williamsews

 I've been working on a new block, it's intriguing but I have figured it out. This is not an age-old traditional block, in fact, it was designed in 2012 by Laura Roberts for McCalls (My second favourite shirt pattern maker - Simplicity is first). I don't think there is enough tonal contrast in the fabrics I used for the 'twist' part, but I have put together a better combination for the next one. It looks complicated and it does take a degree of concentration, something I lack sometimes. It has an interesting method of attaching the surrounding strips to the centre square, a method that could be useful for other quilting blocks. There are a few new blocks (new to me) that I am wanting to try, so the half-finished shirt I have been working on gets pushed further back on the to do list. December is the first month of summer here, the weather has been delightful so far - I hope it won't be too hot - love winter. My lot for today, Take care,

Vintage patterns. I have been sorting old patterns, changing them from plastic bags to envelopes, which are acid-free and will preserve them. Fashion and styles evolve, but some men’s fashion is constant, these clothes would certainly be fashionable today. These are from the late 1930s to early 1940s – I’m so glad the date is included on patterns. I won’t make these garments, but I do love old patterns. I have some from the 1960s that I will wear. Charity shops used to be a great source of these patterns, but it not anymore, pity. Back to sorting these treasures. Please visit my YouTube channel:  williamsews - YouTube Take care, Will.  

  These blocks are some I made, but for various reasons, won't be using. They are nice enough, but perhaps not interesting enough to continue. T hat's my lot for today, Take care, 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...

 Getting lighting right for sewing isn't easy, the older I get, the more light I need. The new Singer is a great machine (love the press-button thread cutter), but the light is totally inadequate, the machine is grey, which seems to draw the light, white machines are better because the reflect light. Anyway, I have found a great style of lamp that solves the problem. They are flexible, which means that they can be adjusted to the best position to give the maximum light. There are three brightness settings, but I only use the brightest. They can be precisely positioned for the maximum effect and screw to the desk or table. They are turned on by tapping the end. Love these lights. That's it for today,  Regards,  Will. I can't manage without them now

 This is a traditional Japanese block, easy to do, but looks complicated. I have made a video of it's construction;  These are the cutting sizes and layout. Happy sewing, take care, Will.

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.  

 have just made a test block of another Japanese block, which I think is very pretty, no English name for it. I used more of the glorious Japanese fabric, plus cream (which photographs a bit dirty looking, looks better in actuality). The next tryout will be in these fabrics, another great pattern and colour. By the by, I have learned a helpful 'hack'; to prevent slipping of the sewing machine foot, I tried a silicone baking sheet, and it works well, it also helps to find the black foot on a dark floor, I used a heavy doormat previously, which was OK, but this is better. Onto the creation of this new block, it is fairly complex, but once again, following a set path makes it easier. 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  hope you enjoyed this, thank you  for watching,  Take care,  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.

  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 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

  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 ...