Comments on Adventures in Dressmaking: Sewing Circle: What can you make yourself?

Great advice! For me, it's always come down to...

2012-02-20T00:30:33.418-08:00

Great advice! For me, it's always come down to price...and in the small country town where I used to live, fabric is EXPENSIVE! I tried so many times to get started on sewing garments for myself, but I'd go to one of our two fabric stores and it would cost as much, or more, to make something as to buy it brand new. I've had much better luck with thrifting garments and altering them to

Yeah no - I would never make that denim shirt! I ...

2012-01-15T11:41:55.717-08:00

Yeah no - I would never make that denim shirt! I could, but I won't. I too found one at Goodwill (Lucky Brand) and I see them all the time at thrift stores. Those denim shirts have been in style before, so you can find them cheap. I don't think I would even make that tank top from scratch - mostly because you can get them cheap. Time is so limited (when you have a full time job) that

Wow, folks, what an awesome range of comments! Re...

2012-01-15T10:01:12.441-08:00

Wow, folks, what an awesome range of comments! Really goes to show that you CAN make it all yourself, but some of us choose not to! I love the great diversity of readers here on the blog, and how talented and creative you all are, regardless of what you make!

I will make just about anything if I can find the ...

2012-01-14T10:17:21.066-08:00

I will make just about anything if I can find the materials for less than I would pay for a storebought item. And some things, like socks, I make anyway. For me, it's worth the time to have a perfectly fitting, pure wool sock, which is way nicer than the wool ones I could buy! I'm also really tall and not "standard-sized" at all, so even more complicated things, like formal

Really I tend to only make dresses, but I'm ha...

2012-01-14T10:06:12.776-08:00

Really I tend to only make dresses, but I'm having such trouble funding a nice funky skirt that I think I'll have to make one of those too.

This is a great post as I was just thinking about ...

2012-01-14T06:12:06.148-08:00

This is a great post as I was just thinking about this topic recently.
Sometimes it is too much bother to diy. It may be creative and a fun project but sometimes it just doesn't do to waste the time. When I can simply buy whatever it is instead of taking the time to find all the "ingredients" for a project and try to replicate it myself, or if the end product ends up being

Well...undies and jeans I don´t do, but everything...

2012-01-13T22:26:25.674-08:00

Well...undies and jeans I don´t do, but everything else. If it doesn´t work...well, you learned something.

I'm not currently interested in making my own ...

2012-01-13T21:00:03.592-08:00

I'm not currently interested in making my own underwear as I am happy with what I buy (wrt price and fit), and I don't knit, but I really enjoy sewing most other things. Although I make plenty of simple things, I probably get the most and longest term satisfaction from more complicated projects (so far a suit and winter jacket). I rely on good patterns of course!

Oh man...I love the mental image I got on trying t...

2012-01-13T19:13:31.067-08:00

Oh man...I love the mental image I got on trying to make my own bras, LOL! I wear a 36F and, honestly, I'm amazed that the professionals can figure out how to make bras that fit me! Thanks for the giggle - and the great post :-)

I surely won't make my own jeans. Pants are g...

2012-01-13T17:28:39.377-08:00

I surely won't make my own jeans. Pants are generally off the table unless you count the full ruffled pants I make my daughter or loosey goosey yoga pants for myself.

Casual fleece coats-yes. Dressy wool ones-no. Never bras.

I plan on trying bathing suits soon as well because my daughter wants to match. :)

There is nothing you can't make! I have made e...

2012-01-13T11:32:01.888-08:00

There is nothing you can't make! I have made everything from a corduroy winter coat to undies. You just need a pattern with good instructions and the right needle in your machine. Besides, I read on "Slow Fashioned" that those sandblasters are like killing people in Asia... so you know there's that. I have gone a year without having to buy clothing! (With the exception of a

There is no real line for me, especially if I can...

2012-01-13T11:10:47.624-08:00

There is no real line for me, especially if I can get a better fit and save money. Tho, anything that I have to knit, I will probably skip on making myself.

I am currently working on my first coat now and will be starting a rain coat this coming week.

My grandmother has sewn her entire life, and used ...

2012-01-13T09:43:34.284-08:00

My grandmother has sewn her entire life, and used to make EVERYTHING for her kids, husband, and herself. I currently have some the the western shirts she used to wear (she had a ton). I've also assisted her in making myself a western shirt and I can assure you it's a complicated task for a beginner. That said, if you come across a fabric you'd love to have a snap/button-up shirt

I buy underclothes (bras, underwear, tights, socks...

2012-01-13T09:32:38.575-08:00

I buy underclothes (bras, underwear, tights, socks, etc.), bathing suits, and sweaters. Everything else, I can either make or do without. I bought a gorgeous dress from Banana Republic a few months ago, got it home, and realized that in spite of the money I shelled out for it, it didn't really fit me right and never would in any size, so I took it back. My body is a far cry from standard,

I made my first DIY dress that I wore last Decembe...

2012-01-13T08:59:10.022-08:00

I made my first DIY dress that I wore last December, and I made it out from my old clothing. If I probably were to mimic a design, I can go to thrift shops downtown and buy second-hand clothing for 30 cents, only for the purpose of its fabric.

I make all my dresses and skirts because I know I ...

2012-01-13T08:45:31.398-08:00

I make all my dresses and skirts because I know I can. I agree with the comments about cost. There are some things that I am willing to try but there are some that I know will only frustrate me and it's just not worth the grief. I would not try the blue shirt but would totally try the tank.

If the cost to make something is within range of t...

2012-01-13T08:42:45.494-08:00

If the cost to make something is within range of the store bought item, I'll usually but it. This rarely happens though. I usually shop pattern and fabric sales so all of my projects turn out really budget friendly, except for quilts. Quilting is expensive and time-consuming, but worth it. I'm not sure I'd tackle a bra or jeans either simply because the hassle of it and my sewing

Great advice! For me, it's always come down to...

2012-01-13T07:41:20.551-08:00

I would say "just have a go", don't ...

2012-01-13T07:27:40.374-08:00

I would say "just have a go", don't write anything off as too difficult until you try.

Three months ago I hadn't touched a sewing machine in over 50 years, but now after a little practice lots of help from the internet and quite a few mistakes I have successfully completed 3 shirts for myself in addition to some other projects for my children, including school

Cost is a big one for me too but I agree that ther...

2012-01-13T07:14:46.113-08:00

Cost is a big one for me too but I agree that there are some things that I prefer to just buy. On my list are knit camis and t-shirts. If I hit a sale just right I can usually get them for close to the cost of the fabric and my attempts so far at making them myself have turned out... awkward.

I draw the line at pants and things with underwire...

2012-01-13T06:50:46.149-08:00

I draw the line at pants and things with underwire/boning. I have no desire to deal with the fitting nightmare that I'm sure pants are! As for boning, it's always so fiddley and never seems to achieve the shape I want.

I love coats! As much as I would loooooove to remake all the adorable ones I see about (hello Modcloth!), I think I'll continue to buy them. I would like to