Do you make your own clothes? What do you make?

[Florence4170]

Just that, really. I used to make a lot of my clothes in the 70's and 80's. Does anyone still?

I don't think making a bra is a possibility, couldn't afford the amount of fabric needed 😱

The person running the one day course I did provided the pattern and all the fabrics and bits. We used quite small bits of fabric which were sewn together in small panels. Mine was black lace and purple satin and it's a bit itchy tbh.

I've made a few things in the past but always focused on the simplest styles, but making sure they were well made, as I just didn't have the technical skill to meet the standard that I'd be happy with. I sew now, but tend to repair household items, including bags, and alter clothing, so remove pockets, change hems, change buttons, take in, remove details not needed and finish off seams where they needed a bit more care and attention, as I like the item and want to keep it in a good condition. I went to a pattern cutting course to improve my skills, but realised that I was better off improving on the high street's offerings and keeping my clothing in good condition.

The bra I made. I must remember to wear it sometimes.

Actually, depending on your size, bra making is one of the ways you can save money.

I'm a 32G which is not easy to find. I have paid as much as £100 for a good bra, but I can make one for £30.

Which is your favourite bra pattern?

It's pretty much the only thing I've not made yet as it looks tricky and requiring attention to detail, but affordable high street bras for larger cup sizes are depressingly bad. Teeny tiny bra straps etc.

https://www.braandcorsetsupplies.com/product/shelley-full-band-bra-pattern1/

Not the sexiest bra, but fits really well. It isn't that difficult, just take your time, and a bit like pancakes assume the first will be rubbish.

The most difficult bit is finding the right sized wire.

Ooh, @Definitelylivedin any tips on choosing bra wires? As a 34G I’m thinking making my own might be the way to go.

@SBAM trial and error. Find your favourite bra, take the wire out and compare it with charts that some bra makers suppliers have. You have to take the wire out as they are often under tension in the bra.

Bra making is a whole other universe to seeing clothes. Take a look at the Facebook group " bra makers beginners through intermediate"

I make just about anything. I even have a bra pattern that I might try one day. I don't think I'll knit any more sweaters, though. My hands are a but knackered and I'm too slow a knitter.

Currently slobbing in this sweatshirt and some rather well worn plain black joggers. I'll be putting a liberty tana lawn blouse together, this week. I cut it out a few weeks ago but then went off on a tangent with some patchwork cushion covers.

I made that gnome, too.

I make all my own clothes- skirts, dresses, shirts/blouses, t-shirts, jumpers/cardigans, jumpsuits, trousers, jeans, jackets, coats... plus jumpers and shirts for DH and a few bits for my parents.

I only started in lockdown, and have just learnt along the way. Instagram is great for inspiration and youtube for 'how to' videos. I haven't bought anything apart from underwear since 2019.

I spend way less than I would if I was buying clothes. I only buy 'nice' fabric, but I buy in the sale, or from instagram destashes (where people are selling off fabric they won't use). Cheap fabric is a false economy in many ways. If I want to toile (practice) something for the fit/shape then I use old sheets or duvet covers. So no expensive mistakes.

I'm a 32G as well, I honestly don't think I could make a bra though. I remember them making them on Sewing Bee. So many small bits of fabric! that one is beautiful. I too spend hundreds on bras. Generally start at Bravissimo nowadays.
That sweatshirt is fab! I have never thought about making "ordinary" clothes.
I had not heard of dead stock before, I'll try to search it out, I feel I need to do some practice pieces first though.

I don't buy a friend makes all of her child's clothes. They're beautiful

I'll make anything but a tailored coat/jacket - and thats something I'd like to conquer.
Making simple things like a longline hoody and leggings is very satisfying as you can make them the right length/ height so easily and they are fast to do. My favourite thing I've made recently is swimwear and a princess seamed running top which is actually long enough to cover my bum without flapping around (after changing the pattern) and long sleeves with thumbholes.
I'm currently making a smocked baby dress for a neighbour, and will then make a matching hoody and dog coat for someone going through a hard time who loved a comfort hoodie I made for someone else.

I've recently started as I find it hard to find things I like in the shops atm. I don't want crop tops or boxy things or polyester.

I've been using waves and wild and Ellie and Mac patterns which are best for beginners and Ellie and Mac also do YouTube videos showing you exactly what to do.

To search for patterns I like the Foldline.com website. It's possible to buy the patterns directly from them or to get pdf patterns printed and sent to you. Their database is huge and includes the "big" pattern companies and smaller, more niche companies.

I used to love it when fabric shops had the pattern books that you could look through.

