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 )

*always

I took a class at the beginning of the year and bought my janome machine from hobbycraft a few weeks ago. It was only £100 and has a self threader, bobbin winder, one step buttonhole maker, and goes super fast :) I've made ds some pj bottoms and am now making dd a dress, but I do plan to make myself something next! I really rated the kwik sew pattern I used but am struggling with the mccalls one at the moment... :(

Yes, Ive got a Brother machine and do alterations (mainly taking things in/tapering legs, skirts, dresses, tops), Putting darts into tops and dresses. Just making things fit really. Im an inverted triangle so cant just buy off the peg.

If i had more time Id make stuff though.

I have an 8 year old Brother machine, which I think cost around £180.

It can be very tempting to buy cheaper threads and needles, but my advice would be to not do this, as both snap easily. Cheap threads also tangle easily in the bobbin and around the needle, and the needles blunt easily.

I buy little dark blue lidded boxes of Schmetz brand needles, and they are fantastic. As for the threads, I do not deviate now from Guterman.

Always have a couple of unpickers handy (it seems like a law that you'll lose one and be left in the middle of a project tempted to used scissors!).

Good quality fabric scissors and thread scissors are also the way to go. I find that I can economise on pins, tailors chalk, measuring tape etc.

Start off with some basic patterns first, such as:

Shift dress
a line skirt
Loose, Asian style trousers

Once you've made these, your confidence will be boosted, and the patterns are very easily adaptable to alter the style by length, addition of sleeves etc.

@Niminy that silvery linen sounds amazing. Can you tell me where you got it please?

I love sewing and also have this dream. I took a sewing class a while back where I learned loads. I really recommend it.

Watch out OP this is a dangerous road. I bought a sewing machine 5 years ago and now make 80% of my wardrobe. I've even moved onto bras.

The company's listed above are doing a great job of modernising the look of sewing patterns but are quite expensive - 10 for a single pattern. If you go to the big 4 New Look, Simplicity, McCalls etc you'll get cheaper patterns (they're often on sale) and they often have multiple styles in one pattern. I'd suggest buying a sewing magazine because you get a free pattern with it. Subscription is cheapest but not until you know you want to do this. I buy love sewing.

Personally I didn't go to sewing classes until I was reasonably competent. I found YouTube and the hoards of one line tutorials brilliant. Some of the popular patterns will even have sew-a-longs where they make the pattern alongside you.

good luck!

sewing.patternreview.com/ is a really good source of tips and ideas.

I got my machine from a local sewing machine shop. I was able to explain to the owner that I was an absolute beginner and they spent time with me choosing a machine which came with 2 free lessons! The lessons were just me with a member of staff in the shop but ensured that I could make a start and know how to set it up correctly. My machine is a Janome and it was about £180. Have a look for an actual sewing machine shop near you, I bet there is one.

My husband got me a brother sewing machine for out anniversary last year. So far I've only used it to make a world book day costume and to do some alterations

I have however now cut out the pattern pieces to make the tilly and the buttons pj bottoms. So that's progress!!

What's holding me back is time. I can't do it in the day as my youngest would be a nightmare and in the evenings I like to knit and watch tv. Once he starts pre school- no more excuses!!

The other thing is...fabric is so expensive! It's hard to motivate myself to sew something when it's cheaper to buy readymade. The fabric I'm using for the PJs is an old duvet cover. That suits my stinginess

I can definitely recommend a basic brother machine for starting and if you're not going to use it a lot or want to do anything fancy. I had mine for over 20 years until I recently upgraded to something a little more sturdy as I make theatre and film costumes plus quilts and clothing for myself and a few others.
I buy most fabrics on eBay.

As for the machine, all you need is a machine that will do straight stitch, zig zag and button holes. Find your local fabric/haberdashery shop. Amazon often have patterns and even fabric. You tube is very useful to learn certain techniques and tutorials to make your own patterns.

@Dragonflycushion I bought the linen from an online shop called The Draper's Daughter. It's out of stock at the mo but they are restocking. And there's other colours too. This shop has some ravishing fabrics.

