Tiny Budget, Average Tools, AMAZING Clothes: A Realistic Sewing Challenge to Inspire & Encourage
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- čas přidán 4. 05. 2023
- Let's sew some beautiful clothing, but on a budget, in what I'm calling The Realistic Sewing Challenge! My goal is to show that you don’t need a giant sewing room, a huge budget, or a ton of shiny new sewing gadgets to make gorgeous garments!
The parameters are: use $20 to buy everything needed for a garment. That's the fabric, the sewing pattern, and the notions (zipper, thread, buttons, etc). The only exceptions we allowed ourselves were things that are already found in a normal household, like a standard ruler, basic scissors, pens and pencils, OR entry level sewing tools that would be useful not only for this project but ALSO for many future projects (black or white poly thread, a simple sewing machine, your basic hand-sewing needles, a reasonable amount of snaps or hooks & eyes). No fancy equipment, no expensive fabrics… just an average budget with average tools.
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✨The Lining Method I Used: • Have You Ever Seen The...
🌟PART ONE OF THE CHALLENGE: • Sewing on a Shoestring...
🌟Collab Participants:
Ora_Lin and DEMIPINTEcreations
#sewingtips #sewingtips #sewing
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description (specifically the Amazon ones) are affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!
Great result, and love that you kept pushing the boundaries of the challenge $20 > 2 garments not 1 > who needs a free online pattern anyway? I'll just make my own > foam mat? Naaah. What about a towel & sheet instead?... kinda like musical chairs: the music stops & you take away another implement. Reflects the joyous spirit of a wonderfully adventurous 'human in motion'! And I love the diversity of content. Keep it up, and keep having fun. You inspired me to create a YT account, just so I could leave you a comment ;-)
Thank you!! 🫶🫶
Yes, I have lots of thoughts on how to make sewing accessible and to really show that you don't need a ton of tools to get started... I accidentally wrote a mini novella in response to another comment about the constant line I feel like I'm walking between being a Maker who knows I love sewing, and has been collecting tools of the trade (almost exclusively second-hand) for decades now, and the impression that it can give to people who watch my videos that you actually NEED all these things --and need to buy them, brand-new, from the start-- to get started in sewing, and how that might be a huge turn off or obstacle to those who are considering getting started in the hobby. Maybe this needs to be a video in-and-of itself, but basically... I love finding alternative ways to do the same thing, but with less fancy tools!!!
Anyways, thank you for the lovely comment (and for making an account in order to do so, that was incredibly sweet and unnecessary, but I greatly appreciate it) 💙💜💙
"Musical chairs..." That is a great way of thinking about it!
I love your alternate way of doing things. Your mock up was a wonderful idea. I'm so glad I found your channel. Love all your ideas. Thank you for sharing. God bless my friend.❤❤
I love the waistcoat and the alternatives you suggested for expensive sewing tools, I love your frugal thinking xxx
Cardboard box as an easy accessible cushion for copying! Really accessible, lot of countries collect cardboard boxes from stores separately so walking along a shopping street after closing, you can collect many clean and sturdy ones.
Ooooh, great tip!! We don't generally have a lot of that thicker corrugated cardboard laying around here, but I absolutely could get some if I needed it.... great thinking!!!
An ironing board also works :)
I used cardboard to clone one of my favorite hoodies, it worked very well! :)
I was thinking the same thing. Also for the paper, used paper bags, that is if your country uses them.
Great fit!! Love me a good fitting vest.
I have some moving boxes leftover, sounds like those would be perfect for this. Thanks for tip because I was going to drop them off at the recycling center (because they aren't sturdy enough anymore to reuse for moving)
Using the lining as a mock-up is such a historical way to check that a garment will fit.
So true!!
I didn't know that but that makes so much sense
I do this all the time, I use it as either the lining or interlining.
I fully lined most clothes because I cloned clothes for always. I mock up the lining first.
I picked up 14 yards of free fabric this week. I will look for a pad for anchoring, sweet!
