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I just found you and thoroughly enjoyed your video. I have at least half of the things you described, and l use them, but you have definitely made me more aware and l will double-think before l make any future purchases. Loved your honestly, humour, and wisdom. Thank you ❤ Now subscribed.

I have a bootstrap dressform. Absolutely brilliant. I think it cost 25 euro. It's in my size with al my lumps and bumps and I can stick needles in it. It almost sounds like a lifesize voodo doll 😂😂

I hope you are doing well, you look healthy and beautiful!

mine if money wasnt an issue would be an all metal vintage sewing machine 😆😆 just manifesting for now maybe it'll blow in the wind into my house for free 🧚‍♀️

i LOVE this video idea!! makes me not feel alone in my thoughts 😄❤️ subscribing, love your personality as well 😊

I got my manuquine from a second hand store. It was a male form rather then female, so I padded it out with bandages, an old bra etc. To my measurements. It took some time and wasn't perfect, but it still worked fairly well for £20 :) so it may be possible to do that if you come across a second hand one. I haven't adjusted the size since I put weight back on unfortunately, I need to get that done this yr

Looking good!😊

Ah I've been wondering why I haven't seen you lately and here you are, you're looking fabulous. Hope life is treating you well now xx

I could never justify buying an air threaded serger. Not ever.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!!!! 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

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 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?

Have you thought of using a gaming chair?

Hi Clare you look fantastic

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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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Thanks Clare….yes money money money…..sewing is my relaxation…but yes it would be nice to have a few of those things ❤😊

If money were no object… I agree with you on all of them.

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.

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.

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!