Sewing your own clothes

**Mara** · 10-04-2011, 10:09 AM

So, I have a sewing machine, and 3 yards of cotton quilting fabric. It's orange and has a really awesome brown houndstooth pattern, and I'd loooove to make a dress with it. I love the idea of sewing my own clothes, but I haven't ever really followed a pattern before and I have no dress form and I just generally have no idea what I'm doing. I can operate a sewing machine, and it basically ends there.

So, who here sews clothes? How would you recommend I go about teaching myself to sew from a pattern, or just learning basic clothing construction and some technique? I am pretty good at teaching myself things once I have someone to help get me started, and I'm definitely a trial-and-error type learner, but this fabric is awesome and I'd like it if I can actually use to to make something awesome.

**Becky** · 10-08-2011, 01:53 AM

Hey Schmetterling!

Its awesome that you are interested in sewing!! First thing I would suggest, since you are capable of teaching youself, is getting a hold of the Readers Digest Complete guide to sewing. You don't need to get the most current edition. The only difference I've found so far in the different versions, is the projects are more modern.

To get you started though, your first step will be finding a pattern that will work with the type of fabric you have. On the back of a pattern envelope, it will list near the top all the recommended fabrics. You would be looking for a dress that recommends using a cotton fabric. The pattern will also tell you how much fabric you will need to complete the project, and what other supplies (hook and eye, zippers, elastics, facings, interfacings, etc. ) you will need to buy.

The first thing you will need to do with your fabric is wash it.

The next thing is to straighten it. In order to straighten it, you will want to put both salvage edges together (the salvage edge is on each side of the fabric width, on most quilter fabrics it is white). That means folding the width of the fabric in half. Then you will need to hold the fabric up and see if, at the bottom, the edges still match. Usually they wont, showing that the threads in the fabric are crooked.

I will need to get back to you about how to straighten your fabric. i don't know how to describe it with words!

Let me know if I'm making sense so far

**beanbag** · 10-08-2011, 11:44 AM

there are also tutorials online. you will need to iron your fabric also (my least favorite part!) but it helps in getting everything to line up easily.

also, i commend you for wanting to make your own clothes, but strongly encourage you to start with something a little less complicated than a dress. a bag is always a good place to start, and you can practice straps and drawstrings and buttons on bags before you try a dress.

**Mara** · 10-08-2011, 11:51 AM

I've made a few drawstring bags before, and I know a few basics about how to make seams and stuff, and I am making my halloween costume in the next few days and I'm going to attempt a few fancier things for that, since it's less of a big deal than like, trying to make a real outfit or something. Hahaha.

**beanbag** · 10-08-2011, 11:53 AM

haha. true. biggest advice: measure 2-3 times and cut carefully. don't be afraid to rip out seams and do things over as many times as necessary.

**Becky** · 10-08-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beanbag

haha. true. biggest advice: measure 2-3 times and cut carefully. don't be afraid to rip out seams and do things over as many times as necessary.

well... yes... but don't apply that to everything you sew... I mean the cotton should hold up a half a dozen retakes... but there are fabrics that you have maybe 2 shots to get it right, before you've seriously damaged the fabric.

**Mara** · 10-08-2011, 12:22 PM

I'm not really planning on trying out anything crazy on any kind of fancy fabric before I've got it figured out enough to hopefully NOT have to tear it up over and over...haha.

**MtlMom** · 10-08-2011, 12:36 PM

What do you want to make?

I made most of my own clothes for years, but I just don't have time for it anymore - although I do have a jacket that I've been working on for about a week that I should finish up this weekend.

ICallHimTurtle · 10-09-2011, 10:56 PM

I'm new to sewing, so keep it coming with the tips, please!