tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post3331515378974714353..comments2023-10-20T08:27:40.314-04:00Comments on male pattern boldness: Cathy and the black belt - PART 2Peter Lappinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-13179672166997678862010-05-06T11:54:08.059-04:002010-05-06T11:54:08.059-04:00I far prefer the self fabric belt to the black one...I far prefer the self fabric belt to the black one. I love the dress and the hand finishing details are divine. Great work!SEWNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05447977771494445400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-24260159312029364382010-05-06T10:03:21.245-04:002010-05-06T10:03:21.245-04:00I also just got a chance to take a look at yesterd...I also just got a chance to take a look at yesterday's post, I love the fabric belt with the black buckle! My current project has a fabric belt, now I am excited to try my hand at it. The dress looks great and I can't wait to see the final photo shoot!Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18028414273977350224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-4669266648254168332010-05-06T05:17:07.478-04:002010-05-06T05:17:07.478-04:00I'm amazed what a difference the belt makes! ...I'm amazed what a difference the belt makes! Quite lovely!<br /><br />And congratulations on the handsewn hem! I love handsewing.<br /><br />As P. said, hook your idle fingers around the thread as soon as it comes through the fabric; it does end up being a very natural motion. Also, make sure you're leaving yourself enough of a tail through the needle - I go for about 6 inches, but you might want a little longer since I assume your hands are larger. And get a new piece of thread before you have so little left that each stitch is a pain! Thread is not expensive, and re-threading the needle and knotting the thread is something that gets faster with practice. You can use a doubled thread and never lose your needle, like others said, but for a hem I think that would provide a less invisible finish. And you run into the problem of one piece of thread coming uneven with the other and making little loops. I use a doubled thread for sewing on buttons, but not much else.<br /><br />(Sorry for the delay - I tried to comment yesterday, but had technical difficulties.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-57239193559693192212010-05-06T01:47:44.874-04:002010-05-06T01:47:44.874-04:00A suggestion? Use a double thread. Just tie a kn...A suggestion? Use a double thread. Just tie a knot with both ends together. Knotting is a bit of a problem, but it happens anyway....Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07717835382469677601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-12796622815143566082010-05-05T20:36:51.695-04:002010-05-05T20:36:51.695-04:00Excellent job with the belt! Love the dress as we...Excellent job with the belt! Love the dress as well.Linda Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12655695696943452993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-65724244693481329682010-05-05T14:11:36.856-04:002010-05-05T14:11:36.856-04:00great belt! and you'll find your own "flo...great belt! and you'll find your own "flow" with hand sewing. I'm another who actually likes it.Jean Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-44156037982605029302010-05-05T13:08:30.796-04:002010-05-05T13:08:30.796-04:00Love the belt ingenuity!
Your invisible hem looks...Love the belt ingenuity!<br /><br />Your invisible hem looks great. Doesn't it make such a big difference from a machine hem?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-70869817903324310822010-05-05T12:58:16.145-04:002010-05-05T12:58:16.145-04:00Brilliant! The print fabric belt is just perfect!...Brilliant! The print fabric belt is just perfect! And I love the strand of pearls . . . always appropriate!!AuntieAllynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06192122099879165907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-45691702193598727402010-05-05T12:07:13.779-04:002010-05-05T12:07:13.779-04:00Looks much better with the fabric belt! And what a...Looks much better with the fabric belt! And what a lovely hem too. I'm hoping for good weather for your photo shoot!Tasiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07073834888315981225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-665158920933677292010-05-05T11:32:28.550-04:002010-05-05T11:32:28.550-04:00Ooo, much much better. It's a tricky call with...Ooo, much much better. It's a tricky call with fabric like that, going with a bold belt. Though I wonder how it would look with a red belt to match the roses?Alyssa (NFDC)http://www.sewsewdef.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-58633505702351034202010-05-05T10:25:50.286-04:002010-05-05T10:25:50.286-04:00When I'm hand sewing hems I loop the thread an...When I'm hand sewing hems I loop the thread and knot it at the bottom so there are two threads and no risk of pulling it out of the needle. Another trick I don't really use but I learned on the job is to have your thread looped, bring it through the needle still looped, and bring the rest of the string through the loop, and you have your thread secure.<br /><br />The belt looks great! Giving me some ideas about making my own!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-52719132131659843672010-05-05T10:06:45.136-04:002010-05-05T10:06:45.136-04:00Peter, re the thread pulling out of the needle, it...Peter, re the thread pulling out of the needle, it probably has to do with how you're holding the needle (i.e., if you're just holding it just between your thumb and one finger). Try crooking your ring finger around the thread just below the eye hole of the needle as you pull it through. Hard to explain, but as you do more hand sewing, it'll come naturally. It helps to keep a feel on your thread as you're sewing, so you can tell if it's starting to slip.Paulettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181665241824945247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-61621778238844565732010-05-05T09:48:28.047-04:002010-05-05T09:48:28.047-04:00Amazing how changing an accessory can make such a ...Amazing how changing an accessory can make such a difference. The dress looks more sophisticated now. I look forward to seeing Cathy model.