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Yay, more sewing people. 
whistler wrote:
I've decided to make all of my clothes (apart from undies) for a year, to escape the problems of sweatshop-made clothes and less creativity than I'd like in the shops.
Wow, respect!
Does the jacket look horribly complicated to make?
I don't think it does. I think you could make that: you've sewn stuff before right, though maybe less complicated? When I have a new pattern sometimes I'll make a first attempt out of cheap fabric, to see how to get it to work right before laying into the expensive stuff with scissors.
chaated wrote: ... obtain a starter sewing machine
My top tip for sewing machine acquisition is to scout around for a late 1970s/early 80s machine second hand. I would guess you will want a straight stitch and a zigzag and the machine needs to be able to wind bobbins for the bottom thread effectively. There are a number of sewing machine shops around where they do servicing and reconditioning, and someone will be able to recommend a good solid machine. If they have survived this long in working order they are built to last, and inbuilt obsolescence was less extreme back then anyway.
I need to start finding patterns
Yeah, the idea about cutting a new shirt from an old one should work. One thing to do is to chalk (get a tailor's chalk wedge) the edges or seams of the old garment and press it carefully flat onto your new fabric, transferring the chalk marks: then add seam allowance as appropriate and you're away.
You can also buy patterns printed on tissue paper from sewing shops and big department stores with a fashion fabrics area. Quite often the staff are enthusiasts so you could ask the staff person with the best dress which patterns she recommends for a beginner. There will probably be big laminated pattern books tied down on a desk somewhere to browse in the shop, then you write down the number of the pattern in your size and ask for it at the counter. (Remember to bring your measurements along to check vs those on the pattern.)
One advantage of buying a pattern for a t-shirt is that the patterns marked "very easy" will have detailed instructions on layout and construction, a glossary, and so on. Whereas, making a shirt from an old shirt requires reasonably taxing reverse engineering though if you are inclined that way it can be a blast of course. |
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