williamsews

I have been working on scraps to make new blocks, when I make a quilt, I often make far too many pieces and then have to work out another way to use them. The scraps are small, only 2″ by about 5″, but they are fun to play with. That’s my lot for today, Take care, Will.

The Irish Chain quilt is a beautiful, simple country style quilt, this method is a easy way of creating it, either with a lot of colours or only a few. This is perfect for jelly rolls or for using scraps. This original method was quite involved but as always, these things evolve and now there is a simple way of making this quilt. I have been away from quilting for a while and making shirts instead, it’s nice to do a little more quilting, I stopped because I just have too many unfinished projects. I’ve completed about ten over the years but do struggle with the ‘sandwiching’ part; not easy on a domestic machine. I still have to finish the Safari Suit I started, I made the sample or muslin, but haven’t bought the fabric yet – maybe after Christmas. A storm is brewing, it may cool things down a bit, it was supposed to be a wet summer, but it has been so dry, great after all the flooding. Thank you for watching, Regards, Will. Please share this:

I made a large Card Trick quilt a while ago, it was a very involved technique but now I have found a simpler way of making it. This is the original Card Trick, quite ‘tricky’ but worth the effort. I hope you enjoy the video and that it’s of some help. Please like, thank you, regards, Will.

  I have a new machine, an early Christmas present and it’s great. I have made a couple of shirts but haven’t tried any of the decorative stitches yet, the ‘mirroring’ of the stitches should be interesting, The painters are in the sewing room, I hope to set things up again soon, I shall be glad to say goodbye to the brown walls and have bright white instead – it’s very inconvenient to have all the sewing stuff in a mess but I’ll appreciate the room when it’s done. I didn’t realise there were so many notions, threads and other bits and pieces; too many visits to charity shops. Next project is a safari suit, just the jacket, I missed out in the 1970s, looking forward to starting, I have to copy the pattern first. That’s it for today, Thanks for watching, Regards, Will.

  I mainly use one shirt pattern and vary the collar, cuffs, yokes, etc., to create different looks. The collars can vary, along with many parts of the shirt. A lot of possibilities. Take care, Will.

I’m still working on video quality and not there yet. A friend asked for a Christmas shirt, it’s turned out well. Merry Christmas It will soon be Christmas, time flies. Regards, Will.

  An unexpected purchase. I was shopping in Aldi and saw this big machine, I thought it was a Coverstitch machine, so I bought it – but it is just an overlocker, albeit a very good one. It’s a Stirling, which is Aldi’s brand. This overlocker seems to do quite a few things, I shall have to play with it for a while and figure it out. Take care, Will.

  I discovered the thread pull method of making shirt collars many years ago and loved the results. It’s simple but creates perfect points. I’ve made a video of the method; I hope this video is helpful. I use the one pattern, Simplicity 8711 from 1979, and vary the collars, buttons and cuffs, the check shirt has the pattern’s original 1970’s collar. Please like and share this post, Thank you, Will.

  I have finished another shirt, I’ve been videoing the process but still have a lot to learn, I bought a camera boom to video the sewing part and it has just arrived, haven’t tried it yet but it looks sturdy, I think it will hold the DSLR camera but if not, the small camera will be OK. This is the boom arm; This is the video; And that’s my lot, it’s a perfect day for sewing because it’s raining heavily. Take care, Will.

 Good old Roman Wall. It has a lot to like, it's easy and even cutting the strips is relaxing, putting the strips together is interesting and the result is pleasing. I have always known this block as Roman Wall, but like most quilt blocks, it probably has other names. This is how it's put together; https://videopress.com/v/jVPTXAUl?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true More to come. I hope you like this post, if so, please let me know. Regards, Will

  This is a smaller version of Roman Wall, which uses even smaller scraps. It is a fun block and very easy to sew. That’s my lot for today, thanks for watching, don’t forget to like my video, Regards, Will.

I’ve been making patterns for a long time and used a lot of cardboard over the years, but now I have found a great replacement for professional card, it’s called Ramboard and is available in hardware stores. In this country it is only $60 for a roll 1m x 16m, so very reasonable. Pattern card & Ramboard I shall return with more very soon, Take care, Will.

