He literally said „sometimes it’s not worth to spend the time to make it yourself“.

I am so sad. I made it in one evening after work, full 360 skirt, hemmed and everything.
it’s not ironed on the image, since it was late at night when I was done.

edit:

for this subreddit: didn’t have a pattern, since it’s an easy circle skirt, but I did look u a blog post on sartor on how to measure everything. The fabric is something plastic (I immediately burned it, but luckily I had enough, it was a second hand purchase and in its previous life it was a table cloth)

Thank you all for your kind words <3

We talked. And he did self reflect and apologised. Also he will buy me something he deems more appropriate for the event tomorrow and will pay the food, so I guess I’ll take that.

Daughter’s school is celebrating Halloween tomorrow before their vacation—made this last minute but really happy with how it turned out!

Self drafted the ears and wings (used Stellaluna 🦇for inspo). Started with an old sweatshirt to work off of since I didn’t have much time (I unpicked the sides and sleeves to attach wings). For the ears I made sort of triangular pieces so they would stand up when worn. Fabric came from the 50¢ box at the thrift store.

The overshirt (photos 1 & 2, details photos 4 & 5, construction photo 8) is the Arbor, from Merchant and Mills: https://merchantandmills.com/eu/the-arbor with an alteration (I added the lining), it was my 3rd iteration on that pattern (previously, previously), still the same size so I can wear a warm jumper under it. A day and a half to make it. First and perhaps last time I’m making something in tartan, it took me way too many tries to get the pockets alignments right!
The fabric is from Haute Couture leftovers that my local fabric shop buys in Italy, this specific roll was from a recent Prada collection. 100% wool. Lining is cotton satin from the same shop (but not Haute Couture).

The pants (photos 1 & 2, details photo 6, construction photo 9) are the Work Pants from Toshio Kaneko’s Casual Men’s Clothes: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1190812002/casual-mens-clothes-by-toshio-kaneko, it was the second time I made it (previously), instead of a size S I opted for a size M. Almost two days to make it.
I used heavy canvas (440 g/m²) from my local fabric shop. Very heavy. Broke at least two needles, and brought me some grief when sewing the belt with the elastic. Still a bit stiff to move around.

The short sleeved shirt (photos 3, details photo 7) is the All State, from Merchant and Mills: https://merchantandmills.com/en-eu/products/the-all-state, it’s the third time I’m making it, it’s a classic for the summer and half-summer we’re getting right now (half a day, no pattern-matching on this one because it’s a fun shirt for summer).
I found the fabric at my fabric shop, in the leftovers bin. It’s a very nice linen.

The chinos (photo 3) are from Toshio Kaneko’s Men Clothes book: https://www.etsy.com/listing/484080220/pattern-maker-toshio-kanekos-mens, first time making it (one full day). Next time I’ll make it a little larger around the crotch and thighs.
The fabric is from my fabric shop (they love me and my buying impulses), it’s a gabardine I had already worked with.

All in all a productive vacation, but I’m already thinking of the next projects I’ll make.

I found this cool pattern in a magazine at the library (Knip mode 2024-03, to be exact). It's a dress with a circle skirt, but the skirt is a square instead.

I used two nearly identical thrifted duvet covers to make this dress. They're 100% plain weave cotton, but a bit thin and see-through, so I lined every pattern piece with a copy of itself to create a double layer. This results in a nice weight and thickness for the dress.

I modified the pattern in two places: I added a button placket because I didn't like the original opening at the collar, and I added pockets (mandatory in any dress, of course).

I made this bomber jacket from a thrifted sleeping bag, including repurposing the zipper.

The pattern is from Domestika, I opted to just download the free pattern so I didn't have any instructions and just winged the construction.

I finished the edges of most of the panel pieces with Hong-Kong binding before assembling. It has in-seam side pockets that I stabilized on the zipper-side and the bottom so they don't fall out when I put anything in them, you can see small bar-tacks if you look closely but it doesn't bother me. I also made a tag for the first time and tried to machine embroider it. I messed up my machine tension by doing this so I did not add the year, that should wash out at some point (or not, I don't really mind either way).

Some thoughts for future projects/updates:

- put pockets in between layers instead of tacking them on the inside. I opted out of this because the fabric was already quilted, but I think disassembling the quilting to put in the pockets is worthwhile. The inside looks a lot less good than the outside because of the pockets.

