camera. And if your don't have a prop try placing one hand on your hip or waist.

6. Play Music

I always play music when I take pictures. I put on one of my favourite songs and try and move around a bit whilst clicking. Yes I get a lot of unusable shots but I also get some really nice ones. Plus its always nice to have a bit of a dance isn't it?

7. Put your weight on one foot

This is some advice my wedding photographer gave me on the big day. Putting your weight on one foot can instantly make your look thinner and more relaxed , You can also try holding your body on a slight angle rather than straight on because that's more flattering as well! 

Good Luck and happy picture taking!!! 

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx

Top Tips For Sewing For Others

I don't typically sew for other people. Mainly because I'm selfish, I don't get the same amount of joy making something for someone else as I do making it for myself. 

Which is a bit awkward really especially when people are like 

"Oh I like your dress!!!"

"Why thank you I made it myself!"

"Oh that's great! Will you make me one?"

"No"

"I'll pay you? I'll buy the fabric?"

"No"

In fact the only person I sew from scratch for is my mum and I've only ever done it twice [I'm not counting the various knitting and embroidery things I've done this is strictly clothes sewing!]. As I said I don't really like doing it but she has this whole carrying me for 9 months and being cut open thing over me.....Plus I used one as a gift when I had no other ideas! 

So here's some top tips if your entering the black hole of sewing for others!

1 - Be Clear!

Explain your own personal limitations, let them know how long you've been sewing, if your not confident with buttonholes let them know! That way no one is disappointed!

2 - Talk about the Design!

Then talk about it some more, then draw a picture, then talk about it some more! Iron out every detail of the design from where the zips going to how the inside will be finished! Make detailed notes and discuss every future change!

3 - Measure Accurately!

I find it helps to talk to someone as you measure them, you can't breathe in it your chatting. Make sure you take all the measurements, Do the under bust and the full bust, measure the circumference of the tops of their arms and how long their waist is, AND don't forget to measure how long a skirt needs to be on them! They might be a lot taller than you!! It also helps if you can measure them whilst they have on underwear they are planning on wearing, remember a decent bra can add an extra inch to a bust [two if its one of those wonder ones!!!] and a pair of spanx can help you loose an inch!   

4 - Make a Toile and Fit It!

Possible the most boring part of any dressmaking process but sadly a necessary one! A toile can give you a rough idea of how a garment will look and help you change any big fit or detail issues! For example when making the goodwood dress it became apparent during the toile stage that gathers under the bust were a lot more flattering than darts on my mum!

And if your in any doubt make a second toile! 

5- Approve all Fabric and Trims!

In fact better yet go shopping with them to buy them! [and pick yourself up a lil summin summin!] Bear in mind they might not know sewing like you do so to them a "cotton" might mean the stuff their husbands work shirts are made of rather than some of the beautiful cotton lawns that are around!

6 - Discuss your time frame and what payment is being received!

Okay so you might not be receiving actual money, but it's always nice if someone says thank you or appreciates what you do! I'm very lucky my mum actually paid me to make  her the check shirt and the dress was a gift, but mainly I just like it when someone wears and appreciates the thing I slaved over! Also let them know how long its actually going to take you!

7 - Be neat!

Remember its not just you whose going to be seeing the inside so make sure you finish your seams nicely and cut every stray thread! 

8 - Give it a Final Press!

Remember a good press can hide a multitude of sins, but a bad one can highlight a lot more! 

So do you make clothes for other people?

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Top Tips For English Paper Piecing

I know I know. Really I should be blogging my next instalment of the #ettaquiltproject but I've been really off my game recently what with Rikki being off so much and the passing of my friend [I really want to write a whole post about him but 1. I can't start writing it without crying and 2. I'm not sure you guys would want to read it? Maybe I'll just write it for me when I'm ready and you guys can skip it if you want]

Anyhoo with the #ettaquiltproject I'm pretty sure the only person playing along is my big sis so I figured I'd slow down the pace a bit because she doesn't have a lot of time to sew! 

But here's some English paper piecing tips of you are looking to start or your finding it hard! 

1. Use Card [cereal packet / Xmas cards] as your templates instead of using paper. Its a lot more durable so you get more wear out of them and they are easier to fold fabric over accurately so you end up with neater corners etc.

2. Use bulldog clips. This is one I recently discovered, I used to use pins but I just kept stabbing myself as I tried to tack bulldog clips are a much easier and safer way!