  I have been playing around with a new DSLR camera and Gimbal, it’s not easy, but I’ll figure it out eventually – I hope. In the meantime, this shirt has taken weeks to make but finally it is done! This is it, I like it now, wasn’t too sure at first. Put a tab and trim at the back, otherwise the only gingham showing would have been the collar. I thought this tip may help someone, it’s a way of keeping the collar seam straight, making it easier to topstitch. I trim a lot of the seam away on the curve of the stand and to straighten it, I use fabric glue to hold it in place. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, then you are very lucky because it’s the second day of winter here and it is horrible, windy and cold. Take care, Will.

  …in 25 seconds. I have been practising with Movavi Video Editor. I am enjoying this, but it means I’m not sewing, tomorrow I shall definitely start treadling away. I hope you like my video, AND give me a like for it. Thank you, Will.

  Not sewing but figuring out the new camera, it takes wonderful photographs, I’ve been out in the garden practising and took a few macro shots. It is fun, and I see the garden from a different perspective. I made a small video using Movavi editor; If you enjoy this video or any of my posts, please ‘like’… Thank you. Will.

  I’ve been fiddling with a new camera and gimbal, I’d never heard of a gimbal until one was bought for me, it’s a Feiyutech AK2000C and I think it’s great, it’s early stages as far as learning what it’s all about but after wandering around the garden with it this morning, I can certainly see the advantages of using one, so smooth. The local Heritage Fair is happening at the end of the month, so I’m hoping to be proficient enough to do some filming. Anyway, here’s a video of a shirt I have started, using the new camera. The photographic stuff has seriously distracted me from sewing but hope to rectify this tomorrow. Winter is on its way, cold today and raining, perfect sewing weather. Regards, Will.

 I made this a week ago. Grey Polka Dot in cotton, size 97cm. Great fabric to work with. More rain, there are such terrible floods, autumn is almost over, it's still warm and the trees aren't turning - it's odd weather these days. At least it's good sewing weather. Please like and share my posts, Thank you, Will.

 I keep all the cut threads and snipped off fabric pieces in a container on the workbench, and a friend has turned them into a piece of art...I like it. It's a reminder for me of some of the things I've made. Of course, I now have enough threads since this lot to make several more - but one's enough. I'm starting on the three shirts today; the polka dot is first. That's my lot for today, Regards, Will.

  Three new shirt lengths, they have now been washed, dried and ready to go. I also bought more interfacing, heavy and light, I'm trying a different light brand. I like the Birch brand, although it doesn't fuse very well, it's OK, but it ends up a battle on the collar stand because it wants to escape - but it's all certainly much easier than the time before fusible when the interfacing had to be basted on. I usually use Semco, don't know why I changed and I hope the new type isn't too stiff. I use the heavy for collars & cuffs and the light for the front placket and pocket tops. The lightest possible is best for the front, if it's too heavy, the front sticks out and doesn't bend with the body. Almost finished a shirt, lemon with a fine pattern, it's not great fabric because it's very fine and doesn't have much body...but it is looking OK. Rain, rain, rain, will it ever end! It is perfect sewing w...

  My newest machine; the Brother TY600C. I’ve had this for almost a year and I can’t fault it, it’s an excellent machine, easy to use and truly heavy-duty, it sews several layers of denim easily. It’s great on bulky seams, with no manually cranking to go through the fabric. It is a heavy machine, not too plastic and has the usual, needle up/down (easy on this machine, it only needs to have the button pressed for a second) and tie-off button I like the needle down for most of the sewing and up for buttons and buttonholes. This was medium-weight denim and it was a pleasure to sew, it just glided through the fabric. The only thing I have an issue with is the dial. I have knocked it a few times and taken it off the setting–at least it beeps to let me know and I’m able to readjust the settings before I sew on. I have a very soft, thick fabric that may or may not be good for a shirt. I shall experiment by making a collar. It’s raining very heavily, I hope it’s not so bad in the already f...