Simply Stitchy

    Hi all I was hit with a sudden impulse to do some applique last weekend. The inspiration came from a free pattern landing in my inbox. It's for a Christmas table runner. So, I thought I'd give it a go.  It's called "It's a Gnome Christmas Table Runner" and you can find it here.     Only thing is today is Christmas Eve and I'm no where near finished yet.  But, then I knew when the applique buzz hit me, I wouldn't get it done in time for this Christmas. That's not going to stop me making it - there's always next year's table. Anyway, my normal applique method is needle turn. This is where you turn the fabric edge of the applique underneath as you sew it to the backing fabric. I normally pop a safety pin or two in to hold it still, and then just keep it in place with my fingers as I sew. This time, I thought I'd try Wonder Under. It's just one of the many fusible webs available for gluing fabric together. You can buy fusible web f...

Hi all One of the first things you need to be aware of when buying a vintage or antique sewing machine - not all of them are Singers.  Now, you probably think that's fairly obvious. There are loads of sewing machine manufacturers who've been around for generations. Pfaff, Necchi, Brother, and Janome are just a few of them. The truth is, the most famous of them all is Singer. That's the brand name most people are familiar with. Whether you're a sewist or not, Singer is *the* sewing machine everyone thinks of first when talking vintage and antique.  Why? Well, it's probably down to the fact that Singer sewing machines were one of the best selling brands. From their fantastic marketing skills to their easy payment schemes. Other manufacturers found them hard to beat. In fact, at one time Singer had the world's largest sewing machine factory. It was based in Kilbowie, Clydebank, Scotland.  Singer's machines were everywhere.  So much so that everyone's Grandm...

  Hi all, I love making little lavender pillows. They are a quick and easy way to add a touch of summer to your closets and drawers.  Simple to make, you can use these pillows also make great gifts. For step by step instructions on how to make your own lavender pillow, click the video link above. Happy sewing! Bye for now Olly For more sewing tips and adventures, follow me: Twitter Facebook Instagram   YouTube    

    Hi all, If you've been following me for a while, you'll know I have a varied interest in all things sewing. I'm not a follower of one particular type of sewing... what do you call a type of sewing? Genre? Element? Discipline? Forte? If you know, let me know in the comments. That one's going to bug me till I find out! Anyway, because I sew anything and everything, my sewing machines have to be able to keep up and perform a multitude of tasks. Now, not all of them have everything I need, so I do tend to pick and choose which sewing machine I use by what project I'm sewing. I've even changed my sewing plans to match the sewing machine that's easiest to set up! But what are the features and functions that you need on a sewing machine? What sewing machine should you go for if you're a beginner? If you don't know what to sew, how do you know what you need?  My latest video, What Features do You Really Need on Your Sewing Machine shows you which ones yo...

  Hi all As with everything in life, there's usually a right way and a wrong way to do something. This week's video is about unthreading a sewing machine. Find out how to do so safely by clicking on my video link above.  Thanks for watching! Bye for now Olly   For more sewing tips and adventures, follow me: Twitter Facebook Instagram   YouTube

Hi all, This project has been keeping me busy for a while now.  It all started earlier this year when, tuning into Netflix, I saw The Queen's Gambit come up as a recommendation.  Now, I'd heard about the show last year. Friends and family said how brilliant it was. But I didn't get around to watching it until, I think it was mid-February this year.  Well, as soon as Youngest saw the check dress Beth wears, you know the one that swooshes when she walks, she was like, I need that dress! Me being me, "no problem, I can make one of those..." Little did I realize what I was letting myself in for! The thing is, I've searched high and low for a pattern for the dress. It's proved to be a fruitless search. A pattern for this dress just doesn't exist. I've found some close possibilities but nothing has been spot on. I have spent an age on eBay and more than a few pennies trying to get a usable pattern. Here are some of the ones I've looked at: First up V...

  I see a lot of questions online in sewing groups and forums on the topic of the best sewing machines for beginners. Most of the time, the replies all gush over the longevity and reliability of older sewing machines. Whether it is an Elna Grasshopper or a Singer 27, their age and beauty attest to their sewing prowess.     Many commenters will stress the importance of a beginner using a vintage sewing machine. Not because of how easy they are to sew with. But, because of what they are made of. The general consensus is, being mostly metal, vintage and antique sewing machines are hardworking and will last so much longer than today’s expensive plastic models. Which isn’t necessarily true. Especially when you remember that plastic machines have been around for over 40 years… so are just as likely to be vintage. The thing is, some vintage sewing machines can be finnickity to use. I’m thinking of Grandma here, she’s my antique treadle. She’s quirky to use....

   Hi all, It's not often I get to use my vintage Singer 128 hand crank so I decided I'd dust it off and put it to work making a new paperboy hat.  I'm using curtain material from a local thrift store. The added bonus is, this particular set of curtains were lined! meaning I have a built-in lining fabric for the hat! See how I got on by watching the video link above. Bye for now Olly For more sewing tips and adventures, follow me: Twitter Facebook Instagram   YouTube    

  Hi all, It's a common misconception that you can't sew thick fabrics or multiple layers on a domestic sewing machine. The times I've heard folks in FaceBook groups insisting the only way to sew heavy fabrics is with an industrial machine or a semi-industial. Not only is it simply not true, it's not fair on our hard working domestic machines! They can and do cope with layers of fabric, as well as thicker fabrics like denim. All you need to know is how to sew the thicker fabrics with your standard domestic sewing machine.  In today's video, I put a few of my machines to the test and show you how easy it is to sew thick fabrics or layers of fabric on your domestic machine.  Click the video link above! Bye for now! Olly For more sewing tips and adventures, follow me: Twitter Facebook Instagram   YouTube    

All sewists know the most important part of a sewing machine is the needle. Without one, the machine is useless, unless you need to wind a bobbin. Because the needle is an essential part of the machine, it needs to be in tiptop condition. Not only does the needle have to be changed regularly, preferably after every project, but you have to use the right needle for the job. Both to improve accuracy and the reliability of the machine. With so much to remember about needles, how do you know you're using the right one for your project? Or even the right needle for the machine itself? This article will take you through everything you need to know about needles and which one you should use in your next project. Image by wnk1029 From Pixabay Things to consider Like all things sewing related knowing about needles isn’t quite as simple as this needle is great for one job and another is best for something else. You have to know which needle fits in your particular machine and even what t...