annedekkerpatterns

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Another fish jacket?! Another fish jacket <3

This time I tried flat felled seams for the sleeves which was fun and it totally didn't almost kill my sewing machine.

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Flower petal fairy dresses by Momotsuki of Kagoshima, Japan

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Well I guess I won't be finishing this top tonight...

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Overalls *mostly* done! Here they are being worn by Mr. Thundercloud, very cool. We decided to keep the whole thing a bit big too to give it a more cartoon-esque look later. Really like how the clover stitches look on the diamond, and the side seams.

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Week 7/8

I made my first original pattern! I was too intimidated by my dress idea so I made a simpler button up first and it’s so cool when an idea becomes real.

It’s definitely not perfect. There are some mistakes (the back shoulder seam doesn’t match the front shoulder seam. Oops) and some design choices to think about (Do the sleeves need more drama? Do I like the collar like this?) but it feels like a great first try

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i didnt need nor want to carry around my whole pin cushion for my current on-the-go embroidery project, since its only one color at a time, it only requires one needle (its that eclipse i keep posting), so i constructed this needle coffin out of felt and magnets as a better and more portable solution to hold my needles.

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I’ve loved the look of Victorian crazy patchwork for a long time, so I’m happy I’ve finally tried it. It’s so much fun! Starting with a small project like this was smart, but I’m already planning my next (probably good because I have way too many scraps)

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if i were an academic i would love to write a book about all the unseen human labor and lives that make it possible to produce a single quilt.

i don't use commissioned longarm services for my quilting because i can't afford it, but i also used to really struggle with the idea of having another person complete such a prominent part of my project. i thought i wouldn't be able to say 'i made this.'

but i didn't grow the cotton that got woven into the fabric i'm using.

i didn't design the printed fabric collection.

or paint the batik.

i didn't do the math and writing that went into the patterns i use.

i didn't drive any of the ships and trucks that transported the fabric.

i didn't mine the metal that turned into the needles in my machine or hand.

i wasn't the shelf stocker at the chain store or the owner of the indie shop i bought from.

quilting is an inherently collaborative art form. the creativity didn't start with me.

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Week 5/6

I’m combining these two weeks because I haven’t done that much, because I went to Greece! It was super fun, but obviously took a lot time and energy

- I did start planning which projects I want to work on. I have a dress idea I am super excited about and it was really cool to talk that idea through and get just that little step closer that makes it feel real. I also want to make a pattern to make pants for my mom, but there are some design decisions that still need to be made for that one

- I also have altered my pattern based on the fit issues with my shirt. I was hoping to be further along with that, but Greece was very distracting

- This isn’t really pattern making related, but I started a Victorian crazy patchwork project to work on while traveling and am really loving it so far! I might start another one as soon as I finish this one

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The sewing machine advice post.

Here's an introduction to sewing machines, from someone who has gone from "making costumes with a busted old machine I bought at a thrift store" to "Teaching how to care for your sewing machine as a living."

Read the manual. Can't find it? Don't have it? There are lots of PDFs online. The manual is going to tell you important things like which way to insert the bobbin and how to thread the machine. It will also tell you what kind of bobbin to use.

Get some more bobbins. The machine needs a bobbin that is wound with the same thread you plan to sew with. There are situations where you can use two different threads, but while you're learning, use the same kind of thread above and below. Follow the manual's instructions to properly wind a bobbin, and only wind one thread at a time on each bobbin.

Change the needle. I have a whole other helpful post about what kind.

When you put thread on the machine, follow each step and make sure the Presser Foot is in the "up" position before you start.

Right before you thread the needle, pull the thread to make sure it moves freely and isn't caught anywhere. Then, lower the presser foot, and pull again. It should be very tight. (If it is not tight with the foot down, raise the foot and re-thread the machine from the beginning.)

