The Thrifty Stitcher

RENEW-my second aspirational word for 2012

2012-01-04T15:39:00.000Z

RENEW-

This word allows me to accept the things i didn't achieve in 2011 and renew my commitment to them.
Last year i chose the word CREATE as one of my words, and sadly this is an area that slipped by.

I am Renewing my commitment to getting more personal creativity into my life.
I am Renewing my commitment to seeing more of my friends

My Best friend who i've not seen in months!

In 2012 RENEW for me is a personal commitment to renewing my wardrobe. I don't plan to do this with a big shopping spree however. I lost a lot of weight in 2011, and much of my wardrobe is now way too big for me. I have many great pieces that I love, and replacing them would be not only expensive, but very wasteful as the clothes are all still good.

I am a "Thrifty" Stitcher after all, so for the first 3 months of 2012 I will not be buying any new clothes except underwear and jeans. I plan to alter all the pieces in my wardrobe that I love, and re-fashion the pieces that are not alterable. I shall blog about this journey here.

Explore- my first new year aspiration

2012-01-03T10:00:00.003Z

Aspirational words for 2012

Explore

In the last few years I seem to have become UK bound. Although I've taken a couple of beach holidays, I haven't had a travelling adventure for way too long. Deep within me is a well of wanderlust, and in 2012 I hope to feed that desire, hopefully with a trip to oz and new Zealand at the end of the year. I want to get back out there in the uk too, as there is so much to see and do in this wonderful island, and I need to escape the city of London a little more!

Explore is for me not just about far flung adventures. I live in one of the most amazing cities in the world -London. Frankly I take everything that's available to do and see in the city for granted. I know a few areas really well, but there are so many parts of the city I just haven't been to! My mission this year is to fall back in love with London, to get out there and enjoy what's available in this incredible metropolis.

"Explore" isn't however just about Traveling, it's about taking time out to explore new things too. As we get older it's easy to stick to what we know, and not try out new things. As a stitcher my passion has always been making clothes, I've really never been interested in the decorative side of sewing, this year I plan to learn some quilting and embroidery. I doubt it will become my passion, but it will definately give me a challenge! There are other pastimes I've never taken up too. Whilst I am a pretty good cook, I only make savoury meals, never baking. I'd like to explore some baking skills. Who knows I may yet become an all round domestic diva!

Every day- I plan to take a different way on route to wherever I'm heading, and not take the familiar path
Every week- Visit somewhere in London I've never been before
Every month- try something new that I've never done before.

Merry Christmas from The Thrifty Stitcher

2011-12-23T15:16:00.000Z

Season's greetings from Claire-Louise Aka the Thrifty Stitcher

Patterns-do you make your own or buy commercial ones?

2011-12-07T16:09:00.001Z

Feeling thoughtful about patterns this month. As a bespoke pattern cutter, I make one off patterns based on a unique set of measurements that fit one individual. However commercial patterns are designed to fit universally and are multi sized, but do require some skills to adjust.
Making your own patterns is time consuming and very mathematical. Once commercial pattern adjustments are learnt, it opens up a wealth of available patterns which vary seasonally and have been road tested by the manufacturer.
Then there's the tracing versus cutting debate! I like to cut out a tissue template, but many more fashionable patterns like burdastyle come as traceable patterns, with multiple patterns laid on top of one another. Personally, just looking at the multi pattern sheets in the burda style mag, makes me feel queasy, but I will be making myself do this over the next month in the name of research!

So are you a cutter or tracer? A pattern maker or consumer of commercially bought patterns?

I'd love to hear your thoughts?

Happy Stitching!

How to choose a sewing class

2011-11-29T10:00:00.019Z

Sewing is a bit like cooking, there are some basic skills you'll need to learn. Jumping into a class making for example a tailored garment is like making a souffle when you've never even scrambled an egg.

Before looking for a class, decide what you want from your sewing. If you only want to do dazzling embroidery, then a class on sewing machines is probably a waste of time and money. However if you think you'd like to do dazzling embroidery by hand and then turn your creation into a usable object then learning how to get to grips with the sewing machine could be just the ticket.

If you're looking to become the next Stella Macartney, then you should think about investing a good chunk of time and money on a long course. If your end point is to be a Fashion or Costume designer then you'll need a broad skills base that you just can't pick up at a weekend workshop. However if you're looking to discover a new hobby, or fancy learning to sew just for sheer pleasure, then don't sign up for long extended courses as there are lots of fabulous short workshops out there which will give you the start you need. Many of these classes result in a finished project by the end of the class, giving you a real confidence boost.

Be honest with yourself about how skilled you currently are. Most classes have a list of Pre-requisite skills. If you've tinkered with a sewing machine but never actually made anything, then signing up for an advanced class will leave you feeling left behind and out of your depth and may well put you off sewing. So if you've only attended one class on how to use a sewing machine, then do have a good practise before moving onto an intermediate class, you'll get much more from the intermediate session when you're ready.

Choose where and how you want to study carefully. Attending a night school programme is a really cost effective way to learn. They are run with large groups, and you won't get masses of individual attention. They allow you to learn slowly however, with classes being a couple of hours each week for about 10 weeks. This gives you a lot of opportunity to practise in between sessions. If you want a more intensive quick start to learning to sew, then short private workshops may suit you better. These are more expensive but are usually stand alone workshops, or short programmes over a couple of weeks rather than a term. Most private workshops have smaller groups, giving you more personal attention from the tutor.
Research the venue you're interested in attending. If the venue is a long way from where you live or work, then you may not want the extra travel. There are lots of choices out there, and you may well find one just around the corner. Decide if the venue offers what you're really looking for. For example if you're interested in upcycling and re-purposing clothes then choose a venue that is renowned for those classes. You Most venues will give you information about your tutor too, so if you see a tutor that's interested in the things you like, they are likely to be s good fit.
A shared passion is a great way to make friends too, so if you're hoping to make new friends then pick a class and venue that really suits you.

Learning to sew will take time, so be realistic about what you'll get from your classes. In one afternoon, you'll never get that wedding dress made from scratch! Expect to make some mistakes, unpicking is part of sewing, and at some point you'll have to do it!

There's never been so much choice of sewing classes as there is right now. Whatever you want to sew for, there will be a class out there for you.
Happy hunting, and happy stitching

Delicious winter hair accessories from Hat Therapy

2011-11-07T14:54:00.000Z

Another brilliant guest blog tutorial from my friend and expert milliner Chrissie, from Hat Therapy

To make yourself a simple hair clip/slide this winter which can be as simple or as fancy as you like, just follow these simple insruction.

1 Cut a feather shape in felt, either from millinery felt [ available from Baxter hart and abraham in Luton. ] or from craft felt which you can buy from most craft shops.

2 Cut a piece of wire the same length as your feather shape

3 Decide how many cuts you want into your feather towards the center but be careful not to cut too far.

4 Sew your wire along the center BACK this will give your feather support and allow you to give it shape.

5 Now you can trim your feather with sequins, bottons, beads, glitter etc.

6 Using the same technique make some leaves too

6 Add to a hair clip or hair slide use a strong glue like uhu. Why not make a few and arrange in a cluster like this?

This is a great way to decorate a simple felt cloche, and works on the humble beret too!

Happy Stitching!

Love from Chrissie

Pressing News

2011-09-09T16:00:00.006+01:00

Pressing is the key to a great finish when sewing.
A bad stitcher can press away many mistakes, but a good stitcher who doesn't press will have lumpy unpolished looking projects. Apart from your sewing machine, your iron is really a Stitcher's best friend

When choosing an iron, you need to have a little bit of weight to the iron. You are "pressing" not ironing. I find ceramic sole-plates are easy to clean should you get gunk there. You don't need to spend a fortune, but don't expect the £5 Argos iron to do the job either.

Couple of my fav irons

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tefal-Ultraglide-FV4355-Steam-Watts/dp/B001GJR2NM/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1315571000&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tefal-Ultraglide-FV4375-Steam-Watts/dp/B001P3NWOW/ref=sr_1_8?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1315571123&sr=1-8

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Morphy-Richards-40668-Turbosteam-Mulberry/dp/B002NPC0SA/ref=dp_cp_ob_kh_title_2

Your ironing board choice is also important. I like a large board, and i usually add an additional layer of foam under the cover to give a nice thick pressing surface. Ironing board covers get marked and scorched. Generally you want to replace a scorched board to prevent transfer onto your lovely new sewing project. I have spent some time over the years attempting to remove the horrid brown transfer from newly pressed items.

Once you've got your iron and board, I suggest cutting up some old muslin/lightweight cotton to use as a pressing cloth. You can buy these as a gadget, but personally I think it's a con! Pressing cloths are very useful when you don't want fabric to go shiny/melt or scorch. I usually use one when pressing a garment on the right side.

I am a self confessed gadget- aholic. For home stitchers however I really do recommend the following 2 gadgets.

A tailors ham- Used for pressing all differently sized curves. My best friend.....

This is my ham in use pressing the bust darts on a fitted bombshell Dress

My other favourite pressing gadget that I really do recommend purchasing is a sleeve board. I have a vintage one that I love, but if space is tight get a collapsable one, that should only set you back about £10.

Sleeve boards are great for pressing hems, sleeve seams and all those tricky places you can't get to on your regular ironing board

My sleeve board in action pressing a sleeve cuff

After taking these pictures I have made my sleeve board a new cover. I used the good bits from a scorched ironing board cover i was replacing. Waste not, want not......

THE THRIFTY STITCHER - Online Booking by ClickBook.Net

2011-09-07T16:30:00.002+01:00

New online appointment booking system for our 121 sewing sessions.

THE THRIFTY STITCHER - Online Booking by ClickBook.Net

There is also a "book now" button on the website too, so even night owls can schedule a session to suit....

New classes for Autumn

2011-08-26T16:00:00.001+01:00

Most of the Thrifty Stitcher students want to move on from sewing machine basics to altering their own clothes. A trip to the dry-cleaners for short ladies like me with 4 pairs of trousers and a skirt to shorten adds up to a hefty £50 bill! Being able to do your own simple alterations means shopping freedom, you will no longer have to mentally add in the cost of getting that bargain adjusted. You can safely bag the best bargains and tailor them at home for free!

Event Registration Online for SOS Sewing - Alterations Masterclass powered by Eventbrite

Once you've stopped being scared of the sewing machine, most new stitchers are keen to use commercial patterns. These patterns are a great way to start dressmaking, but can seem like you need to learn a whole new language. This autumn we are running a short class on de-mystifying paper patterns. There will be a bit of sewing involved towards the end of the session, so this class isn't for absolute beginners. But it's a great way to start understanding the language of patterns. If you're itching to start on a specific pattern, bring it along and get it out of the packet and onto some fabric!

Online Ticketing for Paper patterns de-mystified powered by Eventbrite

Changing a sewing machine needle

2011-08-18T10:50:00.000+01:00

Sewing machine needles are not a purchase for life!
They should be changed for every 8 hours of continuous sewing, and for each new project or different fabric.They need to be the right choice of needle for that fabric. If sewing denim, and you try and use the same needle for chiffon, you will very likely snag the chiffon.

Sewing machine needles are generally all universal for domestic machines, but it is worth checking your manual to ensure you get the right needle for your machine. In general the larger the needle number, the thicker and bigger the needle is.
The needle I use the most for dressmaking is a Schmetz universal 705H needle number 80/12. This is a great needle for fairly fine woven fabrics.
If sewing heavier cottons I use Schmetz universal 705H needle number 90/14

When sewing jersey I use a ball point needle. This type of needle seperates the fibres, rather than splitting them like a regular sharp needle does. The tip of this needle is rounded, and it is only useful for knitted fabrics, and won't work on woven fabrics.