3. Woven Fabrics. I'm not saying you need to go all out and buy expensive quilting cottons I mean after all these quilts were typically made out of scraps and old clothes. But using a woven fabric over a stretch fabric is definitely the way to go.

4. Use at least 1cm seam allowance. Believe it or not but too much seam allowance can actually make piecing more of a faff! a 1cm seam allowance gives you enough to work with without swamping you in fabric. 

5. Use different colored threads for tacking and sewing! Mainly this just makes it easier to remove your tacking stitches because you just remove all the ******* coloured threads!

6. Good lighting. Did anyone else Mum used to tell them off for doing things in the dark and tell them they'd go blind? Just mine? Okay.... But in all seriousness threading a needle in poor lighting is enough to have you reaching for the wine, threading it in good light is a more more pleasant experience but you'll probably still want the wine!

7. And speaking of needles! Keep them sharp! For both tacking and piecing, the whole process is just a lot quicker with a sharp needle!

8. Make a vague plan. Think about what sort of style you want? Will it be scrappy? Are you doing a pattern repeat? Do you want to use a colour story? A lil bit of planning in the short term can save a lot of aggro in the long term!

9. Buy extra fabric! Not because your going to mess up [although that might happen] But because your going to love and cherish your quilt and hopefully use it lots which means holes or stains may happen and its always useful to have some extra fabric for repair work! 

10. Try and use plastic template for making your card templates. Basically I make my templates I draw around 1 "master" shape. In theory this means that every single card template will be the same size, however if you use a card template as your master the repeated drawing can actually make the sides wear down and you end up with a smaller template! I tend to use either plastic templates or metal ones! 

11. Iron fabric before cutting out. Mainly this just helps you to be more accurate and to limit fabric waste. Its also a huge help if your using recycled clothes to make your quilt. And be sure to iron your finished blocks so they sit flat! 

Hope these help! Do you have any top EPP tips?

Much Love 

Frankie 

xxx

600th Blog post and a Top Tip

This is my 600th blog post... I have written 600 posts. To be perfectly honest if you'd have told me at 13 that I'd spend a good portion of my time writing about sewing I;d have said you were crackers! Oddly enough though my year 7 English teacher told me I was going to be a writer, apparently I had a certain "tone". Which is weird because I wouldn't call myself a writer although 600 blog post might say otherwise! So good call Miss Misra! good call! [she also said I was hilarious, which I knew was true at the time] 

  So yeah 600 posts, I don;t which surprises me more the fact that I;m at that number or the fact that you guys actually read them! YOU GUYS DA BEST! I hope your enjoying my ramblings about sewing and knitting and life, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon!

So anyway here's a top sewing organisation tip!

People who don't sew see scissors and think " well these are scissors, they are for cutting" and no matter how many times you explain to them that actually, NO these are just for fabric they don;t seem to get it. 

I've tried everything to get my husband to understand, 

I tired telling him to use the kitchen scissors.... But he doesn't know what the kitchen scissors look like.

I tried telling him to only use the scissors with ribbon on the handle..... But he pointed out that my embroidery scissors are on a piece of ribbon so I can wear them around my neck.

I tried allocating him a pair of scissors...... But he misplaced them.

I tried waving them in his face and saying these are the ones you can use, If you use my fabric scissors I'll cut you...... But apparently that was a touch aggressive!

This way is foolproof. I got a CD marker [although a sharpie would do] and wrote on every pair of scissors in the house what they are for. I kept it simple, fabric or paper. He can use the paper scissors for whatever his little heart desires, wires, card, wrapping paper, gaffer tape, murder..... But if I ever catch him with a pair of scissors with fabric written on the blade I will bury him under the patio. 

In fact its extra foolproof because I wrote on each leg? [are they legs? are they blades?] of the scissors so no matter which side he looks at its there staring at him!

All in all it took me about ten minutes to write on every pair of scissors in the house. Probably because they were all in one place. [one of the perks of having a small child is you know exactly where all of your sharp objects are at any given time!] 

foolproof [insert smug face]

Now shall we take bets on how long till he forgets to *read* the scissors?

Much Love 

and Thank You so much to all of you for reading my blog. It means a lot guys!

Hugs

Frankie 

xxx

Top Tips For Learning to Sew

Okay so I thought it might be nice to put together a list of top tips for learning to sew in case any beginners stumble upon my blog! [and feel free to add your own tips in the comments!]

