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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
119
SheSawSeaShore · 08/07/2023 22:55

Your bag is beautiful @tribpot

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/07/2023 22:56

Any chance of a pic @SheSawSeaShore ?

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/07/2023 23:01

Here’s the skirt I made last week. Obviously very amateur, but I’m pleased with the side split.

Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome
SheSawSeaShore · 08/07/2023 23:19

Here they are @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie They’ve got patch pockets which you can’t really see but I was very pleased I managed them.

Your skirt is lovely, beautiful fabric. And the slit is very impressive. I find it interesting learning how clothes are actually constructed - I’d never really thought about how a pair of trousers is made before today!

Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/07/2023 23:58

Thank you. Love the PJs. They look so comfortable.

CocoPlum · 09/07/2023 10:34

Thanks to this thread I (literally) dusted off my sewing machine yesterday and threaded it up with a twin needle to hem the sleeves of DD's t shirt. Somehow one of the edges of the sleeves was shredded. Pinned them a little shorter and sewed both.

A very slow start to getting back into sewing and no idea if it'll look ok on but it was something!

clowniform · 09/07/2023 11:58

Congrats to @tribpot @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie @SheSawSeaShore @CocoPlum on your lovely finished projects!

Although your bag looks great from here tribpot, can I ask what needle size you used? I don't find a walking foot that helpful for thick fabrics (mine gets used more for really thin shifty ones) but lowering foot pressure, using the thickest possible needles (and matching thread) and going at the slowest speed were the only ways my machine could cope with some things.

I'm having a big tracing-out day, mostly from Japanese pattern books for the IG hashtag. Would be good to progress to cutting out too, then the assembly can happen over evenings next week, but depends on how interesting the tennis is.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/07/2023 12:30

Thanks @clowniform I've been commissioned today to make dd a skirt, so that's this afternoon's entertainment sorted!

tribpot · 09/07/2023 12:32

@clowniform It was a 110/18 needle for the difficult bit. I don't think I have a way to lower foot pressure, I only have this basic machine.

Sibilantseamstress · 21/07/2023 09:27

Not sure if this is a good place to post in process projects….I’d say I’m intermediate now, but when I was a beginner, I liked seeing pictures of how things went together by people a little ahead if me.

So here goes! My DD has only one suit jacket, and has worn it everyday this week for work shadowing. I want to make her a black jacket to take back with her to uni at the end of the summer, so they she has options/a back up. Sewing for a 19 year old is a dream. No alterations needed!

I picked an “easy” pattern that I could sew up in high quality fabric. No collar, no pockets, no zips, no buttons. It’s a very feminine pattern, so almost sexy in jet black boucle, but DD is petite and trim, so I think it will be fine.

Fabric is wool boucle from Linton tweed. It’s classic stuff that they always stock, and sell every year of every decade. It’s spongy, doesn’t unravel terribly like some of the fancier tweeds, behaves well and is very forgiving.

https://lintontweeds.com/product/ls457-black-woollen-boucle-piece-dye-fabric-2-4-metre-piece/

So far, I have traced the pattern, cut out the lining (black, synthetic satin), cut out the boucle, fused woven, black pelon to the front pieces, interfacing and arm holes, and neck perimeter of of the back. I have thread traced the darts because there is no way that I want tailor’s chalk embedded in the boucle.

LS457 - Black Woollen Boucle Piece Dye Fabric (2.4 Metre Piece)

Linton Tweeds is proud to present this couture fantasy tweed fabric. Designed and woven in Carlisle, UK. Limited stock available.

https://lintontweeds.com/product/ls457-black-woollen-boucle-piece-dye-fabric-2-4-metre-piece/

Sibilantseamstress · 21/07/2023 09:29

Here is a photo of the Burda magazine pattern that I am using.

Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome
Sibilantseamstress · 21/07/2023 09:30

And this is the humdrum lining.

Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome
Sibilantseamstress · 21/07/2023 09:31

And, finally, a shot the pattern, fusing and tracing.

Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome
Ultraviolet85 · 21/07/2023 09:31

I’m in the habit now of mending clothes rather than throwing out (which was shameful I know!) and actually really enjoy it. I’m not the best at stitching but do enjoy it. Would love to buy a sewing machine- last time i used one I must have been about 16 gcse art textiles but I really enjoyed it. Maybe it’s something I could pursue once my dc get a bit older and less needy!

Sibilantseamstress · 21/07/2023 09:34

I got into sewing while the kids were small, it’s a hobby you can do while tethered to the house with little kids.