There are lots of job specific needles for trickier fabrics available. These are the ones I commonly use-

A denim needle. Some people just use a thick needle, but the point on regular needles may not pierce the denim as well as a denim needle. Denim needles are strong, but have extra sharp points, allowing the needle to pierce the densely woven fabric.
A leather needle. The point of a leather needle is actually shaped more like a blade, this creates a triangular hole in the leather. Using a regular needle creates a small split which will over time tear and ruin the garment
An extra sharp microtex needle. I use these for delicates like silk and satin.
Stretch needles. These are great when stitching really stretch stuff like elastic and lycra, or any stretch fabric where your machine has been skipping stitches.

The choice of brand for machine needles, is to me a very important one. Some of the very cheap needles, just aren't good, and you'll pay twice! I use schmetz, or groz beckert needles. Both of these brands are German and they have proved to be the best needles I've used.

Changing your needle is a really simple operation.

- Hold the needle with your left hand and unscrew the screw at the top of the needle. Holding the needle ensures it doesn't drop inside your machine. I keep a sharps box to dispose of my needles.

- The flat side of the needle is the back

- With the flat side at the back, push the new needle up inside the sewing foot as high as it will go, and then tighten the screw.

- Just to double check that the needle is in the right way, run your thumbnail up the front of the needle, you should feel a groove if it's in correctly.

All done, and you're now ready to continue sewing...

Clean your sewing machine and improve it's performance

2011-08-15T11:57:00.001+01:00

It's important for sewing machines to be regularly cleaned, as the fibres and lint from fabric and thread will slow it down, and may well transfer onto your lovely fabric. A blob of grimey dust on that lovely "must have" fabric could seriously ruin your sewing pleasure!

Getting your machine serviced regularly is important, as the engineer does more than just cleaning the machine. However if you try and clean the bobbin case area yourself every month, you'll save on how regularly the machine needs a service.

This weekend I cleaned out my 6 janomes, and boy where they grimey underneath the bobbin case!

The instructions below are for cleaning out a top loading machine. First thing is to get out your manual, and see how they advise you to clean the machine. Most top loaders can be done in the same way as the instructions below. I lay my screws and removed parts in a mirror of how they came out of the machine, making it easier to put it all back in the right order. If you're worried about forgetting where something came from, then take pictures at each stage.

1 -To remove the bobbin case on a top loader, you need to start by removing the sole plate, which may be screwed on.

2- You now need to remove the bobbin case which is the black plastic holder in the centre.

3- Once the bobbin case is removed, you can now see how much hidden fluff, and dust there was beneath it! Use the brush that came with your machine to get it all out. A can of pressurised air is also a useful tool to blow the dust out of hard to reach areas

4- Using the sharp pointy end of the cleaning brush, hook out any other areas of fluff around edges of all the metal bits you can see

5- Fluff also likes to collect at the top of the needle, and on presser foot, so make sure you give those areas a once over too.

6- The underneath of your bobbin case should hopefully now look lovely and clean

7 - There are screws that allow you to get to areas further inside your machine. I generally don't go any further, as the more small bits I remove, the more likelihood there is that I won't be able to get them back in! I save that for when the machines are serviced.

8- You now need to put the bobbin case back in, there is a tiny split at the front which will give you a guideline. Then replace the sole plate. Your machine will thank you for giving it a little clear out!

Threading a sewing machine

2011-08-14T19:08:00.000+01:00

Here is the second of my mini video tutorials showing how to thread up your sewing machine, and pull up the pesky bobbin thread!

My day job

2011-08-01T12:36:00.000+01:00

I have 2 lives, one is as The Thrifty Stitcher teaching sewing, The other is as a Professional Wardrobe Mistress in London's West End. If you'd like to know a little more about what that actually is, then check out my interview with StageWon

Vintage style corsage

2011-07-28T12:33:00.001+01:00

This weekend there is a large vintage festival happening here in london, and it's the perfect opportunity to make yourself a "Vintage" style corsage or mini cocktail fascinator. Don't worry, you don't need lots of equipment, and you may well have some materials lying about in your stash.
This is also the perfect project to 'upcycle' a couple of old fascinators you don't wear any more.

Fabulous professional Milliner Chrissie King of Hat therapy has kindly put together a mini tutorial for us. If you don't fancy making your own, pop over to her site and buy one of her fabulous vintage inspired pieces!

To make this corsage you will need
3 biot feathers
(available from Baxter Hart millinery supplies 10cm £2.20 about 25 - 30 in a 10cm strip many colours.
tel 01582 721381)

30CM of half inch petersham ribbon
1 brooch pin
1 button

---------------------------

Pull out 3 biots from your strip

Pull edge to edge and sew together repeat with other 2 feathers

Sew all 3 together

Loop 1 end of petersham ribbon then rpt with the other 2, making them slightly bigger each time. Sew together

Sew your petersham bow and 3 biot loops together

Add your button by sewing through ribbon and biots ending with thread at the front, sew button.

Turn over and sew on your brooch pin secure well.

This can now be worn as a corsage or pin on a hat or headband.
If you use a woven fascinator disk that has a hair comb already sewn in you can create a mini cocktail comb.

Happy Summer

Chrissie King- Hat therapy

Make a simple pleated skirt with DIY Couture and The Thrifty Stitcher

2011-07-14T10:00:00.054+01:00

Autumn, my favourite season, is just around the corner. Whilst I'm still basking in our great British summer.... I've also been thinking about what's around the corner. Skirts are a brilliant garment to bridge the seasons, wear bare legged through an indian summer, and slip on top of opaque tights when the rain falls.

I am so excited to announce that fellow Hackney Entrepreneur and Fashionista Rosie Martin of DIY Couture fame is bringing her unique "How to make a simple skirt without a pattern" class to The Thrifty Stitcher on September 25th.

Rosie loves high fashion, and was dissapointed by the lack of fabulous contemporary dressmaking patterns available for home stitchers. Rosie set out to create a collection that could be easily made at home, piece by piece through simple instructions and beautiful photos. The first 3 pieces are available as delightful instruction books, and do away with the need for a fiddly pattern.

If you want to make your own clothes, and can already thread and use a sewing machine, then this Skirt class is a great way to start dressmaking. Included in the cost is a copy of Rosie's skirt book, and you'll be led through the day by Rosie herself ( I'll be the glamorous assistant for this session)

You bring along your own fabric, so you'll make the skirt you've always wanted, we'll provide the know how, tools and equipment and some DIY Couture magic!
We've a summer sale, so grab a 15% discounted class here

Fabric care and storage

2011-07-07T10:00:00.005+01:00

Top tips for clothing and fabric care & storage

Clothes, fabric and wool that are stored will attract the Webbing Clothes Moth. Moth eaten fabric and clothes are depressing and the holes will weaken the fabric and in some cases make it unwearable or unusable. Moths have been a real problem for the last few years, and 2011 is set to be one of the highest in terms of moth infestations. You can bring moths into your home from buying clothes/fabric, transference from someone who has moths in their home, and they fly in during summer months!

You need to use deterrents, and they need to be replaced every 6 months.
If you get an infestation, the moths will attack not only fabric but books, papers and photographs, so all your precious memories can be reduced to dust!
Start by using lavender bags/sachets, and cedar. I personally can’t bear moth balls which are super effective, but stinky!
The best and cheapest resource and supplier of moth products I’ve found is this one.

http://www.mothcontroldirect.co.uk/acatalog/clothesmoth.html

Pheromone traps are a great way to break the breeding cycle without using chemicals. The moths think they are all male! These sticky traps are also a good way to monitor how big a moth problem you may have.
Spring cleaning is a tradition for a reason. In order to get rid of moth eggs, you need to empty drawers and cupboards and clean out all the surfaces. Moths like to breed under static areas like furniture, so moving your furniture out and cleaning underneath breaks their cycle. Sunlight also kills eggs, so getting rugs and carpets outside and thoroughly beating them and leaving in sunlight will kill any eggs/larvae.
If like me, you don't have access to a garden, then running a sticky roller brush over your clothing can lift off eggs.
Ensure you change your hoover bag regularly. You may well hoover up eggs, and the hoover bag is a perfect environment for the moths to breed in! It's pretty gross, opening up the hoover and finding a big bunch of moths.....

Storing Fabric and clothes

This can be a nightmare. In terms of fabric storage i need to be able to access my stash, and see exactly what i've got.

Using plastic for storage is a contentious topic. Whilst plastic vacuum bags are great in the fight against moths, they can leak plastic fumes, which isn't great for valuable vintage fabric and clothes. Personally i don't want to see my lovely old things being eaten away by moths, so I do use some plastic storage.

I have limited space in my home for fabric storage, so i try and use what i already have. CD storage towers are great for showcasing smaller pieces of fabric, just make sure it's not in direct sunlight as the fabric will fade

A great system for easily storing and finding fabrics is the Antonius System in the Ikea wardrobe range which you can customise to suit your own needs http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/ products/S29877698

Get the most out of your sewing machine

2011-07-04T10:00:00.004+01:00

Top tips for sewing machines

A good sewing machine whether it's new or vintage needs some love and TLC! Here are a few tips on keeping your machine running well

Learn how to de-fluff your sewing machine. Use a pressurised air-can that is sold for cleaning keyboards. The fluff in the bobbin area of your machine soaks up the oil and can clog the mechanism. Doing this yourself will prolong the life of your machine, and cost you less in servicing.

Do get your machine serviced regularly. That clunking noise in your machine means something is out of sync! You wouldn’t dream of driving your car for ten years without a service, and like cars, sewing machines have moveable parts that need maintenance. If you don’t use it very often then every couple of years should be okay, and if you use it regularly then do every year. A service should cost around £45

Keep your manual handy! So many tasks you may want to do are explained in your manual, so it is an invaluable resource. If you’ve got a vintage machine with no manual, then check out this site to see if it’s there. http://www.sewingmanuals.com/

If you like doing a specific task like gathering, or piping, research whether or not there is a special foot for your machine that makes that task quicker. A piping foot for example gives you a perfect result each time, without you having to put as much effort in. I always buy an invisible zip foot, as I do lots of those types of zips, and the foot makes it so easy.

Change your needle! Many people have had the same needle in since they bought their machine. Needles on average last a continuous 8 hours only! You need to change your needle according to the fabric you’re using. A fine needle for delicates and a thicker needle for heavier fabrics. Needles are made for specific tasks, for example a denim needle is the best choice for jeans, it’s strong but has a very sharp point that will pierce the dense fabric. This is a great article on what needle to use for what fabric http://thesewingdirectory.blogspot.com/2010/09/n-is-for-needle.html

Needles and pins are one area that buying cheap means you pay twice. I always use Schmetz, or Gros-Beckert needles which are German and very high quality. For hand sewing I usually use John James which are British steel, or Milward needles. For pins I use a longer, finer good quality brand like Prym.

Alteration tips and tricks

2011-06-30T14:31:00.001+01:00

I do a lot of alterations in the Theatre. Unless a costume has been specifically made for that particular actor then most of my work involves getting an existing garment to fit correctly.

I will confess that some sewing jobs are a lot more tedious than others so why not use that dry-cleaner for the really boring stuff.

Here are a few of my tips for getting alterations done well

When thinking about altering clothes, remember the body has 2 planes- height and width. If altering the width of a garment you may not need to re-fit as this plane is easier to adjust. If you are altering the height of a garment, you will nearly always need to re-fit after the adjustments are made. For example taking up the shoulders will shorten the arm-hole which may then need to be adjusted. Shortening flared trousers for example means the flare is less at the hem, and they may not look as attractive.

Trying to make clothes smaller than about 2 sizes involves a lot of alteration time, which if you’re paying someone may not be worth it. If you find a vintage Chanel suit in a charity shop that’s 4 sizes too big, it may well be worth the additional expense. If it’s a Primark dress in the sale, then just leave it on the rail.

