The making your own clothes thread

[MulberryPeony]

Just because a few of us seem likely to get back in the habit with some spare time/wanting to look expensive/capsule wardrobe/consume less.

I made quite a lot of my own clothes as a teen and early twenties but I’m not sure I’ve completed a project for me since. Hand sewing wadding into padded curtains did me in!

I’d like to make a copy of some floaty shorts and duster coat I already own. Got a fair few basic patterns for tops and throw on dresses so might make something light for summer too. I’d like some comfy trousers but worry I’d end up with something resembling pjs! Thinking of repurposing a slub woven cotton smock from a few years ago as there is oodles of fabric to go at.

I’d class myself as a beginner level but happy to adapt patterns. Button holes scare me.

Would anyone like to join me? What is on your to-make list? Any more beautiful sites for me to browse expensive looking fabrics like the merchant and mills one mentioned the other day? Does anyone know of any sites where I can look through a pattern book like the catalogues they have inside fabric shops?

I'm replying here to just mark the thread to follow. I'm constantly doing repairs and made a lot of scrubs last month but would like to get back to real garments. Being on this thread might inspire me!

Thank you for the replies. The printing company is Dox Direct and I've messaged them. I'm just a bit impatient to get started, and I know it'll take them a while to sort out. Boooo!

Oh sorry you asked what was the pattern, not printer it's Marilla Walker's Roberts collection

Hello. I am in the middle of my first proper dressmaking venture. Doing the made by Rae geranium girls dress. It’s pretty good instruction wise - mainly my lack of experience which is slowing me down and causing mistakes. But the bodice is done and lined. And the skirt pieces are sewn together. Now on to pleats although I may just gather it if I can’t face all the matching! It looks cute and the bodice does actually fit DD. I find it quite meditative and like doing a puzzle but with a concrete result!

Next will be a toile or one of those cross back apron patterns. before I do a proper one in lovely mustard linen. Then I might experiment with zips. After that I’ll will try something for me to wear. But I am 32FF So am going to have to embrace the FBA! Not quite ready for that!

FBA are ok mostly - I've found one or two things which are a struggle but most aren't too bad. And you probably won't be doing vast ones. Most patterns are drafted for a dressmaking b cup but that's not the same as a bra B cup. It's measured between the upper bust and the overbust, whereas bras are underbust.

I'm really sorry to monopolise this thread but please may I ask another question - I'm making dungarees next that calls for heavy duty 15mm press studs. I've been told Prym is the one to get, and to get the kit rather than just press studs. The £8 kit I've seen still requires you to have your own mini hammer. So I'm guessing I'd have to buy an even more expensive kit to get everything? Is there a cheaper way to get no sew press studs into medium weight cotton?

Would the style work with buttons instead? I did that last night with a romper which called for press studs

I've splashed out on a kit without a hammer/pliers - fingers crossed it works out ok!

I sometimes use an eyelet setter for eyelets and snaps in papercraft and there is a fair bit of pressure that needs to be applied evenly. Practice on a spare bit of fabric first!

Thank you! And definitely will be practising first!!

I didnt realise there was a sewing thread

Hello everybody!

I only buy secondhand fabric and notions apart from thread and poppers

I finished 4 dresses last week that had been hanging over me for months so I am feeling pleased with myself!

I have 2 commissions I can't get my head around and 2 incomplete designs atm

& I am painfully not starting anything new - despite aching to!!

@KatyMac You sound very productive! when you say second hand material, like repurposing material or buying second hand unsewn do you mean?

Deadstock, roll ends, charity shop donations (they don't sell well round here so the charity shop ladies often save them for me), curtains, bedding, tablecloths, towels, clothes that need tweaking, or taking apart and remaking

From eBay, charity shops, Facebook, scrapstores, donations (I often open to door to see a little pile of 'gifts' that have been left for the "madwoman with the hair"

Went into a cafe once to be presented with a sewing box of bits someone had left for me :)

I want to buy a horse trailer convert it and go round markets/fairs/festivals selling my clothes and running mending tables and ideally clothing swops!!

But before last week, I only finished 2 over the whole of Covid :(

@womanthatfelltoearth - sorry, I failed to keep up with the thread and I know you found a similar pattern, but I think the dress you were after is Vogue V2900, as documented by Australian sewing blogger Carolyn of Handmade by Carolyn fame. I suspect the pattern may be discontinued though.

