does anyone make their own clothes anymore i use to but haven't done it in a long time i was just wondering if anyone does this anymore and could give me some tips thanks dorothy

Once I'm working again, one of the first things I'm going to do is buy a sewing machine, and you bet, I'll be making clothes with it. I'm afraid I don't know how yet, but maybe we can compare notes when that time comes.

I am sooo sick of things not being available any more in stores. Everything in my size is made of stretch fabric, button-down shirts don't button all the way up any more, and frankly, I'm not that fond of today's styles.

It's too expensive. Used to be a great way to save money.

I've tried. I'm just not talented in that area. But, I would love to know how to do it. Over the years I've spent more money on patterns and fabric that turned out awful. I've always envied people who could sew...I wish I could. You should go for it!

i don't "sew" lol! i only quilt..i think they are totally different! i would love to be able to make a few tops or PJ's..they have "quick sew" or something like that (patterns) at Joanns. i have few for a someday project! it used to be cheaper to make your own, not so anymore.

I used to make all of my own clothes. I still make my dresses and most of my blazers. I made all of the bridesmaids dresses for my daughters wedding. I love making girlie dresses for my granddaughters. I also make flannel pants for everyone in the family. They love that they can pick their fabric. I am teaching my granddaughter to make her own clothing too. I do alot of mending for people also but the one thing I refuse to do is to replace zippers for anyone. I can put a zipper in to a new clothing item but I can't seem to get the hang of replacing them.

I have made shorts and crop pants, the crop pants I liked in the mailorder we so expensive, $59 so I knew i could make them cheaper and the same pattern had shorts. Just try something easy, shorts are easy. go for it. Lace

Start with one of the $2.98 patterns from Wal-mart. There are patterens for several things from purses to dresses. Other patterns are $9 and up, so you don't want to invest that unless you have to.

I have made everything from sleep pants and Halloween costumes to prom dresses. Just follow the instructions.

I make my own clothes because the stores just don't carry modest clothing. I wear a lot of jumpers which I make and just buy shirts--if I can find some that don't show a bunch of cleavage and have sleeves in them. My soon to be 11 yr old daughter is convinced that her clothes are "designer originals" because I don't use patterns. She loves the clothes I make for her although I also buy a lot of her clothes. I'm not much for shopping for clothes when there's so much fabric out there to buy. :lol:

I've been sewing since I was a little girl and making my own clothes since I was in high school. I once made my husband a 3 piece suit, myself a two piece dress and each of my three children an outfit for Easter. I made my daughter her wedding dress but generally got "too busy" to sew for a few years. I am back into it now. I have not only the quilting bug but I collect patterns and am teaching my grandaughter to sew. I will suggest the following for anyone who is interested in sewing clothing. I have seen the video and it is on my list for Mother's Day as a suggestion for gifts for my children to get me......lol!


http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...idence+book.do

I make my own Scrubs for work. The ones in the stores are very juvenile lately (I don't think a 60yr old nurse looks good in Dora the Explorer). The cost works out about the same but things fit. I used to make all my clothes; thinking about doing more. I'm tired of shopping for tops and they're the size of a tube sock and marked size large!!

I used to make a lot of my own clothes -- "fashion" fabric was much less expensive then :lol: :lol: And now I have several totes full of fabric that would be excellent for "office wear" that I have no more use for....do you think anyone would be interested in purchasing some of it???

does making clothes that went out of style 150 years ago count? :P

Keep an eye out on pattern sales. Joann's fabric will run them for 99 cents once in a while; use the coupons so you can get the better fabrics; shop the on-line fabric stores.

Most of all, take your time with the pattern.

I like making my own clothes because, although the costs might end up the same, that item will be done to fit me - not everyone size fill-in-blank here.

nothing more than vests (quilted of course), or skirts for me.

I walk by this and cringe. My daughter wants me to make it for her. I'm terrified. I'd rather do 5,000 HST's by hand while sitting in the dentist's chair. LOL! I'm so dramatic!

I make some of my own clothes, shirts, pants, skirts. I had a body scan done by www.unique.com and can buy patterns from them that fit my body. No need to make any adjustments on the pattern, just sew them up and the fit perfectly! Fit is the main reason I like making clothes for myself.

Chele -- don't sweat the small stuff!! That will be VERY easy to make -- trust me :lol: :lol:

When I went to that website, it pulled up a media company that looks like it's in the UK. Can you double check the address? I'm very intrigued. Thanks.

I make most of my clothes. I buy patterns and fabric when they are on sale or recreate my own patterns. It's so hard to buy clothes that aren't cut down to the .................. or up to the ................ I've started buying camisoles bc I want to have some parts covered. Even the new patterns have to much skin showing. I've made at least one of anything you can think of. I made my DD wedding dress and my DIL wanted me to make hers. Made one for a niece too. Don't do wedding dress anymore. I want to start making Olivia dresses, just waiting for her to start walking. Already got fabric and patterns for her.

Yes I sew a lot of my own clothes also. I made about all of my maternity clothes and my children's clothes until they were in middle school. My daughter recently asked me to teach her to sew, so right now we are in the process of making a cute tucked vest from one of my husband's old flannel shirts.

