Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with sewing and tailoring

Make me a Master Tailor...

Hollowman — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:11:09 -0800

Make me a Master Tailor: I know how to plug in a sewing machine and use a cloth ruler. Assuming nothing more, where do I begin... A chance encounter with the Book Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing last week has lead to a weekend and more of sleepless nights, thinking about a possible career change.

I've always been very crafty (woodworking, knitting, cooking, baking, cake decorating, etc.) and meticulous in all of my work, but had never considered making clothes for myself, let alone others. After reading, er, devouring the book, my brain has literally run away with itself trying to come up with ways to ease into a more tactile and creatively oriented career. I know that the bespoke industry is no picnic as far as hours, pay, etc., but I'm very much interested in what 'I' would need to learn in order to be a "Success" technically, not so much financially. I'm not that interested in the fashion design aspect, but the creation of perfectly fitted, intricately constructed, and beautiful clothing. Primarily for Men (myself especially), but for anyone willing to have custom work done.

So with that said, I'm asking the hive mind for suggestions on:
- References. Books, magazines, websites, blogs, etc. to learn sewing, fitting, tailoring techniques from absolute beginner to professional levels. Especially, anything more focused on Men's clothing. I do realize from reading what I have been able to find, that most of this information isn't in book form, but gained through apprenticing, classroom, or on the job type of training.
- Educational programs. From DVDs to Design School, what would I need to look for to be taken seriously. Is there a certification process, some sort of art degree?
- Equipment. I essentially, just have my sister's sewing machine on loan for now, and a pair of scissors. It is a mid level machine in the $500 range, but I can't remember the model right now. I'd like to get some idea of what would be needed to do one-off, or very limited copies of tailored clothes. I am not really interested in doing "sewing room" work as a main focus. So I'm not sure what features are necessary, and what ones are not needed. I don't see a massive computerized embroidery robot with 5000 fonts and Disney characters in my future.
- What else? Free for all category or wish lists.

I have a good job with regular hours with enough extra income to "invest" in myself to turn a fantasy into reality, if the reality can be anything like the fantasy. I have 10-20 hours a week to develop skills and do practice work. I realize that this is a long term plan and so I want to lay a solid foundation going forward. Worst case scenario, I have some new shirts that I can wear under my suit jackets :)

Instructions on altering a woman's dress shirt?

sLevi — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:48:09 -0800

Can anyone recommend an online tutorial or a sewing book on how to tailor button-down dress shirts for women? Button-down shirts never ever fit me, because if they fit in the shoulders they balloon out at the waist and never have deep enough bust darts. I know how to sew and could probably figure it out through trial and error, but would like something which will walk me through the process of tailoring a shirt--what to look for, techniques, etc.

Also! Recommendations for where to buy button-down shirts with room in the bust and fitted at the waist?

making shirts from sarongs

tristanshout — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 11:53:46 -0800

How much fabric/yardage is necessary to make a man's shirt? details I have a huge stack of Indonesian sarongs in snappy plaids. They run in inches 73 x 51. Would it be possible to turn these into MEN'S shirts, short-sleeved or long-sleeved?

I want to be the next Thom Browne

spicynuts — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 10:10:35 -0800

Making my own suits and shirts. I'd like to learn to create my own clothing (I'm a guy), particulary suits, shirts and sport coats. At the very least I'd like to be able to tailor off the rack purchases for myself. I live in NYC and it looks like FIT does not have any adult ed/continuing ed classes for this and I can't find any men's clothing oriented classes elsewhere in the city. Does anyone know where I could learn these skills in NYC?

My Beau Wants to Design Menswear

ao4047 — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:17:22 -0800

My boyfriend wants to experiment with designing menswear - both casual and formal (he's had experience sewing wedding dresses). Looking for:

Standard books/design he should look at (incl pattern-making books) - what are the 'canon' books/ideas?
Online resources for menswear design and construction
Favorite fabric stores in Chicago (preferably not in the suburbs)

When you can take the bobbin from my hand, it will be time for you to sew.

Vervain — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 14:48:26 -0800

I want to improve my sewing kung-fu. But where to start? I've owned my mother's old Husqvarna Viking for years, and while I have a basic enough grasp of how it functions, I have yet to really do anything significant with it--mending, minor alterations, simple projects like curtains and pillow shams, and one improvised Mona Lisa costume that turned out middling-to-awful. This was all well and good, but...

Flash forward to two weeks ago, where I found myself digging through a not-small-mall's plus-sized offerings, which were uniformly crap. (I was looking for a dress to wear to an upcoming wedding.) It might've been a lack of sleep or an overdose of Project Runway, but after the nth rack of tacky polyester garbage, something snapped. I'm now bound and determined to learn to sew, and the incomplete set of Time-Life sewing books I somehow inherited along with Mom's machine just aren't going to cut it. (Sorry.)

Much as I would like to go from zero to couture in a week, I know I have to start somewhere. My question(s) for you: what books do you recommend for beginning/intermediate/advanced sewing skills, especially those relating to pattern alteration or design? What, if anything, do you feel you need to learn in a classroom setting? Were there any projects that you found especially helpful for the acquisition and honing of skills? And what additions (e.g. specialty feet, duct tape double) to the basic sewing setup did you find most helpful?