If so, do any of you make your own patterns or do you know anyone who does?

Do you know of a good book on pattern-making? I just spent some time researching pattern-making books on amazon and was taken aback at the price of these books--around $100 each! So since some of them are very old and some of the newer ones don't have many reviews yet, I'd rather have a first-hand recommendation before I go spending that kind of money.

Thanks in advance!
Sheri

Sheri,

Check out Cochenille and Click & Sew software online for making your own sewing patterns. There may be others but these are two I've heard good things about.

quote:

Originally posted by Carole:
Another thought, does the High School near you have adult classes in the evenings on sewing, you might want to check them out.

Thanks for your suggestions, Carole, but I too have been sewing since I was a kid, and used to make most of my own clothes when I was in my 20s, so it isn't that I need to learn to sew but that I want to take my sewing in another direction by doing more original designs.

Because I am so short, store-bought patterns require too many alternations before I can even begin to cut. That's why I stopped sewing my own clothes a long time ago (except for Halloween costumes). I mostly do alterations to store-bought clothes now, but I want to get into designing my own clothes.

Sheri, my simplicty book is on a shelf that I cannot reach, unless I can get a neighbor to get it down.
I just went into http://simplicity.com/on the left hand side look for sewing basic, then pattern style,simplicity so easy,$3.29 each

Then Sewing community,Idea exchange alot of hints
Basically, I clicked on everything on the left hand side, when it came up to the page on how to do something I just moved my mouse over it and clicked some of the pages have archives so check them out also.
Sheri, I do not understand why you want a pattern making book,
1. you will need to have some there with you to measure all parts of your body.
2. you will have to have a sketch or picture of what you want
3. then there still might be alterations
4. you will have to know where to add darts or anything else that is on a reg. pattern
5. if you want to make elastic pants, you will have to know how wide the elastic is and what type to use and how to measure it and put it in your pants, there are various ways to do this,
6. all of the above takes alot of time and patience, to me it is easier to start with an easy pattern(as I stated in my first note)
7. something I forgot to mention was, when buying a pattern (say for elastic pants, they ask on the back of the package for your waist,hip and length of pants (not sure if it is from the crouch down or not) but I have found on most patterns wheather it be Simplicity,McCalls or Vogue (btw Mccalls and Vogue are the same company ,only they charge more and have some designer patterns) some alterations still have to be done
8.Remeber a size 12(example) in all patterns are not the same, this happened when the Garment Industry in all states started to export there work and pattern making to China, Japan, Taiwan there size 12's are different then what they were in the U.S.A when they were regulated

Enough for now, remember if you need any help contact me , going back to sleep, have been up since 12:30 A.M

Sheri:
Don’t know if suggestion would help you, but giving it a try.
I started sewing in the 6th grade (many, many years ago) really enjoyed it, and at the time my mother didn’t have a sewing machine so was using my Grandmothers Singer with the foot peddle
I used real simple patterns to start then I bought Simplicities book, that taught me more, how to put in zippers, adjust patters etc,etc., Over the course of the years (when my mother bought a sewing machine ( the ones with the different designs) I started making more clothes for my self, ie: skirts, blouses (all types)dresses and suites all lined and even with patterns I had to do some alterations (mostly on the from the upper thigh down (which I got the info from the Simp.Book,) then one day I was out shopping and saw a dress I liked, took it into the fitting room and it fit perfect, since I always carry a pen and paper and a small ruler with me I took all the measurements, and any embellishments that went on it, came home and found a basic dress pattern I had, and ended up with the dress I saw in the store.
After that my Mom and I started to make my DD clothes, from P.J’s to reg. clothes all the way to Middle school, when she said “mom can we buy real clothes in a store” and when she became married and pregnant we made a lot of here maternity tops, split some of the patterns to either put in different sleeve, or cut pattern on angle to put in a different color
But the Greatest thing I have over done was make daughters friend her WEDDING GOWN (lined) with lace and beads and a lot of alterations, also the hat and veil

Laid of sewing for awhile, then decided to go into home decorating, made my own fabric shower curtains (cause I didn’t like the plastic ones and they were always to short and not wide enough), then drapes, kitchen curtains, throw pillows.

