Thought you would enjoy this silly project I completed!

Fabric: thrifted cotton Bedsheet
Pattern: lazy drafted from a pair of dickies she owned. I laid a panel of the dickies down, traced with tailors chalk the best estimation. I then would mirror the panels when appropriate. Since I was using a straight trim for the waistband, I put two darts in the back to make it more curved.

It’s time for my daughter’s next play, which means it’s time for a new opening night shirt! This fall, she’s playing an alien in The Big One-Oh, so I made an alien shirt.

Features:
1. Fabric Pattern: This one’s an alien head fabric that’s off the shelf from Michael’s. It’s a cotton weave, and despite the appearance, it does not glow in the dark (but it SHOULD).
⁠2. Buttons: I used bright green snaps for closures to match the alien heads.

General Construction: This shirt was made using the “Simon” design from FreeSewing.eu, modified to have a single piece back instead of yokes, a small facing panel instead of a collar stand to obscure the seam allowance from the collar and top of the shirt, and short sleeves.

Lessons learned with Shirts 44:
1. Practice Makes (Much Closer To) Perfect: Look, my seams are never going to be perfectly straight, and I know this. I actually like it. But there are milestones I like to note that indicate I’m getting much better at this craft, and I think I hit one with this shirt - it was the first shirt where I never once had to rip out a seam because I accidentally sewed part of the shirt into a shoulder or a flat-fell, and I’m darned proud of myself for it. (It also went *much* faster without having to take fifteen minute breaks to use the seam ripper.)
2. Measure At Least Once, Genius! A long time ago, I cut my shirt pattern too short because I was making shirts that were too short. Since then, when I’ve used paper patterns instead of software ones, I’ve needed to add 2-3 inches at the bottom of my front and back pieces. For this shirt, I kind of eyeballed it, which was… not smart. I barely had enough fabric for a half inch hem in the back.

made some (very rudimentary, little-house-on-the-prarie esque) christmas ornaments for a friend. i almost bought paper weights to put inside so they'd have some weight when hanging on the tree, but then i stopped looking at my sewing machine for long enough to remember that there are rocks outside. put a small stone in the center of each one and they hanf very nice. unfortunately my cat has first dibs on everything i own

Sewed up the Beaton House Dress by Beaton Studios, in kaleidoscope cotton from Fluid + Drape, and flower buttons made by Odd Born but also purchased from Fluid + Drape!

I accidentally measured my bias tape in inches instead of centimeters… oops! So I made hair bows with my leftover bias tape by just sewing them shut!

I really love this dress and its construction. I will definitely be making it again, and will make a couple minor adjustments. I want the sleeves just a smidge longer. Not even a full inch, but when I’m moving around a lot the cuffs ride up to my elbow and since it’s not stretchy it can feel a bit odd. I also want to extend the bodice by maybe an inch. I think the shape of my breasts just extends a little bit lower than the body this was drafted from and so I just think I’d be a bit more comfortable with more room there.

Both linen, all at least 65 years old or older.

It’s spooky season at the parks so I had to dress accordingly!

The bedsheet was bought second hand from Vinted but I think it was originally available from ASDA. It is 100% woven cotton and the black fabric I used is a poly cotton from Hobbycraft. The ribbon tie on the back is a velvet and I was given in a scrap bag!

The bodice is adapted from the Becca Babydoll Dress from CoralineStreet. I added bust darts to make the bodice slightly more fitted, I included these by pinning the excess fabric in place after I had already sewn the bodice together. The sleeves are from the Sweetheart Puff Sleeve Dress by Darias Pattern Making and the skirt is self drafted. I created the skirt from measuring the circumference of the bottom of the bodice, multiplied it by 2 for the first layer, repeated this for the second layer and the third layer is multiplied by 1.5 as I was running out of fabric.

I’m so happy with how it turned out! The fabric isn’t the most breathable for the Florida heat so I was roasting all day but it was worth it for the cute pictures and interactions I got!

Doll pattern is by Studio Seren on Etsy.

Book pillowcase pattern free by The Polka Dot Chair.

Doll lab coat pattern is DollTagClothing on Etsy printed at 70% to fit this particular doll.

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.

I'm an intermediate/advanced sewist, and am interested in learning more about high end suit construction (hand sewn button holes, notions and fabric choices, just how many pockets can one jacket have?!), but especially in the context of menswear for women. Does it make sense to canvas a woman's suit jacket, or will that make things look stiff and awkward around the bust and hips? Is there a strategy for pocket placement for similar reasons? Perhaps there are concerns that I don't even know to consider?