1. Get yourself a sewing machine - Or even better borrow one from a friend or family member. That way if it turns out you hate sewing then you haven't forked your hard earned cash out. However if you do decided to buy make sure you do your research and see if you can try before you buy.

2. Find yourself a sewing book - I recommend "Love at first stitch" by Tilly and the buttons Its go some very simple projects in it and it covers everything from zips to buttonholes in great detail. Its very hand holdy but I think that's what you need when your learning a new skill! Just be sure to try something a bit harder when you've finished it.

3. Get some fabric, don't spend a fortune but get something you actually like, look at what the pattern recommendations. Also remember you don't have to go to a fabric shop although it is fun!!!! you can also use fun bedding sets as fabric! and its super cheap too!

4. Read the pattern instructions one before you start sewing! That way you can google anything you don't understand!

5. Make sure you measure yourself properly! In fact try and get someone else to measure you, remember not to breathe in and don't focus on the numbers on the tape measure! When you sew for yourself the only size you are is SASSY!

6. Take your time, double check everything! Your cutting out, Your pinning! Where your going to be sewing. Then when you finally sit down at your machine go SLOWLY.  

7. Keep checking the fit. It's perfectly acceptable to sit and sew in your pants you know [just be sure to draw your curtains.

8. Be prepared to unpick, everyone makes mistakes!

9. Make sewing friends, whether you join a local group or just follow some people in instagram or join a Facebook group, these people can offer you advice and help you venture into the world of sewing!

Anyway I hope the beginners out there found it helpful! 

and if you have your own tips I;d love to read them!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

How to store Multi Patterns!

Omg its been a week since my last post. I'm basically the boy at the disco who spends the whole night snogging your face off and then ignores you for the next month. 

All I can say is I've been busy! The wedding has gone from being a long time away "we've got loads of time" to being less than 10 days away!!!! I'm feeling pretty calm though, everything is getting done and I just can't wait now! Saying that I'm sure I'll be a mess on the actual day!!!

Anyway! I have managed to get some sewing done this week, and some cutting out and I have big plans to film a vlog tomorrow! But today I thought I'd share how I store multi patterns!

Multi patterns are a wonderful thing, all the promise of a coordinating wardrobe in one tidy pattern pack. Tidy of course until you've cut the tissue pattern and your trying to get them back into the packet! Then Its like a explosion in a tissue factory!

This is the easiest way I've found of keeping everything tidy. Make each "garment" a separate packet by folding a sheet of a4 in half and sellotaping up the sides! I find with most standard sized pattern packets that the a4 packets fit quite nicely!

and then if your super organised you can label whats in each pattern and what size you've cut!

No more spending ages searching through packets trying to find the right pieces for what you want to make!

Its as easy as that!!

In other news!

Lil man is well and truly settled at school and had his first school birthday party on Saturday! We both had a lovely time!

I'm getting a sore throat which is making me grumpy as sin!

I've started packing for Las Vegas! [VEGAS BABY!] and I'm planning on doing a lil video on what I'm taking. 

Hopefully I can get back into the swing of blogging regularly again!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Top Tips For Sewing with the Big Four Pattern Companies!

There's something about the big four pattern companies that strikes fear in the hearts of many sewers! I'm not incredibly sure why? I think maybe because so much of the old style of learning to sew has been lost now that people find the lack of instructions and sizing to be a huge problem with the patterns. The internet says that the big four are Simplicity, Vogue, Butterrick and McCalls, but I think you can also include Burda and Newlook in there!

Anyway I quite like them, Yes they put stupid amounts of ease in and the instructions are crappy to say the least but! They have pretty much every style known to man , they don't need tracing and they are pretty cheap compared to most indie patterns!

So here's my top tips for having a pain free sewing experience with the BIG FOUR sewing pattern companies! 

1. Measure yourself, Be accurate, be honest! Wear the pants your planning to wear and don't breathe in!!!!

2. Find your pattern size on the chart, check whether that's a finished garment measurement or not. 

3. Now measure the pattern pieces that correspond to your size [before you've cut them out] does that correspond with other patterns you've made that fit you well? 

4. Google it. We live in an era of having information at our finger tips, and there are so many sewing bloggers out there that if you google your pattern name and number there's a huge chance that someone out there has already made it and encountered any issues the pattern might have. Seriously technology is AWESOME!!!!!  

