But before that .... Rachel progress.
I used to sew my own clothing back in high school, even my prom gowns, there was no option for tall skinny girls over fifty years ago. And I hated it. Still have the same machine.
When caring for mom, I started altering her clothing to cover coffee and food stains. This led to other family and friends bringing tops for me to play with and do the same. It was fun! Also hides holes from cat claws. The easiest was a wide print center band from top to bottom with buttons. Recently purchased tall tops from Old Navy that are LONG to wear with leggings and I'm considering adding decoration.
Using a fusible for applique, these were so easy, I just outline the edges with a machine zig zag after fusing. But learned that the cotton fabric MUST be washed and dried first! On some, the edges were left to fray with just a straight stitch outline. The top center back always had a smaller coordinating element.
I've tried sewing stretchy jersey before and it was a mess, never flat and neat. Adding hem or other lightweight fusible offered flat hems that were stiff and obvious. This product is not fused. A thin strip of tacky hold that will be removed when washed, no residual stiffness. No hot iron, no heat at all required. You just press it on the edge (hem, zipper, applique), remove paper strip, fold over or secure the second fabric, finger press. It held the jersey secure enough to stitch without stretching and IF my machine was working, it would be even better. It won't pick up bobbin thread for any stitch other than straight. 
But it's a nightshirt that went from floor length to knee length and was so much easier, and the hem is neat!
About the kids' gifts. I used to love spending hours in stores looking for top and bottoms that coordinated, but Miss Sophia has become so fussy that is a waste of time and money. Autistic Matt rarely will accept all items so their mom is better at knowing what they will wear. Last year we went with new blankets, comforters, pillows, underwear. So more underwear this year and I'm thinking sleeping bags. They use them for watching TV and unzip to add to their bed when really cold. Been a few years, I'll bet they are tattered by now. Cash? Visa cards one year were not spent on them, another story, absolutely not an option for such young kids.
Monday monday melting snow.
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4 comments:
I'm right with you on the clothes for tall females, of any age. What's worse is that RTW manufacturers don't seem to think tall women get fat. I've used Steam A Seam Lite for hems on knit tops and it stays nice and soft, but I'm not sure how it would stand up to facility laundering. A zig zag would be optimal, but I know people with vintage straight stitch machines make knit garments. IIRC there's a trick with the tension (loosen it a bit?). Oh, and there's a stretch thread by Coats now too, have seen mixed reports on it though. I assume you've tried new needle, right type of needle, cleaning the bobbin area, rethreading, etc since you've been sewing for so long. I hope it's nothing serious with the machine.
That stinks that the kids didn't get to use their gift cards! I just hope they were used for some serious reason like food on the table or keeping the lights on, not some frivolous frippery for parental units. I guess I thought they were close to or in their teens for some reason, so between that and past experience, I'd avoid cash too.
Rachel is looking great!
Another hint regarding sewing on knits like t-shirt jersey is to use a needle called a "Q-needle" on your machine. It helps to prevent skipped stitches. Also, most machines can adapt to use a double needle which is perfect to duplicate the double stitching on most t-shirt hems.
Faultless starch company has a new spray "starch" that two or three applications will stiffen up flimsy fabrics to make sewing easier. It washes out later. The blog "Laugh Yourself into Stitches" just posted a bout a 20 minute video on using this stuff that is very informative. I do a lot of quilt piecing and this product is great to use for neat sewing and working with bias edges.
Hello Marly: I have never seen this item before, I will have to check it out.
I used to make all my clothing, even made my wedding dress with a 7 foot long train, I still have it but cannot fit in it.
I love lounge wear, I buy the long tops and use over leggings.
I hope you are feeling better day by day.
Catherine
I used to have young nieces and nephews I shopped for and it was love-hate kind of deal... I have this thing about having to find the "perfect" gift...and ultimately came to the conclusion there rarely is a "perfect" gift. Sleeping bags sounds like they could be fun for the littles...I know Little Crow had a Scooby Doo sleeping bag that he loved to pieces (literally). Snow melted a bit here too today...but not enough....it's still white out there. ~Robin~ (PS...I have some jeans that need hemming...Can I send them?? I don't know what a tall female is....)
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