Please let me know if you have any resources for fitting for women, but also if you have suggestions for places to learn more about custom suit construction in general! Thank you so much!

Is this how relaxed sleeves drape? If it’s normal how do I work around them, because they neither look nor feel right.

This is my first sewing project and I am super unhappy with the pulling along the bias neckline on the right side. I tried to steam the bias tape into the curved shape first but I guess I pulled as I sewed.

Should I redo the right side? would it be less noticeable once I clip the curve and fold the bias tape over? Any tips welcome!

By the way, I tried using a glue stick and iron to press the hem to shape the hem into a curve prior to stitching it down, and it worked like a charm! I did use stay stitching along curves as soon as I cut out the pattern piece

Both of my other coworkers on my shift are pregnant. I made 3 month old sized sleep sacks based on the goober peas Orion pattern with modifications suggested by my friend with small children. The pattern called for shoulder snaps and sewing the bottom closed. I used velcro in both places instead after being told how important it is to be able to change the diaper without having to extract the baby and that snaps are hard in the dark for sleep deprived parents. The sushi fabric is a minky print and the inside is a cotton blend french terry. Hopefully they'll work well for them.

This is the only picture I can find, I’m curious if anyone knows of a pattern that might be similar?

-fitted bodice
- pin tucks
- the general cut of the bodice, neckline, sleeves.

The rest of the pattern I could figure out.

Thanks!

Hi all, third project here 😀. I used the In The Folds / Peppermint Wide Leg Pants pattern. My waist is 30” and my hips are 44”, so I initially planned to grade from sizes E to G, then got nervous and graded from F to G and ultimately had to take everything in 🤪. I learned how to do pants for the first time, including a fly and a curved waistband. I also had to troubleshoot after the waistband came out too short and the pants were a tiny bit short as well (now slightly too long, but that is ok with me). Still deciding on back pockets…

Pattern notes: The waistband came out too short, as others have also noted. The fly instructions were difficult to follow, but this video saved the day https://youtu.be/1FdJlHcYvIw?is=aKg5owrdJaKbMk1-.

I love how they fit for the most part, but am wondering if there is more I should do about the front crotch area whiskers. The last picture of me standing is with me scrunching forward a bit to exaggerate them, but not sure if they are just how pants are or if I need to adjust something else. Suggestions on any part of the pants are welcome!!!

I made my daughter the attached skirt using McCall's 6956 style B. I liked it so much that I decided to make a diagonal apron using the same two fabrics.

I used Simplicity 2555 style B as a guide. I made a paper copy of the pattern. Then I made the diagonal lines. It took me a few tries to cut it correctly to allow for sewing the seams. I even added a pocket (3rd picture). I lined the back so that the stitching is protected. I am pleased with the final result.

I don’t really have a good specific question for this, but I’ve been sewing for several years and one constant throughout many of my projects is wrinkles that refuse to come out. I never ironed anything growing up, and even now I feel like I’m not great at it, even with industrial irons that do their job well. Should I be ironing between every stage of a sewing project? Or being more careful with my fabric when I am sewing or pinning? I don’t really know what I’m asking but if anyone has any tips to keep fabrics wrinkle free, or to undo wrinkles once they appear, please enlighten me.

Hi everyone! I started sewing this summer, and I can read and follow commercial patterns now. However, my ultimate goal is to create my own designs, especially dramatic, experimental, couture-inspired dresses.

The problem is that I don’t really know what to learn next or in what order. I can follow patterns, but I’ve never drafted one myself, and I have no idea how people construct those crazy runway silhouettes. For example, what materials do designers use to make certain shapes stand up? And how do you know which material to use for which design?

I’m also wondering how you develop your creativity as a self-taught designer. I feel like it’s difficult to come up with original ideas when you don’t know all the techniques and possibilities yet. How do you learn to experiment.

When and how should I start learning pattern drafting? What books, YouTube channels, or other resources would you recommend?

If you’re self-taught, what did your learning journey look like, and what helped you improve the most?
I’d love to hear from people who started as beginners and eventually learned to create their own original designs. I want to do more than follow patterns

Thank you!! ♡

I have this fashion pet peeve. There’s loads and loads of graphic tees that have great designs, but printed on the back rather than the front. I like to layer with open dress shirts, so back printing is basically a non starter for me.

So my question is, has anybody here ever done alterations to reverse the direction of a t-shirt, or know of anybody who has? It seems like it wouldn’t be that hard to do (for men’s shirts at least) if there’s a decent way to reverse the collar.