Oh, I'm voting for GENIUS level--not just for sewing but for your creativity and how you put it all together. It wouldn't matter what you do, it's the way you think. It's not so much about sewing or whatever project you're working on, it's more about you and your creative process. 🙂
Aww, thank you!! That's literally what I strived for when setting out to start this channel
If you get packages from Amazon, often they have lots of brown packing paper. I always smooth it out and roll it up to use from projects like this.I hardly have to tape any together! Great way to reuse.
Yessss, absolutely! That's exactly what I did in my sewing table build video - one of the few things I bought for it was an Alphonse Mucha poster, and it came rolled in some brown paper which I saved (you can see me doing and talking about it in the video, even!) and then brought out later for my Corset Hoodie video to make those pattern pieces!
Me too! I iron it flat. I also cut up Amazon boxes for my compost pile even if I get boxes at the grocery store.
wait this is genius, i'm adopting this immediately
I love love love this. I am struggling to accept that done is better than perfect and having someone show me that I don't need the fancy tools to make the fancy clothes... that's priceless. I am likely to start with some easy peasey PJ pants or undies made from sad-looking t-shirts, but knowing I can just pattern off of something in my closet that fits eliminates the "what if I do all this work and then hate how it looks on me?" worry.
Yup, I think finding that line between "how good is good enough for me personally" and "trying to be so perfect that it paralyzes me" is super important, and if the fitting process is part of the thing that paralyzes you, then tracing something in your wardrobe is perfect! And while I do believe that some basic tools are very helpful (and that identifying false economies is super important too), I think that generally a good pair of sewing scissors and a halfway decent machine are kinda all you need in the way of "specialized tools" for getting started!
Hand sewing can be really pleasant too if you have the time and can enjoy the journey. A sharp needle is much cheaper than a machine, but I’ve found some good antique machines goodwill finds (online thrift). I wouldn’t be sewing if I had to buy a nice new machine to get started.
Agreed… I have literally never bought a new machine, and I think most of mine were either in the $50 range or downright free
Wow, a while ago I had started to copy of a pair of pants with that same exact technique! I’ll take this video as a sign to stop procrastinating that project 😅
YESSS, DO ITTTT! 💪🪡 No time like the present!
@@ShannonMakes i’d be curious to see the various steps of your button-sewing technique!! It looked really neat!
It’s so great, how you’ve covered as many no-cost bases as you can. Looking forward to your summer flips!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
I love the vest.
thank you!! 💙💜
With such a small piece of fabric, I could not have done it.
I LOVE DOING MOCKUPS!!!
What a brilliant idea for copying current garments! I've never seen or thought of that before. Your videos are getting better and better and I always find your work so enjoyable. I know it all takes so much time and effort. Thank you.
Thank you!! 🫶 So glad you enjoyed it and that you learned about a new technique!!
Wrapping paper is great for patterns, the stuff with a grid marked on especially
Yesss! 100%!!
Fabulous vest! I'm a sucker for a good paisley print and that's a great use for it, allowing you to showcase it even though you only have a small amount 👍 I can't see a link to the video for the lining method you used, btw?
Some thoughts on alternative materials:
➤ Pattern paper: Amazon very kindly send me lots of free patterning paper every time I order something 😉 That kraft packing paper can easily be ironed flat and you get a surprising amount in a box.
➤ Cushioned pinnable surfaces: some carpets work well, depending on the pile density; a mattress; a cushion from your sofa (the ones you sit on, not the smaller decorative ones you pile on top)
To prevent your pencil punching through the paper when you're joining the dots, just move to a hard surface for this stage, be that a dining table, desk, hard floor...
Thank you, the link got lost in the shuffle of tweaking the description; I have relinked it now!
➤ Pattern Paper: YESSS!! You can actually see me do this exact thing (and comment on it) in my sewing table build, when I received the Mucha poster print, it came with pattern paper which I saved (and used for patterning my corset hoodie)!
➤ Carpets, mattresses and sofa cushions all sound like great alternatives (sofa cushions being potentially more ergonomic of the three)!!
➤ The pencil/paper problem was most relevant when I was directly tracing the bits of the pattern (bottom/top edges) that were already exposed and could be immediately traced, without needing the pin punching, but yes, otherwise agreed that for connecting dots, moving to the hard surface is best (and what I did).
