Homemade clothing of the past...

Aunt Marg said:
Your mom missed her calling, Sas. :)
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She really loved sewing. She made us many outfits. I remember once when I was about 5yrs old and my sister was 7yrs old at the time. She made us the cutest yellow outfits to wear on vacation. My cousin loved them so much that when we got home my Mom made her the same outfit. My cousin was 7yrs old at the time.
 

I think i was taught how to use a needle and thread and a sewing machine before i could walk.
I made my own wedding dress, veil and headpiece.........there was no such thing as a serger to be bought.......i did french seams throughout the entire dress.
This is May 3, 1975.IMG_0566.jpgIMG_0565.jpgIMG_0565.jpgIMG_0576.jpg
 
Memories.
Sewed tea towels and pillow cases out of flour and sugar bags.
Then always did embroidery on them.
Aprons........made out of 1 yard of fabric, always 2 pockets........embroidered them as well.
Mom always crocheted nice edges on the towels and pillow cases.
These were our projects for many years for Christmas gifts.
 
MickaC said:
I think i was taught how to use a needle and thread and a sewing machine before i could walk.
I made my own wedding dress, veil and headpiece.........there was no such thing as a serger to be bought.......i did french seams throughout the entire dress.
This is May 3, 1975.View attachment 139133View attachment 139134View attachment 139134View attachment 139135
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So beautiful, Micka!
MickaC said:
OOPS......clicked one picture once too many. 🙃🤪😜🙃
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Micka. You can edit your post easy enough and remove the doubled-up photo.

Select Edit, and while holding down the left button on your mouse, roll the curser over the picture in question until it turns colour, then hit delete on your keyboard. Voila, double picture gone. :)
 
Lee said:
Marci, the thread by Guterrman today is made in two different countries. If you look at the tag the original thread from Germany is still quality and the stuff from Mexico is coarse and thick and will not work in my machine.

I still sew a lot today, a great hobby.
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I agree about the sewing thread @Lee my machine would sound like an farmers old chaff cutter if I tried to use cheap nasty thread in it ,in fact I have machine embroidery thread from back in the 80’ s its never a problem to use , but try using the newer stuff that’s more like a cone shape it has knots in it and it’s not wound properly so it spins and tangles while sewing with it despite having a little felt disk under it / net over it ..cheap and nasty☹️ is what I call for allot of the threads now days ...in fact allot of sewing stuff can be called that ...including fabrics
 
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Kadee46 said:
I agree about the sewing thread @Lee my machine would sound like an old farmers chaff cutter if I tried to use cheap nasty thread in it ,in fact I have machine embroidery thread from back in the 80’ s its never a problem to use , but try using the newer stuff that’s more like a cone shape it has knots in it and it’s not wound properly so it spins and tangles while sewing with it despite having a little felt disk under it / net over it ..cheap and nasty☹️ is what I call for allot of the threads now days ...in fact allot of sewing stuff can be called that ...including fabrics
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You are so right. Cheap thread doesn't have a place in my sewing room.....i only use Mettler, and Guitermin.
Fabric can fall into the same category, cheap fabric can fall into the same garbage bin.....wear very few times and washing turns them into dish rags.
I buy quality fabric......but don't pay quality price.......wait for sales......sometimes i lose out.
Favorite fabric.........95 cotton......5% spandex.
 
No fabric was ever wasted back then.
There was some fabric leftover from sewing curtains.
So, guess who got a pretty dress.......was the scratchiest, ichy, and stiff thing to wear.......glad i grew fast pace.......didn't have to wear it much.
Those were the good old days.IMG_0581.jpgIMG_0583.jpg
 
MickaC said:
No fabric was ever wasted back then.
There was some fabric leftover from sewing curtains.
So, guess who got a pretty dress.......was the scratchiest, ichy, and stiff thing to wear.......glad i grew fast pace.......didn't have to wear it much.
Those were the good old days.View attachment 139657View attachment 139658
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You're right, Micka, no wasted anything back then. :)

I remember plastic bag upon plastic bag filled with fabric scraps and remnants!

All was put to use for something or another or handed-down to someone else who sewed.

P.S. Love the pictures so much!
 
You know...I'm almost insulted that my mother traipsed around with me in arm with my underwear sticking out the bottom of those little short dresses. I would never dream of exposing my panties on purpose in public. What humiliation! LOL
 
MarciKS said:
You know...I'm almost insulted that my mother traipsed around with me in arm with my underwear sticking out the bottom of those little short dresses. I would never dream of exposing my panties on purpose in public. What humiliation! LOL
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My girls suffered the same indignity! LOL!
 
You know for years she made me get into the backyard pool in just my underwear? I was mortified when the neighbors granddaughter came up to me and asked why I had no swimsuit. LOL
 
MarciKS said:
You know for years she made me get into the backyard pool in just my underwear? I was mortified when the neighbors granddaughter came up to me and asked why I had no swimsuit. LOL
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Must be a mom thing, because many-a beach trip, my kids unmentionables served as their beach attire, and at home (in the backyard) they often wore birthday suits!
 
MickaC said:
You are so right. Cheap thread doesn't have a place in my sewing room.....i only use Mettler, and Guitermin.
Fabric can fall into the same category, cheap fabric can fall into the same garbage bin.....wear very few times and washing turns them into dish rags.
I buy quality fabric......but don't pay quality price.......wait for sales......sometimes i lose out.
Favorite fabric.........95 cotton......5% spandex.
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I wait till lincraft have a 40 or 50 % off sale as their fabrics are the best you can buy in Adelaide lincraft.com.au/fabric-patterns/apparel-fabric/polyester-fabric.

However they jacked up their prices during the height of the pandemic 😷 due to lots of sales of fabric for masks .
I ordered some mask fabric online ( not from lincraft ) as I live 2 hours drive away from the city where lincraft are and it was rubbish I wouldn’t bother even trying to make masks out of , so I washed it then gave it to the local vets who use the fabrics only once then bin them that’s all it was good for
@MickaC

When I’m out shopping with hubs I can’t help myself sometimes I’ve just got to feel clothing as I walk past a clothing shop that’s spilling into the mall ...and yep they feel as bad as they look
and I say to hubs that’s a wear for one day (dress or whatever) ...and put it in the bin the next day ...
Ive also noticed the garments are sewn with a scratchy colourless thread which itches me
I used to buy quite a few jersey type knee length skirts from a upmarket ladies fashion store as well as t shit style (nice ) tops for our dancing .... now that store clothing is like dish rags
☹️
 
MarciKS said:
Anyone else recall any clothing your mother sewed for you to wear way back when?
Mine sent me to school in polyester slacks and these handkerchief shirts.
View attachment 138381
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I recall making 'angel tops' for my daughter that looked a lot like these. My daughter was about 5 yrs old at the time. I made a bathing suit for me when I was pregnant and a gown for one of the Mardi Gras balls. I made shirts for my son when he was first starting school. For some reason I gave up sewing; not sure what happened though.
 
@Suzy623 I rarely sew now days it’s more altering or repairing for me ,however I think it’s one of those skills you never forget so of you wanted or needed to sew I’m sure you’d be still able to make something
 
Lee said:
Marci, the thread by Guterrman today is made in two different countries. If you look at the tag the original thread from Germany is still quality and the stuff from Mexico is coarse and thick and will not work in my machine.

I still sew a lot today, a great hobby.
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Thanks @Lee I did not know there are 2 types of Gutermann thread available
One thread has a fuzzy look to it whereas real Gutermann thread should be very smooth
My computerised machine definitely prefers the smooth thread or it keeps showing an error message
when I am trying to sew :(
 
I’ve been going through my sewing patterns and putting allot In the op shop bag , recently I put a couple in the bag and got them out again heavens knows why :) ......they are very old Kwik sew children’s track suit pattens, I bought when stretch fleecy type fabric first came out in the early 80’s
I used the pattens to make cloths for my two youngest children who are now 46 + 48 as well as using the same patten to make cloths for the grandees who are now 28 and 25 so I might have to just drop them back in that op shop bag cause you never know it just might help someone else to sew
 
Kadee46 said:
I’ve been going through my sewing patterns and putting allot In the op shop bag , recently I put a couple in the bag and got them out again heavens knows why :) ......they are very old Kwik sew children’s track suit pattens, I bought when stretch fleecy type fabric first came out in the early 80’s
I used the pattens to make cloths for my two youngest children who are now 46 + 48 as well as using the same patten to make cloths for the grandees who are now 28 and 25 so I might have to just drop them back in that op shop bag cause you never know it just might help someone else to sew
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@Kadee46 I also have various Kwik Sew patterns when it was cheaper to buy the fleece fabric and make tracksuits
because way back when kids tracksuits were quite expensive
I completed an Adult Education Course for sewing with knit and fleece fabrics
Certainly added another dimension to my sewing
I often used the Kwik Sew patterns to remodel a larger tracksuit....lay the pattern pieces on and cut around....then sew 😊
 
We didn't have any homemade clothes that I can remember but my grandmother used to remodel/renovate hand-me-downs or use the fabric to make curtains, quilts, potholders, dressing table skirts, etc...

How about some new mittens from an old sweater?

how-to-make-mittens-collage-300x225.jpg


Sometimes imagination is more important than money! ;)
 
peramangkelder said:
@Kadee46 I also have various Kwik Sew patterns when it was cheaper to buy the fleece fabric and make tracksuits
because way back when kids tracksuits were quite expensive
I completed an Adult Education Course for sewing with knit and fleece fabrics
Certainly added another dimension to my sewing
I often used the Kwik Sew patterns to remodel a larger tracksuit....lay the pattern pieces on and cut around....then sew 😊
Click to expand...
peramangkelder said:
@Kadee46 I also have various Kwik Sew patterns when it was cheaper to buy the fleece fabric and make tracksuits
because way back when kids tracksuits were quite expensive
I completed an Adult Education Course for sewing with knit and fleece fabrics
Certainly added another dimension to my sewing
I often used the Kwik Sew patterns to remodel a larger tracksuit....lay the pattern pieces on and cut around....then sew 😊
Click to expand...
Yep I did a stretch sewing course way back in 1983 OMG why do we keep all this stuff ....but it’s in the folder with the instructions for making girls undies and doing the necklines of tops
so I’ve never thrown it out it was valuable info just getting into sewing a different fabric ( stretch fabric ) way back then
This is the pattern i mentioned for the kids tracksuits ....( it’s tatty I should bin it ) .and yes to buy little babies track suit back them was around the $30 mark cause it was something new on the market and we didn’t have any Kmarts or target up the Riverland where I lived at the time only a shop called Hambours . @peramangkelder
0850EF56-9C22-4374-A8C4-A9811A70E11D.jpeg0FC4308B-D3B6-4FC9-9F21-2DA391089FC1.jpeg
 

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