If something is more than one size too small, it’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to get it let out. Fashion garments rarely have less than 0.5 cm seam allowance, meaning that there is total of 1.5 cm available around the body to let out. Letting out satin or fine fabrics means you may be left with track-lines where the stitching was. Letting out darker fabrics means that you may end up revealing fabric that is a different colour from the faded outside.

If you let down a hem and get a strong line where the original hem was, think outside the box. Stitch some ribbon and make a feature of the ribbon whilst disguising the ugly line.

Some alterations or repairs are boring to do. Personally I would rather get the tedious jobs like replacing zips done at a dry cleaners. Replacing a zip is fiddly and time consuming and I would rather use the time to make something fun, It’s generally only about £10-£15 to get it done for you. Shortening hems however, is a relatively quick and easy thing to do yourself and not worth paying £10 for.

Big jobs that require a lot of space and equipment are often worth getting done by someone else. If you have to clear away your sewing space each time you sew, then the chances are that you’ll never finish that pair of curtains. If that’s the case you can concentrate maybe on the small hand sewing jobs that are achievable.

If you want to do a big sewing job but really don’t have the space or a sewing machine, then go to a sewing studio that offers the space by the hour/session. There are lots of sewing schools across the UK that offer space by the hour and it’s a great way to get sewing and not worry about clearing up!

Fabric is no longer cheap, and the cost of cotton and wool has just gone up, meaning both our clothes and fabric will soon get a lot more expensive. Think about cutting up existing old garments or curtains to use as fabric. Recently a student of mine used a sarong she bought on her honeymoon to make a yoga mat bag. Something that would have sat in her cupboard is a reminder of her honeymoon at every yoga class.

Before you take stuff to charity shops think about whether or not you could re-purpose the item. Taking the waist band off a pair of jeans and binding the edge for example makes them bigger. A pair of old worn out jeans can be opened up and made into a skirt using perhaps an old favourite worn out blouse as the insert.

Fascinator making tips for the racing season.

2011-06-10T13:10:00.001+01:00

Racing season is upon us, and with it the perfect opportunity to go wild with hair accessories!
Ascot is next weekend, so there's still time to rustle up a perfectly wild fascinator

Chrisse King from Hat Therapy has given you some tips on making fabric flowers or YoYo's. YoYo's are also known as suffolk puffs, and are a great way of tying in a colour scheme across your outfit.

Check out this fab suffolk puff fascinator for inspiration from Knit and Purl Stitch

To make a sheer fabric flower/suffolk puff you will need.

A woven headband (randall ribbons in Luton sell them on black and ivory) tel 01582 721 301
Some fabric you want to use
A dinner plate
A button or bead for the centre
Some hand sewing thread and a needle

Cut a circle, dinner plate size for a larger flower or smaller if not.

Knot the end of your thread and sew along the edge of your fabric.

Pull gently as you sew creating a little bag then secure together with a few small stitches, cut off thread.

Decide what you would like to trim your piece with, here's a few ideas.

sequins,
buttons,
beads,
another smaller circle in a contrasting fabric
ribbon

Starting from the back, pass a threaded needle through to the centre of your flower and start to build up a trim. This will pinch together your sheer fabric in the middle.

Once finished you can attach to your headband by sewing together or pop on a comb or hair clip.

If you want cover your headband cut a piece of your fabric on the bias (across the fabric where you feel the stretch) Pin and sew, turn inside out with a safety pin then push the end of the band into the tube, sew at each end to secure

Enjoy

Chrissie

Why I'm sacrificing saucepans for sunshine

2011-06-04T18:05:00.002+01:00

At the beginning of the year I set out goals for the year ahead. Six months on and one of those goals has not only eluded me, but continues to make me feel that I've failed myself. So I've decided to get rid if it altogether!

Cooking for myself as a veggie has always been important in order to eat interesting and tasteful food. It's been something I've shared with friends, and was a favourite way I used to unwind. I now work fulltime and run a small business, and at least 10 hours of every day are consumed by Working at both of those things. I need at least 7 hours sleep, so when you factor in travelling to and from work, I'm left with little time for myself. I've been trying to carve out time to cook, but the pressure of feeling obligated to squeeze it in us frankly wearing mr down. When I get time out, I want to see friends, go to a spa not slave over s saucepan. I'd love to live the lifestyle of Jamie or nigella, but frankly when they're cooking it's their work, so of course they can fit it in. Cooking isn't just about the actual effort of chopping and heating, there's shopping and ensuring you have what you need in, and even if you do get food deliveries, there's still a time commitment to checking and ordering. Like many of my friends and colleagues, my boyfriend and I seem to spend a great deal of time talking about food shopping, food ideas and all the mundanity of those conversations is just well BORING!
I work weird hours, I work at night, so it's tough to cook when all my food gets heated up at work. Within the covent garden area, I know all the convenience vegetarian foods I can get hold of, and most of my menu comes from pret, marks and Spencer and tesco. They each offer limited vegie options, so my diet has begun boring mr senseless.
Added to all of the above i want to slim down a little, but that means more prep and thought, and cooking time.
So....
I will shortly be signing onto a weight loss food delivery service. I will spend no more than I currently spend on microwave meals, and take out sandwiches. So I'll eat better, free myself from feeling guilty that I'm not a domestic diva, and with the extra hours I gain hopefully I can do more for me.
Since I decided on this plan, I've had a huge sense of a weight being lifted from my shoulders. I'll need a couple of months to slim down, but who knows during that time I may re-discover my cooking mojo!
I still want to have friends over for dinner, but I warn you if you're invited I will have cheated and bought in. I guess for me the point is to see friends and enjoy their company, rather than putting off the invite cos I can't face the kitchen!

Here's to more sunshine and less saucepans!

What someone's said.

2011-06-03T12:47:00.000+01:00

Just had this lovely feedback from someone who attended a skill sharing day I participated in, made me feel all warm!

CL was really lovely. She was patient with me and my daughter (and pal) and explained things really clearly. Even when having to repeat, she didn't make us feel silly or as if we were wasting her time. She made eye contact and didn't patronise which means a lot to me, from someone who is technically very good. I felt like I could take what I had learnt home with me and carry on and develop further too."

Skill sharing is a fantastic way to engage with your neighbours and community and learn from each other. I attended one in Clapton, and it was a great day with tai chi, gardening, reiki, drumming, baking, history and sewing on the menu throughout the day.
Check out wether or not there are events near you, and if not then have a gobar organising one yourself.

Have a fab weekend. I have a day off to attend the wedding of a good friend, and an excited to see her in her dress

When do you give up on your dream?

2011-05-27T10:00:00.001+01:00

Is giving up your dream realistic, or settling for second best?

I began the week contemplating wether or not we can have it all. And end the week with another big thought about dreams and aspirations.

I don't think we can 'have it all' neither do I think we should aspire to. With every choice there is compromise, and I think we should aspire to have what we really want deep inside ourselves, and then accept the inevitable repercussions of that choice.
But how can we decide exactly what our dream is? and for how long do we continue chasing it? That's a very tricky question...

As a young costume design student, I allowed myself to dream about seeing my name in the credits rolling onscreen. By my final year, I realised I wouldn't be accepting any oscars for costume design. I hadn't given up my dream, or settled for second best. I had realised that my dream wasn't for me, I am an artisan, a facilitator and in costume terms an interpreter. Realising this allowed me to change my dream, and shift the direction of my life.

So was I realistic, or did I cop out and settle? Hmmm- working as I do in the entertainment industry, I see many folk that refuse to give up on their dream, despite possibly lacking in talent. X factor thrives on the untalented individuals dreaming of stardom. So when should they give up on their dreams?

My philosophy in life has been to do what makes me happy, I've changed direction several times in my career, usually changing when my work stopped giving me joy. I'm lucky and priveledged to be able to choose to do a job I love, rather than having to do a job I hate. Am I still following my dream? YES I am, It's just not the same one all the time, and definately isn't the one I had at nineteen.

Have a great weekend
Cl

Ps- I have in the last few years seen my name in the rolling credits as costume designer, and it thrilled me as I had dreamt it would. But I still know that wasn't the dream I should have followed. I am an average costume designer, but a great wardrobe mistress, and hopefully an inspiring teacher!

The Thrifty Stitcher video on winding bobbins

2011-05-25T00:36:00.001+01:00

Here is my first ever video guide, scary recording yourself, and weird realising what you sound like! But I'm glad to have got the first one up and running. Watch this space for more mini video how to guides.

Can you have it all?

2011-05-23T12:37:00.001+01:00

I've had a super busy fantastic weekend teaching, working, networking and hen partying! Yesterday I met with the "wonderful women minding their own business" (#wwmoob) ladies, for our monthly get together. It prompted me to think of the post I meant to write after meeting them all last month for the first time.
As women we celebrate our multi tasking skills, we rejoice that we can now have a career, raise a family and still be a good best friend. What I wonder though, is are we asking too much of ourselves? Should we really want to have it all, is this actually possible?

Hmm.... food for thought.

At yesterday's lunch a large cheer erupted when one of the ladies announced that she had given notice on the job that no longer inspired her, to follow her dream and develop her own magazine. Several other ladies have also recently taken redundancy, or quit jobs to follow the dream of a life they want. Is this fool hardy or wise? I am a great believer that if something really makes you unhappy then don't do it, but is this unwise? Obviously we all have bills to pay, so following a pipe dream can leave you financially vulnerable- but can trying to have it all, leave you having nothing you really want?

I have a fulltime job, and I run a small business. How do I manage this? To be brutally honest I work a lot of hours, get little sleep, no days off, I have no time for myself and rarely see my friends or family. Is it worth the sacrifice? Honestly I don't know. I do know however that I don't have it all, my work/life balance is askew and all the fun stuff gets squeezed out. Having a fulltime job gives me financial security whilst building a new business. It does however give me something to hide behind, and holds me back from really building my business. With financial security you can become complacent, lack of money is a great motivator. Being too busy means it's hard to live in the moment, to stop and smell the roses sometimes. When over committed it's so easy to over-spend on food on the run, and the service industries, so how is that helping to make more money?

I've been inspired recently by a returning student. Between classes she had given up being a head teacher to go part-time and really live her life. She now bakes, cleans her own house and gets to see her family and friends. She doesn't make as much money, but feels richer for the fuller life she's living and the lack of stress.

So can we have it all? Sadly I don't believe we can, but I do think we can choose what we really want in life and make that our priority.

Here's to living the 'slow' life, and loving the life we lead.

A royal wedding Cocktail hat!

2011-04-28T10:24:00.000+01:00

This is the second mini tutorial from the delightful milliner Chrissie King of Hat Therapy
Chrissie and i met over on Twitter, why not follow her there! @hattherapy

Destruction's!!

1 Cut a piece of simamay {a hat making supply} 12 inch long by 7inch wide on the bias [that is found diagonally at 45 degrees to the straight of grain]

2 Fold in half by gently pressing down with palm of your hand
3 fold in the ends and press with iron

4 press with iron across whole of piece this will give you a sharp edge
5 fold in half again with palm of hand then with the iron [ not too hot]

6 roll around your rolling pin and making sure it can't escape! Steam with iron then hold it on the rolling pin till cold- This sets the material into a curl

7 gently pull rolling pin out and you will have a curl !!
8 stitch in same colour either by hand or machine along the 3 open sides and press again.
9 stitch a straw disk to a woven headband [all avail from Baxter Hart in Luton]

Add your curl in what ever way you wish and then trim with buttons feathers etc or just add an extra curl in a different size.

hey presto You have a cocktail hat. Perfectly quick for a last minute street party accessory

Chrissie King of Hat Therapy

Easter bonnet tips!

