Bi-Weekly Thread Thread #7, August 26, 2014

8/26/2014 | RG

[Roos_Girl]

Welcome everyone to the bi-weekly Thread Thread, a once every other week post of all things sewing. Join us to discuss, ask questions and learn everything you've ever wanted to talk about, ask or discover about sewing. We include anything you can make with fabric, needle and thread.

Share with us some or you designs and ideas on how to become more self-sufficient by making your own clothing, home decor or anything else.

[Roos_Girl]

Here's what I've been up to. Just some fun little projects to go in my "store".

These are lavender sachets:

And these are child's learning clock pillows

In making all of these I discovered the value of Pellon's Wonder Under. I'm sure there are other brands that do the same thing, but wow this webbing has been great! I even used it with the red lace "thong" and you can't see it at all, but the lace is stuck tight to the linen.

So what's the most fun thing you've ever made and what did new skill did you learn or perfect while making it?

[Roos_Girl]

Thread Thread ping.

If you’re answering my question above, post pics if you can!

[mason-dixon]

A little off-topic... Learned to sew in the 1960s, when there was emphasis on setting zippers in plackets, so they were less noticeable. I do not understand the current fashion of the large-gauge industrial zipper with contrasting tapes down the back of dresses. Can someone explain this?

[Albion Wilde]

Just a fad, IMO. Several designers just started using zippers as decorative elements. One was Jeffrey Sebelia, a sort of punk rocker kind of guy who won one of the early seasons of Project Runway -- he would open the zipper and use the metal teeth along the edge of a lapel, or something like that. Here is his winning line up at the Bryant Park fashion show:

Another designer who began using the zipper down the back is Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice). She is super petite, so that style looks good on people like her, but it's stupid on anyone with "fit issues" in the back, when the zipper lumps up here and there. Here is Victoria Beckham with her back zipper design:

Even on her, there's a lump on the back.

[bgill]

OMG, I don’t either! Those big ol’ zippers showing is UGLY! It reminds me of how popular Hawaiian print shirts were back in the 80s because they were sewn wrongside out (the printed side of the fabric was on the inside). Someone makes a major goof but somehow manages to make it into the latest fashion fad.

[bgill]

Cute sachets! Those remind me of a pile of mug rugs I made for Christmas last year. If relatives decide to act right, they might get them this year. If not, I'll hold on to them until another year, bah humbug. Mug rugs would make a nice little off to college or back to school gift in school colors. They are a great quickie project to use up scraps as they can be any size or shape and decorated however. Line with batting. When the kids went off to college, I did their in a patchwork pattern with hubby's old uniforms. This isn't mine but the pic shows a tea package (?) which I wanted to say that I added about a 5" piece of ribbon or ric rac diagonally on the bottom corner to hold a napkin/tea package/spoon/etc.

Here's a neat craft site: http://www.craftster.org/blog/mug-rugs/#axzz3BXhEqm00

[bgill]

Another easy project is a hot rice pack.

[RikaStrom]

One of my girlfriends and I are making 1950 “poodle” skirts for a halloween costume, instead of the poodle though, we’re going with the three headed dog, cerberus. As they come together, I will post pictures, we’re just now getting the materials together. :-)

[RikaStrom]

A fad that needs to go away, I abhor exposed zippers. How is that attractive? Or the deconstructed hem? Now that just plain lazy IMO.