I’ve had a frustrating day today. You may know that I’ve started dressmaking again after a gap of maybe 25 0r 30 years. I used to be quite good at making clothes, but I’ve lost a lot of the skills I had. My new sewing machine makes me feel like a real dope and everything takes ages.
As well as machines ‘improving’ and becoming more high tech, patterns have changed. Back in the day, you carefully measured yourself to pick the right pattern size, but not anymore, now a pattern has six sizes and you have to negotiate the right one of a bunch of converging lines for your size.
I may be too old to re-learn all this! Or this!
Lucid Gypsy 
You’re not too old to learn anything, honeybun. Love the material. Just think how good it’ll look on 🙂 🙂
I think it’s partly because I don’t have enough time to spend on re-learning. I suppose I’ll get there in the end. This material was a bargain, but the next two I have are a lot more expensive, we’ll see x:-)x
It’s like learning another language for me…
It seems I’m not alone 🙂
I also used to be good at dressmaking and my Bernina machine and I were best buddies. Alas, she eventually gave up the ghost and I didn’t sew for many years. I bought a new sewing machine last year just for alterations etc.. Apart from the fact that my eyesight isn’t what it was, the instructions are like double-Dutch to me. 😳
Glad it isn’t just me. The shop where I bought my Brother does a free does a free one day familiarisation course. It all mde sense while I was there but I’d forgotten it all next day. I’m hopeless at instruction books, might as well ask the man in the moon!
Likewise. 😳
What a nightmare – and it’s called progress, eh? I’m gunning for you to learn and succeed, Gilly!
Thanks Sue, nothings turned out perfect yet, but I’ve worn or carried all of it, except the top that was too big so I gave it to a friend. I would have continued al those years but we didn’t have a fabric shop for quite a while.
🙂
Yikes…..I could only just about cope when I made the patterns myself!
Yes I could pick up a piece of fabric and make a dress without a pattern once upon a time!
Ah….. I was never that good!
I’ve gone back to sewing recently, and the patterns are a nightmare. The sizing anyway needs to be checked at every point, because what was a 14 traditionally measured, is now a 16 or 18 depending on the style. So you have all my sympathies, Gilly.
I’m glad it isn’t just me Tish. Luckily my style is relaxed and loose rather than fitted and I like jersey fabrics which helps!
I concur on all those point – loose – jersey – what’s not to love.
Good luck with it! I haven’t sewed in years and not likely to begin again either. I had enough problems with patterns back in the old days 😉
As long as you remember how to thread the sewing machine, that’s half the battle. You’ll soon pick it up again. Do show us the finished piece. I always used to cut the notches off paper patterns because I couldn’t be bothered cutting round them.
I ended up with my mother-in-law’s overlocker – I’ve never used one. It needed something repairing and my other half removed all four bobbins and cottons BEFORE I had a chance to see where everything went – it’s been in our spare room for the last five years.
I tried to restart sewing a while back. Never was any good at it and I never finished the project. But they say “Never give up!”
I had no idea you sew. That is fansstic
I had no idea you sew. That is fantastic. Keep it up.
Bet you do a great job! 👏