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Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome

811 replies

AnnieSnap · 24/05/2023 11:40

Dressmaking has becoming a topic in the ‘No Buy, Low Buy’ thread. In order not to derail that and because it deserves its own thread, I invite anyone who would like to make some of their own clothes or those already doing so to post here about fears, joys, problems, successes etc.

Having binged watched several serious of The Great British Sewing Bee when was laid-up with Covid and because that corresponded with the woman who did my little alterations stopping doing it, I was inspired to get a cheap sewing machine to try to do my own. That was just 16-months-ago and, having no previous experience at all, I quickly fell in love with sewing. I am not usually very patient with tasks (I have great patience with people and animals, but not with much else). Surprisingly, I have endless patience with sewing even when things go wrong 🤷‍♀️ At the beginning, I never dreamed I would be able to make clothes, but it turns out I can. So far, I’ve made dresses, skirts, tops, trousers, a gilet, a couple of things for my husband and even a jacket and a coat 😮

I try to buy ‘deadstock’ fabric when possible in the interests of the environment. It is fabric that is overstock from designers or big companies like Boden, M&S, Nobody’s Child and all the rest, or even fabric they have had produced and have changed their minds about using. I was horrified to discover that up to recently, all of this, tons and tons every year, went into landfill. It still does if it isn’t sold.

Any sewists (as we’re called these days) or potential sewists, what’s your story? And don’t forget the new series of The Great British Sewing Bee starts tonight. BBC1 9pm.

@pigtailsandall @theatrical @Zipps @remuslupinsbiggestgroupie @daisywaisy

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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IClaudine · 24/05/2023 11:43

I would love to try. Which sewing machine did you buy, please?

Littleguggi · 24/05/2023 12:07

I have a sewing machine but it's never left its box, I don't know where to start with it but would love to get involved!

LouisaMayAlcott · 24/05/2023 13:37

I'd love to be able to make my own clothes I see things I really like and it's always the most expensive stuff! I do have a machine and have made little dresses etc for my daughters but what I want to make now (and to do alterations) is way more complicated. I shall watch this thread with interest!

BeretRaspberry · 24/05/2023 13:52

Ooh, can I joined please? I took up sewing to make my own thing but admittedly have only made 3 actual items of clothing for myself. I’m plus size and the lack of availability of decent stuff is what prompted me.

These are what I’ve made so far. Not perfect but they still get used. The t shirts are the free Everyday Tee from Ellie and Mac and the skirt is just a circle skirt made to my measurements.

BeretRaspberry · 24/05/2023 13:52

Can’t seem to add pics!

AnnieSnap · 24/05/2023 17:11

IClaudine · 24/05/2023 11:43

I would love to try. Which sewing machine did you buy, please?

I started out with a fairly basic Brother for a bit over £200 off Amazon. Recently, I’ve moved up to a £1600 Bernina which gives me so many more really useful functions as I sew more challenging garments. I doubt I’ll ever need another, so it’s an investment. Bernina are amazing machines and they do cheaper models, but not a couple of hundred quid/

OP posts:
AnnieSnap · 24/05/2023 17:13

Littleguggi · 24/05/2023 12:07

I have a sewing machine but it's never left its box, I don't know where to start with it but would love to get involved!

My first project was the ‘chubby Bag’ (it’s a bucket bag) made following a free video on YouTube by Sotak Handmade. It’s easy, but looks fab and gives confidence!

OP posts:
AnnieSnap · 24/05/2023 17:18

LouisaMayAlcott · 24/05/2023 13:37

I'd love to be able to make my own clothes I see things I really like and it's always the most expensive stuff! I do have a machine and have made little dresses etc for my daughters but what I want to make now (and to do alterations) is way more complicated. I shall watch this thread with interest!

Try this. It was the first dress I made. I made two last summer, a maxi and a knee length and I wore them nearly all the time 🙂 The instructions with the patterns are very detailed and there is a video on the website for this pattern showing how to do bias binding (so much easier than I initially feared. This is a pic of my first one. It comes in a wide range of sizes.
https://shop.tillyandthebuttons.com/products/skye

Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome
OP posts:
AnnieSnap · 24/05/2023 17:19

BeretRaspberry · 24/05/2023 13:52

Can’t seem to add pics!

Great to see you here 👋 Try again. It was playing up yesterday, but I just managed to upload one.

OP posts:
erikbloodaxe · 24/05/2023 17:33

You can't go wrong with a Tilly and the Buttons pattern.

LouisaMayAlcott · 24/05/2023 17:49

AnnieSnap · 24/05/2023 17:18

Try this. It was the first dress I made. I made two last summer, a maxi and a knee length and I wore them nearly all the time 🙂 The instructions with the patterns are very detailed and there is a video on the website for this pattern showing how to do bias binding (so much easier than I initially feared. This is a pic of my first one. It comes in a wide range of sizes.
https://shop.tillyandthebuttons.com/products/skye

Thank you! I'm not much of a dress wearer but that does look a good place to start!

RuffledKestrel · 24/05/2023 18:02

I've just learned how to use my acquired sewing machine!

Any suggestions where to buy nice feeling fabric for bags/cushions/ maybe some tops on the cheap? As I'm learning I'm not too fussed by the colour/patterns on it.

MrsGannicus · 24/05/2023 18:58

Thanks for starting this thread and for the heads up about Sewing Bee!
I started sewing two years ago and have made a few tops and dresses. My favourite dress pattern so far is the Waves & Wild Kinjarling Dress and the Closet Core Elodie Wrap Dress. I only sew in woven cotton so far, haven't tried stretch fabrics.
Would love to hear about other people's favourite patterns!