2011-04-22T13:15:00.000+01:00

It's Easter weekend, and many of us will be attending Easter bonnet parades. Why not make one with a twist? Create a fun Easter Fascinator that you can wear again.

I build pieces on a Foam head, but you don't have to have one, just make sure there is a mirror near by so you can keep checking what it looks like on your head.

You'll need something to keep it on your head, a cheap head band or Comb will do. Head-bands are easier to wear, but combs don't mess up your hairstyle.

Collect some materials that inspire you- this piece has lots of vintagey fake flowers that i bought in dalston market.

I used some cheap pearl bracelets twisted at the front of the piece

I also used an artificial bird from cnj florist supplies

Another element was some scrunched up netting at the back of the piece, adding some height

You'll need something to stitch or stick all your bits too. Ready made fascinator bases are easy to use and not super expensive. I used a vintagey tear drop shape from The trimming company, and then covered it with some satin and lace.

Using a glue gun( readily available from diy stores) cover your base with fabric
Pin all the elements onto your base, and arrange in a pleasing style. I started with the bird and then arrange the flowers around him.
Once you are happy with your design, take a few pics from different angles, you need to dismantle the piece a little to actually glue or sew all the elements onto the base so you want to remember what went where!

Glue or stitch all your elements onto the base- I started with the flowers and glued, then the bird which i stitched through the wire on his feet. then i pushed the net into the back and secured with a stitch. Finally i stitched the twisted pearls along the front edge of the flowers.

You now need to attach to your comb/headband.

Head band-

Securely glue the outside points of the base to the band at the points it sits on the band, when you line it up on your head.
Cut a piece of leather/felt the shape of the base and glue inside and over the headband. This makes it more secure, and hides any stitching inside the base

Comb-

Stitch your comb onto a piece of felt/leather that's the shape of your base and sits neatly inside. Just stitch the corners loosely, as the comb needs some movement.
Line up the piece on your head and mark where the comb needs to sit inside the piece.
Glue the felt/leather shape inside your base
Pin curling a small section of your hair will help anchor the comb when you wear it.

Voila- an easter bonnet fascinator. You can use all kinds of materials, and just let your imagination run wild

Happy Easter- CL x

Stop press-A sparkly new class

2011-04-12T10:00:00.005+01:00

Tie one on- make a man's tie

A beginners class

Held on Saturday afternoons at 2 pm

Want to sew but not inspired by cushions or dressmaking?
Got a special man in your life that would like you to sew for them?
Are you a man looking to start sewing?
Got a big wedding coming up and can't find ties you like?

Then this course is just for you!

Make a delicious tie in fabulous liberty print lawns, or funky printed cottons. choose from our selection or bring your own with advice from us
Learn how to cut out a simple pattern on the bias.
Get to grips with using interfacing, and cutting and sewing precision corners
Learn how to use simple hand stitches to create a beautiful luxury finish.

Just in time for Fathers day and the summer wedding season!

All tools, some materials & unlimited tea & coffee are included, just bring yourself!

2 pm - 5.45 pm. Cost -£49

Please see our booking terms and conditions before you make a booking

Fascinator making tips from expert milliner Chrissy King

2011-04-04T10:00:00.001+01:00

The royal wedding and indeed wedding season are almost upon us. At the thrifty stitcher we are filling up all our fascinator hen party slots- this year really is the year of the Fascinator or "Whimsy" as many milliners like to call them.

Expert milliner Chrissie King from Hat-Therapy has kindly agreed to guest blog for us once a month. She will be giving us seasonal advice, notes on etiquette for hat wearing at ascot and lots of tips. I can't wait! I'm really grateful to have Chrissie guest blogging, i love her work and she really is a fabulous milliner.

Chrissie's tips for getting started-

*Keep it simple, not too many pieces to stitch together.

*Pick a colour that can be worn with several items, you can always change the colour of a trim.

*Use milliners needles as they are fine & sharper than household.

*Try not to use double thread as it is more inclined to snag and knot.

*If you think your hair is too fine for a comb then sew directly onto a woven headband.

Suppliers-

A good place to buy millinery items

Baxter Hart & Abraham in Luton

tel 01582 721 381

Leading Fabrics Ltd T/A The Trimming Company
3 The Workshops Greenfield Road,Pulloxhill, MThe trimming company

Materials

A really simple and effective material is 'crin'

Made from synthetic fibres it comes in black ivory cream etc and in different widths.

Along one edge you will find a thread that can be pulled gently, once you have decided how much to use. Use this to sew with and create a simple twist.
If you want to add height fold the crin at each end under and fold in half.

Quills make a great statement and are simple to use.

Pick a quill that is not too big.

Cut with a sharp knife at an angle for the desired length then use a nail file to file the end of the quill.

Make a hole with a slightly bigger needle at the point you wish to attach your quill to a crin twist, then sew in a figure of eight with the same colour thread to secure.

ALL THIS CAN BE SEWN ON TO YOUR HEAD BAND. Much easier for a beginner.

The ivory piece of fabric is sinamay or in this case window sinamay. It is very soft and can be pleated as shown.
You can roll the edges between the thumb and first finger.
Lick your fingers and keep rolling until you get a neat tight edge or you can fold and iron to get a nice edge. Sinamay is a super versatile material, you can use to make all kinds of brilliant shapes.

Good luck everyone!
Chrissie

sewing machine trouble shooting tips

2011-02-28T10:00:00.002Z

It's been some time since my last back to basics post, and I feel terribly guilty! I feel a little like going to church and asking for forgiveness in the confessional booth....

I was rather poorly in January with a series of viruses, frankly I was plain wiped out! I had 3 weeks away from my theatre work, which i planed to fill with lots of lovely blog postings, course development, and having a life, but sadly being sick took all that away.

My theatre work re-started at the end of jan, and i've been up to my neck in 1950's glam ever since. We open "Million dollar quartet" on monday 28th feb- today! From now on my work should level out to an even pace, and I can resume my resolution to blog more.

Last week a roman blind student got in touch after having some problems with the brand new machine she'd just bought. I've also had a few sewing surgery students drop by with similar problems. It's unlikely that a new machine is faulty, problems usually occur for a few simple reasons. So here is my trouble shooting advice for problematic sewing.

1- Make sure you are using the same quality/brand of thread in the top and bottom of your machine-if not then this may be the problem. Different colours of the same brand are alright, but if the top is cotton, and the bottom polyester then they will fight and make your stitching bad.

2- Have you adjusted the top thread tension? The manual tells you to do this but in my experience it isn't necesary, and is usually the problem if the stitching is puckering either underneath, or on-top. Reset the top tension dial to the factory default of 5( This is usually outlined/coloured and is the middle point on the tension dial.)

3- When stitching goes bad, I suggest you change the needle particularly when you're unsure what weight of fabric was last stitched, and the needle may have blunted. I really recommend using a good quality needle. I prefer schmetz needles which although are a touch more expensive, have proved to be of a superior quality, and last longer than other brands.

4- Check that your bobbin thread is tightly wound on. If it's baggy then re wind it, ensuring that the thread is in the bobbin tension guide( this will be in your manual if you're not sure)

5-Completly re-thread the upper thread and re-insert your bobbin, ensuring that the thread is to the left as it drops in, and turning anti-clockwise( for top loading bobbins) or that the thread is to the right and turning clockwise ( for front loading bobbins)

Generally most problems are with incorrect threading, bobbin insertion, or getting too excited with a new machine and playing with all the dials. If you try all the above, and still have problems, then give your sewing machine dealer a call.

Happy stitching...

Friday giveaway

2011-02-25T14:56:00.002Z

This Sunday i'm teaching our starting from scratch beginners sewing day. The morning is spent making a hand-sewn fabric corsage. I love fabric flowers, and they're a great way to use up scrap fabrics.

This week I am giving away a pair of brand new clover Yo Yo makers, a brilliant way to make fabric corsages.

Yo Yo makers

To win the Yo Yo maker please leave a comment with the answer to the following question either here on the blog, our facebook page or on twitter.
Where was my first theatrical costume job?

Winner to be announced next Thursday march 3rd

fascinating fascinators!

2011-02-25T10:00:00.001Z

Here at The Thrifty Stitcher we are a little bit in love with fascinators. But what is a fascinator?

With the royal wedding looming, many of us think of Kate Middleton when we hear about fascinators, as she has often been spotted wearing them.

In actual fact the fascinator has been around since the 18th century, and was an indicator of an individuals wealth and status. Hats used to be worn primarily for warmth, and protection. the fascinator developed as way of decorating the head or hair purely for asthetic reasons, and were never worn to keep warm! Think Elton John and his fabulous ship wig, and that's the sort of confection worn in the 18th century.

With the rising interest in all things vintage, fascinators have had a massive resurgance over the last few years. Unlike hats, which need to fit your head perfectly, fascinators are one size and much easier to wear. Often fascinators are made with less materials than hats, and so are a more cost effective option for formal occasions like weddings.

Modern day fascinators can be anything from an elaborate sex and the city style head-piece to a simple flower behind the ear. The popularisation of burlesque has launched the sexy into mainstream culture.

We run fascinator classes and parties, and constantly look for new inspiration and materials. As Thrifty stitchers, we like to think outside the box, and use non traditional materials and techniques. We do also follow some simple millinery rules too, and we're so happy that from next month Chrissie the fabulous expert behind "hat therapy" will be writing a monthly millinery tips, techniques and what's hot blog for us here. Chrissie runs an amazing shop and online millinery business and we love her blog!

I Love Chrissie's work and her blog. She gives little glimpses into her working life, and shares her passion for hats. I can't wait for her monthly slot here on the thrifty blog, but here is one of my favourite pieces from Chrissie's blog.

http://thelittlehatshop.blogspot.com/2011/02/pink-hat-and-cupcakes.html

Our next Fascinator class is on feb 26th- tomorrow so do get in touch if you fancy a creative saturday afternoon... Otherwise see you next month.

Back to basics #1- buying a sewing machine

2011-01-21T10:00:00.010Z

One of the most important pieces of a sewing kit is the sewing machine. Boy is there a lot of choice out there, and when looking for a new machine even a seasoned sewer like me struggles to make a decision!

My first ever machine was very simple........

There is only one thread, no fiddly bobbin as this machine does a sort of chain stitch. It doesn't require any power, the wheel is turned by hand- a little hand, as this teeny machine is a toy and only about 6" high. I loved this machine, and made lots of dolls clothes and toys. The machine is based on the original singer sewing machine mechanisms. I outgrew this machine, and moved onto a vintage singer. My passion for sewing machines seems to have been inherited from my mum, who despite not really being a sewer had a massive collection of machines. I currently own 9 sewing sewing machines!

Many of us value established brands, and the singer brand is a great example of the success of an old trusted name. The modern singer uses the same logo and branding of the company created over 100 years ago, but it isn't the same company. Singer ceased trading several years ago, and was bought up by another company. The modern singer machines are not the incredible long-lived treasures of the past, they are inexpensively produced plastic machines, and rather disappointing.

When considering buying a new machine you should think of what you want to use it for. The cost of a machine varies from around £100 to thousands. If you are likely to only use your machine occasionally, then it's not worth splashing out on a top of the line machine. If you think you want to take up sewing professionally then it might be worth investing in a great machine like a Bernina to get started. If you're unsure of where your sewing will take you, then maybe invest in a mid range machine which you won't out-grow too quickly. It's a bit like buying computers- would you buy one for £1700 just to write an occasional letter?

