Maybe this isn’t the right community to post in, so apologies if this seems odd. But I figure we sewists may have specific needs or thoughts when it comes to garment care so this is the first place I thought of to ask.

My washer is throwing error codes this morning and googling suggests it might be related to some computer panel or other, and I’m a bit worried that repairs are going to be so expensive that it might mean a new washer is in the cards. We’ll see.

Are there any features that you love in your washer, wish it had, or downright hate?

Also, back when we bought this thing, front loaders were all the rage. It seems like top loaders are back in fashion. Does anyone know the story there and/or why a top loader might be a better option?

I’m all ears for opinions about dryers too!

Thanks in advance, y’all.

Hello folks!

I'm finally close to finishing up some home projects and am going to try breaking out the old Singer 99k for some summer clothing as it's starting to warm up here in California. Something that I've wanted for ages but haven't found reasonably priced is a summer weight robe for around the house.

I'm leaning towards a linen or cotton-linen blend for airiness and cost-effectiveness but am open to other recommendations. I'm generally not a huge fan of waffle weave but could see utility in the back and seat to promote airflow.

So, the main question is: Anyone have recommendations for a good pattern (doesn't need to be free - professional pattern designers deserve to make a living) for a men's or unisex robe that would fit the bill and be possible with a straight stitch machine (I didn't yet have a zigzagger)?

Hey sewers! Anybody got a duck plush pattern that my wife can use to sew a duck for our baby? Thanks!

Or were you too busy running after children on a sugar rush ?

I finished a pink jacket, but I am allergic to the fabric so I had do gift it to a friend. Pictures here

Next on the sewing plan is probably a similar one, but hopefully without allergies. Or finiding some use for the huge amount of blue fabric that I own. Or an attempt at a jumpsuit. Probably not a blue jumpsuit, as it would read "work overall".

I had a master plan of diminishing The Pile^TM^ of things to finish or repair, and it's going farly well. Some of it was really quick and easy, some of it was surprisingly fun to do, some of it was a bit boring.
I have a plan of making a ... kind of cardigan/vest/jacket thingy by next week end, and I had to pack all of my sewing away until tomorrow. I am not positive that it will work but it would be cool to wear the new thing on the week end getaway.
I have taken pictures of the fancy black trousers, but I forgot the back and I still need to find the energy to write a coherent text.\ Do not despair, it will happen ! Someday.

What are you working on ? Are you having any difficulties, surprises, wins ?

I am currently in a bit of a low sewing mood after finishing "The Pants Journey^tm^". I still need to take good pictures of it, then I'll tell you about the adventure that it was.

I have decided to reduce my WIP pile and finally shortened a tank top (after several years). I have a green skirt that I need to modify a bit and add a petticoat under it. Shouldn't be too hard but I don't want to cut fabric.

But I am also exited about the cardigan, which will come after the skirt. (or maybe not, we'll see). I want to take it to the little week end gateway in two weeks, that would be perfect.

Also, beeswax wraps have been added to my project list, do I need to hem it or does the wax acts as fraycheck ?

Also, does anyone have discovered new sewing content on the internet recently ? I've been watching some Ash LG videos, they are really nice !

The grumpy apple core. I think it's so cute, I love it.

Do you know of any other cute little pattern like that ?

So, what new skill have you mastered recently ? What are you proud of ?

I have come to realise that I prefer embroidering in winter, somehow, and I feel like I have progressed and make neater stitches.
Sewing wise I am in the process of atempting a GOOD fit, not just an ok one, and it's... in progress. I guess the progress consist of having higher standards and not being afraid of multiple mock-ups. Let's see how much more patience I can gather before deciding it's good enough.

I don't follow a lot of new pattern releases but maybe some of you do ?
Let's have a discussion about trends, things you like and dislike and such. Also, do you have a favourite pattern designer ? Did anyone released something interesting recently ?
Here are a few links to popular pattern companies as a starter:
https://shop.tillyandthebuttons.com/collections/winter-sewing-edit
https://simplicity.com/new-sewing-patterns/
https://shop.deer-and-doe.fr/en/12-sewing-patterns

I wanted to share this awesome Singer 611g I bought over the weekend. The person I bought it from told me it was her great aunts. It came with everything and more! It's in fantastic shape and still works great despite possibly not being used since the 80s. I put in some sewing machine oil following the manual (it had the manual, and warrenty card still). Manual shows a grease/paste(?) as well so need to figure out what to get for those areas that use that instead of oil.

