Does anyone else make their own clothes

champys

Rikki wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a pattern or designer for a pair of comfortable casual trousers. Smart but easy to wear.

Rikki - I made these recently:

http://www.thesewingplace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1175

Nothing could be more comfortable - I'm wearing them all the time and I am going to make some more of them.

Squelchy

HappyMrsG wrote: »

i

...sometimes i wonder where the actual fabric i buy comes from, and the conditions it is produced in.

I too have these concerns but there may always be things we don't know about when buying manufactured goods. Then there is the flipside about poor people suffering if we stop buying their goods. It isn't easy having a conscience is it?

Mrs G

It looks like quite a few of us are bothered about this. Can anyone recommend anywhere to get ethically sourced fabrics? I have just bought some lovely white patterned organic cotton for a shirt from http://www.bishopstontrading.co.uk/common/index.php, which is fairtrade and not TOO pricy at £5.30 a metre, and I'm buying some percale from https://www.greenfibres.co.uk, which is much less moneysaving, although wide enough to make bedsheets. I'm also tempted to get something from https://www.gossypium.co.uk, maybe even their kit dress, but I've called a (temporary) halt to my fabric splurging, since I've also just bought a couple of vintage saris on ebay for the silk. Anyway, I'd be grateful for any other suggestions on fabric that doesn't cost the earth (in either sense).

abusybee

Hi. Ive just found this thread and have been reading up on all your good advice. I made a couple of outfits about 10 years ago and only curtains and cushions since. I have decided to start making clothes for myself as a hobby and not to save money, although if that does happen it would be great.

I have decided to post just to let you know someone told me tonight that Abakhan have started their sale and there is upto 70% off. Now I havent seen for myself (going to look in the morning and spend). I live near to preston in lancashire. Hope it is true and someone gets a great bargin. happy spending.

caleo

abusybee wrote: »

Hi. Ive just found this thread and have been reading up on all your good advice. I made a couple of outfits about 10 years ago and only curtains and cushions since. I have decided to start making clothes for myself as a hobby and not to save money, although if that does happen it would be great.

I have decided to post just to let you know someone told me tonight that Abakhan have started their sale and there is upto 70% off. Now I havent seen for myself (going to look in the morning and spend). I live near to preston in lancashire. Hope it is true and someone gets a great bargin. happy spending.

OOOOOO---- just going to have a peek to see if it is online too.....as the shop is too far away for me sadly! Thanks for the info!

caleo

Not online yet....does anyone know if they include online when they do sales?

Not that I NEED any fabric....just hate to miss out on a bargain;)

Thanks

abusybee

hi. went to abakhan this morning and came out with enough material to make 4 tops a dress and a skirt all for £9. I am well chuffed. There was alot more to choose from. they had loads of seconds in and special offers every where they had reduced some by 20%, some by 50% and some by 70% and if it wasnt reduced or on special offer you got 10% off anyway. When at the till I got 10% off everything that I had bought anyway. Brilliant as I only had £10 to spend anyway. I think I will be going back again next week to get more if the sale is still on.

InkyCats20

Hello All :wave:

Just a quick post, still struggling with the blouse I started a while back, so going to make myself a dressing gown instead from a tried & trusted Simplicity pattern but when I got the packet out the instructions are no where to be seen :eek:

It's not too difficult, only a kimono style one (which I've made 4 times before) so hopefully it'll all come flooding back to me.

Had a quick surf to see if it was still available on the Simplicity site (appears not, bought the pattern 1986) but found this website: -

http://www.oldpatterns.com/

Worth a look, certainly a blast from the past with the styles, I assume it's sort of an ebay, buy it now type site but specifically for patterns, judging from the comments against the patterns, apologies if it's been mentioned on this thread before.

Happy sewing
IC
x

Mrs_Flittersnoop

Hi all.Haven't posted for a while due to life getting in the way of the important stuff i.e. sewing

Anyway, InkyCats20 I wanted to say thank you for that site, it's fascinating. I'm embarrassed to say that I still have some of the patterns on there, including the dress I made for DD's christening, 24 years ago :eek:

I'm sorry you haven't finished your blouse, hope you find the instructions for the kimono, I'm always finding odd pages of instructions put back in the wrong pattern envelopes :mad: .

Lucky you, abusybee that sounds a great spree, all that for £9! Wish I lived somewhere vaguely nearby. I've been incredibly restrained and not bought any fabric or patterns, haberdashery or even buttons for weeks. Guess the credit crunch is hitting my guilt button

champys that is one of LH's most popular patterns I think, so glad it worked out for you. I find the Euro is too wide fitting for me though, since I am tall,long-legged and very busty - wide legs just turn me into a huge rectangular blob. I have, however, made dozens (literally) of pairs of her Cruise pant, which has a narrower leg and which I love.

shegrinch I can't find any patterns online either for the sort of nightgown you describe. Sorry. You could probably find instructions online somewhere to add pintucks to the front of a gown, it's not difficult, just needs a bit of working out with a pencil and paper. Good luck.

Well, I have done a little bit of sewing in the last few weeks; I've just finished off a pair of black linen trousers that have been in the pipeline for a while, to replace the pair I spilt bleach down :rolleyes: . I'm now in the middle of making a printed linen dress for DS's graduation on Tuesday (nothing like last minute sewing to concentrate the mind ) which is almost done, just the neckline, sleeves and hem to do. I'm really pleased with the linen, it's gorgeous stuff that I splurged on in Paris in April, it's beautiful quality stuff, feels like silk and sews like linen.

Well I'd better get back to it, if I don't want to be the most embarrassing mother in town on Tuesday...

Mrs F x

abusybee

hi. i have been very busy this weekend. It has taken me two nights when kids have gone to bed to make a top. I am very pleased with it. I have managed to do darts which I was bothered about as I have a very ample bust which makes finding good fitting clothes hard to find. I didnt use a pattern just clothes I had and a little imagination. Cant wait to wear it but will have to till next weekend as it is a going out top. The material I have used is black Velour with a Pink glittery print on (sprays of lines with squares on them). It was a small remnant and was touch and go whether I would have enough fabric. If I'd have used a pattern there wouldnt have been enough. Best top I've had for £2.50.

Mrs f. I hope you get your outfit finished for tuesday. hope day goes well. enjoy it.

Mrs_Flittersnoop

Woohoo abusybee that's fantastic! Hope you get lots of wear from your new top. £2.50 is a great bargain!

And yay to me too as I've finished the dress this afternoon. I'm really pleased with it. I've been having problems with fitting my top half recently as most of it wants to just point at the floor these days, but I've got the dress to fit really well over the lumps and bumps. I've just hemmed it, it has a full skirt so there was miles of hemming to do :mad: - hey, but that's done now too. All I have to do now is press my jacket and dig out the necklace my mother gave me for an early birthday present and I shall no longer be the most embarrassing mother in town (well not on Tuesday anyway). Was contemplating wearing a Hat but I think that might be A Step Too Far :rotfl:


Mrs F xx