BeretRaspberry · 24/05/2023 19:55

RuffledKestrel · 24/05/2023 18:02

I've just learned how to use my acquired sewing machine!

Any suggestions where to buy nice feeling fabric for bags/cushions/ maybe some tops on the cheap? As I'm learning I'm not too fussed by the colour/patterns on it.

You could try charity shops for old curtains and duvet covers. They’re amazing to start practising with.

Otherwise there’s so many websites but I haven’t really bought much online apart from a few bits on eBay so can’t really tell you how good they are!

Puffincino · 24/05/2023 19:57

I'm good at the buying fabric part, quite happy to do the actual sewing but terrified by the cutting out stage.
^
Any tips on pattern lay out and actually picking up the scissors?^

Puffincino · 24/05/2023 19:58

Those random italics are unintended. Not generally that dramatic!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/05/2023 20:01

Thanks @AnnieSnap

I bought a machine in lockdown. I'm confident enough with straight lines and have made simple bags and simple elastic waist skirts, as these are all just straight lines.

I used this tutorial to learn how to do zip pouches.

I've also had some success with this kimono from a scarf tutorial, although I haven't quite managed to get one that's not far too big yet.

However, patterns scare me. I'm going to try to get that Tilly and the Buttons dress pattern over the summer and have a go when I've got a bit of time on my hands.

witney sews zip pouch - Google Search

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=witney+sews+zip+pouch&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:28cdda67,vid:tb461H_v-zw,st:21

ImLegoBatman · 24/05/2023 20:01

I’m ashamed to admit that even though I studied fashion for my degree, I’ve not made any clothes since my kids were little. I keep saying I’m going to get the sewing machine out again and make some
summer dresses and wide leg trousers, but where I live now has very little in the way of fabric shops, and all the fabric I’ve ordered online seems to be really thin and disappointing. OP, if you don’t mind me asking, where are you buying your deadstock fabrics? Now I’ve found this thread I’m going to make it my goal to at least make some wide-leg draw-string trousers and a maxi dress this summer!

ImLegoBatman · 24/05/2023 20:02

AnnieSnap · 24/05/2023 17:18

Try this. It was the first dress I made. I made two last summer, a maxi and a knee length and I wore them nearly all the time 🙂 The instructions with the patterns are very detailed and there is a video on the website for this pattern showing how to do bias binding (so much easier than I initially feared. This is a pic of my first one. It comes in a wide range of sizes.
https://shop.tillyandthebuttons.com/products/skye

I love this! Going to look up these patterns. 😊

youveturnedupwelldone · 24/05/2023 21:02

I love sewing, I used to make a lot of my own clothes, don't have so much time now and also fabric has gone up in cost so much.

I really like to copy clothes - if I see something I really like in a shop I'll buy it and copy it.

For beginners I'd say start by making what you want to be able to make. So if you want to make clothes, don't start out making endless bags/pouches! Make skirts, they're easy, or simple dresses. You will make bad ones to start with and then you will make a passable one and before long you will be making good ones. Practice, practice, practice!

Also don't be out off by things like "ooh jersey is sooooo hard to see" - it isn't, you just need to know how. Again, if you want to make jersey clothes - start learning by making jersey clothes!

Learn to manipulate patterns and understand how they work. I did a short pattern cutting course and it was so useful.

Be wary of buying patterns off Etsy - some are good but there's a lot of crap out there.

Trace patterns rather than cutting them!

I'd highly recommend watching Silhouette Patterns on YouTube. She owns a pattern company - I've never tried any - but she also does a lot of regular posting of free tips and tricks. I learned an absolute ton about fitting, fabric choice and sewing technique from watching her regular broadcasts. She's an industry professional turned pattern producer.

Polkadottyas · 24/05/2023 21:53

May I join? I lack even basic skills but am getting more confident the more I do little repairs to my kids clothes- son split his school troisers and blazer and I managed to fix them. Making fro
Scratch I fear. I can't see straight or get the pedal steady. Yet. But I crave a dress or blouse which fits. Would love to know where to get fabric!

Polkadottyas · 24/05/2023 21:54

Ooooh I wonder if I could make a nightie? See my other thread !!

Floisme · 25/05/2023 13:01

I meant to post on there yesterday but forgot. I used to sew as a young woman in the 80s, things like shift dresses and A-line skirts. The local market had stalls selling off-cuts from nearby sewing factories (all gone now) and I'd come away with bin liners of fabric. Then the price of clothes came down so there was far less incentive and I drifted away. I'm cross with myself because, if I'd carried on, I'd probably be reasonably competent by now.

Anyway I went back to it a few years ago. I started with this Merchant and Mills pattern which I made both as a top and a dress. Then these trousers. During lockdowns I made several shirts with this pattern and also a couple of jackets using a variation of the same pattern.

Since then a lot of my sewing has involved taking all those things apart to correct faults which were starting to annoy me. That would be one of my messages: this isn't a cheap or easy way to get new clothes. Decent fabric can be expensive and I've learned the hard way that using cheaper stuff can be a false economy. Also, and unlike the op, I'm not a patient person. I get frustrated and think 'Oh this'll do' only to realise later that it won't. It takes forever - I intended to make myself something to wear this summer but it's probably already too late. But, when it all comes together, it's immensely satisfying. It's literally slow fashion.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 30/05/2023 10:23

Nothing to add, but wanted to bump this. I’m going to try to buy a pattern tomorrow.

thesugarbumfairy · 30/05/2023 10:29

I sew all the time, but mostly bags (I teach bagmaking) however i make the odd garment. I am a pattern tester for Jennifer Lauren - I find her patterns extremely easy to follow. (and excellent for those of us on the larger side)