How do I get started making my own clothing?

[cwbauer]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

David,
I just began my foray into making my own clothing about two years ago, and boy is there alot to learn. My advice would be to first learn the basics of sewing and since you are a poor college student use your school library. There are many journals, articles, ect that they subscribe to or have available through their website that you can use. Also go with a kit to begin as opposed to cutting your own fabric from a pattern. I started with one of Charlie Childs' and it turned out good, not great but good, I've seen the kits from WW& Co and their directions seem easier to follow but either would be a good start. You also have the advantage of the aforementioned Needle and Thread in Gettysburg which is where I stock up on thread during my yearly pilgrimage to your hometown. If you have any questions PM me and I'll try to answer them to the best of my ability or at least point you in the direction of someone who can.
Regards
CB

[davidf]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Just a update. Now I have got my thread, cloth, and needles and I am set to go on my poke bags. I will post pictures once I am done with one.

[Silas]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Make a pair of osnaburg drawers. Few people will see the errors you make on your first pair. Then, make a shirt. You'll probably want to remake each after you've worn them for a little while. You can reuse the arm and leg pieces for poke bags after you've made new drawers and shirt(s).

Once you feel confident with your sewing ability, move up to clothing. Trousers are a good first item. The pockets can be tricky on your first go 'round, but they're otherwise not to difficult to sew. The diamond shaped piece on the back of J.T. Martin trousers caught me off guard when I made mine. Thankfully, I'd sewn several other garments and had learned some techniques before I had gotten to J.T.'s trousers.

Like everything else worthwhile in life, there's a learning curve.

[tpallas]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Once you get into making more complicated items like trowsers and pants, it's a good idea to test a new pattern by making up a mock item in muslin or something of that nature before you use expensive material. It's a good way to learn techniques and nuances of the pattern, and also to identify size discrepancies.

[JLHurst]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Very good advice from all. I too advise to make your item from some cheep muslin before the material you just paid a bunch for. Myself, I made about a dozen poke bags out of some cheap shirting from hobby lobby/ hancock fabrics before I attempted anything. I also bugged the hell out of Cody & Pat at almost every stitch.

Next I sat down with my mother-in-law whom is a professional, and she walked me through every step. We made a pair of denim trousers for some summer use, but first we made the pattern out of muslin, and entirley by machine. We had ALOT of adjusting to do, as the pattern needed that, and also I'm loosing weight a bit too fast to be making clothing. But none the less we stitched the denim up nicely with alot of hand sewing throughout. Now, I've got the proper adjustments and can make the trousers without any bumps along the way.

Now Cody & Pat have to teach me how to properly gather, shirts will be the next item to tackle.

Good luck!

[ElizabethClark]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Keep in mind, sewing machines are just another power tool, and men have been sewing by hand for millenia. It's possible. :)

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Keep in mind, sewing machines are just another power tool, and men have been sewing by hand for millenia. It's possible. :)

Those are indeed words to live by!

[davidf]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Okay, I did some sewing. I decided to just practice some techiques first rather than make items. I managed to do a running stitch (with doing a running stitch back through it too) and a backstitch. I was going to put up pictures, but then I decided it wasn't worth it. Now I am trying to do overcasting, whipping, and overhanding. Its a little bit difficult to figure out from the instructions I got from that late 19th century sewing online book linked earlier in this thread. Does anyone have any advice on how to learn these/where to find a easier explanation. Also, a question on backstitching involving the online book stated previous, they only seem to have a section that describes a running stitch with a occasional backstitch (once every 3 stitches). Why? Why not just backstitch the entire thing?

[Hank Trent]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Also, a question on backstitching involving the online book stated previous, they only seem to have a section that describes a running stitch with a occasional backstitch (once every 3 stitches). Why? Why not just backstitch the entire thing?

To answer that part of the question, it's faster not to backstitch the whole thing, and if you don't need the strength in the seam, not necessary to waste the time.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[jdanner723]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

There used to be a website that was run by a guy who would take your old shirts and turn them into handsewn poke sacks. He also had a pattern on the website where you could attempt your own. Does any body recall seeing this in passing? Does any one have a link to the site of which I speak? Thank you in advance.

[jdanner723]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Also, can anyone recommend appropriate materials to make poke sacks out of? Specifically, what type of materials should I use for the sack itself? I have read that sisal or hemp cord can be used for the drawstring. Thanks!

[JohnTaylorCW]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Poke sack article with pattern:

http://www.142dpvi.org/kit_articles/poke_sackology.htm

Joseph, you said it yourself, old shirts (or any other available cloth) would be turned into a poke sack. I recall that in EOG (union) there is a sock turned into a poke sack. As long as the cloth is a period pattern, and would logically have been available either to the men in the field or on the Home Front, it's fair game. Materials were valuable, and would be reused (recycled?) as much as possible.

[jdanner723]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

That's exactly the article I was looking for. Thank you very much! Maybe I'll post some pictures of them when I get done. I got some nice period patterns today from Needle and Thread.

[Hyde64]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Gents, Also there are two more sources i'd like to ad: MILITARY IMAGES Magazine and THE WATCHDOG. Two more valuable sources. Clifford Earl Hyde

[ohioyankee]

Re: How do I get started making my own clothing?

Poke sack article with pattern:

http://www.142dpvi.org/kit_articles/poke_sackology.htm

Joseph, you said it yourself, old shirts (or any other available cloth) would be turned into a poke sack. I recall that in EOG (union) there is a sock turned into a poke sack. As long as the cloth is a period pattern, and would logically have been available either to the men in the field or on the Home Front, it's fair game. Materials were valuable, and would be reused (recycled?) as much as possible.

I will have to make a poke sack out of my pair of socks when they give out. Although I don't think many folks would eat any food I would offer out of that.:D