why don't you make clothes?

Another thread made me think about this, now I know some of you out there do make clothes and some of you are converted dressmakers and others of us have either never made clothes, or made one or two items and not found it satisfactory, so I was wondering why that was.

Previously, I would have said, it's the sizing, the shape never looks right, I can't fit something to a person, blah blah blah, then I realised that was a silly thing to say, if I can fit a teddy or a doll, I can fit a person. So my new conclusion is that it's the fabrics that are more wearable and washable these days actually aren't so good for a regular sewing machine, I wear a lot of stretch fabrics, the threads that are better to use with those are expensive and the fabrics aren't cheap either. Changing size was another thing I thought off, I don't doubt my ability to fit a fixed size, problem is I change shape and before you all go worrying about yo yo diets and what not, the extremes of my weight in the last 5 years have had no more than 25 pounds between them and that's including two pregnancies, but even disregarding my actual weight, or cyclical bloating, I still have an uncanny ability to change shape, I'm always going to be a pear with weight on my hips, but even so, in the last few weeks I seem to have shifted that to more at the sides than on the back, leaving clothes that fitted quite nicely looking baggy in the wrong places! So fitting is an issue, but it's not my ability to fit, it's the body it's being fitted to changing to much!

I would like to try making trousers actually, but then those I do doubt my ability to fit, dress forms don't have legs, plus, you need to have movement in trousers that allows sitting and standing and what not.

My expectation is that I will get into all these fabrics because I dance and so does my son and I expect my daughter will too, ballroom dance costumes are very expensive, so where you don't save money for a simple top from stretch fabric, the speciality nature of the ballroom dance market means you do, but that's going to be one heck of a steep learning curve!

Cheers Anne

Reply to
Anne Rogers
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Just reading the pattern directions isn't necessarily the best route;I think a good book on dressmaking, or a good class helps a lot. It's important to know your measurements, and adjust the pattern accordingly.

Also a good sewing machine and, just like for quilting, the right needle and thread for the fabric.

I have made a lot of dresses, shirts, vests, doll clothes, etc. and haven't had any problems.

-Irene

--gently snipped

Reply to
IMS

I regularly make shirts and pants for myself, and all sorts of dresses, skirts, blouses and whatever for my wife. I usually do that in between quilts so that it provides a break in sewing style from quilting. Quilting is quite repetitive if you think about piecing. Clothing is very different in that it is made to fit, so it is three dimensional. That is a whole other ball game. If you just take your time and study the patterns and make any adjustment to the pattern to account for size variations of your particular body shape, I find it very relaxing. I am able to use the patterns, (Vogue), as they come out of the envelope without having to do any alteration for myself. When I sew for my wife, I do have to tweak the pattern a bit due to "vagaries", which shall remain nameless, that relate to fitting for her. I guess I am lucky in that regard. Burda patterns lend them-self to tweaking as to size. You can adjust the dimensions within a 3 or 4 size variation in most areas of the pattern, so you get a better fit, that pertains to your body shape. I do think most quilters have said that they don't sew clothes any more. Probably that has as much to due to the cheap off shore clothes that can be purchased in a finished state, for less than the cost of the fabric for doing it yourself. I just like to sew clothes, so that is why I still do it. That and liking to get a perfect fit.

John

Reply to
John

I admire your resolve. I bet you'll be a fabulous dressmaker. I love to quilt, and do a pretty fair job, I think. I don't make garments because I was scarred for life in home economics class. I still have nightmares about A-line skirts with invisible zippers. :-( Seriously. The only thing my home economics teacher successfuly taught me was to hate sewing. But I've been thinking about wanting a vintage-style full-dress apron, made out of feedsack-type fabric. I bet I could swing that one.

Sherry

Reply to
Sherry

I sometimes do make clothes, but I'm in jeans and t-shirts so much and they are much easier to buy than to make. I've sewn just about any garment that can be sewn -- lingerie, tailored jackets (including a suit for my husband), my wedding dress, prom dresses, bridesmaids' dresses, baby clothes, jeans. I just finished 3 summer outfits for the granddaughters. Next project is a skirt for myself -- looks like a pretty simple pattern -- hope it turns out that way.

Julia > Another thread made me think about this, now I know some of you out

Reply to
Julia in MN

I'm with you on the t-shirts and jeans. My favorite thing to do clothing wise is girls little frilly dresses. They just don't seem to wear those any more though so I have given that up. I do a lot of dh's shirts because he just likes the idea of having something I make. I do go in fits and spurts on clothing construction. Taria

Julia > I sometimes do make clothes, but I'm in jeans and t-shirts so much and

Reply to
Taria

Anne,

But I DO make clothes. I make clothes for grand-daughters who are now 9,

6 and 2. They love having things that I've made, even the youngest wants whatever I've been working on no matter what it is or who it's for. I'm working on a second back support pillow for my daughter with the ruptured disc and the little one claimed it as soon as it came off the machine. She also loves to play with grandma's fabric! I have high hopes for this little girl.

Over the lase few months I've finished one quilt and started another, made a few crib sheets with matching pillow cases, made some play dress up boas, made a couple of dresses, some shorts and a matching hat, some pj bottoms (flannel for the girls in California, but I've got some summer ones planned very soon). And also made a back pillow for DD2 and a little pillow for 2 yr old DGD to match out of some fun and very bright cat fabric I just happened to have.

