Does anyone else make their own clothes

gilliana_2

This thread is fantastic! I learnt basic sewing at school and from my mum but I am now looking to embark on some bigger projects and you have all really inspired me! The advice on here is so helpful and it is great that the more experienced sewers are really taking the time to help out others. In today's throw-away consumerist society I find it really refreshing that many people are getting back in touch with older values and techniques. I hope that by learning to sew some beautiful clothes I will in turn inspire my friends and others to give it a go!
Thanks everyone.

rlm_3

Hi

I think this thread is a great source of information for people like me who never learnt to sew at school (I think we were taught to thread a machine and sew a straight line but that's about it - I was at high school at about the time home economics turned into food technology).

Anyway, just wanted to share my endeavour - a skirt, my first ever item of clothing that I made myself (with my mum's expert help). I was a very simple pattern really but the sense of achievement you get from making something yourself is huge. It's really good to know that no-one else has a skirt like mine :j

Would definitely agree with the vanity sizing in shop-bought clothes. I'm normally a size 10. After measuring me up we decided I was a 12 for the skirt pattern. It was a good job I tried on the yoke before sewing the whole skirt though as it was still too small. I had to unpick the seams and make them 2/8" smaller. Too many Easter eggs, me thinks! :rotfl:

Mrs_Flittersnoop

Hello, and welcome gilliana and rlm. That's great rlm, hope you get hours of enjoyment out of your skirt - that's one of the reasons I sew, because I hate meeting my twin walking up the road wearing my shop bought clothes. (not that that has happened for many a year but you know what I mean).

Mrs F x

rlm_3

Mrs_Flittersnoop wrote: »

Hello, and welcome gilliana and rlm. That's great rlm, hope you get hours of enjoyment out of your skirt - that's one of the reasons I sew, because I hate meeting my twin walking up the road wearing my shop bought clothes. (not that that has happened for many a year but you know what I mean).

Mrs F x

The other satisfying thing about it is that my mum and I worked out that it probably cost less to make than a similar skirt would in a shop because it's made out of tafetta.

Mrs_Flittersnoop

rlm wrote: »

The other satisfying thing about it is that my mum and I worked out that it probably cost less to make than a similar skirt would in a shop because it's made out of tafetta.

Yay, even better :T and you also might be able to reduce the cost of the pattern by making it up again in a different kind of fabric now that you have a skirt that fits you.

Zed42

Afternoon all

Great thread !! I'm normally a curtain and bedlinen, cushions type sewer. But, as a result of this I've been to Abakhan Fabrics and after some trial and a lot of error, I've finally finished a skirt! Ok, so the pattern said 2hrs and in reality it took about 2wks, but I did run away from it on several occasions!

I had to put in a lapped zip, never having done one before, and interfacing on a waistline, which I'm still not convinced I've done right, but there ya go.

I went to the library yesterday and got out the Readers Digest guide to sewing ... absolutely brilliant

Now of course I'm just going to have to make something else!!! As practice makes better fitting clothes, LOL!

Mrs_Flittersnoop

Zed42 wrote: »

Afternoon all

Great thread !! I'm normally a curtain and bedlinen, cushions type sewer. But, as a result of this I've been to Abakhan Fabrics and after some trial and a lot of error, I've finally finished a skirt! Ok, so the pattern said 2hrs and in reality it took about 2wks, but I did run away from it on several occasions!

I had to put in a lapped zip, never having done one before, and interfacing on a waistline, which I'm still not convinced I've done right, but there ya go.

I went to the library yesterday and got out the Readers Digest guide to sewing ... absolutely brilliant

Now of course I'm just going to have to make something else!!! As practice makes better fitting clothes, LOL!

Crikey you lot are putting me to shame this week I haven't even started on sewing my jacket yet, despite all my best intentions.

I never think the 2hr claims are very believable, Zed42, especially if you're not very sure of what you're doing to begin with and as I always have to alter the patterns out of all recognition AND have copious coffees and cuddles with the cat every step of the way I think your 2 week timeline is completely understandable :rotfl:

I think the Readers Digest book is excellent, too. You can often find it in second hand book shops and charity shops so worth looking out for a cheap copy if you can.

Mrs F x

Justamum

champys wrote: »

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'.

I've just ordered this from Amazon. They had 8 copies ranging in price from £5.99 to £30.69! Needless to say I ordered the cheapest!

Mariel

Zed42 - I've seen that book in a few charity shops recently for about £1.50 - I always have to check even though I've got it myself! Worth a look.

C1aire

I have the Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing as well. i find it really useful to use alongside the pattern instructions if I am doing something complicated.

The sewing machine has had a rest recently in favour of the crochet hook, but I ordered some cheesecloth from Abakhan's a while ago, so a kaftan is on the horizon. Have been good so far - am in Liverpool for a few days and have resisted the urge...

Mrs F - cuddles with the cat? Lucky you. Mine just steal the bobbin off the machine so I spend half my time chasing them and festooning the living room in cotton in the process!