Hello friends, I hope you enjoy tonights installment - if you do can I ask a big favour? Like, comment and subscribe. If youd like to go the extra mile you can support me with a "coffee" www.ko-fi.com/penguinandpear Also, thank you for supporting me through my difficult period, I appreciate it xxx

When learning to sew, I used nice quality sheets from the thrift store. If it came out nice, I’d wear it. If it didn’t, I wear for gardening or painting. But I only paid a few dollars. I now buy better fabric.

Interfacings also make a huge difference! When I started out, I had like two different interfacings, one black, one white and that was it 😂 But the right kind of interfacing for the right piece of s garment can make a huge difference, especially in more structured pieces.

You look great in that orange color!!!

Playing catch up tonight and watching the video's I've missed the last couple of weeks! You've been very busy, my friend! As always, you give the best advice when it comes to sewing and anything else you share, because I know how you research and thoroughly go over information and make sure everything is true and accurate. Thank you for going the extra mile for us, because I'm too lazy myself these days! I do have fabric on my DR table to cut out sashings for a quilt top I'm working on. Wondering what's on everyone elses table right now... I also have a couple tops that I still haven't cut out. You are inspiring me, girl!

When in doubt about picking the right fabric, go to a store that sells the type of garment you want to make and try on a few of them, and while you're at it, check the label for fabric content. Years ago I tried to make a wrap-around dress like the beautiful dresses Diane von Furstenberg used to make. I bought some green and white knit fabric. It was good quality and not cheap. My dress felt like it weighed a ton, not light and airy the way DVF's dresses looked. I never wore it. Fast forward a few decades and I went to a wonderful exhibit of Diane von Furstenberg dresses at a museum in Los Angeles. Of course, I spent quite a bit of time looking at the dresses, and before long I realized that her dresses were made of very thin knit fabric. I would never have thought to use a knit fabric that thin. I didn't think it would drape well. Live and learn.

Hello Claire, nice to hear from you 😃

The fabric info you gave hits home…I was buying very inexpensive quilters cotton for shirts and dresses…it not only is stiff and frays easily, but the garments do not drape and I find myself hating to wear them …I did learn skills on them, but they never get worn. I only buy fabric now with a nice hand feel. Also, slowing down my sewing and being deliberate has helped me achieve a lovely finished garment and using my secondhand overlocker for seams.

So good to see you! You look not only thinner but younger, too! I'm glad you mentioned choosing a pattern that is your style, with that, if you don't know how something will look or if you would like something specific about a pattern (I'm thinking sleeves especially) maybe try to find something in ready-to-wear that has that thing and try it on to see how it looks. Another thing I always suggest is to look at yourself in a garment in a full-length mirror, close your eyes, take a deep breath, let it out, and then open your eyes and look at yourself. That way you see the whole picture and how other people see you instead of one or two things you concentrate on (hem, collar, etc).

Very good advice! With time we learn about nicer fabrics, slowing down to get a good result and making sure the fit is good before we use the good fabric - quality, not quantity!

I was given an old Brother overlocker and it was sat here for 2 yrs cause I was afraid to use it. After watching numerous sewists on youtube I was thinking I should get brave. Of course it's old technology so was difficult and tedious to thread. Fortunately the shop which sells and repairs machines said they would thread it for me. I was really chuffed and actually came home and sewed with it! Just a straight seam mind, but albeit I used it! I think this will help me to take my sewing to another level. I had actually put off projects because my regular sewing machine is ancient and doesn't do well with zig zag close to the edge. I know, I'm stuck in the days of olde. Thanks for all your tips !

I am about to retire 1200 thread bed sheets, they are lovely and soft, but still dense and weighty, the best bargain ever. I am going to make myself some dress shirts and other garments. But first, I am finishing a messenger bag for my grandson, I want to make a scrappy machine pocket mat and scissor holder, a new quilt and then... I shall be searching out all your tutorials on pattern sewing. Pressing as I sew is wonderful for my accuracy thanks as always

You are looking so vibrant healthy and beautiful! Your skin looks phenomenal. ❤

Lovely to see you Claire and looking so well Great job on your health / weight loss journey Thankyou for this info and so true I agree you need the right fabric for the pattern your making I used a cheaper quality to begin with but now onto a better quality as I have progressed and pressing makes such a difference especially on knit fabrics Take care ❤️😘

You are looking great Claire, your skin looks lovely. Thank you for your videos. xx

You look great! I'm glad you are posting here again. I've made all these mistakes, and gotten much better results as I changed my habits. Fitting patterns has been the most difficult thing for me because I'm not standard in any of my proportions, no matter my weight. I'm on the cusp of a major sewing season, planning to make a new wardrobe.

You look great! Happy you are still sewing.

My gosh, sweet Claire! You are smaller and smaller every time I see you! You are definitely going to need a new me-made wardrobe . . . and I want to watch the process. Orange really suits you, and it is beautiful against the colors of the natural woodgrain and plants. Your tips are on point. I speak from experience as I have made each of these sewing mistakes . . . some many times. Thanks for always providing solid information and lots of fun. Bye for now.

So happy to see you ❤️

Great sewing advice. 👋

Girrrlll. You are looking slim and trim. Congrats.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Fantastic tips.

This is a really excellent list! I hope more people see this video so they can learn from it and you get more followers. Thank you for the high quality content!

Glad to see you Claire. I hope you’re doing well. I love your channel no matter what the topic

Great presentation Claire!!!

Thanks for the video 🤩 You look great.

You look amazing Claire, glowing. And your voice sounds so clear and strong xxx

Lookin good Claire!

Great video Claire! Some very useful tips and insights

Lovely to see you looking great, and your tips have been very helpful thank you

Great tips!

Liked your video can you do a sewing one do you still make clothes ? You are looking well and I love your plants I am a disaster at growing plants they always die on me stay safe and healthy

If you want to follow my weight loss and chronic health journey join me over at @carnivoreclaire 🙂

I am so jealous - you've lost weight! You look fabulous!

You look great. Clear complexion and a weight loss. Wow!

❤❤❤

Buying patterns or fabrics for my fantasy life or style was my downfall when I first started sewing. If I wouldn't buy it off the rack, I won't wear it no matter how well made.

I do a button hole test on every new garment.

you're looking well, Claire :)

Claire! You’ve lost a lot of weight! How have you managed this please? 😮 Great information in this video ❤❤❤

Have you found a place to move to yet?