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Moderated by Deepika, EleanorSews
Posted on: 5/19/06 11:47 PM ET
Not sure where to put this so if it needs to be moved, please do so....
I am happy to have targeted most of my problem with sewing lately.... It seems like every time I think of sewing anything, I need to go have a lie-down,lol
I desperately need some pants that are not sweats and have a K. Ali pattern that is almost perfect.But I kept stalling out when it came to the point of actually getting the fabric out and cutting it out. I finally did tho' and have a pair of pants that just need to have the legs narrowed( I think they are supposed to be somewhat wide on purpose but I don't like that)
So now I just need to figure out some way to get motivated to cut out a bunch of stuff at once and go from there......
Sabrina

I am happy to have targeted most of my problem with sewing lately.... It seems like every time I think of sewing anything, I need to go have a lie-down,lol

I desperately need some pants that are not sweats and have a K. Ali pattern that is almost perfect.But I kept stalling out when it came to the point of actually getting the fabric out and cutting it out. I finally did tho' and have a pair of pants that just need to have the legs narrowed( I think they are supposed to be somewhat wide on purpose but I don't like that)
So now I just need to figure out some way to get motivated to cut out a bunch of stuff at once and go from there......
Sabrina
Posted on: 5/20/06 8:32 AM ET
In reply to Sabrina
I seem to find myself cutting fabric while my favorite shows are on. I hate cutting too (and tracing), but listening andor watching something I like makes it go a little faster.
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"If you can't afford to buy art, you wear it." - Michael Kors
Stacy
http://stacysews.com/
Stacy
http://stacysews.com/
Posted on: 5/20/06 10:20 AM ET
Are you using scissors or a rotary cutter??? With scissors it seems to take forever. I started using a rotary cutter to cut out my patterns and it really goes very fast. It takes a bit of practice at first - but - well worth it - IMHO
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What is Maxine saying??
"I don't iron. If I'm not wrinkle-free why should my clothes be."
"I don't iron. If I'm not wrinkle-free why should my clothes be."
Posted on: 5/20/06 3:23 PM ET
I am totally sold on the rotary cutter suggestion.
It has literally changed my life! If you're still tediously pinning and cutting with scissors, it can change yours, too.
It's an expensive initial investment for the mats, cutter and blades but well worth it in the time, the guilt over endless stalling and the agonizing boredom it saves you. (use tuna or cat food cans for weights or do the metal hardware/washer thing suggested on another thread.) I make it a point to buy blades whenever they are 50% off. Consider it an investment in "proper tools" like using an electric mixer instead of stirring with a wooden spoon...you CAN make a successful cake either way, but how often do you want to beat eggs by HAND for 15 minutes, especially if a mixer will do it in 10 while you put the rest of the ingredients together. Your time is valuable, too.
If you're already doing the rotary thing and are STILL bored out of your skull and avoiding it, I recommend music--LOUD. That makes you want to dance. Then sublimate that urge in cutting.
as you can see, I have all the zeal of a convert on this subject!
Now...if someone would just come in and do all my flat pattern adjustments for me I'd be all set...
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It has literally changed my life! If you're still tediously pinning and cutting with scissors, it can change yours, too.
It's an expensive initial investment for the mats, cutter and blades but well worth it in the time, the guilt over endless stalling and the agonizing boredom it saves you. (use tuna or cat food cans for weights or do the metal hardware/washer thing suggested on another thread.) I make it a point to buy blades whenever they are 50% off. Consider it an investment in "proper tools" like using an electric mixer instead of stirring with a wooden spoon...you CAN make a successful cake either way, but how often do you want to beat eggs by HAND for 15 minutes, especially if a mixer will do it in 10 while you put the rest of the ingredients together. Your time is valuable, too.
If you're already doing the rotary thing and are STILL bored out of your skull and avoiding it, I recommend music--LOUD. That makes you want to dance. Then sublimate that urge in cutting.
as you can see, I have all the zeal of a convert on this subject!
Now...if someone would just come in and do all my flat pattern adjustments for me I'd be all set...
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I am going for a level of perfection that is only mine... Most of the pleasure is in getting that last little piece perfect...Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just keep showing up and doing the work.
Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer
Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage
St. Augustine
Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer
Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage
St. Augustine
Posted on: 5/20/06 7:44 PM ET
I used to use my dining room table and that drove me nuts. I had to clear it off and then pin and cut and then hurry up to set table back together, God forbid I leave a project still to be cut in the middle of my dinning room. But since I got my Jo Anns cutting table, it's much easier and I don't dread it as much. It's always ready to go and my back doesn't kill me.
Jeannie
Jeannie
Posted on: 5/21/06 3:55 PM ET
In reply to Sabrina
Hi Sabrina,
I agree with Jeannie W. - is the surface you use for cutting out a pattern too low for you? The right height table will make cutting out a pattern much less of a strain, especially in your lower back.
You might try raising your cutting surface: there are 4" and 6" bed raisers available in a lot of bed linen stores. Of course, all these are are blocks of wood (or plastic). If you or a friend are at all handy, just buy a short length of 4x4 or 6x6 and cut to your preferred height, then drill appropriate size holes for the table legs. I'm sure there are other ideas that will also work.
I also agree that a rotary cutter is vastly more convenient than scissors. But only if your blade is sharp!
Regards,
Sophiecat
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I agree with Jeannie W. - is the surface you use for cutting out a pattern too low for you? The right height table will make cutting out a pattern much less of a strain, especially in your lower back.
You might try raising your cutting surface: there are 4" and 6" bed raisers available in a lot of bed linen stores. Of course, all these are are blocks of wood (or plastic). If you or a friend are at all handy, just buy a short length of 4x4 or 6x6 and cut to your preferred height, then drill appropriate size holes for the table legs. I'm sure there are other ideas that will also work.