I have worked in professional workrooms for most of my theatrical career, and worked on mostly industrial brothers and domestic berninas. When I started researching domestic sewing machines in 2009, i was amazed at how the domestic machine has progressed. I will confess that i was a bernina snob, i sold my semi industrial bernina machine to buy the domestic machines for the school, which was a wrench! What i wanted for the school, was a great mid-range machine suitable for teaching beginners on, that was also robust enough for me to use for my costume work. A bernina 1008 would have been perfect but at nearly £600 that meant a huge investment, and also i didn't want beginners to feel that they had to start out on such an expensive machine.

During my research phase, i'm surprised i didn't get barred from john lewis after endlessly getting them to demo machines. I called sewing machine sales people and got all the info i could, and i trawled sewing forums looking for reviews and recommendations. In brief here's what i discovered.

There is a massive difference between all the different brands aimed at the entry level sewer (£100 average) Frankly there are machines out there being sold to beginners that are little less than toys, and won't ever be able to sew denim
Several brands are trading on past good reviews and brand image despite the fact that the ownership has changed. Singer is now a company from Hong kong, Elna is no longer swiss, but has been bought by janome.
Manufacturers want you to get pleasure from your machine and have come up with lots of new innovations that make using a sewing machine a much easier experience
Shopping around online for the model you want usually means you get lots of great sewing freebies thrown in

The biggest difference between entry level machine, and a mid range machine is usually how the bobbin is inserted. A bobbin is a small spool of thread that goes underneath the needle, the thread that passes through the needle and the bobbin thread underneath loop together, which is how the machine sews.

The more basic(sometimes cheaper) models have the older bobbin mechanism that involves removing a metal case, slotting the bobbin spool into it, and then putting the matal case back into the front of the machine. If you ever learnt to sew at school, you probably recall that this was a little fiddly to master. However this mechanism has been around a long time so don't be put off buying a machine because of this. The incredible Bernina 1008 at a cost of £575 has a front loading bobbin.

Mid range machines often have a top loading bobbin, there's nothing to remove, gravity helps keep it in place and beginners tend to find it easier

For both types of bobbin, you really do need to spend some time reading the manual. most sewing problems are due to bobbins not being put in correctly, so it'll save time in the long run if you practise

I'm a professional Costumier, and I rarely use more than 7 of the different stitches available on my machine- straight, zig-zag, triple stitch, stretch stitch, overlock stitch, blind heming and buttonholes.You may be seduced by a more expensive machine with "50" stitches, but unless you want to do embroidery the chances are you won't use them, so save the money for fabric!

Another feature that can really affect the cost is the type of buttonhole the machine can do. Entry level machines( and the bernina 1008) generally have a 4 stage buttonhole. Mid range machines do a 1 stage buttonhole. Again don't be put off by the 4 stage buttonhole, it involves a little more work, but still does a great job.

Entry level machines often come with only a couple of sewing feet(accessories for the machine) If you want to sew zips for instance you will often need to buy that foot separately at around £10. Mid-range machines often come with a good selection of feet as standard- thus saving you money.

I have to say that after all my research i bought Janome. They are considered the market leader in new innovations, including their magnetic bobbin cases which mean there's less catching/jamming. All new janomes feature an extra height lift, which means you can get thicker materials under the sewing foot. Their mid-range machines now have a feed dog with 7 tracks as opposed to the usual 3, this means that the fabric really does glide through. The instructions are very good, and the english actually makes sense...

I bought a janome 5018 to trial at the start of the school's life. I love it, it has so many great features, a really strong motor and lots of accessories included. After a couple of months i bought another 5 for the school. This machine is exclusive to the company i bought it from. Often independant sewing machine stores buy a large amount of one type of machine, which means they can guarantee a continuous supply. This means they can offer deals that other shops can't. Sewing machines are a bit like fashion, once the season is up the product gets shipped to outlets to allow the new season to arrive- Mad!!

I personally recommend the companies i have linked to below- i don't get any benefit from doing so, but they have always provided me with excellent advice and service.

Entry level machines-

Janome SMD500 £99- a pretty standard basic machine. comes with a darning plate which is great if you fancy trying out some free-hand embroidery. You get some great freebies too!

http://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/JanomeSMD500_info.htm

Brother XL 5500SE £99- a very good value entry level machine. You get more feet with this one than with the janome.

http://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/brotherxl5500_info.htm

Janome SMD1000 £149- comes with a few more feet than the £99 version, and this one has a 1 step buttonhole, so it's great value

http://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/JanomeSMD1000_info.htm

All 3 entry level machines come with a soft plastic cover which will keep dust out, but won't protect your machine from knocks if you're out and about.

Mid- range machines-

Janome SMD2000 £199- A great price and lots of good features including a one stage buttonhole stitch

http://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/JanomeSMD2000_info.htm

Janome 5018 £239- my personal recommendation. Love this machine! Lots of ergonomic design so it looks nice, a great selection of feet. Easy to use storage. An extra long free arm and a good strong motor, and a one stage buttonhole stitch. This machine is bit heavier than the entry level machines, meaning it doesn't move about when sewing.

http://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/Janome5018_info.htm

Pfaff 1132 £229- a very good machine, top loading bobbin. Simple to use and comes with a good selection of feet and a hard cover. The buttonhole is a four stage one but really easy to use.

http://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/pfaff1132_info.htm

Pfaff 1142 £279- this has all the same features as the 1132, but features a 1 stage buttonhole and a couple more stitches

http://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/pfaff1142_info.htm

The rolls royce of sewing machines-

The bernina 1008 is bernina standard. If you invest in one of these it will last a lifetime. I've not had a great time with their electronic machines, but i love this mechanical machine and am always excited when a theatre has one! john from Maculloch and wallis has sold me a couple of machines and services my vintage elna

http://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/Product.aspx/SewingMachines!BERNINA%201008?

Bernina 1008

Professional sewing machines-

This Janome only does a straight stitch but if you sew curtains for a living, and don't have space for a full industrial machine then this is a great machine. Sews twice as first as a domestic machine..

http://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/Janome1600_info.htm

If you don't want to fork out hundreds for a new model, then a re-conditioned machine from a dealer that offers a warrenty is a great alternative. Most older mechanical machines were made to last, and provided they are serviced should give you many years of sewing. Make sure you have a go in the shop, and try and get one that does a zig-zag, or your sewing will be really restricted. I have a fantastic mini swiss built elna, that goes on tour with me and it's amazing. I bought it secondhand in 2000, and it still is my fav machine at work in the theatre. If you ever spot one of these definately check it out

http://sewingonline.co.uk/library/ELNA-TX.html

These are some great dealers that offer re-conditioned machines with a warranty

Olympic sewing machines- very close to some great fabric shops- very knowledgable owner too

http://www.olympicsewingmachines.co.uk/

Wimbledon sewing centre

http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1355/43278.php

Tony's sewing centre- specialises in pfaffs and will match online free gift offers

http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1355/461.php

London sewing in muswell hill

http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1355/116356.php

If you're looking to buy a machine, I do hope this has helped de-mystify it a little.

The next Blog post will be on threading up your machine and using the right needles

Happy stitching

The sewing directory-a fantastic resource!

2011-01-17T12:11:00.001Z

I returned from my Gambian holiday with the lurgy I left with. 2 weeks taking cold and flu meds is too much,so after a weekend of teaching that has left my sore throat even more sore, I am taking a day to rest and visit the doctor! Given my work schedule for the last 8 months I'm not surprised that my body is fighting back and making me rest up!

I am today feeling well,except for the painful throat and I like to be busy! So I am under a duvet,checking out the web and all my links to places I love. The sewing directory is one site I follow as a blog and on facebook and twitter-

http://www.thesewingdirectory.co.uk/

I remember hearing about the launch of the sewing directory and thinking it was just another sewing/crafty site. In less than a year however it has become the place to get info in all aspects of sewing and crafty stuff. The website is not just a listings page however,there are articles, tutorials and book reviews along with fabulous competitions. I've just hopped off their facebook page and realised that I've come to rely on this fabulous site for finding great suppliers. I've discovered several fabric shops through the sewing directory,and just today I discovered a site selling Japanese craft and textile books. Japanese textiles is a passion of mine,and having been lucky enough to tour japan I am a little obssessed by it!

Fiona, who runs the sewing directory seems to have discovered the magical extra 2 hours a day. Seriously as a mum to a toddler I don't know how she manages it all! Hopefully she'll send me her time management tips. I'm often inspired by the other new businesses I've discovered since I started my own,and many of them I found on this site. I think it's pretty amazing that in britain's economic downturn,women have gone out and started such aspirational new businesses like the sewing directory.

So if you love sewing,knitting or anything crafty then bookmark this site! It really is the ultimate resource for all crafty folk

Happy browsing!

Our throw away culture

2011-01-13T10:00:00.001Z

I am blogging today from The Gambia in west africa. I walked through a craft market on route to the internet cafe, and was struck by the sight of around 7 tailors sitting sewing in the sunshine on Singer pedal operated machines. It harks back to an era when electricity was unheard of, yet hear in 21st century Africa they still sew on machines that are 100 years old. It's made me think however that these fabulous machines are still working and doing the job for which they were created. How many of the modern tools we use today will be around in 100 years? Even my lovely new sewing machines will not stand the test of time. The tailors here in the gambia can keep sewing even when there is a power cut, the mechanics of the machines are simple and with regular cleaning and servicing would probably survive another 100 years!

I had a pedal sewing machine whilst training at the welsh college of music and drama, and yet despite it serving me well when i had a power cut the night before a deadline, i couldn't wait to upgrade to a shiny new electronic machine. I am still, to this day seduced by delicious shiny new sewing machines with more whistles and bells than my previous machine. I am not alone in this, our society as a whole worships at the altar all things new. Manufacturers don't make things to last, because we don't really want them to last, we move onto something new long before the product becomes unusable.

So do i think that you garments being made on these old singers are as good as any made on a modern machine? Sadly the singers have only a straight stitch, so the seams are either left unfinished or pinked or have seam binding attached. This makes them unlikely to withstand the rigours of modern washing. They aren't suitable either for stitching modern fabrics like jersey or lycra which requires a stretch stitch.

Although the sight of the singers being pedalled in the sunshine is deeply nostalgic, I will not be returning home and swapping all my new janomes and pfaffs, and elnas for vintage singers- i do like all the fabulous advancements that have been made since the pedal singer, and could not do my job without them. I will however keep using them until they can no longer be repaired, and not trade in for a shiny new version in a year or so.

My morning was spent leisurely reading Making magazine- a luxury i rarely have with my busy schedule back home. Sewing in the west is seen as a primarily female occupation. The tailors working outside in the sunshine are all men, and in fact the tailoring industry in the uk is still very male dominated, so i wonder how come it seems that sewing is viewed as such a female pastime? Maybe it is still a remanant of the victorians where nice ladies sewed purely decorative objects like samplers, whilst only men cut patterns and produced the functional things. -Interesting thought... i will think on this some more.

Back to the beach for me- this time my reading is a crime book, another rare treat...

Is being "Thrifty" the same as being mean?

2011-01-10T10:00:00.002Z

Back in 2009, when I began thinking of starting a small sewing school, I struggled with finding a name. There are lots of cliched sewing names, and I didn't want to go in that direction. After playing around with some names, I hit on the name Thrifty Stitcher. The name seemed to fit what I do- my theatre work is all about keeping beautiful costumes beautiful, and usually on a budget. Theatre costume can be all smoke and mirors, we make the ordinary seem extraordinary. I have actually made alpine maid's costumes from the scraps of fabric left over from the front of house curtains.

Using the word Thrifty however prompted missed reviews from my friends and family. Thrifty living it seems, can be viewed as a poor living, Thriftyness is often seen as meanness.

In terms of learning to sew, is being thrifty un-glamourous?