I went out for fancy paper - Reynolds freezer paper from that obnoxious big box store with groceries. A zillion feet for 4 bucks and you can iron it onto stuff using the plastic side. Meaning patterns, they last better.
Very clever hack, thank you for sharing!!
There are some tricks I was using as a poor beginner sewist:
[Edit: good scissors, a ruler, a iron and pins were the first things I buyed the moment I had a job. I wouldn't continu sewing without them.]
I was using a linen sheet on a towel on my table as ironing board and a heated cauldron with water in as iron+ hand splash water on the fabric. It wasn't very fast but do the job. I upgrade my things by stealing my father iron and taking a iron board in the trash.
I was using a cord and a eating stick to trace on my fabric as I didn't have any rulers with more than 15cm long. My primary school geometry cursus was a good use there.
I also had no pin needles, so all my cups and knicks and knacks got used for tracing. And lot of patience.
Those are definitely great beginner tips, although I will say that I find it's important to identify and avoid false economies - if working with crafting scissors gives you carpel tunnel, takes 3 times as long, and results in sloppy pattern pieces that make you spend more time fixing them later on, then it's definitely worth making a small investment in proper scissors.
Or for people who have disabilities that limit their physical energy or mental focus, buying a proper iron or even a simple ruler might literally mean the difference between being able to make a garment and it being an impossibility. So I do try to walk the line between "encouraging economy and just jumping in without needing all the fancy tools" and "being so miserly that the sewing process becomes miserable or impossible" and that actually *discouraging* people from sewing. Although you certainly seem to have a very strong "stick with it and make-do" attitude which I love and relate to 🫶
@@ShannonMakes I don't nescesary recommand those tricks. It was awfull to use them. I had a old skirt I couldn't mend anymore with some fabric still usable and wanted to do something with it at a moment I had no job.
Good scissors, iron, ruler and pins were the first things I had buy when I got a job. ^^'
Tip: look for vintage scissors. I picked up a pair of dull-but-durable Wiss pinking shears at the thrift shop, and I found a scissor sharpening service who does them for less than $10! (I know this would exceed the $20 budget you're working with, but shears can be used to cut many projects before they need sharpening again!)
To make "big" paper, I have successfully cut brown paper bags flat. If it needs to be EVEN BIGGER, just tape them together.
Great tips, both of them, thanks for sharing!
Love love the vest, It looks great on you, Perfectly form fitting.
Remember that a princess seam is basically the side and bottom dart reimagined. If you have a gap at the armhole or the p.seam fits awkwardly on the bust you need to redo the p.seam..
I think I'm finally reconciling to the fact that, as a short wasted plush human with a sway back and a substantial bust-line, I'll be doing time-out in mock-up land any time I tackle a pattern. Getting the mock-up to the point where I can use it for lining is the dream. The vest came out beautifully. Well done. The fit is amazing.
By-the-by, my Foundations Revealed entry of my own version of a vest is up under my full name of Cathy MacDonald-Zytveld in the Apprentice category. Drop by and say 'hi'?
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
Hey Cathy how are you doing? I’m hoping for some sun this weekend!!
@@robintheparttimesewer6798 I'm doing OK, thanks. How goes it for you?
We're getting a phone-based upgrade to 5G for our building next week. So I'm cleaning like mad... so far, small visual progress versus the amount of work to get to that progress... but, was ever thus. I'm just hoping the building owner won't be in tow when the workmen arrive. And, if he does, that he's nice. For a change. Harrumph...
It's so good to have the sun back. I hope it stays for a while.
@@stevezytveld6585 well all my plans were thwarted! Went down stairs and discovered my hot water tank was leaking! So I will be spending the weekend cleaning and making sure that everything is out of the way for a new water tank. I had other plans for sunshine and yard work
you got a beautiful fit on the vest!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you 😊 🙏😍
That was a super clever way to “trace” your vest pattern, especially given the multiple shaped panels you had to contend with for this particular garment. I will definitely remember that when faced with the same situation.
