Dress patterns

[Lozzles]

[Diflower]

They're lovely patterns Loz, and really versatile

And for those of you who say you can't sew, that's exactly what I always said, was born without the sewing gene (as well as the knitting one - oh and the housework one).
At grammar school we had to make our games skirt, an absolute nightmare, kilt-shaped, with a million pleats. My mum did it for me, or I'd have been out at games in my navy knickers. The next year it was a blouse - a blouse, for God's sake, we were twelve! - with sleeves, and buttons, a collar, everything... so my mum made that
Neither of these was without me trying, again and again and again, and getting absolutely nowhere, I just couldn't do it.
We also had to do smocking, which I loved and was good at, but not terribly useful

But, a couple of years ago, driven by the problem of buying clothes, I decided I would have a go at making things, and guess what - if you take your time, concentrate, and start with material that has cost next to nothing (car boot sales/charity shops), you too can make things I have no idea why I couldn't do it when my mum was trying so hard to help me, probably because I didn't really have any interest then, it was just associated with school.

But now, because I wanted to, I've made bags, good enough to give as presents. Cushion covers, perfectly good, and some also really rather lovely.
And, unbelievably, clothes I am prepared to wear in public Not much yet, but it's all practice, and confidence is growing, so that now I might even try something with actual proper full-price fabric...soon.

It's amazing once you tune in, how you can find fabric to just have a go with though, for next to nothing. Charity shops provide duvet covers, curtains, and pieces of fabric, which are perfect for bags, cushion covers, or a top, skirt, etc. I even have a lovely big piece of printed silk (charity shop) waiting for when I'm brave enough

[Lozzles]

That's great Di Fun isn't it?

I bought the fabric for the tea dress from Fabricland in Salisbury which is a great shop and the prices are really good. This is lovely cotton at £3.49 per m, which believe me is a great price for good fabric.

[miasmum]

That is lovely.

We had to make an apron, I couldn't even do that. Heck I couldn't even hem dishcloths.

[Lozzles]

Lawks! Even I wouldn't hem a dishcloth

[Diflower]

Loz that is absolutely lovely
I get quite bamboozled in fabric shops, and have no idea what would look nice as the finished article, but am loving watching the sewing bee thing, seeing them choose

MM dishcloths you knit My biggest problem (well, one of my big problems) is I can't even cut a straight line I splashed out on a cutting mat, only little, but it helps, and a rotary cutter thingy. I really must find out how you use those gadgety wotsits that transfer markings from patterns, I manage (or rather don't manage) with big stitches that immediately come out

[Fugitive]

Watching the new Sewing Bee programme has made my mouth water more than chocolate does! It was pure pleasure watching them do darts, piping, pockets, zips, waistbands as I remembered my dressmaking days. I was like Di with needlework at school-I hated it. Mainly because of the boring things we had to do and just like Di's shorts we had to make the apron we would have to wear in Cookery and until we finished our damned aprons we couldn't cook! So I spent two school terms having to redo uneven tacking stiches and machine sewing in straight lines and neaten up hand sewn hems! Nightmare. Got onto cooking and spent the first term learning how to clean kitchen taps. I left school loathing sewing, cooking and cleaning!

Then I discovered the pure joy of choosing a dress pattern, choosing the fabric, laying the pattern pieces over the fabric and pinning, tailor tacking, cutting out and making things to wear. I even bought myself a dressmakers dummy and made my own and my daughter's clothes for years. This included venturing into tailoring and making great coats, jackets and even hats - hand made button holes! Blimey! I made duvet covers and curtains to match as it was cheaper to make things then rather than buy them ready made.

The blue poppy fabric and the dress patterns are lovely Loz. Time passes in a wonderful way when dressmaking. The most important part is pressing everything as you go with the iron and the ironing board always ready. Deep joy!

Back to bed with a cuppa now

[Kaz]

Maybe I should give it another go some time then Loz that is lovely fabric, what a gorgeous colour!

Fugi my aunty always had the ironing board up in her sewing room, so I'm sure you're right about that

[Lozzles]

Yep, the ironing board is always up. Pressing as you go is so important.

[Ally]

That blue fabric is gorgeous Loz.