learn to make my own clothes

I thought I’d already logged this. I made the skirt. Then I made a second one in a different fabric. I adjusted the pattern slightly – I made it longer and used an invisble zip. I like both skirts, and have worn them to work. I’m currently working on making a pair of trousers using an existing pair that went into holes as a pattern.

I bought my pattern (the floaty skirt) and material last night for the dressmaking course. It only took me 45 minutes to decide :)

I also finally got round to adjusting some trousers. I started with a pair of black jogging pants, that cost me 3 pounds from Asda. I figured that if I messed them up it wouldn’t be a disaster. Then I went on to do a pair of green linen trousers. I’ve bought three different threads to sew them up with – the third time I had the fantastic idea of taking the trousers with me to get a colour match :). So now I feel that I am capable of sewing in a not too obviously wonky line, and of threading the machine.

The dressmaking course started yesterday. There was only one other person who hadn’t done any sewing before. We’ve decided to stick together; we’re going shopping together tonight to buy a sewing pattern and material and thread and .. um .. whatever other stuff you need to make clothes.

It was a very informal and friendly group, but I’m a bit worried that I still don’t know what I’m doing and I’m going to pick out something to make with no idea of what I’m capable of. I’ll probably come back with a totally unsuitable project and awkward material to sew.

Ah well. I guess I’ll find out next week.

Huh. I thought I’d already written about this, but apparently not, so here goes:
A local ‘Community Education Centre’ has advertised their upcoming courses – including a dressmaking course. Today I finally got up the courage to phone them – only to get the answer phone. So I emailed them instead. I have no idea how often they check their email though, so I might try to ring again on Monday. The course starts in 2 weeks time and lasts for 30 weeks. I’m still in two minds about whether I want to go or if I’d be happier just having a go myself. Of course, if I opt for the later and find I need help, I’ll have to wait a year for the course to come round again.

I’ve bought a pair of trousers that are too long (nothing new there – I’m 5’0”, everything’s too long) and am going to attempt to take them up myself.

Several years ago I bought a fairly comrehensive sewing book from a charity shop for a pitance. The example patterns it contained were rather awful 1970’s style things, but the techniques were sound. This book is currently somewhere in the attic, I want to go and get it down sometime this week, with the aim of looking through it and maybe getting the sewing machine out of the attic next week.

I pretty much want to learn how to make copies of clothes I have and like, but have worn through. I’m now on my second pair of linen trousers – they’re great, but I’ve worn them for about 3 weeks and they’re going into holes already. I’d like to make the same style in a different material.
I think I should probably start with something a bit simpler though.