I also agree that a rotary cutter is vastly more convenient than scissors. But only if your blade is sharp!

Regards,
Sophiecat
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Well-behaved women rarely make history.
Laurel Ulrich
Laurel Ulrich
Posted on: 5/21/06 10:41 PM ET
I can totally relate to your feeling & it made me wonder aloud why I still hadn't started my projects?
So I got out all my patterns I want to do soon, figured out I would cut out one thing & be ready for when I can sew. (I usually have grandiose ideas of beginning & finishing all in the same day...
)
Once I started I cut out one dress, one shirt & one skirt. Now all I have to do is not lose any pieces
and wait for next weekend to come so I can sew one thing. If I sew more, great, if not, oh well!
Kim
So I got out all my patterns I want to do soon, figured out I would cut out one thing & be ready for when I can sew. (I usually have grandiose ideas of beginning & finishing all in the same day...
)Once I started I cut out one dress, one shirt & one skirt. Now all I have to do is not lose any pieces
and wait for next weekend to come so I can sew one thing. If I sew more, great, if not, oh well!Kim
Posted on: 5/22/06 2:53 PM ET
LOL, At least I am in good company
.
I usually do my cutting with my rotary cutter but I couldn't find Any of them the night I did my pants but I dislike it even with my rotarys... Then my problem is I got the largest mat I could find but it is only a 2'X3' mat and I really, really want either the 40"X 60" or just go all out and treat myself to the 4'X8' mat. ( I keep asking for it for every xmas, mother's day, B-day ect.)I do have a lovely cutting table. It's a solid oak door blank that my stepmother had made into a worktable(it makes a pretty good kitchen table/bar either
) The lighting could be better but I can get around that by waiting 'til daytime as our kitchen gets very good daylight.
I guess I just hate cutting and need to get over it
Sabrina
.I usually do my cutting with my rotary cutter but I couldn't find Any of them the night I did my pants but I dislike it even with my rotarys... Then my problem is I got the largest mat I could find but it is only a 2'X3' mat and I really, really want either the 40"X 60" or just go all out and treat myself to the 4'X8' mat. ( I keep asking for it for every xmas, mother's day, B-day ect.)I do have a lovely cutting table. It's a solid oak door blank that my stepmother had made into a worktable(it makes a pretty good kitchen table/bar either
) The lighting could be better but I can get around that by waiting 'til daytime as our kitchen gets very good daylight. I guess I just hate cutting and need to get over it
Sabrina
Posted on: 5/22/06 7:05 PM ET
In reply to Sabrina
I'm with you on the cutting issue --- I now have a perfect height cutting table that I can pull out from the wall and walk around, it is located in my sewing room so all supplies and notions are at hand, I use rotary cutters and weights when appropriate, listen to music or TV shows and I still don't like to cut. It is just a chore that needs to be done so that I can sew. A couple of weeks ago I spent nearly 8 hours on a Sunday cutting 2 blouses, a skirt and vest (with lining) and a jacket.....even with the best tools it takes time, but at least I put everything away when I was done.
Now it feels like I'm working through my stash of cut projects too fast -- I know I'll have another cutting marathon in the near future. I guess the only thing to do is make it as pleasant as possible and consider cutting time the price we pay to sew.
But wouldn't it be wonderful to have a sewing buddy that loved to cut and didn't care for the sewing part? Dreams....
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Now it feels like I'm working through my stash of cut projects too fast -- I know I'll have another cutting marathon in the near future. I guess the only thing to do is make it as pleasant as possible and consider cutting time the price we pay to sew.
But wouldn't it be wonderful to have a sewing buddy that loved to cut and didn't care for the sewing part? Dreams....
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2012 : starting stash 386, net additions 206, used 164, ending stash 428...I'm never going to get in front of this pile of fabric!
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