Making my own clothes

[Susie]

One of my new year's resolutions AKA things I wanted to do was start sewing my own clothes. I really like (some aspects of) fashion (please don't think I'm shallow ...), but I became really disillusioned with the high street when I found out about the conditions things were produced in, and ethical suppliers are great but justifiably ££££ - anyway I always prefer to make my own things when I can.

I thought it would be incredibly difficult to make something wearable, but actually it isn't (although you may disagree when you've seen my photos ). It seems to be mostly about taking your time and doing things methodically, which are things I'm very bad at, so I'm sure it's good for me! Anyway I thought I would show you a couple of things I've made (sorry for links to Flickr I can never get it to let me do photos). Excuse crappy photos, they don't actually look too bad in real life!

This is a smock I made from Seams to Me - the top is made from a curtain from Oxfam and the bottom came from a fabric remnant from a mill in Derbyshire. The top part ends above the bust, so it's not actually as unflattering as you might think! I've worn it out already and wasn't pelted with stones or anything so I think it's ok,

This is a Schoolhouse Tunic from Sew Liberated (needs the thread trimming) - the pattern was a bit dear but I can see myself making more versions, so I think it's worth it. I know not everyone likes wax print fabric (yes I did get a job lot ) but I think it will be fine with jeans and some long necklaces for Spring.

I'm making this shirt next with some lovely cheap cotton lawn I got from efabrics.co.uk (thanks to whoever posted that site), after that I might go wild and learn buttonholes or do something with a zip!

Thanks for looking. Who else is sewing their own clothes?

[crowsashes]

those are really cool, i actually 'liberated' an issue of p-rima magazine (august 09) from the doctors yesterday as it had the pattern in there for a lovely summer top/dress. i did actually take a stack of more recent mags etc in so i didnt feel so guilty.

but i think it would have just been left there at least im putting it to good use!

[Silver Ether]

I often take bits from mags crowsashes ... oops did I admit that .... Susie well done I love that african print top.

[seasidegirl]

I really like these clothes. Very stylish.

My sewing skills extend no further than hemming trousers and replacing buttons unfortunately. Your post is very inspiring though. I really struggled in my needlework class at school (many years ago) and remember the teacher suggesting I take up cookery next term which I did. It was actually the sewing machines that I struggled with, threading them.

Time for another try maybe.

Actually I'd like to figure out a way to make buttons. Only because I read a while ago that 90% of the world's buttons are made in China. How mad is that?

[Nomada]

me, I'm making my own! I've done three skirts, 2 out of recycled denim from jeans that were too tight/ worn in places and a top. I'm also chopping up oversize t shirts and mens shirts to make tops. I'll get some piccies up at some point. I'm drafting a bodice pattern for my own measurements in a sewing class so hopefully soon I might be able to make patterns for tops and dresses! Yay!

The two you've done are great! I especially love the schoolroom tunic, it's lovely.

I* know you've been doing patterns from books but there are loads of free patterns on the internet, try burdastyle, also try weekend designer; http://wkdesigner.wordpress.com/

[Nomada]

Actually I'd like to figure out a way to make buttons. Only because I read a while ago that 90% of the world's buttons are made in China. How mad is that?

Not sure how eco friendly the material is but you can make your own out of fimo or sculpey, I've made loads, they're easy enough to do. You can also try cutting out thick bits of plastic and drilling holes through the middle, then you can also try covering curtain rings with fabric. My fav thing is getting a tree branch, about an inch diameter, saw some of it into slices and drill holes in em, then sand them and wax them. They're beautiful! You can see the grain of the wood.

Maybe we should start a 100 things to make buttons out of post!

[crowsashes]

on the idea of up-cycling worn out clothes, mens cotton t-shirts when no-longer usable make great fabric for knickers!

i have a set of comfy undies i brought ( so comfy i drew a pattern from one pair ) and i made a couple of new pairs out of some scraps of t-shirt fabric they worked really well, i would stick up a picture but then id relinquish any mystery surrounding my under garments ( not that youd be bothered of course!)