5. Toile the pattern, Yes I know its basically a boring waste of precious sewing time but its worth it!!!!!

6. Apply your own sewing knowledge! Repeat after me "I am a strong independent sewing bad ass!!! I know what I am doing" The blunt truth is indie patterns do a lot of hand holding! But trust me you can do this! Stay stitch your necklines, apply interfacing even if the pattern doesn't ask you to, BASTE!!!! You know this stuff!!!!

7. Read the instructions, read the envelope, read the paper that the instructions come one, read the tissue pattern. You've read it? Read it again, then once more with feeling. Whilst Indie pattern companies hold your hand , the big four assume you don't have hands. The information is their but its all mashed up and all over the place!

8. Ask for help! There is a huge sewing community on Facebook, Instagram and twitter! Ask your question, hashtag to your hearts content and watch the lovely sewing folks come to your rescue!

9. Keep everything together, yes the envelope is the size of a postage stamp and the tissue pattern feels like trying to fit a double duvet into a teabag but do your best, or alternatively stick it all in a bigger envelope! Just make sure you keep the instructions!!!!

10. Finish your make bask in your own glory and get searing for your next pattern! Seriously guys, the big four have covered every single shape, style and silhouette you can imagine! If you want to make it they have a pattern for it!!!

So what are your top tips for sewing with the big for?

Frankie

xxx 

  

10 Tips for Easy Fabric Shopping

We've all been there, stood in a fabric shop, money clasped in our sweaty palms, thinking "I MUST BUY ALL THE FABRICS!" and feeling completely overwhelmed.

So heres my comprehensive guide to making sure you walk away with things you'll love and use!

1 = Take a list. I find its a good idea to have a pattern stash peruse, see what you'd like to make and come up with a list of fabrics to buy and the quantities. Then when your fabric shopping. feeling overwhelmed and wondering if you actually need 4 metres of cat print Spandex. you can calm yourself down and get something you actually need.

 2= Abandon the list. [I know I'm a contradictory little devil aren't I?] Sometimes you have to stop looking at the list and just start looking for fun things! See if you can think of something to make from them and if you can't just get 2/3 metres and put it away for a rainy day. You never know the next pattern you buy might be perfect for that fabric.

3 = Check out the bargain bins. There are some real gems in there. Just remember to take a good look for fabric flaws and discolouration.

4 = Do a colour test. Fabric shopping is just like clothes shopping. Some things just won't suit your skin tone! I suggest taking a mirror so you can see if they wash you out or taking numerous selfies on your phone.  

5 = Ask if your not sure. Fabric shop staff are usually hugely knowledgeable about the fabrics they stock and are option keen sewers themselves. Can't find something you want? ask. Not sure if the fabrics right for the pattern? ask! Remember there are no stupid questions!

6 = Keep a running total! and Check prices. Unless your a rockerfella of some kind then your going to have a budget of sorts in mind whether its large or small. Keeping an eye on prices and adding as you go can save embarrassment at the till! Nobody wants to have 3 metres of beautiful lace cut only to find its £200 per metre! and before anybody says that fabrics never that expensive! here's some!   

7 = Dress sensibly. Comfy shoes are a must ! But I also recommend an across the body handbag so you have both hands free for looking at fabric! And remember your bags for life!!!!! 

8 = Eat and Drink! staying hydrated is the key for any shopping trip, but remember not to eat or drink in store in case you spill or get crumbs everywhere! 

9 = take pictures of what you like. Someone once told me that when your online shopping you should delete everything you want from your basket before checkout and then re-add them. Then you end up with the things the REALLY want! I personally find it easier to take pictures though! that way you know which print to liked before you take it to get cut.

10 = Take a friend and have fun! Fabric shopping is the best fun in the entire world, why not share it with a friend, that way you can giggle over the naked men prints! They do exist! and they can help you carry bolts to the cutting tables , an extra pair of muscles goes a long way. 

  

What are your fabric shopping tips?

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx

Tips For Better Sewing!

1- Measure twice cut once. This was drilled into me by my textiles teacher! If in doubt don't cut.

2- SLOW DOWN! Sometimes the best way to keep your stitching neat is to slow it right down, on some machines you can turn down the speed or on tricky bits you can can turn the wheel by hand.

3 - Use the right pins, Buying cheap pins means your left with one thing, cheap pins. Which can be thick and bulky and leave holes in your fabric. For really expensive fabrics like silk invest in silk pins! For fabrics that can be marked by pins like leather use quilting clips or paper clips.

