Hi Everyone,

I love sewing and making clothes (mostly 'dresses' for special occasions) but I feel like I've used just about every 'nice' pattern out there that I can find!!!....
I normally use this website for all my patterns: http://www.sewingpatterns.com/

Who else sews? What do you make? (I also do patchwork quilts too, and handbags) What websites do you use for ideas / patterns / inspiration etc?

If I can work out how to include photos in these posts, I'll try and include some photos of the dresses I've created so far :)

I sew. I used to sew a lot and haven't been of late. I'm making other crafts for a fundraiser right now, but then will be sitting down to finish a whole basket of half finished baby clothes before my grandbaby is born.
I don't go online to buy patters. Here, there are certain days when patterns are much cheaper. Recently I bought the max allowed of 10 Vogue patterns at $3.99 each. I've gotten McCalls patterns at $1 each a few times, up to 5, when you go a certain morning. I have a lot of Burda patterns. Also I have Kwik Sew books and patterns, with multiple sizes. I use tracing paper to trace those off. I used to sew daily! I think we used to be able to save more money with sewing. Now I think it's more about creativity and fit. Do you buy threads mag? There are TONS of links to pattern companies, and many sewing web sites there on their back pages.

Do you get Project Runway on Bravo TV in Australia? I LOVE it.

:wave: i sew too! create my own models (sweaters) :D. have you girls checked free patterns in mags? my aunt got plenty of those

Hi Orchidia!
What magazines can you get free patterns in? I don't think I've ever seen them!!!!

I don't sew. I have a cheap Brother sewing machine but I don't really sew. Well, I mend but I don't do that well. Just found out if you put to much thread on a bobbin it can get stuck. I had to dig it out of that thingy with a razor blade.
I'm still not sure about how to thread the sewing machine but I get lucky. lol I guess I'll have to quit counting on luck and look for a visual on the web.

I have my grandson in Taekwondo and think even I (with a pattern) could probably make a karate uniform cheaper than what they sell it for. They use a cheap polyester/cotton blend which we have had to replace because I gave it a heavy starch (in the washer) and then scorched it ironing the creases. BTW, once scorched it is trash! I soaked it in Clorox and bought all kinds of whiteners and brighteners and even tried boiling it ..forget it!

I was wondering if anyone here has made a karate uniform? He will have to get another one next year when he gets his brown belt and I was hoping by the time we have to get it, I will have figured out how to make it.

I"m curious to hear what magazines you're talking about that have free patterns also. I used to go downtown to a big newspaper / magazine store to buy Burda Moden. They did have free patterns in it, but it was a maze of different types of lines. I loved seeing the European designs though. Frankly, there is a huge array of patterns available and pretty cheaply if you watch the sales.

I haven't made a karate uniform. I'm positive there are patterns for them. Be sure to add in price of pattern, thread and fabric when calculating if it's cheaper to make them. Demi, surely you have a friend or relative who knows how to sew? Usually once you've threaded a few machines you can thread another. Maybe go into a store that sells brothers and take a look at them.

I was looking at a DVD my son in law put together of our old family movies. Silent movies. I had forgotten how much sewing I did for my oldest daughter. I saw outfit after outfit that I made for her, even a winter snow suit.

Today, you can't save as much on every day clothing. Facts are, we get our clothing very cheap from around the world because of cheap foreign labor. I think really today the reasons I would want to sew are for creativity and to get something unique that fits. I am so busy with visiting husband, spending time with family, working and keeping up house and yard that I am not getting any sewing done. I found a whole laundry basket full of baby clothes that I cut out years ago! My grandson is 6 weeks old. He's not lacking for any clothes. They are Burda designs, with kind of baggy middles. I used velours. They aren't like any baby clothes you see here. If I don't have time to make them for him, I'll make them up and give them to a homeless shelter. They always have a need for kid's clothing.

I really do have to make up those cool Vogue designs!

I woke up at 4 am sure it was 7 am. I just checked my emails and got one from vogue patterns that the new issue was available.

I was looking around at the ladies in the visiting room a few weeks ago. There were so many ugly sweatshirts worn with jeans. One young woman had this beautiful light aqua blue silk shantung little jacket type top on. Looked gorgeous and really stood out.

tweedybird.

I'm sure there are people around here that sew, we haven't been here long enough to meet a lot of people but all relatives live in other states.

My mother loved sewing, knitting crocheting..all that stuff. She use to make most of my clothes and yes, I can look at old pictures and remember my childish "annoyance" for having to stand still while she fussed with it or put pins in the hem. Her true love was crocheting. She crocheted The Lord's Prayer one summer, it's amazing. She tried to teach me but couldn't, she said it was to hard to get me to listen and watching me confused her because I'm left handed and went about it backwards. So, I draw and love graphic arts (pretty good at it) but I'm no seamstress.

I think I have the threading figured out. I had to hem a lot of pants this weekend for my grandson. I hemmed 10 pair, I even broke a needle on some jeans and figured out how to replace the needle so I'm proud of that.

I don't need to take on making that uniform so I've decided to just buy the new uniform they sell and let them put on all the patches. I am gardening, laying tile, we are also painting the house, plus I homeschool and we have been trying to train our Jack Russell terrier puppy. He isn't into sitting around inside when there are butterflies and blowing leaves to chase.


Thanks for your response, I bet your closet is brimming with beautiful clothes!

I wish you luck in getting your patterns!

I would love to sew and make my own clothes. I wish I had time to do it. Maybe next year I'll have more time when both of my girls will be away at college.

tweedybird.

I'm sure there are people around here that sew, we haven't been here long enough to meet a lot of people but all relatives live in other states.

My mother loved sewing, knitting crocheting..all that stuff. She use to make most of my clothes and yes, I can look at old pictures and remember my childish "annoyance" for having to stand still while she fussed with it or put pins in the hem. Her true love was crocheting. She crocheted The Lord's Prayer one summer, it's amazing. She tried to teach me but couldn't, she said it was to hard to get me to listen and watching me confused her because I'm left handed and went about it backwards. So, I draw and love graphic arts (pretty good at it) but I'm no seamstress.

I think I have the threading figured out. I had to hem a lot of pants this weekend for my grandson. I hemmed 10 pair, I even broke a needle on some jeans and figured out how to replace the needle so I'm proud of that.

I don't need to take on making that uniform so I've decided to just buy the new uniform they sell and let them put on all the patches. I am gardening, laying tile, we are also painting the house, plus I homeschool and we have been trying to train our Jack Russell terrier puppy. He isn't into sitting around inside when there are butterflies and blowing leaves to chase.


Thanks for your response, I bet your closet is brimming with beautiful clothes!

I wish you luck in getting your patterns!

You did good to get the machine threaded, and 10 pairs of jeans hemmed. My closet is now brimming with beautiful clothes but they are from sales I've hit recently! I moved a year ago, started working again, have trips every few months to see hubby, and all the normal chores and family events. I have not gotten going on sewing again.

Also I keep wanting to lose the 20 pounds I need to before sewing anything too fitted.

I need to use these beautiful vogue patterns I got this last summer. I seem to go in all directions sometimes.

You don't really save money sewing these days unless you're doing custom high quality garments.

I wasa browsing the web today for certain photos for a photoshop picture I'm working on when I came across this site and thought of you. I know this isn't the type sewing you do but I think you will appreciate the work that went into these garments.

http://www.lady-faire.com/bodices.html

Have a good day!

What fun! Vogue Patterns has a two day sale online. All for $5.99 each.