Does anyone else make their own clothes

Justamum

Mrs_Flittersnoop wrote: »

Morning all, definitely a day for staying in and sewing;)

It's been lovely and sunny here - but blowing really hard! We went to town anyway as I needed some new jeans, DH needed some new underpants, DD1 needed a new pair of pyjamas (and she also got a pair of spangly flip flops from M&S) and DD2 needed some new socks. We went and booked our tickets to see Indiana Jones (or Lemon Auntie Jones as DD2 calls him. She's only 3, bless). We have to go in two shifts though - DH and DS on Thursday and me and DD1 on Friday.

Mrs_Flittersnoop wrote: »

justamum you can by all means use your duvet covers as garment fabric, you just need to be sure that they are not too limp and floppy for structured garments like a shirt. You could make pyjamas out of them if they won't stand up to tailoring. Some of my mum's duvet covers are quite firm and crisp feeling so they would probably even make up a pretty skirt (but I suspect she might object as she still uses them on the bed).

Hmm. It is a bit floppy. PJs sound like a good idea. I'll put it in my stash for future use. I suppose the nice firm duvet covers are made of good quality cotton or linen.

Mrs_Flittersnoop wrote: »

essexgal a toile is a closely fitting fabric 'shell' which you use to draft and alter your own patterns. Or you could use the sheets (as I do) as a draft 'muslin' which is a test pattern to fit either commmercial or home drafted patterns.

I thought a toile and a muslin were the same thing . I meant a muslin then in my previous post!

Mrs_Flittersnoop

Oh you're so lucky, justamum, it's been absolutely bucketing down here all day, the garden is awash and I spent all Saturday planting out my tomatoes and beans which are now drowning. OH and I saw Lemon Auntie Jones on Friday night, we thought it was great! (and we are considerably older than 3, sadly).

I think some people use the term toile and muslin interchangeably, that's just what I was taught a million years ago. Either way your duvet covers should work for one or the other!

Haven't quite finished off my t shirt, got distracted by something on the TV and then had to get a steak and ale pie started off in the slow cooker. Hoping to finish it off this week some time.

Mrs F x

[Deleted User]

what a weekend!!! No tv for the whole weekend as we are in a leasehold complex and the builders messed up :mad: . Tipping down alomost the whole time too so radio on and I set to, sorting my study/sewing room and voila!! the feng shui is back. I made one of those quickie A line skirts in a lovely dense japanese print cotton that was in my croft mill bundle. They are just great for me to wear at home or shopping or on holiday but I admit to getting a winter skirt out of storage yesterday. Bah, roll top jumper and winter skirt on may bank holiday :rolleyes:

I altered a paper pattern for a top with buttons and collar, I actually shortened the sleeves and reduced the diameter below the elbow and I moved the elbow dart and I then cut a skirt and jacket out of a fabric with a fairly big pattern. I have learnt the hard way when using a pattern like that ie I cut one bit at a time and laid the cut piece on single fabric to get an exact pattern match.

Made a cake and so on and proud of myself because I avoided using the car but I did a fair bit of fabric shopping on the net ie 93 metres (yes you heard it right )of 10 different top quality fabrics. Like my dh said, making just one garment from each fabric gets me my money back in value

Now roll on getting the petite plus patterns as I see that they are processing my order and have taken the money. I think I will make some notes on their combination wardrobes from their website in the meantime

By the way I bought a LOAD (internet and free post) of m and s cotton t shirts (mostly fairtrade) in lots of colours and they are perfect to go with my skirts, although I won`t be opening the packets if the weather stays as it is and it could well this year and next, because of the stuff thrown up by that volcano

Justamum

kittie wrote: »

won`t be opening the packets if the weather stays as it is and it could well this year and next, because of the stuff thrown up by that volcano

What volcano? Did I miss something? Does this mean another lousy summer like the last few? :rolleyes:

I'm off to sort out my stash of material and order some patterns off the internet, but first I have to phone Environmental Health as we found 10 sheets of corroding corrugated asbestos in the garden stuffed behind the oil tank and they need removing. Apparently they are considered a biological hazard :eek::eek::eek:

Mrs_Flittersnoop

kittie did I read you right - 93 metres???? Wow!! that's some going!! my, you're dangerous when your telly goes on the blink :rotfl: :rotfl: I think I need to borrow your OH.....or at least introduce him to mine......

It sounds like you were incredibly productive though, clearing out and whipping up a skirt and altering a pattern. Puts me to shame

I hope your patterns arrive soon. I know what you mean about big patterns on fabric; the top I'm sewing has big roses on it and I had to be very careful about where I placed the roses, don't need to draw any more attention to my chest than it gets already :rotfl:

justamum that's really scary, I hope the EH get here soon and take it away. Good luck with the stash sorting! Must admit having read about kittie's 93 metres I feel a lot better about all mine now (I think it's around 200 metres in total although I've been very good about reducing it lately).

Mrs F xx

InkyCats20

Having been a lurker for a while I was pleased to come across this thread & over the last few days have read the whole thing & it has inspired me to start sewing again.