If you sew just one pair of curtains, the machine will pay for itself.

isthismylifenow · 21/07/2023 09:43

Sorry that I am not contributing, but I am place marking.

I have a machine. I have the time due being an empty nester now.

But I am quite useless at sewing so thank you for the thread OP. I am going to read the whole thing from the start now as I think I might just need some inspiration.

isthismylifenow · 21/07/2023 10:20

Strangely enough, I was in my local charity shop yesterday, which they re-arranged since the previous time I was in. I didn't take too much notice before, but they had a big wire bin with patterns in. So now they are all on a shelf, there is a bookcase full of patterns. I also noticed they have a bin of fabric offcuts.

Then I find this thread today. So I think I should go back and have a look at the patterns they have there, and also what fabric it is.

I just don't if it is possible to use a 2nd hand pattern? I am quite small so if its been cut for a size already, I am hoping it a size bigger than I am. Any tips on what I should be looking for in a pattern? They are in the envelopes so it is a bit of a chance I guess to be sure all the pieces are there.

I am needing to start doing something simple, I like the maxi dress first posted and perhaps a maxi skirt. Summer items as we are in winter now, so something I don't need to rush.

I have never used a pattern, so a real complete novice. I do however have a basic machine which my mum bought me, as every girl needs a machine she said 😀 I have had it for years and the only time it came out of the box was during lockdown, I tried to make some facemasks. No pattern, just winged it. It took me 4 hours to make two face masks...... This is the level of my competence, so just it is clear. But I would like to try, and if I can do it a bit cheaper to start and I mess it up, well then its okay isn't it....

IndianSummer78 · 21/07/2023 11:57

Would anyone here like some free sewing stuff? I'm decluttering and it's too good for landfill, CBA to take it anywhere except the post office, don't use FB or apps etc. I'll pay the postage. Thread, elastic, fasteners, zips etc

Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome
Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome
Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome
PickAChew · 21/07/2023 13:25

That jacket will be lovely, @Sibilantseamstress

When I donate patterns, @isthismylifenow they are unused ones that came "free" with magazines.

isthismylifenow · 21/07/2023 13:27

What a kind gesture IndianSummer. I hope someone here takes up your offer.

So I am now the proud owner of 12 patterns. There was so much to choose from, so I just went with what looked the most basic and the wording Easy on the sleeve 😃

Some are really old, and a lot must have been donated by one person with a huge stash. As each one was then in another brown envelope with a photocopy of the original envelope stuck on the outside. With what looks like the full pattern in its original sleeve inside.

But what I noticed most, was that a lot of them were shapes and fashions that my dd would wear now. So I think they may be from the 70s and 80s.

All 12 cost me less than 1 pound. I'm not in UK so it's a conversion. A good way to get me motivated to make a start on a project.

Now to find some fabric. A little more daunting.

lndnbrdge91 · 21/07/2023 13:53

@Sibilantseamstress your daughter is so lucky! I hope my daughter will want to wear things I can make for her one day. That looks great so far!

Second hand patterns and charity shops can be really good especially if they are uncut. I buy lots but they don't tend to be the ones I use...which is why I am now accumulating a lot of sewing related stuff Confused

Rosenspants · 21/07/2023 14:41

I move between this thread and the Stitch and Bitch one in Arts and Crafts. So many of the posts are a real help to me, sewing for the first time in my 60s. @Sibilantseamstress I also love making for my DD, always easy to fit. She actually wore a skirt I made for her recently. I was so chuffed as it was only my second make.
@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie did you finish your DDs skirt?

i’m onto the Sauvie sundress (Sew House Seven) for myself now. Relieved to have made a toile of the bodice lining and don’t think I’ll need an adjustment. However as my dining room table doubles as my sewing area, it’s all packed away as we had people over for dinner this week.

Sunnydays0101 · 21/07/2023 20:00

Can anyone advise me - I have several curved hem shirts - all cotton fabric I think. I want to shorten the hems by a few cms so they are a more flattering length on me.

Is this easy enough to go or should I just bring to dressmaker ? I have a sewing machine but haven’t used it in years. The biggest hurdle I think would be shortening the curved hem before sewing - how to hem and keep the perfect curve iykwim.

Thanks.

ReviewingTheSituation · 21/07/2023 20:53

Can you post a photo of the (inside of) the hem of your shirt? If it's very curved then it might be finished with a facing rather than a hem, but a picture would help work out the best way to do it.

SmallBox · 21/07/2023 20:56

Yes depending on how easy it is to match the colour/pattern I would use bias tape to hem.

Could you use a pair of compasses and trace the edge with the sharp side and use the pencil to mark the fabric?