4- Learn to fit properly. Fit can make a huge difference in something looking okay and something looking amazing! Their are hundreds of tutorials on-line which should help you find out what alterations you need to make for your body type.

5- Read the instructions. I know this sounds obviously but actually read them, and then read them again, and keep checking them! This isn't flat pack people the instructions might actually be helpful! 

6- Don't sew when your tired/or after 3 glasses of wine, you'll make mistakes. Although after 3 glasses of wine those mistakes are 100% more hilarious, after 4 they are tear inducing though!

7- Challenge yourself, You won't improve if your don't push yourself and take risks.

8- Read your sewing machine Manual, Yeah its probably more dull than the phone book but it could really help your learn some of the amazing things your machine can do! You never know it might be able to do something you never even thought of!

9- Iron, Iron, Iron , It's surprising what a difference ironing everything out is, but it really does improve the look of a finished garment! 

10- If in doubt tacking, after doing two lessons on tacking at high school I hate it with a passion, but sometimes for a really great finish its worth the extra time and effort! 

11- Regularly measure yourself, mainly to make sure your garments fit but also because your body can change a lot due to stress, holidays etc. I like to measure myself before every project so I don't get any nasty surprises.

12- Take a course! So many places are offering sewing courses now, abakhans do workshops, sew over it has courses where you can actually come away with a garment and it all else fails and you don't feel like leaving the house craftsy so courses on-line [jammies not compulsory!]

13- Clean your sewing machine, clean sewing machines sew better, nuff said, mike drop.

14- Apply buttons properly, yes using the shank method and the match stick and stuff! Its long and it boring but it saves you sewing them on again in a few weeks time!

15- Keep beverages away from fabric, Yes everyone loves a brew as their sewing! but no one likes tea stains on their new garment! Be aware of where you brew is!

16- Always Prewash! I can't stress this enough, prewashing saves so much heartache in the long run! DO IT ! 

What are your sewing tips?

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

10 Ways To Get Your Sew-Jo Back

We've all been there, sat with a pile of fabric, oodles of time but no inspiration, so here's 10 ways to get your sew-jo back!

1; Don't sew, relax, take a bath, watch movies, binge watch an entire series in your jammies. Just get your chill on.

2; Organise your stash/tidy up! Making things is messy and a lot of the time tidying means we loose some of our favourite sewing patterns and fabrics! Have a good sort through and you might find some hidden gems in your own stash!

3; Find inspiration!! Go outside! visit a gallery, look at what's in the shops and see what catches your eye! 

4; Find inspiration! Stay inside! Look at pinterest, Instagram, Re-read old blogs you love, Find new blogs to add to your reading list! Visit the fold line, see what's happening in the on-line sewing community!

5; Go fabric shopping, challenge yourself to try something new, a print, or a fabric. Buy something you normally wouldn't and see what happens! You might just love it!

6; Swap with a friend! Find a sewing buddy and swap fabrics and patterns your bored with. You know what they say, ones man's trash is another man's treasure!

7; Practise techniques, make a list of things your scared of, and practise doing them on scrap fabrics! You'll something new and you'll wonder why you avoided doing them for so long! Concealed zips, Welt pockets, rolled hems the list is endless! 

8; Make something easy, pick your favourite pattern and fabric and just zone out and do what you do best, blow those cobwebs away! 

9; Shop your patterns, Print off pdfs you've brought but never used and look at the ones that came free with magazines you might find some real gems!!

10; clean your sewing machine, if all else fails cleaning your machine means its in tip top condition for when your back in your groove! Plus it keeps your machine healthy!

Do you have any tips on getting your sewjo back? Let me know in the comments!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Sewing On a Budget

Sewing is expensive, Yep I've said it. Contrary to popular belief sewing is not a cheap hobby. It used to be don't get me wrong, when our grandmas were doing it, it was cheaper much cheaper... but now? Now its one of the most expensive addictions you can have, yes I said addictions, just like alcohol or heroin, only sewing's a lot healthier and a lot more addictive.

As someone with a family and bills and all the other junk that comes along with having adult responsibilities I don't have a fortune to spend on sewing. In fact I don't even have a budget. 

So here's my top tips for sewing with a small/non existent budget:

1. Embrace sewing-

Shout it from the dammed rooftops!!!! "I sew talk to me about sewing! Tell me your wisdom! Keep me in mind if your having a clear out!" I can't tell you how many times I've received sewing stuff just because people know that I sew, I've had buttons from neighbours, curtains from my mother in law, and I've had two! count them TWO! bolts of fabric given to me! Just because people thought, oh Frankie sews she might like that.

