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Buttonholes & hems?

Buttonholes & hems?

Written by: 
cnelson

You know... the kind of thing you have to do when you make clothes.  Those things you wear... those things that some of us used to make.  And actually wear!

Back in the day.  Did you ever make garments?  For dozens of reasons, many of us don't do it any longer - time, convenience, fit, style, fit, cost, fit and so on.  Fit - that was always the double-whammy... changing the fit of a pattern is time-consuming but once you get it right, the clothes fit in a way that store-bought clothes rarely do.

But sewing clothes is getting popular again.  And I've found that the things I make always last longer.  (Even when I'd rather they not...)

What I also notice is that so many of the shirts, dresses and skirts I see in stores and catalogs can be made with the same fabric I can find in quilt shops.  (And the Sample Room.)

This dress is from Anthropologie.

What about this print from Feedsacks: True Blue by Linzee McCray?

This print would also make a great skirt - something like this one from Anthropologie.

Summer tops.  With the heat and humidity in Dallas, this top from Urban Outfitters is very appealing.

Especially in a lovely, soft cotton.

This is from Crystal Manning's Painted Garden.

Anthropologie's Tiered Gingham Dress... let's make this with the Gingham from Bonnie & Camille Basics.

I think a summer dress like that would also be wonderful in this print from Wild Nectar by Crystal Manning.

Retro.  Vintage.  Funky.

Finding similar sewing patterns isn't too hard - that can be done online.  From the big pattern companies most of us grew up with - Simplicity, Butterick, McCall's, Burda and Vogue - to the newer "indie" patterns from independent companies, often offered in both paper and PDF formats.

For a listing of Independent Pattern Companies, here are several listings:

I don't know which pattern I'll use yet but I just might have to make a shirt like this one from J. Crew.

I know!  It's not white.  (If you know me at all, you're shocked.  And you won't believe it until you see it with your own two eyes... or reliable photographic evidence.)

I would this from Regent Street Lawns 2018.

Or this one...

So wish me luck while I go in search of a pattern and the sewing machine foot for buttonholes.

Do you have any tips?  Did you ever make clothing?  Do you still do that?

Happy Tuesday!

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