I would like to start making my own clothes

[T'Arah Craig]

because we all know how expensive pin-up can get.
and teaching Taekwondo doesn't necessarily pay the bill for wardrobe expenses, and niether does singing at a restaraunt.

so i want to start making my own pinup clothes, except for lingerie, lol, that i'll buy. but

i want to know some simple designs that you've seen and if you make your own pinup clothes tell me about it!! or if you have patterns id love if you could email me them!!

thanks guys!!
-T'Arah

[Marissa Lily]

i want to do this too!! i even have a sewing machine-still unopened because someone was going to teach me and then they moved away :( i should experiment with it. where do you get these vintage vogue patterns?

[T'Arah Craig]

that would be fun!! I'm making a beautiful red dress right now i cant wait till its done!!

Ruby Del Rio said:

I just bought a sewing machine from Costco. In fact my neighbor is coming over today to teach me, plus I have an instructional DVD. We should all try to make something and then post a pic of it and share our creations!

[Harmony Walker]

Hey I have my own clothing line...I do everthing myself..patterns..fabric selection designs etc. If you have Any questions let me know i may be able to help you!!
I do my designs first then draft the pattern then cut and sew....It is alot easier i find if you use stretch fabric as then you can cheat a bit on the size LOL!!

[Jazzy Doll]

my little sister is 13 and makes some of my pinup clothes she puts a dress or something similar to what she wants to make on top of some fabric marks it with chalk or marking pencils. Then pins it together and sews it.

[Bad Wolf]

Hey - I have been salivating over some of these:

http://www.sovintagepatterns.com/page/page/1652672.htm

My sewing skills are I guess moderate; I can do some alterations and tailoring, but it's alway6s easier to have something to start with, and these are the real deal, or at least a place to get ideas, then you can maybe find contemporary patterns that would be easy to alter. Speaking of the circle skirt/halter dress, Simplicity has a current pattern available (#3823) which I just bought (about 12 bucks at Beverly's) that is easy to make with a minimum of previous experience (from what I can tell - it's just cut pin and sew) and would be a great dress for a beginner/intermediate.

I like the idea of a sewing thread (LOL) where we post pics of finished projects! I'm down; I just need to find some fabulous fabric.

[Sadie Sparkle]

Hiya,

I'm a big crafter and sew loads of things! I like SImplicity patterns - they are pretty easy to follow, Vogue patterns can be a bit harder but still aren't too bad. There are lots of those patterns that have several different options and styles - they are brilliant because you get several outfits per pattern!!

I personally trace all my patterns onto baking paper lol. It saves the patterns for reuse then!!

Also, be sure to check out Burda Style - its a fantastic resource. There are some super high waisted trousers on there that I MUST have a go at!!

have lots of fun!

xxx

[Alicia]

hey ladies, Im working on my first pattern. I got all the pieces cut out and the fabric pinned thanks to a friends help. I dont know how to get started though actually sewing. I know the pattern tells u what to start with and stuff but I am completely freaking LOST!! I dont even now what to do at all.
its a normal dress with a full skirt and simple shoulder straps. I dont know what to do when I look at the pieces of fabric pinned to the pattern. I feel so stupid. :-( I dont know what to do when I look at the pieces of fabric pinned to the pattern. I feel so stupid. :-( Im totally stuck. I would really love to get it done this week since I have so much time off. I sat with the sewing machine a couple nights now and the pattern. I try to read what it says but its so confusing with the different ways to sew the fabric. Do you do it facing each other or both with the matching grains? I know it depends on what color it says on the pattern but I cant tell on the fabric. Then what do I do? Sew everything and then turn it inside out or something? I don’t have a friggin clue!!!! Im really discouraged.

[Dana Blue]

Simplicity,MCall's, Butterick, and Vogue all have reissues of vintage designs. If you look through their books, some of their modern stuff can be very vintage-inspired as well. Look on eBay and Etsy for authentic vintage patterns, too.
You can always be psycho like me and look through the pattern books when you have time, making a list of all the patterns you want to acquire. Then, when they have really good sales (like a buck or two), you POUNCE and buy all the patterns you want for super cheap. :) Mwahahaaaaa!

[Sara Sundae]

I'm currently working on a circle skirt- Simplicity pattern #9626. It's a very simple pattern- you only cut two pieces for the skirt and one for the waistband!

To jazz it up I added pockets from a vintage apron pattern!

[LisaLuxx]

Yep, I've done the same as all of you and looked into the vintage reissue patterns. I went to the sewing and craft stores to actually take a look at what was out there, fabrics, crenoline, patterns, etc., and the options are ENDLESS almost overwhelming. Ive started just keeping a notebook of ideas of the different things I want to try and do, swatches of fabric and stuff, who knows what I'll come up with later. We probably have another thread on hair accessories and the like too....ive done some of that as well...

[Dana Blue]

Haha! I have sources for specific fabrics listed in a notebook, as well as vintage patterns to look for better prices on that I missed out on in auctions. Great minds think alike.... or maybe we're both just crazy! ;)

LisaLuxx said:

Yep, I've done the same as all of you and looked into the vintage reissue patterns. I went to the sewing and craft stores to actually take a look at what was out there, fabrics, crenoline, patterns, etc., and the options are ENDLESS almost overwhelming. Ive started just keeping a notebook of ideas of the different things I want to try and do, swatches of fabric and stuff, who knows what I'll come up with later. We probably have another thread on hair accessories and the like too....ive done some of that as well...

[TabbyKat Boutique]

Fabrics the most important, knowing the types and styling them together. The wrong fabrics together can be a disaster for any perfect dress. Second check out your local smaller type thrifty shops not ones like salvation army and such. I started my business making children's clothing because my kids wanted clothes in the style like mommies, I've found some great stuff, I moved up when I visited my mom (she lives in a very small town) and found a ton of old authentic vintage pattens that were in fantastic shape, huge score, my collection is now over 30 patterns men, women and children and have cost me a total of $30 or less, it was truly a dream come true.
Besides those two things just throw yourself in there and you'll get the hang of it, sewing isn't as hard as it seems, its just time consuming and fabric can be expensive.