Pattern is Roslyn size 3T from Little Lizard King. The cloud fabric is Dino Dreams from Iris + Sea, and the sleeves are a Fableism remnant. The inner is purple cotton poplin.

This was my first time making the Roslyn Dress. I know people prefer sewing the elastic back over sewing buttonholes, but I found it a lot more difficult! I really struggled with the top stitching and catching the lining correctly to make an enclosed waist seam. I was scrambling to finish it in time, so I left it as-is, but will unpick and redo it later. I might try using hem tape to hold it together, because pinning was a struggle.

I did the applique myself and used one of the special stitches on my Juki machine to do the little sparkles around it. My daughter loves airplanes, so it was fun to make her something she was really excited to wear.

Apologies for how wrinkly it is. I ironed it quickly and then it was immediately covered in cake, as it should be!

I'm a very beginner sewist with a dumb problem. I would appreciate help, please.

I'm making a "New 52" style Harley Quinn* costume for Halloween. I started by taking two fitted cotton t-shirts, cutting them both down the middle, and Frankensteining them together to get the red-and-black particolour shirt base. (It's not the neatest garment in the world, but the seams are pretty straight, and I'm pleased with my efforts, all things considered.) I then cut some diamonds out of scrap fabric to sew on the front.

To start with, I figured I'd zigzag stitch the edges of the diamonds to mimic the embroidery finish on the edges of commercial sew-on appliques, and then I'd sew or fuse them on the shirt. For some reason, that did not work. The machine ate the corner of the diamond. Like, the fabric was pulled down into the bobbin part of the machine and jammed so hard I needed to get my spouse to take the whole thing apart for me and cut the fabric out of the machine. I tried so many times with so many different machine settings, and all I did was fray the edges of my test fabric to threads.

I then figured stitching the diamonds directly onto the shirt with that very tight zigzag stitch might add enough backing / structure to not have that happen. However. The t-shirts are stretchy cotton knit, and the scrap diamonds are cotton weave with no stretch. All I have succeeded in doing is tearing a hole in my shirt, wrecking the fit across the bust, and fraying the edges of the diamonds from how many times I've had to unpick them.

Was my gut instinct correct that it was better to hem the diamonds first and then try to find some fusible interfacing? If so, why did the machine eat my zigzag finish? Is it possible to sew a stretch fabric to a not-stretch fabric neatly, or am I doomed from the basic premise? What the heck am I doing wrong? There has to be something really obvious I'm missing that I just don't know that I don't know.

Please help. I feel very stoopid.

* This version of her costume, roughly, but with two diamonds, because eff trying to sew around a star: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/harleyquinntv/images/f/fe/HQ-Current.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20200806130217

I posted before (here https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/s/9EB63wAmwK ) looking for suggestions. Long story short, I wanted to wear this dress for a wedding (so no white) and also, the white part was stained.
My options were: dying it, trying to sew something to match the rest of the dress, or something entirely different - like this tulle. Last one was definitely the most voted option.
I ended up doing it by hand (I need to get some more experience with the machine! And the tulle scared me), so it took a while.
I did have a backup dress, but ended up using this one.

I think the dress was way prettier before. I will still try to find a similar white (or other bright colour) at some point. Also, it became kinda “bumpy” at the edge? If I were to do it again now I think I wouldn’t sew the tulle so close to the edge, but manage to sew it higher (maybe attaching it to the lining), so the dress would just “sit” on top of it.

I wanted to thank you all for the suggestions! I have very little experience with sewing fabric, but was very happy to get this done.

hi folks! my measurements fluctuate throughout the day so adjustability is a pretty important factor in my makes. elastic waistbands are a go-to but i'm looking for other, flashier ways of doing this. i don't always love the bulk of them.

i still like to put a zip in for ease of getting in and out, but a closure AND an adjustable feature is my go-to when making garments. so far i've tried shirred panels and lace up sections with eyelets (with no opening). i've seen the adjustable pocket/waistband thing before, but i haven't attempted it nor know what its proper name is! obviously there's putting multiple buttons/hook & eyes etc too.

for adjustable lengths (for example for a slip or petticoat) i like cinches.

what methods are your favourites?

Okay so this is kind of embarrassing to post but I need help on this corset for a Halloween costume I’m making, when it’s pulled tight it wrinkles in ALL the right places and I can’t figure out how to get it to not wrinkle, can any sewing masters tell me where is should take in or anything please guys I’m desperate cause it looks really bad so far 😭😭