If you sew, please come and advise me...

[Trazzletoes]

I have a sewing machine. I am very much a beginner (only projects so far = cushion covers etc.) though it turns out I'm quite good at slightly wibbly lines.

I have a 1 year old DD and would love to make some very simple clothes for her. I don't have much imagination, so need patterns and realistically in the right size as I am not clever enough to scale up or down.

I'm struggling to find inspiration. I'm just looking really for straight dresses or plain skirts - that kind of thing which I can do with limited skills and not much time.

Any suggestions of where to look would be gratefully received.

Thank you.

Craft magazines? And I am sure there must be a video on YouTube showing you how to use your machine to do shirring. Check out makeitloveit.com.

What about this sort of thing, trazzle?

Or take a look at this - loads of free patterns on there, and pretty little dresses etc.

Ace. Thanks!

I've got a fab book called Making Childrens Clothes which has some great patterns in it and is a really good starting point for starting to make clothes.

www.etsy.com/shop/sewsweetpatterns?ref=seller_info

I have made several of these patterns, really easy for beginners.

I would make pj pants and simple elasticated skirts.

You need to go to your local fabric shop or art shop and buy square paper... Next it is off to your local library to the craft section... Rob Merrett books are great... then check out the remaindered book shops.

By tracing onto square paper, you will be able to come back and make larger sizes... also do this proper paper patterns.

If you want a quick tutorial about cutting out here you go!

If you PM me with your email addy, I will send you a couple of PDFs you could make which are relatively easy :)

Clothkits sell kits where the cutting lines are all printed on the fabric, so you just cut out and sew. There are some lovely designs and I think they are pretty simple. I have a couple for DD although I haven't actually made them yet. I love the dungarees with lions on! They are a bit pricy, but the fabric is very good quality, so once it's made up you should get lots of use out of the garment.

oh also a pillowcase dress!

www.babyrabies.com/2012/07/a-refreshed-pillowcase-dress-tutorial/

Thank you all very very much.

LatteLady I shall PM you, thanks.

Join Pinterest, you'll be able to find lots of free tutorials on there!

You could start with a really simple skirt like this www.lisaclarke.net/2008/04/14/i-like-my-skirts-fast-and-cheap-a-tutorial/ and then move on to pyjama pants www.simplymodernmom.com/2011/01/simple-pajama-pants-tutorial/.

When I was scared of jersey I used to applique something in the same fabric of the pants on to the t-shirt or long-sleeved vest in order to mKe it proper pyjamas.

Pinterest really is your friend here. I went from sewing straight lines to making jersey dresses for my dd and have so far not bought a single pattern.

Google "made by rae" - she has some lovely children's patterns to download and accompanying tutorials.

Another vote for clothkits, too - although they are pricey.

Trazzle - you have mail

Thank you LatteLady! Tis appreciated.

I'm on Pinterest but I don't really understand it. It just seems to be a lot of nice photos of stuff...