I know sewing machines need maintenance every so often, especially in this case, so I plan to take it in soon for a checkup. I hope it it'll be fine to still use until then, I've had no problems except when I decided I was probably threading it wrong and tried another interpretation of the instructions. I was right the first time 😅.

I'm still a beginner with machine sewing. My family didn't have a machine and so I'm used to handsewing everything. I had a great sewing and embroidery machine I got from my grandma when I still lived in the USA but never used it as I was worried about breaking it (also was missing the power cord). I had to sell it when I moved to Finland, this is my first machine here. I did borrow a friend's sewing machine for a bit, so I at least know a bit more of how to use one in general. All I did was replaced a zipper twice on a coat and make a double pointed needle cover so WIP socks don't fall off the needles when I'm not knitting.

My first project with it is going to be making a dust cover for it. It came with a case that's still in great shape, but I want something easier to just plop over it as I plan to keep it on the table.

A Better Question

@sewing@lemmy.world

In an earlier post (https://dice.camp/@Shkshkshk/111633486456196055) I asked about waterproof fabrics I could use in my next ruana cloak. I got lots of wonderful feedback, but I just thought of a new problem: at some point, I might decide to use a cloak pin to fasten it. I don't know of any waterproof fabric that can heal from having a pin poked through the middle of it. Are there any at least water resistant fabrics that can handle being pinned?

@sewing@a.gup.pe

Which waterproof fabric is best?

@sewing@lemmy.world

I have discovered cloaks, and I am going nuts making them. I have bought so much fabric in the past few days alone. They are so warm and so easy to make! However, I would like to make one that suits the purpose for which they were invented, so that I may wear it outside in the rain. Are there any good waterproof fabrics that won't fuck up my fiancée's #sewing machine?

Asking here because I don't know what I am doing.

@sewing@a.gup.pe

I found this vintage printed panel for making a Cinderella doll, and it was so much fun to assemble and embellish. I added lace, ribbons, gemstones, gold thread, silver fabric paint, sequins on the crown, various beads, gold ric-rac around the pillow, and white piping on the cape. The cape is detachable (using small snaps). I also added a magnet to the shoe which sticks to a metal button on the pillow; that way it can be taken on and off. I'm impressed with how the arms can be moved. They are attached with a thread that goes through the body which allows the arms to pivot. I'm so excited to give this as a Christmas gift for my daughter!

I'd love to see other dolls of this sort assembled, has anyone else here made one?

My mother gave me some skirts she doesn't wear anymore, and a couple of them are pretty cute. The problem is they are too big for me. So how do I make them not too big?

I want to make my own iron-on labels and patches (small scale, for fun).

Does anyone know what the name of the adhesive is? All I can find when I search online are people wanting to sell me pre-made patches, not information about their composition.

I presume it's some low melting point (<100degC) polymer. For all I know a wide variety of things might work (maybe even PETG 3d printer filament, which softens around 70degC, or hot glue shavings), but I'd like to see if I can at least find out the name of what's commercially used.

EDIT: Solved, see https://aussie.zone/comment/4326482

All from secondhand curtain and bedsheet. Sewing, serging and handstitching. It has a lining and an inside pocket.

It will be a gift for someone.

It's so cheerful! Don't look to closely, but it is sturdy enough

Hi all,

(I hope) I am ready to try making a bodice sloper, using the instructions from the closet historian However, the patterns she recommends are pretty much unavailable, only a couple of small sizes, for which i would have to pay an enormous amount of shipping costs, as i live in Europe.

Do you have or use a modern pattern that would be really suitable as a bodice sloper? I would be looking for something like size 14-20

She also has a video on how to make something from scratch, but she advices against it and i'm not yet a very experienced sewer, so i trust her judgement.

As an aside, am i paranoid in thinking these companies retracted these shell patterns, because they don't want to risk loosing their audience?

Spooky Halloween shirt complete!

Husband has always fancied a proper cool Halloween shirt, so I picked this fabric in secret and banned him from the sewing room until it was complete.

