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 )

Scrowy it was me who said about the lining. The only thing to remember is to cut the lining onn the bias as it doesnt have any give to it.

Well instead of cleaning I decided to try a simple skirt.

It's not very tidy, it's a bit wonky but here it is. And only 45 minutes! I really need to learn to cut in a straight line, I'm awful, bit feeling quite pleased considering it is the third thing I've ever made.

glen that's great!

This is my day project it was actually useful for practicing my sewing skills.

It's surprisingly wearable, I've just tried it on and am really pleased. Tomorrow I'm going to have a go at some shorts and a cushion cover.

I braved a zip too on a practice run of a little zip bag I want to make for a friend when she has her baby.

Misty, I love that you, he's gorgeous.

It's wet and horrible up here so DD and I knocked this dress up this afternoon. I nicked the bodice pieces off a simplicity pattern and just made a gathered skirt. Bloody love my gathering foot

Sunny that is amazing.

Hi op. Are you in Ireland? Just a guess from your mention of the Junior Cert. If you are Lidl have their sewing machine offer from Thursday this week.

Today's offering, a pair of shorts :)

user1471501171 yes I am in Ireland. Are lidl doing their sewing machine offer so soon? I could have missed that as I'm nearer to an Aldi. Thank you

Dress fabric, where is best to buy it from. It seems a limited market out there any resources please

Glad to be of help. Might be worth checking reviews of the machine to be sure it's what you want. I'm not sure if it has an automatic needle threader. A lady at a sewing class I went to had one and she seemed quite happy with it. Argos also have a good selection of machines.
If you are near Waterford I can highly recommend John in the Sewing Machine Center. I bought my Elna machine (which I love like another child) from him.
Aldi also do a sewing machine and usually comes on offer shortly after the Lidl offer.
If there is anything else I can help with please shout

Dress fabric, where is best to buy it from

If you look a bit upthread, you'll see a link to an earlier thread with lots of online fabric purchase recommendations. My tried & true favourites are (just google them for weblinks):

Croft Mills
Abakhan
Cheap Fabrics. co. uk
Dunelm Mills

Hi I live in Ireland also and have been seeing for years.
The last machine I bought at the Knitting and Stitching show from John who has the shop in Waterford.He was extremely helpful and after sales service is great.
Fabric here is hard to source.
Hickeys in ok but expensive.
TWI off Mountjoy Sq are good but its a trek to get there. You can order online also.
Studio 54 in Blackrock has a small selection and Murphy Sheehy's is another one.
However be mindful ordering online until you are familiar with different fabrics.
You can end up ordering something completely unsuitable for the pattern requirements.
PM if you like

I love this thread! I'm a fairly new convert to sewing but I love it. Have made a few things from the Tilly and the Buttons book, plus cushions, drawstring bags and a pair of curtains so far. (So proud of the curtains I could burst!)

Thanks to this thread I've found the Maker's Atelier and I love it. Loads of things that are absolutely my style. Just wondering if anyone's made their seam detail dress and if so, any feedback or tips? It says it's suitable for a novice dressmaker. Would love to see pics if anyone has done it. (I've started a thread on this in Arts and Crafts but no response yet.)

I'm desperate to do a dressmaking course but don't know how I'd fit it around everything else.

Haven't come across Studio 54 before Nails. Must check them out.
I buy most of my stuff from Threads of Green in kilkenny. They sell online too but it's only a small selection of their stock.
There is a shop in Newbridge too if that's near any of you but can't think of the name just now.
I rarely buy online because I find with exchange rates and customs duty, if you buy from the US, it can work out expensive.

Love this thread! I started sewing about three years ago - took a few lessons to get the hang of the basics, and since then it's been mostly books and YouTube.

I know couture fans have reservations about Tilly and the Buttons, but I bloody love her patterns - so simple and clear, and wearable. Today I have on a jumpsuit that's a mash up of her Bettine dress (top) and the trousers from her Marigold jumpsuit. I've had loads of compliments from people who didn't realise it was home made, and it's completely unique

Not everything turns out the way I envision, but I find sewing incredibly satisfying and calming. Like active meditation with new clothes at the end

I've just noticed this thread. I started to see in Jan 2016 after I bought myself a Janome 525s. Before that I had a super cheap Brother that did 2 stitches, straight or zig zag. I'd made a few 'square' shaped things on the brother such as cushion covers etc, but after getting the Janine I've made a T&TB bettine dress as a wearable toile, a hack off the dress where I lengthened the bodice to make a top. I also made some simple see coulottes, but they ended up going to the charity shop because they were big around the gusset area and no matter what I did I couldn't get them to fit properly.
I've also made so outfits for world book day as well as dancing outfits for DD.
I have made cloth sanitary pads, zipped purses and evening bags.
I find sewing very therapeutic and it helps with my mental health. It allows me to express my creative side even though I'm not artistic.

Well as an example of what can be done. A petite jacket for a large-bottomed pear. It fits! I did have help from a sewing teacher and it took a while but the only time I have bought something that fitted this well was when I had it made for me.

cardi that is brilliant. I'm hoping to be able to do a full bust adjustment on some top patterns so that the fit better at the waist and across the boobs. I normally wear scoop necked t-shirts for work for this reason, but I want to be a bit smarter and I think a top that's fitted would do the trick.

The Singer sewing machine arrives to lidl on the 31st July. It will be €99 and apparently it is guaranteed for three years! I'm definitely going to buy one. While I was there I was also impressed with the good value of Lidl power tools!

This thread is FAB! We bought John Lewis sewing machine and overlocker about three years ago intending to get into sewing - we made some baby dresses for DGD and H made himself a shirt after watching The Great Sewing Bee and we haven't done a thing since! I keep thinking that I would like to make some clothes in a lagenlook style but I can't find patterns that are anything other than the sorts of styles I used to make in the 1980's when I used to sew a lot.

Has anyone made men's shorts / trousers? Are they very hard? DS has SN and is much better with an elasticated waist but I struggle to find things that are age appropriate for him (he's 17, he doesn't care what he looks like but I do!). Having made two very simple tops I'm looking for a next project but think this may be too difficult for me, especially as I might have to adapt a pattern.

I've had a bit of a lull in sewing, not for any reason, but it's well and truly back!

I've gone through the mending basket like a dose of salts and everything is now repaired pr altered and back to being wearable.

And I've unpicked an old favourite Gap t-shirt that had gone into holes and traced around it to make a pattern for a new one in the same shape - everything about the bust fit, v-neck depth and slight flare was PERFECT so hopefully I've got it close enough to replicate!

We are going on holiday next week but I'm planning on taking a machine with me in case I need to do anything for my mum, and because I like having it with me!

Diamondealer this link might help you with searching for Lagenlook patterns and styles sewing.patternreview.com/SewingDiscussions/topic/73307