Does anyone else make their own clothes

pippamannequin

Hi, ive made just about every sort of thing myself, curtains, all my babies bedding, daughters dresses, bridesmaids dresses and even my own wedding dress!
I learnt to sew and follow patterns when at school over 25 years ago and always had a sewing machine for emergencies. I know ive saved a fortune over the years.

Purple_Sparkles

Hi,

Over the years I have made pretty much every type of garment you could think of and I love it. Buying patterns and fabric when you can find it from shops does make it expensive, I buy my patterns in bulk from the states, car boots sales etc... I must have over 500 now and most of them have been used many times. Fabric I tend to get from car boots, freecycle, charity shops or £1 per metre stalls. I do sometimes bulk order from wholesalers but that's only once or twice per year. I also buy clothes from jumbles sales etc... and re-use fabric or customise the garment in some way, I've been doing this for over 30 years, don't think I'll change now.

If you want to know anything feel free to pm me - happy stitching.

geekgirl

I love making bags. clothes etc... I don't use a pattern I use guess work. I would like to use a pattern but it seems so complicated.
I made my daughters wedding dress in Sept and it looked pretty nice. I have made my kids clothes and mine and my OH but my most favorite thing ever is to make fancy dress outfits, esp for kids. I love it you can really go to town.
But unless you source material and clothes to revamp as mentioned in above post it is now more expensive to make clothes yourself.

HelenKA_2

Hadn't seen this thread for a while, hope it's ok to keep posting on it.

I stopped in a shop in Lendrick Muir on my way to collect DD2 fom camp on Saturday morning. Got a good bargain, last of a roll of upholstry fabric, measured 2m but charged for 1.5 as end of roll and slight flaw and reel of cotton (have to grit my teeth to buy that G stuff but frightened I'll ruin machine if go for cheap and cheerful).

Few hours later (while washing from camp doing!!) had made slip on covers for my lovely glider which was bought for me when camping DD was born (10yrs ago EEEK!) but the bottom cushion has worn through to the foam and was looking too tatty.

Then made nice tote bag from remains with appliqued flower from DD1's old pj's for 17 yr old's bday pressie.

All for £4.30.

But then I felt guilty for sending present that really cost so little and had to force myself to wrap and send without including fiver. Hope she likes it.:o

AussieLass

Would anyone know how to work this pattern out for a childs bean bag I wish to sew. DH reckons it can't be done without the radius given on the side panels. If not would anyone have a better pattern? I have searched & searched the web. :rolleyes:

Thanks in advance.

Beanbag linky

Savvy_Sue

MOVING THREADS FOR BETTER RESPONSES

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to the Old Style board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

squeaky

dearbarbie wrote: »

Hello

Just wondering whether anyone here sews their own clothes to save money?

Hi,

Yup, a few people do here on Old Style so I've added your post onto an earlier thread.

Click on the in the quoted bit after your name to join the thread at your own post.

dolly_day_dream

AussieLass wrote: »

Would anyone know how to work this pattern out for a childs bean bag I wish to sew. DH reckons it can't be done without the radius given on the side panels. If not would anyone have a better pattern? I have searched & searched the web. :rolleyes:

Thanks in advance.

Beanbag linky

I looked at the pattern the best I could - poor eyesight - getting old:o
From what I could make out from it you do need to know the circumference of the circle to know what width to make the panels. This is possible:j

To find the circumference you x the diameter (64cm for the children's bean bag) by pi 3.141 This gives you a circumference of 201.024 - rounds to 201cm If you divide this by 3 (three panels) you get 67cm So the width of the panels needs to be 67cm + seams. I hope that makes sense.:o

Mrs_Flittersnoop

http://www.alternative-windows.com/beanbag.htm

Aussie, I'm sorry but I couldn't read the instructions on your link, my eyes are just too bad these days but I found the above instructions, which may or may not help you?

Good luck
Mrs F x

champys

Does anyone know any tricks to ease the process of attaching a set-in sleeve? I'm a reasonably competent dressmaker, but I always struggle with them and never quite get them in correctly in one go. Just did some yesterday and remembered how fiddly I find it. Still with getting older tops and dresses look tidier with a little sleeve rather than sleeveless, so I guess I will be doing them more as time goes on!
Any hints or tips would be very welcome.