Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with sew

Help me get started with costuming!

gchucky — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 15:05:50 -0800

I know nothing about costuming or sewing, and I don't have a lot of space to do it. Help me get set up and learning how to put together basic clothing/costumes in my apartment! Backstory: my girlfriend has a LOTR dress that she and her mother made when the first movies came out, and she wanted to dress up for The Hobbit as well. I don't have a costume to match hers, and for all my searches, I couldn't find anyone selling anything. I'd like to have something for next year.

So basically it seems like knowing how to put together a costume would be a good skill to have, and one that I could put to use fairly easily. I've tried to piece some knowledge together about patterns and all that, but it's all fairly overwhelming and I don't really have a place to start. Do I need a sewing machine, and if so, which one? I'd rather not burn through a bunch of cash right off the bat. How do I learn technique? What are the best places to get fabric? What if we want to make something that doesn't have a pattern? Where do you even start with that sort of thing? All those sorts of questions.

Compounded with this is that we live in a relatively small apartment. I've seen pictures of people with rooms filled with sewing equipment, and we just don't have space for that. Does anyone have advice on how to sew/assemble clothing in small spaces?

And if there really is no point to this and it would just be easier to hire someone to put a piece of clothing together, is there a reliable directory of seamstresses or something?

PS, apologies if this post is all over the place.

What's the best sewing reference book?

orange swan — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 11:31:36 -0800

I would like to buy a good book on how to sew. I don't mean a beginner's instructional book, since I can already sew quite well, but a comprehensive reference book that covers everything from the basics to advanced tailoring and couture techniques. I want a sewing book that is the equivalent of Vogue Knitting, which is revered among knitters as the knitter's Bible. I've come across Vogue Sewing, and Power Sewing by Sandra Betzina. Would you recommend either one of these as the best choice, or do you know of another book you think is better?

Knitters are to Ravelry as Sewers are to....?

orange swan — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:15:16 -0800

Is there a community web site for sewers that is comparable to what Ravelry is for knitters? This means, in case you're not familiar with Ravelry, that I can use it to document my sewing projects, look at other people's sewing projects, search for patterns (or pattern reviews), and share information with other sewers in the forums.

What kind of elastic will do the job?

foxy_hedgehog — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 07:48:34 -0800

AskMe sewers! That's as in ("sewing," not as in sewage). I found a piece of fabric I'd like to make a simple tube-style dress out of, sewing in a back seam to join the fabric and then sewing in elastic above the bust. I have two kinds of elastic on hand. Should I use the flat 3/4 inch specifically "non-roll" kind, which seems kind of wide and bulky, or the flat 3/8" braided one? I'd like to use the narrower size because it seems less bulky, but I'm afraid it won't do the job adequately and will roll up because it doesn't specifically say non-roll. If it helps, I am a narrow person with small boobs, though since the elastic is going above the bust I'm not quite sure how that would fit into the calculus.

I greatly appreciate any advice you have to offer.

Looking for affordable t-shirt fabric, online or around Albuquerque

filthy light thief — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:59:00 -0800

Can anyone suggest a place to buy reasonably priced t-shirt fabric, online or in the general Albuquerque area? My parents-in-law recently moved to Rio Rancho, a short ways north of Albuquerque. My mother-in law makes night shirts, and she tried one local shop (Hancock Fabrics), but t-shirt fabric was $12-15 per yard. At that cost, a night shirt may cost $60, making it cheaper to order a nice night shirt online.

A quick Google search turns up a handful of fabric, quilting and craft stores in this area, but I'm hoping for the off-chance that someone can recommend a place, or some reliable online options. Thanks!

What's the best way to hem a stack of fat quarters?

The corpse in the library — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:08:27 -0800

Is there a simpler way to sew a hem than how I'm doing it now? Here's how I made napkins a few years ago:

1. Take one fat quarter. Iron it.
2. Fold one hem up by 1/4" or so and iron it.
3. Fold the same hem up again. Pin and iron it.
4. Repeat on all four edges.
5. Sew, using my sewing machine.
6. Repeat.

