Does anyone else make their own clothes

[Deleted User]

I am back into sewing after a very long break. Sewed my first skirt at 11 and went on from there. I bought myself an overlocker to go with the sewing machine and both machines are standing on my desk, which is fitted side to side across the study and the laptop is temporarily next to them every morning, for an hour or so. I have re-vamped all my shelves and bought quite a few see-through, inexpensive plastic boxes from lakeland and a lovely big sewing box from ebay.

I decided to get the room prepared first because I am quite messy when I am crafting and so far it is working. I spent quite a while learning the overlock basics on scraps and threaded and re-threaded. It was frustrating at first but 4 thread overlock is now going well. I have a lot to learn about the overlock but a bit at a time and I especially want to learn the cover stitch

I treated myself to a dressform, which I have padded to my body double and dressed in knickers and a vest and I have made a cover and I used the form yesterday, when I made myself a nightie, the first garment. I used the overlocker and the sewing machine and it was made from scratch in 6 hours. I am very pleased with it. Last night I started a frilly apron using 280" of home made bias binding in a contrast colour

Things have changed a lot and there are some really useful gadgets out there ie I bought a bias binding maker from jaycotts. I just pulled it along the flat tape following it with a hot iron and it was like magic. Another useful thing was a roll of tracing material as I am going to be making children`s clothes and want to re-use patterns in different sizes

I have a stash of material in now. Some from abroad, some from abakhan and others from internet shops and ebay. I set myself up with a lot of patterns, even ones for cycling gear and I have got samples of the right fabrics on the way. I got lots of threads from empress mills

Thats it in a nutshell and I have got to say that the overlocker is the thing that is opening sewing up for me again. It has got to be 15 years since I made a garment, although I have made the dreaded curtains. I used to make everything in the old days but the overlocker is what has brought me back because the finish is so good

I am hoping that the next project is going to be a track suitfor my dh from sweatshirt fabric that I won on ebay and probably baby trouser bottoms with the leftovers

Rikki

Buying patterns from abroad................I like the quirkiness of "The Sewing Workshop" patterns.

Buying anything sewing related from abroad...........

Advice please

caleo

terramundi wrote: »

my first ever post!
i have enjoyed reading this thread, i agree with lots of the experienced sewers on here, people are hard to please and its hard to make a living wage. i would also like to encourage those new to sewing -its so worth it. its delicious having a well -fitting, unique garment or even better a wardrobe full of such delights. i recommend sewing with a plan, or SWAP as many sages call it. you can use seasonal or transitional themes and build your stash into real clothes that fit and flatter. its exciting and rewarding.

i have posted to ask if anyone has a current coupon code for Abakhan's?:money:

i went along to check it out and found nearly £40 worth in my basket once the delivery and VAT was counted. i could use a discount. projects agreed so far this year? one wedding dress, two bridesmaids, one prom and an assortment of saucy garters.and my own SWAP...

I spent loads there yesterday as well, no codes, but hey, the prices are brilliant so I couldn't complain.:cool:

Mrs_Flittersnoop

Rikki wrote: »

Buying patterns from abroad................I like the quirkiness of "The Sewing Workshop" patterns.

Buying anything sewing related from abroad...........

Advice please

umm, what is it you need to know, Rikki? Most of the US places ship to the UK, you can always email them and ask them, the Sewing Workshop patterns are great,I have made a couple. You should not attract UK customs duty on printed patterns.

I have only today received three new patterns myself from www.patternreview.com - took three days to get here and no problem with duty etc.

Other stuff, fabrics, notions etc, I haven't had a problem with anything apart from buying too much! I have had to pay lots of customs duties in the past but now try to keep the costs down to around £25 worth if possible. Having said that, if you buy enough from certain sellers, they will do their utmost to try and help re the customs duties, marking parcels 'gift' etc etc. Don't want to post their addresses on here so PM me if you'd like.

Oh and thanks to all those who posted UK sellers of Kwik Sew etc patterns. Must admit I rarely use KS but I do admit to using nearly all those sellers for other things, is there any hope for me? :rotfl: :rotfl:

Mrs F xx

Mrs_Flittersnoop

HelenKA wrote: »

Mrs_Flittersnoop wrote: »

luxor4t wrote: »

Pearsons was still there last time we went but that was possibly 5 yrs ago now. I'll txt my friend and ask her. They've been doing a huge revamp of the town over the last years.

