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Lost.Foundry ✂

@lost.foundry

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A wonky sewist. A fairly fervent frugaliser of found fabrics. Affiliation free. Wonky memory. Terminally tired.

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Useful straight lines guide tape.

This account is to share my sewing makes, and some hints & tips. Hopefully they'll be useful, mostly for beginners, but since I am always learning new tips & techniques, perhaps other "long-time makers" might be reminded of something useful, once in a while, too.

It's currently a private account because meta is blatantly using people's personal content for their AI purposes. I don't know if the public/private setting will make a difference but I'm being cautious and hoping.

I don't currently make-to-sell, but I have a few upcycled bags leftover from when the gallery in the Peak District closed a few years ago. I can DM photos and prices in response to enquiries.

Posted 24 June 24 © Copyright words and pictures belong to me, the maker. No permission granted for AI purposes.

#SewUtilitarian by @lost.foundry

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2 years ago

PICC Line Covers. (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter for chemo)

It was one frock, now it's 9 covers in three sizes.

I don't know if it's worth me posting this; my posts don't get very far, but if it does spread this a little further, then it will have been worth it.

Jersey fabric/frock cut thus:

Length all sizes 21 cm [8¼"]
Width small 20cm [8"]
Width med 25cm [10"]
Width large 30cm [11½"]

If you want to contribute, please be in touch with @melaniekeane for where to send the finished items.

Please let me know if I should include any further information. by @lost.foundry

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3 months ago

Knickers!

Calling coverstitch users.

"Knickers" was my mom's favourite cuss. I cussed plenty stronger words today over this.

These M&S skin-tone knickers are a decent fit for me except the waistband elastic cuts into me like cheesewire. (And it displaces my HRT patches!)

I have previously replaced cheesewire elastic with a kinder version, on other knickers, using a sewing machine, but I now have a #BabyLock #Aspire #CoverLock machine! [It's also air-threading! Posh! Or what?!]

I can cut the exact length of new elastic required, but I don't understand how one estimates the elastic foot's adjustment for how tight/loose is necessary to make the length of elastic fit the length of the waist of the knickers.

Rather than set myself up for failure, I decided to ignore the elastic foot altogether and cut the elastic to length, stitch it to form a circle, mark the intervals on the elastic and 5he knickers and sew it with the Aspire's stretchy chain stitch.

Unfortunately, the chain stitch was somewhat tricksy. I tried it twice and have photographed the third incarnation. This time the first round of stitches had only one slipped stitch glitch (pic 2), but the the second round had too many for the elastic to be secure (Pic 3). So in the end, I resorted to a sewing machine and some Maraflex thread (pic 1). [Maraflex thread is slightly stretchy but doesn't have great skin-tone colour compatibility.]

The last picture (4) shows several samples. They are various attempts at getting the chain stitch to work consistently. I had tried three different needles in three different needle positions and ended up with a microtex 14 in the central position for these photos. Is a particular thickness of fabric causing the stitches to slip? The jury is still out. I have absolutely no idea what causes the slippage. If anybody knows the best way to set up a chain stitch I'd be really grateful to hear from you.

[And thank you, Tricia, I remembered! IYKYK :-) ]

There's another insta change. Only 5 hashtags are allowed now. It used to be 30!

#SewOver50
#DetailsMatter by @lost.foundry

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3 months ago

Mute mending of "invisible" quilt.

This is a "knee quilt," for want of a better description. You can probably guess it is made from sample books of furnishing fabrics on one side, a piece of old curtan on the back, and high loft polyester wadding as the filling. The quilting (the actual joining together of the three layers) was done by hand, in a similar manner to using buttons on chair backs. I could have pulled the linking threads tight, without buttons, but causing the popular dimples. I didn't want to see the dimples so I chose carefully where to locate the linking points, and didn't pull them taught. Is there a word for this buttonless button-through method, I wonder?

I used the samples as an early overlocker project, many years ago. I fancied making something akin to a 'carpet bag' but changed my mind after I'd pieced much of it together. It would make for quite a heavy tote, and not be very weather resistant, either. I discovered that some of the seams were not as secure as they could be and that's what I've been mending. I didn't take a before photo because I rarely bother to share my mendings, but then decided I would share.

Thank you to Tricia, @morrissews for rescuing me from my senior moment of forgetting how to tag @sharesewover50

#SewOver50
#DetailsMatter
#quilting by @lost.foundry

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3 months ago

The Strawberry Thief bag part 3 of 3

Interior self drafted design features:

Overview:
I've optimised the capacity of the main body by using wide gussets with pockets on the inside and outside. I've also sewn a row of pockets on the front and the back, so small items don't get lost in the general space.

