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Across the Fence:  Do you make your own clothes?  |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 07:18:57 AM
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Sheri, now that makes sense on the sloper. Thanks. I have seen patterns to make one but I suppose I could craft up my own too with my new book's instructions. Like I said, it will have to wait a few weeks until I get a few more pounds off. 5 as of today...slow but sure I'm like a turtle but put it on like a rabbit.
I haven't made underwear since my mom and I took a class on it when I was young. She did most of the sewing but she raved about those undies and still does. I just bought Jalie pattern #2568 and plan to make some as soon as I find some appropriate fabric or repurpose something from around home--I too was thinking thin T-shirt fabric possibly? I don't like my undies out of silk or satin. I think the trick is going to be finding the right elastic actually.
Joanna, would love to see your wardrobe! I need inspiration and love new ideas.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://cookecreeksheep.blogspot.com
http://cookecreekwool.etsy.com |
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Carrie W
Farmgirl Legend/Chapter Guru
437 Posts
Saratoga Springs
New York
USA
437 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 07:25:10 AM
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Joanna-
I just found a shirt dress pattern at a quilt show near me. I'd been looking online for one but couldn't find just what I wanted. I love this one! Haven't made it yet, so can't tell you how it is to put together, but it is McCalls 6228 and was printed in 1962!!! Awesome! It's so Ca-ute! If you find any that you like please pass on #'s...I may want to try a different style after I make this one.
Melissa- Making underwear is very simple, the only tricky part is the double crotch pieces which give you a nice smooth finish. The instructions are usually simple to follow. Just make sure you have a ball point needle otherwise your thread may keep breaking as you sew. I'm so glad to have learned this because I hate sewing on stretchy fabs because I'd have to keep threading my needle all the time! Now that doesn't happen. I would say that a yard of fabric would yield several pair of undies, depending on size of course, so they are soooo affordable and easy. And you can choose color and pattern and make them extra cute. Kids undies are really fun! Used to do that years ago.
Give it a try!
Jessie- You're welcome! I had that issue handy because I have duct tape on my list for that particular project! Hubby gave me an old t-shirt so I don't even have to ruin one of my own. PS...Your quote (You are my all in all) is one of my favorite songs!!
Carrie
PS Any of you ladies attending BBB in Idaho for 4th of July????? Would love to meet you!
www.totallykadeshfarm.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood #147
Tis better to weep at joy than to joy at weeping--Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 07:42:13 AM
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Not I said the girl who will be home watching over running after her flock while the neighbors shoot off fireworks, putting the Pyr in the garage as he freaks out and locking the horses in the corral as they also freak out. I have come to hate the 4th of July fireworks!
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://cookecreeksheep.blogspot.com
http://cookecreekwool.etsy.com |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 08:24:15 AM
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Carrie, Thank you for sharing!! Now I am on the hunt for it. If I find any others I will definitely share!!
Jami, I will be more than happy to post pictures as I get each item done. . . I think I will be starting with a long skirt and hopefully a shirt dress if I can find the pattern.
Wow, I love seeing everyone creating their very own clothes!! Looking forward to everyone's pictures. . .Hint....Hint 
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 08:29:07 AM
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Quick hint for all of you who are tracing out their patterns:
Pick up a roll of clear plastic at the hardware store. . . be sure it is clear, comes 3 feet wide by 100feet long and is 4ml in thickness.
Now, since it is clear, you can easily trace with a permanent marker all your pattern pieces. It lasts longer than the paper ones, is very easy to pin through and best of all. . . when you are trying to line up a stripe, plaid or any design. .. because it is clear, you can easily see and take the guess work out of trying to get it right.
(Another designer shared this tip with me years ago, I have never used paper pattern pieces again.)
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com |
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Londa
Farmgirl in Training
21 Posts
Londa
Savona
NY
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 09:24:12 AM
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Oh I wish I could sew my own clothes! I have tried.. and made a couple things okay... maybe I just need to practice more.