[Nomada]

oooh, underwear is on my sewing list for the weekend, specifically this pattern: http://www.colettepatterns.com/blog/col ... i-bloomers in soft t shirt jersey and another in the scraps of satin I have left over from making a cape over xmas (oh yeah, forgot, I made a wool cape!).

Btw, I love the idea of making patterns from garments you already have that are comfy. I've got a dress and a shirt that don't quite fit put away for this purpose, I was going to trace round the peices and add on where I need the extra room.

[Susie]

Brilliant idea to make underwear out of old tshirts. I've actually got some old tshirts I've been saving to cut into strips and crochet a rug and I think that might not be happening in this lifetime, perhaps I'll use them for knickers! Off to google patterns. Nomada, I *love* the idea of a wool cape, did you use a pattern?

(Seasidegirl, yes, do try again because honestly if I can sew clothes anyone can, and I'm not being modest. And my machine has a little diagram on it showing you how to thread it otherwise I'd never remember either. The only thing I ever sewed successfully at school was a cushion, it was successful in that the seams held the stuffing in, but aesthetically we will just say that even my mother stuck it in a cupboard never to see the light of day again).

[Silver Ether]

whats under wear ????

[Nomada]

Nomada, I *love* the idea of a wool cape, did you use a pattern?

My sewing teacher was the same size and shape as me so she let me use one of hers but I was going to use this one:

http://www.fitzpatterns.com/collections ... ng-pattern

This is another site with free/cheap patterns

I made it out of a grey wool fabric from the cheap fabric shop, it's quite warm but has a million mistakes made in the making

Seasidegirl, machines can be tempremental, but some of them are easier to thread now as they have arrows or numbers to show you where the thread need to go next. At least I can do it without having a crying fit so it can't be that bad If you're gonna try sewing again maybe start off making accessories before clothes perhaps. There's a book called Simple Sewing by Lotta Jansdotter that starts off with tea towels and aprons and goes on to make all sorts of bags, hats, some stuff for the house like door stops, draught excluders, hanging organisers etc. I'm maing my way through the book and I love most of the patterns. Sew it up by Ruth Singer is one blokey bought me for my birthday last year and it covers all kinds of things from basic techniques to making buttons to machine embroidery and includes patterns for things like bags, accessories and some clothes like skirts and a jacket. That's another of my faves.

[Keaniebean]

I've been making stuff, mostly cutting up things that I already have an using them to make other more wearable things. A jeans skirt from two pairs of jeans I could no longer go out in without my ass hanging out of, and I've sewn two tops together to make a long dress/top as they had gone too short in the wash, and I definately dont do exposed belly!

I have really fallen in love with my sewing machine at the moment. We have a love/hate thing going on. It's very complicated you know, sometimes it feels like we need marriage help or something

I've really found some fab blogs out there with tutorials on, and they are great for inspiration, I'm cutting up a jumper with a stain on it to make a hat, and I also want to make some sweater boots, both from ideas I foud on blogs.

[crowsashes]

i have a good book called, sewing in no time by emma hardy.

has a fair few really good patterns, making duvet sets, a teepee for kiddies to play in, simple roll up blinds that i actually made for my bedroom and they work great if you dont need to adjust them every day.

i wouldnt mind trying to make a bra, but i think thats going to have to wait as its a slightly more complex thing than knickers.

newspaper, baking paper and brown paper are all great materials for homemade patterns. im getting up a little collection of them now, although most of them are for simple items.

[Keaniebean]

These are what I want to have a stab at next. I have a nice grey jumper that I shrunk in the wash that should be perfect.

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.ph ... msg3852835

But I've got some Mothers day pressies in the making to finnish first.

[Eigon]

Thanks to Nomada for posting the link to those knickers!
I had a look at them, and a little think, and made up my own pattern.
I cut out the pattern using the lower hem of the t-shirt as the waistband of the knickers, cut the legs to shape, and sewed the bit between the legs together, then adding a gusset on top of the join. Then I turned over the waistband, hemmed it and threaded elastic through.
It took me about an hour to hand sew.
To be honest, the best word to describe them is probably 'passionkillers', but they work - I'm wearing them now - and the next pair will be better.
And it's a better use for old t-shirts than going straight to be cleaning rags.