Comments on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing: What Do You Buy and What Do You Sew?

This is really thought provoking. I think I like ...

2009-12-09T08:20:09.976-05:00

This is really thought provoking. I think I like to try anything just once. But I don't think making bras or panties are in the future for me. I evaluate some buy by asking myself, "Could I make it for this price?"

Great topic for discussion, thanks! Something I th...

2009-12-07T05:51:27.582-05:00

Great topic for discussion, thanks! Something I think is in many sewers thoughts, it certainly is in mine. Personally, I have signed up to the Wardrobe Refashion pledge, and have committed to following it for life, which throws up allsorts of issues about what to make. Recently I got stuck in to jersey fabric with the help of Sew U Home Stretch, and LOVE how quick making a T-shirt can be. I extended this to cut and sew knits to make my first jumper, though one day I plan to learn to knit to cover this need, and hopefully also socks. I can't imagine making my own shoes, tights or bras, but everything else I plan to dominate, or get second hand or try and make my existing ones last until that time! It's such an exciting feeling when you have some successes in a new type of garment, the possibilities really open up to you.

I was just talking about this very topic with my m...

2009-12-05T06:43:06.652-05:00

I was just talking about this very topic with my mom recently too! :) I tend to sew a lot of things that are "hard to fit": skirts and dresses being my favorites, with the odd blouse here and there. It's just easier to tailor these things to my body shape than go through the frustration of trying to find off the rack versions that work! I also refashion a lot of my own cardigans, since I like mine fitted and cropped to the waist/upper hip (very 40s sweater girl-ish!), so in a way, I guess that is "making" them. lol. They're actually really easy to do (I'm posting a tutorial next week), which is probably why I keep doing it. lol. Some things I haven't really tackled yet, and still stick to the shops for: jeans, exercise/athletic wear, and coats (mostly because I've found such a good source in thrift shops for vintage ones ;).

One thing I really can't wait to try is sewing with knits! I've done a bit of knit sewing (two or three tops, a dress, and of course my cardigan refashions) on my regular machine, but I'm hoping to get a serger after the holidays. I just bought Wendy Mullen's "Sew U: Home Stretch" and am intrigued by the idea of creating my own knits wardrobe. That's another area I have a hard time fitting into many brand's fit model. :p

I come from the school of re-fashion. While I by n...

2009-12-04T15:30:21.658-05:00

I come from the school of re-fashion. While I by no means make all of my clothing, I alter almost everything. I have access to many cheap, amazing thrift/vintage store and only (1) mediocre fabric store. Because of this, it ends up being easier to buy vintage/thrift for fabric/general cut&style and alter to my preferences. It feels very late 40's WWII conservationist. I intend, soon, to make a woman's suit from a man's.

One thing I sew completely from scratch is blouses. I have the hardest time finding blouses that fit due to being very short-waisted and small-busted. I also make/radically alter dresses for the same reason.

I don't buy a lot of clothing. I only buy underwear and pantyhose new and tend to wear camisoles/slips as is too. However, after reading the comments, I am super inspired to make my own slips!

Funny, many of you don't like making knit tops...

2009-12-04T13:04:26.842-05:00

Funny, many of you don't like making knit tops, I make some and buy some. Knit pants, no way, I can buy them for less and easier than making. I have no real desire to make jeans, I rarely wear them,except Wranglers with boots. Underwear, cheaper to buy, bras, still cheaper to buy. I focus on dresses, knit tops, pajamas for kids.

I just recently got back into sewing after a long ...

2009-12-03T22:52:30.786-05:00

I just recently got back into sewing after a long hiatus, but I do know, like many, that I won't make jeans. Heck, I don't even hem jeans 'cause it messes up the fading around the hem and makes them look weird!

I have an odd shape as well, so blouses are a definite make for me - I have yet to find a button down that fits right. If it's OK in the shoulders, it pulls at the bust. If it's big enough to not pull at the bust, it looks like I'm swimming in it.

Dresses are an issues for me to - I have a looooong waist, so store bought never, ever ever looks right.

Skirts - lord, why would I buy? a yard of stretch wool at Mood is only $15. Compared to what, $80 and up for the same thing in a store? That everyone else has and that doesn't quite fit me right?

I also can't see myself sewing knits or underwear. Though I'm intrigued....Mostly though, it's all whim and fancy. One day I might buy it, the next day I might so it. I'm capricious like that :)

I actually just came back from visiting my parents in mississippi and had a freaking FIELD DAY at Hancock Fabrics. Simplicity patterns at 5 for $5 and $3.99 for Vogue. Plus fabric for three blouses, a robe, a pair of pants (my first!), a full skirted dress, a blazer (another first!) and flannel for robes and pajama bottoms. The ladies thought I was insane.

I don't know who was more excited - me, for all the bargains, or my poor madre, who finally had someone who WANTED to be at the fabric store with her.

I make skirts, dresses and pants. I have a few blo...