What I have a hard time of is the instructions. Sometimes I just don't get it. I am a very visual person. I do better with pictures.
Would love to see some of everyones projects.
Blessings
Londa |
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Carrie W
Farmgirl Legend/Chapter Guru
437 Posts
Saratoga Springs
New York
USA
437 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 10:13:34 AM
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Laurianne-
Would you tell be which peasant shirt pattern you use? I would love to make that style of top in both long and short sleeve as it is my favorite style and the most flattering for my shape!
Carrie
www.totallykadeshfarm.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood #147
Tis better to weep at joy than to joy at weeping--Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 11:09:18 AM
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Londa,
I know what you mean about the instructions, pictures are truly worth a thousand words! One way to help improve your skills is to do some simple childrens clothing. . . even if you do not have children, you could sell them or donate them. . . then as you feel you are doing better, try again making something for yourself.
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 11:54:21 AM
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Folkwear makes an excellent peasant blouse pattern - designed for casings/elastic or with directions for smocking if anyone is into that.
Like Jaime I will be home keeping my animals calm as my neighbors shoot off fireworks even tho they are illegal in this county plus fire watch. We have a lot of forest around here with tall grass that grows beneath the trees and all the newbies who have moved out here aren't always too careful in that regard. For a big bad guard dog, my German Shepherd freaks out over loud noises - esp fireworks and thunder.
Sheri |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 12:15:53 PM
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Sheri, my Pyr abhors T-storms too and shooting, etc. We have some goofuses moving out here too...I won't start those stories here.
Laurianne, sounds like you are going great guns. I too would love to see some pics. I got a new digital camera (my old one completely bit the dust...waaaa) but I can't download pics onto the old computer yet..gotta upgrade some software first.
Like the plastic pattern idea. Do you mean the landscape type plastic? Kind of opaque?
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://cookecreeksheep.blogspot.com
http://cookecreekwool.etsy.com |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 12:33:18 PM
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Hi Jami, the opaque will work, however, they carry the clear plastic and I highly recommend the clear. It is easier to see the details, the opaque is like working with the tissue paper. Usually, it comes in a brown card board box that is 3 feet long and maybe 3 inches high.
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com |
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electricdunce
True Blue Farmgirl
2544 Posts
Karin
Belmont
ME
USA
2544 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2009 : 1:19:39 PM
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When I was young, and then at art school, I made lots of my own clothes. it was the sixties so i got to play dressup all I wanted. I even made my clothes by hand when I was at art school. I still make a lot of my clothes. I have made costumes for my kids for Renaissance fairs and costumes for the local theatre company. My son wanted a kilt when he was in high school, I couldn't figure out the pattern so I winged it. He still wears it occasionally....I love to sew clothes, but I don't do it so much now, I'[m too busy making messes in my quilting studio...
Karin
Farmgirl Sister #153
"Give me shelter from the storm" - Bob Dylan
http://moodranch.blogspot.com
http://domesticnonsense.etsy.com |
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Carrie W
Farmgirl Legend/Chapter Guru
437 Posts
Saratoga Springs
New York
USA
437 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 08:12:58 AM
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I went to Folkwear and did not find what I was looking for, but did find this pattern which is sooooo like the knickers pattern that MJ shares with us. For anyone who doesn't want to try to reproduce an enlargement but want to make this kind of underwear, this might be the ticket!
http://www.folkwear.com/203.html
Carrie M
www.totallykadeshfarm.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood #147
Tis better to weep at joy than to joy at weeping--Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing |
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harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 12:11:25 PM
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Another tid bit that I discovered years ago. I used to get so frustrated trying to get all those pattern pieces back into those little envelopes. Well, what I did was to cut the pattern envelope apart and glue the front to the front and the back to the back of a large manilla envelope and store them all in a bankers box. Makes it soooo much easier! Glad to see there are so many people who still sew their own clothes. I thought I was the only one!
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 12:43:44 PM
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Carrie, thanks for the link. You gals are going to have to answer a question I've been dying to ask for a long time about these sorts of "retro" patterns and in particular the petticoat ones...
