I recieved a sewing machine for Christmas! - YouLookFab Forum

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I recieved a sewing machine for Christmas!

anne

Veteran

This was a complete surprise. I never gave out any hint that I wanted one, and over the years DH has occasionally asked me if I would like one and I have always said that (unlike in my childhood) it wasn't cost effective to sew our clothes so I didn't want one. I think he must have forgotten that (I haven't reminded him) because he went along with (and contributed to) my parents in laws plans to give me one. My mother in law has observed me taking up piles of mending and alterations to my mothers house or hers to use their machines when I came to visit thought I'd like my own.

They bought me a good sturdy basic one and it is quite easy to use so I am getting a little bit excited by it. The thing is I am not really a confident seamstress! I did a few years and school and back in my teens and 20's I did sew myself dresses and skirts from time to time but always with my Mum there so I could check each stage with her. And she lives hours away!

I am not the least bit crafty and have no interest in using the machine to quilt.

So I am no Dusty or Theresa - but are there tips for what I can use if for apart from taking in seams and mending?

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from nicoleb

Christie

Like you said, its not very cost-effective to sew your own clothing anymore, but some simple skirts *might* be, especially for your girls.

Lately, I've been using my sewing machine to make cloth diapers. My next plan is to make cloth dinner napkins using old clothing. I would also like to make this sweater with this tutorial ... http://stitchinglibertysbelle......digan.html

What about a gauzy scarf like this ... http://www.etsy.com/listing/43.....ght-cotton

Other ideas ... aprons, pillows for your home, tablecloths, hair accessories ...

Hope you find some fun projects to use your new machine!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

oooh Anne this is a fab gift!!

And I have no doubt that once you get going, you'll become much more confident and find yourself branching out more and more! (Warning: it can become addictive!!)

You know, I have to disagree that its not cost effective... sure, its no where near as good as it was when we were youngsters, but I can make a nice A-Line skirt for under/around $20 using reasonable fabric... maybe in other countries you can find a nice skirt for that, but I have never found one here in Aus that is truly wearable for that.

So I think for simple things like that, sewing your own is very cost effective - especially if you shop the fabric stores when they have sales or discount days. I don't include labour costs in my sewing calcs though because its a love and a hobby - if it were a chore it would be different!

Of course, once you start buying more expensive fabric it becomes more of a factor.

Some other tips are to buy fabric at op/thrift stores - I've picked up a few nice pieces along the way - ok, so most of its all older offcuts, but you can get lucky. Also, if you want to make some practice outfits, use old sheets (either ones that you are about to toss, or pick up cheap ones at op shops), super cheap fabric for practicing on, and if the practices turn out great, they are ok for house wear for kids!

Simple skirts and dresses for your girls would be quite good too! For my girls I usually just take a rectangle of fabric, sew a side seam, put some elastic around the top and hem the bottom.

The only fabric store we have is a Spotlight, and they usually have a table of fabric for $2-5/m and there is nearly always cute kids stuff there.

Also, cushion covers! A great way to get some practice, and decorate the house at the same time! Or library bags for the kids!

I could go on and on LOL Feel free to pm me anytime you like Anne! I'm self-taught so probably have bad habits or do things completely wackily but if I can help I'd love to!

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

What fun! Hope you enjoy yourself!

anne

Veteran

Thanks Ladies!
Christie I like the look of that cardigan!
Theresa, I am quite happy to be corrected on the cost issue. I hadn't made those cals for awhile. When I did though, it wasn't so much the fabric purchase (I didn't count labour either) as the additional costs of patterns, zips, interfacing buttons etc.
You have some great ideas I'd never have thought of like looking for fabric at op shops.
And I am fine with the level of sewing required to make library bags and the simple type of skirts you describe. Our Spotlight is 50km away however!

Dusty

(website)

Fun!!!! You will definitely find yourself becoming addicted! Sometimes it's cost effective, sometimes it's not, but you do have the added benefit of having clothing that fits very well without alterations and you can make exactly what you want instead of settling for what's available.

Things you can make - handbags, scarves, belts, clothing (skirts are easy, sack dresses are super easy, there are tons of easy options out there). You can also find stuff at thrift shops that's got good fabric but a bad shape or is way too big and you can remake it into something fabulous! Here's some great inspiration: http://www.newdressaday.com (she spent $365 last year and had something new to wear every day!)

I'd love to help, too, PM me anytime you want!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fantastic! Enjoy your new gift. May it inspire the flow of fabulous creative juices.

Lynne

Veteran

Lucky you! I can't imagine life without a sewing machine

Check out Karens post:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....top-for-me

She made a really cute top as a starter project.

