Spurred by the events in Bangladesh, a growing dissatisfaction with clothing quality, as well as an oddly shaped body that doesn't conform well to rack sizing, I've decided to commit to making more of my own clothing. I know how to operate my sewing machine. I know how to read a pattern. I frankenstein and repurpose clothes on the regular. I need some advanced basics to take it to the next level.
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posted by lilnublet
on May 23, 2013 -
17 answers
Sewists/sewers/seamstresses of askme, I need your help. I bought a beautiful 1930s lace wedding dress yesterday, but need to have the back altered because though the dress fits at the waist, the zipper won't close in the bust. Other non-sewer advice welcome in the style department.
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posted by dysh
on May 2, 2013 -
17 answers
I am looking to upgrade from my very basic, ten-year-old Elna 2110 sewing machine to something that I'll still be enjoying twenty or more years from now. I know what basic features I want, but I don't know how to translate that into a sewing machine search. There are just SO MANY sewing machines available that I'm unsure how to narrow it down. How do I articulate what I'm looking for in sewing machine-buying terms?
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posted by linettasky
on Apr 9, 2013 -
8 answers
So I finally want to get a name / logo / site for my little side business(es). I do (German-English) translation, localisation and copywriting on the one hand, and I sew colourful accessories on the other. Unfortunately I can't even get past the "what do I call this thing?" hurdle. Can I even have just one name?
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posted by ClarissaWAM
on Apr 2, 2013 -
13 answers
Tell me everything you know about sewing patterning software, especially the kind for dummies...
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posted by Melismata
on Mar 27, 2013 -
14 answers
I saw
this dress on Pinterest and fell in love. I don't want to buy it--I'm trying to get away from buying new clothes entirely. I have extremely basic sewing skills (curtains, sunglasses cases, skirts) and I'm tempted to try to make this dress on my own.
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posted by chaiminda
on Mar 14, 2013 -
7 answers
My friends were interested in my recently acquired sewing machine and brought up the idea of a craft/sewing party. I have no idea how that would work. Help?
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posted by Durin's Bane
on Feb 12, 2013 -
13 answers
What pro or semi-pro sewing machine would be best for a home sewer opening an Etsy store that sells denim, canvas, and Cordura (1000 denier) luggage and other bags? Ability to sew lighter fabrics as well would be a plus, as would overlock capability (a separate overlock machine would also work). This is for a class project and hypothetical, so price is no object.
posted by WorkingMyWayHome
on Feb 11, 2013 -
5 answers
I have an Elna Supermatic (Beige, Type 722010) that worked great last time I used it (two years ago...) and now runs incredibly sluggishly. Or doesn't run. I tried oiling it with 3 in 1 and waiting, but that didn't help. I'm not entirely sure it is worth fixing, though this is an early, all steel-parts, Swiss-made machine so it is theoretically a keeper.
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posted by amandabee
on Feb 2, 2013 -
5 answers
During the Missoni for Target craze a few years ago, I managed to score the most coveted item--a quilted fleece
throw. I only got one. There are three inhabitants of our house fighting over it, including the cat, who is usually the one who gets to use it. Help me find or make something similar.
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posted by payoto
on Feb 2, 2013 -
6 answers
I'm looking for fabrics and sewing notions in Berlin. Large selection of fabrics, especially home decor would be great. Google is not helping me.
posted by buck:fuller
on Jan 26, 2013 -
5 answers
I want to learn about the cultural significance of clothing, as well as how clothes are made, but I want my process to be fun. What do you think are the best popular Hollywood-style movies, in which the characters discuss what clothes mean to them? What about movies in which the characters are involved with the sewing or designing of clothing? Do garments play a major part in the plot of any movies? Any suggestions for movies that have helped you to think about clothes would be most appreciated.
posted by mortaddams
on Jan 12, 2013 -
42 answers
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!
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posted by gchucky
on Dec 28, 2012 -
17 answers
New Sewing Machine Question! I got a new sewing machine for Christmas, a Janome Magnolia 7318, and I love it. My only snag so far is how to sew thick fabrics. I want to sew thick fleeces for stuff for my dogs and the layers are too thick to fit under the stock foot. Is there a different shank I can buy (not sure if that is the right word) that is higher? I tried to google it but no luck.
posted by dottiechang
on Dec 26, 2012 -
5 answers
How can I find a seamstress to do some moderately difficult work, specifically re-covering foam cushions with provided fabric, and is this the best way to go about doing the job?
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posted by maxreax
on Nov 30, 2012 -
8 answers
How do I say "sewer" in Spanish? Not the pipe that waste water goes into, but a person who sews on a sewing machine?
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posted by buzzv
on Nov 28, 2012 -
9 answers
Sewing-filter: Top 5 tips for a beginner working on my first real project from a pattern? Bonus question: can I do this? Pep talks welcome.
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posted by mireille
on Nov 23, 2012 -
28 answers
What's the most cost-efficient way to hem and dart my shirts? What kind of sewing machine fits my urge to adjust clothing?
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posted by sunnychef88
on Nov 23, 2012 -
10 answers
Where should I look for information on becoming a bespoke tailor (through books/self-education, training, and/or apprenticeship) in the United States?
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posted by faeuboulanger
on Nov 18, 2012 -
9 answers
Have sewing machine. Have kids that need Halloween costumes. Have no knowledge of how to use said sewing machine. Help!
