Announcing your first challenge for 2014 – and a colour change – we thought we’d spice things up and swap out the blog theme colour – we’re going PURPLE for 2014, yeah!
New Year = New Technique was out front early on and stayed that way for the whole week. UFO Sewing scraped back some votes on Friday but never quite made it. Thank you to the 74 contributors who voted – let’s try and beat that number next vote 🙂
So it looks like you are all keen to learn some new techniques in 2014, what’s it going to be? French seams? Bound button holes? Hand-picked zipper? Maybe you want to master some basics, ever tried an invisible zipper?
Share your ideas in the comments 🙂
The Monthly Stitch 
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I’m going to dive right in with a biggie for this one; I’m going to have a go at drafting my own jacket. I’ve done blouses, skirts and trousers and dresses, but always used a pattern for jackets. January is gong to be the month that I try and draft my own design!
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Oooh, I was thinking of doing hand-stitched button holes, but maybe bound buttonholes will do as well. Either those or a hand-picked zipper… I don’t even know what that means!
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I haven’t used the binder bits on my coverpro – so maybe that’s my technique ‘stretch target’. OMG, it’s now in writing 🙂
Now I have to check the tutes Fehr Trading and Debbie Cook have posted ….
Does anyone have any other suggestions for coverpro tute suggestions?
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Yeah! I have a serger that I inherited, and some knit material I picked up in the remnant bin. Gonna give serging a try in January!
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Ooh nice. I’m not sure what I’ll try yet but there are plenty of things I’d like to master. Suggestions welcome 🙂
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The purple looks fantastic – my fav colour at the mo 🙂 Mmmm I really want to conquer the rolled hem, having never done one before and with all the lovely light summer fabrics I think this is just the thing for me 🙂 Of course there are other things on my list like bound button holes and welt pockets but nothing in my current sewing list involves these things.
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Yay for purple 🙂 I’ve learned a few new techniques in the last few months, so might have to give this a think.
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Excellent! I love all the techniques out there just waiting to be mastered 😉 This year I’ve been looking at zips – hand picked, invisible & I’ve just put my 2nd fly in – I am still avoiding side zips on dresses so maybe they can be my focus – or I’ll join in with welt pockets, perhaps 😉
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Have a look at the free Craftsy class Master Zipper Techniques, it’s really helpful: http://www.craftsy.com/search?query=mastering+zipper&type=&categoryUrl= . For lapped zips (my new favourite) I use this tutorial http://scruffybadgertime.co.uk/2012/08/my-mammas-lapped-zipper-tutorial/
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I voted for this one but have no idea which new technique i’d like to try most. Maybe bound button holes or welt pockets? I don’t think I’m likely to be making anything requiring bound buttonholes in the near future so it’ll probably be the welt pockets. I have vague plans to make shorts so it kinda ties in with existing sewing plans 🙂
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Oh welt pockets, good idea! I have just purchased the Rigel Bomber by Papercut which has those, so maybe it’ll encourage me to sew that up quickly
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I just got a serger as my grad gift so I’m keen to learn some techniques on it.
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That would be a great challenge!
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Oops! I meant to reply to tworandomwords. The plaid would be a great challenge, but I think I’m going to try the bound buttons for a jacket that I’ve been meaning to make. May be I’ll make a plaid jacket! ha! I’m excited!
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Och, you’re a better woman than me if you’re going to try matching a plaid jacket. I will get there ONE DAY, but not soon! Way too scared. Although, actually, I do want to match a shirtwaist dress (am wanting to recreate an old family photo for my mum’s 60th) which is just as daunting.
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Yeah – was hoping this would be voted in!
del
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Mmmmm… I think I’d like to have a go at putting a zip pocket inside a bag and also bound button holes. ✂️😀✂️
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Ah, darn, I was too late to vote on this! Suggestion is to maybe keep the voting open a tad longer for those ‘slow turtle moving’ types of us. 🙂 Actually though, I think I would have voted for this one anyway. I’m keen to try a new technique. I’ve already tried about 4 new techniques on one garment I’m working on for November’s challenge from the book Twinkle Sews (hence why it’s taken a tad longer). My advice would be to not add TOO many new techniques into one project. Can get a bit distracting and overwhelming.
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God where to start. French seams? Lining an outfit? Gotta month to think about it… Can I get back to you on that one 😉
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I would really like to try fabric covered buttons – though I am not sure on what project. Then using boning (maybe a By Hand London Georgia dress, my current obsession?) I did bound button holes recently, that was another biggie and that went rather well, so I am encouraged.
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I think mine will be…. matching plaids. Ahhhh I get the shakes just thinking about it!
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Ooh! Great idea!
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My biggest challenge has been hand-made buttonholes. I saw on a treadle sewing machine, so this is truly a challenge for me :=) m.
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