I tend to stick to fairly simple shapes - often making versions of patterns I like which variations (tops made into dresses for instance) but use lovely fabrics. Fabric can indeed be expensive, but it is so much better quality than the stuff they use for ready to wear. The fabric for this apron dress cost nearly £60 but it is hand woven and dyed cotton and will last and age beautifully.

I'm another who makes my own clothes. I don't really buy anything anymore - I even make my own jeans (which FIT!)

I would recommend a Janome machine. That is what they use on the Great British Sewing Bee.

Youtube is great, but often the people on there are enthusiastic beginners so the methods they show aren't always the best. A good sewing book like the Readers Digest complete sewing guide would be a good idea.

Fabric needn't be expensive. All the clothes I make are cheaper than buying them would be. Shop around. Look at markets. There are loads of good online stores.

Also look at the sewing.patternreview.com site to get ideas and help. The forum is pretty active and everyone is happy to help out a beginner.

I have an Alfa which I love! It isn't self-threading but that's ok. It has enough stitch styles to do what I want. Buttonhole sewing is easy.

I have mostly made clothes for my son - raglan sleeved tshirts and shorts galore. Have made for myself a funky boxy tshirt and a maxi skirt. Oh and a kimono-cardi thing.

I'd also like to start making more stuff. And sanitary pads! They look a doddle.

I have made copious stuff for the house: cushion covers, pillow cases, tablecloths, table runners, hotplate holders etc. And the amount of stuff I have made for Christmas* is unreal. Mostly decorative, and cute drawstring bags to replace wrapping paper.

I need to make more clothes for myself. I shall be watching this thread with interest. And if anyone can recommend a video tutorial so i can finally crack bloody zips, i'd be most grateful.

• sorry to mention the C-word in July

Thanks Niminy I'll look out for it.

I started with alterations. Took a long time to lose excess weight & have various dresses that are too big but good quality fabric. So started off using the skirt of one to make a drawstring laundry bag. Also done a lot of alterations - started with hems, replacing hideous white plastic buttons with nice ones, etc. Hugely satisfying. Last year's wearing everything in your wardrobe thread was great - I found that I had a few skirts, dresses & tops which I didn't wear much as they were too long & only worked with high heeled shoes. Taking up the hems gave me nearly new things to wear for the cost of some thread.
Fabric doesn't have to be expensive - big variation in price of cotton due to quality, colour, print etc. Finding this out helps to explain variation in price & quality of fabric of new clothes.

I've just bought my first sewing machine, a John Lewis one which is apparently made by janone. I love it.

So far I've made some coasters and a bag and am slowly getting it.

My friend who makes all her own clothes (and is amazing) recommended it. She also suggested getting some very cheap fabric to practice on, and donated me her scraps box, which I have done.

I have to say, I love it, it is very satisfying seeing something go from brain to reality (even if it's a completely wonky coaster).

Thanks for all the website recommendations, I've subscribed to most of them!

Can anyone recommend an online fabric shop? I'm not to bothered about quality yet, it's more to make some practice pieces.

This thread is fantastic! I am most excited to see that Merchant & Mills are based in Rye as I'm off on hols near there this summer. I feel a pilgrimage will be necessary.

Thirding the recommendation for a Janome - for years I borrowed my mum's absolute beast of a 1970s New Home machine, and then got my own Janome (who took over New Home). I have this one but you could certainly pay much less for something simpler. If you have a John Lewis anywhere near you then there is usually someone pretty knowledgeable in the fabrics and haberdashery section, or see if there is an independent shop near you. Some places sell reconditioned vintage machines which will be solid workhorses but won't have fancy needle threaders (on which topic, have you tried using one of these?)

Minerva Crafts has a section called budget fabrics - all £5 per metre or less. Quality is variable but some of the prints are really nice.

