If you can dream it, you can make it!
This is my sewing philosophy and I hope it’s yours too. On this channel you’ll find a lot of sewing inspirational content, advice and some how to’s as well.
I have 6 years worth of archive videos so if there’s something you want to learn I am sure you’ll find a video showing you how. I was plus size for a long time so much of my videos focus on that.
Do come and say hi in the comments, I love chatting to you and don’t forget to subscribe too 🙌
Viewers can contact me via dm on instagram at penguinandpear
For biz enquiries only - [email protected].
You can send me a “tip” via www.ko-fi.com/penguinandpear
Thank you!
Пікірлер
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!!!! Thanks for sharing. New subbie!!!
Thank you for another brilliant video and you look marvellous, how have you lost so much weight? Kudos to you
Thank you I have been doing a carnivore diet. Check out my other channel @carnivoreclaire
I bought the IKEA linen set and love it, just gets better with every wash. I think they only do the 2 colours, peachy pink tone or white. Amazing value and fabulous 100% linen
Several people have mentioned making a Bootstrap mannequin, Joey Sewy made two YT videos about this 6 years ago that are still available to watch. Empress Mill sells Egyptain cotton and extra wide fabrics. Have you considered an orthopaedic cushion for sitting? They are designed for coccyx and tailbone pain relief, maybe your local NHS physio can provide one for you. Apologies if I am speaking out of turn.
I have several different types of cushion for my coccyx none of them have been much help. I’ve lost hope in the NHS for this issue sadly. I will look into private manipulation once I’ve moved ❤️
@@Penguinandpear I hope you find a solution and good luck with the move.
I personally have never seen a rotary cutter that isn't hard plastic, I own Olfa brand as well as others and they are all made of the same material. Also with regards to the blades they work a lot longer than you have exp0ressed. As a quilter/sewer I use them pretty often and without problems unless I buy cheap blades. A duvet cover is probably the easiest bed cover you can make, With regard to the sewing table you can absolutely make something to suit your needs. I used an old farm dining table and it's wonderful, maybe your son can cut out the place for the sewing machine for you?
Agree with everything except the drafting course!! I shall just keep doing the lottery😅. Thanks for sharing. 😊. Lynne
Have a search here for “duct tape dummies”, used by fur suit makers, but with the help of a friend you could make a padded clone of your body to put over a cheap dressmakers dummy for not much cost.
More videos please in all aspects of dresmaking sewing everything I really enjoy your vlogs....... I left school 50 odd years ago , oh my goodness that sounds vintage ..... and trained as a seamstress, that sounds vintage as well 😂😂😂, anyway lost my interest as making dresses / skirts for myself didn't fit oneway or another I made mistakes and got disheartened, I am a bit of a perfectionist, its the same with knitting and crocheting, I was taught to do it right the first time ,which h has stuck with me ,ummm , anyway thank you for sharing look forward to the next vlog ,take care ❤❤
Looking very healthy keep it up love listening to wishes don't give up 5min before a miracle 😊😊😊
If money was no object I'd be on a flight to you and we'd go shopping! 😙
Hi, I have a question. I bought some scuba knit jersey. I like the pattern on it, and though the stripes were running down the fabric with the grain. It's my fault I didn't check 😕. But the stripes run across the grain. Can I cut it out so the stripes run down the dress instead of across the dress? I want to use it for the front end back panel of Mc Calls M7349. Please help as I don't want to waste the material.
I was blessed to find an expanding sewing cabinet with a machine lift at a thrift store for $59. I found the perfect sewing chair at another thrift store for $30. I'm working on converting my bedroom into a sewing/craft room. I don't mind sleeping on the couch as long as I have a sewing room!
Good things are coming your way! You will get those fabulous things!
I made a Bootstrap mannequin, took a weekend. You input your measurements and they send you a pattern. It is absolutely brilliant and my sloper fits it perfectly. Can't remember the price but I think it was about $80NZ and luckily I had the fabric and stuffing.
Gurl, you look good! Keep it up!
There was no plus sizes when I learned to sew but I bought for my measurements, the largest measurement, and I cut big and I sewed narrow, but Ever every decade I have been 5 pounds heavier than the one before and I am now 210 down 10 pounds recently. So I've always had a problem finding a pattern that would fit me regardless of who size it was.
