The Clothes Making Chat thread

_kara_

Hello folks. I’m Kara, one of the Educators on the Community team. I wanted to start a thread that would give any members on the Community who make their own clothes a place to chat about what they’ve been up to and share posts about their progress, the equipment they’re using and any info they like. Everyone is welcome to join in and I’m looking forward to seeing what our lovely members have been creating.

This thread will not be a guide on how to do things, but if anyone would like to make a Tips & Guides thread on how to do anything clothing or textile related I will add the link to the thread in the box below so that you can find your way to them all from here.

Later in this thread I’ve made a post with instructions and pictures on how to make and insert pockets for skirts. These are victorian style and are super easy.
https://community.giffgaff.com/d/33092954-the-clothes-making-chat-thread/220
There is a great thread here on exactly how to make a handbag. The bag in question is also pictured in this thread.
https://community.giffgaff.com/d/21113384-how-to-make-a-shoulder-bag-or-purse
This is a video on sewing with a disability and how to make sewing more accessible. The video is on YouTube and embedded in the post.
https://community.giffgaff.com/d/33092954-the-clothes-making-chat-thread/729

Any other guides from members are welcome here, please just get hold of me and I’ll happily add them

Soo… if you knit, sew, spin or anything similar I’d love to see what you do and how you do it. All members are welcome on this thread from beginners knitting their first scarf through to expert milliners who’ve just made their most spectacular hat yet!

frenchielove

_kara_ what a lovely idea. I never was any good at making clothes with a machine even though my mum was a top class seamstress who worked for several designers in her day, I was good at hand sewing and often helped sewing crystals on by hand.
I can knit, although nothing too elaborate, and basic crochet, that's about it. But thinking back, when my children were little I did hand make soft toys. I know for a fact there are a few very able seamstresses on here

brightstar55

_kara_ I have always wished I was able to knit 🧶 a hat 🧢 a blanket and I have always thought it would be amazing to be able to make my own clothes- I could make them the right size- sadly can’t knit or sew 🧵 hopefully one day

yvonnearmstrong

_kara_

Hi Kara and a great thread 😊 and I thought it was funny starting a thread about making clothes😄😄

I run a mile from needles and thread but looking forward to seeing what people can make and I do admire people who can sew 👍

Yvonne

vickyjakesmum

_kara_ that dress is fabulous Kara. Well d one. I livye sewing, but not really much good at making clothes, and I have tried 🤣😂 many times, with patterns.

I've been sorting a few of Mums things. Thought I would share this Needle holder I found. It's a part of sewing history.

pamfletch

_kara_ when I was expecting my first son I bit the bullet and knitted baby clothes but lost all my patterns afterwards, pity because they were pretty shell pattern and things like that, quite complicated and looked good.🤗

pamfletch

_kara_ my late mum crocheted multi coloured blankets for my boys when they were at primary school and when I was at primary school we had a project, we had to make stuffed animals mine was a rabbit holding a carrot which I kept for years luckily the teacher cut them out.😂

huntress77

_kara_
Great idea. I have made clothes in the past and made my wedding dress and some cloaks. Unfortunatly a member of my family destroyed them so I no longer have them. With everything that is going on might be time to get the sewing machine out once again 😉

kroymum

_kara_ Hi there! I knit funky socks with self-patterning wool. The pattern uses two needles so it's not that hard. I started knitting them when my son was at uni in Glasgow and living in a freezing flat!!!

chand311

_kara_ thats great 😍😍😍

stellamobile

_kara_ I'll leave that to my mother she was a machinist working 24/7 from home not my domain I'm afraid . But still great reading what others can Do!

janny27

_kara_
Great idea. I've recently taken up knitting again as we have a Grandchild on the way. So far I've made a hat, a cardigan and now knitting a little hooded jacket. I haven't done much knitting since breaking my wrist a couple of years ago, even now I can't knit for too long at a time.

katie84741

_kara_ just followed .how fun 😁

vickyjakesmum

_kara_ starting another pattern, this time using cheap wrapping paper from Asda.