Now you know my experience in sewing, the only thing I can tell you at this point is when I was sewing, fabric was much cheaper, and I worked at the garment industry and got good fabric (all types) at a good price, today unless you have a good fabric store nearby check them out , sometimes I find it is cheaper to buy the garment then make it.

As someone on this board said, take something you previously owned and cut it apart, if you do decide to this, please do not forget when tracing the outline to allow for at leas ½” seam on every part also mark on the old garment the center of the sleeve,where the buttons go and anything else so you can transfer it to the new pattern and the easiest way to make a new pattern is use newspaper, you might have to put 2 pieces together with scotch tape, or buy a roll of brown paper but not the real heavy kind

Another suggestion, whichever way you decide, start with something small and simple and if I can find the Simp. book I will let you know the name of it and if there is anything else I can help you with PLEASE do not hesitate to ask on the board or e-mail me at cr2235@comcast.net

Another thought, does the High School near you have adult classes in the evenings on sewing, you might want to check them out.
Or if you want to make a trip down to Fl, you can stay with me and I would be more then happy to help you.

I don't sew that well, but I have seen out here in california in a Quilt shop-classes. One was useing comfortable well fitting pants to make more. Could you look for those types of classes in some sewing shops? If you take the clothes that the taylor altered and use those. They would be able to guide you in book selection.

Mnm

Sheri,
I completely mis-read your original post. I didn't realize you were looking a pattern-making books! I thought you meant pattern books, like that would have tons of patterns in them. Again, my sewing knowledge is very limited

One time in middle school, we were making 3/4 length sleeved baseball shirts. I remember that I ended up with one elbow length sleeve, and one full-length, went to my wrist sleeve, LOL!

Jill

As you sew, so shall you reap.

I do sew, but I haven not made my own patterns, other than in costume design class. I have a book called the Costume Technician's Handbook which was pretty good.

The people in the craft/sewing blogs are all raving about the Built by Wendy patterns. I don't know where you find them, but they seem to be quite adjustable.

Threads is a great sewing magazine. I might see if the Interweave Press website had some sewing books. I would trust their choices.

quote:

Originally posted by jillybean:
Have you sewn before or will this be a new hobby?

I have been sewing (off and on) since I was young. Being not of a standard size (either vertically or horizontally), it really helps to have some sewing expertise. I used to hem nearly all my clothes myself, except for coats or blazers with lining. In recent years, I found a great tailor (where I was living in Virginia) and so I'd been taking most everything to him and hadn't been sewing much at all. Now that I have the time, I want to get back into it--but I want to go more with designing my own stuff than sewing from patterns.

The only thing that I can think of... and this is not designing your OWN patterns... but maybe taking apart some clothes that you really like.

But if you have clothes that are wearing out... or you no longer like the color... you could make a pattern from clothes that you already own. You could update details to make them more stylish or change the colors.

Sheri,
I can sew on a button, or iron on that stitch-witchery stuff in a hem emergency so I will be of little help. But, my mom sews quite a bit. She used to sew a lot of our clothes when we were kids-Easter and Christmas dresses, summer dresses, etc. so I'll ask her about patterns. I think if you are a big sewer, and make a ton of clothes, $100 for a book is cost-effective compared to paying for clothes in a store. Fabric can be expensive, but I think if you make a lot of clothes from one book, it would be worth the $. Most clothes I buy are about $25-$75/piece so one piece of clothing could be the price of the book. I remember going w/my mom to Joanne Fabrics and picking out the patterns for my Halloween costumes(this was the one thing WE got to choose, the rest she picked). I used to love sitting there, going through all those big books, and then searching through giant drawers for the pattern.


Have you sewn before or will this be a new hobby?

Jill

Sheri, I do not, but if you would like me to ask my friend I'm happy to do that for you. I'm just not sure how long it will take me to get an answer from her.

She is a clothing designer and also used to have her own pattern making company. Prior to that she did pattern design for Lee Jeans.

So, she really knows her stuff.

Dawn