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?

Oooh that skirt is super cute. It's one of those ones I lust after and then remember I really rarely wear skirts.

My Little Miss Sew and Sew box has arrived for this month - got some black sweatshirt jersey with red speckles, and the Tilly and Buttons Nora sweater pattern. All traced off and ready to go.

So far, there has only been 1 dud box out of the 3, with this sewing.patternreview.com/Patterns/66129 cardigan. I just can't get my head around the instructions, and I guess the style doesn't appeal enough for me to start the battle.

Oh and I made MrKitty's T shirts yesterday. 2 of Jalie Nico pattern in a royal blue athletic wicking fabric.

I do like Jalie patterns for 'basics'. I have a tshirt pattern for me that is really comfy too. Dinky seam allowances though, only 1/4 inch, which works well on a serger, but doesn't allow much room for error.

Nice to see this thread back! I've got my sewing room set up in new house so I'm back on the sewing horse! Even treated myself to a projector which I am loving as it makes cutting from pdf patterns a breeze.

I went on a 'sewing stretch fabric' course back in January and didn't quite finish the dress I was making. I can now announce that a) I have finished it and b) I have shrunk since lockdown. I'd alter it, but actually it makes a great loungewear item.

I actually quite like working with stretch now but it was a bit scary to begin with. Overlocker helps so much compared to the sewing machine trying to eat it!

Couple of recent makes for my little tornado! At the moment I seem to be making mostly comfy loungewear as my wardrobe full of dresses doesn't really suit working from home with cats! I have some heavy mohair on the way which I plan to make a cape coat from though

@StatisticallyChallenged I have recently acquired an overlocker but have yet to try it out. Love those outfits!

Give it a go! For knits especially it is incredible - they just run through every single time. I'm by no means an expert sewer but they do make construction easier and give a much nicer finish

Argh my sewing machine won’t pick up the bobbin. I think its full of fluff so waiting for the part to undo the bobbin case....

@StatisticallyChallenged I think I might get an over locker for Xmas. Which one do you have? I am loving your garments.

I went for a brother 4234D - read a few reviews which said it was worth spending a bit more to get one which is fairlead solid and has more accessible loopers which has definitely been the case. It's not too big either - my sewing machine beside itbis a fairly standard size for scale

I have the bottom of the line Janome overlocker. It's fine for what I need to do but if I was buying again I'd get one with some kind of auto threading magic.There are sneaky ways to use the existing thread to pull it through the loopers so it's not so bad on a planned change, but if your thread snaps it's a right bugger to thread it again.

@StatisticallyChallenged

Nice to see this thread back! I've got my sewing room set up in new house so I'm back on the sewing horse! Even treated myself to a projector which I am loving as it makes cutting from pdf patterns a breeze.

Hang on whut? What is this witchery?

@teawamutu projector witchery? Oh it's AWESOME...Instead of getting a pdf pattern, printing it out over 43 pages, trimming the pages (which are never really trimless, sticking them together, then cutting them out and putting them on the fabric you can get a projector and project the pattern piece straight on to the fabric. Takes a wee bit of time to set up (you have to calibrate it so it projects at the right size) but once it's done... lots of companies produce either A0 or projector files, or you can use a bit of software to convert A4 which takes a few minutes but once it's done that's it. Also means you don't have to go back to print/cut/stick/cut when your kid grows a size!

It's magic I tell you!

Here's it in action - projection a one piece legging (no side seam) so quite a large pattern piece.

Oh. MY. GOD.

WHY HAS NO ONE EVER MENTIONED THIS WHY?

What do I need to buy?

You might be about to change my life for the second time (I believe I have you to thank for properly fitting bras too )

What's your sewing set up like? Do you have a sewing space always set up?

There's a few options - depends on ceiling heights etc. Mine is an ultra short throw so sits on my table. Other people ceiling or wall mount.

Please may I join you?
I used to make almost all my own clothes (self taught after a "gingham apron experience" at school) and those of my children.
I've recently started again after many years and have made a couple of sleeveless shirts, and a skirt.

I've got a chest of drawers full of fabric and a box full of patterns (mostly the "free with a magazine" sort.) And no self confidence at all!

Of course, welcome @FuzzyPuffling!

What is your next project going to be?

Thank you! No idea on the next project...maybe a sort of sweatshirt dress. But no overlocker so will be zig zag stitching for me!

I've just made a sweatshirt dress actually - using the Hemlock hoodie pattern from buttons and bibs link

It can be a sweatshirt, tunic length or a flared dress length. Also comes with a full bust piece already if that's a challenge. I've made three versions of this for me and one for DD and have another waiting to be cut out.

Apart from that...I think my next project is this cape in this mohair fabric. The fabric arrived today and it's lovely but a but lighter weight than I was hoping so I'm debating whether to get something heavier to line it or whether to just layer up instead.

The Cocoon dress didn't turn out as expected but I'm going to convert the hem to a straight one.

I got a Tilly & the buttons book with patterns, but I'm not that keen really. Might sell it.

It's always a total bummer when something doesn't turn out the way you hoped isn't it.

I don't always do full on muslins but I do tend to pick up cheap fabric when I see it - the sort of thing where if it works I'll be happy if it works but won't be weeping if it doesn't - for new patterns. But I'm mostly a bit cheap with my fabric choices anyway!

It's fixable but to be fair the fabric was too heavy. If it works I'll wear it as a tunic over leggings or thick ribby tights.
Cheap fabric for a prototype is a great idea. Asian fabric shops are usually good for cheap fabric, but it is cheap fabric.

Oh, if you order fabric from ebay, bear in mind that the descriptions are sometimes misleading.

Can you use a sewing projector if you don’t have a sewing space permanently set up? I hate cutting out the paper patterns!

I've mostly been quite lucky with ebay fabrics but I have had a few epic fails. Where they turn up and you just think "wtf am I ever going to do with that"

We don't have many fabric shops around here anymore; the biggest one went down during covid which was a real loss so I'm mainly online buying these days.