I have made a few simple things in the last few years for the home (roman blinds, curtains, cushion covers) but it's a long time since I've made something for myself & I think I've lost my confidence.

I had looksy on ebay after reading something in this thread about "voyage" fabrics & manged to acquire a nice 3mtr pice in swirly pink circles & also 10mtrs of white poly cotton.

Just need to get out the sewing machines (1 I've had for 20 years & the other my ex bought me when I left him :eek:)

Buy the way have bought about 8 patterns from www.sewingpatterns.com over the last couple of years & fortunately have never had any problems

[Deleted User]

I have just received 2/3 of the ordered patterns from sewingpatterns.com and the others are on backorder. I am a very happy bunny. :j

Another manky summer`s day today :mad: so I`ll finish the jacket and skirt. I expect that the new fabric will start to arrive tomorrow and I have ordered more because it is top quality fabric at a bargain price and I will store it in my new really useful boxes from woolworth`s, which I am expecting today

welcome inkyc, 20 years is no gap at all once you start. All your skills will come racing back. Why don`t you start with `bound to fit` stuff for yourself ie nightie etc

Mrs F, my dh is fab re whatever I do and spend because he is often the beneficiary too, eg the money I save goes on buying some kit for his cycle. LOL. Oh stop me someone, I have started looking at embroidery machines since I saw some toddler `designer` clothes in Italy at massively expensive prices and I know I could do as well, if not better. My new unborn grandchild, a little girl is due in 2 days and I am already planning on teaching her to sew and have accumulated some ottobre magazines and fabrics so she can design her own colour scheme

I just dug out this pattern, http://www.habithat.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/5367 originally from sewingpatterns but cheaper from habithat and my dh wants it in one of my new fabrics. Nice for me that he is a slim lycra cyclist because I have no `pot` to allow for (enough coping with my own). I`ll whizz it up but won`t tell him how quickly I did it. LOL;)

essexgal

Hiya Inkycats20 :hello:

I'm on the Essex coast too - although it was more stormy than sunny last night - massive crack of thunder at 2.00 in the morning so not very wide awake now........:o Did you get the storm where you are.

Hi Kittie

Lack of sleep might explain why I read the habithat page as 'batman shirt' - oh dear, think it must have been the thought of the lycra cyclist - still if I see any cyclists dressed as Batman I'll know to wave:rotfl: Can I ask which sites you use to order fabric from as I prefer to go by personal recommendation.

Hi Mrs F

- have decided to attempt to make DD1 a pair of pj bottoms from this old duvet cover - just need to go and buy some elastic, and some orange ric-rac (ric-rac for DD2s 70s ensemble - not pjs) as I didn't get into town yesterday. Thanks for the suggestion:A

Hi everybody else
- may your seams always run straight, and your needles stay threaded....

essexgal

edited to add: DD1 wants me to point out that there should be enough fabric to make her at least 2 or three pairs of pj bottoms and that her own bottom isn't that large.......:p

Mrs_Flittersnoop

Hi all, I'm another one woken early by the thunder and lightning, not to mention the cat, who just HAD to go out in the pouring rain (and then complained bitterly to me).

Hi InkyCats20, good luck with your 'new again' hobby. I also had a sneaky peek at the voyage fabrics on ebay but resisted (this time) since I'd already brought in a load of jersey fabrics only last week . I admire your making home furnishings; I've probably said elsewhere on this thread that they come absolutely bottom of my list of favourite things to sew, I hate them with a passion but can't justify the expense of buying so have to do them. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any problems, someone on here will probably be able to help.

Yay kittie I'm so glad the patterns have arrived. Will think of you churning out a complete wardrobe today while I'm aimlessly fiddling about with the vacuum cleaner and mop. Must admit I've never been attracted to embroidery machines but then none of my children have had the decency to produce any gorgeous grandchildren yet :mad: I'm sure when (if) it happens I will be beating at the door of the sewing machine shop with my chequebook in hand

I like the Folkwear patterns, they're really unusual and interesting. Wouldn't say no to the gorgeous hunk wearing that shirt on the link you gave, either:rotfl:

essexgal I'm so glad my idea was of use, hope the PJs turn out well. LOL at DD1, my bottom probably is that big but even I would get at least a couple of pairs out of a duvet cover:rotfl:

Right, must stop enjoying myself and get on with the cleaning :mad:
Happy Sewing!
Mrs F x

InkyCats20

Thanks for the welcome everyone :j
essexgal - yes I was woken up by the storm at about 2.30 this morning & can you believe there were people wandering around outside in the pouring rain - very strange (I could hear voices so got up to have a looksy) !!! So like yourself I'm not feeling very wide awake this morning.

Mrs F - I've been making lots of home furnishing's 'cos they're easy, lots of straight up & down seams to sew :rotfl:Had to get some dressmaking fabric, as most of my stash is home furnishing or so small it could only be used for patchwork.

Kittie - thanks for the comment , as I said I bought some patterns off https://www.sewingpatterns.com , so I'm going to try Simplicity No.3956 (view E) or Butterick B4659 (view c but without the fluffy cuff bits) once my "voyage" fabric arrives, just need to go & commence the excitement that is cutting out the pattern :eek: