h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi, i had a peek at your craft centre, i've just finished my very first entry on ... felt making, so if you want a gander it's at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guideA619580

hyphephilia - what is that? an obsessive fondness of cloth? I think i may be on the way,

How long have you been making your own clothes for? I recently started (two years ago) when i got a sewing machine for a birthday&xmas present, it was one of the most useful things i have ever been given.
Vic

You're welcome to join the craft centre, since it seems a bit neglected at the moment. Correct on hyphephilia- fun, isn't it?
Making own clothes- since I was very very young, although they weren't very good and were sellotaped together since I couldn't sew. Making clothes for other people- one year. Do you make your own patterns/designs or use commercial ones? I started pattern drafting since I thought shop ones were too expensive (I think a lot of things are too expensive ), and wanted to spend the money on even more cloth.
My next big project is a cosy winter coat made of wonderful fake fur. Gorgeous stuff but quite expensive- still, cheaper than buying one. Haven't the foggiest how to sew the stuff, though... ne'er mind.
(pleased to meet fellow stitching type.)

Normally when i make something i just sort of make it fit to myself! I'm not really a pattern person, all those little bits of paper get on my nerves, i prefer to make something that is simple although having said that i did try to make a jacket the other day using a pattern and it was so fascinating, i was so suprised to see this hidden side to sewing! They had all these curvy bits where i would have sewn straight down! Oh dearie me eh. My mum has all these old patterns from teh seventies which are quite fun to use but after the twentieth little piece of front facing i normally end up shoving the whole thing in a drawer and forgetting about it.

Your coat sounds good, at the moment i am making myself a satin skirt, i have had this one piece of satin for ages and i keep trying to make different things out of it but then changing my mind, but i've settled on it, it's going to be an a line skirt, i might go and make it now actually. I'm having a little crisis over clothes, all the shops seem to have accuired my style of lace and flowers and ribbons, but obviously as they get paid they can all make these things much better than i ever could, so now i go out on the street and everyone looks so much better than i do and in comparison i just look like a boring gal who hasn't really put much effort into co-ordinating everything, so i've decided a change of style is in order and it needs to be a style that no-one else would want to imitate, (my friend suggested concentration camp chic but i really don't think that that would be too good an idea)

ANYWAY i think i better stop moaning about things
Vic

No, it's good to have a light-hearted conversation for once.
I get by with non-paper fittings for simple things, but because I tend to make lots of fairly structured clothes with decorative bits this isn't really suitable. Although most clothes of a certain type can be made with the same basic pattern, with alterations i.e. most of my dress patterns are the same (2-piece dresses with two darts each side- versatile, just change the length, fastening, neckline etc.)
The coat I'm planning is a fairly simple panel style- just a few strips to sew together. I always find sleeves the most difficult, though, especially setting them in the shoulders.
If there are any patterns you are interested in, I can e-mail you some if you like.

I can't think of anything i need right now, i don't actually have a printer at the moment so it would probably be pretty useless. If i'm ever in need though....

I'm going to uni in two days... without my sewing machine have to resort back to sewing by hand i suppose.

Sewing is such a dying art though, none of my other friends are very interested in it. In fact i don't think i've ever met another teenager who sews their own clothes.

Which uni are you at, and what are you doing there? I've been an illustration student for two weeks, but I'm staying at home... to be near my nest of fabric.
I bought some gorgeous fake fur today, for a fancy winter coat, but I might just curl up in it instead.
I wouldn't get too upset- I know mounds of young sewing types. At least 3 of my friends make their own gear, another makes bags, and another designs t-shirts. It's not all bad- of course, since we're a rarity, people are so impressed that we make stuff ourselves. Another good thing.

Ah yes, that indeed is true, it is nice to be original in this world of commercial mass manufacturing.

I am currently at Sussex, settling in at teh moment, which is all a little odd, haven't had much of a chance to go on the computers seeing as i have to be out all the time socialising! Not that i'm complaining or anything but i do miss h2g2!
Vicci