Any dressmakers out there?

[mrsflibble]

For soph I look for adult clothing or sheets in a funky pattern or stuyle, then re-work them.

[Daveswife]

I am picking up this thread a bit late since the original post (picking up the thread, ha ha ha).

Making something out of a bit of something else is one of the most rewarding thing about being self sufficientish.

Here are my recent projects:

You can re-use old curtains to fit a different window by adding a strip of matching or contrast stuff to the top or bottom, (or even across the centre) or if you cut a bit off to shorten, then use it for cushion covers. If there is not enough fabric put a stripe of contrasting stuff down the middle. Just done this in our dining room and it really makes a difference - looks expensive and cost nowt.

If you have cotton fabric left from a project hang on to it for patching. (eg trousers worn thin between the legs, patch on the inside and hand-stitch neatly but machine sew over the seams). Holes in trouser seams (same nether regions) can be patched with bias fabric on the inside, zig-zagged over the seam .

[Flo]

Pictures of mother on a Sunday afternoon there. She'd sit down with trousers from me and much younger kid brother. She always bought two of the same style. This allowed her to patch the knees of little brother's newest playing out ones from his older ones. She wanted to know how on earth I always wore out the bum of mine (sitting on it, climbing over gates on farm, riding bike were the common excuses). It was the only time she got as a busy farmer's wife to sit down for a couple of hours!

In them days about 50 years ago, there wasn't the same turnover of fashion and clothes were made to last a bit longer. This was because the economy was still recovering from the second World War, we were not as well off as we are nowadays and there were more important things to produce than ever changing fashion (like houses). Nowadays companies have to think of new ways to part us from our money more often. So - disposable fashion.

It may well be that a lot of the "cheap and cheerful" disposable fashion suppliers will disappear in the general financial chaos that is now happening.

[teraivyyr]

Great thread, thanks for the links for patterns etc.
I made the resolution several years ago not to buy high street fashion any more, only to buy clothes from charity shops or clothes that were organic/fairtrade, and have (almost) stuck to it. Just the odd lapse!
I have a new sewing machine (old one was 30 years old and knackered) and looking forward to making trousers for my partner, who has a 39-inch inside leg!
Amazing what you can find in charity shops - my favourite find was a huge, long and sweeping silk velvet coat, plum shot with yellow, from the Oxfam shop in Penzance. They wanted £30 for it, but the material alone would have cost three times that!!

[sheena]

My grandmother passed away several years ago and it made me want to pick up her gauntlet and learn to be good at dressmaking: my projects to date have included clothes for myself( which actually fit comfortably), a waterproof walking jacket for my husband, all the curtains, bedspreads, throws and pillowcases in the house and I am currently in the process of making a tipi large enough to accommodate the whole family at a fraction of the price that I would have to pay if I bought it in the shops.
This is an ideal skill to embrace in the cold winter nights and its addictive, my machine is in use all the time now and my daughter is also giving it a go.

[rockchick]

I have sort of 'aquired' my Mum's sewing machine and in a fit of enthusiasm for making stuff I've been trying to investigate making my own clothes. Not sure where to start but there are loads of ideas and links here so I feel encouraged that it can be done.

[snapdragon]

I'm currently sorting out my stash of patterns (whilst looking for a particular 'ONE' !)
having grown out of most of them I shall try to list/photograph/scan those in case they're of use to anybody

[theabsinthefairy]

I know this is an old thread but it looks as though it has be revitalised recently.

Having read through and followed quite a few of the very helpful links (thank you everyone) I would just like to add my penny to the pot!

I have no dressmaking patterns but do like to make and rework old clothes to suit me. And one of things that I have found very helpful is via the good old charity thrift shop.

Find a jacket, trousers, skirt, or shirt in a size that fits and flatters you but in material or colours that you would normally run screaming to hills before wearing. It took me a couple of hours, but eventually I found a pair of trousers that were the right size and also leg length - but an absolutely hideous lilac thin cotton. I warn you though - if you go with a friend to do this, you may split your sides laughing at the truely awful clothes that you end up trying on!!!! (A great way to spend an afternoon in hindsight now)

Take home and take apart - and hey presto - a perfect pattern for reproducing an item of clothing that fits and flatters but can now be remade out of any fabric that you like.

I also found a lovely jacket that was in a bright Hawaian parrot print - but such a lovely fit - I have recreated it twice now in blue velvet and green cord and they always get compliments - but having shown someone the original they could not believe that I even tried it on let alone bought it (all of £2 in the sale at Oxfam).

Monika

[snapdragon]

Superb idea absinthefairy then you have a permanent pattern that wont tear when you're crawling about the floor pinning up and the dog walks over it

I'm seriously considering cutting out my favourite (trousers and tunics)patterns using old cotton muslin curtains that I found at the back of the airing cupboard

[Ellendra]

Superb idea absinthefairy then you have a permanent pattern that wont tear when you're crawling about the floor pinning up and the dog walks over it

When I have a paper pattern I really like, I've started reinforcing it with iron-on fusible interfacing. It doesn't fold up nicely into the envelope anymore, but it won't tear as easily, and you can still pin it.

[Eigon]

The most complicated dress I've made so far is an early medieval dress called a bliaut. The wonderful thing about this pattern (which I simplifed from various re-enactment websites) is that it is all squares and rectangles - no curved seams at all. The idea was that the originals were made from silk, which was incredibly expensive, so nothing was wasted. The sleeves are just straight seams, and the waist is straight, with the skirt being the width of the fabric, as long as you like and then gathered.
It occured to me while I was making it that, with the drop waist, it could easily be adapted for a 1920's look if the skirt was made shorter. I may try that for the summer.
Sorry, no photos.