Help - I'd like to make myself some clothes.....

[clothmama]

....... can anyone recommend some easy / flattering summer tops patterns or styles? I did some clothes years ago but only skirts and shorts I think. Clothes are pretty expensive here so I thought I'd be better having a go to make a few things. My wardrobe is dire - in fact I need a style makeover so if I can my self a bit more stylish that would be fab!

Any thoughts, directions, hints etc gratefully received!

Ive not made myself anything yet um apart from knickers but I really want too make myself some tops
I like the OTTOBRE magazines for the children
here is a ladies edition

http://www.dotsnstripes.co.uk/view_product.cfm?id=1374

or I think Burda has free patterns too

http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns

hope that helps

Check magazines, don't know what they have down under but here you can get pretty good magazines with all the patterns of the clothes.
And don't forget we need piccies!

I've been thinking of this too. Really want to give my clothes a over haul.

Hope you find some good patterns

[clothmama]

Sally - thanks for those links I'll go and have a nosey! I think i've signed up with the Burda site for a pattern of some sort but didn't really look.

Ester, I've not really looked - didn't think of that!

Beck I'll let you know if I find anything!!

Half the problem is that I seem to have lost touch with what is fashionable but kind of classic as well and also I feel like a funny age where I need to start thinking more about what I can't wear

The Burda magazines are great for patterns but their instructions are a little sparse. A website I use quite often just to browse (and buy when they're on offer cos they're sooooo cheap, even with shipping) is http://www.sewingpatterns.com/ You can even download patterns then print them out yourself if you're in a desperate hurry. To be honest though, after printing out a good 60 odd A4 pages, glueing them together then cutting out the pattern, I think I'd rather buy one ready printed, DF had a really good laugh at me for taking up the living room floor for 2 nights while I got my pattern sorted (which still hasn't been used ).

A good pattern review site is http://sewing.patternreview.com/ just type in the pattern number on the search bar and if the pattern's been reviewed it'll come up. Most reviews on there are pretty indepth so you can soon see what the problems etc are with making up the pattern.

Commercial patterns are made for women with a B cup, so if you bigger than a b cup then you may need to do a full bust alteration on the pattern. This is one of the reasons I've been holding off doing my lovely dress that I have waiting for me! http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=486 this explains it well and how to do the alteration on the pattern. It's probably not that bad to do really

Try to do a mock up of your pattern using material of a similar weight (if cotton, use and old cotton bedsheet etc) so that you can see if it works without wrecking your gorgeous designer fabric, otherwise you may cry (been there, done that).

Erm, don't be afraid to ask questions if you get stuck! The people at http://www.thesewingforum.co.uk/index.php are very knowledgeable and helpful too.

Also, if you see a fabric you love, buy it cos it's a real pain spending days trying to track it down on the internet afterwards

Gail x

[clothmama]

Thanks Gail, some good advice there! My boobies are pretty large at the moment so sounds like I'd need to do some altering - hadn't even thought of that so really glad you mentioned it!

Thanks for the link Gail I'm very full busted, so that's going to come in handy once I get the courage to sew for myself

[clothmama]

The Ottobre magazine looks good - love that they have 'real' models (I think ). It really may be very handy for me as there are lots of summer stuff in this edition!