Sewing? - Orchid Board

Optimist · #1 07-09-2015, 02:35 PM

I am really tall. So tall that I have to buy clothes online. I am really, really sick of not finding what I like, or having to pay a fortune for a simple pair of pants. I am tired of buying, waiting, trying on, finding that their size whatever is not my size whatever. then having to put them in the mail, wait a month for a refund, start all over again. Searching for pants takes up a great amount of my time.

I now have a great pair of pants. They are very silky, and I would like a bunch more. They are "just pants" you know? Pull ons. No closure, elastic waistband and two pockets. I was looking on-line. Can't find any like it. Gerr.

So I woke up today thinking, "I am going to get a sewing machine. I am going to get a big roll of paper and totally trace that pair of pants and make a pattern directly off them and copy them. It would only take about 5 pairs of pants, maybe 6 to make up for the cost of the new sewing machine.

So I was thinking: I have been wearing these pants all year last year and the year before, and no one has ever said a word about their being simple, or maybe looking home made. Well, some chick in Indonesia put them together, what makes me think my sewing skills will be less or more? I really think I can do this. I think I will stick to basic trousers, skirts and simple things.

I am not a beginner, but not an expert either. In High School, I got up to the place where I could sew a lined jacket. I used to love sewing, but it is one of those hobbies I dropped when I had to start working. I never had a decent sewing machine. I know for a fact that it does not take a long time to sew a decent garment. I would like to take it up again, simply because the "choices" (yes those were irony quotes) for a person my size are very limited.

Tell me true, does anyone here sew? Would a person feel strange wearing clothing not bought at a store?

katrina · #2 07-09-2015, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optimist

Tell me true, does anyone here sew? Would a person feel strange wearing clothing not bought at a store?

I don't sew...well not more than a hem here or there...but I know people who do and they sew some of their own clothes. I would never have the patience to do it but kudos to those who do!

FWIW - if you want to make your own clothes then I say go for it and who the Hell cares what others think. Honestly, some of the shit in stores these days is so freakin' cheap...we'd all probably do better making our own clothes. Good for you.

Skycat · #3 07-09-2015, 03:21 PM

I've been making my own Halloween costumes for years, since stores never have the characters I want, and also I can do it for way cheaper anyway.

Stuffed toys are generally more my thing, though. Of course, I've had to hand-sew a lot of stuff because I didn't have a decent sewing machine, and only just got a good one this year, given to me by my aunt.

I love going around with something I made because people will be like "That's so cool! Where'd you get it?" and I'm like "I made it." and they're like "That's amazing!"

wintergirl · #4 07-09-2015, 03:27 PM

I used to make all my own clothes. I also make my own patterns using newspaper. I say go for it. They will fit you and be the length you want. You will have clothes no one else will have, all your own.

(Some people wash the fabric first in case there is shrinkage, I never did but I took that in to consideration when making the pattern.)

---------- Post added at 02:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:23 PM ----------

You don't really need a fancy machine. I made many clothes on an old treadle machine.

Skycat · #5 07-09-2015, 03:34 PM

My mom always talks about the treadle we have in our house, but it's already in use as a bird cage stand in my brother's room, and way too big to move anywhere else anyway, so it's not practical for me at all.

But I guess a treadle would work quite well for someone who has room to use one.

wintergirl · #6 07-09-2015, 03:52 PM

My newer machine (electric lol) is a cheap portable Sears one.

sweetjblue · #7 07-09-2015, 05:03 PM

I used to sew all the time. Started in High School with my first baby sitting money. Bought a really pretty skirt and when I got it home, my mom said that I could make one just like it for about 1/4 the cost. She made a pattern out of newspaper for it and I bought the skirt back to the store, then went to the fabric store and got the same fabric and made my own. Looked just as good as the store bought one and nobody even guessed. From there on out I made most of my own clothes, even my prom dresses. Made most of my kids clothes too until I started working full time, just wasn't enough time in the day to do it any more.
I just recently took sewing back up but no where near like I use to. Forgot how much satisfaction it brought.

I say go for it! Doubt anyone will ever even guess their handmade and you'll have clothes that fit just the way you want and original and can be proud you made them yourself.

Judi

Optimist · #8 07-09-2015, 09:20 PM

Totally real! I think I will try to get a serger. It is going to be Amazon Prime day, on the 15th of July. I will see if there is a serger I can afford because I would love to work with knits. I also see many uses around the house. Roman shades, pillow covers, curtains and things like that. Not to mention I am going to soon be a teacher and we most likely need to have little "daisy" head dresses for some pageant or other.

ula · #9 07-09-2015, 09:27 PM

I never had much money growing up, but I liked going to parties, and how can a girl show up to an "event" wearing the same outfit all the time

? So, for me, sewing was the way to go. Nowadays I just can steal enough time to make halloween costumes for my daughter and home decor items. One thing I'd like to say is that the fabrics at the fabric store are often of superb quality, and there are ready patterns for clothes making. For me, sewing is a self accomplishment activity- just like orchid growing

. Good sewing to you, rest assured you're not the only one!

silken · #10 07-09-2015, 11:02 PM

I am about the same. Learned to sew in Home Ec. in high school and made a lot of my own clothes using baby sitting money to buy the fabric and notions. My mom had a Kenmore portable maching that all of us girls learned on. But not from her. My dad bought it for her to make mending an easier chore but she never touched it. So being 2nd oldest, it was practically brand new when I got my hands on it! I made suits, shirred waist dresses, even my own jeans and denim jacket with all the top stitching.

I haven't done as much in many years, but I can still pull out my own Kenmore machine and do what I need to do. When we needed a shade cloth for out 10 x 30 greenhouse, we bought some from Lee Valley but we needed 2 or 3 and my hubby and I cut and fitted it and sewed it all together with special upholstery or some strong thread. Hubby made grommets all over so it can tie down and it is still in good condition many years later! It was laying all thru the house as I sewed it because it was so long

I am more of a knitter now and have many sweaters that I have made, some without patterns. I have always felt proud to wear something made by me.

Go for it and wear your pants with pride