But I don't actually sew to save money I sew because I enjoy both the sewing and the giving and seeing the kids wear and enjoy the things I've made. Even the big kids, my son in law's Halloween costume comes to mind along with my daughter's poodle skirt that she wore for a costume party.

I guess I sew for the same reason I quilt, I LIKE it, and since I happen to have a lifetime supply of fabric I need to turn it into something more useful.

Judie

Anne Rogers wrote:

Reply to
Judie in Penfield NY

I've used a few Palmer & Pletsch patterns from McCall's (they are mixed in in the regular McCall's pattern book). They include excellent, detailed fitting instructions. I just bought this one for a jacket . I have a gorgeous batik fabric that I plan to use for the panels. It's got a lot of colors in it, and I used those colors for a wall hanging for a class project, but ended up not using the fabric I started with. So it will go into this jacket.

Julia > Another thread made me think about this, now I know some of you out

Reply to
Julia in MN

there's something about making clothes that really is boring for me - to think about making a new dress feels like a chore rather than a pleasure. I love imagining how to embellish or design something new - but the actual work of it, on thanks.

Musicmaker

Reply to
Musicmaker

I did tweak a pattern incorporating many different techniques to make shirts for myself but then couldn't find shirting fabrics...real shirtings ..not just prints. I did make one shirt and used a quilting fabric but realized that I didn't like looking at the back of the fabric when I rolled up the sleeves. The fabrics just aren't available --at least easily . And right now I'd love to make myself some shirts because now the way they are made are not to my liking...no pleat in the back and a very fitted look are the shirts that I see for sale. I still like the old style that has been for sale for many years-- maybe they are out there but I haven't found them ! I think that men's shirts are still made the same but apparently manufacturers think that all women want close fitting shirts. Mary

I regularly make shirts and pants for myself, and all sorts of dresses, skirts, blouses and whatever for my wife. I usually do that in between quilts so that it provides a break in sewing style from quilting. Quilting is quite repetitive if you think about piecing. Clothing is very different in that it is made to fit, so it is three dimensional. That is a whole other ball game. If you just take your time and study the patterns and make any adjustment to the pattern to account for size variations of your particular body shape, I find it very relaxing. I am able to use the patterns, (Vogue), as they come out of the envelope without having to do any alteration for myself. When I sew for my wife, I do have to tweak the pattern a bit due to "vagaries", which shall remain nameless, that relate to fitting for her. I guess I am lucky in that regard. Burda patterns lend them-self to tweaking as to size. You can adjust the dimensions within a 3 or 4 size variation in most areas of the pattern, so you get a better fit, that pertains to your body shape. I do think most quilters have said that they don't sew clothes any more. Probably that has as much to due to the cheap off shore clothes that can be purchased in a finished state, for less than the cost of the fabric for doing it yourself. I just like to sew clothes, so that is why I still do it. That and liking to get a perfect fit.

John

Reply to
MB

Howdy!

"why don't you make clothes?"

Like shopping at Wallyworld: don't have to, can't make me.

R/Sandy

Reply to
Sandy Ellison

we won't make you machine quilt either. We won't try and we certainly couldn't make you. LOL I sure wouldn't mind having Kate around to sew clothes for me though.

Taria

Sandy Ellis> Howdy!

Reply to
Taria

I tried -- that's where I started really a few years ago when I decided to actually use the machine my mom sent me. I have a hard time understanding the pattern directions. I can't make it fit my unwieldy and lumpy body. And, it does cost more to make something than to buy. That said, I can't buy anything lately. All the new clothes in the "women's" department look like they were made for pre-adolescent hookers. And clingy fabric. Ugh. So I'm in the process of making myself a skirt. If it works out I'll show you. But the truth is that trying to make clothes is nerve wracking. I feel like if I mess it up, I've wasted the whole shebang. If I mess up a quilt top, I'll cut it up to use again or stuff a pillow with it.

Sunny who got kicked out of Home Ec back in Middle School before we got to sewing

Reply to
Sunny

I used to but not any more because all my patterns shrank.

Kay Ahr in NV

Reply to
Kay Ahr

It's that cheap paper they are printed on !

Reply to
MB

Hi Sunny, I will be happy to "talk" you through a pattern if you need help. Anytime. The Big Three pattern books have the simple formal tops and skirts, and simple pants and tops. They don't take very long to cut out and sew up. Barbara in SC

Reply to
Bobbie Sews More

I know it has nothing to do with chocolate and stuffed crust pizza. . . .

Reply to
Kay Ahr

Silly girl! You're supposed to wash the CLOTHES, not the PATTERNS! ;)

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

Mostly for me, it's just not cost-effective to make clothes. By the time I buy the fabric, I could have very easily gone ahead and bought the shirt/pants whatever, and then I STILL have to cut it out and make it!

Reply to
Mystified One

Don't know if it's lucky or not, I've never thought of myself as particularly peculiar in size, but then when I tried to buy a pattern a few months ago, it was no where near my size and it seemed that it was a style that was suitable for someone in my size range, yet it only went down to a size 12. I think my biggest challenge if I were to make anything fitted will be the width of my shoulders, which are fairly narrow, I've never ever found a jacket that fitted my shoulders and also my chest, but it's not as if I'm anything above average there.

Cheers Anne

Reply to
Anne Rogers

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