A Tour of My Vintage Industrial Sewing Machine
Although I do most of my sewing projects on a domestic machine these days, I still occasionally use my old industrial machine. It’s seen better days but still works like a charm. Here’s a quick tour of the old girl.
My Brother BD2-B755-3B High-Speed Lock Stitch Machine. Complete with table & lamp.
Number of stitch types: 1
Oil gauge . It’s self oiling so you get a little oil fountain here when you’re stitching.
Dial to alter stitch length and Reverse Lever.
Bobbin winder (very rusty!) The whole machine lifts up on hinges so it can be removed from the table. It weighs a ton! Even when separated from the table it takes 2 people to lift it.
The motor. It means business! I think this is where most of the weight comes from.
There’s no missing these switches!
So there she is. Still going after all these years :)
Our Dressmaking Patterns
Sussex Seamstress is an independent pattern maker, based in Sussex, UK. A selection of our patterns (sizes 6-30) are shown below, with paper patterns, pdf downloads, and full sewing kits available.
The Sidley Skirt offers dramatic movement and effortless elegance for your handmade wardrobe, and it's simple enough for beginners.
The design perfectly balances structured tailoring with volume. Featuring a high-waisted yoke that contours the hips, it opens up into gathered side panels that create a gorgeous, swishy silhouette.
The real showstopper is the dramatic handkerchief hem that creates beautiful motion as you move.
A concealed side zip ensures clean, uninterrupted lines across the front and back.
Make it up in poplin, lawn, or other lightweight fabric for maximum swish and drape, or use a mid-weight fabric like denim or canvas for a crisp, everyday look.
The pattern is also available as a full kit with pattern, fabric and notions over on the Sidley Skirt Kit Page.
The pattern also comes with a new style of tutorial that combines the written instructions, diagrams and video tutorial clips all into one convenient package. You can take a look here or click on the button below. Your pattern will still include a printed manual.
Sizing
UK: 8 - 30.
US: 4-26. EU: 34-56.
Suggested Fabrics
Poplin, lawn, chambray and similar lighter fabrics for summer; Mid Weight Denim, twill, gaberdine or canvas for cooler months
Fabric Requirements (all sizes)
140cm width = 2.3m
115cm width = 3.0m
Notions
Interfacing - 50cm full width
Concealed Zip - 23cm
Thread
Skill Level
Beginner
Format
This is a paper pattern, we aim to ship patterns within 1-2 working days.
If you would prefer a PDF digital download pattern you can order it here: Sidley Skirt PDF Pattern
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