On sharing, fast sewing and boy sewing

Well, I didn't expect my last post to pique as much discussion as it did. It's funny, I had been writing that post for a few weeks, worrying that I would sound like a tosser, but it appears most of us feel funny sharing our blogs with real life friends.

From the many comments, it appears most of us sewing bloggers keep our blogs private, only sharing with close family and friends, and that isn't likely to change. Some people even had separate Facebook and Instagram accounts to ensure there wasn't a link between real life and blog life.

Of those that have shared their blogs, I think all of them felt it was a positive experience. They were able to connect with old friends and felt good about inspiring others to sew. Most also noted that even if a blog is shared, it is unlikely that all those privy to the URL will actually read it. Apparently not everyone is interested in reading detailed sewing construction and alteration jibber jabber. Who would think that there is something more interesting to read online??

For now, I have decided to continue to keep my blog private. However, I think I may relax the rules when it comes to those who seem really interested in my sewing. Those people who always ask about my makes and want to discuss the detail. I mean really, how bad can the outcome be?


After posting the week before last about sewing fast, my sewing appears to have taken a much slower pace - typical! I'm finding work and family a bit tiring at the moment and am trying to take it easy to allow a shoulder injury to heal. However, some comments from that post also pointed out a few more tips for speeding up sewing, so I thought I'd share them too.

Group Sewing. A tip that Lena added and something that I also do but forgot to add to my list, is sew everything possibly in a garment at one time, then press it all, then sew again. By minimizing my movement up to the ironing board and back, you can progress through a garment faster. The order of construction will clearly change, but you will finish faster.

Sew a collection of garments with the same over locker or cover stitch thread colour. This is a no brainer, less time changing threads = more time sewing. Some people never change over locker thread, some people change it all the time, like Carolyn. Me, I have 4 main colours of over locking thread - black, off white, grey and red. I can also make mid pink with a couple of bobbins if I need. I think most of these adequately blend into the garments that I make and I'm happy with the look. Have you noticed that I never or very, very rarely sew any blue or green fabric, so I don't need thread to accommodate that.

Pay a cleaner or relax your house cleaning standards to allow more sewing time. I wish I could have a cleaner!! At least I can leave the house a bomb site on occasion.

Add wine! Spied by Ernest, I mean Emma in the photo of my last post, I often enjoy a drop of white while sewing on weekends. It makes the whole experience a little more relaxing and fun!! Just don't add too much wine or you'll sew a disaster!!

I think that's about all the extra fast sewing tips I have for now. Please feel free to add more and maybe I'll make page for them.


Lastly for today, I have some simple boy sewing to share. The boys are rarely sewn for these days and they do notice it. They do love the easy jersey shorts I made for them here and here, so when I hit The Remnant Warehouse with all three kids a few weeks ago looking for lining, I let the boys pick this cool fabric.

I had grey on my over locker and cover stitch machine, so it only took and hour or so to knock up three pairs of shorts from 1 meter of this print.

For the record, I make the boys one size only with their clothes. They share everything, so Ollie wears his smaller and James wears his bigger.

I now have happy boys who now think that I actually make clothes for them too, not just Adele and I.

Happy Weekend friends!