Sunday 21 August 2011

I should zip it.

Sorry I skipped a week of blogging.  I'd only made one thing, and I'd forgotten to take photos of it before I sent it off...  You can see it here though!  I've also been a bit of a misery guts so less said on that the better!
Its been a pretty sleepy couple of weeks for me.  I did have a couple of awake days last weekend, but I had to use them  for housework!  Well, it had kinda built up, and no, I don't like housework, but I don't like a totally messy house either.  (boyfriend if you're reading this, stop choking with disbelief...)  So, I ended up using the only awake days I had getting the house in order.  But at least it was nice to nap in a very tidy house. (boyfriend, again, if you're reading this - its even nicer napping in a very tidy house you've cleaned for me...come home soon!)

I have done little bits and pieces of sewing though, mostly in the last couple of days.  I'm in the "For the Love of Solids" swap, and getting something done for that has been top priority.  I don't know why but I really haven't been feeling like it much!  I kept thinking that one day I'd get a good idea I actually felt excited about, but its gotten to the stage that I need to have something done, whether I get really excited about it or not.  I've tried really hard to come up with something my partner will like, but lets just say I'm not entirely confident about it!
Its going to be a cushion cover by the way.



The colours are genuinely much nicer than they look here, the blues are brighter, the green is not as dark and murky as it looks here.  Bad lighting, honest ;-)
In between doing that I've been playing about a bit...


Now this I am excited about...  This panel here had a purpose, more of that in a minute, but this panel has made me want to do this bigger - 4" squares instead of 2" and a whole quilt of...  cos I just didn't have enough on my "next I want to make" list...   However, this panel is now this!


My first attempt at a zippered pouch.  I have now sewn a zipper 3 times - as a bag closure, as an internal pocket, and this zippy pouch.  I still suck at zips.  I've got another pouch to make up so I'll be having another go right away, but I'm kind of stuck at what to do differently.  I've studied every tutorial I can find, and I still don't feel confident with it.  This is my main reason why.


The zipper foot.  I hate it!  Don't know if you can see from the pics but it has a half circle on either side, and a teeny gap in the middle.  I've tried the needle positioned in all three ways.  None seem to make sense to me!
If you can see it, the foot is angled too.  I swear I tried it three ways and none of them worked right.  Needle on the left and the top fabric got stretched out of proportion.  Needle in the middle and it was not close enough to the zipper.  Needle on the right and, well, I might as well have been doing free motion it was skidding about all over the shop.  Does anyone have a foot like this?  How am I supposed to be using it?!!

Ach well, pouch mark 1 is passable, it wont fall apart, it zips up.  And I've pre cut the pieces for mark 2, cos I knew if I didn't I'd just postpone trying again!  I WILL do this.  But if anyones got some zipper foot secrets to share, please do...

I'm linking up with Sew Modern Monday @ Canoe Ridge Creations  so have a nosey there at all the gorgeous projects others have on the go!

30 comments:

  1. Don't look for zipper advise from me. I've only done one! And it was wonky but I was still proud of it. How sad am I? If your partner doesn't like the cushion cover then I'll have it because I LOVE it!! Murky green and all. ;-)

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  2. Hmmm I'm sure that foot must be the same as mine - I'll look in the book in the morning. But the pouch looks fantastic!!

    I love the squares - how you match all those seams - I'd need to buy some cheater fabric to get that look!

    Your cushion cover is great too - your partner is very lucky!

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  3. You've made some lovely things considering you've been 'unproductive' ;o) I'm afraid I can't offer any words of advice on the zipper front...I'm so bad at them. For the last one I tried the hand-picked method which was brilliant, but I think it's more for dressmaking than inserting into accessories etc. Sorry! Your zipper foot scares me by the way...what make's your machine?!? Just keep going with it, I guess practice makes perfect ;o)

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  4. Love your cushion cover, and your pouch is gorgous. I was rubbish at zips but I found a few good tutes which healed the pain...I'll try to look them up and send them on.

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  5. Can't help, on the rare occasion I need a zip I send it to mum!. The cushion cover is great, and the squares are great - love the colours, and am in awe of the points!

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  6. could you get a different zipper foot for your machine? i know that there are many zipper feet that are interchangeable/universal. maybe the fix is just a new zipper foot. maybe...

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  7. it's ok to feel down in the dumps once in a while and not to feel like having anything to blog about! You seem to have got lots done, even if not feeling particularly enthused about it! and as for housework ... it's a yucky job but somebody's gotta do it (periodically anyhows!) ... I'm sure that cushion cover will go down a treat! :)

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  8. OK, zippers are not hard, it just takes practice like piecing. I will find my favourite tutorial and email it to you. A couple of pointer, the needle goes on the outside of the foot closest to the zipper teeth as you sew. Second, if the fabric is stretching, lessen the downward pressure of the foot for zipper sewing. I am off to find a tutorial with good pictures, I know you can do this.