In our current economic climate, whilst we are all embracing the make do and mend fever that is sweeping the country, most modern women don't want to use or wear things that are too " home-made" I don't want cushions for example that don't look gorgeous, or fit my style. Can I be thrifty without compromising design integrity?

As a Costume maker I collected beautiful fabric. When cutting up a gorgeous piece of indian silk I found on a weekend away, I was as thrifty with it as I could be. I wanted to get the most from this lovely fabric, so I cut out my dress after fitting a toile so i didn't waste any in excessive seam allowances. I laid all the pieces out several times on the fabric to get the largest bit of spare fabric. The spare fabric was carefully stashed away, and contributed to several other projects until there wasn't enough left to cover a button.
The dress I made was delicious, unique and a perfect fit. It didn't look "homemade" and yet it was very Thrifty.

At our classes we encourage our sewing students to use things they love to create their designs. If you see vintage curtains in a charity shop, use them as fabric and make anything you can. If you spot some delicious liberty fabric buy it! For us being thrifty is about using everything you can and making things the best way you can.

At our studio we have a large selection of unique fabrics, ribbons and haberdashery. As costumiers we are given Fabric "scraps" left from shows. Some of these fabrics are specially printed and shipped from all over the world, and once we use the last scraps that's it- there is no more! I love seeing how our students mix up our fabrics and create all the amazing pieces that come from our studio.

So Be Thrifty, and be unique!

Happy Stitching

Invest- My last aspirational word for the year

2011-01-08T10:00:00.001Z

My final new year word is "Invest"

This year i will be investing in my business both financially and emotionally. I had some administrative systems set up at the end of 2010, which dramatically improved the amount of time i spent managing the business. I will be continuing to invest in making the business operate more smoothly.
I am developing some interesting new collaborations which will add a new twist to our classes, all with exciting experts in their field..... watch this space.
I'm developing some exciting products to sell alongside the classes too, again i'm afraid that's a watch this space....

I'm going to be investing in my education, i've learnt an awful lot about business in the last 18 months, but there is so much more for me to learn, and i'm going to get stuck into some business training. I may also sign up for a masters in theatre costume, although not sure how i will fit it in.

The Thrifty studio is a great space, a real artisan studio with lots of lovely light. 2011 will see some investment in re-organizing the space, and making it more fluid and cohesive.

2010 saw lots of great new TV shows come to our screens, and i missed most of them. when you work at night there's not much chance to watch TV, and really there's only so much you can record. I will be investing time catching up on Mad Men, and Supernatural. Both are shows i've heard so much about but not really followed. So if you try and get hold of me in january, and can't it's likely i'm watching back to back mad men!

2011 is the year i am seriously thinking about my future- i will be investing in my personal financial security. This is the year i accept that i'm not going to marry a millionaire, and crack on with making my own future secure. Financially it's a year to get my head out of the sand...

Every day- bit tough this one so i'm gonna take a pass on the daily act!
Every week - Learn something new, watch something new...
Every month - Put my latte habit into some savings...I drink a lot of lattes!
Throughout 2011- I'd like to live more cautiously, become a saver and not keep throwing caution to the wind

So that's it for my new year aspirations. Can't wait to see what this new year brings!

Happy stitching
CL

Love- my second word aspiration for 2011

2011-01-07T10:00:00.001Z

Love-

Wow this is a big word, and yet it's part of the everyday fabric of life.
This year i'd like more love in my life, i'd like to stop more often and appreciate those that i love, and those that love me. Too often when we're busy we get onto auto-pilot. Life becomes a blur of duty, and obligation. To do lists are great, and i write a lot of them, however i often forget to remember to tell my loved ones how i feel. So this year i aspire to rectify that, sorry to all my friends and family if i become a bit more gushing!!

I'd also like to give myself permission to love me a bit more. Anyone who knows me personally will know that i'm a perfectionist. i work really hard at getting things right, and often i am very self critical. I'd like to see myself more as others see me, and accept all that's good and bad. As with many women, i am a bit sad about how i look phsyically- i struggle with my weight, i constantly wish i could be thinner. Well this year i am going to stop procrastinating and take charge of my body. I don't aspire to be super thin, but i want to get a bit leaner, and fitter. I managed to quit 20 fags a day, so now i need to crack on with my body. I will try to Love the me i am now though, as it's so destructive to only think about the thiner me i could become. To Love myself, i need to be more in the moment.

I have 2 parallel lives- One as a Sewing Teacher, and one as a Theatrical Wardrobe Mistress. My two lives occupy much of my time, and many hours a week. Many of the activities i love have fallen by the wayside, and yes i probably have neglected the love of my life too. So I hope to start cooking again, not because i have to, but because i love it. I hope to start getting out again in 2011, and not always staying in because i'm so exhausted. I hope that i will do these things with my man, and that we can share some laughs together.

Hmmm.... lots to do here..

Every day - I will tell someone who is special to me, that they are special to me
Every week- I will commit to some pilates/cardio not to be thin, but because i love myself and want to stay alive!
In the next few month- i will have a dinner party, and cook food that i've never cooked before

See you tomorrow for my last word of the year- Invest

Create-Word number one of my new year challenge

2011-01-06T10:00:00.001Z

So instead of new year's resolutions,I have picked up on picking 3 words that sum up my aspirations for 2011.

The first of my words is "Create"

I would like to get more personal creativity back into my life. My theatre work and my teaching inspires others to be creative,but mine has slipped by the wayside! I'd like to make the following things for myself by Easter-

1- the underbust corset that i bought from sew curvy corset kits last august,and that still languishes in it's box!
2- the hot patterns faux wrap dress-it looks so delicious and I have rediscovered wearing dresses
3- copy my favourite monsoon shift dress and make a few more!

Create for me isn't just about doing things, I'd like to "create" a little more space in my life so I can enjoy doing nothing again,just chilling/reading staring at the sky!

I want to continue " creating" a network of thrifty stitchers

Some of my aspirations will take time,and so I'm not disheartened I have a few little things I'd like to get done in snaller chunks

Every day- create half an hour to take time out to daydream
Every week -read a book that's nothing to do with work
Every month-create a space in my life to get together with my girlfriends!

Fingers crossed that it's not too unachievable!

Tomorrow's blog is my second word -"Love"

Happy stitching

Fab suppliers

2011-01-05T17:52:00.001Z

Today I am truly over the moon,that I can actually blog from my I phone! Something I couldn't do before,which restricted my blogging as I am always away from my computer! Just as well I can use my phone to blog,today I have retreated back to bed with my poorly chest!

At this time of year,many of us are in s reflective mood,and today I'd like to mention a couple of great new suppliers I discovered last year!

Fabric shops-some really yummy ones

http://thefabricloft.co.uk/
http://www.sewbox.co.uk/
http://www.patchfabrics.co.uk/
http://www.backstitch.co.uk/
http://www.seamstar.co.uk/
http://www.raystitch.co.uk/

Some interesting ladies that sew!

http://www.corsetkits.co.uk/
http://suzysewing.blogspot.com/

Scrumptious ribbons,buttons and beads

http://www.josyrose.com/index.aspx?level=cat&cat_id=6
http://www.spoiltrottenbeads.co.uk/buttons-453-c.asp
http://www.craftyribbons.com/shop_value_bags-80.aspx
http://www.vvrouleaux.com/

Millinery supplies

http://www.thetrimmingcompany.com/c/235019/1/fascinator-accessories.html
http://www.millinerwarehouse.co.uk/
http://www.randallribbons.co.uk/feather-mounts.html

So I hope you enjoy discovering some of the products these companies sell as much as I did! If you attend a thrifty stitcher class you receive a bonus little black book of sewing suppliers packed with more links like these.

That's me for the day.

See you tomorrow!

2010- a big year for The Thrifty Stitcher

2011-01-04T17:30:00.002Z

2010 was a big year for The Thrifty Stitcher. The business only launched late 2009, so last year really was our first year of trading properly. It was a roller coaster ride....

The year started with a bang, so many people wanted to attend our sunday beginners classes that we doubled their frequency.

March saw us launching our first intermediate soft furnishing class- making roman blinds.
April showers accompanied our Fascinator class launch.
In May the business stopped being a partnership, which left just me running it....
We teamed up with a cookery school in june, offering creative crafting and cooking classes for children.
July saw a reduction in class frequency as i began a very heavy theatre job that meant I had to work all over the weekends.
August- Nov were a blur of juggling the business and my theatre job. Made a whole new set of friends though at my networking group and on twitter
December saw us crafting for fairs and running new christmas workshops.

So here i am in 2011- this year I hope to get time to do more personal sewing.
We are launching a few new classes this year- the first being an intermediate cushion class "Beyond Beginners" This class focusses on inserting and using zips, and mastering the box cushion.

Looking forward to a great Thrifty Stitching year....

A fabulous book for new year sewing

2010-12-23T23:33:00.002Z

Post Christmas often leaves us with lots more time on our hands. Why not fill that spare time with some great new sewing projects....

Stitch by Cath Kidston

Cath Kidston third book "Stitch" is a great successor to her previous books, "Sew", and "Make" Cath Kidston has become a british icon, making florals chic again, and popularising kitsch culture.
Stitch is a fabulous project book for fans of needle-point, or indeed for anyone interested in getting started with needlepoint/cross stitch. There are a great selection of projects from simple pincushions, to elaborate cushion covers, All the designs are classic Cath Kitson, and the book is a real treat for anyone waating to dip into contemporary surface decoration, or for experienced cross stitcher looking for inspiration. Not only is the book full of contemporary ideas, but you get a free zipper purse too! My personal favourite is the stanley dog pencil case- a really iconic Kidston design. Given my schedule, i am foing to start with a stanley dog motif badge.

If you're hoping for some book tokens this christmas, go pick up a copy of Stitch. It's readily available on the high street and is published by Quadrille publishing limited.

New gorgeous girl's dress class

2010-09-29T15:18:00.000+01:00

Make a gorgeous girl's dress

Held on mid-week days from 9.30 am till 3.30 pm

Little girl's slip over dresses are both gorgeous and practical- and often expensive!
These dresses are really simple to make and are a great project for mums that can use a sewing machine- if you are an absolute beginner try our half day beginner's class first
Once you've mastered the pattern, the possibilities are endless.
These dresses can be layered with t shirts and long sleeved jumpers to make them wearable all year round

First class date TBC click for more info

Cost £75

New class schedule

2010-09-22T12:07:00.000+01:00

Hello Blog,

Sorry to have neglected my blogging. Just never enough time to get everything done!

I have changed my blog background a little- the fabric was boring me a bit!

We have new sewing classes especially for mums launching this autumn. Held on weekday mornings they are perfect for mums that want to get to grips with buttons and labels

Check out all our new class dates here

http://thethriftystitcher.co.uk/events_and_classes_calendar.html

well this was a short and sweet posting! i will be back soon.....

Meet up group

2010-06-15T01:39:00.000+01:00

Many of our beginners students have been interested in learning how to adjust/customize and re-vamp their clothes, but often couldn't afford justify paying for another private class at the school. We are now offering low cost meet up sessions focusing just on altering clothes. The venue is the book club, which is a fantastic space in hoxton. The session includes a demo on how to adjust clothes, a handout, refreshments and expert advice on hand.
Why not check it out?

next fascinator class date

2010-06-04T15:06:00.000+01:00

The next fascinator & corsage class is on Sunday July 11th. Come along for an afternoon of inspired creativity, fun and a delicious cocktail. classes held in a great bar in hoxton London, and are only £50 per person.

What are you waiting for- book now.....

a little facebook experiment

2010-06-01T22:40:00.002+01:00

am hoping i can link to facebook. testing testing....

spring competition winner

2010-06-01T22:28:00.000+01:00

Our spring 'win a sewing kit' competition was won by Karen who attended a beginners day, and then went home and made this cute dress for her little girl. She used a library book we recommended to make the project, and is so pleased with the dress she has now bought the book! Another sewing addict is born.....

