Dressmaking - experienced and beginners welcome

[AnnieSnap]

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

Have just googled these after reading your post @HecticHedgehog I’d like some wonder undies! I’m a very novice sewer (sewist?) but might give them a go!
Please can I ask anyone for advice? This might sound stupid but when you buy a pdf pattern how does it print out? Do you have to sellotape all the bits together ? ( sorry if that’s a very silly question 😂)

PDF only patterns are damned annoying if you don't have access to a decent printer. I think that if you order through the Foldline you can choose a printed version at an additional cost, even if the company concerned only do PDF. (Hope that makes sense!)

I hope to learn a lot from this thread. I remember my mother making clothes from patterns but I never paid much attention. I've made drawstring bags and curtains (for wooden outdoor Wendy house!) using my old sewing machine, but they were very rudimentary.

I think the thing I'd find most useful to make, if it's easy enough for a beginner (it looks like it might be) is a plain circle skirt with elasticated waist, around knee length.

Ahh @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie don’t let her drive you away. There is only one of her and many of us!

That’s fine for you. You have expressed your view. Most of the rest of us don’t want tailored clothes, so you don’t have to keep hammering your opinion.

Also, why can’t we just have a friendly chatty thread on Style and Beauty? If this type of thread isn’t for you, you could just scroll by and find one you like better!

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

I've just seen this! The thread is for beginners and experienced. I'm one of the former. I don't expect, or want, kindness or fluffiness, but you've been rude and unwelcoming. Very unnecessary.

Don't be put off sewing! There is also the long running Stitch and Bitch thread over in arts and crafts where no question is too silly and lots of mumsnet amateur dreaamakers have been hanging out for a while. It's a very gentle supportive thread just sharing what we are making and offering encouragement amd advice when needed/requested.

This has also been a really interesting thread and it's lovely so many are inspired to start sewing at the moment.

Tilly and the buttons patterns are great for beginner Sewist precicely because they teach new techniques and don't skimp over important details like understitching. I returned to sewing a few years back and her stretch book built up my confidence with fabrics that weren't even widely available when I first started sewing, 40 odd years ago. I still make a couple of the patterns, just heavily altered versions.

Currently taking a break from the slw plod through a heavy wool coat to make some summery viscose trousers using a style arc pattern.

@DeadbeatYoda
If you want to shorten any pleated skirt it’s best to start at the top!
Take the waistband off and cut off the amount you want to shorten the kilt by. Replace waistband. Boom! Perfect hem!

@Waterfallgirl There are also printing services that will print the patterns out for you. When you buy a PDF pattern you normally get 2 versions - the A4 multiple sheet version where you have to assemble it all yourself, and the A0 version that can be printed as one piece by these services. Normally cost around £2 and it's definitely worth it for complicated patterns where you'd have to do tons of assembly & matching edges yourself!

Yep I always recommend CLC Essex for printing out PDF patterns. Its usually cheaper than the foldline, free delivery and they are very quick to post out.

@pastabest That's good to know! I hate cutting and sticking the A4 printables 😩

Well, ladies. Feel free to be kind and fluffy to me. I’ve just made an actual skirt with actual pockets.

Does it look homemade? Hell yes. Did I make mistakes? Lots. Is it wearable outside the house? Maybe not.

But did I learn some stuff? For sure. And am I as pleased as punch with myself? Fuck, yes.

It's a great feeling isn't it Remus, so satisfying!

(The next stage might come after you've worn it a few times and you notice that all those points where you thought 'Gah, It'll do' don't really do at all. That's a bit of a bummer. But then you unpick it and make it again and you realise that you've already learned things and that you're getting better at it, and that's even more satisfying.)

I'd always rather look homemade than sweatshop made so that sounds like a win to me.

Well done @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie I bet Coco Chanel's first creation was a bit ropey and only suitable for use in the home as well. Onwards and upwards!

Thanks for the fluffiness, everyone!

Question - why don't people make the actual pockets first and then attach, rather than 4 separate flaps sewn on 4 separate bits of skirt, and then sewn together?

Mainly because you normally stitch the pocket bag pieces right sides together to the garment, that would be difficult to do if the pocket pieces are already attached together as you would either sew your pocket closed or have to try and keep the second layer out of the way whilst somehow sewing the layer you want right up to the seam.

Secondly lots of patterns ask for either understitching or top stitching is done to the pocket opening to prevent gaping. This is done much more easily and neatly as 2 separate pieces rather than as an already created pocket

Yay! That’s what it’s all about. I had a skirt like that as one of my early sews. A Tilly and the Buttons (shock, horror) Miette Wrap Skirt to be precise! I wouldn’t wear it out, but I learned loads and went on to make dresses, trousers and more skirts. Onwards and upwards 💪

Well done, @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie !

Sometimes stitching order is purely about accessibility. Sometimes it's about handling small pieces for as long as possible before putting them together to make a bigger, more unwieldy piece. Often it's about hiding the messy bits (eg the ends of some topstitching or you sew a side seam before hemming so the edge of the seam isn't visible at the bottom of the garment.)

Sometimes, there's several ways of doing something but the order may affect how the garment hangs. Basically it's down to a balance of what's easiest and what looks the best.

As someone who hasn't sewed since school but got a sewing machine for Christmas (ahem, many years ago), I am really enjoying this thread. I think this is the perfect place for it, to inspire those who love clothes, but don't think of themselves as sewists.

@Waterfallgirl yes. Although I'm lazy and just lay them out and trace the size I need. They do move sometimes though! Some people use weights for holding down their material to cut so you could do that too when tracing.

Does anyone have a rough idea how much it would cost to replace an underskirt beneath a wedding dress ?

Sorry by a professional dressmaker

No. Idea of price but that would depend on the complexity of the construction of the dress and the amount of underskirt needed.