Be Excellent To Each Other

I made a hat. Lots of mistakes, but I don't care, it just adds to the character and I've learned loads.

It's reversible too!

That's completely lovely!

That is fab.

I’ll have the octopus one please x

That’s really super, GJ!! I love the fabrics. Is it for you?

It is and I'm super pleased and proud it fits me beautifully!

That's my favourite side too.

It’s fab, and it’s happy.

Aww, that's great Jazzy!

Thanks all.

I'm about to try and make this into some undies. I won't subject you to pictures of those though.

Get Joans to model them for us...

What pattern are you using, GJ? I’ve seen a really comfy looking briefs pattern by ‘Made By Jack’s Mum’ and have used her patterns to make Russell some trunks, and Darwin some matching trunks and briefs (OMG so cute, by the way...) and they are a great fit.

These are even in a scrap of that fabric you liked! So cute and dinky.

Do you have a picture of the ones you made for Darwin too?

You scamp.

Yes, it's the MBJM wonder undies. If it goes okay I shall get the superhero ones too. All cut out so far, just having a break before I face threading up my overlocker for the first time (will practice on scraps first). It's out of the box and I have taken the wrappers off the cones, so half way there!

You probably know already, but just in case: if you sign up to the MBJM newsletter you get the kids trunks/briefs pattern for free, too. They go up to age 12, so may be on the cusp of usefulness for you?

Omg. You bought an overlocker? Awesomesauce. Mine came ready-threaded! I’ve threaded it far too many times, since. Still causes me grief! What machine did you get?

I got this in a special offer with the wonder undies. If all goes well, I might have a go for my niece.

Mine did too, but the first weekend I got my sewing machine out I made myself go over a few things, now if something happens, rather than get frustrated about it, I've sorted it in seconds.

I've threaded to overlocker, but something has come out somewhere and my back is aching from peering into it with my phone torch!

I might go back to it later or tomorrow with fresh eyes (and back). It's a Singer 14SH754 nothing expensive or fancy, but good to learn the basics on I hope.

I don’t know how much difference there is between them, really! It’s got four threads, like mine, which I think gives a few more options than the three thread versions, but they generally do one thing, very well (though I have recently started using mine for blind hemming, too).

Have fun making your jazzy pants! If you find any good fabric suppliers for jersey fabrics, please share

I can now thread my overlocker like a pro! I am also wearing homemade Jazzy pants. B)

I bought some jersey from Pound Fabric for practicing on, and some SCUBA to see what the fuss is about (I don't like the texture personally). I've just had an order from Fabricasa with favourite jersey yet, I can't decide what to make with it though! I might just hug it, it makes me happy...

Ermergherd. That second fabric is mind scramblingly gorgeous.

I have a load of scuba, that I was intending to try and make into a formal jacket at some point

Well that's your weekend sorted then!

I can appreciate why people like it, I just don't like anything with a terracotta texture. I'm sure as a child I wore some clothes make out of a similar synthetic fabric and it made me come out in a rash. Can't remember what it was called though, I just think viscose.

Had a go with the scuba, it's actually nice to work with. Learnt to do blind hemming too.

My overlocker broke.

Oh no! How’d that happen, Jazzy? What are the symptoms?

The upper looper arm has snapped. I'm not sure why, but figure I must have knocked something, maybe the timing when the fabric stopped feeding through and I had to cut out a build up of cotton. I thought I had been gentle, but I guess it doesn't take much pressure from the right angle.

I've spoken to a local chap who can fix it anyway, there's just a bit of a wait with everyone needing their machines fixing/servicing from making PPE.

I'm a bit gutted, particularly as it's going to get tricky to find somewhere to sew in about two weeks because I'll need to pack up due to imminent building work, but I might try and keep a corner of the dining table clear.

Hi hum.

I’m surprised that’s snapped. If it’s anything like mine it’s a fairly substantial bit of metal, so I wonder if there was a fault in it? We’re your thread feeders up? You can get a pressure build up if you forget to raise the thread feed bar (ask me how I know) which I’ve lost a needle to once (which subsequently fell into the machine... try and find yourself a small, strong, long magnet (or one glued to a pencil or similar) for future needle tip hunts.

