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How do you make your own clothes?
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
As the title says. I'd like to have a go. What's the simplist thing? Anyone got a link to a good online guide? or fancy writing their own?? I know at least one siter makes her own clothes, please show us your wears... (like the pun? ok, I know I'm not funny)
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I went to a pattern cutting course to learn how to make my own from scratch. You can also go to classes to learn basic sewing skills and how to use a ready made pattern - your local college should run relatively inexpensive classes.
You have a little girl don't you? Kids clothes are relatively easy to make and not expensive either, (good if you are scared you will mess up) you could look for very easy patterns - it actually says 'very easy' on the front of the pattern...
I made this dress a couple of years ago, following a pattern and doing what I have described above. The photo isn't very good but the dress was fine and more than wearable.
I can't actually make anything other than dresses successfully, which is a bit strange. I once tried to make a pair of trousers and have never come across a more complicated process, I nearly tore all my hair out doing it. So now I've made my latest summer dress I'm content to knit shawls like a granny - much easier
For example i had a pair of lambretta jeans that i really liked until they got a little rip just below the knee, so rather than wear them like this or throw them away i decided to take a knife to them and rip even more to make them really fashionable (as they were at the time), then when they fell apart even more i cut up an old pair of cord jeans and patched up the lambretta ones underneath using a contrasted colour thread, looked mint until they fell apart
Also: I used to work as a fashion designer and my first design that got made was this one if that counts? (it was on a hoody)
I quite fancy a pair of those hippy trousers that you wrap from front to back and then tie (explained pretty badly).
My old b'girl tee shirt, drawing on clothes is easier than makin em':
Unfortunetly, due to some very mental nights during a school trip to france, I know what you mean by that
Anyway. Yes. I agree with the others that patterns can be a good place to start, as with all the step-by-step ness you can get to grips easily with the way patterns fit together to make clothes. Some people just have an eye for these things, and can look at a garment and know what the individual pattern pieces will look like and how they will all come toether. Most people can't. It's no barrier to you becoming an awesome seamstress, but if you are one of the ones that can't, you'll get a lot more benefit from starting on simple commercial patterns.
Another place to start is simple customisation. Old t-shirts + hacking up. There are loads of resources to help you out with your first steps here. www.craftster.org is chock full of projects and tutorials, and they have 'sewalongs' where everyone makes the same pattern which is a fab idea for a beginner, cause if you get stuck you can ask people who have made the exact same thing to give you some pointers. www.ohmystars.net/craft/ is also a nice place to start for novice types.
Also, while we are in the mood for pimping our wares:
(these ones aren't the best, but my computer is being a twat atm, so are the only images I have
edited to add: if you want to know anything more, I could talk forever about making stuff.
I am determined to get to primark in brum on monday morning so I might as well make it a fabric mission too...
Your clothes are amazing- they look really well made and don't have that 'home made' look to them...
*hmmn, don't feel so pleased with my crochet circles now...*
Awesome, thanks
On your fabric mission: If you're just starting sewing, you're going to tit it up a bit. I tit things up now and again and I've been doing it more than 12 years, so your best bet is to get a whole bundle of the cheapest fabric you can find, as well as your nice 'goal' fabric so you can have a test run or two before you go near the nice stuff! Old duvet covers (your own or from charity shops) are awesome for this, and come nice and cheap. Or free. Free is better
Thank you
If I were as much of a perfectionist about everything as I am about the stuff I make I would rule the world by now. Or something
Cheap fabric, wish I hadn't got rid of my old clothes now... boooooo
Also, Kaffrin oh clothesguru, I need a basic CHEAP sewing machine, any recomendations?
Try charity shops. There is not a great deal on good quality sewing machines that can go wrong, and if they do, it's generally something really easy and simple to fix, so old machines are your friends initially. My boss got a 70s singer in the local RSPCA shop for a fiver, which is a total bargain, and after fitting a new plug, it's in perfect working order.
Another idea is to ask around the people you know. A lot of people have machines they either bought and never use, or that they inherited from family members, and will probably be happy to set you up for a decent price.
Try ebay too - you might have to go collect, but there are some decent older machines on there now and again for bargain prices. If you see the names Singer, Janome, Brother, Toyota, Pfaff or Elna, you're probably onto a winner.
Machines tend to last ages, which is why the decent new ones aren't cheap. Avoid those £20 mini ones (JML style) like the plague. They're cheap shit, and will mash up your fabric and screw with your tension so much that you'll assume it's because you're shit, and be put off sewing for life. Anything with 'handy' or 'portable' in it is a bad idea too. You might get away with the Janome M100 (Argos, £49.99), but that's the cheapest new one I could recommend.
If you don't mind spending a bit more, you can get a fab basic machine from any of the major brands (I'm loyal to my Janomes, but to be honest all the quality makes are much of a muchness) for £70 - £100 that will last for decades. If you have a little local sewing machine shop, they often have new and used machines, and will set you up with a decent starter machine. Don't let them oversell to you though. You don't need all the bells and whistles. Adjustable straight and zig zag stitches and possibly a buttonhole feature are all your really need.
:thumb:
I can't take the credit for designing that one, it was from a pattern. Buy this book and you can make your own! It was dead simple - way moreso than it looks
I know sod all bout sowing machines so i didnt really get what it was saying but something about a double stitch locking action and it had a foot peddle
They're not worth the money. The "double stitch locking action" is just your bog standard straight stitch, but the tension is all to bollocks, so just about the only thing you can sew well with it is paper. It would be good for cardmaking or scrapbooking, but I wouldn't go near any fabric with it.
It's worth either finding the extra money to buy a decent machine, or finding the time to search for a good second hand machine.
I've never bought a pattern online (I've only ever used a few - I prefer the 'winging it' approach, or drafting my own), but the ones I have heard people talk about are:
http://www.habithat.co.uk
http://www.jaycotts.co.uk
And good old ebay (find here first, and then search by company name and pattern number)
They do indeed. Tesco sell everything now. The one's I've seen aren't established brands, but they look sturdy enough. Although they still aren't cheap (about £70-£80?) and for that price I'd be tempted to get a branded one.
I was in Tesco yesterday, and they had horse rugs :eek2:
You all inspired me yesterday with your talk of making your own clothes. I am having my leaving doo tonight and have spent weeks looking for something to ware and havnt been able to find anything so i coustomised my own.
I didnt do much actually just put strings from the shoulders dangling down to my elbow on a black vests but im quite proud of my little self
Picture please
My update: Didn't make it to brum, primark, fabric shop... boo. Did pick up a velvet jacket and quirky dress for 20p each at a carboot sale on sunday though
Can't stretch to buying a new sewing machine at the moment but, there's one I can have that was my grandma's but not sure if it works. Otherwise I'm just going to keep up the asking around tactic.
I'm a complete beginner but want to start sewing. Have you got any tips on books/resources for complete beginners?
I'd check out the links I posted for Katralla on the first page. Craftster is a mine of information, and will take you from total beginner to damn-near expert
Obviously you need to start simple, so I'd go with either altering clothes you have, or sewing from scratch, but going with stuff like pillowcases and tote bags and simple skirts. Straight lines + few seams = easy as pie!