Anyone else going to join me on the Sewing Bee watch?

[flubba]

A bit excited about it

:o

WRT the bra thing and the top fitting - it is better to use a pad in the smaller boob.
Mainly because it will always look uneven if you try to make the clothes fit the different sized boobs.

It's totally different with shoulders and arms, because there's a massive piece of person in the way.
It would look more crooked if you tried to compensate the person.

Tunip
"It would just never occur to me to put padding in a bra....!"

The first and foremost thing you must do when you make an item of clothing for yourself is to make sure your foundation garments are correct.

That's the reason they're called foundation garments!
they are the foundation of your body shape.

harbinger - show us the dress.

depending on the fabric, once you've made the skirt, you could make a matching bag, or a bag full stop (for something else), you could use it for your stash box, or make an apron,

Or you could make a dungaree dress (with a bib) - this bit relies on you being young enough to look cute and funky.
If you're this side of 30, then skirt and some-other-item will be your best bet.

Effie - i've got one, but I don't like it.

I want a proper one, like in the show, like we had at college, but they cost £400 each.
(and you only get one size)

Mine is an adjustable one, but I can never quite adjust it for my shape (I have bigger hips and smaller bust - although since BFing has made my bust a abit bigger, it might be easier!)

ooh, bras, I love the idea of making bras.

We made a few toiles at college, and then made our own bras, but I was trying to be clever and all artistic, and I made a pointy one (like in the 60s), but it didn't turn out too well.

I really should have just made a proper normal bra, but I was trying to be creative and I was worried that a proper normal bra wouldn't work properly.

I really shouldn't try to be creative.
I still have all the blocks, so I can make one for myself at some point but i've been meaning to do so for about 10 years
I've got all the elastic and clips and everything - even got BFing clips!
by the time I get round to it, my boobs will be withered and drooping...

£400!

actually, they've gone up even more since I last looked.

£775
are the £400 ones

adjustable ones a lot cheaper (i got mine from an advert in a paper second hand for £40)

sorry crap with spaces today...

[http://www.morplan.com/Product_10053_10001_15464_-1_10785 morplan]]

these

morplan

sorry!

I have never, ever stopped kicking myself for not buying the two dressmakers' mannequins I saw in a junk shop for £5 apiece, about ten years ago. What was I thinking? What an idiot.

I'm amazed at what adjustments people make to shop bought clothes, I always just assumed it would be too difficult. I worry that once I've unpicked a bit of "their" seam, it'll all go horribly wrong and I won't be able to put it back together, and I'll have the worst of all possible worlds.

Spent money on an item that was no good, so made one - great!
Tried to make an item but failed so bought one - not great, but ok.
Bought an item, spent loads of money, wrecked it and now have no money and still nothing to wear - that'll be the one.

Plus, I sort of resent paying money for an item of clothing if I know I'm going to have to get it home and then start making adjustments to it. I'd rather just make it from scratch myself. Except I have neither the time nor the skill (yet) to do that. So, unsurprisingly, I don't have many clothes, and the ones I have are cheap rubbish.

I really am fired up about this and am determined to conquer my demons and have a go at making some clothes. This thread is brilliant!

I don't know if someone has advised this earlier, but as a total novice could I ask how you measure and pin things for yourself properly? particularly for modifications and putting darts in the right place? Aside from getting an adjustable mannequin and setting it up for your exact shape, that is?! I guess there is little substitute for finding a dressmaking buddy and measuring each other properly.

You could start with boot sale clothing, MrsPennyapple -- that way you've not spent too much to begin with in the unlikely event that you do mess it up.

That's a good idea Tolliver. I let my fear of getting it wrong stop me even attempting it. (In lots of things, not just sewing.) I should just get on and do it.

I don't mind doing adjustments to charity shop stuff.
although I have adjusted the waist of a proper skirt. I was very proud of myself for the job I did.

I really should do it more often ss my waist is very small compared with my hips and skirts are invariably made the other way round these days

My waist / hips are the same, Unique. When I'm not pg, anyway. Nothing in the shops ever fits me properly, but trousers are the worst.

Hello! I'm on the hunt for fabric again as the dog was jumping up on my washing line as has nipped a hole front and back on a cotton top which I loved.
The fabric is exactly these colours but a thick, heavy cotton. I am going to try attaching a similar skirt part as Tilly has done. but much larger to hide the chewed bits.

I don't remember where I bought the top but the finish and interlocking are very rough although the material is nice. Maybe Boden.

MrsPenny - in your case, you have to fit to the waist and then adjust the hips.
I have to fit to the hips and adjust the waist.

I just realised my previous post might have given the wrong idea Unique, it reads like my waist measurement is the same as my hip measurement, which is not the case! I means my waist and hips are the same as yours, as in my waist is small compared to my hips. Sorry for any confusion!

today has been very productive, 3 skirts for children done and toiles for 2 variations for the corset top for my friend. I'm leaving the adjustment for the people mcnugget that she is until I see her because I tried and it just did NOT work. Also, a protector thingy to stop the seat belt in the car cutting into The Cub's neck in a rather fetching frog fleece.

If you're unsure about adapting your own stuff radically I can recommend Sew Subversive I think I got it from The Works. It's a bit rough and ready but will inspire you to use techniques and not be afraid of having a go.
Sew What! Skirts is nice for letting you draft your own simple a-line skirt and giving variations.

AGoodDayTiggaxx

Hi, I'm late to the party, but I might as well add my twopence worth.
I adapt charity shop clothes as I'm a 5ft curvy size 8/10, a size/shape combination not generally catered for in shops.
I have quite an, er, individual style, and get lots of cheap fabrics from Abakhan in Manchester to supply my sewing needs.
I also make fabric puppets, which is a great creative outlet.
Where do people get sewing patterns from, and does anywhere cater for petite cuts?

Dawntigga what's a people mcnugget?

She's my bff and very short I like that I do sarcasm and she insults me worse.

GottaLoveHerTiggaxx

I like the look of that 'Sew Subversive' book Dawntigga.

It's probably just up DD1's street as well. She customises clothing. I just want to make it fit.

I've just found my DM's 'Singer sewing book' . It was first printed in 1954.
I think her copy may have been a little later c1957.

Tucked away inside was a little leaflet 'How to get a perfect fit'. It could have come from a magazine.The only clue I have is that it is a pull out by Marion Rotter. The drawings in the leaflet look later than the book.

It was well worth keeping....tells and explains everything.

I've just found my DM's 'Singer sewing book' . It was first printed in 1954.
I think her copy may have been a little later c1957.

Tucked away inside was a little leaflet 'How to get a perfect fit'. It could have come from a magazine.The only clue I have is that it is a pull out by Marion Rotter. The drawings in the leaflet look later than the book.

It was well worth keeping....tells and explains everything.