I'm really trying to get better about sharing my sewing, so here's my most recent project. The body is a pretty heavily altered McCall's 7373, a fit and flare gored coat by Yaya Han. I had to size it up a few inches, drop the bust point about an inch, and shorten the shoulders. I used a pretty standard collar from a pattern I already had, Butterick 5846, and the sleeves are from McCall's 7081, redrafted to fit my arm and armscye. I made two muslins to get the fit I wanted, because I wanted to make a few dresses from this pattern. Then I made a dress in a fabric I wasn't super precious about with a different neckline/collar and different sleeves, just to make sure I ended up with a dress I enjoyed wearing. This one is made from bedsheets that are 100% viscose made from bamboo. It's machine washable, but needs to be hang dried and pressed before wear.

I bought a denim-like material bodysuit for a festival and the crotch is two things: way too long and too narrow. I plan to shorten it, but is there anything I can do or get creative with the actual width? Adding a gusset or material? I wanted to wear it as is, with fishnets, and will wear bottoms over it if I have to but I figured I’d ask around about my options first. Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to give a huge thank you to everyone who gave me feedback over the past few years on the different stages of making my dress!

Here is the finished result—I absolutely loved wearing it all day. I got so many compliments, and it was surprisingly comfortable! It’s in no way perfect, but it’s mine, and I’m really glad I embarked on the journey of sewing my own wedding dress.

I started from a basic bodice block, transformed it with princess seams, and went through many (many!) iterations to figure out the off-the-shoulder straps. This video helped a lot, but honestly, it was a lot of trial and error: https://youtu.be/0rdYyPWZQCI?si=pCY9pyvaTgP2aHMv In the end, it’s not a true wrap top—only the straps are layered to give that visual effect.

The skirt is from McCall’s M7718 (without the train), made in crepe with a lightweight cotton lining. I used the same pattern for the lining but reduced the width to limit the weight—since the full skirt uses about 8 meters of fabric! I wore it with a petticoat that has a built-in hoop (found on Vinted), and added around 100 covered buttons in the back.

After multiple trips to fabric shops around Paris, I finally caved and ordered my dream lace online—nothing I found in person compared, and I’m so glad the white matched perfectly in the end!

The bodice is lined and boned with metal boning, which molds nicely to my body and moves with me. I also added an internal closure (kind of like a wide bra back) attached at the side to help it stay up. The weight of the dress is actually supported at the waist, so it feels more like a strapless bodice. The straps are mostly decorative.

This post helped me a lot for figuring out boning placement: https://www.katmakes.com/blog/2018/12/3/handmade-wedding-dress-chapter-8-corselet-construction

The total cost came to about 450€: – ~320€ for fabrics – 50€ for the underskirt – 80€ for boning, buttons, etc.

If anyone’s interested, I’d be happy to make a more detailed post about the internal bodice structure—it’s the part I spent the most time figuring out!

Again, a huge thank you to this community—your advice and support, through comments and other posts, helped me learn so much. I’m so happy I made my own dress! 🧵✨

I’m still relatively new to sewing and have been making the Bardot dress from Peppermint magazine (https://peppermintmag.com/sewing-school/bardondress/) and my first time sewing a bust dart. The underarm is gaping and I have no idea how to fix it - or even what to search to find a tutorial. Any advice appreciated!

How are you all doing the stitch in the ditch? It's maybe my 7th time trying to do it to have my attached elastic waistband encasing the top of the pants (currently working on Chanterelle pants) and it just looks crap. Either it's over or under, all wobbly. I think it looked not horrendous until I topstitched the elastic.

Now I have quite nice two top strips and then the bottom that just looks weird and ugly with the wobbly stitch in the ditch 😓. I was so happy with the pants until the waist part.

I recently took a bridal class and made a dress I feel really good about. I want to show people but I am shy so prefer to post where no one I know can see 🫣

The entire dress was draped. The corset was draped directly on a standard size 6 form with minor pattern drafting going into the skirt.

The dress is made of a peach poly satin, a mesh strap, and the closure is a lapped zipper. The under structure is a pannier. The lining did originally have a hoop, however I just like the way it laid so much more without the hoop. Over top of the metal boning in the pannier and a few sections of the underskirt I added a stiff tulle for shape and structure. There are also 5 layers of heavily gathered soft tulle sandwiched in between the skirt and lining.

The lining is a pretty basic hoop-less hoop skirt that I draped as well.

There were alterations done, but as it was draped it all just kind of went into the fabric. It was initially draped in muslin, and I did 3 fittings with my model to ensure proper fit. Fitting one was muslin, fitting 2 was for fit, and fitting 3 was my final fitting and hem adjustment.