First day on Prima Donna In Toronto

2010-06-01T03:12:00.000+01:00

Having arrived late on sunday from NYC, i only got a brief glimpse of the city, but i did marvel at Niagra falls when we flew over it. i have been but nature just astounds me- think i will pop over on my day off on sunday and see it again.

This is the view from my room, i am on 35th floor!

Had a fab veggie meal in a great veggie restaurant- only down side- they don't sell booze! Veggies drink, i am veggie and i love a cheeky beer on a sunday evening.....

Cost of living is pretty high in Toronto, think i will be spending all my pd's just on food! Pd's are the daily cash allowance we receive when touring abroad- if you're clever it is a great way to avoid spending your salary. We often refer to it as "free money"

Finished off my evening last night in a bar having some cheeky cocktails with my pal vicky. Rudely awoken at 4 am by the sound of a fire evacuation. When you are in a high rise building that is pretty scarey. It was called off so we all got back to sleep eventually!!

Checked out the theatre today, then headed on the subway to rehearsals. Subway was so busy, but not quite as organized as London or NYC. Am looking forward to taking the tram soon! Ended the day fitting the new cast members we have on the show.

Our tips of the month

2010-06-01T02:40:00.003+01:00

Website of the month

This website is the online version of cloth magazine, and is dedicated to complete beginners.It has fantastic clear photo tutorials on all things cloth related. One of the editors is a Costumier like us, and there is a lot of passion in this magazine. It also has a great round up of events all over the UK, and competitions!

http://www.clothmagazine.co.uk

Thrifty’s Book of the month-

This book is from the american domestic goddess Martha Stewart. She has pioneered so many domestic crafts, and the internet is littered with her wonderful sewing tutorials. I am going to buy some of her time saving sewing gadgets whilst in the states this month, and i can't wait to tuck into this delightful book.

Martha stewart's encyclopedia of sewing and fabric crafts

Day 2 in NYC

2010-05-29T15:31:00.000+01:00

Today was really about catching up with pals. I have done a few shows in New York and made friends with the american crews that I met. I also have some really great american actor friends that I worked with in London, and I try to see them all whenever I can.

I love central park, but almost avoid it as I always get lost, today was no exception.....
I had arranged to meet my friend Jeremy and his wife south of the turtle pond, another pal Matt was gonna swing by too. Central park has no signs inside it, and although it's a lovely place to wander through aimlessly, that's not so good for meeting people! After 15 mins of aimless wandering i called matt, who started to look for me. I had wandered into an area called the rambles, and got lots of differing advice on where to go! Needless to say, i had to retrace my steps and get back to the street, and matt had already left. I finally hooked up with Jeremy and Linda, and was excited to see that they are expecting. We went into the park and met with some of their friends who were picnicing, really lovely to hang out in the blazing sunshine with pals.

My next meeting was almost 100 yards away at the open air theatre in the park. Kimberley and i got some lunch and caught up on the lawn. She only had an hour dinner break, but it was so good to see her, it's been 2 years since i saw my american chums!

I caught the subway downtown to 50th street, and did a quick stop off at 2 theatres to say hi to other Costume pals who were working. Jessica is on 'La Cage' and we had a really brief, lovely chat. Robert is on 'Rock of ages' and we had an even briefer chat, but so good to see him. As i was leaving the theatre i ran into a Stage manager that i'd worked with in London- small small world.

I hot footed back onto the subway to meet Matt and Jason on 14th street and 8th avenue. We spent a really fun evening bar hopping in the village, starting in the stunning bar at the Jane hotel. Really glad i came to new york just for the opportunity to catch up with my friends- facebook is just not the same as sitting down together!

A little tipsy i got on the NJ transit and almost missed my stop! Luckily for me, another passenger woke me up......

Day 1 in NYC

2010-05-28T16:12:00.000+01:00

I took the NJ Transit into the city- journey time door to door from hotel to penn station around 1 hour. Not too bad considering i got lost on the newark airport mono rail system.- a round trip into the city is $30, so reasonable

The early part of the afternoon was spent at a knitting session in Purl Soho with the amazing Jeremy. I used to be a knitter until I discovered chopping up big pieces of fabric rather than making them. In 1992 i began knitting a cute jumper, which has been in my cupboard ever since, Jeremy refreshed my knowledge with some advice on cabling, increasing and decreasing, and i felt like it hadn't been so long since i knitted! I love the shop in broome street SoHo and wish i could have bought everything!

I moved onto a shop called sew fast, sew easy that also teaches sewing. It is a small shop inside a large building, and although i was hoping to browse the selection of gadgets i was rather rushed into making my purchases which were some nifty magnetic seam allowance guides , flexi rulers , and a couple of books. It's a shame i couldn't have stayed longer, but the owner had a student she needed to get back to.

I strolled about 20 blocks up to central park, and sat enjoying some rays, i was joined by a really colourful rickshaw driver called garth, who wanted to chew the fat a little.

My next stop was MOMA- a museum i have meant to visit on every one of new york trips. Luckily for me on friday evening it's free- so it was really buzzing. great photographic exhibition by female photographers.

On leaving Moma, i had a great cheap mexican in Chipotle- a sort of fast food mexican place, so it was pretty cheap and really tasty. I left the restaurant and strolled through the manic hustle bustle of times square, which never fails to delight me. there are several ships in port this weekend, so the city is teeming with sailors in crisp uniforms.........

Caught a double decker NJ transit train back to the airport and my hotel. Train full of colourful characters

On tour!

2010-05-27T21:47:00.000+01:00

I have been lucky enough with my theatrical career to have come to NYC every year between 2003, and 2008. However my last visit was march '08, so when i got a tour with Prima Donna to Canada i jumped at the offer to have a few days in NYC before i started.

So here I am, attempting to have a 'Thrifty' trip to NYC as I am skint, any money saving tips I glean in the next 3 days, shall be passed on. My first money saving idea was to stay out of Manhattan itself as hotels this weekend are really expensive due to it being a holiday. For half the price I am at the renaissance newark airport, and I will commute into the city.

Never really having explored new jersey before, i am off in a moment to Jersey garden's outlet mall- a massive 200 discount shops! Banana republic factory stock too, which could be dangerous......

updated courses and info on our website

2010-04-03T01:35:00.000+01:00

Our Website of the month

This blog is dedicated to all making and mending all kinds of stuff. It has great tutorials on not just sewing, but cooking and gardening. All the tutorials are clear and some are videos. A great place to get some free advice

http://www.makeitandmendit.com

Thrifty’s Book of the month-

This book is aimed at anyone who wants to start sewing. Even an experienced sewer like me still dips into my copy of this book for some advice once in a while. My copy is almost 20 years old, but the information is still very valid today. They have recently updated the book, but that is the first major update in a couple of decades. Only the graphics give away how old the book is.

I had to refresh myself on inserting a particular type of zip, as i hadn't done one in ages, and there is a fantastic chapter devoted to zips.

It can be a little daunting for a novice sewer, but it really will prove a great resource as your sewing develops.

The readers Digest complete guide to sewing

Fascinator workshops

2010-03-27T00:30:00.000Z

We are very excited about collaborating with a hat designer-Holly Dench for our new Fascinator class. This workshop will be held at a fantastic new bar venue The book club in Leonard street, London EC2A 4RH. At the end of the workshop we will all enjoy a fab cocktail together, admiring each others unique creations.

Fascinator workshop info

Great video tutorial

2010-03-26T19:51:00.000Z

As Thrifty Stitchers we hoard everything, and our students have access at our studio to a massive selection of fabric, ribbon, trims, haberdashery and buttons to make their projects during a class.
I have just discovered this great website- Make it and mend it, which has incredible tutorials. this one is a video showing how to create stylish 'designer' cushions with scraps and bits and bobs you already have. We love it.......

http://www.makeitandmendit.com/2009/10/15/make-your-own-cushions/

Recent students

2010-03-24T17:22:00.000Z

We have been super busy in March, and have met some fantastic students, all of whom astound us with their individual creativity. here is a little selection of some of our fabulous students with the projects they completed at a Thrifty Stitcher class

Our tips of the month

2010-03-24T17:11:00.000Z

Our Blog of the month

This blog is dedicated to all things retro. sewers from all over the world contribute with pattern reviews, and project ideas

http://sewretro.blogspot.com/

Thrifty’s Book of the month-

This book is aimed at anyone who wants to start making clothes, and who doesn't want to have to fiddle about with patterns. There are several projects to make, all with instructions on how to cut out directly from the fabric. A really good starting point for beginners wanting to progress quickly into making garments. Spring is now here so why not rustle up a simple wrap skirt- no tricky fastenings.......

Sew What! Skirts by Francesca DenHartog

Penny saver tip of the month-

At this time of year many of us are thinking about spring cleaning. Don't spend lots of money on products to refresh your clothes. Buy a really cheap,non branded bottle of vodka, put into a water spray bottle, and spritz it under the armpits of your clothes. The alcohol evaporates and takes odour particles with it! It is a good idea to test a small hidden area first, as sometimes it can make colours run.

Honestly this really is one of the best ways to get odours out of clothes, we use it all the time in the theatre, it is more natural than many chemical products. Dry cleaning only cleans your clothes, often trapping the odours into the fibres

our website update

2010-02-06T01:09:00.002Z

February’s fav blog

I found this site last year, and regularly dip in for a browse at all their lovely ideas, products and tips. They are based in new york, my fav city after London, and I dream that i am there in SoHo NYC

http://www.purlbee.com/

Thrifty’s Book of the month-

Although I don’t have children, many of our students do. Often that is why they want to learn about sewing. Children’s clothes are exorbitantly expensive, and have such a short life.

We are developing some workshops on making children’s clothes, and I stumbled upon this book. It is totally delicious and has not only some great projects, but all the patterns too!

Making Children’s clothes by Emma Hardy

vintage patterns and websites

2010-02-01T11:51:00.000Z

Hello again blog, so sorry to have neglected you.......

We had a returning student yesterday at our 'Starting from scratch beginners day' who is interested in all things vintage, i have been looking for some resources for her, and found this fantastic site
http://sewretro.blogspot.com/

I have also read some reviews for a modern pattern company creating vintage inspired patterns which fit our generation. Yummy..
http://www.colettepatterns.com/shop

We will be ordering some patterns soon and trying them out

class schedule for january

2009-12-30T00:19:00.001Z

We have 2 starting from scratch beginner's days running in january-

Sunday Jan 17th 2010, & Sunday Jan 31st 2010

We will be holding our drop in sewing surgeries on-

Wednesdays- 6th &13th Jan 2010,
Mondays 11th & 18th Jan 2010,
Friday 15th Jan 2010

We have 3 dates in January for our half day sewing classes-
Sat Jan 9th 2010
Sat Jan 16 th 2010
Sat Jan 30th 2010

hope to see you at a thrifty class soon...

officially a rubbish blogger!!

2009-12-30T00:12:00.000Z

Officially I am a terrible blogger! It has been almost 2 months since my last post!

In my defence I did have a catastrophic computer breakdown-my hard-drive died, which took a month to fix. I was busy continuing to bulid the website until the wee hours of most nights in November, whilst attempting to keep the facebook fan page current. I was also on 2 shows for a wee while, and squeezed in a fair bit of teaching since I last blogged too!

I promise to load pics and news about the last 2 months activity asap!

To all the Thrifty Stitchers out there, i hope you have a fantastic new year!!

