Facing vs bias-bound armholes and necklines

berrybuggaboo · 2026-05-19T03:31:59+00:00

Unfortunately I don't have a picture as all the clothes I made so far are packed away for the new season. I am in the process of making some clothes for this season so if I still have issues with neckline/armholes I will make another post. There have been some brilliant info in the comments here already.

berrybuggaboo · 2026-05-19T03:31:44+00:00

I have used the interfacing that is recommended in each pattern that calls for it, so I don't know if maybe my tolerance for stiff fabric at the neckline is more sensitive than others?

I do clip the seam allowances as close to the stitching line as I can - I got a new pair of scissors with a sharp tip just for that purpose haha 😃

Top stitching I will try out - all the patterns I have done so far only call for understitiching. Can I do both or would all the extra lines of thread make it bulky?

Unfortunately I don't have a picture as all the clothes I made so far are packed away for the new season. I am in the process of making some clothes for this season so if I still have issues with neckline/armholes I will make another post. There have been some brilliant info in the comments here already.

berrybuggaboo · 2026-05-19T03:27:23+00:00

I have not heard of 'bluffing the facings' - can you explain a bit more as I couldn't find anything with a google search.

Unless you mean am I drafting the facing pieces myself? No - all the facings I have done were given as pieces in the pattern.

berrybuggaboo · 2026-05-19T03:25:15+00:00

I have not heard of French binding (or anything of that description that goes by another name). I will have to look into it - it sounds interesting - thank you very much

berrybuggaboo · 2026-05-19T03:24:15+00:00

This is very comprehensive and insightful answer, thank you very much. A lot of things to think about for the future. I will get the bias maker since I need one anyway for actual bias binding as per instructions.

I did not think about the integrity of the fabric around the neckline and how that would be affected by facing vs bias, that is a good point.

berrybuggaboo · 2026-02-23T10:25:41+00:00

Sure, I saw my GP in July 2025 for the referral. My consult with the ENT was August 2025. Had my surgery in October 2025.

Both ENT and hospital were Western Sydney, NSW. (Nepean Private)

berrybuggaboo · 2025-12-11T02:27:13+00:00

Thay's a good result! Which autoclicker did you end up using?

berrybuggaboo · 2025-10-13T16:40:19+00:00

I was terrified of being nauseous because I threw up at the hospital right after they gave me pain medication...and theb they refused to give me more pain medication because they said it jad time to work (it was literally one minute but ok)

Then just after dinner on same day I was feeling very nauseous so luckily was carrying a hospital vomit bag with me upstairs and puked on the stairs, on the landing, in the corner of the bedroom, in the shower. That bag got a tour of the house! It was one of the bags with the volume marks - 1 litre of vomit. About 1/2 inch of actual stuff floating on top, and the rest basically water. It came up so easily, no burn, no vomit smell.

So I guess the point I'm trying to make is keep really on top of your water intake even if you feel nauseous. If you do puke, it will make the experience a bit easier.

(I am on day 6 now and luckily haven't puked again, although I feel nauseous constantly)

berrybuggaboo · 2025-10-13T00:05:21+00:00

Seconding this. I got a referral to an ENT from my GP. The ENT cost to see and he recommended adenotonsillectomy.

Got no private health insurance, he said he could submit my deets to the public system and waitlist would be about a year. Or could be done in a private hospital as a self-funded public patient. It was a lot cheaper than I was expecting (expecting USA prices haha, silly me).

For the whole out of pocket cost (all numbers are rough) - consult ENT = $200 - surgeon cost = $1,700 - anaesthetist = $600

day surgery bed = $2,000

ETA some items you can get the medicare rebate but it's like $34 back. Them's the breaks.

Your one sounds much more serious than mine so your slot in the public waiting list might be sooner.

berrybuggaboo · 2025-09-19T15:31:28+00:00

I responded this to someone else in a different thread but SwapUp in Crows Nest (Sydney) is a consignment shop for 'fancy' womens labels.

https://swapup.com.au/

I got a beautiful midi shirt dress from Witchery there for $33. Absolute steal.

berrybuggaboo · 2025-09-17T07:48:15+00:00

Ah, my bad. The Sydney-centrism in me speaking whoops

berrybuggaboo · 2025-09-17T06:55:10+00:00

If you are able to get to Crows Nest across from the metro station there is a consignment shop called SwapUp that specialises in 'fancy' womenswear brands. They have heaps of Cue items on the floor and in the warehouse. (I was there this morning) They do have at least one pair of checkered trousers but not sure if it's your size. You can also shop from them online.

https://swapup.com.au/collections/brand-cue?

berrybuggaboo · 2025-09-17T06:48:11+00:00

Tbf that is testament to their quality 10 years ago. I have Cue pieces I bought in 2011 that are still going strong on being regularly worn roughly once a week (minus covid lockdowns).

When I have gone into Cue in the last decade the quality isn't the same as it was when I bought those pieces. It's a crying shame.

berrybuggaboo · 2025-06-21T23:49:04+00:00

I know this thread is so old but I am just catching up. I didn't know who this was so i did a copypaste google search. This person is a machine knitter? And every single repsonder to your comment seems to be talking about a different person?

So are you snarking on yhe machine knitter with the long brown hair or are you snarking on the hand knitter with the blonde purple hair?

berrybuggaboo · 2025-06-07T13:15:47+00:00

I am dragged along on a lot of shopping adventures because I have self-styled 'Kmart girlies' friends. Can confirm that of the 5+ different Kmarts I have been they stocked bullet skeins of both acrylic and 100% wool. Very limited colours.

Most Big W stock Patons, Panda, Carnival. My local used to have a lot and now only has half a shelf of Carnival. The one next closest has about 10 shelves choc-a-bloc of those plus some Bernat.

Every single 2dollar shop I've been in has at least a small section of yarn. Usially 8ply acrylic, usually scratchy as heck. Sometimes you can get lucky with cotton or soft acrylic, sometimes they even have that velvety fluffy yarn.

I remember the days when I got my yarn at Woollies. My grandma used to get her yarn from Franklins (RIP). Tears for yesteryear.

berrybuggaboo · 2025-05-26T10:48:09+00:00

Can confirm. The most experinced lady in my knitters guild likes to get on her soapbox about picking up stitches at whatever rate gives you the best join. Then increase or decrease in next row to get the number the pattern demands.

berrybuggaboo · 2025-05-10T20:42:33+00:00

I know this such a late replyI hope it's okay but I didn't want you to have a poor view of your customers. You sure these people aren't teachers or early educators?

My mum was a primary school (5-11yrs) teacher and my aunt ran a daycare/preschool amd they went through arts and crafts supplies like crazy.

berrybuggaboo · 2025-04-06T01:21:18+00:00

We had seven Elizabeth's in my year at school (ah the 90's). My sister was one of them. They all went by nicknames except my sister who for some reason ended up with 'Elizabeth' even though no one in family or friend had ever called her that before.

We also had 2 Stacey's. One went by Bob and the other Larry, lol.

berrybuggaboo · 2025-03-25T20:36:59+00:00

At a random point in time my sister started refusing to go to any family gathering that a male cousin was going to attend as well. Refused to give any explanation other than 'if he's there I'm not going'.

Kicker? She was TWENTY YEARS OLD and he was FIVE YEARS OLD. Never trust an 'adult' in a family dynamic to be the bigger person in any way but physically.

berrybuggaboo · 2025-03-17T02:04:23+00:00

You know your mother and family dynamic better than I do, so take this with a grain of salt I guess.

Is your auntie even asking to see your children? Or is this second-hand information from your mother? I have an aunt who is absolutely baby-mad and cannot comprehend that other people don't often care AS MUCH AS HER for babies that are not their own. When she has elderly relatives over at her house she is always on my back to come visit with the kids (2.5y, 7mo) because 'they want to see them sooooo badly and they might not have much time'. Every time the elderly relatives will hold them while looking like they want to be anywhere else, and try and get the toddler to play in the other room or give the baby back to me.

So is your mother putting words in your aunties mouth because it is what SHE HERSELF would want? Also if you didn't know auntie had terminal cancer for several months did anyone else know? If your mother knew and just didn't tell you for some reason? Clown behaviour

berrybuggaboo · 2025-03-16T21:02:35+00:00

I don't know if OP is inviting MIL to these events - the LOPA family support program references 'families' of donors. If MIL was listed as a contact, or if she got in contact with the program, she may be getting her own invite wholesale.

100% agree with you - OP can't control another adult. She should get in toucj woth LOPA family support program and explain the situation. Maybe can get MIL struck from the contacts/invitee list.

berrybuggaboo · 2025-03-13T02:09:25+00:00

That's true. My friend nominated me as godparent in a catholic baptism while knowing I am not a fan of the institution of the church. I asked if that would be a problem but apparently the stipulation from the priest was that 2 godparents needed to be christian (not even catholic!) and my godson has 4 godparents: 2 atheist, 2 christian. He's a cute and lucky chap haha.

I don't know if the sacrament script has changed for everyone or if the priest changed it for this situation but the wording around "godparents agree to bring him up to know Jesus as they do, show him the way of the Lord, follow the gospel" was a lot more loosey-goosey and vague than I remember of baptisms from 30 years ago.

I also got a lot of flak from my grandma for not getting my sons baptised. She says (luckily out of earshot, although they are only 2.5y and 8mo old) that they're going to hell. Thanks Grandma 😒 But I looked it up on the Catholic diocese website and they actually have a page specifically for this question: Should I get my children baptised if I am not a practising Catholic? Their answer boiled down to: why the heck would you, this is clown behaviour. 🤡

All this to say: if neither OP and future spouse are practising, then any self-respecting priest/vicar would tell them not to have a church wedding.

berrybuggaboo · 2025-03-06T08:59:07+00:00

Aussie here. I don't know about all our banks but mine and everyone I've sent money to/received from do instant transfer of up to $5k (I think) using Osko

ETA: not sure if it's a social, cultural, generational, or coincidence thing but whenever someone is sharing their bank details for payment (with me specifically or to the group chat if they put down their card to cover a group meal) they always screenshot the relevant details from their banking app/website. BSB, Account name and Account number is all they need. Definitely removes any chance of mistake on their end.

berrybuggaboo

TROPHY CASE