2009-12-03T22:46:52.336-05:00

I make skirts, dresses and pants. I have a few blouse patterns I'm waiting to try but haven't got around to. Knit tops are something I don't think I'll ever attempt. I always thought that pajamas were in this same basket for me, but I recently picked up a few vintage patterns for 50s nightgowns, made them in sheer silk/cotton blends (not the traditional nylon chiffon) and now I will never go back to RTW nightwear.

Oh! One thing I forgot.... I'm going to try ...

2009-12-03T22:32:55.452-05:00

Oh! One thing I forgot.... I'm going to try making my own shoes one of these days. Why? I figure I can make them a heck of a lot cheaper than I can buy them. It's not just my legs that are swollen, it's my feet, too. I can't get any kind of dress shoes off the rack. Nope, mine have to be custom made. And that carries a $600-$800 price tag. I've found a book, and I swear I'm going to try it one of these days.

I'm tired of wearing my Frankenstein shoes to church.

I buy tops and some dresses. However, unless dres...

2009-12-03T22:22:51.295-05:00

I buy tops and some dresses. However, unless dresses and skirts are really long off the rack, I'd rather make them. "Tall" sizes are for women that are 5'9 or 5'10--- Not for a 6'0 woman. Dresses that should hit me at mid calf are barely below my knee, and forget knee length. It just doesn't happen.

I make my own pants and shorts as a matter of course, because I have a disease that makes it a necessity. See, I have lymphedema in both legs. What happens is that your lymph nodes, which are the garbage collectors of the body, break and the lymph fluid can't make it out of the affected limb(s). That makes it so that my legs are about 4X the size they should be, so buying pants is out. Instead, I make them. I widened the legs to the point where they can fit over layers and layers of compression bandaging comfortably without binding. They're almost as wide as bellbottoms, but I've made them as straight-leg trousers, just out of denim.

In general I do not sew many knits (hemming them c...

2009-12-03T20:49:53.360-05:00

In general I do not sew many knits (hemming them continues to elude me). Also, I do not sew workout clothes (which make up about 60% of my wardrobe because of my job/graduate research/hobbies).

I prefer to sew things that I have difficulty finding in stores in my size. Nothing off the rack fits me when it comes to pants, suits, etc. I will never buy pants again because I have a perfectly fit pattern (low rise, tab front closure, optional pockets). I have never been able to find a blazer/suit jacket to fit, so that is on my list of Things to Sew. I sew dresses in different patterns and fabrics that are not easy to find due to current fashion trends (hence my tendency to only sew vintage patterns).

I am fortunate enough to own two pairs of perfect fitting jeans I bought in South Africa (sadly I had to travel 9,000 miles to find a pair that fit), so there are no jeans in my foreseeable future. However, once they wear out I may have to try my own.

Because I sew for fun and have been working on bui...

2009-12-03T19:44:09.901-05:00

Because I sew for fun and have been working on building my skills, I continue to try a number of things that I may not have ever bought in a store. I am not much of a skirt person, but I have made a bunch of them learning to sew! I decided I would learn to sew knits no matter what, and after I set my mind to it and had a few disasters, I finally got the hang of it, and ended up with some really cute knit tops for all occasions. This is great because I wear a knit top nearly every day to work with a suit or cardigan. So, it is quite fun to be able to say, "oh this old thing? I made it" and be so secretly pleased!

I sew dresses, shirts and anything that needs to f...

2009-12-03T19:27:59.460-05:00

I sew dresses, shirts and anything that needs to fit well. I'm a Plus size with a short waist and big bust so finding off-the-rack wovens that fit is a nightmare.

I buy stretch tops as these are cheap and fit isn't as much of an issue. I make my own gym pants tho' 'cos + size gym clothes in Oz are shockingly bad.

I don't plan on making undies at this stage, but may attempt them once, just for the fun of it.

Often the piece I make is influenced by the fabric. I buy vintage from ebay and it usually tells me what I'll be making.

I am trying to be fully dedicated to sewing a comp...

2009-12-03T18:42:49.051-05:00

I am trying to be fully dedicated to sewing a complete wardrobe. Sewing underwear seems really exciting to me. But I am a nerd and a geek and just plain weird. The only thing i haven't been tempted to sew is jeans. And i think i would still mostly buy basics like tees and tanks and i recently bought a pair of sweatpants. It is extremely time consuming and seemingly never ending to sew everything though. And sales are very tempting...

I'm just generally a hard fit. I'm big acr...

2009-12-03T17:26:58.771-05:00

I'm just generally a hard fit. I'm big across the front chest, AND I'm busty, however my upper back measurement is tiny. Then I've got booty, and really muscled legs to make things even more difficult.

I buy pants, even though they're hard to find, because I can usually get expensive brand, washable, wide leg dress pants for under $40. I buy bras because I can't be bothered to make them, and I buy tshirts because it's too much of a hassle to set in the neck band without a serger.

