Sewing Lessons & FAQ

[Nashoba]

Personally I would probably go with cotton. It's reasonably priced even downright cheap in many cases. Which is good for a costume for a 3 year old as she may not get too many uses out of it. If she wanted something sparkly there are some really good cheap costuming fabrics out there, especially right now with halloween coming up.
Nash

 

[Barbara]

OK, but for Halloween, wouldn't it get chilly? I mean, she would wear tights...

 

[Snookie]

How about Ultrasuede or a cheap knit with a flocked surface to look suede. Look for fabric that doesn't unravel easily, so you can cut the edges into fringe instead of hemming (and you wouldn't need to finish any of the vest edges). If you need warmth, how about a thin Polarfleece? You could probably find some good cowprints, too, if you want.

 

[Nashoba]

OK, but for Halloween, wouldn't it get chilly? I mean, she would wear tights...

Not if I remember October in Pasadena right....I remember it being pretty warm, unless you're weather has turned already. But tights and a long sleeve shirt would probably take care of that.
Snookie's got a good point too. there are some inexpensive synthetic suede like materials out there too that would be darling.

 

[Lauren]

I second the ultra suede or another sueded fabric. I remember my mom made me an indian costume once and it was out of a knit that was sueded. IT was cool because since it was a knit you'd only have to cut it and not hem it- and you could cut fringe at the bottom that we added little beads to. Maybe something like that? Michael Levines should have it if somewhere else doesnt

 

[Barbara]

Thanks ladies!!! I think I'll look at the ultrasuede. Unfortunately, getting downtown is not going to be an option, so probably I'll see what Joann's has since this is more or less 'playclothes' for my daughter. I would rather be able to cut the fringe than have to glue it on.

 

[Honey Doll]

If its a costume....

You could do ultrasuade for the skirt and maybe a simple felt for the vest and cut into it to fringe it. It would be darling to do a vest of a faux fur cow print too!

Honey Doll

 

[Barbigirl]

Love the faux suede and cowprint ideas. When my kids were little I always tried to make costumes a little big as both girls were huge on playing dress up. At one point that was almost all they wore and it was OK with me.

Funny, two little Southern Belles or princesses wandering around the grocery store with me the rest of the year.

 

[Elaina]

Another thing (I just went to the Evil JoAnn's with a friend making her grandson a Woody costume) and we got outdoor furniture material. Wears like iron, doesn't have to be ironed like cotton, and is a bit heavier then apparel fabrics, but you can't fringe it.

Ultra seude is a good idea, also look into suiting for the skirt. And if the seude is too much out of the budget, you can try fleece: it too will fringe without hemming.

Elaina

 

[Barbara]

Thanks. My daughter does not have a costume yet, but I'm sure once she gets this one, I'll be taking my little cowgirl everywhere, in full rodeo gear. I would avoid any material too stiff, but will check out what lurks at evil Joanne's door. If I was back in my hometown of Lawrence, KS, I'd know just where to go for excellent material. Downtown LA is just too much of a hassle for me.

Thanks again ladies.

 

[Lauren]

Oh, btw~ I LOVE the cowgirl idea!! She's going to be adorable!! I want to see pics!

 

[Nashoba]

Thanks. My daughter does not have a costume yet, but I'm sure once she gets this one, I'll be taking my little cowgirl everywhere, in full rodeo gear. I would avoid any material too stiff, but will check out what lurks at evil Joanne's door. If I was back in my hometown of Lawrence, KS, I'd know just where to go for excellent material. Downtown LA is just too much of a hassle for me.

Thanks again ladies.

Which JoAnns do you go to? Do you go to the one on Lake Street?
I miss LA so much. My husband hated it there, but I LOVED it...

Nash

 

[Barbara]

Yes, the one on Lake is near me, right down the street. I'm afraid I'm in your husband's camp. We have a cute bungalow (rented), the weather is wonderful, but I hate driving everywhere, hate my commute to work. Maybe someday I'll miss it here. We have no family here, so it's kind of hard to have a family here.

I lived in London for years, so I'm ready to go back overseas. My husband is from Spain. The weather here can't be beat, but it's expensive, and quite honestly, I don't find most people do much here outside of shopping and eating out (of course, the fedora lounge folks who live here are obviously outside the norm).

We've made good friends here though. And Lauren, I'll have to get a pic once my sewing experiment is done. You should see how I botched up some trousers today.

My best friend here is moving tomorrow to Oregon. We have raised our babies together, so I'm probably not in the best frame of mind about LA today.

 

[BettyValentine]

Does anyone make a good pattern for 1760s-1790s stays?

Thanks!
BV

 

[Rosie]

The simple stuff is always the stuff that needs a pattern. Like the caplet I did earler in the thread. I would have been on crack to attempt that on my own and expect it to hang correctly. Id say the same for swing coats. ROSIE!! Girl, Ill lend you my swing coat pattern NP!

LD

You really think so? I've only been drawing and looking at every swing coat I can get my hands on. I saw some patterns in my size but, they were for a more modern swing coat, I want a 50's style one, like the kind one would wear with a circle skirt or dress. Should I just get the modern pattern and then modify collar, sleeves and such? I'm not sure if your pattern would work for me, I'm a few sizes bigger than you.

 

[Lauren]

Does anyone make a good pattern for 1760s-1790s stays?

Thanks!
BV

I've heard the pattern by J.P. Ryan is good for 1700s stays
http://www.jpryan.com/ladiespatterns.html

 

[Lauren]

Modern Pattern Ease

I was just looking on the back of the new Simpliticy vintage repro patterns I got and the lovely people put a finished garment measure chart on the back. It looks like with these patterns it has 3.5" of ease in the bust, waist, and hips. I'm guessing it's the industry standard. The people at vogue have a chart on their website:
http://voguepatterns.com/indexfv.html

So if it was me, I'd cut out 1 size smaller- maybe 2 in the bust and waist. Gotta leave wiggle room in the hips for sitting and moving. But don't take my word for it, try a pattern at the size it says first and then see- you may find the next time you use one of their patterns you may want to cut a size or two smaller.

 

[Rosie]

Fabulosity!!!!

 

[Lady Day]

Um...yeah!


LD

 

[ShrinkingViolet]

pattern alteration question

I've decided that I have to make myself a pair of the Simplicity 3322 high-waisted trousers from Eva Dress
The thing is that I'm a vintage size 16 and the pattern is 18!
I have a vaaague idea that a few of you ladies have made these trousers - could you please give some advice on how to alter these down a size? Should I just cut them 2 inches smaller all over or just around the waist- and hipline?
Would it be very difficult for someone who isn't experienced in pattern alteration?

Merci bien!