our sewing forum

Yes, I agree.
It's like knitting, it is usually cheaper to buy.

I remember chatting to a young woman who said she made all her own clothes and said she liked to be unique. She said she sourced her fabrics in Cyprus.
We couldn't chat more as I was in a queue and she was serving me and I really don't remember how we got on to the subject.

I think the days of making it yourself being a cheap option have gone Callistemon. I tell myself I can get a lovely design in a lovely fabric for cheaper than then equivalent and, hopefully, a better fit.

With overlockers coming up earlier this might be of interest to some Serger 101 Online Workshop with Katrina I don't know what it's like but it might be worth rummaging on the site to get and idea.

It's a long time since I bought a pattern and I must admit I was rather shocked when I saw the price of a pattern for a simple top.

I've just read this thread for the first time and it might even get me sewing again! I'd given up because my eyesight and hand/eye coordination aren't what they used to be. I still have a machine - a very basic modern Singer. A few years ago it used to take me about half an hour to set it up, threading etc, before starting.
The last things I made were 4 pairs of wide-legged trousers with elastic waist. 2 were of that light synthetic cloth, can't remember the name, viscose? The others 2 different kinds of needlecord that I got from America - very cheap.
I used to follow this blog:
www.blogforbettersewing.com/
She has some good videos too, not always my style but very cheerful.
And this unusual one:
sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com/
I think Zoe is a mother of a young family, and specialises in making something from nothing.
Now you've got me thinking of something simple to start with - I was never an expert.

I'm thinking of making a couple of tops from material I found in my stash.
Making face masks is all very well but possibly more fiddly and difficult than sewing a garment.

Thanks for the links and recommendations everyone.

I can recommend Style Arc patterns who are an Australian company but there are several sites in the UK which sell a selection of their patterns. The patterns always seem to fit well but the instructions are a bit minimal.

Also just found this thread. I am an absolutely fanatic about sewing so I'm thrilled. I got back into it five years ago after watching Great British Sewing Bee. I keep a spreadsheet of all my sewing since 2015 and I've just counted up - 252 items, mainly clothes for me! I don't buy any now. My Mother taught my twin sister and I to sew over 60 years ago. We're lucky as we're both a fairly standard size and height so not too many pattern alterations.
In case it hasn't come up before, Bluprint/Craftsy are closing down shortly as is Patternbox - an app to store patterns. Very disappointing.

There was a lovely piece on Radio 4 this morning about how we are now expected to adapt our bodies to fit standard sizes and why "fit" matters. The lady talking has been a fitter for decades and pointed out that we have only had off the peg clothes for since the 1940s/50s. Before that the clothes were made to fit or we made them ourselves to fit. It made me feel really great about the growing interest in dressmaking.

It's here if anyone wants to listen to it.

I have just discovered this THREAD. Great fun reading through and great to know there are so many of us sewing clothing again.
I have always had to alter commercial patterns being short and pear shaped. But some are just badly cut and Simplicity aren't great. I have always bought Vogue.
The Indie Patterns are more modern and I have found them very nicely made.
I have just unpicked a pair of my favourite trousers and made a pattern from them. You can't purchase them anymore so I figured it was OK. They look great.

I get lovely quality fabric from the fabric store

thefabricstoreonline.com/

Did you notice someone asked the question during the live bit about what to do if you had already cut it Nonna? You will be a long way from being the only one

I really prefer the indie patterns. They are on much thicker paper so you can easily trace off the size you want and then trace another size later. That makes it easier to adapt the pattern too. I find the instructions much easier too.

GGumTeeth thanks for the post re see me something FB post on Tightening an armhole. Helped me understand what I ‘should have done’ before cutting out! Picked up fabric today from local sewing shop. Chatting to owner said I was using a Simplicity pattern for pj bottoms and my issue with tank top fitting. She doesn’t recommend/stock Simplicity due to the problems folk have had re fitting etc. She says the newer indie pattern makers are better as they have been tested to the nth degree and not mass produced. Has anyone else had any issues with the major pattern makers with regards to sizing etc?

I think most of us will come across a time when we need to make changes to a commercial pattern. Being able to pick the brains of those in the know is so useful. In my case it also brings to the surface thing learned about half a century ago

I’ve done several college courses in pattern cutting and luckily have a dress block and trouser block to my measurements so in theory could draft any pattern from that. But pattern cutting is a skill which takes years so sometimes it’s easier to buy commercial patterns and adjust. You have to be good at maths and geometry

Just watched Jules of "Sew me Something" on her Technique Tuesday. You can see it on her FB page or later on it goes on YouTube. This week it was Tightening an Armhole for all those who have a gape in the armhole. Apparently this happens more if you leave the sleeves out of a pattern that has been designed to have them but obviously it can occur whatever pattern you use.

I find it easier to watch on my phone if it is on Facebook (which probably tells us something about the age of my lap top) or on YouTube later. This is where to find it on the FB page

I would be really interested in watching others like this if anyone knows of any.

Ah they start at us size 12 which is a uk 16 so too big for me unfortunately. I’m going to buy a big roll of cheap lining paper from the range and have a go with my new book but thanks for the link

They sound good I’ll have a look

I bought lots of patterns from america in the past, no tax to pay. This make is very good for the short `mature` figure, All the designs worked well. Just look past the rather old photography on the pattern packs
sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/reviewgallery.pl

petitepluspatterns.com/

I have many of her patterns and they fit in all the right places

Ruby, I have the Lidl Singer overlocker too! I was in America at the time visiting my grandchildren and my husband queued up for it. Then kept asking me when I was going to actually use it. Problem was I had unthinkingly unthreaded it and it was such a pain to rethread. In fact in the first few times of using it, I almost cried if it came unthreaded!
I used to do French seams on most garments if the fabric was fairly fine but now mainly whizz away with the overlocker.
It definitely makes garments more professional looking.

