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 found the Camber isn't the Ashape it is in the picture and I'm really pleased with mine

Finished my cuff top. It was a learning experience! First I lined the fabric as it was very thin. Stitched rather too many edges which was a pain to remove. I was a L based on measurement but at am a 32FF so did a M with a simple no-dart version of a FBA. Was a bit fiddly as the arms are part of the body so had to make up the various points to cut the pattern. Managed to not catch the main fabric properly at the neck when adding the facings (its only noticeable to me and it’s top stitched so not really noticeable)

But had to take acres of fabric out of the arms and sides. About 6-8 in the body and 1.5 out of the arms! Think I need a small with a FBA but graded to take out the width.mat the hem. Will try that next. Saying that it is a lovely shape and I will defo wear it tucked into some fitted skirts I have so it billows nicely over the top.

Now to make some shorts for my small boys!

can we see photos of everyone's makes please?

I wouldn't normally wear these together, but I'm just no good at styling! These are trousers from a Tilly and the Buttons jumpsuit pattern (Marigold I think) and the failed Sew Over It top.

I was wondering about making the marigold trousers on a navy blue linen and give them turn ups

Didkdt - I've made the marigold trousers in linen blend - really comfy and easy wearing. One thing with the Marigold trousers if you haven't made them before - the waist was VERY high on me, possibly because they're going onto a small bodice to make a jumpsuit. My first pair were either hitched up to my bra or had an MC Hammer crotch if the elastic was on my waist. I had to shorten them front & seat to get them to sit in the right place.

Definitely test it out with something cheap before you commit to a nice fabric.

@kittykarate thanks for the gentle reminder. I will try them with something less expensive first maybe an old sheet I have

Thanks for the cuff top info @FreeButtonBee, I'm impatiently waiting for my pattern to arrive - got some blue linen from the Village Haberdashery (which is open in real life, hooray!) but planning to make a toile with some old fabric first as my sewing "skills" are very rusty.

Was taught at school and clearly competent enough then as I still have the gingham apron we had to make in Y7 and it's lovely! But in recent years only made bed linen for the kids when they were little and a couple of Clothkits dolls, so this could be an interesting experiment.

I made a sleeveless Turner - with pockets!

I've had this fabric for ages and I love it - perfect summer dress for me. Plus this dress is such a quick sew. Once it's cut out it takes 1.5 hours to put together.

I made a sleeveless Turner - with pockets!

I've had this fabric for ages and I love it - perfect summer dress for me. Plus this dress is such a quick sew. Once it's cut out it takes 1.5 hours to put together.

I have some blue and white print jersey to make another sleeveless Turner. I have 2 long sleeve winter ones already - so the pattern is working out well cost wise.

Plus these dresses are total invisible pjs.

@Zinnia do check out the 'finished garment' measurements - it's an oversized top but if I had stuck to their suggested measurements based on bust it would have been ridiculous! If you are less busty then I think it would work better too. And use a slightly heavier fabric (like chambray or a heavy woven) and then you won't have stupid underlining issues like me!

Thanks! I've seen elsewhere people say it's oversized, I'm not very busty so hoping for the best on the fit. Am doing it in a linen, lining is definitely outside my skill set at the moment!Pattern still not arrived mind you...

I need to pick your brains. I have a piece of wax print from Kenya I’d like to make into a skirt. It’s about 185x108 cm in size, and the print should work both ways. My daughter suggested a wrap skirt, and I’ve been looking at this method for making one lizhaywood.com.au/free-pattern-3-gore-wrap-maxi-skirt . My hips are 109 cm with the tape pulled snug and I was thinking the skirt could sit below waist, so the measurement there would be 90 cm. the full length of the skirt would be 70-75 cm.

Now I’ve made a pattern piece and tried laying it out on the fabric and for the life of my I can’t see how they can fit. And I don’t understand it because the very same piece of fabric can be wrapped around me!

If I can’t make a wrap skirt, what skirt can I make with this fabric?

@TheClitterati that dress looks great, and very summery.

@banivani could you try cutting up an old sheet in the pattern before using your special fabric? Or could you make a sleeveless top? I’m always amazed how much fabric some things take.

This is my latest make, a top from Burda 6/2020, there are no real sleeves so is ideal for summer. The fabric came from PoundaMetre.

Thank you wilderness! I don’t want a sleeveless top though because my wonky sewing will really show near my face it’s not really my style esp not in this fabric. Sewing a toile-ish version would be smart but I’m not a very patient person. Ie I’d rather not have to be arsed.

I’m so with you on the can’t be arsed to sew a toile front. But, I just might for a special fabric.

I've never actually done a toile before but am so nervous about my re-entry into dressmaking after 30 years that I decided a test run would be a good idea. Then was rooting around in my fabric stash earlier (I seem to have one despite not actually doing any sewing) and found an ancient Ikea (!) cotton that would actually make a lovely cuff top if the sodding pattern ever turns up.

I usually make a "wearable muslin" for new patterns - ie make it in a cheap fabric first before cutting into that expensive/special fabric. I always end up wearing them lots.

When I came back to sewing after DD1 was born I splashed out loads of money on some lovely silk to make a dress to wear to a wedding. Gorgeous Burda pattern. Measurements all seemed to work - but actually I had no show or EVER getting my bust into that dress. A demoralising and expensive experience. The half finished dress is still in my stash somewhere. Maybe I can salvage a skirt out of it (11 years on)?

Since then I have learned about FBA's and found pattern companies that include FBA's in them. And I like sewing again.

@banivani you might find some inspiration at Kemi Telford kemitelford.com/collections/bottoms

How about a skirt with simple elastic waistband & pockets?

kemitelford.com/collections/bottoms/products/segun-2-panel-skirt

Urgh. On Saturday I had one of those days where everything just came out terrible when I put it near a sewing machine. I'd got some cheap fabric from Ebay that claimed stretch, and in reality, if I was feeling kind I would describe it as having 'give'. I'll have to treat it like a woven. I tried using it in a tshirt pattern and it pulled the seams instantly.

Then I tried sewing some new laundry bags and my sewing machine dogs decided that airtex is the tastiest fabric ever, and would chow on down all the time. The only thing I got right was a fix up job of a previous cock up, making a vest top larger by putting in 2 inch side panels.

sigh

I have some ideas of things to make, but I don't know if I can be bothered this week, just feeling well narked with it all.

Argh kitty those days suck but I think most of us have them.

I've only started sewing with stretch fabrics the last few years, but I've learned that the amount of stretch it has is really important. Funniest "learning curve" was when I made a top with some soft light knit - all good. I decided to use the leftover fabric to make a pair of knickers. Although I used a pants pattern that fitted me, the pants turned out to be 3/4/5 times too big for me - all down the the fabric.

@kittykarate & @TheClitterati, days like that? I have weeks like that - I have learnt to walk away for the sewing machine and do some sorting/tidying

It's safer!!