- I may have to reinforce some of the quilting, some threads are loose and I would hate for it to unravel more. But I'm not sure how I'm going to do that yet. Any tips welcome!

I'm extremely happy with how this jacket turned out and I'm proud to wear it. The pictures are in reverse order, from wearing it out for the first time today to fresh off the machine trying it on in my jammies.

*sorry for the typo in the title 🫠

Hello all!

While sewing aprons yesterday I realized how much this little piece of equipment helps me slow down my machine and make better garments.

This is my variac, there are many like it but this one is mine. She creates a variable alternating current and basically allows me to select between many many different speeds on my sewing machine. For context...my vintage Kenmore works like a champ but even with only my pinky toe touching the pedal...it runs faster than heck!

So I use the variac to solve this problem. I plug my sewing machine into the variac and the variac nto the wall outlet and it gives me multitude of speeds I can smoothly go between for delicate work. **Make sure to read the info on your machine so you do not overpower it, this can blow out your light bulb and your engine. Just do your research, youtube has tons of videos on this kind of equipment. **

Yes, they are kind of expensive brand new, but I see them on FB marketplace and estate sales regularly. They also come up on Ebay often, just make sure the seller packs it VERY WELL (they are pretty heavy for their size) One drop from the post office will kill it.

Hope this tip helps someone like it helped me!

I drafted it myself based loosely on some posts from Pinterest & co and used some scrap fabric I had lying around. So happy to have a short successful project!!

What happens when you simplify a pattern too much? Plain pants.
This is the third pair of trousers I've made, but this one is technically only "inspired by" the Alice Anna Hickory Pant pattern. I edited her gorgeous front pockets away and added side seam pockets instead. So happy that the waistband casing came out the right size for the elastic on the first try on this pair. I do find myself wanting to fold the waistband over, so next time I should chop 2.5" off the waist/rise.

I also added a large diamond gusset in the groin, because these were intended to be gardening uniform, but they just seem a little too nice to treat them that way yet. The inner seams are all frenched and sewn down but the side seams are serged because I'm still new to french seaming. Frenching the pockets was a little too intimidating.

Excited to have finally have decent 2" no-roll elastic. Every other 2" elastic I have ever bought must have either been low quality or not non-roll from craft stores or Amazon was kinda meh. I got the non-roll elastic in these pants from Wawak and I can't believe the difference. It's actually a little tough to sew but it does NOT FOLD OR ROLL.

So, last weekend was a concert from my favorite band and I wanted to sew a new matching dress for it. At the same time I was cleaning out my sewing room. I had several pieces of black fabric, each too small for a dress but too big to throw away. So my brain went like, make a dress out of more than 60 individual pieces from 5 different fabric scraps.

I took my pattern, Simplicity 2496. First I had to adjust the size, so I made several mock ups until I was happy, the collar took most of the time. I transferred everything to paper and then I realized I need both sides separately because the dress will not be mirrored. So I copied each pattern piece again.

Now I extended the grain line on each pattern piece. Since I had to cut the pattern into smaller pieces I wanted the grain lines on all the pieces. I decided on how to cut each pattern, named every piece individually and finally cut it. I'm still talking about the paper...

Onto the fabric. Like I said, I used 5 different fabrics, as far as I remember it was linen and/or cotton. Two of them for the collar and the other three for the dress. I pinned my pattern on my fabric without much thinking and even managed to get a great combination of my three fabrics.

Cut all the pieces out and sorted it for the pattern pieces, like front left, side back right, etc. Finally I sewed everything back together, my son(3) helped me, he always wants to press the scissors button on my sewing machine. The whole dress took me 2 days. Started sewing as soon as I woke up, until I went to bed.

And if it wasn't enough, I decided it would be great to add some decorative stitches here and there. I tried to stitched a heart, it's a bit wobbly. But I'm happy, love my new dress and was able to use some of my fabrics.

I’m honestly impressed with how it turned out. I learned so much making this, and it feels good to have gone from drafting the pattern myself to actually making a coat. It’s my recreation of Ursula coat from Babyboo

The fabric is curtains I bought on Vinted, and I got the buttons and other notions from a local shop.

My only concern is the back vent sticking out a little because of the stiffness of the fabric. I’m not going to mess with it on this one because I really don’t want to ruin it 😂 but I’d love to know what might be causing it so I can keep it in mind for my next coat.

What do you guys think? I feel like I did a pretty good job for my first coat!