In lockdown I’ve made
A big patchwork cushion with all my scraps of batik from Malaysia
2 heatproof table mats
A heatproof bag for my hair straighteners ( for when we can travel again!)
A stretchy wide hair band to cover lockdown grey roots.
A summer sleeveless top
A skirt for one granddaughter
A shift dress for myself
Converted a too tight full skirted dress into a skirt for myself
New liners for my bike baskets ( to transport lockdown flasks of tea)
A dolls dress for another granddaughter

And knitted
A jumper for myself
A cardigan for myself
3 baby cardigans for the next grandchild due in August

Not done an awful lot of housework though!

I’ve just ordered a book from amazon called “Metric pattern cutting for Women’s wear” so that I can make my own patterns to fit my body. Clothes and commercial patterns are always I’ll fitting as I have such a short body.

I am very pleased with the sofa seat covers so have decided to make another pair plus a couple of 60 x 60 cushion covers for other seats. If I leave it I will forget how to make them. This time the fabric is a beautiful printed cotton, the sample is tonnes better than the pictures. I have over-ordered but leftovers will be suitable for other things. I don`t think I will need to pattern match but never say never hence the extra fabric. The sample has pinked edges and there is no sign of fraying
www.the-millshop-online.co.uk/curtains-upholstery-iliv-botanist-cotton-carmine-fabric.html

The sample is a perfect match with my rug

It is wonderous how a room ambience is so easily changed. My sewing room was fairly messy in that I have not done anything with it since I `dumped` my things in there when I moved in a year ago. I had a lovely large floor to ceiling cupboard built with many shelves, a bit of hanging space and cupboards on top. He used a nice matt white paint and it is tactile and not cheap looking, wasn`t cheap anyway as I had it purpose mad by a time-served cabinet maker

There is still space in that cupboard . I recently hung pegboards up, long ones, one each side of the window and a wide one above my office desk, now overlocking table and holder of various baskets. The pegboards were not cheap, not garage type boards and I bought extra shelves for them. They look marvellous. I call it moving expenses
kreisdesign.com/collections/peg-boards

I have a an easy chair in their with very low arms, very suitable for contemplating, reading or knitting and a floor to ceiling curved unit,curves to the left, away from the window, german I think and light oiled oak, now 15 years old, has glass doors along the centre, cupboards above and below the glass, moveable shelves and 2 drawers underneath. It just fits under the ceiling with a couple of inches to spare. I moved all of that myself, it is so precious, the men only moved the carcass. I was up a ladder first screwing ties to the wall, then putting heavy doors on, balanced on my shoulder. When it was full, I left it for 11 months. I was tired

Then 2 weeks ago, I sorted that room, after installing the pegboards. My dressform no longer nags me and suddenly I have a lovely calm room that I love

Like the pattern craftyone. Is it interesting to see it in the different fabrics.

I've rediscovered sewing during lockdown by joining a Zoom sewing class, we make three items a month, and the fourth week is usually taken up with finishing, embroidering etc.

Every month I go to pick up three projects, all packed up outside the sewing teachers house in a box with everything needed for each project (but we have to cut out ourselves), and then 5 of us Zoom and make something each week. So far we've made:

A summer top
A tote bag
A cosmetic bag with zip
A child's apron
A cushion cover (with embroidery)
A folded "book" with "pages" to store needles and pins, with a patchwork outer, using up our scraps.
Oh yes and face masks.

I am completely hooked and look forward so much to my class each week, this week we are making pull-on summer shorts.

Not nearly as advanced as some of what is discussed on here, but it is really enjoyable. Plus I've rediscovered embroidery and I've found an Etsy seller that sells modern transfers, currently I'm stitching House Plants on to the cushion cover that I made.

I have many happy memories of my gran and my mother sewing away and although I did some sewing in the 60s I never really kept it up, but it seems the time just wasn't right for me, and now it is!

Thank you for the links. I'm about 40 mins from Trago Mills. Will venture out when I feel a little more confident.

Currently looking for a pattern for trousers with pockets

This is the top, I loved it, it wore out, was so comfortable in that cheap linen
sewing.patternreview.com/patterns/66118

I bought the paper pattern from the fairygodmother

I think I put the wrong size `really useful` down. Same size as yours, 18 litres I think

PDF is fine, a bit of patience is needed, the A4 pieces all have an overlap for sticking. Not my scene any more

I have been wearing all hm clothing for several weeks and am loving them, loving the fabrics.

Do you generally make up a tuille (mock up)? I do now, very quickly with some cheap fabric in my stash but sometimes I like it so much that I have ended up sewing it properly eg a top I made with cheap pink linen from ebay with 3/4 sleeves, it was such a useful top with a round yoke and some gathers below the yoke, decorative buttons and slip on

I have a book next to me, it arrived 2 days ago. Really good condition hardback via amazon. 501 sewing hints from the viewers of sewing with Nancy. I liked Nancy a lot

I have just logged back in to patternreview.com. I found some good patterns via their opinions. I wanted to know about the assembly line pattern. Might have a browse later