Simply Stitchy

Hi all, Depending on what machine you have and its age, you may need to oil it to keep it in tip top condition. But how do you know if your machine needs oil and what oil should you use? There is a plethora of oils on the market. Engine oil, gearbox oil, steering box oil, vegetable oil, olive oil, peanut oil, baby oil, caster oil, 3-in-1 oil, light machine oil. There are more but I think you get the picture. Although peanut oil can be used to lubricate cooking machinery, I really wouldn’t recommend using it on your sewing machine. Neither would I recommend using baby oil unless you like your sewing surface super slippy. The point is, each oil has a purpose. It’s designed to lubricate one particular thing. Engine oil lubricates car engines. Vegetable oil can be used to turn raw potato into the crispiest of fries. Olive oil can be drizzled over salads or go on a date with Popeye.  None of these oils can be used for the internal workings of a sewing machi...

Hi all, Like most of us, Eldest has a go-to pair of jeans. It’s the one she reaches for all the time. They’re comfortable, the denim has started to soften and the jeans are worn in. Actually, that should probably read starting to wear out. All is not yet lost though. These jeans can be saved! It's time to get them out of my work basket and get mending. With a little bit of sewing magic wrapped up in a needle and thread, we can stop the wear and tear in it’s tracks. The fabric at the thigh area is starting to lose integrity. It’s not too serious at the moment but, if left will only get worse. There are two ways to patch jeans. On the inside or on the outside. If you go for inside patching, the mend will be less visible. On the outside, whatever you do will be pretty obvious. Which one you choose depends on the nature of the damage and how you want the jeans to look when you’re done. At the moment the wear is surfac...

Hi all,   Well, the snow’s back. We had a bit of a blizzard last night which has left some very impressive snow drifts today. No way was I going out in that so I decided to grab my sewing machine and catch up on some sewing projects. I’ve been concentrating on men’s shirts for so long I’m a bit behind on my stitching list. One of the things I like to do, especially when the weather is cold, is wear layers. Normally, like most folks that means a nice cozy sweater on top of a tee shirt. But, why not jazz it up a bit? I have this black turtle neck that just tends to sit in my closet. I don’t wear it because, well it’s a turtle neck and doesn’t do me any favors. It’s also a little dull and a bit short. I decided to make a top I could wear over the turtle neck. Something to brighten it up a bit. This pattern is Simplicity 2568 from 2009.  Two pinafore or jumper style dresses and a tunic top. The pattern consists of one front piece and two back pieces...

Hi All,  Stitching Simplicity 1544 has been a series of firsts. The first time I’ve sewn a man’s shirt and the first time I’ve pattern matched a busy plaid. Although technically, that should be the first time I've sewn with a busy tartan. Did you know that plaid actually refers to a garment? Originally plaid was the name given to a piece of tartan fabric that wrapped around the body to make a kilt. Since the 1800s, plaid has referred to the part that drapes diagonally across one shoulder in traditional Scottish dress. Credit to Pixabay.com/DerekMuller As you can see from the picture above, the plaid is going across the chest and over the piper's left shoulder. These days both plaid and tartan are understood to mean a chequered or checked fabric. Which brings up another name for this fabric - check. Whether you call it plaid, tartan or check, pattern matching can be a challenge! I did a mock up for the shirt in a cotton blend fabric which prov...

Hi all, You’ve found the perfect pair of jeans but as always, they are 3 miles too long. I’m going to show you how to fix them so they fit your leg length perfectly.  Better still, I’ll show you how this technique will work with any pants or trousers with an original jean-like hem. Like these 511 trousers. You will need : Pair of jeans or trousers that need turning up Sewing machine Zipper foot Thread to match your jeans/trousers Tape measure or ruler Safety pins or plastic clips Iron and ironing board Pressing cloth Step 1 Stand up and try on your jeans. With the shoes you usually wear or the pair you intend to wear with them. This is important as the shoes you wear will make a difference to the size of the turn up you need. Turn up the bottom of each leg so the wrong side of the hem is showing. Then move it up or down until you are happy with how they sit on the tops of your shoes. Fiddle with them, turning them up a bit more o...