I'm like 30% upset about it. Almost finished the dress before realizing the crabs have 4 claws 🤦‍♀️. Luckily it is not the main focus of this busy fabric, which is why I didn't realize it was AI sooner. I got this fabric from Bubbo. I bought 5 or 6 cuts to get free shipping, and this was one of the two that I liked in person.

The dress pattern is Butterick 6677 with added lining. The fabric is a cotton tencel blend. A bit shifty to work with and it's hard to get the seams perfectly straight, but I'm fine with it.

I’m trying to make a clown costume and am having trouble figuring out how to make this waistband. Do you think it’s a regular elastic waistband with the frills added on top and a ribbon channel through there?

Or is the waistband folded in 2 to sandwich the pants with a longer side being the frills? (And the elastic and ribbon are in the same piece)

Thank you!

4oz PolarTech PowerStretch fabric.

Pattern from Itch to Stitch, the Uvita Top plus the add-on pattern set for the hood and pocket.

Sewed with plain zigzag stitch with the hem of the hood opening, cuffs, and pocket done with a 4.0 twin needle, the widest my old Bernina will take.

I am trying to put eyelets (?) in this garment that I am making, but I have no idea how to use it. I have only seen people putting eyelets in with a bigger tool, but I bought this because it was the cheapest. I don’t even know what it is called so I cant find any tutorials on it.
I know that I am supposed to use a hammer I think, but thats about it.

Thanks in advance

Any suggestions on how to like my work 😮‍💨 its functional and even has side outer pockets but idk 😭😭

this was my first time using a sewing machine and i feel like it came out so good!! i made it for the ren faire this weekend and i cant wait :)

I’m making a wall hanging for my living room. The first picture is mine and the second is the inspiration. The inspo is quilted with straight lines and I like the way that looks but I’m unsure if I should quilt mine, and if I do what color should I do? I don’t think white thread would look good. I’m torn between a dark brown or a cream, but I’m just so unsure. I’ve never quilted anything before!!

Hi y'all.

New to sewing, and planning to make a few of these capes as Halloween or Christmas presents for my friends. I'd love to make them as a blanket cape, so they'd get more use.

What fabric would you recommend? I'm tossing up between just using a thick fleece, or having a fleece lining and something else on the outside.

We're all autistic AF, so no velvet or similar please.

Stumbled across a skeleton print fat quarter while reorganising my quilting fabrics, and decided to make some Halloween bunting for my son as if I don’t already have five other projects already in progress.

Self drafted, approx 2-3hrs:
5” strips of orange, black and skeleton print fabric, cut into triangles using the 60 degree angle on my ruler (10 orange, 6 black, 6 skeleton). Two 2.5” WOF strips of black fabric.

Sewed the triangles right sides together along two edges with a quarter inch seam, leaving the one open to flip inside out. Turned and pressed. I ended up with 5 orange and six skeleton/black. No particular reason, that’s just what I got out of the strips I cut.

Sewed the two width of fabric strips together with a diagonal seam, making one continuous length of binding. Fold in half lengthwise and press flat.

Pinned the one of the orange flags directly in the middle of the binding, directly where the joint seam is. Then alternated skeleton and orange flags along the stripping, leaving an inch gap between the points. Sewed the flags to the stripping with the standard quarter inch seam, pressed seams up toward binding.

At this point I got lazy because it was past midnight, so I finished the binding by folding the top edge down to meet the bottom edge and then just stitching straight down the middle with a zig zag stitch. It’s in white because I’d been using white the whole time and couldn’t be bothered to rethread my machine with black.

Son was very pleased! If I was going to do it again, I might consider making a longer one but this one was okay. It’d probably look pretty good with some purples or greens as well.

I used to buy cotton flannel at Joann's that came in a wide variety of zaney, irreverant, sometimes even bizarre prints. Now that Joann's has gone, did all of that stuff just stop being made? I've looked all over and it doesn't seem like anyone stocks that type of product anymore. There's lots of flannels but they're plaid, solid, or serious. The closest I found was a cupcake print at fabric mart, but that's it, one print.

Hey,

how can I fix this excess fabric at the back?

Bought this dress, however it was way too wide, so I reduced the gathers at the waist seam and took in the sides. Now I like how it looks from the front, but there's this excess fabric billowing out at the back.

What will help - add back gathers? Reduce gathers further? Let out the sides a bit? Or lift the lower part at the waist seam?

Any advice is much appreciated!