Your machine is pretty new, though. Is it not under warranty? The looper shouldn’t be breaking like that.

Hey Meemster, thanks for the advice, it's really helpful to know someone who's already gone through these things.

Unfortunately while the overlocker is 'new' I've had it about four years now, and the warranty was for three. I bought it just as I started my Master's, then it got popped into the loft when we moved and there it stayed.

I do think it's user error though. I think I've had the rolled hem bit in the wrong position (guessing) and that might have caused it. I still don't really know, but until I looked at changing the upper looper myself, I didn't even know about the timing. It's all a learning curve I guess.

Anyway, my new looper arm came this morning, and I have it booked in with the sewing machine doctor for tomorrow! Fingers crossed for being able to use it again soon.

Aw, that’s such a shame, but it sounds like the machine doctor will make it all better and you’ll be seeing again by the weekend.

I got her back yesterday which I was not expecting! It turns out that her bits inside has been tightened by hand and this can be common with mass produced ones. Pleased it wasn't something I had done anyway!

She's working lovely now, so thought I'd put together the speedy pants I was working on before she got poorly.

They're a bit wonky and I had to unpick them twice, so not to speedy either! But pants! Sheep!

They’re super, Jazzy! Are Speedy pants the kiddies ones? If so, I’ve made a few of those and they are a little fiddly in places, so I agree they’re not *that* speedy. A great little pattern though, and they are super comfy. Your waist and leg bands look so great!

Glad you’ve got your machine back. Please show us more of what you’ve made!

They are the kiddies ones yes, these are for my niece (3).

I didn't help myself by not taking the wider table off the arm (sorry, not awake yet, I hope you know what I mean). It was a bit stuck/stiff and it was only meant to be a quick sew to test the machine as I had other more pressing things to do and I needed to pack the machine away.

I'm not sure how long for, but I do have plans to steal a bit of sewing space while the building work is going on.

Trying to find the dining table after everything has been dumped on there lately, and pack up a few bits that I made for a friend's new baby. Reusable wipes and a taggy, I was determined to use my sewing machine while the overlocker was being fixed!

Supposed to be clearing the dining table (mostly done) but got distracted. Not sure why the Sharpie ink has bled though, it's never done that before.

It seems to have mostly bled where it’s in contact with the pink. I wonder if it’s reacted with the pink somehow, or the pink ink was extra ‘wet’? Looks great, all the same. Just looks like a bit of shading!

The pink being a bit wet might be a good call actually, that was what bled first. Oh well, I've done a couple now so as I sort I have bags to put bits for our niece and nephew in.

Made this blanket for a friends baby, he's due in December. The first one of 3 lockdown baby blankets I've got to make!

Gahhhhh!!!!! It’s amazing, Flis!! I want one in me-size!! That’s such a fun quilt top! I’m still working on my (much, much simpler) quilt. I was actually planning on making a few more of the pieced squares this weekend, but got sidetracked and made 24 ministers Christmas stockings for an advent calendar


I made a blanket, too, as it happens (though I knitted mine). I took a couple of pictures of it earlier today.

Been painting a few rocks to pass time and relieve stress.

Some awesome crafting in this thread, keep it up please, it's lovely to see what you are making.

They are all great, but the penguin is just perfect. Have you been hiding them out, or are you keeping them?

The only one I’ve kept is the ghostbusters one. All the others have been “hidden” while out walking.
Some have shown up on the local Facebook group and others have vanished without a trace. I’m fine with either as they may be brightening up someone’s desk at home.

I would like you to make one that says "turn me over"

and then on the other side

"You just took orders from a rock"

Genius. Will do.

That’s so lovely, and they’ll be bringing joy wherever they’ve ended up. I can imagine finding such a treasure on a day when you really, really needed it.

These are the cute wee stockings I made over the weekend.

Excellent crafting in here!