I do a fair bit of sewing, when I get the time. I have a Brother sewing machine. But the main thing is, if you go somewhere like John Lewis, they'll try to sell you a fancy bells-and-whistles machine. Don't buy it. What you need is a machine with:

a nice easy action forwards & backwards
automatic buttonhole capacity
good zig-zag or other kind of raw seam finish
a good stretch stitch
easy to thread

Then get some simple patterns - Butterick, Simplicity, Vogue (although some Vogue patterns need advanced knowledge) - and follow the instructions. I find Vogue patterns are worth the extra expense as they have detailed instructions, and are cut really true to size.

There are some good sewing books on the market: I have found great ones in charity bookshops - the Good Housekeeping series is excellent.

Avoid the "Tilly and the Buttons" sort of stuff that's become fashionable. It's expensive, the patterns are not well-cut, and you won't learn proper sewing techniques. There's a similar sort of shop in my town & I went for a browse and was shocked at the fabric prices - ripping off people like you who want to get started but don't know how. £10 a metre for poly-cotton! £1 per button. No thank you very much.

If you have a local, independently run sewing machine shop, start there. It'll usually be run by a knowledgeable middle-aged to older woman, who knows her stuff. And you can talk through the kind of machine which will suit you for what you want to do. Also buy the best, sharpest, heaviest pair of scissor you can afford (and hold). And a good tape measure, and some long thin pins - don't get the bobble-headed ones, or the short thick (cheap) pins.

I go to a local market and buy cotton for a couple of pounds a metre and make up new patterns in a practice garment (a toile ) to get the fit right, and then use that to make adjustments to my paper pattern and then cut more expensive material.

You need a clear table or desk, and a good light & some patience. It's a great hobby & wearing your own-made clothes, fitted to fit you, not some manufacturer's weird view of the female body proportions, is great! And you'll never see someone else wearing your dress.

Good places for fabric: if you're in the NW: Abhakhan - and if you're near Preston, their Saturday market has a couple of amazing stalls for quality fabric.
Mail order: Croft Mills (fabulous - I am salivating over their current linen stocks).
Birmingham is fantastic for good fabric, very cheap. Although it helps to know what you're looking for.

The point of home sewing is not to make cheapo copies of the shops, but to use really good quality fabrics to make one-offs. So I never buy poly-cotton except to make up a practice garment.

I buy & sew linen, wool, silk & cotton. It's not worth my time to make anything out of other than good quality fabrics.

Sew Direct is a good website - you can buy paper patterns, thread, and other accessories. And if you're not sure, give them a call - they're all fairly good home sewers it seems to me, from the times I've talked to them.

I have a Toyota machine which I've had for 10 years now and it's fab. Definitely make sure you get it serviced regularly as it makes all the difference.

I have made lots of children's clothing and actually ran my own business for a couple of years selling it, which I did very well out of. But despite this I've never made anything for myself! I find it very daunting. I bought the Roberts pattern collection by Marilla Walker ages ago but haven't plucked up the courage to make anything yet. I struggle to find patterns which I like and find a lot of them too old fashioned for me. I love the styles of the Tilly and the Buttons patterns but should I avoid them?

I don't agree that the big four sewing patterns are superior. For a start they are printed on really flimsy tissue paper whereas lots of the indie designers use much more sturdy paper, easier to use and last longer. The instructions are not always that clear or detailed. And though you can get a lot of variations in a pattern normally I only like one of the variations. (A bit like knitting books where you end up buying the whole book for one or two patterns.) I've only made one Tilly and the Buttons pattern but it was well drafted and cut and the instructions were extremely clear. I thought they would have been very good for a beginner and that's who they're aimed at. I don't like the styles myself but I don't think there's any need to be snooty about them.

I sometimes sense a bit of 'I've been doing this for years and don't need to waste my time with all this new-fangled stuff' which seems a bit snobby and ungenerous. Everyone's got to start somewhere. When I first started I tried out some Vogue patterns and they were pretty frumpy and very little help for a novice and I got pretty disheartened.

The things that helped me were getting the Merchant and Mills sewing book, which is really quite old school in its approach - e.g. Has a whole chapter on pressing - and one of their patterns. Expensive, but as I have made about fifteen different garments adapted from it, totally worth it.

Lots of good advice and insight here. I might take a look on amazon and see if they have a second hand copy of the Merchant and Mills sewing book.