Kristine

Veteran

I haven't found sewing cost effective, but of course it all depends on the fabric and pattern you use. If you find a pattern you really like you can make it for years to come in different fabrics.

Sewing is kind of hip again so there are some new pattern sites with modern styles. One is hotpatterns. I pretty much want to make everything there!

If you don't have a rotary cutter you might think about getting one. It makes life easier for cutting patterns and fabric and they're not very much.

taylor

Veteran

Oh Yay! Sewing your own clothes may not be cost effective, but the untold thousands of dollars you will save in alterations is all I needed to LOVE my sewing machine!! ENJOY!!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

hehe Anne I hear you on the Spotlight - mine is 45klms away - we do have a quilting store 10klms away, but they are only good for thread or needles!! (Unless you are into quilting of course LOL)

I get what you are saying about all the extra's adding up - some patterns can be up to $20+ here. But, some ideas to lessen the prices of all the *extras* you need...

*Check op shops for zips/thread/unused packets of bias binding all that sort of stuff - its amazing what you find!
*Op shops also have patterns - and a lot of them are older vintagey ones that are just lovely. Also, if you have a specific pattern idea in mind, let me know - I have tonnes of patterns and rarely use any anymore so would be more than happy to post you some to play with. Spotlight also have some very basic patterns for just a few dollars that are often on sale for 50c!!
*IF you are a spotlight VIP member, you get all their sales notifications before the general public and sometimes extra discounts, I just go through the catalogues and if they have say, interfacing on sale, and I happen to be going to town, I'll buy 2-3m of it - that way there is always some in my cupboard and I don't have to rush out and buy lots of smaller quantities. Same with elastic and stuff like that.
*Check with your Mum/MIL - they may have a fabric stash they are wanting to downsize... I scored about 4 large boxes of fabric from my 75yr old Nan - a lot of it wasn't useful, but there was still plenty of usable bits and pieces.
*If you have clothes that you/your kids wear out so can't donate or pass down, rip out any zips or buttons etc that are still in working condition and reuse.

An analogy I once heard that I love is that sewing is like cooking - if you have a well stocked pantry you can always whip up something to eat... if you have a well stocked basics supply you can always sew something too - just add fabric.

I can't wait to see what you do!!!

LeahJanes

I make a whole lot of home furnishings on my sewing machine. Curtains, tablecloths, couch covers, napkins etc.

I've tried to make clothes and had moderate success. I can recreate items that are worn out by using a seam ripper to disassemble them and then use them as a template to cut out pieces to make a new version. I find this a more reliable method than using normal patterns - fitting something to yourself is hard and I am very fussy. I should take the time and learn but I find I like projects with high effort/result ratio.

I prefer to alter things than make from scratch. A dress with a hole in the top becomes a skirt, pants get slimmed, hems get raised and so on. I also find that thrift stores are a great resource for really cheap fabric - people often donate a few metres of fabric they never ended up using.

stringy

Veteran

Anne, there are also some free patterns online - you have to be a bit careful as some of the free ones aren't very good, but Burda puts some of their basics and older styles online for anyone to use. And Fitzpatterns have a nice sundress and batwing top patterns for free.

I know a lot of people with a sewing machine but not much cash love to do the re-fashion thing - they buy stuff at op-shops and then pull them apart to make into something new. for example, one of my favourite tees for wearing on at-home days is made from a men's polo shirt, but taken in and given new hems and edgings. So soft and snuggly!

anne

Veteran

Hello all,

Sorry for not getting back to this thread earlier and reading your fab posts. My excuse is that I have been spending most of my online time getting really stuck into the newdressaday site that Dusty linked to!

What a revelation! It has really opened my eyes to the concept of reworking old dresses that others of you mentioned.

Leah I like your idea of using an existing items as a pattern. Mum and I ended up doing that last month as we couldn't find her skirt pattern - in fact we didn't even undo the skirt - just laid if on the fabric.

Theresa thanks for your wonderfully long list of suggestions about economizing and generous offer to loan patterns

Stringy - thanks for the links to the free patterns - I think I had seen the Burda one but not the other

Thanks all!
I have already thought of 3 things in my wardrobe that can be reworked and the outlay will been minimal since I already owned them (handmedowns that are too big etc) so not a risk if I botch them. I am going to check my bag of discards ready for the opshop too

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

How fun! I was given a sewing machine so i could see if i liked it last summer. I am not at all experienced but it is a really neat feeling to be able to make something yourself. I really enjoy doing simple home projects so far (like throw pillows) because that the one project i've found so far that really is cost effective.

I do have a question though, while we're on the topic. I need something to help me cut and measure straighter lines with fabric. Like a rotary cutter and a...grid? Can anyone give me a link @ Joann's for one of those? I'm just not exactly sure what i need.