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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
Rosenspants · 07/10/2023 22:27

Yes @clowniform I went on Friday. Nice and quiet early on, but eventually got very crowded. Added 3 lovely fabrics to my stash and two patterns. I’ll photograph the fabrics and post tomorrow. Patterns (paper) are Sew Over It Jemima jumpsuit, and a baby dress pattern from a Japanese exhibitor. Stocked up on some Janome accessories for my machine.
Meanwhile did battle with the invisible zip on DDs orange dirndl skirt. Nearly gave up, having unpicked it twice and jammed the machine. But it’s now in, after a fashion. Not my finest sewing hour but it’ll do.

MerelyPlaying · 08/10/2023 07:49

Ooh thank you for the tip, @clowniform , they are right up my street, especially that blazer. And not too expensive, either. I will definitely look at that for a future project.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 09/10/2023 16:11

I have just done yet another pair of Megan Nielsen Flint trousers, this time in denim. I have another two pair cut out in a lovely red herringbone wool. Will I ever stop making these, I ask myself?

MerelyPlaying · 09/10/2023 17:32

I had to go off and look up the pattern! They look great but I am too short and wide to wear that style. What do you wear them with, boots or shoes? Red herringbone wool sounds lovely. I still haven't got as far as tracing my trouser pattern, life has got in the way.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 10/10/2023 15:35

Mostly shoes though my latest pair are longer because I want to wear them with heeled boots.
I once read in a Susannah and Trinny book that you can make yourself look taller with very long, high waisted trousers and I am not very tall so I think this is one reason why I like the way they look on me.

PickAChew · 10/10/2023 18:15

Wide legged trousers and me are a lethal combination. My left elbow periodically reminds me not to fall for them, in any sense of the phrase.

I have the Bella Loves Rosie shirt on my to do list, for next spring, as part of a faux jumpsuit. I have the fabric all ready but ran out of summer.

ReviewingTheSituation · 10/10/2023 22:57

Just coming back here to share my finished dress. The thread has moved on a lot since I shared a WIP, but I'm really happy with the end result. Highly recommend the pattern (Lempi, by Named Clothing) but will make it in plain fabric next time!

Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome
InMySpareTime · 11/10/2023 05:37

@ReviewingTheSituation that is beautiful pattern matching at the front there, well done 👏

Ohyeahwaitaminute · 11/10/2023 06:26

@ReviewingTheSituation - that’s fabulous 😍

MerelyPlaying · 11/10/2023 06:37

Wow! That is a beautiful dress, the pattern matching is amazing. You are clearly very skilled, don’t think I could achieve that. Thank you for showing it to us.

tribpot · 11/10/2023 06:57

Beautiful work @ReviewingTheSituation

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 11/10/2023 09:02

Wow Reviewing, that is beautiful. As pps have said, the pattern matching is perfect.
I wish it was mine! I would so wear that.

ReviewingTheSituation · 11/10/2023 09:34

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel - it was a really easy dress to make (apart from the pattern matching). I'd highly recommend the pattern.

If you're on instagram, have a look at @the.polka.dot.palace - she's made loads of versions.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 11/10/2023 17:21

Some lovely things on here since I last checked in. I made another simple top (really need to learn how to do sleeves next) and successfully turned a wrap dress into a top for dd.

PickAChew · 11/10/2023 21:06

That is beautiful @ReviewingTheSituation - has a slightly 60s vibe.

clowniform · 13/10/2023 15:30

Lovely coat-dress @ReviewingTheSituation totally agree with PickAChew on the 60s mod vibes.

@PickAChew I only got as far as a toile of the BLP Rosie. Really interesting collar construction which I'd never met before despite owning several books on shirtmaking. However the sleeve cuffs are very wide so my original plan of making a summer work blouse was shelved. But now I may steal your faux jumpsuit idea and do it in something slinky for going out instead.

@Rosenspants glad you hear you had a productive K&S trip! Kicking myself for missing a Japanese stall, some of my favourite patterns and materials are from Japan. In fact I plan to make the shirtdress from this citta pattern book over the weekend (in cord, if I have enough).