It's tricksy to photograph the inside of the bag. However, to orientate the photos a little please note the white label is sewn on the back, above the zippy phone pocket.

☆ 1 & 2 Two rows of pockets. Including:
☆ Button down pocket to keep medication safe.
☆ Card slots, inside another pocket for safety

☆ 1 & 2 Zippy pockets for purse & phone.

☆ 3 looking at the back & 4 looking at the front.
Roomy gusset pocket with button-down flap.
Will hold drinks cans/bottles upright.

☆ 4 A super easy access slotty pocket for
*temporarily* parking a card, while in the
queue to pay. The elastic band reduces
slippage (when hidden elsewhere in the bag)

☆ 5 Elasticated gusset pocket to keep my bag of
bags separate from main storage area. In my
last bag these took up too much space in the
main compartment.

☆ 5 Another easy access slotty pocket. This one
is longer: it is for for temporarily parking
pens or spectacles

#StrawberryThief
#SelfDrafted
#SewOver50
#DetailsMatter
#SpoonyLife by @lost.foundry

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3 months ago

The Strawberry Thief bag. Part 2.
(Insta has messed up my careful formatting, but kept the stars!)

Bespoke exterior design features:

☆ 1 Flap for security & weather.

☆ 1 Twist-lock to fasten flap.

☆ 1 Front zipped pocket for easy access.
* I've deliberately made this accessible
when the flap is locked.

☆ 1 Adjustable cross body or shoulder strap.
Again, a man-made webbing mainly because it
won't soak up rain, and remain wet like the
cotton version.

☆ 1 Loops (not very visible, sorry) to add
carabiner clips to hang extra
items like sun visors, a wet brolly, or a coat
sling.

☆ 2 Rear slip-pocket with magnetic fastener.
(Propped open here to view.) Convenient to
slip in paperwork like hospital appointment
letters.

☆ 2 Padded grab-handle for lifting without
using the long strap. (I really can't do without
this.)

☆ 3 Secret zip pocket. It's hidden within the
back slip pocket.

☆ 4 & 9 Wide gussets at the sides, for added
Internal capacity.

☆ 4 & 5 Waterproof lined* gusset pockets for
wet wipes & used wipes. (What to do with
used wipes/tissues when there is no handy
bin?)

☆ 6 Waterproof lined* vertically zipped gusset
pocket for alcohol spray (hand sanitiser).
When I am using the spray bottle*, I can
temporarily park the cap in this handy
"sideways" pocket.

☆ 7 Zipped key pocket. For key wallet using a
retractable cord (like retractable tape
measure but smaller).

☆ 8 Handbag feet. They're attached through
super-tough/chunky "interfacing" (more
cardboardy than foam, but equally as thick).

☆ 9 Two wide gusset pockets. On the least
accessible side of the bag, opposite the
sanitiser & keys storage, as worn.

* Many features are the same as onhe previous tan bag, (see previous post), but I have made some improvements mostly in increased volume and easy of accessibility.

I really don't know what hashtags to include beyond:

#DetailsMatter
#sewover50
#SelfDrafted by @lost.foundry

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3 months ago

I self drafted a replacement bag.

Here's the front & back view of the new one, in Teflon coated Strawberry Thief, and a reminder of the previous one in tan faux leather, which began to tear with wear.

The new one is great! But I don't like it

The fabric, Strawberry Thief (from the internet), added issues & general faffery..

□ The print isn't true to the grain. #Sigh

□ It's a one way pattern so I had to add joins, & fussy cut to retain upright birds.

□ The pattern repeat is larger than I anticipated, and it meant my bag is taller & wider than I first intended.

□The fusible foam I intended to use had fold-creases that even washing would not remove.
I began the bag with other interfacings/stabilisers that I had, then I found something stiffer at Dunelm Mill. Enter much jiggery pokery to retro fit around the pre-sewn exterior pockets. I used Decovil Light on the flap, but it wasn't rigid enough for the rest of the bag. Wrinkles & ridges are visible (depending on the light).

More details to follow.

#Teflon
#decovilLight
#StrawberryThief
#sewover50

I never normally add music, but this is an old favourite and particularly relevant atm. (This week has seen multiple record breaking high June temperatures 2026)

Apologies, It's too loud. I don't know how to reduce the volume. by @lost.foundry

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3 months ago

3rd test post to see if I can do this tagging malarkey.
I'll probably delete.

In the meantime
1 Just showing that the Junki's onboard snips are having a moment!
2 A screenie of the difficult tagging part of posting

#SewistsOfInstagram

#ShareSewOver50
#SewOver50 Do I need to use these hashtags? Or does the tag thing do the job? We'll see. by @lost.foundry

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5 months ago

I think this speaks for itself.

