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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

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AnnieSnap · 31/05/2023 16:32

Ahh, thank you @SkaneTos I bet you could sew 🙂

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witheringrowan · 31/05/2023 16:36

I'm not a huge fan of Tilly's style, it's all a bit twee, but Love at First Stitch is pretty good at teaching different techniques - normal zips, invisible zips, buttons, collars and plackets, & adjusting for fit - it takes you through darts and tucks, bust adjustments, princess seams & each project builds on the previous one.

Would also highly recommend Lauren Guthrie's youtube channel for demystifying things: https://www.youtube.com/c/laurenguthrieghani and the Shapes of Fabric blog for those who want to be a bit more adventurous! https://www.theshapesoffabric.com/

Before you continue to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/c/laurenguthrieghani

DeadbeatYoda · 31/05/2023 16:52

I'm in for a lurk! Have a sewing machine, want to take up a kilt hem at the moment and just don't know where to start.

AnnieSnap · 31/05/2023 17:11

DollyParkin · 31/05/2023 13:28

Some pattern companies to look out for include Sinclair Patterns and Itch to Stitch. Both a much better fit for me than Tilly (who is very much for beginners and isn't very good at pattern draughting).

I have looked at a friend's Tilly & the Buttons dress & pattern. Not for me. Very basic techniques and not tailored or fitted, so you don't learn how to sew properly ... Vogue Patterns are excellently drafted - the pieces fit together!

I'll have to have a look at the ones you mention @Frenchfancy - my impression of a lot of the independent patterns featured on, say, The Foldline, or via the Seing Bee are that they are clumsy, and don't have the details & features that I look for in tailored clothes and even just casual trousers etc. Drawstring waists ceased to be flattering on me once I was over 30, and I'm still quite slim 30 years later!

There probably is that difference for tailored clothing, but tailored clothing is really not in vogue these days. I like edgy or relaxed flowing lines. Independent patterns companies tend to follow fashion. That suits what I want. The beauty of making our own clothes is that there is something for everyone’s taste. Surely I t’s not in the spirit of the supportive sewing community to criticise what is enjoyed by others.

Tilly and the Buttons patterns are great for beginners, who may well become disheartened by trying to make the patterns you like. I am more skilful now than when I made my TATB’s Skye Sundress, but I still love it flowing simplicity on a hot day 🙂

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ProjectsGalore · 31/05/2023 17:19

I'm checking in. I made a bucket hat last night so feel pretty proud right now!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 31/05/2023 17:19

Sleeve placket thingies are a very, very long way from where I am currently. Of course sewing requires patience, but I also need a relatively early first success, or I'll be put right off.

For what it's worth, I spent this afternoon learning how to do side seam pockets in a skirt, using some really cheap fabric from the market. What I've produced is clumsy and unwearable but I think I now understand what I did wrong and feel more confident about trying again. The mistake I made was getting the fabric the wrong way round. I'll avoid this next time by just doing plain rather than patterned pockets, so it matters less about the right side and the wrong side.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 31/05/2023 17:23

Surely it’s not in the spirit of the supportive sewing community to criticise what is enjoyed by others.

Absolutely! I was hoping to find encouragement as an absolute beginner. I'm a very long way from producing tailored clothes!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 31/05/2023 17:23

And I think your sundress is absolutely fucking marvellous! Grin

TheFallenMadonna · 31/05/2023 17:23

I sew a lot, partly because my mum did so I grew up with it, and partly because I'm tall and can make things that fit. Next up for me will be a By Hand London Sandeep skirt for my daughter (I made her the Sandeep dress for her Sixth Form leavers do - it takes a lot of fabric....) and a The Assembly Line A line dress for me to wear to my son's graduation.

botemp · 31/05/2023 17:27

I'm tentatively parking here, I've been a lazy sewer lately and I think it's just more of an autumn/winter hobby for me. I'm not super advanced (I'd class myself as an ambitious beginner) but do draft my own patterns as I can never find what I want, hate the expense of them and feel if I'm going to spend so much time on something (I tend to make things to Claire Schaeffer standards, lots of hand sewing) I want something that fits well from the off.

If anyone could give input on irons, mine is acting up and it needs replacing and I'm trying to decide whether to go for something similar (steam generator, upper end of what you can buy domestically) or to buy a proper professional setup. It's about the same money, my main concern is if the professional ones are more of a workout to use as they're heavy. I have done some tailoring, including shaping fabric with the iron which my domestic iron only just about managed so a professional one would be better for that. Anyone have a professional one, is it a true upgrade?

TheFallenMadonna · 31/05/2023 17:31

I'm wearing a Dhurata Davies Olive skirt today. Not in the least fitted, but very easy and comfortable!