This dress was made using fabric given to me for free by a friend, and the buttons are from ine of my mums neighbours!

2. Embrace home wares-

Have you ever actually considered how much fabric is in a duvet set? or say in curtains? And how awesome some of the prints are? And how cheap they can be? Charity shops have hoards of duvets and curtains going for a pittance and if your just starting out its a hell of a lot cheaper than buying fabric. 

This pinafore was made from my mother in laws curtains, and I've already got my eye on the curtains in my mothers living room, just as soon as she gets around to redecorating. I've even told my brother to keep me in mind for when he decorates his kids rooms, I mean who doesn't want a dalmatian print dress?

3. With regards to getting a machine-

Ask around, you would be surprised how many people have one sat in a corner. One of my machines came from my partners aunty, she moved house and decided she didn't need it and i got it! Its a fantastic machine! I mean seriously its great! and if nobody you know has one for lends or keeps then you can get some great deals at places like lidl and aldi. My first machine was from aldi and boy it was loud but it got the job done! And now my sister has it. Its the circle of sewing machine life.

4. Harvest your clothes - 

Sewing is about so much more than just having fabric, you need buttons and zips and ribbon and lace and all kinds of crap! You know where you can find these things for free? on old clothes that your going to bin. Buttons on shirts, ribbons in clothes, patches, ZIPS! I always unpick zips off clothes even the short stumpy ones in jeans! There is a whole haberdashery waiting t be found in your throw away pile you just need some patience and a good seam ripper! although its quicker to remove buttons with a sharp knife! 

5. Harvest your clothes some more!

This time for fabric! you can either re cut the pieces or you can refashion them! You'd be surprised how much fabric is in clothes, things like maxi dresses and sarongs are my favourites to use as fabric because there's loads of fabric! but I've also made corsets from jeans and this dress which was completely free!

corset material - off cut from my bridesmaid dress - free

skirt material - bedsheets that mother in law didn't want - free

slip - [not handmade but second hand]

back zip - removed from one of my partners old hoodies - free

straps - from an old ann summers bra that I paid a small fortune for - free [and glad I got my monies worth!]

6. Buy the basics-

Sometimes people have an old pair of scissors and often people get rid of thread but there are some pretty decent deals out there too! I love hobbycraft value thread and I've never had any issues with it, the colours are basic but for a pound who's complaining! I also love their value fabric scissors, I live in a house with a idiot male at some point he's going to pick up my scissors and cut paper with them. It is pointless me having an expensive pair! and these are pretty sharp for the price!  

7. Pick your patterns carefully-

I know a lot of people like to hoard patterns but when your on a budget its just not a viable option, especially with patterns coming in at the £8.00 mark.  Instead I love books that come with patterns like the two gbsb books or love at first stitch. I tend to think if you have a few basic patterns you very rarely need anything else. my most used patterns are the lilou bodice block, my princess seam bodice block, my cropped jacket and my pencil skirt pattern. I very rarely use a pattern at all for full skirted looks instead I just mark dimensions on the fabric. It can even be used for copying ready to wear outfits, just make a note of all the features like pleats, pockets and what the bodice is like and you wont need a whole new pattern. And there's a whole load of free patterns online! literally just a click away! Aswell as the awesome patterns that sometimes come free with magazines and online magazines! 

8. Embrace Polycotton

Polycotton is one of the cheapest fabrics around and it gets a bad rep. I personally love! It wears well, It washes well and it irons well! What more could you actually want? 

Its also great for starting out because you don't feel too bad if you make a mistake! Minerva crafts have a fantastic line of polycottons in some great prints! 

9. Buy By weight! 

abakhans have a great buy by weight system in their stores and you can get some real bargains! This dress was brought by weight and its still holding up and in wardrobe rotation it also pushed me to work with a fabric I hadn't tried before.

10. Birthdays and Christmas!

Its a hobby so its perfectly acceptable to ask for vouchers as a birthday or chistmas present, I have a lovely friend who always buys me a hobbycraft voucher for my birthday and my mum always put money aside for me to go fabric shopping with aswell! 

I tend to think you know its a hobby and not just a fad when your willing to have your birthday spends go on it! I once thought I might take up running as a hobby until someone offered to buy me a sports bra for Christmas! eww no thanks I'd rather have fabric! 

Much Love

A very thrifty frankie

xxx