Does anyone else make their own clothes

InkyCats20

Mrs F glad you liked the site, the kimono style dressing gown pattern I have (Simplicity 7441) is on there with a date of 1986, so it's 22 years since I first made it :eek:

Finished the dressing gown I started yesterday, (without the the intructions) but it's such a simple pattern, you can't really go wrong, couple of pockets, attach the sleeves & it looks like one big T shape for the back & a T split in half for the front, if you see what I mean.

My friend popped over today & spotted it, she really liked it, so I said for her to get some fabric & I'd make her one, she also bought over some very old singer sewing machines (I've always wanted one, even though I have 2 electric ones) from the charity shop where she works, she's left them with me to have a go to see which one I want to keep (which I will obviously make a donation to shop for).

I hope everyone has had a chance to get some sewing in this weekend

IC
x

Rebob

I joined the yahoo group SewingPursesForFun the other week and this weekend made 3 bags for gifts. Total cost for the bags was £8 but I have enough fabric for at least another 2!:beer:

[Deleted User]

I was in overdrive a few months ago and made lots of garments, one after the other but my zing has gone!!! Knitting is more my pace at the moment although I am plodding on with trying to get a trouser pattern altered to fit me. I am going to run them up in very cheapo material and I`ll be singing and dancing if they fit me. Material is cut out and I just need to get the machine out and I had better do it soon before I accumulate any more of the daily mail historical dvd`s. Lol knitting and watching a good film is a match made in heaven.

Mrs_Flittersnoop

Aha kittie I was wondering where you were! I'm not surprised you've lost your sewing mojo for a while, you certainly went into overdrive a few weeks ago. Good luck with the trouser pattern, I think they are one of the most difficult things to fit well although it's great when you finally get a good result. I was thinking last night about how many alterations I routinely make to trousers - I think it's seven or eight alterations but I feel now that I have a good fitting pattern that I love, and they don't take much time to do once you get used to it...

Inkycats20 glad you managed to figure out your kimono pattern. You have inspired me to dig about in my stash, I could really do with a new bathrobe myself- I made a short one and a long one about 10 years ago and they have both been very well worn so maybe it's about time to have a rethink. I like sewing nightgowns and lingerie, it seems very rewarding for very little effort somehow and of course saves a packet :T . Hope you enjoy your new (to you) Singer as well.

No sewing for me today, I have much primping to do :rotfl: Looking forward to our day up north tomorrow with the new Bachelor of Arts, just hope it doesn't get unseasonably cold or wet or else I will look like a drowned rat in my new gear.

Rebob I keep meaning to try bag making but haven't got round to it yet, there are some fabulous patterns out there in cyberland, aren't there? Pressies sound a great idea, might just pinch that for Christmas since I seem to have an ever expanding number of goddaughters, nieces and daughters....

Mrs F x

Justamum

kittie wrote: »

before I accumulate any more of the daily mail historical dvd`s.

Reading that reminded me I must contact my mum and ask her to collect them for me.:rotfl:

I've got a couple of cute patterns for my DD2 which I'm going to start as soon as I get some material.

[Deleted User]

well I pushed myself and the trousers are done. Only in a tracksuit material that I got very cheaply from ebay so I didn`t need to finish the seams. Some elastic that I got from an internet suppier yonks ago, it had a cord in the centre but I whipped the cord out and had to sew the elastic to the top and fold the lot down and did another couple of rows all the way around. A quick turn up and machined a couple of rows around the hem. I am very happy , they feel nice on and will look great as casual trousers in denim etc and in the meantime will do nicely for home

Mrs F I know where you are coming from re patterns that fit. This is another one to add to my collection and the next one to adjust will be fitted trousers with a few pleats/darts from the waist. I like to be able to grab a pattern and know that it will fit without any more tweaking. Those garments that I slaved over before my holidays have been wonderful and so have my skirts. I must get back to sewing in relaxation mode ie radio on, mug of tea on the side, quick casserole ready in the morning

ps: you are right about saving a packet on nightwear. The nieper catalogue arrived today and this is a typical sale price :eek:

http://www.davidnieper.co.uk/SALE/GB/13/090/SSND/style/0482/

purpleivy

Well. I kept checking in here but not seen anyone much around, have been quite busy too. DOne some sewing, but altering stuff as well. Am on hols as of tomorrow, but still frantically trying to get stuff done.