AnnieSnap · 31/05/2023 18:07

@ProjectsGalore Well done. I have a large brim sun hat in my plans! and @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie sounds like you are doing really well. Steady progress is the way to go 👍

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AnnieSnap · 31/05/2023 18:09

Brilliant @TheFallenMadonna
Thank you so much @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie 🙂

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TheBirdintheCave · 31/05/2023 18:17

My living room currently looks like a sweat shop 😂 I'm making a cabana suit for my husband, shirts and shorts and beach outfits for my toddler and a skirt and top for myself. All from 1940s/50s patterns. Deadline is next Weds when we fly to Sicily. Will I make it? Who knows 😂

chelseabunny · 31/05/2023 18:40

Lurking

NotMeNoNo · 31/05/2023 18:48

I've been sewing clothes all my life, learnt from my mum. After some diversions into knitting and furnishings I took a pattern drafting class a few years ago and got myself an overlocker. I like being able to make things that fit although I always have a pile of alterations. I Iove the indie patterns and Instagram that have revitalised the hobby.
I'm also a fan of Closet Core and The Assembly Line. I'd like to get better at tailoring too.

Frenchfancy · 31/05/2023 18:53

I don't think style and beauty is the place to be kind and fluffy to beginner sexists, there are other threads for that.

The style and beauty of homemade clothes is that they fit, they are made from the fabric of your choice so you get to be an individual.

But you need to learn the skills otherwise your clothes will just look homemade.

Of course you don't need to start out with sleeve plackets, but I suggest that your teacher should know what they are talking about otherwise it is the blind leading the blind. Some of the indies and YouTube channels have only been sewing a couple of years and have no training. There are so many great resources out the that you can learn from.

Ohyeahwaitaminute · 31/05/2023 19:09

I have this book, as recommended by my old sewing teacher. It covers absolutely everything, and is a good referral guide when I don’t want to watch 20 mins of a YouTube tutorial… I’m sure plackets are covered somewhere 🤣

I like the ‘Cos’ look, but cannot wear baggy stuff or drawstring waists either.
The Chloe pattern from Tilly & buttons is for a thick cotton Breton type fabric, so it does fit in a stretchy kind of way. She’s a really good introduction for younger people to get into sewing… which can only be a good thing!

Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 31/05/2023 19:13

I don't think style and beauty is the place to be kind and fluffy to beginner sexists, there are other threads for that.

Well, I'm not a beginner sexist but I am a beginner at sewing. You go ahead and decide what somebody else's thread should be. I'm out.

Thanks for starting the thread, @AnnieSnap but this thread isn't really turning into something I want to be part of now.

NotMeNoNo · 31/05/2023 19:13

Ohyeahwaitaminute · 31/05/2023 19:09

I have this book, as recommended by my old sewing teacher. It covers absolutely everything, and is a good referral guide when I don’t want to watch 20 mins of a YouTube tutorial… I’m sure plackets are covered somewhere 🤣

I like the ‘Cos’ look, but cannot wear baggy stuff or drawstring waists either.
The Chloe pattern from Tilly & buttons is for a thick cotton Breton type fabric, so it does fit in a stretchy kind of way. She’s a really good introduction for younger people to get into sewing… which can only be a good thing!

That is an awesome book I have it too. It covers pretty well everything.

TheFallenMadonna · 31/05/2023 19:17

Frenchfancy · 31/05/2023 18:53

I don't think style and beauty is the place to be kind and fluffy to beginner sexists, there are other threads for that.

The style and beauty of homemade clothes is that they fit, they are made from the fabric of your choice so you get to be an individual.

But you need to learn the skills otherwise your clothes will just look homemade.

Of course you don't need to start out with sleeve plackets, but I suggest that your teacher should know what they are talking about otherwise it is the blind leading the blind. Some of the indies and YouTube channels have only been sewing a couple of years and have no training. There are so many great resources out the that you can learn from.

You can signpost useful resources to beginners without being snooty about it.

TheFallenMadonna · 31/05/2023 19:20

Ohyeahwaitaminute · 31/05/2023 19:09

I have this book, as recommended by my old sewing teacher. It covers absolutely everything, and is a good referral guide when I don’t want to watch 20 mins of a YouTube tutorial… I’m sure plackets are covered somewhere 🤣

I like the ‘Cos’ look, but cannot wear baggy stuff or drawstring waists either.
The Chloe pattern from Tilly & buttons is for a thick cotton Breton type fabric, so it does fit in a stretchy kind of way. She’s a really good introduction for younger people to get into sewing… which can only be a good thing!

I also have this book, via my mum. I prefer diagrams to videos, but I think it's because I'm getting on a bit.

TheFallenMadonna · 31/05/2023 19:25

I would recommend Very Easy Vogue patterns for beginners, but I do think you need to get your eye in for understanding the instructions for Vogue, Simplicity etc. It's easy when you've been doing it for a while (or learned from your mum...) to view them from a real beginner's perspective.

TheFallenMadonna · 31/05/2023 19:26

not easy...

HecticHedgehog · 31/05/2023 20:25

Im a novice sewer but made some wild and waves wonder undies this week and omg they are SO comfy.