The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: Fleecewife on January 17, 2016, 04:06:31 pm
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Is anyone on here a dressmaker? I haven't used my sewing machine once since we moved here 20 years ago, not even to make curtains. As a teenager I made all my own clothes, except underwear, and I was quite good at it, although no expert.
Now I need to make some curtains, chair covers etc so am checking over my sewing machine. I thought that as I'm going to be using it I might as well make some clothes as well. So I've been online to look at some patterns. My favourite make was Simplicity so I started with them, then looked at other makes. Whatever has happened to dressmaking? ??? There are far more patterns for dolls' clothes than for adults, and the ones there are are drab and dreary. On looking close-up, the makeup of the examples tends to be very poor too - collars sitting at different heights, seams not lying smooth, cheap flimsy fabrics used. I'm totally underwhelmed with the choice and quality, and I think the only option is to work out how to make my own patterns so I get exactly what I want.
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I have recently gone back to a bit of dressmaking and was also a bit dismayed at the range of patterns available, and the price! I have made a couple of skirt patterns based on skirts I own, and to make a patchwork waistcoat I bought a cheap waistcoat in a charity shop and took it apart to give me the pattern. I am not confident enough to make a blouse pattern, but have made a tee shirt pattern. There are several online sewing shops, e.g. Jaycotts, that often have patterns on sale. For fabrics, I have had some good quality, reasonably priced things from just fabrics, who are a German company but sell through the UK with no excessive postage charges.
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Yep, poor choice and they are sooo expensive.
If you subscribe to prima magazine you get a free pattern each month. If you don't want to subscribe watch out for something you would like to make and then ring this number they give to get your paper pattern. You have to pay a couple of pounds for the call but it's cheaper than buying one of the others.
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Just remembered, the fabric company is my fabrics not just fabrics! Memory lapse again!
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Funnily enough, I used to make all my own clothes, and was thinking of doing so again. I always used to use Burda Magazine (German) patterns and I just looked and it is still published. The magazine has lots of free patterns in it to trace out.
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I was talking to a friend last week who made all her children's and her own clothes but has signed up for a dress making class so she can learn the correct way to do things. She had to buy a pattern and some fabric and couldn't believe the cost. It would have been cheaper to buy off the peg.
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I looked at a pattern for a denim blue type dress, apparently its the height of fashion atm. I was also wondering about sewing dresses too, but I just haven't got the time. Could you let us know how everything goes though? Would be interesting to hear
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Charity shops? I know several people who have donated their parents collections of patterns to local charity shops.
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Good idea.
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Thank you for all the replies - I'm glad I'm not the only one unimpressed by current sewing patterns. I found this:
www.dragonflyfabrics.co.uk (http://www.dragonflyfabrics.co.uk) which appears to have a lot of independent pattern designers, but just as I was getting interested my broadband died on me. I'll check it out later.
I don't want to use old patterns - I have drawers full of them, none of which would be appropriate now. Then I was in my teens and twenties, fairly slim - now, well lets just say I'm not :innocent:
I thought I would start with something simple, so I'll go for a full length circular cloak. I've no idea when I'll wear it, but that's not the point. I've found some ideal wool fabric (British wool of course) which won't break the bank. It doesn't need a pattern so that will save me a tenner. Of course I have to make several pairs of curtains first, and I haven't found the material I want for those yet.
Etsy no sorry Craftsy, does sewing courses I think, and there are so many you tube thingies to watch, so I think I'll be OK :fc:
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I remember getting a book with cd from the library a couple of years ago - it had several items of clothing to make and what you did was enter your measurements into the programme and it generated a series of a4 pdfs that you joined together to make your bespoke sewing pattern. The book helped you to make up the garment etc. Im sure there must be similar software packages out there..
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You could make your own pattern adjusted from a similar old one you like or shirt, dress, shatever.
Do a mock up with an old sheet, tacked so you can alter it and you can draw on alterations, darts etc.
easier if you've got a tailors dummy or helpful friend of course.
I'm sure there must be library books that show you how to make up your own basic patterns.
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Fleecewife, I have just discovered this website which you may find interesting.
http://www.guthrie-ghani.co.uk/about (http://www.guthrie-ghani.co.uk/about)
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If you're not a single standard size do have a look at the curvysewingcollective.com they have lots of advice on adapting patterns. The US is a great source for downloadable patterns, but I haven't attempted this yet as i'm still a beginner. Sewtinagivens.com are also more interesting.
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Thank you Bionic and Calvadnack - I'll investigate both those sites :thumbsup:
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pinterest is a good website for dress patterns too. There is a lady on there which makes them all the time, quite stylish too, wish I could remember the name though. Always worth a try I suppose......
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pinterest is a good website for dress patterns too. There is a lady on there which makes them all the time, quite stylish too, wish I could remember the name though. Always worth a try I suppose......
[member=42855]waterbuffalofarmer[/member] - what exactly is pinterest? Not forgetting I'm ancient and not totally online savvy, I often see things on pinterest, but when I go to it, I'm not allowed to see much. So, erm, what will I find if I join? Apart from sewing patterns? :dunce:
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If you join pinterest they give you a list of stuff for you to choose from which interests you. Whatever you tick the box to it comes up on your profile.