Does anyone else make their own clothes

nuttywoman

Hi, another question about trouser waistbands. I have a couple of pairs of trousers that fit me perfectly everywhere else apart from on my non excistant waist ! lol
Is there anyway to do a reconstruction on them? so i can still wear them with ease.
thanks.

Mrs_Flittersnoop

nuttywoman wrote: »

Hi, another question about trouser waistbands. I have a couple of pairs of trousers that fit me perfectly everywhere else apart from on my non excistant waist ! lol
Is there anyway to do a reconstruction on them? so i can still wear them with ease.
thanks.

Hiya. Do you mean they are too tight (know that feeling!! ). If so you could probably take off the entire waistband and unpick the seams and let them out as much as possible. You might have to unpick and re-sew the top couple of inches of the trousers at the side seams too (or the back seam as in the men's trousers - in fact that's better if you can).

Otherwise depending on how the trousers fasten you could take off the entire waistband and replace it with a petersham ribbon facing - cut a length of petersham ribbon to the length you need, stitch it to the top of the trousers and fold in to the inside, tack the loose edge of the ribbon to the side seams and press well. Not very pretty but it might give you an extra inch or two. You can usually get petersham from fabric shops (it comes in different colours and widths and is quite a firm ribbed ribbon). You probably would not be able to wear your trousers with tops tucked in if you used this method though, it's not exactly smart

HTH
Mrs F x

jumpingjackd

Hi all I am new to this forum and am hoping someone can help.

I have been asked to make drapes for a victorian four poster bed and am looking for some inspiration.

Thanks

[Deleted User]

I have made a baby dress this weekend and was reminded about why I used to have a sleeve board (for ironing armhole seams etc). I looked for one on ebay but have found a new minky sleeve board on the woolworth site for £5 with free p+p and that is a bargain. imo it is an essential bit of kit if sewing garments for little ones

lindens

Mrs_Flittersnoop wrote: »

My favourite machine foot is the edge stitching foot, I use it practically all the time, it makes edgestitching, butting seams and topstitching so much easier.



Good luck!
Mrs F x

ooooh edge stitching foot whats one of those?? I've just rifled through my sewing box and discovered i have 4 more feet as well as the normal one on the machine:o. How do i know if i have one of those? can anyone post a piccy for me please?
Thanks

Also, i love sewing but am really rubbish at cutting the fabric, i cannot cut anything in a straight line. I would be grateful for any hints and tips in this area.

Mrs_Flittersnoop

lindens wrote: »

ooooh edge stitching foot whats one of those?? I've just rifled through my sewing box and discovered i have 4 more feet as well as the normal one on the machine:o. How do i know if i have one of those? can anyone post a piccy for me please?
Thanks

Also, i love sewing but am really rubbish at cutting the fabric, i cannot cut anything in a straight line. I would be grateful for any hints and tips in this area.

hi lindens, well I'll try but I'm a bit computer illiterate:

http://www.bernina.co.uk/accessrs/Feet/pages/Edge.htm

This is my edgestitch foot, I don't know whether other machines call it the same thing. It has a central blade which you butt the edge of the fabric up to, then move the needle either to the left or right so you can edgestitch fabric really closely to the edge without wobbling. (well I probably still wobble but the needle doesn't).

As far as cutting out is concerned, as I said in a previous post I have immense difficulty cutting straight because I'm left handed and for some reason just can't keep a pair of scissors on the lines of the pattern. Good tips which I have picked up over the years though include making sure you hold the cutting shears very vertical, open the blades as widely as you cut, keep the bottom blade straight underneath the fabric/pattern and close the blades very slowly, right down to the tip of the scissors. Make sure you are cutting out on a flat surface (I'm not good at carpets etc so have a cutting board on my dining table) and take it slow.

Other than that, as I said before, the rotary cutter I have

http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/Cutters.html

makes life a lot easier for me. Beware though, these things are SHARP and vicious. You also need a proper cutting mat to cut out on otherwise you will shred your table.

HTH

Mrs F x

Grandma_Carol

.Hi Lindens

A decent pair of dressmaking scissors or shears and plenty of practise. Use worn out sheets, clothes, tea towels or the like and pin a pattern piece on and practise, play, play play at cutting out. Like riding a bike you will soon get the hang of it.

Carol

nuttywoman

Mrs_Flittersnoop wrote: »

Hiya. Do you mean they are too tight (know that feeling!! ). If so you could probably take off the entire waistband and unpick the seams and let them out as much as possible. You might have to unpick and re-sew the top couple of inches of the trousers at the side seams too (or the back seam as in the men's trousers - in fact that's better if you can).

Otherwise depending on how the trousers fasten you could take off the entire waistband and replace it with a petersham ribbon facing - cut a length of petersham ribbon to the length you need, stitch it to the top of the trousers and fold in to the inside, tack the loose edge of the ribbon to the side seams and press well. Not very pretty but it might give you an extra inch or two. You can usually get petersham from fabric shops (it comes in different colours and widths and is quite a firm ribbed ribbon). You probably would not be able to wear your trousers with tops tucked in if you used this method though, it's not exactly smart

HTH
Mrs F x

Mrs F you are a star, thank you so much. :T :T

moanymoany

Back in the 60's, 70's and 80's I made most of my clothes. Now, I've lost confidence and what I've made hasn't turned out how I've expected and I've not worn them. It's been the same with knitting. I no longer seem to be able to choose patterns that will look nice in the way I could back then.

So, I've decided to sew and knit other things as they seem to be successful and I buy clothes!

lauradora

trying to make a top and really losing my patience!