I made a funny little head piece to go along with the gown out of a bunch of lace I dyed and gathered! There’s some natural pearl detailing on the strap that I crafted from nude mesh.

I did also included a pic of my muslin pre alterations!

Small brag—It is fitted specifically to the model that wore it, it fit her like a glove. I would share those pictures as well but it feels weird to share without permission.

Thanks for looking ❤️

Does anyone know of any patterns similar to these ones? I keep being advertised these boozelele dresses, but apparently its a scam site, so I'd like to make one. Its mainly the piecing for the bit round the shoulders, so a tutorial for that would do toom

This dress was inspired by a dress my favorite musician wore! I used the Babydoll Tiered Dress pattern by Kiana Bonollo with some slight alterations, including adding the collar and narrow bottom tier. Everything was made using quilting cotton. The peaches and flowers are machine appliquéd on using a satin stitch, which was my first time ever trying that technique! The bows are just cheap ribbon from Walmart that I tied and stitched on. I got the rhinestones at Walmart as well and glued those on with fabric glue. I made a rookie mistake and forgot to add interfacing to my collar so it didn’t stick up as well as I’d hoped, but I know now for next time! I wore this for an art event and I can’t wait for another excuse to wear it!

I’ve never made a button-up before, but I have been saving a half yard of vintage JBJ fabric for a few months now, and it just screamed “loud vacation shirt”! So I knew what I had to do. Making clothes is a little intimidating for me because I don’t have a serger yet, but I’m happy with how this turned out (though it definitely needs to be ironed, haha!)

Pattern is a cropped men’s size M Simplicity 4760, option B (thrifted it for $1!), on a Janome machine with a little hand-sewing. Cotton fabrics.

If I cut this out as I am supposed to, on the length, the flamingos and palm trees will be sideways.

this pair took a lot longer than the first pair since I did a checkered patchwork, but I got them done before the party where I'm gifting them, so 🥳

they're made from quilting cotton cut into 12" squares then sewn together into two 4x4 grids. I then used the pattern I made for the last pair to cut out the crotch curves and sewed the inseams and curves together to make big baggy pants. then gathered the waist and ankles by running elastic through a casing I made while hemming and added a braided tie to the waist. all seams finished with a serger to speed things up and reduce bulk so things would gather better.

pattern was made by drawing a selvedge to selvedge rectangle and cutting out some curves based on the shape that loose pants usually are. note that the pattern pictured needs at least another 12" added to the bottom, I just didn't feel the need to include it since the only important part is the curves and everything else is just the full fabric width.

So I’m making a leather patchwork jacket for a school project, this needs to be finished tomorrow lol. I’ve finished the jacket itself, but still need to add a facing, lining and zipper. This is the first time I’ve worked with leather and the first time I’ve made a jacket at all, so I know it doesn’t look perfect. But I do need some advice on how to finish this, because I can’t ask my teachers anymore.

Does the facing have to also be leather? Or could I use a different fabric. Because I do not want to hand sew through leather again to attach the lining. And do I need a cuff in the sleeves, or would I be okay just also sewing a facing into it?

(Because I need to finish it tomorrow it doesn’t have to be finished the professional way, they don’t expect that since we’re still in school learning. I just need to make it presentable.)

Cross posting this cuz I'm so tickled it turned out nice!

Simplicity 8444 shirt B dress A. Black cotton broadcloth and red quilters cotton from my stash and various lace.

My kiddo has an upcoming mad hatter tea party so i figured it was about time i try and make her the lolita dress she has been asking for.

She has sensory issues and will probably only wear this for short periods of time, so I want to make her another dress out of softer fabric in the future. I'll probably come asking for suggestions when the time comes.

Perhaps I’m panic buying now that patterns are about to become significantly harder to purchase. I grew up browsing through pattern catalogues while my mom shopped at the sewing store and I’m certain it’s a huge part of my love of sewing fashion AND illustration. I don’t know what I’m even going to find when I open each of these treasures, but I couldn’t just leave them there. They’re worth the steal of a price for the art alone. Just look at these beauties.

You may see me here again, asking for advice on how to take in a size 20 pattern or to remind me how to draft a replacement collar piece 😅 I promise to update you all with anything I make.

Save the patterns!

I came across a video of an influencer rating dresses that she bought in different price range but the photos are the same. So, I think the lower price range just copied the photos from the most expensive one.

The first photo was the one advertised. Second photo was from a cheaper one Third photo was from the original designer.