Highly recommend the Closet Core Jasika pattern for a fitted blazer. The pattern talks you through all the tailoring skills to do a proper job. It took me hours but it was worth it.

I too used to when young. I'm very tall and liked long skirts and there was nothing. I learned at school - home economics, wish they still did that. I made my own pattern for the skirt but also made things from patterns. I don't have a machine anymore but flirt with it occasionally. I crochet now which takes up my creative yearning!

I’ve been sewing since my mum taught me when I was small. Saved a fortune over the years on repairing and altering clothes alone. I made cushions, sofa covers, curtains and even Christmas decorations for our first home when we were skint. I’ve made shirts jackets, lined coats, boned corsets, trousers, shorts and cocktail dresses. I’m just about to start a pair of cargo trousers.

A good place to start and get confidence is making a simple rectangular bag. Use a piece of A4 paper as a pattern to draw round. Practice putting in a lining, pockets, zips or button close and then make and add a shoulder strap. Lots of tutorials on YouTube, no fittings required and takes very little fabric. Once you can do that you’ve got some great techniques for other things.

I sew and knit for my daughter.

I didn’t learn to sew when I was younger. I got a sewing machine when I was pregnant, thinking I could attend a course on mat leave (ha ha ha) and of course didn’t. I finally taught myself to sew using YouTube videos when she was about 3.

I make a lot of what she wears except school uniform, sports kit and dance wear.

That being said, she recently did very well in a national ballet competition, so rather than buying the rather cheap looking event tee-shirt, I bought some beautiful chiffon and made some wrap skirts. I like projects that teach me new skills, so that taught me to use a rolled hem foot. And gosh, once I’d got the hang of the foot, the slippery fabric and the curve, they are super-quick and easy!

I’ve chosen other items in the past because they have included skills that I hadn’t yet tried - techniques (e.g. concealed zip, welt pocket, french seams) or different types of fabric. I think this last decade has been a great time to learn to sew, as there are multiple YouTube videos, and you can watch until you find one that clicks with you. A lot of downloadable patterns come with very clear and detailed step by step instructions.

I have in mind a pattern for a beautiful winter coat that I would like to try, but haven’t had the time to concentrate on it yet, so it will be for this winter. http://shwindesigns.bigcartel.com/product/the-nina-coat

I might want to try my hand at leos, if she continues dancing. Currently there is no point as her different dance groups have uniform leos, and she has a few others from competitions, so she can wear those for her one-to-one lesson.

We’re about to have to have a tutu made for her. They are (rightfully) expensive, given the amount of work that goes into them. I am not tempted to learn at this point, as I am working full time, but the construction is really interesting. I think that it might make a nice retirement project to learn how to make them.

Waves and Wild (or MBJM as they used to be) are great for children’s patterns. Very very clear, and a great start for understanding how clothing is put together.

I think the vast majority of my daughter’s everyday wardrobe when she was little was made from W&W patterns.

Me too, OP. I used to love it, but life and stress got in the way. I am thinking of taking it up again, but wouldn't know where to get fabric now - fabric shops seem to be extinct. Could someone tell me about deadstock or other sources of good quality fabric? Thanks.

Those of you that make your own clothes - do you have ‘normal’ sized and shaped bodies? My mum sews a lot but she probably spends a lot more time on fitting clothes, adjusting patterns, making her own even, than she does actually making anything. She and I are very similar shapes and I suspect that, like her, I’d never be able to just buy a pattern, make it and have it fit. I’m tall, big but low boobs (conventional darts on clothes as always too high), very broad / long back and broad shoulders. I don’t suit anything boxy or round necked.

i love the idea of sewing my own clothes As everything in the shops is horrible, but I feel at the bottom of a very steep and expensive learning curve, and having to adjust everything single aspect of a pattern.

I make my own clothes. Never having touched a sewing machine in my life before, having binged watched a few series of The GB Sewing Bee in 2021 and that being combined with the women who had done little alterations/hems for me for years, packing it in, I bought a cheap sewing machine. I thought maybe I could do some bits e.g. hemming my own pants. No one could be more surprised than me to find that over the last few years, I’ve reached a point where I make all of my own dresses, tops, tee shirts, pants, shorts and skirts. I don’t make jeans, PJs, or underwear. I love wearing closed I’ve made. I sew because I find it relaxing and satisfying. It’s also a very mindful activity for me. One of the best things about it is being able to have a garment in a fabric and print that is ‘very me’ 🙂

Oh yes, I should probably add, I moved on from my cheap machine to an all singing, all dancing Bernina 16 months ago. It’s much easier (though not essential) to make clothes on a really good machine.