Does anyone else make their own clothes

Agapanthus

jamtart - I'm an experienced dressmaker, but I wouldn't attempt to make this without a pattern. If your budget won't run to a pattern then make a skirt (they're easy!) and buy a cheap top.

Don't worry if the dress in the picture looks tent-like - it's just been photographed without a belt to show different possible looks

Where you can really save money is on "special occasion" dresses. I made my daughter's wedding dress last year. The local bridal store had a dress she liked for over £750. The final cost of hers was under £200 - and it was fancy, with an embroidered bodice and a train. Took me months, but it was all worthwhile!

Childrens clothes can also be worthwhile - there's very little fabric in them, so you can make them out of scraps. Mind you, it's still hard to compete with Primark!

Agapanthus

ocemeer - jersey material can be tricky to sew. Practice on scraps first.

homealone_2

i finally got my new sewing machine delivered couple of days ago and nor taken it out of box yet! dont know if i lack motivation due to the problems with getting one or am just plain terrified. before getting it had mental list of all the things i wanted to make and am now stuck, what was your first item of home made splendour? whats a good item to start with?

Savvy_sewing

Ah, an apron!!! That was the first thing I made.
Eventually I did a skirt, then a dress, then a blouse, then progressed. Finally was making wedding dresses.

homealone_2

any other suggestions will be gratefully received

soon2bjobless

I just bought my first sewing machine in 20 years a couple of weeks ago - I have made several of these gift bags (I got some lovely xmas material from Freecycle) - you measure and cut out the pattern - I made the small ones - zig zag round the edges and its just straight stitch after that - the ribbon goes on the outside so you dont have to bother with a casing.

http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/ezgiftbags/easy_giftbag_pattern.html

I also picked up some cheap fleece from Ikea and made just rectangles sewed up the side as spare covers for my floor swiffer!

If you get adventurous try these Morse bags

http://www.morsbags.com

I have now made 2 and seem to be getting better at it!

cheers

Linda

Savvy_sewing

Cant get the first link up, but had a look at the second one.
I am cutting up carrierbags into strips and knitting them into similar types of bags!. It was something to do when I was stuck in bed. Bit slow, but the bag is then strong and stretchy like a string bag!.

maryb

If you look on organisedchristmas.com then while you are waiting for the Christmas prepartions to gear up she has a pattern for one of those cooling neckties to wear in the hot weather. It seems to be a tube made from a triangle of fabric filled with those waterabsorbing granules you get for putting in hanging basket compost. Just one seam and very simple. I imagine you could also make them as microwavable wheatbags for cold weather. Would make good stocking fillers in due course.

And, no, I am not getting ready for Christmas yet (June is too early even for me!!) but I was going through my links and tidying them up - well that's my excuse

soon2bjobless

Try this link for the gift bags -

http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/ezgiftbags/easy_giftbag_pattern.html

This is what I am going to have a go at this afternoon...

http://whipup.net/2006/03/01/stickin-it-to-the-pincushion/

Rikki

maryb wrote: »

If you look on organisedchristmas.com then while you are waiting for the Christmas prepartions to gear up she has a pattern for one of those cooling neckties to wear in the hot weather. It seems to be a tube made from a triangle of fabric filled with those waterabsorbing granules you get for putting in hanging basket compost. Just one seam and very simple. I imagine you could also make them as microwavable wheatbags for cold weather. Would make good stocking fillers in due course.

And, no, I am not getting ready for Christmas yet (June is too early even for me!!) but I was going through my links and tidying them up - well that's my excuse

www.organizedchristmas.com


There are lots of great ideas there, thanks.