Does anyone else make their own clothes

Dinah93

Hi all,

I recently started a dressmaking and tailoring course and am making my first dress at the moment. My class teacher has advised that patterns tend not to correllate to your usual size ie I'm a 10 in Next, topshop etc, but I'm coming in at a 14-16 on a pattern based on my measurements.

However I went to buy a few pattens in the sale yesterday and the lady there said she'd been making clothes for 20 years, and she was a 12 in the shop and a 12 on pattern. Given the McCalls patterns have 10 on one pattern and 14/16 on another entirely, I'd love some opinions on which size I should go for! My measurements seem to be coming in as a 14/16 on the patterns ie 36" around fullest point of bust, 29" around true waist, and 36" around the widest point of my hips/bum.

Justamum

Dinah93 wrote: »

I'd love some opinions on which size I should go for!

Go by your measurements. When I was learning to sew at school many moons ago we weren't told this, so for years when I made clothes I went by the size on the pattern - and could never understand why clothes didn't fit properly. Also, most patterns are designed for a B cup, and as I've always veered between at least a C up to a DD the bust dart was always wrong. Unfortunately sewing classes at school never went into pattern alteration. I gave up making clothes because nothing ever fitted. However I do have all the best of intentions to have another go, and have got books all about pattern alteration. It just looks so daunting though! :eek:

Thats_me

Well, the curtains didn't turn out too bad.... BUT I do feel as though I have achieved something so woohoo for me!

My next project will be pj bottoms. I've taken an old pair of bottoms apart to use as a pattern and will be using an old sheet, so if it all goes belly up it won't matter. Thanks for the encouragement.

Savvy_sewing

Thats_me wrote: »

Well, the curtains didn't turn out too bad.... BUT I do feel as though I have achieved something so woohoo for me!

My next project will be pj bottoms. I've taken an old pair of bottoms apart to use as a pattern and will be using an old sheet, so if it all goes belly up it won't matter. Thanks for the encouragement.

Well done with the curtains. As long as you measure and cut things correctly, the sewing side becomes quite easy and straight foreward. Just take your time, if your not happy with something, undo the bit you have just done again. If it still isnt right, take a break and come back to it. Fresh eyes always help.

Re the size thing, I think that we are now a changing society and the shops have changed thier sizing to "suit" the sales. Pattern cutting has been developed since the 50's, or 60's, and the best way to do things is to measure yourself, and adapt the patterns to you. I am a size 12 in the shops, (Now- not so long ago I was a 8 alas). But I am a size 14-16 hip on the patterns.
You take the largest measurement, and then you can adapt your pattern accordingly. Hardly anyone is exactly the same size as a pattern.

A course, or following basic instructions, you can learn where to alter a pattern and how to make one that will fit you perfectly. From that you can make anything really.

Good luck on the next venture.
I am going to finally put the buttonholes and buttons on to the coat I made last weekend.!
Catch up soon.:D

Tuesday

I've been making my own clothes since I was a teenagers mainly because I prefer to look individual and I only like expensive clothes so making my own is much cheaper! For my daughter's wedding I bought some cream taffeta from Abakhan's (£10) and made a suit. Wore it with a silk top (£5 Top Shop sale) and got shoes half price in the Faith sale. Topped it off with a £400 hat (rented for £65) well it was my daughter's wedding! It doesn't have to cost a fortune to make your own and I agree it is hard to find buttons and bits but I get most of mine from ebay now. I often copy something I really like and make it in a different fabric or colour.

Savvy_sewing

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae107/mooloo61/sewingprojects004-1.jpg Hopefully this is the picture of the coat I finished yesterday.
(Ah, its not the picture. Will haveto try again and come back.)

purpleivy

Mooloo wrote: »

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae107/mooloo61/sewingprojects004-1.jpg Hopefully this is the picture of the coat I finished yesterday.
(Ah, its not the picture. Will haveto try again and come back.)

Beautiful coat Mooloo. My ds has just announced that he would like an overcoat to wear for school. He has to wear a suit and I asked in the summer if he wanted a coat and he said no. Now it's colder he's changed his mind. That and the fact that he got drowned on the way back from the bus yesterday! WIll have to investigate a pattern.

Rikki

Mooloo wrote: »

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae107/mooloo61/sewingprojects004-1.jpg Hopefully this is the picture of the coat I finished yesterday.
(Ah, its not the picture. Will haveto try again and come back.)

Lovely coat. :T I really like the buttons.

Is it one you designed yourself or bought pattern?

Savvy_sewing

Rikki wrote: »

Lovely coat. :T I really like the buttons.

Is it one you designed yourself or bought pattern?

Hi, its adapted from a Pattern purchased. Kwik Swew 3095 fom their Summer catalogue. But it didnt have a lining, and I didt want the pockets or the vents. I also added bigger buttons. Buttons were the most expensive part of making it. They came in sets of 2 from HobbyCraft. Would love to make my own patterns but just dont always feel confident enough to.

They do a mens jacket that could be lengthened into a full coat. PatternNo 3123.:D

purpleivy

Mooloo wrote: »

Hi, its adapted from a Pattern purchased. Kwik Swew 3095 fom their Summer catalogue. But it didnt have a lining, and I didt want the pockets or the vents. I also added bigger buttons. Buttons were the most expensive part of making it. They came in sets of 2 from HobbyCraft. Would love to make my own patterns but just dont always feel confident enough to.

They do a mens jacket that could be lengthened into a full coat. PatternNo 3123.:D

LOL Mooloo, I already have this pattern, waiting to do ds and dh jackets. I think it will be too big for ds, as he's only a little fella with a 34" chest. Maybe I could grade down?

Do you belong to The Sewing Forum?