New to Dressmaking. Good patterns for beginners?

[gatheringstones]

I have completed my first project - but bit squiffy and i found it quite tricky despite the envelope saying it was 'easy'. it had gathers and facing and bias binding. i didn't even know how to thread the machine so it took me a while!

would like to get second project underway but wary of what pattern people say is easy and what i think is easy.

can anyone recommend any make of pattern over another? do any have 'beginner' patterns? should i buy a book with patterns in?

also, while i'm here. i keep getting lots of threads on the underside of my stitching - usually three and seems to be a loose bit gets caught up. no idea what i'm doing wrong..? any clues?

thanks so much in advance for any thoughts at all!

Not a lot of advice on what is 'easy', you just need to look at the pattern and see whether there are gathers and ruffles etc. Bias binding is not so hard and you appear to have coped.
Try a skirt maybe, which has just plain seams and a waistband?
As for the loose threads on the bottom, that is a matter of tension.
There should be knob on your machine, usually just above the needle, through which you pass your thread when it comes from your cotton reel. You can turn that knob and you need to experiment with how tight or loose it needs to be. Mine has numbers on and is set between 3 and 4. It depends a little on the material you are sewing and the thread you are sewing with.

yes, i thought perhaps a skirt next. bias binding i did pretty much cope with - but i was not good at marking fabric and matching things so when i attached bodice to body things did not meet where they should.

thanks for the tension advice. i thought that was all to do with top rather than bottom. as i say, absolute beginner!

gatheringstones, check out my thread about tension. It may be your bottom tension!

I think that Burda have 'easy' patterns
like this

if you have a dd a dress like this one is ok, even I mastered that

My wee brother bought me a book a few years ago called "yeah, I made it myself" here

I love it. No cut out patterns though. Maybe have a search in your local library for it first

Another thing I like to do it take apart clothes that I love, but are past it, then use the pieces as patterns for new skirts / tops etc.

Ive been trying to get around to sewing new clothes for ages, but still have 4 pairs of trousers needing taking up...for the last 2 months

If you read the back of the packet of instructions it will say what the "notions" are for the pattern ie things like zips, ribbons, etc. From this you can work out if it'll be pretty complicated/simple.

I would buy some simple pull-on cotton tops patterns and get used to the basics first.

Accurate marking and cutting of fabric is one of the main differences between a poor and a great result. If you are out by a cm it will start to show as mismatched seams which look terrible.

Make sure you follow the laying out instructions of pattern to fabric properley. Don't do what I did many years ago and just stuff as many pattern pieces on a section as possible, thinking you are saving on fabric Specific piece layout is to do with the weave and drape of the fabric and should be stuck to.

Buy fabric marking pens which disappear on contact with a damp cloth afterwards. Get a blue one for light fabrics, and a white one for dark fabrics. Draw round your pattern before removing the pinned paper. Don't forget to accurately cut notches (the triangles) into the fabric as these are what match up the pieces.

Simplicity easy patterns I have always found reasonably easy to follow, as are New Look.

slightly alarmed about my bottom tension now...sounds serious!

back to sewing - thanks for good suggestions - esp about drawing round pattern and marking properly. never occured to me to draw round pattern!

i did come a bit unstuck on the notches thing and i can now see why that caused problems so will be more careful next time.

i was looking at that girls dress pattern yesterdy pippo so maybe i'm on the right lines. also thought of clothkits - v lovely but not cheap.

and i like the look of the book mousey.

i've been swooning over zakka sewing book on amazon but it's soooo above my level of competence disaster would surely follow any attempt at japanese perfection. still i can dream and good to have an aim in life. innit?

TBH I would buy the book because it is great to be inspired by a project even if it doesn't turn out great. You will probably find that the second time you make something, it will turn out better than the first, and so on.

The other advantage of learning sewing via creating crafty items as opposed to dressmaking, is the lack of fitting required.

It is very frustrating to follow a pattern to the letter for, say, a size 12 dress only to find that it doesn't fit or look nice after all the trouble of making it. This is exactly the same as when we reject clothes in the shops because they don't look right but in that case, of course, we can walk away still in pocket - unlike dressmaking disasters.

When you are more experienced you will know instinctively how to fit a pattern to your personal shape (ie I always shorten shoulder straps) but even the most experienced dressmaker can be caught out by a duff pattern!

Therefore its good to get to know your sewing machine over a period of time and a variety of projects, to get your confidence up.

i confess it's that sort of disaster which keeps me from adult patterns.
i have a strong track record of buying books and then not doing anything!
seriously tempted by the book mousey84 recommended...and another one about weekend sewing or some such.
but also thinking of making some table cloths and maybe a duvet cover etc to get some practise in with machine. bottom tension and all.
good advice i think - thank you!

Have you had a look at Clothkits? They're not cheap, but might help you get confidence. I really like the adult Bird skirt!

I like the easy 1-hour patterns. Various makers (i think i have had a skirt one from new look).

Will admit ex-mil had to bully me into finishing first and I have NEVER finish one in an hour (I think 2 1/2hrs from start to finish) but if you have managed to do the first one you described you should be ok for this (Straight lines, 1 zip and a tiny bit of interfacing, and one button hole) Give a mo and will fetch no out...

www.freeneedle.com/
looks like a good place to bookmark

Ok my favourite is NEW LOOK Pattern no 6843 Easy 1 hour should be here

Stay away from vogue patterns!!!!

Like you op, my first attempt at sewing and using a sewing machine was making a dress on a course and i chose a vogue pattern that had 'very easy' on it - it was a bloody nightmare.

Agree with some others that simplicity and burda are the best. Also agree with mousy about that book, it is great.

Good luck, and keep us posted

Well done gathering! I am
I did my first project but it was a cushion! LOL

thanks for the site and the pattern - both look great. the skirt could be a good idea i think.

don't be jealous champagnesupernova, i really should have started with a cushion. there is a strong chance my second project will be a cushion so i can just practice doing non-wonky things! (with luck)

gotta go carrots will be overcooked...

gathering i tried shirring last night, and its really easy and quite good fun - looks impressive too You should give that a go, it could really help with your confidence.