Citta's Adult Clothes That Brings Out Your Personality - Etsy UK

This Books & Magazines item by pomadour24 has 983 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Japan. Listed on 04 Oct, 2023

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/958197818/cittas-adult-clothes-that-brings-out?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_-craft_supplies_and_tools&utm_custom1=_k_CjwKCAjwyY6pBhA9EiwAMzmfwW3RK606BDJqZN-1bp1PJ6Gve9K0i7ZipHEGQ90nLFIus5meBMEEyhoCcEgQAvD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_11073922980_109610251118_462914649514_pla-295462056867_c__958197818engb_103495926&utm_custom2=11073922980&gclid=CjwKCAjwyY6pBhA9EiwAMzmfwW3RK606BDJqZN-1bp1PJ6Gve9K0i7ZipHEGQ90nLFIus5meBMEEyhoCcEgQAvD_BwE

omega4ever · 17/10/2023 20:51

Please may I ask about interfacing....

I need some for the bodice of a summer top... lightweight iron on I think...

Any suggestions or preferences that I could order online for quick delivery.

I have some unbranded stuff but it's stiff like cardboard and really horrid... not what I think of as lightweight at all.

Thanks everyone.

AnnaMagnani · 17/10/2023 21:05

Ideally you need something about the same weight as your fabric to stop it being weirdly stiff or heavy when you make it up.

Am not convinced brand/non-brand is the crucial factor I just buy the closest thing out of the box of rolls of interfacing in the shop.

AnnaMagnani · 17/10/2023 21:11

Oops saw you said online.

Something like this:

https://www.minerva.com/mp/1119395/vilene-vlieseline-h180-light-easy-fuse-soft-interfacing-black&variant=1083632

Something labelled light soft is going to be more drapey than something just called light.

Minerva

https://www.minerva.com/mp/1119395/vilene-vlieseline-h180-light-easy-fuse-soft-interfacing-black&variant=1083632

omega4ever · 17/10/2023 23:03

@AnnaMagnani that looks the job... thanks... I'll order some now. 😀

Hiddendoor · 21/10/2023 16:59

I'm making the top/bodice for my daughter's jumpsuit now. Have put the cuffs of the sleeves in wrong so taking a break.

I am going back to it shortly as I need to get started on the trouser legs. I need to make some trousers for myself so once I get my head round the jumpsuit, hopefully I'll be skilled enough to head onto the trousers.

Ah, but its always the optimism that gets me in the end... Still. Onwards!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 21/10/2023 17:04

Some great work on here.

Can anybody recommend a very simple paper pattern which will help me learn how to do sleeves, please?

Rosenspants · 21/10/2023 17:59

Not been around for a bit. @ReviewingTheSituation that dress looks top top….really professional. And @clowniform those patterns look beautiful. I have finished DDs dirndl skirt…far from perfect, but it’ll do…. and appliquéd ribbon onto the plain t shirt she wants to wear with it. It’s all for a Cosplay. First go with stretch needle and stabilising paper which seemed to go ok. Now will start pretty little dress for baby DGD with the pattern and fabric from the K&S show. Bit nervous as I have become over reliant on Tilly’s foolproof instructions ….

Brieandbeetroot · 04/02/2024 11:55

That dress is beautiful @ReviewingTheSituation.

I am beginning the new year embracing my love of vintage clothes/style. Especially 1940s silhouettes, I prefer the feminine but pared back look rather than the more OTT shapes of the 1950s.

I have taken the slow but hopefully sensible approach of buying two good books for absolute beginners, one for sewing machine use and one for knitting, in the hopes I can get the basics under my belt in a systematic way. Each have projects to work through based on skills, with the hope that I can then move on to making things specific to my style.

I'm very much a "read a lot then have a go" sort of person when it comes to new skills but I don't want to get put off by being rubbish because I haven't taken the time to properly learn!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 24/02/2024 18:26

Hello! Is anybody still around? Hope everyone is okay.

Today I made my first successful bias cut skirt. It's in really cheap market viscose, but I'm going to try to get some nice black/white printed fabric to make another one. The waist is a bit big, but it's perfect on the hips. Any ideas where I might look, please?

Also, I'm a shortie but the pattern is only just long enough. Do you think it might be possible to make the next one longer?

Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome