The 2010 crazy clothes challenge

ThinkingOfLinking

Hi all,
No new purchases to report but I threw out a pair of pants and an old work shirt today.
Busy replacing winter items in my wardrobe with summer ones; it's nice to see some old items I'd forgotten about and see some bright colours. I'll be working on this more tomorrow, trying on items too if I haven't worn them in ages; going to sell/give to charity anything surplus as I really do want to declutter.

One thing I really need help and advice URGENTLY is every pair of tights I wear falls down so the crotch is down to my knees and it's hard and uncomfortable to walk as well as showing below the hem of my dress and it's so embarrassing; what do I do? I need to get it sorted by Saturday as I am wearing a VERY short dress on this day and this means the tights have no space to fall!!

niccatw

Flickering Ember... stockings? Hold ups? (though you may have the same issue with hold-ups!)

Dinah93 wrote: »

In all honesty no book is ever going to teach you as much as a class. I tried to learn from a book for years, but it just didn't go right, within 6 months of doing dressmaking classes I could not only do alterations but make garments from scratch and design my own patterns.

Sew magazine is really fab, I can't recommend it highly enough. Quite a few patterns will require a basic understanding though - try McCalls Easy/Simplicity range, or the New Look Easy range of patterns for some easy garments to get you going. The current magazine has 4 patterns, a smart shift dress which is a fairly easy project, a jacket which is a bit harder (especially if made in lace as pictured!), a wedding dress which is actually a very simple shape but all wedding dresses are more structured and obviously perfect than normal everyday wear, and finally a really beutiful maxi dress pattern. Despite the fact I can't find material I like for it anywhere, it is a more complicated pattern, as you need a fabric with a lot of stretch ie a Jersey, and those are a pain to work with, you need a different type of needle and stitch to if you work with a more rigid fabric. For new sewers stick to cotton or polycotton until you have the hang of it, try to match the thread with the material ie cotton thread on cotton, artificial polyester thread on man made fabrics, as it will then move and stretch at the same rate as the garment and seams won't pucker or tear with use over time.

x

rosemary54 wrote: »

I am a trained dress designer and always used to make not only my clothes but clothes for all the family(inc trousers for DH) as well.

I stopped doing this as fabric shops started closing (in my area we only have JL that sell fabric at all) and the other bits and pieces needed,thread,zips etc got more and more expensive plus foreign clothes so much cheaper.

if you are lucky enough to live somehwre with access to fabrics at a reasonable rate then go for it,I agree a night class can be very helpful(also used to teach one)as you can take your project in and get all the help you need....useful if like me you have a block with instruction books!

karmachilovething wrote: »

Its true, there aren't any fabric shops anymore. Its a real shame as nothing compares to the sweet shop style joy of a well chosen fabric selection!

I buy a lot of my fabrics on-line now, and everything else is from my Grandma. She moved into a home a couple of years ago, and when we cleared her house for sale there was a lifetimes collection of leftovers and things bought and never used, so I'm very lucky.

eBay is my haberdashers, and is also good for fabrics if you have a little patience to trawl through it all.

Oooh! Thank you for all your advice! I think a sewing/learning to sew thread might be necessary so I can keep pestering you for advice once I find a class. At the moment it takes me ages to thread the bobbin and find the right tension that I run out of time just to play about with the scraps I have. Nevermind trying anything more useful!

I'm also a bit obsessed about dying old things so I can pretend I've something new. Luckily there are a few fabric shops around me - but I'd still like to see more! Or at least a bigger harberdashery selection (but then I'd need to join a whole other challenge!).

ThinkingOfLinking

Thanks but the dress is too short for hold-ups and the problem is mainly the crotch area sagging. I pull the damn tights up to my chin almost and yet they still fall down within minutes.

moneysavingmonkey85

it sounds a bit silly, but sometimes I wear some extra pants on the outside of tights, as mine often like to roll/slide down. obv not v attractive, but might help a bit

Swinstie73

moneysavingmonkey85 wrote: »

it sounds a bit silly, but sometimes I wear some extra pants on the outside of tights, as mine often like to roll/slide down. obv not v attractive, but might help a bit

:rotfl::rotfl:This reminded me that I used to wear my tights with pants over when I was younger and at school (and skinny) cos they would always fall down - it worked though!

FE - Are you really petite? Could you not try and buy the smallest size of tights, I've bought them by mistake and it's a struggle to pull them up so the crotch isn't at my knees?

I have to confess to taking back the denim shirt I bought but then seen one in Asda's petite section, was cheaper though, not really sure of my totals will have to check. Would love to say bought it cos I'm petite, but it was actually a size 16 :eek:, which isn't that bad but I'm normally a 12 - 14!

rosemary54

moneysavingmonkey85 wrote: »

it sounds a bit silly, but sometimes I wear some extra pants on the outside of tights, as mine often like to roll/slide down. obv not v attractive, but might help a bit

I always do this as hate the falling down feeling,I tend to wear a control pantie on top and normal under the tights

cannp123165

I have spent £2 now on clothes (some shoes from Primark!).

NGlady

Glad the tight subject has been addressed. Forever pulling them up as I walk along, I thought it was cos I was too big for them, nice to see people indicating im too slim for them Shall have to try the big pant thing over them

kezlou

Hello,

I know this is very late, but please could join in with the challenge. If not i'll carry on with my own chart at home.
So far since Jan 1st i have spent literally £12 on a pair of jeans (first pair i've had in years in shock i can actually fit in them whoo hoo)
£3 on tights.

I won't be able to do it for my OH and children as i have to pay for work clothes and boys are going through growth spurts at the moment.

Going to check out the other challenges See you all soon

ThinkingOfLinking

moneysavingmonkey85 wrote: »

it sounds a bit silly, but sometimes I wear some extra pants on the outside of tights, as mine often like to roll/slide down. obv not v attractive, but might help a bit

Thanks...I'll try that...the Superman look!! But I'll ensure I wear black pants so I don't look like a total lunatic.

Swinstie73 wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl:This reminded me that I used to wear my tights with pants over when I was younger and at school (and skinny) cos they would always fall down - it worked though!

FE - Are you really petite? Could you not try and buy the smallest size of tights, I've bought them by mistake and it's a struggle to pull them up so the crotch isn't at my knees?

I'm 5'3" tall and in proportion,eg my legs aren't stumpy, and am a size 6-8 on bottom (25 inch waist but 36 inch hips); I get Small size from Primark/M&S/Topshop and they ALL bloody do this!!