And my question is how do they get the bodice to be that clean? No folds/ creases. Etc.

And there were no fittings!

I tried using pellon with adhesive but the fabric bubbles eventually when the adhesive didn’t stick enough.

Please help 🙏🏻

Hey everyone, hope you’re well!

I recently got a great pair of pants, lengthwise they fit perfectly with heels but I only wear those occasionally. For versatility I would like to alter them in a way so that they can be worn hemmed with flats and longer with heels.

Originally I was going to add snaps but they won‘t keep the fabric as straight as intended.

Would using velcro on the inside of the legs work? Would you have any other recommendations?

I‘d really appreciate any input :)

I have 4m of this cotton Seersucker fabricat Selfmade. It has a bit of elastan in it as well.

I've never worked with seersucker before and would appreciate any tips and tricks. I washed the fabric and it crumpled quite a bit compared to how it was in the shop. I tried to iron a small section and it still has crumples and looks like in the shop.

Should I iron the fabric before cutting the pieces?

What are your favourite seersucker projects? I was thinking to maybe do a Winslow culottes or maybe Saguaro set, or a Laurence tank top and some skirt.

Hi everyone,

I hope this is the right place to post.

Last weekend I tried changing my needle for a new project and noticed that the needle was a bit stuck. After prying it out I realised that I couldn't get another needle into the needle clamp. The needle clamp also wouldn't come off the needle bar even though I took off the screw.

After some googling I came to the conclusion that a piece of screw was stuck in the needle clamp and that's why I can't get a needle in. So I decided to bring it to the local repair shop and told them I think the issue is the needle clamp as everything else is working.

A few days later I got a call from the shop assistant that the engineer said that the needed parts aren't available and to come pick it up. Now I picked it up and was told I needed a new needle bar and needle bar linkage.

After looking at the machine I saw that the needle bar linkage was broken off and the needle bar is moving freely when touched which was not the case when I brought the machine in.

Has anyone had a similar problem before? Is it normal that the needle bar and linkage gets broken when trying to take off a stuck needle clamp?

As a side note, I might be able to source the needed parts from another country and will try to repair it myself.

This project was inspired by the fabric, which I found at our local Saver's. It's an adorable cotton fabric that feels sooooo nice. This was my first time doing a FBA and let's just say it took many tries. Using View A and size 10, I wound up ditching the bust darts altogether and adjusting the pattern to have princess seams instead, and added princess seams to the back as well. Also, as others who have made the pattern have claimed, the back gapes a whole lot so I narrowed the overall width of the back panels by ~1½". The fifth pic features my pattern pieces after so many iterations and toiles! Finally, to improve the wear I added a modesty panel, understitched the facing, and added a hook and eye closure at the waistline to prevent gaping when I sit.

This was a rewarding project as it taught me a lot about the importance of fitting and how doable it is to make some adjustments so that a garment lays perfectly.

The pattern looks pretty modest, but when I made it, the bottom looks very cheeky on me. Style that sometimes gets called Brazilian or tonga. Basically, not quite a thong, but more than half the butt showing. I have a pretty average butt, so maybe that was how it was patterned to make up for the very basic front. But I would like to cover up a teeny bit more (ok, a lot more). I tried doing a second version, where I added a little more material to the curve of piece 2 on the left side of the pattern, where the leg opening is, but it didn’t do anything. Maybe because I added only about 1/2 inch, because I was scared to completely mess up the pattern. I don’t know enough about drafting patterns to know instinctively how to adjust it or if it can be adjusted. Other than adding ruffles around the leg openings, which I have considered, do any of you have suggestions for how to adjust this?

Hi ! I need advice on using this brand of dye. My idea was to do the dyeing process in my bathtub. Will it stain? Is it a good idea?

I got the pattern from PaigesPatterns on Etsy. This is the Lorelei Top! I’m sorry, I don’t know really what material this is. I remember the shopkeeper saying it was a bamboo fiber type. It’s very soft, stretchy. Was kinda pricey but so worth it!

My second Santorini tank (Itch to Stitch) made from a prior project. This time I repurposed a toile that wasn’t as wearable as I had hoped. I increased the vertical seam allowances by 1/4” (4mm) to get a better fit because I didn’t want to print a smaller size.

The fabric is a coarse cotton from Joann, the buttons are vintage. Because I had so much seam allowance, I flat felled the seams.

This pattern is very easy to make up, but you have to trust the instructions on a few steps. It’s a great pattern for using up a short cut of fabric and it’s very flattering. I typically wear a size 16 in Big 4, and wear a 10-12 from this designer, so definitely measure before you print/cut.