I make skirts (most of my wardrobe is skirts!), underwear, costumes, dresses, and I recently got a tights pattern I'm planning on testing out this afternoon. I also hike, and since "fat" women apparently don't exercise, I have been modifying mens clothing, but for next season, I'll be making my own. Thankfully there's a store that supplies the fancy wicking and quick-dry fabrics in town. :)

I've even sewn my own socks. They were for costume purposes, but I'm going to translate the pattern into "knit fabric" instead of "bias cut wool" and make some more, just because I can.

I, too, sometimes employ the "I don't mak...

2009-12-03T17:07:30.118-05:00

I, too, sometimes employ the "I don't make things I can buy" but the things I can buy are usually only cheap/thrifted. Mainly, I won't make any undergarment (socks, stockings, bra, etc.) or very basic items like camisoles and T's. I also wouldn't consider making jeans, except trouser jeans, but I don't tend to like making pants for some reason (hemming? There's two hems to do! Hilariously, I have to hem most of the pants I buy anyway, though) I enjoy making dresses and skirts and some tops. I have learned to knit and have knit one cardigan. I have a stash of yarn waiting for other sweaters and cardigans to be knit up. I think I would enjoy making my whole wardrobe given the time, with the only exception of underwear. I would even like to learn cobbling if I had the chance, but probably would not often employ the knowledge.

Interesting responses.The more I sew, the more I w...

2009-12-03T16:35:22.572-05:00

Interesting responses.The more I sew, the more I want to sew. The only RTW I have bought for myself in the last two years are bras, very thin socks, pantihose and shoes. I am planning to work out how to sew bras next. I also sew nearly everything for my children. I like sewing much more than shopping. This is why I sew everyday!

I don't sew any "flopping around the hous...

2009-12-03T16:09:40.863-05:00

I don't sew any "flopping around the house" clothes because it's depressing to make something - only to spill on it as I'm cooking or cleaning. And while I love sewing my own lingerie, I mostly buy it. Because (with my lousy love life) no one will see it but me and I prefer to make things I can get a little bit of recognition for.

Because I live in CA I do not have anyone around m...

2009-12-03T15:32:37.242-05:00

Because I live in CA I do not have anyone around me who sews, so all my friends think I am not only brillant, but nuts too. I would perfer to sew everything, but with an 8 and 6 y/o I sew what I can. My one item I will NOT buy is pants. They fit so much better when I make them, that store bought pants completely annoy me. I haven't tried a trench coat yet, because it scares me a little, but eventually I will. I have patterns from Jalie for undies, but haven't felt the urge to do that just yet. I also LOVE to make bags and purses, will never buy one again. Happy sewing everyone!

I buy wardrobe basics, but things like corsets, it...

2009-12-03T15:27:06.966-05:00

I buy wardrobe basics, but things like corsets, items on the runway I may never be able to afford, and items that I know will never be available in my size are sewn by me.

I think there are certain things that just turn me...

2009-12-03T15:26:28.905-05:00

I think there are certain things that just turn me off when i think about sewing them. For example, shoes! (bit of an odd one.. as there is much more of a process to them!). However, i get one of the biggest thrills from sewing my own nightwear. I love that no body else has the same nighties as me! x

It's not as if I were a very experienced seams...

2009-12-03T15:19:57.004-05:00

It's not as if I were a very experienced seamstress, but though I don't think I'll ever buy another skirt, I don't think I'll ever stop buying jeans either... I don't have a serger and I'm not daring enough to try the overlock stitch of my singer, so I also buy knit tops.

But what I really wish I were able not to buy is my lingerie, because I'm with Heather M on the big bust/small ribcage front... sadly, there are no bra patterns in France!

I would actually like to sew undies, as for me it´...

2009-12-03T15:12:32.458-05:00

I would actually like to sew undies, as for me it´s very hard to find some that I like :).I wanted to make pants, but to me, that seems complicated, so I guess I will only buy them.
Jana

That is a really good question. I think it is a ma...

2009-12-03T14:50:00.881-05:00

That is a really good question. I think it is a mater of personal preference. For me, if I can make it, then I will choose that option over purchase unless pucasing is cheaper.

I prefer to buy something when I either can't ...

2009-12-03T14:33:25.406-05:00

I prefer to buy something when I either can't make it myself, or can't do so in an affordable manner (whether it is money or time I am spending) - it is so much easier (and cheaper) for me to make a blouse than trying to find the right vintage one in the right color for the right price, I have more options when I make my own pair of slacks, etc.

I'm with you that I'd rather buy knit things and cardigans/sweaters, and all underthings.

Hmmmm.... I definitely make most of my skirts and ...

2009-12-03T14:29:24.950-05:00

Hmmmm.... I definitely make most of my skirts and dresses, and have just started making my own blouses. I haven't tried making any knit tops yet, because I'd rather lick a wall than sew knits, so I buy them! I would like to make jackets because it's very hard to find styles and fits I like--I'm narrow-shouldered with a narrow ribcage and large cup size, and high-waisted too. I buy jeans and pants, but I would love to make myself nice pants....someday :-)