This gets tedious. My napkins are rags and I'm in need of replacements. Is there a less-annoying way to do a hem?

I have a Brother CS-6000i. The fabric is always cotton.

sew bicycle cape

vegetable100% — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:55:11 -0800

How to sew a bicycle cape Hello, I want to sew a cape to wear while riding my bicycle. What factors should I take into account to get the best looking cape possible?

I've already had a first attempt where I used a very light fabric and tapered rectangular shape, but the cape doesn't sit well on the shoulders or flap in the wind in that superhero kind of way that one would want. I figure I need to round the shoulders out more so it sits better. One idea I had from the get go was to use a velcro clasp that will come loose if the cape gets caught on something.

What things should I consider in creating my cape 2.0? I'm open to suggestions on anything: Fabric type and thickness, shape, additional safety features, reducing drag, incorporating lights...

Do new and hip fleece patterns exist?

Kindlekat — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:38:32 -0800

DIY Holiday Gifts: I love sewing easy projects with fleece, but hate how all the patterns out there are stuck in the 80s. Help me find some more hip, updated and/or useful patterns! I've started a little late on planning my Christmas gifts this year, so I'm turning to my tried-and-true easy and fun gifts: Things made from fleece. It's easy to cut, pin, and sew and I love how 1 yard easily turns into 4 scarves.

I'm looking for new projects for some variety, but everything I find is outdated and looks very simple/boring. For example: Stuck in the 90s
Matching human/dog sweaters!
No ponchos, no!

I'm not looking to sew for kids, just adults, and with the right colors lots of things look better, but I can't seem to find anything that looks even remotely good. I also don't need "no sew" projects, and am looking for everything from hats to coasters to ipad cases. Please suggest some sources!

Safety In Disguise

bibliogrrl — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 09:28:56 -0800

I need an idea for a costume I can make out of a gray zip front hoodie. I have already made my costume - I am going to be an octopus. We purchased a hoodie for my guy, but cannot settle of what we should use it to make.

We were originally going to make a Narwhal. Then it was totally an Elephant. We also tossed around the idea of a Shark.

I sew, but with a (busy) month ahead, I don't want anything too complicated.

The other caveat is that the face needs to not be covered, and (if at ALL possible) the hood isn't the main part of the design. The costume needs to be as bike friendly as possible.

I did check the archives, but this is ridiculously specific. Sorry.

Thanks all!

Looking for sewing notions supplier.

wwartorff — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:08:16 -0800

I'm looking for a supplier of sewing notions. I'm hoping to find someplace that carries ALL of the following:

1. Button hole elastic
2. "Soft and flexible" velcro in black or navy blue
3. Jeans top stitching thread (dark gold)
4. Jeans rivets in antique copper or antique brass
5. Jeans buttons in antique copper or antique brass
6. #16 snaps in navy blue
7. stretch denim fabric
8. 4" brass jeans zippers

I've done varying searches on google, and I can't seem to find just one place that carries everything. The one place that I know does (Notions Marketing) is a distributor that requires you to have a storefront (real or virtual), which I do not have. I'm fine with setting up a business name and such in order to work with a distributor, I just don't know of anyone that works with non-retailers. (I'm a crafter and will be making toddler jeans for sale.)

So, MeFites, help a girl out! Where is this stuff?

save me from shopping

motsque — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:12:26 -0800

Help my jeans fit without feeding me. Is it unreasonable to imagine that I can alter my jeans to fit me? I've dropped a size or two in the last couple of months. As a result, several of my favorite jeans don't fit me. I'd like to make them fit me, but I don't know how to sew. I do have a sewing machine that is still in the box from when it was gifted to me. Can you point me to any resources that will help me (a novice with little time or handiness skill)? Or should I just take them to a tailor and see if they'll do it? Or should I just bite the bullet and buy new jeans?