I dont sew either...only quilt ha ha ha but I ran across this yesterday and I think Im going to try it...see what happens...

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=791

so cute and sew easy...

Oops, I gave the wrong site name. Sorry about that. :oops:

Anyone who is not the "average" size or shape should check this out.

http://www.uniquepatterns.com/

I liked the Sewmamasew site and put it in my favorites.

I've sewed (some of) my own clothes for years, long before I ever quilted, and I always just used the goofy patterns from the fabric store (only when on sale!). Now my daughter is a costume design major in college and is learning all kinds of fancy tailoring and other skills. Over her spring break, she taught me how to make my own patterns on a dress form. I sketched a design of a top, mocked it up with ribbon pinned to the form, made a muslin pattern and transferred it to paper for cutting. I feel like Project Runway now!

I'm surprised there isn't some kind of computer software that would let you put in your measurements, then show you a body form and let you create designs, see what they look like, and then print them out.

I'm making a dress but since it's by hand its taking forever.

Watch the sales at JoAnn's, often the patterns are $.99. That would be for Simplicity, McCalls or Butterick. McCall's and Butterick are the same company now, and are better engineered than Simplicity. I use simplicity as a last resort. Personally, I like Vogue, the best engineered going. I haven't used the European patterns much, mostly because when they first came out, they didn't include the seam allowances and it drove me NUTS!

For an initial project, choose something with very few seams. Keep it simple. Use a cotton broadcloth, it is probably the easiest to sew on, not so many slipping issues as a satin or a loosly woven fabric.

Be sure to use a needle suited for the job. You probably don't want to use a tiny needle, you'll experience too much breakage, but by the same token, do use a great big one either. About an 75-80 would be good. Also, use a ball point needle for knits.

Back to the patterns. On the main pattern piece, you will find a number at the bust and/or hip. That number indicates the FINISHED garment measurement at that point, not your size. It gives you an indication of what the ease is, or how much extra fabric you will have to fit around you. You don't want the finished garment the same as you, it would fit like skin, only a lot less comfortable. Depending on the style, you want at least 2" of ease, and if the pattern is to be loose fitting, even more, or if it's a knit, perhaps a bit less, again, depending on the style. Be prepared for the pattern size to be bigger then your ready-to-wear size, sometimes as much as two or more sizes. It's just a pattern and you can sew a size 2 label in it later... :)

Be aware of the arrows, they indicate where the pattern peice is to be placed in conjunction with the grain of the fabric. If you have a fabric with a nap, or is otherwise a one way print, be sure all the arrows are pointing the same direction, this ensures your garment doesn't have "upside down" parts when it is all assembled.

I've probably told you too simple of things, but I really don't know how much experience you have. If you want more, please ask, I'm more than happy to share what I know. (and I really know a lot about clothing construction)

i makeall my own

We just had a sale on patterns. I'm not sure if they are going on still though.

There ae several different computer software programs. Sorry I can't remember the name of all of them.

Bernina just came out with one called My Label that does just that. I'm sure it isn't cheap though.

I used to make all my clothes. Sometimes it was hit or miss. Some looked good and some didn't. Hard to justify the time spent when you didn't like wearing it after you finished it. When you add in notions, pattern, Thread and material, you can't sew cheaper than you can buy at TJMaxx, Target, Marshall's, Clearance racks for Nordstrom, and Loehmanns. I may go back to it though, just to get a pair of slacks to fit.

You're right that it's sometimes more expensive to make your own clothes than to buy them, but if fit matters, then it is sometimes worth the time, money and effort put into it.

I buy most of my clothes now because I don't have the time to make them, but if I did have the time, I'd much rather have make them because they fit so much better.

Now I love that! Thanks for the link!

Thanks, both of you.

MissTreated, your advice was not at all too basic, at least not for me. I copied it to refer to whenever I finally get that sewing machine.

When you say Vogue patterns are engineered better than McCall's/Butterick, and they are better than Simplicity, what makes them better or worse?

Thanks, got it. Turns out there's a shop not far from me.

I still sew clothes, making my granddaughter a easter dress now

It would be cool if you got yourself scanned so you can share the experience with everyone. They give you one free pattern when you get scanned, but they only give you a few to choose from. I got a button down blouse and have made several of them. It is wonderful not to have to make any adjustments to the pattern at all. The location near you is their headquarters.

After you get scanned, they send you an email a week or so later and ask you to take some measurements, then email them back. Makes perfect sense when you consider that the scan can only do so much.

They give you a catalog of patterns you can buy. The patterns are around $18-20 each and are printed on about 20 lb paper (same as regular copy paper). When you order an item, you can get it with different collars or different sleeves for a small fee. The patterns are wonderful - the 5 pocket jeans pattern is their most popular.

I've thought of doing this. How do you keep up with the new pattern designs? They offered this service at the Expos. I've even seen one software that allowed you to print your patterns. Then you would have to tape them together. Some times I take pieces of patterns from different patterns to make my own designs.

The pattern pieces are more precise, they fit better. The "very easy, very vogue" are the simplest, just be mindful of how many seams there are. Many of Vogue patterns are pretty intense.