Anybody dream of buying a sewing machine and making their own clothes?

[laGrosellaEspinosa]

How delusional am I?

I don't want to make everything but just the odd thing. A jumpsuit or a dress. I see a very clear vision of an item of clothing in my head sometimes and I think it's beautiful and I both want it and I want to create it.

Anybody have a sewing machine? Can they recommend a good solid reliable one that threads the needle (essential). Is it useful for making alterations even if you're not Stella McCartney (I reckon my designes would be better than her :-p )

Squiz My OH (also was in the trade) bought me a pair of Mundial Serra Sharp...they are brilliant scissors

online fabric stores - I've used all of these and can recommend:

www.girlcharlee.co.uk/

www.thetextilecentre.co.uk/

www.myfabrics.co.uk/

Bobbins I am also a fan of Cashmerette - in fact their patterns got me back into sewing after having fit issues.

Have you seen the Curvy Sewing Community? Great FB group. ANd they review lots of patterns and list Plus size companies. Come join us: curvysewingcollective.com/resources/plus-size-patterns/

I must have been lucky re the sewing machine place. Had mine for about 2/3 years now and touch wood it's been amazing!
However I also love John Lewis machines as a decent basic machine. My aunt has one and again no problems there

Thanks oldraver I just looked at them online, the price of them isn't too bad. I may have to treat myself

Can anybody recommend a pattern for dungerees, or a jump suit for the long of body?

I found this dungaree pattern

thefoldline.com/patterns/turia-dungarees/

The photos are from someone who bought the pattern and what she made. She wrote this

"As many of you who went for it, I hesitated a lot before making myself THE risqué garment: Dungarees! Rare are those with the body of a 14 year old, especially not me! So after benchmarking the different patterns available I ended up hesitating between two: Paloma from Wear Lemonade & Turia from Pauline Alice. 3 things made me go for Turia: The detailed & clear patterns of Pauline Alice, the fact that it has a long version & its more fitted "

Love this thread - been reading Mumsnet for years but this is the first time I've felt the need to post! I started sewing my own clothes about 2 years ago after my mum was clearing out a load of her old sewing patterns. Before that curtains and cushions were my limit - but as others have said there are so many books and online tutorials out there it really is possible to teach yourself as you go along.

The best thing for me is that I can finally wear dresses that fit me - I have a narrow back but big bust and hips - very hard to buy ready to wear dresses that fitted. Now after years of wearing trousers and jeans I am in a hand made dress most days - dive in you won't regret it!

This is a long shot but do any of you clever sewers know where a newbie who knows their way around a sewing machine but long ago lost any of the 'fancy' feet for it might find an easy pattern for a skirt like this?! Am feeling optimistic....

knik look on the decline website and search through the skirt patterns. There are filters so you can choose length etc.

knik if you don't mind a button front, the Tilly and the Buttons picnic blanket skirt can be made with a free tutorial and no pattern - it's just maths based on your measurements, and rectangles.

Not decline I meant The Fold line website

Awesome! Thanks you two 😁Where's the 'like' button?!

OSTRICH can you show us the patten for the shorts or picture.

There's a pattern for a skirt like that in Beginners Guide to Sewing Skirts by Wendy Ward, which is an excellent book. It takes you through various skirt shapes with patterns you can trace off, has brilliantly clear instructions and guides to adapt each pattern. The book is structured so that you learn new techniques with each pattern and the compendium of techniques at the end is worth the price of the book alone.

Ace, thanks Josiah! They'd pretty much passed me by, but they look perfect.

knitknack This skirt also looks a bit similar to the one you posted.
shop.made-by-rae.com/collections/womens-patterns/products/cleo. Hope the link works. I've not linked before.
I've seen a few versions of this on blogs recently that look quite nice.

I haven't RTWT but Collette do an e magazine for $6 a month. It is slightly fluffy but pretty. The reason I subscribe is that for each month's subscription you can choose two pdf patterns to download.

Even better is that you can save your 'credits' to download Collette patterns (two credits per month and a Collette pattern is worth three).

There isn't a massive number of patterns to choose from, I have subscribed for too long and currently have 18 credits and there aren't any more patterns I want atm but it might be worth a look.

If you are going to sew from a lot of mainstream patterns Sew Today membership is worth having, quarterly magazine, discount off patterns and £1 postage.

Sew Direct and Seamwork.

So because of this thread ive signed myself up to a basic sewing course.

Im EXCITED! although i do know how to do basic stuff, its been quite a while so a refresher course it is for me.

Ive to take a basic sewing kit but they dont say what that contains so ive come up with my own list:

Measuring tape
Scissors
Pins
Stitch ripper thingy
Needles
Spool of thread
Dressmakers chalk (or whatever its called)

What u all think? Am i missing anything?

I'd take a couple of spoils of thread - so frustrating to run out. Also two pairs of scissors - one large for cutting fabric and one small for snipping thread. Enjoy!

Wow, thanks Niminy and User - I've ordered the book (looks perfect!) and bookmarked the site... so glad I asked 😊

How is everyone getting on?

I tried sewing with Jersey for the first time today, it's quite different and not as easy as Cotton but I enjoyed it and made a vest top. I'm very pleased with it.

I have a sewing machine coming to me tomorrow from sewing machines direct. So far I've been using an ancient machine borrowed from my MIL, but I want auto-buttonholes.

I love the idea of gradually making my ideal wardrobe, piece by piece. I've always been the kind of person who visualises my perfect pair of trousers, my perfect summer dress, my perfect transitional jacket etc, only to get disappointed when I can't find it in the shops.

Anyone subscribe to Burda magazine? It looks like a good range of patterns each month. I'm considering it.

I've entered the simplicity turns 90 challenge -has anyone else? I've gone for the dressmaking challenge. The vintage pattern is nice but I'd look like a clown wearing it. Had fun doing piping tonight on my bodice

I was taught to sew by my gran who sewed for a living and could replicate anything seen in a shop window. My mum does lots of sewing. I still have my gran's old Singer machine. I had it repaired even though I'd bought my own new machine. I shortened some shower curtains at the weekend (we have a weird set up over the bath and there isn't the head height you normally get) and it didn't take me long to do, including threading the weights back in. Having those kinds of skills is so useful.

Most sewing machine centres which do machine repairs will also offer classes and have handouts available on how to tackle specific tasks.