If I could buy a sewing thing and money was no object, it would be a white Featherweight. I know everyone is talking about your weight loss journey, but I really hope that your health is what is improving! Have you posted a video about that lately?
It’s much better than pre carnivore but I still have challenges. I touch on it in a video coming out in a day or two on my carnivore channel and I plan to do an updated mecfs video over there soon.
Have you thought of using a gaming chair?
Hi Clare you look fantastic
❤
You look amazing! Love your channel, you're sn inspiration sending hugs 🤗
Miss Clare you look fabulous and healthy. Have been watching you for years!!! I hope u r feeling that way. I was lucky enough to find my sewing chair at a charity shop. It fits me just right and was amazing price.
I have two pairs of French linen sheets! I bought them in a charity shop whilst on holiday in France, they are amazing…
Thanks
Thank you ❤️
A sheet of plywood covered with a thin, but dense batting, then covered with a hard wool fabric makes a great work table. You can use something natural other than wool, but wool is really nice.
I actually found linen sheets at a thrift store. I love them. I don’t have them anymore because I moved abroad. I think it was a lucky find, but I also think if there was one there’s more than one so keep an eye out. Crazy for Linen!! The thing I want so bad right now is literally not prohibitively expensive, but where I live I have to have decent sewing thread imported, and it’s very expensive by Amazon and then he had to pay import fees and it’s crazy. The thread here is pretty bad. When I lived in Riyadh, I could pay up somewhat for thread and get decent thread. That was a color I needed pretty much although the selection was a little limited. But I moved to tabook which has very few options in the way of notions and all they have is icky bad thread. The good news is I am going home soon and I will be able to bring some back with me. Everyone is complaining about Joann fabrics back in the states and I just want to slap them and tell them don’t complain. Give them all the business so they don’t go away. The same about the post office. We do not have mailboxes here. The only way we get things delivered by super expensive express mail mail it’s about $50 to send something anywhere minimum. so don’t complain about your good Postal Service or your local fabric store that has everything you need but they annoy you about something. Sorry, I ranted . I’m sorry. I’m in the middle of a project with extreme thread frustration. I want to make a gift for my husband, but I cannot find metal zippers. I cannot find heavy interfacing. I cannot find batting.
Honestly, sweet Claire! How much weight have you lost?? Your professional dressmaker dummy will definitely NOT be plus sized . . . that's for darn sure. You are shrinking before my eyes. Your "if money grew on trees" list is mouth watering. A high end rotary cutter/blade and large surface area table are particularly tantalizing. There is never enough table space . . . never! Loved the video. Bye for now.
Haha I think since my heaviest over 80lbs now! ❤️❤️❤️
@@PenguinandpearMy word! That's as much as a 10 year old child weighs. Congratulations! You are truly dedicated to taking your life back.
I am trying my best. In terms of my weight still another 35 to go xx
@@Penguinandpear Sweet Claire, you will see that 35 lbs. in the rear window in no time. Your dedication is to be lauded.
I just finished making the pants form from Bootstrap fashion. The pattern cost me $28.00. I measured it against me today and only one place my waist is off one inch. Every other place is 1/2 inch & under. You send a slew of measurements to the company and they make up a pattern for you and send to your computer. I then sent it to a printer and got the copy in a couple of days I bought 5 yards of fabric at $6.00/yd and batting to stuff it. I’m sorry I don’t remember cost of batting. I would say though I spent way under $100.00. You also need zipper which I already had. You also need cardboard and a stand.
My sewing chair is for 'big and tall' and you can get them for 300lb and 500lb, what they are is extra wide and have super supportive padding so you can sit comfortably for hours sewing without the arms getting in the way, but they are there if you want to sit back and chill.
I’ve also got to have the room for a sewing chair that’s the other issue!!
Hi Clare, I bought from RMF Rauschenberger the Table “Start”. It is not so expensive than the others but it was a game changer in sewing. I could recommend it. If the Freearm Insert from the Brother 350 SE would fit for your Brother Maschine I would send it to you, because I switched to Juki and it doesn’t fit anymore.
