Introduction to the Basic skills Sew-A-long

The first part of the Sew-A-Long goes up very very soon, talking like days.
What I wanted to do was to bring a wee introduction.

So first a wee list of what we will be looking at I have tried to cover most of the things which if your going to sew you will come across at some point.
As someone who personally has sewn for a while I find some of the things I know how to do but I avoid because I found them a pain in the arse. I know practice makes perfect, I know those things you find annoying, fiddly and difficult to do with practice become easy.

What I really hope is to see more accomplished sewers taking a more advanced look at the basics and showing us all how to really take it forward.

For most of these things you wont need any real equipment I will at the start of each part clearly what you will need if anything.

You do need to know how to do a basic stitch either forward stitch on your sewing machine or to be able to do a running stitch by hand.

So we will look at; 

• Zips (You may prefer to buy a zipper foot for your machine if it does not come with one)
• Buttons 
• Binding 
• Shirring (You will need shirring elastic)
• Gathering
• Appliqué
• Facings*
• Pleats 
• Darts
• Collars
• Cuffs*
• Piping (You will need piping cord and may prefer to purchase a piping foot for your machine)

*indicates you will need interfacing to suit your fabric

On the list below I have not put what you need if obvious (ala zips/buttons)

Someone asked me how they can follow as they were not very savvy on this if you have a google+ account you can click the connect button on the right hand side

You can follow me on the following

Twitter: #knottednelly and @Disabledmum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knotonyournelly 

I will also try and pop pictures on Instagram: with #knottednelly and you can add me @insonstis  

And failing all else just book mark the blog and check back often

I will get at least one part up a week so check back at least that often though I hope to get up ideas and my attempts during the week even if they have gone wrong, after all we all make mistakes its how we learn.

So that's all for today but please check back in a couple of days for part one.

Forget-me-knot
Louisa


Don't forget to leave a comment!

Sewing my Stash and a Sew Along

Apologies for a long silence, I have been very poorly one thing after another and getting words to screen was NOT happening. But voilà here I am still ill but less so then I was.

And let the blogging commence...

So I have a fabric stash, this I doubt would surprise any other crafter of any kind, we ALL have stashes for what ever craft we do, its like a law isn't it.

So I decided I was going to sew my stash as it drives my husband mad.
Then I decided I was going to not only sew my stash but use more of my paper patterns I have, I don't use them often as they scare me, so fragile and I like to trace them rather then cut, I have 3 kids, 3 different sizes it's a necessity to trace.

And THEN I saw a local sewing co-op opening and it said about workshops etc. and I realised, I only do what I always do I either free hand everything or I use basic printed patterns from Pinterest or magazines.

I am very comfortable with what I do but I don't do a lot of variation so I decide... I am going to also be attempting to learn a new skill for every pattern I use.

So it's a pattern using, stash sewing, skill learning fest going on.

What I am really wanting to is invite you all to join me in this, you don't need to sew your stash and you won't even need to buy the same patterns as I have.
All you need to do is complete some kind of item using the featured technique. You don't need to even need to do something conventional with it, if you know the technique already you can really go wild and out of the box with it if you want to.

I will post the technique, how to do it and also if possible how to take it further/make it more advanced. I will if I have any ideas give some ideas on how to use them outside of the box.

To take part you all you need to do is get any bits required, ie. A zip if its something to do with zips.

If you have a blog I have a button to place on your blog, also if you reply on here with your blog title I will add it to the list of blogs taking part.

When you have finished your item of the week then you just put either a link to the image in your blog or website or post an image and short explanation of what you have made in the comments of the post on here with the technique in.

Happy sewing please share this around as many people taking part the better and remember this is for even beginners.

Forget-me-knot
Louisa


Don't forget to leave a comment! Especially if there is a technique which you would like featured just let me know below.