I was born onto the willow estate stayed till the age of 6 (started at St Andrew's) then moved back in the first year of marriage for nearly two years again. Our first DD was born at Chase Farm.

Hope we don't get shot for being off topic so I'll just add......

couple of Saturdays ago I got a dress length of pretty sprigged brushed polycotton in the charity shop. I chopped it, gathered it and sewed each piece on to a vest. Dresses made for youngest 3 DD's guess how much



£2

Even Primark can't beat that! :rotfl:

Brilliant, well done! How I wish my children were still young and able to be forced into Mummy's Home Made clothes, DS now haunts Primark himself for bargains.

Good news about Pearsons, must be one of the last independent department stores round there. I went to Edmonton School, along with Ray Winstone and Kriss Akabusi although I don't often admit to that :rotfl:

Mrs F x

Rikki

Mrs_Flittersnoop wrote: »

umm, what is it you need to know, Rikki? Most of the US places ship to the UK, you can always email them and ask them, the Sewing Workshop patterns are great,I have made a couple. You should not attract UK customs duty on printed patterns.

I have only today received three new patterns myself from www.patternreview.com - took three days to get here and no problem with duty etc.

Other stuff, fabrics, notions etc, I haven't had a problem with anything apart from buying too much! I have had to pay lots of customs duties in the past but now try to keep the costs down to around £25 worth if possible. Having said that, if you buy enough from certain sellers, they will do their utmost to try and help re the customs duties, marking parcels 'gift' etc etc. Don't want to post their addresses on here so PM me if you'd like.

Oh and thanks to all those who posted UK sellers of Kwik Sew etc patterns. Must admit I rarely use KS but I do admit to using nearly all those sellers for other things, is there any hope for me? :rotfl: :rotfl:

Mrs F xx

I thought you had to spend below a certain amount to avoid charges?

The postal choice I'm unsure about. ( If your international order fits into a flat rate envelope, the charge will be $13.50.) How big is that?

I was going to order a couple of patterns and some elastic. From www.thesewingplace.com

I'm a buying from abroad virgin. Sorry about the numpty questions.

Mrs_Flittersnoop

Not numpty questions at all. The only silly question is the one you don't ask.

There is a limit, I think it's about £16 (about $32 US at the moment) so hopefully your elastic won't cost that much. The patterns should not attract duty as they are printed matter. The Sewing Place will ship them in a Global Priority Envelope, at the price you quote it will be roughly an A4 or slightly larger size. They generally stuff as much as possible into one of those to help you avoid extra costs.

When you order from them, there will be a Comments box on the order form in which you can request Global Priority if the option isn't already there. I have used The Sewing Place for many years (although I haven't recently, have been trying to stop myself from my obsession with the independent patterns), and have only once had a slight problem with them, at that time the lady who deals with overseas orders was seriously ill and so there was no one available to send stuff out.

They do great buttons as well, by the way;)

Good luck, hope it goes well for you. The elastic is really good, I use it all the time.

Mrs F xx

Rikki

Mrs_Flittersnoop wrote: »

They do great buttons as well, by the way;)

Good luck, hope it goes well for you. The elastic is really good, I use it all the time.

Mrs F xx

Don't mention buttons. :eek: Its a fetish of mine.

I like to use unusual ones to make my clothes look unique and different.

We have a great little sewing shop called 'Sally Twinkles'. Its run by a group of older ladies and is an Aladin's cave of sewing bits and bobs. Its crammed full and these ladies can put their hand on anything you want just like that.
Unfortunately not much fabric and no patterns but loads of wonderful buttons, laces and the obvious basics. Plus tapestry and cross stitch etc

LizD_2

Though I would add my twopenn'orth!

I'm 26, average height and size and I can't find ready-made to fit me, so I'm not suprised taller/larger ladies/men struggle! I've sewn my own stuff for years, although working full-time doesn't give me the time I'd like. I've made allsorts from my bridesmaids outfits when I got married last year, to curtains for the living room.

Fabric can be expensive and difficult to find, but I feel the key is to keep an open mind. You never know what will turn up. I recently ordered from Croft Mill and was very impressed. I'm planning to visit the warehouse itself next month.

http://www.croftmill.co.uk/

nuttywoman

has anyone any ideas or links for taking out a pair of mens trousers please? a friend of mine has asked me to do a pair for him.The only thing i can think of doing is cutting the seam at the sides , were the pockets are and inserting extra fabric there.
thanks.