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 sew in a gentle absentminded way that takes ages and covers the dining table to the point that we half forget what it looks like.

So I don't do it very often.

I've made multiple pairs of Sew House Seven dungarees for (tall, adult) DD, but my secret ingredient is a good friend who adjusted the pattern in the right places first.

I rather like to make pyjamas (loose, forgiving) and dressing gowns.

It’s pretty straightforward to position a dart in a different position to that shown on the pattern. You can also learn to adjust for a broad back. Once you learn that, you can apply it to all of your makes. I don’t like the long standing ‘big 5’ pattern companies. Their patterns seem to be for figures from the 1960s. You can learn to adjust for that, but I couldn’t be arsed. I wonder if your mother uses those. There is now a large range of established independent pattern designers. Most give detailed instructions and design for a more modern body shape. In your position, maybe consider joining Seamwork. There have videos and articles on all kinds of techniques, including adjustments. The community is full of experienced sewists who quickly respond with real help on their community boards. They also release 2 new patterns each month and access to the back catalogue is included in the membership.

I'd love to see some photos of all your lovely home sewn clothes, gutted no one has posted any here yet! Go on...please :)

@rickyrickygrimes - I probably have a 'normal' sized/shaped body (whatever that is), but my measurements for bust/waist/hip never put me at a straight size (ie - if I was making a dress or jumpsuit where all 3 measurements were needed, I wouldn't be the same size in all of them - my bust would be one size, my hips the next size up and my waist the next again). Sometimes I grade between sizes, but mainly I choose the size that is closest to where it's most important that the pattern fits, and take it from there. I tend to like things reasonably fitted around the waist, so can get away with a smaller size there anyway.
What I have done is found pattern companies that I know fit me pretty well, and they're my go-to for new patterns. In my case, I've yet to find a Closet Core pattern that doesn't fit me, so I've made a lot of their stuff (and I love the designs too), but also Fibremood fit me well and have plenty of options. Grading between sizes is pretty straightforward though, as is altering seam allowances to fit.

@Cantalever - there are lots of places to buy lovely fabric online. Fabric Godmother does a lot of deadstock, as does Rainbow Fabrics. Also Sew Me Sunshine. Guthrie & Ghani do lovely fabric - not so much deadstock, but really good quality stuff that is lovely to sew and wear. Not the cheapest, but always washes and wears well and is therefore good value. Plus they sell in 0.1m increments so you don't need to over-buy.

I make all my own clothes, and haven't bought a thing (apart from socks, knickers and bras) since 2019. I didn't set out to do that, but I have got to the point where I think I'd give anything a go. I've done jeans (several pairs - my favourite thing to make), shirts/blouses, t shirts, jumpers, tops, dresses, skirts, jumpsuits, jackets, pyjamas, coats... it's totally changed the way I dress. I am wearing things that I never would have looked at in a shop, and loving it. I do wonder whether I will ever buy clothes again. I really need some new running gear, but I have a book with 'activewear' patterns in it, so I think I'll tackle that next.

It's probably because it's a bit outing in a world where Instagram is the place where dressmakers congregate.

I've stopped bothering to take photos of what I make now because I mostly make plain basics in natural fabrics and it's pretty boring, but anything a bit more complex or unusual I make goes on Instagram and I wouldn't want anyone to be able to jigsaw piece together my mumsnet posts and my Instagram profile.

@pastabest Same. I share everything on Instagram. Mainly because that's where I get my inspiration from, and figured if I wanted to learn from others that it was only fair to give back and share my own makes. And my Insta handle is my name, so that's pretty outing!

Physical fabric shops still exist but a good place to start is Instagram as many of them do weekly showcases of new fabrics etc and will ship from online orders

I would reccommend finding and following
Guthrie and Ghani @ guthrieghani
Jenny Stitches - @ jennystitchesfabrics
Textile Express @ textileexpress
Fabric Godmother - @ fabricgodmother
Minerva Crafts @ minervadotcom
Just Sew @ justsewpenrith
Pound Fabrics @ poundfabrics
Merchant and Mills @ merchantandmills
Northern Monkey Makes @ northernmonkeymakes
My Sewing Box @ mysewingbox

I make all sorts. Dresses, tops, trousers and skirts. Have also started knitting this year and made myself a cable knit cardi. Love being able yo make things that actually fit me - 5'2 with a short torso bit long legs for my height and am big of boob so lots of high street stuff just looks wrong on me.

@PinkCosYouAreSoVery and @TheTripThatWasnt I've dug an example out of the wardrobe of something i've made that would never make it to Instagram because its a boring staple. It's a Style Arc Bonnie top in a viscose linen. I've taken a photo of the back and also of the lovely French seams and neat darts on the inside.

You will have to excuse the lack of ironing! It also doesn't look crinkled in real life on the facings - it's just the way it photographs.

I used to make things from scratch but mostly these days I alter things. One day I will buy a proper tailors dummy. I'm sure that will make it a lot easier 😁

I don't get much use out of my dress form but it's useful for things like pinning collars and neckline like on my most recent finished make.

I have to lengthen here and shorten there, move bust darts south (no longer need to make them bigger!) make belly room, raise waistlines and tilt crotch curves. The result is clothes that don't look like a sack on me.

I don't do insta. Not for me.

Me too, I’ll go and check you out/follow you. My insta is @ annlovingclothesover60

I can’t find you on insta! 🤷‍♀️

@Cantalever rainbow fabrics Kilburn sell a lot of deadstock. Dalston Mill fabrics have lovely quality fabric, not deadstock though but I’ve always been happy with the quality of what I’ve had. I also like northern monkey makes. Cut price fabric or pound fabric occasionally have good deals, but sell a lot of polyester which I generally avoid. With the last two pay attention to fabric content - they’ll describe something as ‘linen style’ or ‘cotton feel’ and it’s often a description of the texture not the content.

If you’re anywhere near Birmingham or Walthamstow or west London then you have plenty of choice for in person fabric shopping, at Birmingham rag market, Walthamstow market or Goldhawk Road. In Manchester there’s Abakhans just north of Piccadilly gardens, and it’s a chain so there’s others around the north west. There’s probably others real life fabric markets but those are the ones I’ve visited.

@AnnieSnap I think they mean their insta handle is their real name, not their mums net handle.

Thanks for all the fabric advice which is invaluable. Its so good to find that there are so many Mumsnetters making clothes. Had assumed this had died out. An inspiring thread, thanks OP.

I'm so impressed with the proper clothes on here I mostly stick to stretchy lounge wear made with my overlocker.
I remember making clothes for my Cindy dolls and Pippa dolls, begging my mum to run up things on her machine for me.