#juki or #junki ? by @lost.foundry

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8 months ago

Listen (hard) to numbers 1 & 2.

I'm just adding a few more details to the tape maker saga.

1 The motor is inconsistent in speed; this tape wasn't long enough to wind onto the spindle

2 Sometimes adjustments are necessary to align the tape. When pulling the tape backwards to adjust it you might hear it catching on a rough surface inside the tip.

3 The supposed rough surface results in rough edges.

4 One of the replacement tips had a blistered chrome finish. I suspect the rough interior was also due to this.

5 A selection of pieces I tried to get through the smallest tips. I wasn't very successful.

6 Before winding the flat strips on the spindle, I ensured all the joins were trimmed and pressed flat open. I needn't have bothered, the machine casually undid that for me.

7 An alternative to the traditional "sides to middle" fold.

8 This imperfection is the very reason I bought the machine. When I make bias tapes by hand I sometimes find there's a small gap in the centre. If the machine can't eliminate that for me, I don't see the point in using it.

Do I want a replacement? Would you?

Incidentally the retailer has been helpful, and is currently contacting Simplicity.

© Copyright words and pictures belong to me, the maker. No permission granted for AI purposes.

Posted Dec 2025

As always please feel free to correct my hashtags. Or suggest better ones. I'm rubbish at this.

#SewOver50Dec

#DetailsMatter

#BiasBinding
#SimplicityBiasBindingMaker
#MakingBiasTape

#HandmadeIsBetterMade
#MadeByHand
#Memade
#LoveHandMade

#MakersOfInstagram
#MakersMovement
#MakersGonnaMake
#LoveToSew
#Sewist
#Sewing
#SewingCommunity
#SewersOfInstagram
#SewistsOfInstagram

#ISewlation
#KeepCalmAndSew

#SewYourselfSustainable
#SewUtilitarian

#Chronicallysewn
#SpoonyLife by @lost.foundry

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10 months ago

The Simplicity Bias Tape Maker: An epic tale of woe.

Has anyone been successful with the Simplicity Bias Tape Maker? NOT an AD.

It's a machine that pulls flat fabric strips through an obstacle course and spits out hot-pressed perfectly-folded bias-binding at the other end. Or not.

I have seen it demonstrated more than once, and thought it would save both time and trouble because, as some of you know, I have random hand pains, and dexterity problems as a consequence. My home-made tape is decent, but not always perfect. (The width - as pressed - can vary a little.) So I treated myself to a birthday gift of the bias tape maker.

It offers six tips. Four for bias-binding (¼", ½", ¾" & 1"), and two for "blanket" or "quilt" binding (1" and 1¼"), whatever that is.

Along with the six tips there came a number of issues:

1, There are 2 grey tips. They're differently shaped & sized. Both are marked 1". The largest had a malformed clip. So I sent a photo of the problem to the retailer and requested a replacement.

2, The wrong sized 1" replacement arrived, with a blistered chrome finish! (I negotiated the correct replacement with the helpful seller)

3, When contents were correct I looked at (for?) the instructions. They themselves needed instructions, or at least explanations. They left much to be desired.

4, I still don't know what reset means. Is it different from switching it off and on again? Yes.

5, Which way round, and at which end of the fat spindle, does one wind one's fabric strip? I eventually set it up, mostly by means of trial & error ...

6, The smaller tips are even more difficult to push floppy fabric through than tips unrelated to the machine, and unless you waste several inches of tape, and jold firmly, they can get retracted and wind themselves *around* the exit-rollers which are supposed to pull the tape *through* the machine. After the tape has gone round them a couple of times, it jams, stops pulling, and one has to rush to disassemble the hottest parts with bare hands, before it smokes or worse. (Never leave it unattended to answer the door or similar, one could require the emergency fire service!)

Continued in comments... by @lost.foundry

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10 months ago

Oekaki Throwback.

Whilst rummaging under the bed for machines for servicing, I came across my first samples using the Toyota Oekaki Renaissance to give its correct title.

Apologies for the poor presentation.

Toyota. A sad loss.

© Copyright words and pictures belong to me, the maker. No permission granted for AI purposes.

Posted Tues 24th Nov 2025

As always, please feel free to correct my hashtags. Or suggest better ones. I'm rubbish at this.

#SewOver50Nov
#DetailsMatter
#HandmadeIsBetterMade
#MadeByHand
#Memade
#LoveHandMade

#MakersOfInstagram
#MakersMovement
#MakersGonnaMake
#LoveToSew
#Sewist
#Sewing
#SewingCommunity
#SewersOfInstagram
#SewistsOfInstagram

#ISewlation
#KeepCalmAndSew
#Chronicallysewn
#SpoonyLife by @lost.foundry

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10 months ago