calling all dressmakers

[lostprince]

I am relatively new to dress making any tips on the best place to get material/ patterns?

[lucysmam]

For fabric try Fabricland.co.uk if you're ok with buying online. It's a very, um, interesting website but their prices are good.

If you'd rather buy in person then I have no idea, I'm rather limited as to where I can buy from round here - travelling to buy would cost more than the delivery for most places

Patterns - is there a haberdashery shop in your area? They might be a good place to start.

Someone else will probably have better suggestions than me though - I've only recently started sewing again after a looooong break

[lavendersun]

I have a lovely local fabric shop I use a lot. JL sell fabric and patterns but I try not to buy fabric there unless it is reduced because my local shop often has the very same fabric by the very same maker for half of the cost so I know that their mark up is ridiculous.

I like Truro Fabrics for nice things - just fabrics for skirts and tunics for me really but they are not cheap (but neither is buying clothes!).

E-bay can be good although I would mostly use e-bay for furnishing fabrics.

I have a thing for Liberty patterns at the minute and have bought some lovely printed cord from here:

www.shaukat.co.uk/category/all-liberty-fabrics/liberty-kingly-cord-needlecord

It is actually fairly good value for Liberty and you don't need much for a skirt.

[Oldraver]

There are some dressmaking pages on Facebook where you can always pick up patterns and odd bits of fabric.

I will try and find one

[Oldraver]

Fabric and Haberdasery

[lostprince]

Thank you all so much, some good suggestions, I want to start my next project in the next few weeks, I'm thinking a Jersey dress.....

[RavenRose]

For patterns try //www.jaycotts.co.uk

Also www.sewessential.co.uk

For fabrics a lot depends on what you are after. Fabricland is good, Abakhans as well. The actual shops for them are better than the online one. They used to have bargain bins and sell by weight! There's also ebay and

www.cheapfabrics.co.uk/thestore/

efabrics.co.uk

www.croftmill.co.uk

www.calicolaine.co.uk/dressmaking-fabric.html?gclid=CMKmpuu4t8MCFQEGwwodlgIAEA

dittofabrics.co.uk

www.whitelodgefabric.com/engine/shop/index.html

www.dragonflyfabrics.co.uk

www.myfabrics.co.uk

www.fabric-dreams.co.uk/?gclid=CNqOtr65t8MCFYTItAodxiUAAw

These are all ones I've used. The last two are based in Germany but delivery can be quicker than Uk based ones. For real life shops it's mostly independents which can be a bit out of the way. I've found a few through yell and searching for fabric shops. Some are obviously curtains etc but I've found some real gems as well!!

[lucysmam]

My fb won't load the fb link Old

I'm a member of a group that swap ribbons etc - haven't found it useful tbh as I want fabric etc but found it while searching for fabric/haberdashery swap groups.

[poppyinstitches]

I buy patterns from backstitch.co.uk, sewbox.co.uk and also sewdirect.com
generally I prefer to buy fabrics when I can touch them, Fabrics Galore in South London is great, Cloth House in Berwick Street, Central London. Raven Rose has posted a fantastic list, I've used Ditto & Croft Mill.

[carlajean]

Where are you lostprince

[Oldraver]

Lucysmam The page is called Fabric and Haberdashery For Sale.. Lots of people selling their fabric stash patterns they dont want etc.

[lucysmam]

Thank you, I'll have a look now

[perfectlybroken]

Ooh great thread! I highly recommend //www.madebyrae.com
Downloadable patterns but also extra drawings and tutorials which are great for a beginner. I think I've made about 50 variations of get washi dress and wear one most days!

[perfectlybroken]

oops its www.made-by-rae.com/

[lavendersun]

There are some very simple patterns to be had these days. I made this in boiled wool at the weekend, even with an invisible zip, overlocking all the pieces and hand sewing the hem it only took me three hours:

www.simplicitynewlook.com/1252/#.VNJ4W8b695k

I like it so much that I am making another one in embroidered cord this weekend.

Most of the pattern books have an easy section.

McCalls patterns are currently 1/2 price here:

www.sewdirect.com/index.html

[lucysmam]

lavender, is the dress one with a back or side zip? I think it would do dd for school with a bit of tweaking

[lavendersun]

They are all the same - with a back zip.

Simplicity 1457 is nice for girls, it has lots of variations, none with zips. I made it for my 8 year old recently and one or two of them could definitely be made up as a school dress, 'D', in particular.

I would find a pattern that fits the job rather than changing one tbh if you are actually buying a new pattern - there is so much choice that you should be able to find what you want.

[lucysmam]

She's an awkward size. She's only 8yo but very nearly as tall as me, very long legs but stumpy body & a tum to go with it because of bowel troubles.

I had to change a pair of size six trousers today for a ten & need to lower the waist so they fit right. Very bloody awkward