Repair not replace

I am really bad at buying new clothes for myself, I prefer to either make new items or if I already own something then to repair or refashion it.
I have this cardigan that I managed to somehow rip a right-angle shape into.

Right angle rip in back

I was trying to work out what to do as I knew just sewing the rip up would be ugly, then I found some nice wide satin ribbon and thought I would give it a try to cover the hole.

I first stitched the hole up, then attached the ribbon around the waist covering where I had stitched.

I used straight stitch around the top and bottom of the ribbon. I then decided it looked a bit plain so added some decorative stitching to the centre of the ribbon, this also helped to anchor the ribbon to the cardigan. 

View of the decorative stitching

I used a walking foot when attaching the ribbon to the cardigan due to the nature of 2 different types of fabric working against each other. With the walking foot attached the ribbon went on smoothly.

Using a walking foot to attach the ribbon.

Once the ribbon was attached the rip is hardly visible from the outside of the cardigan.

Repaired cardigan 

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Hemming web

Normally I make sure that I have plenty of time to do any alterations but sometimes things pop up at the last minute. My Grandad had a function to attend last Friday night but left it to the last minute to get himself some trousers (last minute as in Thursday night). He could only get a 32inch leg which meant he then needed to have them taken up. I got home from my day job at about 7pm on Thursday night and my granddad had just got home from buying the trousers. As it was late and I was hungry I decided to use some hemming web as a quick fix just to get him through Friday night, then take them up when I had a bit more time and wouldn't be so rushed.
I will never use hemming web again if I have any choice. I couldn't get the stuff to stick properly in most places round the hem and burnt my hand with the steam.
The good news is that the trouser hems held up for my granddad to wear for the night.

Has anyone else ever used hemming web?
What did you think?
Would you use it again?

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Elastic buttonholes

I was asked to add some elastic to the waist of a pair of exercise trousers. I have never met the person who the trousers belong to (I was asked through a work colleague) so was unsure as to how small the waist needed to go.
The solution I used was to add buttonholes to the elastic. I made sure the elastic was slightly smaller than the original waist for the 1st buttonhole, then spaced the rest of the buttonholes out by about 1/2 inch gaps. Due to the type of elastic I was using I was able to just make slits in the elastic to create the buttonholes. I then added a button to the opposite side of the trousers. The owner of the trousers can now adjust the trousers to how small they need them and then just need to spread out the gathers around the waist.

Trousers pulled tight

Trousers on 1st buttonhole

Button on opposite side

Buttonholes in elastic

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Making something for myself.

I have finally caught up with all my waiting family alterations - thanks to the extended bank holiday.
I did also spend one of the days baking cakes and Viennese fingers which went down well with the family.

Once I had finished all the alterations I cut out the muslin to make a mock up of the dress I am making for myself.
I didn't actually get chance to sew it together until yesterday due to the extended bank holiday meaning we were extra busy at my day job as we were closed 2 extra days.

The dress I am making is this simplicity pattern and I plan to make it in this fabric.

Sewing the muslin together was quick and easy - except when I had the pieces wrong sides together so had to unpick and re-sew. After that everything went together really quickly.
I was pleasantly surprised when I put the dress on to find that the fit was nearly perfect. I say nearly as I have such a small waist measurement compared to hips that everything needs some type of alteration. (my waist measures 32inches, my hips 45inches)

I have got to take each side seam in by about 2 inches from just under the waist to the underarm.

I will add pictures of the mock up when I have them on the PC  and also post updates as the dress progresses.

I have also finished my 1st ever quilt so will be adding a new post about that in the next week.              
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Latest alterations

Just thought I would post about my recent alterations.

I have decided that I would clear all the outstanding alteration jobs that I had to do for my family before I started on a new project for myself. I had a skirt for my mum which needed the zip replacing and a hooded top for my brother which his dog had chewed the zip on. I also have a quilt for my bed which just needs some finishing quilting designs and the bias binding attached, a quilt for the cot for my nephews which needs piecing and quilting.

Heres some pictures of my brothers top.

The damaged zip in the top.

The damaged zip once removed from the top.

The new zip inserted into the top.

This wasn't as bad to do as I expected it to be, the worst part was unstitching 3 rows of stitching to get the original zip out. The only problem that I had was being unable to get a new zip the same length as the original so I had to put a shorter zip in and just stitch the facing and front together above the zip.


Heres a couple of pictures of my mums skirt:

The broken zip in the skirt

The new zip in the skirt.

The only difference with the new zip is that it is a slightly darker shade than the original but apart from that everything looks as it did before.

I have now decided on how to piece the cot quilt together so that will be done next weeked and I will be working on my quilt as and when I get chance as I am in no great hurry to finish it.

I am now going to allow myself to start on a new project which is a coat for myself using simplicity pattern number 2581. It is the 1st time I have made a coat so am looking forward to learning new techniques.

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From tight to perfect

A customer emailed 2 weeks ago asking if I could add a zip to a top she had purchased in the sales.
When she tried it on it was slightly too tight around under her arms - it was too tight by mere millimetres. It wasn't tight and pulling but it had elastic around the top and that was digging into her.
I told her that I would need to see the top first so she came for a consultation. The top was made from stretch fabric as the under layer with a chiffon overlay. I told her that it would be fine to do then I started to unpick the seam to insert the zip. The chiffon just started to fray as soon as I released the stitching (which was done using a commercial overlocker) so I had to overlock the edges as soon as I could. There was also not a lot of seam allowance so when I inserted the zip I had to make sure that I lined it up as close to the edge as possible. I used a concealed zip so it was important that I kept the seam allowance at the same place all along the zip so that it would look right and none of the zip was visible.
Once I had inserted the zip I was surprised at how well it blended in with the top. I was also pleased with how well I had completed the job and the top fit the lady in question so it was a good outcome all round plus a bit more experience for me for future jobs.

I have included a couple of after pics of the top, (unfortunately I forgot to take any pics before hand)