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  9. I love your cushion cover panel - it's wonderful and I'm struggling to understand why you're not excited by it...I am! I also love your zippered pouch - the colours are wonderful (and your seam intersections look perfect!). I know you've probably done it but have you read the instruction book that came with your machine? It may give you some tips about using the zipper foot (which is completely different to mine) - my book says (amongst other things) "the edge of the foot runs along the teeth of the zip and the needle inserts close to the teeth". And just to check...sew with the zip right side up! Don't worry about the housework if you're not up to doing it - it'll get done when you're feeling a bit better. Take care.

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  10. am sending you a Big Cyber Hug :-)
    luverly luverly work As Ever!
    I think many of us have a 'zip phobia' me included! Your zipper foot does look a bit 'bent' tho doesn't it? Lol.
    I also will dig out my bestest 'pouch with dreaded zipper' tute for you......because if I can do it You most certainly can too!!
    PS
    I have deleted the word 'housework' from my vocabulary......so much better dontcha know ;-) Housework? Whats that? Pff.

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  11. Hi, just joined the gang. Love your squares for the zipper bag. You are so accurate. I want to do one now. Archie beat me to it, that was exactly what I was gonna say about the zip. We all have grumpy weeks, but quilting always pulls us back and makes us happy again.

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  12. Oh I love your solids cushion - but I know when you don't 'dig' something it's hard to stay motivated. And well done on a gorgeous pouch. I think you've already been given lots of great advice about your zipper foot, I would want to get my hands on it and have good fiddle!! But you should definitely be using the left hand gap, which goes plush to your zipper. No idea why it's wonky - sorry! Hope you get it sorted for the next pouch - can't wait to see it! Jxo

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  13. Ooooooo I so love that pouch, gorgeous colours! I think I need to step out of my colour box and pick some like that! As for the zippy foot...hmm..no idea, mine is fixed I think. I say I think cos I've never used it!

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  14. love your blocks, they look great, and lovely as the pouch. if you are struggling with the zipper foot have you looked online for a different one? I think you can buy different sorts for different machines?

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  15. No idea about the zipper - my first attempt is going to happen this week for a cushion back. I may even tackle the housework first because I am procrastinating so much over it.

    Love the pouch though - it works really well and the swap patch is great.

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  16. Your pouch and cusion top are lovely! The colors you chose are lovely

    The zipper foot has not yet become my friend...maybe some day.

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  17. I adore your cushion cover...it's very close if not spot on my chosen colour for that swap so I'm wondering...

    As for the zipper situation, I'm with Nicke, try a different zipper foot. Go to your local sewing machine place and ask them if they offer any other zipper feet for your machine. The right zipper foot makes zippers so easy! I've put in a heap of them with no trouble at all and believe me I am no genius sewist! I'm sure if you sort the foot out the rest will follow.

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  18. Hmm, can you move the position of your needle to the left or right so it falls into one of the semi circles? I have never seen a zipper foot like that. Maybe get a universal foot like this one
    http://www.home-sewing.com/epages/homesewing.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/homesewing/Products/150002-360
    or this one
    http://www.home-sewing.com/epages/homesewing.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/homesewing/Products/950002-360

    Although those two examples aren't universal zipper feet they are for my brand of machine but the pic is nice and clear so you can see what i mean, Jaycotts sell universal feet and they are much easier, you just clip it to one side depending on whether the zipper is on the left or right of your needle

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  19. Sorry about the zipper - no help here! But I do love the pouch you made!!

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  20. Your squares are lovely. I'm scared of zips too (I think I'm up to 3 as well!)....not sure my zip foot looks quite like yours, sorry. Juliex

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  21. The cusion cover is coming along nicely. I'm with you though, my zip stitching into pouches leaves a lot to be desired!

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  22. I absolutely love the blue/green in the cushion...it's so modern and fabulous!!!

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  23. Your cushion cover is going to be awesome! Can't wait to see it finished!

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  24. Your piecing is all brilliant. That foot doesn't look like a zipper foot to me - what make of machine do you have?

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  25. It doesn't look like my zipper foot either.
    Your pouch and cushion cover are gorgeous.

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  26. The cushion cover is pretty love the colours and the pouch looks fab to well done for attempting a zipper.

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  27. Whoa - I love your cushion cover - pity I wasn't in the swap as I'd have gladly received it! Your pouch is gorgeous but you zipper foot is like none I've ever seen! Good luck but practice does make perfect! (Not that I'm much good at zips - all those teeth = bit scary)

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  28. Hi Sarah, I'm coming over to you from the goodie swap although I have 'seen you' as a commenter on other blogs. I adore that cushion cover - when I saw it I thought wow, what a gorgeous quilt as I didn't appreciate the scale. I love the colours - I think you have created an amazing palette. The pouch looks great too...it reminds me of suede bags made out of coloured patches. Lovely!

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  29. Oh, I love your FTLOS project! Can't wait to see more! :) Thanks for linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and have a great weekend!

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  30. That looks like the zipper foot that came with my Kenmore - they're hideous aren't they?! Buy a new one, they're so cheap and you'll instantly discover zipper love, it makes all the difference. I can't remember the make of mine but it's a bit like this one: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=zipper+foot&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=646&bih=706&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14111315673559769903&sa=X&ei=KFgGT8irD8XTqgHc17iqBA&ved=0CLUBEPMCMAQ#ps-sellers

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