Sewing Struggles...

emma dilemma · Post by **emma dilemma** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 11:08 am

i was just given a bunch of fabric sample books and am working on sewing some outfits. skirts, bags, cute sexy shirts...
but, and it's a big but, i don't really know what i'm doing and all of the patterns i've been finding are HIDEOUS! serious old lady/nursing home clothes. for real. anyone want to send me sewing patterns?
Thanks!
~Emma

(that's me, real confused!)

phil · Post by **phil** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 12:53 pm

Is there a size? Shirts, skirts, slacks? Sizes? Jackets, coveralls, gowns? Sizes?

emma dilemma · Post by **emma dilemma** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 2:21 pm

okay... now i really know that i don't know what i'm doing. i guess just asking for patterns is a bit vague. so, yes, i'm a medium (roughly a 9/10 in stupid american girl dress sizes) and i'm looking mainly to do a couple skirts and maybe a dress if i don't wind up sewing my hand into a skirt! we'll see how a skirt goes (which i would think is relatively easy) before undertaking a dress, though. since i have all of these fabric samples i'm going to sew a bunch together to make big pieces of cloth and then go from there as far as cutting it as i need it.
also, if anyone wants to come by and help me, i would have enough fabric for you to make something as well.
jeez, only 76 days to figure this (and a million other things) out. anyone else starting to stress?

missmann · Post by **missmann** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 2:41 pm

You can make your own patterns from clothes you already own and love.
I've done this before with shirts, pants and skirts- if you aren't experienced with sewing, I'd suggest picking something with simple lines for your first try.
Turn the article of clothing inside out, pin tracing paper to it along the seams, and then draw the edges of the pattern- yeah, I know these are vague instructions, but they kinda make sense, right? So then you can cut out your pattern making sure to leave a seam allowance and making sure you've accomodated any zippers... When you go to sew your piece, try it out on some inexpensive fabric first, like broadcloth, just to make sure it works how you want it to. ANd when you are sewing the final piece, choose fabric like the fabric the original was- like if you make a pattern from a cotton dress shirt, dont try to recreate it in jersey- they hang different and jersy has way more stretch...
If you want to work from manafactured patterns, I'd suggest going to your local fabric store- to find good patterns you'll haev to spend time browsing the books...

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:15 am

And remember.....DYE is cheaper than FABRIC. Hit the thrift stores.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 8:32 am

Apparently you can also down load patterns off the net. I have no experience in knowing if those are worth the trouble. And you can probably brouse for them and order them there too.

falk · Post by **falk** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 2:29 pm

That sounds way cool, but how do you print them out?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 2:39 pm

That's the old print, draw on a grid, draw a larger grid on butcher paper or large newsprint and then square by square draw the pattern onto the larger paper. (Do you know what I'm saying?) These days I think you can buy a projector or if you have access to an overhead projecter, then you print (or photocopy) onto transparency and project onto large paper and then trace the outlines. If you went to stinko's or some such place, they might have the really large printer and could print the size you need. Consult if you want to take in a floopy I think.

emma dilemma · Post by **emma dilemma** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 1:15 am

you's guy's rule! i'm so excited about this year. last year was to pop my cherry, and i didn't really understand how to prepare. this year... it's on!

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:13 am

I found the "omnigarment" on a costumer's site, I may make up a few of these as they look super easy and super versatile.

http://www.costumes.org/tara/portfolio/ ... iagram.jpg

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 9:26 am

I learned how to sew in the Summer of '99 because I wanted to make a Beduin outfit for the Event (loose pants w/ elastic waistband, a caftan, and an over-robe). In retrospect, I'm glad I chose an outfit that was not fitted or required perfect stitching. It took forever to get it right, and a LOT of stitch picking. The tough part was teaching myself how to make it perfectly reversable.

My advice to anyone just learning to sew: use fabrics that are easy to handle (my favorite is cotton weave), has a lot of slack as far as fitting, and approach the project dilligently. SO many times I'd get frustrated and want to give up, but I just kept telling myself that as long as I was making progress, I'd eventually finish. And I did. I still have my first project, which was the over-robe. Now I'm embarrassed about the bad stitching, but it is still a fond memory of a learning curve conquered. Have faith that over time it will become easier.