<br /><br />Bravo for sewing courageously and trying something new--and the hem looks great! I'm all about being brave and trying new things in the sewing world this year.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03124759791502821282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-31498072293612055162010-05-05T09:32:48.694-04:002010-05-05T09:32:48.694-04:00Thanks, all! And thanks for the sewing tips, Mz. ...Thanks, all! And thanks for the sewing tips, Mz. Whitney. <br /><br />Funny thing: before I watched that You Tube video, I thought you had to use one piece of thread long enough for the entire hem -- we're talking like, two YARDS -- and I couldn't understand how to keep it from knotting up. D'oh! <br /><br />My one problem is the thread pulling out of the needle on occasion as I pull the thread through the stitch. Any recommendations?Peter Lappinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-39741011500860289322010-05-05T09:29:14.810-04:002010-05-05T09:29:14.810-04:00Beautiful! The belt and the hem look wonderful. ...Beautiful! The belt and the hem look wonderful. I can't wait to see the photo shoot!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-51965340493530640622010-05-05T09:06:23.650-04:002010-05-05T09:06:23.650-04:00It is better! Cathy must be pleased ;o)
I also did...It is better! Cathy must be pleased ;o)<br />I also did my first hand stitched hem this week. I'm so proud of it, I will likely be pointing it out to strangers. It was easy and nearly invisible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-30711645170205778932010-05-05T09:01:46.208-04:002010-05-05T09:01:46.208-04:00Great method for making a belt. I will have to tr...Great method for making a belt. I will have to try that. I am looking forward to Cathy's photo shoot.Claudinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364637676915085292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-43126020781875954072010-05-05T08:37:26.118-04:002010-05-05T08:37:26.118-04:00Nice hemming! I do lots and lots of hemstitching,...Nice hemming! I do lots and lots of hemstitching, because I quilt, and that's how the backsides of quilt bindings are finished. You'll get better at it and faster as time goes on.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07717835382469677601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-69160277442895198972010-05-05T07:45:01.948-04:002010-05-05T07:45:01.948-04:00I'd like to see that dress with different colo...I'd like to see that dress with different colored gloves. Perhaps red? And with red shoes?Bootzeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01664655090937726673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-33941004180770436662010-05-05T07:37:47.006-04:002010-05-05T07:37:47.006-04:00Looks great. Although when I read Marie-Christine&...Looks great. Although when I read Marie-Christine's comment I thought: Oh wow, a red belt, that could be stunning!<br /><br />I look forward to seeing the photoshoot!Karinhttp://www.themrs.eunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-40955657873922245742010-05-05T07:27:53.537-04:002010-05-05T07:27:53.537-04:00Yes yes yes!
Your belt solution is lovely and ing...Yes yes yes!<br /><br />Your belt solution is lovely and ingenious. I like that you kept a black buckle to tie in her other black accessories. Makes sense.<br /><br />And hand finishing is so relaxing! I rarely do it because I'm usually finishing a dress in a frenzy so I can wear it out to a dinner that I'm already late to, but the idea of stepping away from the machine and finishing a hem by hand is a nice tranquil end to a project.<br /><br />3 tips for tangle-free hand sewing: <br /><br />1. don't cut your thread any longer than 18".<br />2. Run your thread through beeswax (or those wax tailor's "chalks") and then iron it. Smooooth. <br />3. Hold your thumb over the spot where your thread came out as you're pulling your needle.Mz. Whitneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16795252523182627852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-70062808222772922972010-05-05T05:37:13.884-04:002010-05-05T05:37:13.884-04:00Definitely better and what a blooming brilliant wa...Definitely better and what a blooming brilliant way of making a belt. Time to start stalking the thrift shops!AllisonChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07431369603470575306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-32266183019961402232010-05-05T05:05:24.451-04:002010-05-05T05:05:24.451-04:00Another beauty! Love the belt too - I have a fear ...Another beauty! Love the belt too - I have a fear of making belts. Like your fear of hand-sewn hems, I must overcome it; hopefully as successfully as you!Nathaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11570545194570856281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-16160836065248424912010-05-05T03:55:29.614-04:002010-05-05T03:55:29.614-04:00OK, I was a big fan of the black belt, but I admit...OK, I was a big fan of the black belt, but I admit that I was wrong, this is better. Well, you could still vary the look with different belts :-). I'd prefer a red belt, but I realize this is NY and all..<br />You shouldn't be afraid of hand sewing, it's quick to get the hang of it, the result looks good, and it's a nice calming thing to do. Nothing like a round of radio/tv with something in your hands. And sometimes it's much quicker to just whip out a zipper insertion by hand rather than rip it out 5 times, swearing. As to hemming time, it's a pain when you're doing a hand-rolled hem on 90" of silk chiffon (think hungry zombie's next project..), but there's nothing to a 40s dress.Marie-Christinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-82317804867063297802010-05-05T03:33:57.874-04:002010-05-05T03:33:57.874-04:00This is a beautiful dress! Looking forward to seei...This is a beautiful dress! Looking forward to seeing Cathy model it. Well done for overcoming your fear of hand sewing!Tillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05346200271671855136noreply@blogger.com