Find and get to know the Take-Up Lever. It goes up and down faster than the needle, and kinda looks like a dinosaur head. The thread has to be settled in the eye of the take up lever or your machine won't make a good stitch. It will go "stitch stitch stitch clunk bang stop." If the thread isn't in the take up lever, re-thread the machine.

You're going to spend a lot of time re-threading your machine. Gird your loins, and be prepared to do this.

Make sure you insert the bobbin correctly. Follow the manual. Once it is set in the bobbin case, the thread should pull tightly, not freely.

Your control of the fabric happens before the needle goes into it; your hands should be in front of the needle, not behind it. Don't pull the fabric from the back. Just guide the fabric from the front; don't push it or overdrive. Try using one finger on each hand to just keep the fabric straight while the machine feeds the fabric through.

If the fabric won't feed through properly, take the metal needle plate (AKA Throat plate) off and clean between the pointy bits that stick up through the needle plate. Those are the feed dogs and lint collects between them under the plate. Keep that area clear of lint and dust.

If the machine still won't feed properly, take it to a service technician. There may be a feed timing problem.

THE HAT TRICK: If you have a problem with the machine, do these three things:

Remove the bobbin, check it over. If the thread isn't wound on it properly, or if it's cracked or bent or rusty, it might be bad. Replace it if necessary.

Change the needle. Make sure the needle is inserted in the correct direction and that it is indeed inserted completely. (Choose the correct needle, too.)

Re-Thread the machine from the beginning. Make sure to hit each step, make sure the presser foot is up, and make sure to lower the presser foot at the end to check the tension.

This is really a beginner's list. There's a lot more, but I wanted to start simply. Please feel free to share it around, or add your opinions.

**My credentials: I've been teaching sewing, serving, and machine embroidery professionally for 20+ years. Been sewing for over 40 years. I'm also a trained sewing machine technician.

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Week 4

- I forgot about done is better than perfect which really slowed me down. I wanted to do the button up properly and because I absolutely hate ironing I procrastinated A LOT. Until I finally decided to just not iron and to topstitch things and it’s finished now!

- It obviously doesn’t fit yet, but it’s cool to see that I actually have a better idea of what’s wrong than I expected. I have little experience with fitting, but I think I do know what’s wrong

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Realized I never posted pics of the Babybel Cheese dice pouch I made for my partner.

In our current campaign he plays a Ratfolk character named Arty (Havarti)

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current sewing machine setup comes with an assistant!

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Week 3

Fixing the armscyes was actually pretty easy to fix. Once I realized where the info I needed was it was very easy

I’m making good progress with my first pattern. I can almost start my first mock up!

This course mainly focuses on learning through personal projects and I’m already thinking and planning them. I’m mainly really excited for an idea I have for a dress. I hope it will be as cool as I imagine

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Robe reveal! I completed the patchwork & lining last winter and shelved it in Spring 2024, then sewed all the red trim (also from my stash!) and finishing touches last week. It's very comfortable and used up *some* of my scrap stash LOL

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I used shannonmakes (IG) patchwork pattern & tutorial to make it, big shoutout to her as well as cosplaycyanide (IG) for the inspiration!

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Anybody want to test a quilt block pattern?

So, this is a Stomachion:

It's a puzzle that goes back to Archimedes. Not to be confused with the Tangram, a similar puzzle. The joke with the Stomachion is that there's hundreds of possibilities to put the 14 pieces into a square.

I thought that would make an interesting quilt block, or several hundred.

So I made a pattern here. 6mm (1/4") seam allowance, finished block should come out 36 cm (14,2"). The pattern has 12 pieces, including 3 that are double, marked in my photos above. The original Stomachion has 14 pieces, but some of those are always together, so I fused them for simplicity's sake.

Anybody wanna try it? I'd be very interested if it actually works, but I also have a lot of stuff going on right now. Also I'm not good enough at quilting yet.

Edit: I did it! New pattern here

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Version 2 of my cult of the lamb doll