I could only afford the absolute bare minimum yardage, and didn't have much control over pattern placement (also no room for cutting errors, eek!)

But it all worked out and as of tonight he's seen it and tried it on and appears to love it. All good!

I will get proper posed photos at some point but for now here it is on my decidedly more curvy dress form!

Main annoyance is that my topstitching is a bit wonky, and I'm normally pretty good at topstitching. Oh well.

Pattern: McCall's M6044
Design: https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/10478337

@sewing #Sewing #Halloween #M6044 #FallFinishAlong

It took me about four month between buying the fabric and completion. I had other things on my list and spent way too long on the design (two months to decide). I wanted a long flowy dress, but this quilting fabric is too stiff for that. So I attempted a tailored, more serious look, balanced by the print. I could have done it a bit faster if I didn't slack off the button holes. (Did some tests with the machine, but ended up doing it by hand.)
I am really happy about the asymetrical opening and neckline, it looks good and it's functionnal. I am very pleased with the buttons as well.

I continued the theme on the 3/4 sleeves. The result is a bit underwhelming, and I haven't worn that length of sleeves in a long time, we'll see if I find it comfortable.

Let's not be coy about it: the innards ! It has one continuous bit of bias tape from the neck to the bottom, which is a nice acomplishement but lays funky on the shoulder, would redo it differently. The facings were annoying but worth it in the end. I still need to secure the sleeves facing better, because I catch it while putting the dress on. Also still need to take a decision on the waist seam finishing, which is tricky because of the buttonholes and the hook and eye holding the inside in place.

Yes, of course.
(also look how the buttonblacket lies flat!)

There are a few weird folds under my arms and on one shoulder, which I need to fix next time. The sleeves fit very well and don't restrict my mouvement, which is weird given how much I winged that part.
Pattern my own, using slash and spread based on my bodice block. I used mostly straight machine stitch and hand sewing, no overlocker. Pocket fabric is of unknown origin (curtain maybe?)

50p sheet into an entire holiday outfit!

Yep. Fifty pence in a charity shop, you literally can't go wrong.

I made this over the summer in preparation for our big family holiday, and remember I had to ask for help with gathering over at @sewing because it was being a nightmare and I am a noob. Worked out pretty well in the end, though! (Thank you Lemmy folks for the advice)

Lots of firsts with this skirt! Well, two firsts. I put pockets into a pattern that didn't have them, and also drafted a curved waistband so it would actually fit. Felt pretty pro after all that, I won't lie 😎

Patterns are the Cali Skirt and Ellie Bralette from https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/NHPATTERNS, and I was about to shoutout @wisbr for enabling me with that link in the first place, but she seems to have gone and now I'm sad 😢

#Sewing #CruiseWitch #MeMadeWardrobe #ItHasPockets #Thrifting

Nothing fancy, neither is terribly new or old. Not being able to sew is really holding me back on DIY projects.

Is there an "Operating a Sewing Machine for Dummies" video or tutorial you like?

Nothing fancy, neither is terribly new or old. Not being able to sew is really holding me back on DIY projects.

Is there an "Operating a Sewing Machine for Dummies" video or tutorial you like?

Hi all,

I'm about to purchase my first overlocker -probably the Juki MO 654 DE, for the curious among you- and i can't find the answer to one question i have:

How do you choose yarn colors. I've heard it say that some use those 4 colors, like the threading guides indicate. And others use only white, i think? Does it have to do with the loopers and needles and what is visible on your fabric?

So, those of you with an overlocker; what do you do? Is it like choosing yarn colors with a regular sewing machine?

And bonus question; do these yarn cones last as long as they would on a sewing machine, or do overlockers consume more yarn per cone?

I'm going to cut a microfiber cloth in pieces to make small cloths to clean your glasses with. So, i was researching which overlock stitch best to use on my regular sewing machine and suddenly came across this scientific article:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723048726

Such a totally unexpected find, but it does make me think. I just had to share it with you, makes for a bit of a change, right :-)

(I submitted this post earlier, but it seems to never have made it to the community, so apologies if you see this post twice)

I got a singer 8606 from a yard sale and am having trouble finding a manual online and what parts work with it?

E.g. compatible bobbins, needles, etc.