williamsews

 I have been working on two new blocks. This is 'Weave', simple to sew. This is a traditional block; 'Road to Heaven', I used 'heavenly' fabrics for this. Both are simple blocks to cut and sew; and don't use much fabric (great for scraps). The next video will be Weave. I am considering the purchase of Electric Quilt to design blocks. I shall study a few more vidoes before I decide, the alternative is to work out patterns on graph paper, but I can only buy the paper in metric here. Meanwhile, I have a few ideas that I'll work on. Visited my favourite charity shop today and found a lot of great fabric pieces, large and small. I am a fabric hoarder...nothing new in that. Back to the machine, Regards, Will.

I've found a couple of things to make my sewing life easier. Transparent Kitchen Cutting Mats. I've been using inexpensive cutting mats to move quilt blocks between the cutting board, the iron, and the sewing machine, this has made things simpler. This block is called 'Old Maid's Puzzle', not PC these days. I put one mat underneath the pieces and another on top. These mats hold 8" blocks, if they're bigger, I use another set to hold the outer pieces. The transparent type is best for this. Next helpful hint:  A Silicone Baking Mat. This keeps the foot pedal from moving - and it really works! It is working better than anything else I've tried, not more shuffling around, trying to find that darned pedal. Triple Square Block. This is a block I was going to make, but it's too fiddly, the centre squares are only .5", and that's too small.  This isn't a hint, I thought I'd show a nice block that won't be made again.  It is another trad...

I only use two seam allowances, a quarter inch for quilting and 1cm for clothing and I change the needle position to do this - of course this doesn't work for fixed needle machines. I keep a note on the machine to tell me the position bec ause it varies on the machines, plus, if the foot is changed, it will need recalibrating. I've been working on the second Japanese block and will add it to YouTube soon and then here. That's it for today,  Take care,  Will.  

  I bought a lot of very lush, rich Jelly Roll and Fat Quarter fabrics that I think are very beautiful. and I felt that they needed a special block, so I have made a traditional Japanese block named Knot – I could make an attempt to give it a proper name, but I wouldn’t want to insult the Japanese people with a bad attempt. This is the block and I shall start a video tutorial soon. It takes a some concentration, but it’s only middling difficult. Made two so far and the were put together quite quickly, the 1/4″ seam does need to be precise. All this wonderful fabric! Just perfect, can’t wait to make more. Onwards and upwards, looking forward to the Coronation – I remember the Queen’s coronation and even had a replica Coronation coach with horses. Time to sew. Take care, Will.

  I have been working on scraps again and have made a new block composed of 2″ squares. It is easy and quick to make, here is a video; I’ve been working on a four part shirt video, with one part to go. Back to the machine, Take care, regards, Will

There is never enough fabric of course, I am in love with some of the designs and quality of the fabric I have been buying lately. Most are jelly rolls, which in a way, is limiting but I’ve ordered larger pieces. There are other pieces of equipment on the way as well, bought on eBay, these days it’s a long wait, several weeks with tracking, but it’s worth the frustrating wait. This is my idea of a ‘scrappy’ quilt block, its made from 2″ squares and it a great way to use up scraps. This is a 10″ block. It looks complicated but it’s easy and quick. I will make a video of it’s construction soon. These are other blocks I have been working on; Same layout with a different look. This one has a name; ‘Air Castle’. This is the latest lot of fabric; beautiful, lush colours and designs. Also started a shirt, I have started a video of the construction, I’ll probably make several videos of the process in depth. This is nice fabric as well, soft and colourful. That’s my lot for today, Regards, Will...

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 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 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

  …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.

  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 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...

  I found this among the quilting fabrics. I like small florals, but brown is not a favourite colour. I see brown as an old man’s colour; autumn tonings, fawn and brown, the colours that older women choose for their husbands. It’s true that I fit into that category (elderly) but I don’t want to dress that way. Anyway, I do like this, the roses help. That’s it for today, No more fabric, no sewing, how sad. Regards, Will.

  These are the markers I use or have used in the past. My favourite now is the Sewline. It fades after a day or a few hours, depending on the fabric and weather. I tested at night, and the lines were almost gone by morning. These are good. They disappear when the garment is ironed, they come in blue, red, black and white. The black doesn’t last long, and the white is no good at all. They are refills, but I’ve never bought the pen; they work just fine. These are water erasable and are OK to draw around a pattern or on the wrong side of a piece, but I wouldn’t use them where the marking will show. The top one has a little brush in the other end to wet and remove the markings. For dark fabric, there is good old French chalk and a rotary marker which works very well, it’s filled with powdered chalk and leaves a dotted line. Once again, the white pen doesn’t work. I bought a French Chalk sharpener; I find that the action of dragging it across the fabric not only blunts it but polishes ...

 The last of three lengths of fabric I bought recently. Stripes can be difficult but not too bad with a lot of preparation. The bottom of the pockets are rounded and the best way to do that is to sew a basting thread close to the edge of the rounded part and gently gather it. Take care to iron it to the seam allowance going from one straight side, through the curve and up the other side. Another thing that gives a good finish is the 'collar thread pull' technique. Place a piece of thread between the two collar layers before the last stitch, then stitch and pull the thread out of the way and continue. Do the same for the other point. Trim the excess, turn the collar and gently pull on the thread, this will give perfect points. I have already posted this in more detail on this site some time ago. Now to face a trip to buy more fabric...fraught with Covid danger these days. That's my lot. Take care, Will.

 My workroom is very sunny and the sun can be ruthless in summer, so I prefer to keep fabric and notions in cupboards and drawers. Kmart has excellent bamboo drawers that are perfect for threads. I keep two colours in each drawer and can take the drawer to the fabric to see which is best for the project. They are inexpensive; each two drawer set costs $15.00. They hold A4 paper for the printer and a lot of other stuff, I have three towers. The bamboo was still a bit green when they arrived with a strange smell - I wondered how Pandas could eat something that smelled so bad, but it's gone now. St Patrick's Day on Wednesday. Take care, Will.