(By the way, for anyone who doesn't follow her....she is amazing but a wee bit totally daunting. She makes all her own clothes including tights and shoes, finishes everything to a terrifying level of perfection (Hong Kong seams etc), and as far as I can tell, also has a job and a life....I honestly don't know how she does it. I can barely manage to get out of bed some days )

@Pilcrow you absolute star! Thank you and I’ve found a pattern eBay

Who makes their own tights???

That Carolyn women amazing. She has made about 10 dresses which I want immediately! She really brings simple patterns to life. Probs helped by her lovely figure though 😄

Have cut out a cross back apron from some fine striped cotton. Not the best quality - it’s a tiny bit bobbly already. But will do for a first attempt at grown up sized stuff. Might start to sew tonight

Carolyn makes her own tights. Also dyes her own fabric, covers her own buttons, sews wedding dresses for her daughter, daughter-in-law-to-be AND bridesmaids (and makes her own dress, of course).....oh and knits as well.

I think she's actually an alien or possibly an android sew-bot created to make the rest of us feel bad

I love Handmade by Carolyn, she is a real inspiration. I don’t always love what she makes, but what she does make is always really well done. Her wedding sewing was amazing - what commitment!

I've had a bit of a spendy week, bought 10m of £1 a metre cheap jersey from fabricland (it's in what I can only describe as neon peach), some cotton with chinese fans on, and a pattern to make a slightly more decorative T shirt than usual (Kwik sew 4256). Going to trace off the pattern tonight, so I can cut it out of the jersey.

I've also ordered some broiderie anglaise from poundfabrics (Wasn't actually a pound, more like £2.75) and I've got a new look pattern 6892 to make a couple of summer blouses.

All this activity is because my day to day tops are just worn out, and scruffy. I want to emerge from lockdown, if not like a fashion butterfly, at least a bit neater!

Oooh glad I found this thread!
I got into sewing during lockdown and now that everyone I know has been supplied with fabric face masks I want to dip a toe into dressmaking. But am shocked at prices! £15 for a Vogue pattern Do patterns and fabric shops do summer sales like clothes shops? Or

Patterns can be quite pricey. I have a couple of books which have some good flexible basic patterns - Gertie sews vintage casual and Gerties ultimate dress book. These cover me for woven dresses in lots of designs plus most skirts. I like Ellie and Mac which are on sale just now and also do a few patterns at €1 each week - they're good for stretch patterns so t shirts, tunics, more casual dresses, flowy maxis, sweaters, hoodies etc as well as kids clothes.

I try to look for patterns that are flexible or that I will definitely make more than once, so I recently bought a big wide leg pleated trouser pattern and I'm planning to buy a coat pattern which can also make two different styles of jacket and is in my preferred shape.

You can often get half price patterns from Jaycotts, they have flash sales. Or eBay is quite good. I’ve been sewing scrubs in lockdown and have invested in a new Janome air threading overlocker as I got so fed up with rethreading my old machine. I’m still loving my old Bernina sewing machine though. I’ve been sewing for years and have done courses in couture and pattern cutting, but there’s always something new to learn. My biggest achievement is making my daughters wedding dress, 5 bridesmaids dresses and my own outfit for her wedding. Still have scrubs To sew, and have raised over £500 for charity with masks, hairbands and bunting. Great that sewing is having a small revival.

@simplificate

Oooh glad I found this thread! I got into sewing during lockdown and now that everyone I know has been supplied with fabric face masks I want to dip a toe into dressmaking. But am shocked at prices! £15 for a Vogue pattern Do patterns and fabric shops do summer sales like clothes shops? Or

The new sew over it ebook is nice - £30 for 5 patterns is good value as long as you like them all. I'm thinking about buying the ready to sew Jazz ebook which apparently has 82 variations of a dress / jumpsuit, I think it's about £18.

i buy lots of patterns from jumble sales/facebook marketplace/charity shops

I also buy fabric remnants that way and second hand curtains/tablecloths and bedding are £y biggest fabric source

Thanks, everyone! Makes sense that books will be cheaper especially if you like the designer's aesthetic. I wasn't expecting it to be a cheap hobby especially compared to buying high street clothes but as a knitter the max I've ever paid for a pattern is £7 (and that's with intricate cables AND clever construction AND bougie branding) so it was a bit woah!

This is on its way to me now, all loose fits so should be a good way to start hopefully
raystitch.co.uk/nani-iro-sewing-studio-book-english-version