Got one more sleeve to go in my new jamas. Got to shorten DH's new joggers. Got to finish off another top and alter one that I made a few weeks ago, that I have decided is a bit big. And pack. And find stuff for everyone else.

Made a lovely tie front bolero for dd in sparkly stretch stuff, made her an 8 paneled skirt with godets that was very dull, so added a strip of the sparkly stuff to the edge of each godet. Turned out very well and she wore the bol & skirt to her 18th birthday party on sat, It was a ceilidh, so the skirt really swung round nicely as she danced! Sorry, should have said. Fabrics were a black stretch net with sparkly spots on (everything else in the wash is now slightly glittered!) and plain black cotton for the skirt. I think the 2 items are the nicest things I have ever made. Even nicer than my wedding dress! Hmm.

Been to sewing club at Widnes again, they're really lovely and friendly there...if there's anyone around who fancies giving it a go, I'm sure they'd be made welcome.

[Deleted User]

I have gone back to cycling now that I have an bike that will push me up the hills. Getting clothing that is windproof, waterproof, breathable that will fit my ample body is impossible. The mens sizes are too wide at the shoulders and too narrow in the hips and don`t tell me about women`s sizes as they all stop at a bit bigger than skinny. Anyway I am going to make some tops for myself, gore-tex type but lighter etc but getting patterns in the uk is well nigh impossible. I found a good assortment here

http://www.justmakeit.com/fabrics/index.html

It is a Canada site and you have to download the order form, a bit messy to use but beggars can`t be choosers

As always I will make a cheapo garment and then I`ll use the good stuff, when I have sourced it. Maybe from here

http://www.profabrics.co.uk/index.php

or abroad

katieowl_2

Hi Everyone....I must admit I've not read the WHOLE of the thread, so apologies if this suggestion has appeared before...but check out your local charity shop for patterns and fabric....

I've just come 'back' to sewing as my daughter and I are sooooooo fed up with the stuff in the shops...DD is a 34F and can't find anything to fit her top half, despite being slim elsewhere, she's also tall....I'm similarly blessed in only one department, being much more troll like in all the others so buying clothes is a bit of a nightmare.

I've just made her a very nice halter dress using a dress a neighbour lent me and half of a pattern from the charity shop for 50p

And myself a kaftan to wear indoors - like a dressing gown, out of a length of fabric from the charity shop (£2) and this pattern

http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=4377&show=1

which worked out great. I bought three similar lengths of fabric, and having done my learning curve on the Kaftan, I'm now going to use the piece I like the best to make a thigh skimming top to wear over jeans. I couldn't find any braid I liked to egde the kaftan with so ended up using some varigated machine embroidery thread that somebody gave me years ago, and running a double border of scalloped stiches around the sleeves, neck and hem.

I asked in another charity shop the other day that had some patterns out, and the lady says she keeps fabrics out the back, she hadn't any at the moment, but to ask when I go in... which is worth a shot.

Regards

Kate

purpleivy

kittie wrote: »

I have gone back to cycling now that I have an bike that will push me up the hills. Getting clothing that is windproof, waterproof, breathable that will fit my ample body is impossible. The mens sizes are too wide at the shoulders and too narrow in the hips and don`t tell me about women`s sizes as they all stop at a bit bigger than skinny. Anyway I am going to make some tops for myself, gore-tex type but lighter etc but getting patterns in the uk is well nigh impossible. I found a good assortment here

http://www.justmakeit.com/fabrics/index.html

It is a Canada site and you have to download the order form, a bit messy to use but beggars can`t be choosers

As always I will make a cheapo garment and then I`ll use the good stuff, when I have sourced it. Maybe from here

http://www.profabrics.co.uk/index.php

or abroad

there's a company in wales, I think it's called point north. THey do fabrics and fastenings etc,

editing.,,, just checked and they seem to be going under the profabrics name. I ordered tent poles and fabric to make an awning for dd's little tent. It was a long time ago though