Where is one to wear clothes like this? Are they indoor clothes like loungewear or p.j.'s or meant to be undergarments? Or is the thing to wear them to town? Heck if I know anything besides the old movies where ladies wear those as under-things.
Thanks for being patient with me...I'm kinda backwards when it comes to fashion but I do know not to go outside in my undies--but now if YOU gals are doing it, I might just give it a go. 
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://cookecreeksheep.blogspot.com
http://cookecreekwool.etsy.com |
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harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 12:53:54 PM
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I made a Civil War ball gown a few years ago. Took me three months. Rhett Butler would have died an old man in that jail waiting for Scarlett to make that dress out of her draperies. Anyway, I got a pattern for a petticoat that had a "shift" looking thing with it that had lots of pleats and stuff and wouldn't ya know it makes a great summer dress, if you use the right fabric. I wear petticoats under my skirts all the time. I feel like I can be less lady like and people won't see my undies and it makes my skirts hang farther out and make my larger body look more balanced....
Debbie
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
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urban farm girl
True Blue Farmgirl
80 Posts
Melissa
Posen
IL
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 4:07:08 PM
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| Debbie your tidbit on saving the patterns..Great...now why didn't I think of that!!:) Thanks..I love it. |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 4:14:39 PM
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Jami I wear the petticoat under my skirts all the time but then again I am known to wear Edwardian tea gowns to K-mart! I own and wear button shoes or lace up boots even in summer. The camisole makes a great substitute for a tank. The drawers - well that's not my cup of tea but I have made them for others. I have made that particular pattern hundreds of times - it was the first historical pattern I ever made more than 30 years ago. I really like the gibson girl top as well but for modern wear it must be lengthened to stay tucked in.
Having a tucked, lacy petticoat showing beneath my skirt is my trademark look.
The shift thing you mentioned is a chimese and everyone wore them night and day. Past patterns has two patterns available and Folkwear has a nice off the shoulder version that makes a great dress.
Sheri |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2009 : 4:22:40 PM
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Debbie I have been storing my patterns that way too. I just number the manilla envelope and then put a corresponding number on the pattern envelope. I store my pattern envelopes in a three ring binder in clear sleeves. Then when I need a pattern or am just shopping for ideas I can consult my binders without having to look for or take out the actual pattern.
Sheri |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2009 : 07:57:35 AM
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When my mom and step dad come up next weekend, he is bringing his old serger machine for me. I have never used one before, so might have to take a few lessons. But I really want to learn how to make skirts for me and dresses for the grandkids. I can sew anything else, but when it comes to things like that, it's hard for me. I cannot read directions. I have to see it done first. But I am looking forward to getting that machine and using it!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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yarnmamma
True Blue Farmgirl
4247 Posts
Linda
Clarks Summit
PA
USA
4247 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2009 : 08:37:29 AM
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Cool..happy for you Kristin! Take the lessons, you will be glad you did.
Good luck!
Linda
in Scranton, PA
farmgirl #71 |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2009 : 08:42:31 AM
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Kirstin - I love my serger and have had one for over 20 years. The thing to remember when sewing with a serger is that you can't pull the thread like on a sewing machine - you must run the thread out with the foot pedal and then cut it off. Don't use pins anywhere it could hit the knife and nick it. I pin at least an inch from the edge when serging. Let the machine feed the fabric and don't pull it when working on knits or you will get a lettuce edge. What kind of serger is it? If you have any serger questions I will be glad to help if I can.
My theory on sewing directions is that they are written by and large by men and we don't think like they do!! If there are any questions I can answer for you if you get stuck I will be glad to help.
Sheri |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2009 : 09:48:08 AM
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It's called the Romanian Blouse #103
http://folkwear.com/103.html
It only goes to a size 16 but it is easily sized up if larger is needed.
Sheri |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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Across the Fence: Do you make your own clothes? |
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Do you make your own clothes?