Thank you that’s sweet. I have the brother nq1800v I think. Do you prefer juki?
I’m so sorry, but your Maschine is much bigger than mine. So it will not fit. And also your maschine is to big for the “Start” table. I wish you the best, that you will find someone who could help you to build a table or give you it as a gift 🎁 It is amazing how you manage your situation. Best wishes 🙋♀️ My Juki arrived last week, I didn’t have the chance to check it out. But it is although smaller then yours…
I love my sewing chair bought from a second hand charity shop for less thank 40 cdn. I am short with most chairs to high and to long in the seat. This shop gets donations from companies as they move or close out. I had plenty to choose from. I hate using twin needles with all my sewing friends buying cover stich maxhines. I am now inlove with stretchy thread. (Not wooly nyleo) I now just use this thread in my bobbin on my regular machine and sew two rows one at a time.
Good deal on the chair! I had a cover stitch machine it’s overrated!!
I have a coverstitch, and I also regret buying it since it’s good for only one thing. The Eloflex thread has pretty much replaced it for me since it stretches nicely.
I need a new chair, too. Mine is about 30 years old, and it was cheap when I bought it new. I have been looking, and the decent ones are three to six hundred dollars. Really nice ones are over a thousand here in the US. I'm talking with my husband, and I decided rather than buying another cheap one, I'll wait until I can get a good one. In the meantime, I'm using ergonomic cushions that help some. It's not great, but at least I can sew for a little while before I have to quit.
I think that’s a sensible decision. I’m happy to wait too. Years ago I had a really expensive chair at work that occupational health said i needed. When I say in that chair I felt no pain at all but move to another chair (say for a meeting elsewhere) and I was wriggling in minutes.
I hit send too soon, I took pattern drafting at the Junior College when I was pregnant with my son ( he's 35 now!) and it was worthwhile. I love flat pattern drafting, it feels like magic. About 5 years ago, I took a draping class ( at the same JC) and found that I don't particularly care for it. However, it still is good skill to have. I know people who love draping and dislike flat pattern.
Yeah it’s probably down to personality. In my mind I prefer draping but I’ve never actually tried it. I tend to flat pattern if I draft but don’t really do much (it was more grading up) and I find it a faff.
I just saw a you Tuber that used the Nancy Zieman pivot and slide method. I used it years ago for pants. I am going to give it a try
We must of seen the same video. I did a search and found Nancy Zieman's video on KZread explaining the method. It makes total sense.
Thanks Clare….yes money money money…..sewing is my relaxation…but yes it would be nice to have a few of those things ❤😊
Wouldn’t it just lol hopefully the sewing fairy is listening lol 😂
If money were no object… I agree with you on all of them.
Big if huh 🫣
Tbh a dressmaker's dummy is really best if you are draping. I use mine mostly to position trim and to mark my hems, even though I know how to drape. However, if you really want one, I wholeheartedly recommend making one using a Bootstrap pattern that you buy online, they use your measurements to generate a pattern that you use to sew up the body. There are lots of videos online of people making them. I've done the duct tape one too but don't recommend it as you can't really pin into it.
Great info thanks for sharing! I may end up that route. Not sure if I’ll end up draping or drawing patterns, ideally I’d have both skills!
Bootstrap sells dressmaker dummy patterns based on your exact measurements. Why not get one of those and make your own? it will be your exact size and you can pin into it. The pattern is $28 so you don't have to wait to be your goal weight.
It’s a great idea. I’ll wait until I’m maintaining my weight but will consider this!
@Penguinandpear I got the bootstrap kit and it's amazing
I just found your channel and am so enjoying learning from you. I, too, have fibro, so I'm hoping to pick up tips to work around that business to come up with something wearable. I don't often sew apparel. in fact, it has been years, so here goes!