Anyone in Seattle want to make their own pajama pants?

doift — Fri, 21 May 2010 08:20:28 -0800

Now that I'm freshly unemployed, I'm thinking about teaching sewing lessons out of my apartment. I'm in Seattle, and my target demographic would likely be young adults on the hipster spectrum, like myself, and perhaps kids 8 and above. What do I need to consider about 1. the business side of an enterprise like that (bookkeeping, taxes, advertising, setting prices, etc.), 2. keeping things safe and pleasant while inviting basically strangers into my home. Bonus item 3. what would you want your lessons to be like if you were my student? I taught kids' sewing lessons during college in my parents' basement, and took lessons as a kid out of people's homes. But that was in suburbia, teaching neighborhood kids and advertising by word of mouth. This is a slightly different ballgame.

First I need recommendations and resources on starting a small business of this kind.

Second I need to advertise my services to attract reliable and interested students who I won't mind having in my home.

Third I need to create lesson plans that won't suck. I'd be offering private and small-group lessons at a variety of skill levels.

Don't get me wrong, clotheslines are great, but help me make one AWESOME!

variella — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:10:27 -0800

Items weighing less than 1lb that make you think "WOW that's cool!" or "GOT to buy that!" on first glance? Catch: items already in your home or could do a bang-up job of creating in two weeks. The bartering comm I belong to (which also uses local alternative 'currency') is having a community centre sale. Theme: anything you can hang up on a clothesline (celebrating National Clothesline Day). I have to book a table ASAP for June 10- time to create but not much to decide if I have enough ideas or not. Food is the only forbidden item.

I'd love to participate because the theme sounds fun. I have a half dozen brand new blouses (with tags on), knitting patterns, and sheet music that I could have up. I'm willing to trade/sell these and anything else I have up for token amounts just to participate. All profits/exchanges go to me, the group considers my mere participation to be their return on giving me the space :)

Any ideas for other hangable things I could sell? Token items are fine, not looking for a huge return, just a full display of useful/fun items. I've got tons of used books but they aren't clothesline friendly.

Skills: sew, knit/crochet, papermaking, calligraphy, photography, etc., generally crafty and creative but help me brainstorm some basic and/or crazy out-of-the-box ideas!

How to work with Strechy Fabric?

cmchap — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:04:24 -0800

For a friend: What kind of thread do you use to hem stretchy pants? Any pointers on this would help. My friend is a glorious 5-foot 1-inch tall, and has to hem her jeans. Are there special sewing skills/materials/tools that go along with hemming/sewing stretchy fabric?

Teach Me How To Teach How To Sew

chara — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:01:58 -0800

I've volunteered to help teach 10-12 year olds how to sew. We have limited supplies (only three machines for 15+ students), so I was wondering what suggestions you had for: a) teaching the very basics to youngsters in a safe and fun way (not too frustrating and not too bloody) b) working with limited resources I meet with the students once a week. My first lesson is in three weeks and it's been a while since I first learned to sew, so I'm not exactly sure where to start. Any words of wisdom, online or paper resources would be appreciated! Thanks!

I need new cushion covers!

crewshell — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:23:52 -0800

I need covers for the cushions on my couch. Where can I get them with these custom dimensions for a reasonable cost (20ish a piece)? I have 3 that are 17.5 x 23.5
and 3 that are 24 x 25
both sets are 5 inches thick.

What are my best options for finding these? I just want a solid color.. maybe dark gray or black, very dark red would work too.

I could try to make them... but I dont think that would turn out well.

Suggestions?

(i've tried surefit, they dont really have cushion covers, which is odd considering its easier to make those than full couch covers!)

Sewingfilter: loops on bottom of fabric

kc0dxh — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 08:42:50 -0800

When using my sewing machine, large loops and tangles of thread are generated on the bottom side of the fabric. What am I doing wrong and what do I need to do to remedy the problem?