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posted by chicxulub
on Oct 15, 2012 -
10 answers
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?
posted by orange swan
on Sep 21, 2012 -
10 answers
I'd like to upgrade from hand-stitching, and buy my first sewing machine. I'm only interested in sewing bags (mostly messenger bags), and I'll be using Cordura and natural canvas. What sewing machine will do the job? I don't want to fork out a lot for an industrial machine, because that's just too much of a commitment for something I only dabble in. And I don't have enough space for those antique Singer cabinets.
posted by Xere
on Sep 12, 2012 -
12 answers
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.
posted by orange swan
on Aug 29, 2012 -
10 answers
I just moved back to the Bay Area and am trying to get my DIY on again. Please recommend resources and spaces for ceramics, knitting, and sewing lessons/classes/circles in the East Bay or SF.
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posted by foxy_hedgehog
on Aug 23, 2012 -
9 answers
Hand Embroidery Filter: How do you keep something taut enough (ie handkerchief, tablecloth) to embroider around the edge of it?
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posted by koucha
on Aug 20, 2012 -
8 answers
Alrighty. We were about to move into a new house, and found AFTER I'd moved several plastic tubs of sewing stuff (LOTS OF CLOTH) into the house that it was terribly infested with fleas. Do I just need to throw it out, or is there something I can do?
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posted by supercoollady
on Aug 7, 2012 -
27 answers
I want to use bamboo fabric to sew a custom martial arts gi. Help me find fabric and plan this out.
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posted by jeffmshaw
on Jul 31, 2012 -
9 answers
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?
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posted by foxy_hedgehog
on Jul 3, 2012 -
12 answers
I just finished sewing a
kimono-style bathrobe out of 100% woven cotton fabric. When it came out of the dryer, the belt, bottom hem, and front band were wrinkled enough that I had to iron them. Ironing a bathrobe is not what I signed up for! Short of taking the robe apart to put interfacing in to prevent wrinkles, is there anything I can do? In case it matters, I have a HE front-loading washer and the matching dryer; the robe was washed in warm water and dried on normal heat, then removed immediately. The fabric was washed once before being cut, and I was scrupulous about laying the pieces out on the grain.
posted by DrGail
on Jun 25, 2012 -
5 answers
What kind of sewing machine should I get my beloved for her birthday?
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posted by Jode
on Jun 21, 2012 -
16 answers
Help me work out how to alter
this dress pattern for a big bust. A friend walked me through doing one with a bust dart, but I want to avoid frustration with this and hopefully get it right myself.
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posted by mippy
on Jun 7, 2012 -
13 answers
Mefi Sewers! I am a beginning sewer and just found a fabulous vintage patterned length of fabric (two yards x 58 inches) at a thrift shop for two bucks. I want to make a very simple a-line shift dress that is made from two cuts of fabric, front and back, that sew together on the sides of the body. A zipper in the back is ok. I cannot seem to find a pattern, vintage or otherwise, that fulfills these criteria.
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posted by foxy_hedgehog
on May 19, 2012 -
8 answers
I used an overlocker (serger) for the first time yesterday, and I was impressed. I'd like to get one when I am in a position to have a proper sewing space (hopefully in the next year), but can I survive without one for dressmaking well enough? And what should I be looking for in a first machine?
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posted by mippy
on May 17, 2012 -
13 answers
What (relatively useful) items/gifts can I make out of beautiful fabric? I'm developing a dangerous Spoonflower addiction.
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posted by Eyebrows McGee
on May 12, 2012 -
27 answers
Hi Sewers! I'm just learning how to sew thanks to a new sewing machine and a community college class this summer, but I'd like to develop a specific expertise in alterations and tailoring due to my love of thrifting. There are lots of sewing books out there- is there one that has an especially good chapter on tailoring and altering?
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posted by foxy_hedgehog
on Apr 23, 2012 -
4 answers
I've lost a lot of weight in the past year and have gone from a size 14 to a size 8. After a few years of thinking it was just a metabolism/getting older thing, my doctor recently discovered my weight gain was caused by the beginning stages of hypothyroidism. (I ballooned 47 lbs. in a year and half.) After I started taking medication (and increasing my workouts,) the weight started dropping off. I was a size 4 before all the gain, so it's possible I might lose more.
I have a lot of nice clothes that don't fit me anymore. Some pieces are really nice designer items and I'd like to keep them and protect my investment in them.
Alterations are expensive, and buying new clothes isn't cheap, either.
Is it worth it to learn how to sew and do my own alterations? Before I invest in a sewing machine and some classes, I want to know if this plan is doable. I know nothing about sewing, so is taking in clothes something that's complex and should be left to the professionals?
posted by matrushka
on Mar 30, 2012 -
16 answers
My favorite ratty old coat is away at the tailor being freshened up. I need to order some replacement parts to give the man who's fixing my beloved outerwear, but I don't know what to call these parts when I'm googling for shopping options. I need help efficiently and accurately searching for a piece of cord with which to re-affix the fasteners to my coat.
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posted by treefort
on Mar 19, 2012 -
4 answers
I'm a relatively new sewer and just got my first good sewing machine. It's a Brother CS6000i. Before I get started on the various projects that I've been waiting to do since my old machine broke, I want to get to know the machine well. I've read the manual. Now, what should I do to put it through its paces? Give me your idea of an afternoon of sewing machine boot camp.
posted by ocherdraco
on Mar 1, 2012 -
18 answers
Can anyone recommend (from personal experience) a good, basic, durable sewing machine?
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posted by brownrd
on Feb 14, 2012 -
14 answers
Sewing machine issues: should I go for a service, or upgrade to a better model?
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posted by robintw
on Feb 8, 2012 -
6 answers