Thanks, great video, well explained, saved me money. Cheers
Thank you soo much for the unpicking trick🤗🙏🏼🌸🥰🩷💝
I have cut the stitches off 😂
I have a tray that attaches to my overlocker to collect all the cut fabric it’s so handy but have noticed new machines have less accessories. For instance my Janome $3,500 computerised embroidery machine which I upgraded from a similar computerised embroidery machine doesn’t even have a hard case cover. It has nothing and it cost 3 times what my older one did and it had lots more spaces to put the feet in the old one. I miss that. Joani from Australia 🇦🇺 🤗❤️🌸
Thank you I would like to know more stitches the overlocker does. Much love. Joani from Australia 🇦🇺 🙏🏼🥰🤗💝🌸 17:01
I love my computerised Janome embroidery sewing machine and my 4 thread overlocker but find it hard to thread. I don’t want to update as I’ve just updated my $3,500 machine. I do have problems with tension on it too. A y advice would be helpful. Much love Joani from Australia 🙏🏼🤗🥰💝🌸
Check out my video on serger tension it will help you.
Thank you so much. Much love from Australia 🙏🏻🥰🌸
I use interfacing to make patterns. If you buy the self adhesive you can iron on the pattern pieces. Much love from Joani in Australia 🤗🙏🏼💝🥰
Thank you for all your tips. I’ve been sewing all my life. I’m 73 and made all the curtains in 4 houses we lived and all my 3 kids clothes when they were younger. $3,500 computerised embroidery machine for sewing for my granddaughter. She’s not into brand names yet at 2 years old but I did make all the cot and bassinet sheets and the swaddle wraps for her and bibs etc. Before she was born. I have always had a ComputerEyes Sewing Machine and I updated mine to the next one because I knew that my other one was in excess of 20 years old and if it failed, it would be more costly to fix, and I wanted one with a much easier needle threader than my own. I could not live without an automatic needle threader! When my daughter was young, I used to get magazines from the high-end shops and copy their little girls dresses and they were always beautiful. Now I’m trying to do the same with my little granddaughter. I do have a four thread over locker which does more than just over lock because I went to a class and it does all sorts of pretty edges but I’ve never really used it for anything other than Overlocking, the seams. I have lost my confidence a bit because I’ve had a really serious total knee replacement done twice on the same knee and I’ve been on crutches for 17 months and in excruciating pain but luckily for me my machine like my other one has a button that you press and it shows and you’re both hands are free so I don’t have to use, my knee that was operated on with a foot pedal. I’m always interested in anything you have to share because we all don’t know everything and it’s always good to learn from others so thank you so much for taking the time to show us all the little tricks that you have learned over the years, God bless you. Much love from Australia. Joani ❤🥰🙏🏼 PS. one thing I use to hold my pattern down is my bean bags you heat in the microwave, just in case you have some 🤗💝
Thank you for all your tips. I’ve been sewing all my life. I’m 73 and made all the curtains in 4 houses we lived and all my 3 kids clothes when they were younger. $3,500 computerised embroidery machine for sewing for my granddaughter. She’s not into brand names yet at 2 years old but I did make all the cot and bassinet sheets and the swaddle wraps for her and bibs etc. Before she was born. I have always had a ComputerEyes Sewing Machine and I updated mine to the next one because I knew that my other one was in excess of 20 years old and if it failed, it would be more costly to fix, and I wanted one with a much easier needle threader than my own. I could not live without an automatic needle threader! When my daughter was young, I used to get magazines from the high-end shops and copy their little girls dresses and they were always beautiful. Now I’m trying to do the same with my little granddaughter. I do have a four thread over locker which does more than just over lock because I went to a class and it does all sorts of pretty edges but I’ve never really used it for anything other than Overlocking, the seams. I have lost my confidence a bit because I’ve had a really serious total knee replacement done twice on the same knee and I’ve been on crutches for 17 months and in excruciating pain but luckily for me my machine like my other one has a button that you press and it shows and you’re both hands are free so I don’t have to use, my knee that was operated on with a foot pedal. I’m always interested in anything you have to share because we all don’t know everything and it’s always good to learn from others so thank you so much for taking the time to show us all the little tricks that you have learned over the years, God bless you. Much love from Australia. Joani ❤🥰🙏🏼
Thank you for your handy hints. I am an experience so but you can always learn more from others. I was born in Wales UK but have lived all my life in Australia so if you could convert cost to pounds it would be helpful and maybe I could find comparable places to buy things that you suggest. Much love and thank you once again.🤗💝🩷