Clothes sewing..

I make a lot of my own clothes, both using patterns and being "creative" with old clothes. I like to be original so I try to design my own things, and have made up my own patterns before now. I love adapting old clothes, taking an old sleeveless dress and fitting sleeves into it, or fitting panels into an old skirt to make it into something new and funky.

I love making my own clothes. Mostly dresses and skirts and shirts. I don't really make pants or shorts but I do alter them to make them fit better. I also add designs to them. People are always asking me where I got some of the things I made and I would tell them I made it and I have even been offered altering jobs and to make pageant dresses for two little girls. But I never have time half the time to do what I want much less for others and pageant dresses yes I can do but is very time consuming and have to be perfect perfect. I will just stick to making my own and maybe a few gifts for others. Patterns, Well I love to go to Walmart and look in their crafting area at their pattern books I usually will buy a pattern that can be altered to be be several other different outfits and I have even made my own especially if I like a pattern and they don't come in my size which is often since I am overweight. I save all the brown paper bags I can and use them to make good sturdy patterns. I get my ideas from magazines,movies,televsion,other peoples clothes,patterns at the store. I have been sewing since I was eight years old and learned to make my dolls some clothes and I have been sewing ever since and I also quit something that my grandma taught me when I was 12. I also love making christmas ornaments everyone loves them so I always make extra and put them one their gifts.

Hi ravenlady! What a great question. I usually use patterns when I'm sewing. Once I have made one and like it, then I'll experiement a little and make the pattern my "own." My grandmother taught me how to take sleeves from one pattern and put them on another. Easy little things like that. I do gain inspiration for various sewing magazines. Sew Trends and Sew Sassy are two that come to mind. They deal with a lot of the new trends in sewing and help me with the altering and re-doing of clothing.

I honestly can't use patterns, there is just something about them that utterly baffles me. So whenever I make my own clothes, I have to come up with my ideas from scratch, more or less. Mainly I only make a lot of skirts, though I tried my hand at altering a shirt this weekend, and it turned out wonderfully! Granted, it was just turning an old T-shirt into a tube top with a neck strap, but I was still pleased that it fit me and looked cute! :)

I love buying something on sale and making it MINE! Get a big pile of safety pins, then try the garment on wrong-side out. If it needs to be taken in or shortened, just pin where it feels comfortable, then mark with an air-or water-eraseable marker to make a new seam-line. Sew the first time with BIG stitches so its easy to rip!! I go to online stores and look at whats new... find a store that fits your taste. Sometimes the simplest trim or changing buttons can make a world of difference!! I also knit or crochet on the edges of plain garments, and my FAVORITE fix is to buy plain button-up shirts and then hand-sew lace over the collar, buttonhole strip, cuffs and yoke... lace doesn't ravel, so just recut over the buttonholes and use a TEENY bit of fabric glue to bond the pieces together. Its great that you have an interest in being original! Start on clothes you won't miss, or thrift shop stuff, then once you get a couple finished, you'll be hooked! I was a bridal seamstress for 20 years, and 'winging it' with clothing was how I rebelled against the structuring of the princess bodice and the sweetheart neckline!

I quite often make or alter my clothes, or those of other people upon request, I've even tried my hand at costume making and that was a success too. I tend to use patterns and alter or adapt them to suit...some things are simple enough not to really need a pattern. But if you'd like to find out how to make your own stuff really easily, get a book out of your local library that tells you about pattern making and you're set!

I have not sewn in sometimes, but I do use a pattern and I also make my own design.

Thank you for the best response hun, most appreciated

I do both. I have my favorite patterns that I can alter using different sleeves or decorations to look like completely different blouses. I also have a couple of shirts that I bought retail and I like them so much I made a pattern out of it. I just bought a pattern a few weeks ago for pants and I haven't sewn a new pair of pants in a long time so I'm eager to see how they come out. I don't sew as much as I used to but I really need to get busy and sew me some new clothes. I've lost so much weight over the last year I don't have anything that fits anymore. Never thought I'd ever get to say that! Feels good :D

If I'm making something from scratch I usually use a pattern. Although I've been known to alter a pattern a little here and there to make it more me. I made a coat for someone based on a priests robe once, it came out really cool. It was made of vinyl and slit up the back to the waist so it fanned out when he walked. The lining was bright green and there were zippered "gills" on the back so the back could be opened if he was wearing it in hot weather. I've made a few interesting things for myself as well. If I'm altering I don't use any patterns, I just go.

I am new to making clothes. I have been stalking up on fabric and have lots of ideas but I'm afraid to start something and have it turn out to be a complete disaster. I have started a skirt for my daughter and my new project is going to be lounge pants. I have a pair of lounge pants that I absolutely love and I wear them a lot but I don't want to wear them out! I have decided to make a pattern from them and attempt to make some myself. I will be making them a few inches shorter as I'm pretty short and the pants are a little long! They are so comfy and I can't wait to get started. I just got back from getting the materials I want to use but I won't start until tomorrow. Wish me luck! I have found some of the store bought patterns to be a bit confusing and the ones printed offline are impossible! So I'm pretty much winging it with the long skirts. They are looking good so far though:)

I usually start with a pattern that I then trace onto the paper doctors use on their examining tables. Then I can cut and slash and alter and change and... :) I have deeeeeeeep respect for people who can just draw up a pattern and have it fit. (maybe worshipful awe would be a better description!)