Does anyone else make their own clothes

lauradora

hear that, I buy a size 12/14 in the shops, the new look pattern i'm doing at the minute I measured myself up and came out at a size 20!!!!

Lily-Lu

Mrs_Flittersnoop wrote: »

Yep this is true, it's called 'vanity sizing' and means that today's size 10 might well have been a size 12/14 years ago.

Well, thank goodness it isn't just me that's noticed some one's been playing around with sizes. I weighed between 8 and 8 1/2 stone and was a size 12 during the 80s. Now I'm around 9st and supposedly a size 10. Spent several years buying my usual size 12 jeans/skirts, and not understanding why I couldn't get any that actually fitted around the waist :mad:

Anyway, I bought a couple of patterns from ebay (being a newbie sewer, I've not bought any before now), and I was very relieved to see that the sizes were more consistent with what we had during the 60s, 70s, and 80s:D

donny-gal

I used to sew in days gone by. I still have a box with patterns in loft. Bought a piece of material last year, and will get to it soon, retirement is so busy. We are lucky that there are still material stalls and sewing accessory stalls on our weekly market with good choices.

Just need to decide what I am going to make and how to modify the patterns to fit me now!:o
DG

Justamum

lauradora wrote: »

hear that, I buy a size 12/14 in the shops, the new look pattern i'm doing at the minute I measured myself up and came out at a size 20!!!!

I'm the same! I haven't made myself any clothes for a long time. I used to think you should go by the size you buy in shops and nothing really fitted properly. We did sewing at school and I can follow a pattern, but we were never taught how to alter to fit. Also I didn't realise until reading Sewing World that bust sizes in patterns are for B cup which is why I'd always find the bust darts in the wrong place! Needless to say there was very little I made which I ever wore. I really need to get sewing again though as it's such a great way to relax - even when struggling to get a collar to fit! I need to find some old sheets and practise altering patterns first before I let myself loose on any decent material.

champys

Justamum wrote: »

I'm the same! I haven't made myself any clothes for a long time. I used to think you should go by the size you buy in shops and nothing really fitted properly. We did sewing at school and I can follow a pattern, but we were never taught how to alter to fit. Also I didn't realise until reading Sewing World that bust sizes in patterns are for B cup which is why I'd always find the bust darts in the wrong place! Needless to say there was very little I made which I ever wore.

I have raved about this book earlier in this thread - see if you can get it from your library: 'every sewer's guide to the perfect fit'. Is a very thorough, (American) manual on how you alter shop-bought patterns to fit your shape. I liked it so much that I ended up buying the book: from a second-hand site, as it is no longer in print.

Justamum

Thanks champys. It's dead cheap on Amazon so I might treat myself to a copy.

Mariel

I find that patterns are just as much vanity sized as clothes - I'm a 16 in both. Just as you wouldn't go off the measurements on clothes, don't take any notice of the measurements on patterns. That's my experience anyway.

clarice_2

Hi, mind if I join you all? I'm 31 and have been sewing clothes for about 7 years.
I sew most of my own clothes for enjoyment really, and although the clothes I make are not as cheap as places like Primark, they are a lot cheaper than designer clothes, and they are custom made for me! I made a purple 100% wool coat last winter for £25 and it's lasted me two seasons and will probably last for longer! I know you can get cheap coats these days but the fabric tends to be cheap and lower quality.

I subscribe to Prima magazine for £12 a year for the free monthly patterns, and I also buy patterns when they are on offer (I keep a look out for the red pattern sale posters in fabric shop windows!)
I buy fabric from my local fabric shop and Abakhans (a trip to Abakhans is a big treat!). I have also ordered fabric from Croft Mill in Colne (they have a mail order catalogue so it's worth going on their mailing list!)
A good website with good forums and reviews is patternreview.com
I have a couple of reviews on there!
My main problem though is getting off the internet and actually getting on with my sewing...

nuttywoman

I bought some cotton fabric yesterday to make a sun dress for my hols, if it looks nice i`m making shorts etc as well.
Blackburn market is great for fabric, lovely asian fabric as well.

Mrs_Flittersnoop

clarice wrote: »

Hi, mind if I join you all? I'm 31 and have been sewing clothes for about 7 years.

A good website with good forums and reviews is patternreview.com
I have a couple of reviews on there!
My main problem though is getting off the internet and actually getting on with my sewing...

Hello and welcome clarice! I agree, patternreview.com is a great site, I have been a member since it began but to my shame I have never been brave enough to post a review:o . I use the site a lot to check out new patterns though and to see what others have made, and I do occasionally post on the message boards although by the time I've got to the site, as it's in the US, the questions have usually been answered. There's lots of useful advice and information on there though.

Lucky you, nuttywoman, sounds as though you lot up North have lots more choice of fabric shops, markets etc than we soft Southerners

You'll be surprised (ha!) to know that I still haven't finished (started sewing) my cashmere jacket. I've been underlining it all afternoon but now the cat has woken up from her afternoon nap and decided to help by wrapping herself in the pieces :rolleyes:

Mrs F x