Body Types and Illusions

Right today ladies and gentle men we are going to talk about different body shapes and how to create illusions.

Before we start here is a top tip: Put your arms down by your sides and bend at the elbow see where the smallest part of your waist is from where your elbow lies and this is how you can tell if you are long or short waited.


Anyway the four main body types are:

• Triangle - This means there is not much upstairs but rather hippy.
• Inverted Triangle - Not much downstairs but rather broad shouldered.
• Rectangle - even the way down 
• Hour glass - this is your shoulders and bust being roughly the same size as your hips and your waist being about 10 inches less.

So I am an hourglass a chubby hourglass and yes, you can still be an hour glass even if you are size 16,18 or 20 it's not the size on the inside of your clothes that matters.

So since I am an hourglass I should be wearing.

• V necks since I have a larger bust.
• Capped or just above the wrist sleeves.
• Flared or boot cut trousers and jeans.
• Pencil or Aline skirts but not to long. 

All in all the main goal is to love the skin your in and REMEMBER  you don't wear anything better than a smile itself. So as always keep stitching. 

Weekend Cheeky Purchases

Hi guys,

So my partner took me on an outing on Saturday and I found The Aladdin's cave which is The world of sewing! 

So retraining myself here is what I purchased: 

These are:

• New look pattern 6125
• Mccalls pattern  M7085
• 5.5 meters of bias binding

So I bought the first pattern because I have a dress just like it from Evans and love it. So want lots more in different colours. 

I bought the second pattern for a wedding I will be attending later this year. 

And finally the bias binding is for the apron I am currently making. All of it needs to have binding round it, so I bought some wider binding to make it easier to attach since it's my first go! 

Beginner Sewing Course: Equipment

Hi everyone, I have just started the beginners sewing section of the sewing and tailoring course. So in the first few videos we went over the equipment we'd need and the basics of the sewing machine again, which I won't bore you with since you've already been over the sewing machine course with me.

Anyway today we are going to talk about the equipment that was recommended for this course and for anyone who wants to start sewing.

So the equipment that was recommended to us was:

• A Tape Measure - It's best to have two of these - keep one at your sewing machine and the other at your ironing board.

• Scissors: 
• Tailoring scissors. for material
• Paper Scissors, for cutting patterns
• Pinking Scissors to prevent material from fraying.
• Small scissors to cut any loose whiskers and notches. Once again it's best to have two of these. 

• Hand Sewing Needles.

• Pins.

• Sewing Machine Oil.

• Tailors Chalk.

• Thread: For the machine and hand stitching.

• An Ironing Board and Steam Iron.

• Buttons - which can be collected over time. 

• A Sleeve Board: For ironing sleeves.

• Unpicker/ Stitch Ripper. 

And Last but not least. In fact it's probably one of the most important things, and that is....

• A Sewing Machine! 

Optional Equipment:

• Fray check - this gets put on a button hole and prevents it from fraying.

• I can't remember the name but it's a tool which turns small straps in the correct way. 

Final World: 

One final tip I wanted to share with you was the sewing machine needle size recommended for most project, and this was a 90. So I need to change mine since I normally work with an 80.

Course Update: The 5 Main Presser Feet

Hey Everyone! Just to let you know I have finished the sewing machine section of the course and will be starting the sewing section soon.

Anyway in the last few lessons today, we covered the different types of presser feet and their functions.

Something I didn't know is there are two types of presser feet. These is a whole presser foot like Bernina uses and a snap on plate presser foot.

The 5 main presser feet for everyday tasks are: 

1. Zigzag foot - This foot is used for straight and zigzag stitching at the same time. 

2. Denim/Jean foot - This foot is used for thicker fabric. This foot has a hole and groove which makes the needle move around less therefore it's able to penetrate thicker fabric. 

3. Button sewing on foot.

4. Button hole foot.

5. Zip foot - This foot is very thin and has two grooves, one on each side, which allows you to get in close to a zip. 

Additional Feet: 

• Invisible zipper foot.

• Leather roller foot.

• Patch/ quilting foot. 

• Walking Foot. 

Bargin Patterns

Where I live is notorious for having lots of charity shops,  a new one seems to pop up each week. Which is fab for bargain lovers like me!

So when I'm browsing I always look for patterns even,  if they're not my size to put in my collection. So today (Saturday 21st February 2015) I had a great little find and what makes it even better is they are my size!

For 99p I got 3 uncut prima patterns. Yes, they may not be the best patterns any of us  have ever bought, but they will do and should make some beautiful garments if sewn correctly!

I got a pattern for:

• A flared skirt in different length. (The shortest is my favourite... hey no judging I'm young!)
• A Top and Tunic - Great for beach wear.
• A Kimono.

What's the best sewing accessory you've found in a charity shop? Let me know and watch this space for blogs about making these garments. 

3 Top Sewing Tips To Wet Your Early Morning Whistle.

Good to see you again sewing addicts, get your morning off to a great start with these 3 quick and easy to digest sewing tips. 

• If you cant find a thread with a colour that matches your fabric exactly, go one shade darker. It will draw less attention to the fact you couldn't find the perfect colour, or for new sewers like me your hems are perfectly straight.

• For the health and longevity of your sewing machine give it a clean every 4-5 weeks. No I don't mean give the plastic or metal a wipe over. Use the brush provided with your machine to clear out any lint and fabric fibres which could of gather inside your sewing machine.

• Keep the scraps of left over fabric when cutting out your pattern to practice on. By doing this you can check you are happy with the tension, length of stick or the way a decorative stick looks before doing it with the real pattern pieces.

Update: The Course

I am now about two thirds of the way through the sewing machine section of the course and am learning so much about my machine, it's unreal!!!

What what have covered today:

• Cleaning the sewing machine.
• Sewing machine needles.
• Thread tension and feed dogs 

Tips I have picked up and wanted to share with you.

•  You want to clean machine every four to five weeks. Using a brush which should have come with the machine and some sewing machine oil. You need to clean the machine to remove lint and fabric fibers which could of gathered in the feed dogs. 

• The numbers on the needle pack when you buy them are to indicate the thickness of they can handle. For example 70 would be for thin fabric and 100 for Jean fabric. 

• To check the tension is correct in the bobbin, place the bobbin in the case and hold the thread and let it hang if the bobbin falls out or begins to wind down the tension needs to be adjusted. To do this use the screw driver which came with the machine.