Going to make my daughter a dress, drafted the pattern from one of her linen shift dresses, fabric ordered. I'll keep you posted.

pinkcalculator

_kara_ Well this is a nice thread to come across on my first step back to see what’s happening. On the way today is a sewing machine 🤗 not my purchase but my eldest who’s very much into crochet and now that she’s finally finished her exams has taken an intrest into sewing. She picked up a humble bundle with sewing books and her and her old school friend are really enjoying an intrest that is very different from their degrees ( her friend is a 4 th year medic and she’s just completed an actuarial degree) I’ll make sure to tell her about the thread and I’ll have a browse through. Hopefully we can stop wonder webbing the hems of trousers though to be honest it’s quick easy and works. She says she’s going to start with mask making as we made some using glue but sewing would be better and they will be useful as she will be using public transport when she starts working in August.

ja11

_kara_ I made a face mask from my wife’s old bra’. Unfortunately, after cutting the bra in half, I made a fatal error. I put it on, and my wife said, “take that off, you look like a right tit.”
Xy.

justeena1

_kara_ wow great page i also love it thanks you arrange for us👌👏well done

auntpixie

_kara_ i have knitted and crochet for years made clothes for all the family. now i am learning how to weave, its good to keep on learning a new skill . this will be a good thread.

miche22542

_kara_ I’ve had my sewing machine out for the first time in ages…just been narrowing the legs on my husband’s cropped trousers..He is pleased with them,they look more modern. 🤗💛🌈

_kara_

frenchielove
I can do simple crochet, but I've never learned how to knit. It's a shame as I do like a nice snuggly knitted jumper!

_kara_

I decided to start off with a simple pattern, just to ease myself in. I found this one;

caro120

_kara_

is that an old one or retro?

very nipped in waist, wouldn't fit me lol

is that bias binding round hems, piping on tummy panels, looks quite an advanced one?

did needlecraft and dress at school, GCE, were still on hand sewing machines and I never got the hang of electric, scary.. think someone had a story about sewing finger into a seam, silly how these things put you off.

So made a few things but used french seaming to finish rather than zigzag.

Have got cheap sewing machine upstairs have never even tried out and friend the same, probably bought off same shopping channel, was only about £30 so wonder if it works lol!

verityjahane

_kara_ I really want to make that one!

natasa80

_kara_ retro is def in

_kara_

This is the outcome. I found some nice shiny material that I think will look good in the sun!

ikhra_h

_kara_ That looks so fab Kara! 😍 😍 😍 😍 😍 😍 Cannot wait to see this thread bloom

frenchielove

_kara_ well done, that is looking fab

verityjahane

_kara_ is it comfy?

tibbsyboo

_kara_ Well done, FABULOUS and AMAZING dress!! I can't use a sewing machine but when I was in school, cut the legs off my jeans, frayed and bleach patterned them, then made a mini duffel bag out of the cut offs. I also hand made two pairs of curtains, took forever!

_kara_

I cut the skirt too small so had to add in an extra panel at the back, but I reckon it looks OK.

surviver

_kara_ Well done, you must feel proud of yourself. Do you have any more projects planned? Take good care of yourself, be safe.

kath72

_kara_
ive made a couple of dresses for my daughter ...started with one for her school formal cos they are so ridiculously expensive to buy. Made a summer dress and another one from the same pattern .. I’ll see if I can take some pictures

mist of my sewing has been curtains though 😂

_kara_

kath72
I'd love to see some pictures if you do take any! Did you make them from patterns or did you design them yourself?

_kara_

brightstar55
The great thing about the patterns is that they come with step by step instructions, all you need to do is follow them exactly. Anything I didn't understand at first I googled and I found some great instructional videos on youtube that really helped.

joanne56379

brightstar55
I have been using a loom to knit hats this winter , it’s really easy and quick . I watched YouTube videos and taught myself . I bought really cheap wool to practice with and once I was happy with the results I bought nicer wool . You could do it , give it a try you’ll be surprised at how simple it is plus if you’re stuck in it’s something to do .

brightstar55

_kara_ Thank you. I will try
to look for an easy pattern

kath72

_kara_ I made them a couple of years ago ... used a pattern but I was going to experiment for her uni graduation ball except she’s not going to get one now 🙁

made bags to match too which I designed the pattern for myself ... well designed is too good a word, I pinned and sewed it together till I had it how I wanted it 😂

_kara_

kath72
I definitely need to see pics of your creation!

_kara_

surviver
I have this one planned. It's what I was working my way up to.

wagstaffes

_kara_ this looks the ladies I've seen at Whitby's goth weekend. Beautiful dress.

ikhra_h

_kara_ Very Mary Poppinsy!

woolcos

_kara_ I LOVE it but where would you wear it?

_kara_

I will be making it in this fabric

with this colour as a contrast

and the shirt in this colour

brightstar55

_kara_ That’s looks really nice

surviver

_kara_ wow!! That looks a great challenge, but fantastic. You will be kept very busy for a long time with that. Thanks for sharing.

suziehar

_kara_ Like the look of that…..I love historical fashion

_kara_

brightstar55
That's why I started with the one I started with. It was very simple, but gave me practice on reading patterns and familiarised me with most of the terms.

Second hand patterns are very cheap. Just make sure to read the discription to make sure that if they've been cut, they're either cut to your size or cut out and folded down to use (I fold mine so that they can be used to make other sizes if ever wanted).