New class schedule

2009-10-30T11:10:00.000Z

We have added the new class schedule for november to our web-site,

www.thethriftystitcher.co.uk

I have not only become addicted to buying and re-reading gorgeous sewing books, but i cant stop looking for inspiration. If you fancy the handmade look but can't really be bothered then check out this shop
www.sassandbelle.co.uk
They have so many gorgeous fabric products, including yummy bunting, cushions, mobiles and covered books. If you have a look at their website, you could also get some inspiration for projects. I really like the pirate cushions in blue for boys rooms, and the pirate bunting. They have an adorable pink check drawstring sleep-over bag for girls, and cute cushions for a girl's room.

Here are some pics-

2009-10-28T12:39:00.000Z

We have a new list of classes in November, I have yet to upload to the website, and am short of time today as I have a matinee, and an evening show today,

In brief-

Sunday Nov 8 -
Chop and Change - A full day of alterations and learning new skills.
Suitable for any level

Sunday Nov 15-
Cooking up a storm- Retro aprons/oven gloves & tea-cosies. Gorgeous to own, and great as a gift!
Suitable for people already able to use a sewing machine

Sunday Nov 22-
Starting from scratch day- An absolute beginner's sewing day
Suitable for any level, but particularly for beginners

We also will be continuing our drop in sessions on tuesdays, and fridays between 10 and 4( sessions are booked in 3 hour slots and you choose what time to come)

We are adding in an Easy A line skirt session on fri Nov 13, & monday Nov 16
Suitable for people already able to use a sewing machine

I will get a proper schedule of classes/prices on our web-site, and this blog asap.

Gotta run to the west end now!

Starting from scratch sewing day -25th Oct

2009-10-26T13:32:00.001Z

Yesterday we had a lovely day with 5 enthusiastic sewers.

The morning was spent covering basics, hand sewing, tools required and starting to use a machine. Everyone created a cute rosette brooch before lunch, here are a selection-

After lunch the projects were finalized and fabrics chosen. Unusually everyone chose to make a cushion. We offer lots of variation in the way to customize the projects, so no 2 cushions are ever the same.

Look at the great cushions that were created yesterday!

surprising facts about sewing

2009-10-23T13:29:00.000+01:00

I attended a fantastic lunch yesterday hosted by the athena network, who are a women in business networking group. Our bank manager had recommended this to us, and i had contacted the london head office of athena and been put in touch with a regional director called Marilena. As I am completely new to business, all this networking stuff was a little daunting....
Prior to my lunch, Marilena had put me in touch with a fabulous marketing lady, who had briefed me about how best to approach the lunch. Although very very out of my comfort zone, I had a great time, and was welcomed very warmly by a diverse mix of very talented women in business at all different stages. It is a great idea, and there were ladies there who could help develop the thrifty stitcher, and also ladies who were just keen on getting crafty!
One lady has really got me thinking however, she is a healer working with feng shui, and non invasive healing methods, and she came to talk to me about what a difference a practical skill like sewing could have for many women in these busy stressed out times. It is not so much a return to the past, as an opportunity to allow ourselves to stop and just take as long as is needed to get the sewing done. There are no software tricks that will speed up hemming, or gadgets to pin together your fabric.
Thank-you to Jacqueline Kassick (www.essencesforlife.com) for making me stop and consider my craft in this way!

So I had a look out on the net, as you do and I found this article on -
http://blog.hearttohandonline.com/?p=361

CLINICAL STUDY REVEALS THE STRESS-REDUCING BENEFITS OF SEWING

Surprise! Sewing May Be Good For Your Heart!
A clinical study commissioned by the Home Sewing Association (HSA) reveals that women who sew – both skilled as well as novice sewers — experience a significant drop in heart rate, blood pressure, and perspiration rate when compared to women who participate in other leisure-time activities. Heart rate, blood pressure, and perspiration rate are three key factors in the measurement of stress. The study’s results appear to indicate that sewing helps women to relax while they focus on a creative activity.

there is more on the above blog, but this was enough to make me thoughtful today!

So today was one of our first Drop in sewing sessions- with 3 of 6 places filled, we had a really intimate session. A highlight for me was seeing a colleague from a year ago, joining us in order to move up within our profession, theatre. Natasha has recognized that without sewing skills, she could easily get stuck in a career rut, and is taking any opportunity to push herself further.

great online tutorials

2009-10-23T13:27:00.000+01:00

I love getting free stuff, so was really pleased when I found this site. They have really great, clear instructions for lots of common sewing projects. So if like some of our students you are frightened by buttonholes, then take a look at this-

http://www.startsewing.co.uk/ButtonholesAndButtons.html

More Yo Yo brooches

2009-10-23T01:41:00.001+01:00

I have been trying out some yo yo making on the gals at work. This is a homage to an article in sew hip, and I love them!!

These cute little things can be used as a brooch, or to decorate a cushion/bag etc. They can be made in pretty much any fabric, and can be finished with a button at the centre or not....

Merrin made these yesterday.

Here are some that sarah has been making today.

so so tired of the worldwide web!

2009-10-22T03:46:00.001+01:00

Well, It is now 3.30 am, and this is at the end of a 2 show day for me so i am a little pooped!

I signed up this evening for search engine visibility with the company who host our little website. It was fairly cheap to do this, and now i now why. I have just manually registered our website with all the major search engines and answered the same questions about our business on each site!

I had such a great day up to the point that i tried to be web-site designer/manager/marketing manager/and head of publicity. What i had hoped to do was upload some lovely picture i took of projects i had people doing today. i have spent so much time trying to do the business side of the website, that i am now too exhausted to think about the bit i'm good at, the creative aspect of te business ie teaching sewing.

Web-site designers and geeks are there for a reason, us mere mortals cant possibly stay up all night, night after night trying to get seen on the worldwide web........ Arghh, i am very very tired of struggling to be an it support system, when i have only trained to make lovely clothes, and organize actors!

I still have yet to hear from facebook, who are supposed to be getting abck to me about how i link the facebook site with my web-site,still california is a long way away, and it was only 3 days ago that they promised to deal with my query asap.

On a happy note, i think i have finally worked out how to upload pics onto this blog...hooray for video tutorials on the net..

here we go- a wee "yo yo" brooch I made today

gorgeous cute children's patterns!!

2009-10-14T23:19:00.001+01:00

Whilst prepping for my freestyle drop in sewing session at the end of the week, i have been looking for really great patterns for a pinafore/apron dress as that is a project one of my students wishes to work on. We looked through all the reams of patterns in our studio, but didn't spot anything either easy enough for a beginner, or funky enough to be a thrifty project. I am totally kicking myself, as i saw a fab oliver and s pattern at ally pally, and didn't buy it!
I did a net crawl, as you do, and found this really very cute FREE DOWNLOADABLE pattern on this blog-
http://madebyrae.blogspot.com/2008/04/free-itty-bitty-baby-dress-pattern.html

This version is for a wee baby, but you can follow links to a larger toddler version. Anyhow I have adapted the pattern to make a super easy version. Once I finish the prototype I will publish pics. I may even add my version of the itsy bitsy dress as a downloadable pattern...(I may be getting a little carried away!!)

Many thanks to Rae, whose free pattern seems to have inspired many other stitchers, check out some of her other patterns on her blog.

My other discovery is the Oliver and S patterns-very very desirable, they are american but you can order them through eternal-maker, a very gorgeous shop in Chichester that I saw at the knitting and stitching show in Ally Pally! Apart from patterns they sell lots of scrummy haberdashery and fabrics......
http://www.eternalmaker.com/index.php?cPath=63_207_377

I am attending an Athena network lunch tomorrow, which is a sort of business networking event for women. We are hoping there will be other businesses that can help us develop from being just a bit of an idea to a proper grown up concern. I will follow up tomorrow

lost in the web...

2009-10-11T03:51:00.001+01:00

Well,
days and days after my last entry i am still navigating my way around the swamp that is the web. Just spent an hour reading the google web-master guide lines to optimize your site, and i still don't know what on earth it all means!

I have successfully updated my first web-site from a freebie with lots of ads to a slightly better one, but we are still not popping up on google searches!!

My next mission is to get this blog to pop up with my web-site......

Watch this space, not that anyone can read this yet, as i don't think i have made it visible on the net yet, but i live in hope.

The knitting and stitching show at ally pally.

2009-10-08T01:15:00.001+01:00

Today i went to one of the largest sewing/craft events of the year.
It was a fairly last minute decision to go, as i only realized it was on 2 days before...
My goodness it was rammed, both with visitors and stands.
Every aspect of knitting and stitching was covered and to be honest, it was a little too much to take in. I thought it was a great opportunity to do some research on new sewing products, so i persevered and shuffled along through the great hall along with hundreds of other ladies.

I had planned to get a subscription for a sewing magazine, and was very very pleased when i stumbled upon "Sew Hip" magazine-it is fresh with a modern layout and some great projects. I got a fabulous goody bag for signing up at the show, and a free cloth-kit!

I collected lots of flyers and business cards and i will post some of the best links into my web-site soon.

I stayed too long at the show, and had a mad dash back to the west end in order to get my show ready by 7.30. Nothing like cutting it fine.....

First class

2009-10-04T21:31:00.003+01:00

I got an early last night, because I am terrified about our first ever class today!

Alex arrived at 8.30 am, and my boyfriend who has had a really hard week opening 2 plays this week, got up to come and help us.

Once we arrived at the studio, we had to try and move Alex's cutting table which has rolls and rolls of fabric underneath, and was very very heavy. We had to take most of the stuff out from underneath, and eventually we managed to move it!

My boyfriend helped us finish re-arrange the studio, and then put up signs. He was a charming host as our students arrived.
There was a lot of service disruption with our lovely transport system so people arrived in dribs and drabs. At about 11.30, we got going, and from that point on we had such a great time, all the planning, and logistical stuff slipped away and we just played with buttons/felt and sewing machines.
We made the most of the last few rays of sunshine, and took our lunch in the park across from the studio. After lunch everyone got going with their selected project-a cushion/or a bag. We had some delicious cupcakes mid afternoon, and a little over the allotted finish time, we took our first group picture with all our group displaying their finished project.

Alex and I had a little clear-up once the ladies had left, and then went home exhausted!!!

Hooray, one down, many more to come-(hopefully)

cl x

getting onto the worldwide web....

2009-10-01T04:49:00.001+01:00

Well,

So far I have invested over 3 hours this evening and maybe 20 hours in total trying to set up a website for the new business my friend Alex and i have set up together....The Thrifty Stitcher.

God I wish I was rich enough to have gotten someone to do all this for me....

I brief- I want to have a really great website, that is totally interactive. This will however cost money to do professionally. So being a new business, and not flush with lots of spare cash, we have gone the DIY route. Whilst this is possible to do fairly quickly,it is limited in it's scope. I have plumped for a free hosting site, which after many hours researching online I realized would do pretty much what i needed but wouldn't look as lovely as I'd hoped.

My initial session building the web-site although it took me 4 hours was reasonably successful. Hooray!.

I now need to add pictures, which i have done on a free album page....

I need to add a blog, which i am writing into......

How on earth do I make them all appear in the same place? I currently would need to send people 3 different links.

Aargh.... who said money doesn't make you happy? If I was rich enough then someone else would have done all this, and I would have been in bed 3 hours ago....

I'm done, Nos da

cl xx

Setting up a sewing school

2009-09-30T10:58:00.000+01:00

My friend Alex and I decided to utilize our collective Theatrical Costuming skills, and set up a sewing school. We are in the 4th week of our prep time, and because we have both been busy working in the west end an on film sets, we now have a bit of a scramble to get everything ready for our launch on oct 11th, and our try out day on oct 4th

We have a work space..

We have machines..

We have our courses planned..

We still have to crack on with some marketing or no one will come on Oct 11th. I am both very excited and terribly scared!

If you want to sew, but think you can't then come along!

cl@ thethriftystitcher