Dollar store wrapping paper is a good solution for pattern paper
Heck yes!! That's what I used on my second test (the towel/sheet method)!! (and also what I used on my Victorian Miss Frizzle... just look for the brightly colored Marvel figures 🤣🤣)
I have waistcoats/vests, made several versions in various fabrics, with the 1890's pattern by Truly Victorian. To be perfectly honest with you, I have left out the facing pieces out on pretty much all of them, except for the front facing on the very first one I made. Mostly because this won't be seen when worn. ^^
(All of mine are interlined/flatlined and all but 1 are fully lined as well)
Yea, I don't feel like it's absolutely necessary, and if I didn't have enough for a facing, I wouldn't let that stop me from making a vest, but I also do like the way that it looks, and I find that if you don't get a great fit, or if the buttons are too far in-set from the CF edge, that the inner fabric can show through, so it's fun to have one if you can squeeze it out... but agreed that it's not at all *necessary*!!
Oh my gosh! I love your copy better than the original! Bravo! 👏👏👏
Thank you!! It's a very fun fabric, for sure.... I don't often dig the paisley prints, but this one was 😘
Awesome created vest and ALL completed under budget! The vest looks fantastic on you!🙏♥️👍
Thank you!!! I'm very pleased with the results too!! thanks for watching 😊🫶
Oh, I can't even imagine trying to live without Google anymore - I use it to learn how to do so many things. Furniture rehabs in the future - yes please! Another wonderful video.
Yes, Google is such a wonderful resource!!
Honestly I was always the person before to just go buy the fabric I want, but you've inspired me to do it all thrifted or rescued for 2024.
omg, that's literally the best thing I've heard all day... love that!!
Daaaaang. That vest looks great! You weren't kidding either, it might fit a little better than the original. Great work!
Thank you 😊💙💜
I adored this series. I love that you used everyday objects that typically have specific tools in the sewing world. My favorite was using your phone as the pattern weight!
oh goodness, I use my phone SO OFTEN as a sewing weight... it's really mind-boggling. But it's the perfect weight, the cover is just the right level of anti-slip rubber, and I always have it close at hand!!
Well done. I always thought I'd have to unassemble a current item in order to copy it. Now, I'm inspired to try this.❤
Definitely, please do... if you make sure you have all your panels flat while you "trace" them, it works super well!
Stunning vest! Well done😊
The vest is so nice. The fit looks great.
I’m with you about all the fancy things, they aren’t really needed. I started out borrowing my mothers sewing machine. She got tired of having to come to my home to find her machine so I got a used sewing machine for Christmas. That was late 80’s and I’m still using that machine! Most of the fancy things I have I found in thrift stores. Yes it’s taken years but the search was fun too. But really most of it is nice to have not needed. Though I wouldn’t give up my cardboard cutting mat. It’s gridded and folds up found it in a thrift shop in the late 80’s. It’s great to pin fabric and patterns to and protect the kitchen table which is all I had back then.
I am 1000% with you on that technique - started out with a family sewing machine, finally got one of my own when it was clear that I was sewing a lot and it would be worth it (and it was actually donated by a family friend who was moving), and then all the other things are acquired over literal decades of making and thrifting. Some things are purchased, but the vast majority are just acquired via various secondhand methods! Cardboard cutting mat sounds lovely!!
I don't sew at all. I have a sewing machine, but.... regardless, I watch the channel for you. You inspire me to create in ways I know how and get my wheels turning. I can't wait for some furniture flips. Now THAT'S my language.
Love a good furniture flip!! But now I have to ask how you found me if you don’t do much sewing!!
@@ShannonMakes I think you popped up in my feed because I follow Rachel Maksy. I've been following her since her Pinup Companion days. I think one crafter leads to another.
Lovely vest project for yourself, timeless piece. A really nice beginners project for those just starting. It's wonderful that you are showing that you don't need much to start. My first time sewing, I was 10, the jeans i was given were a good 8 inches to long, found needle, thread to a close enough match, regular metal roll back measuring tape, the scissors used for everything and made use of my brain best I could and that started it all lol. i was in my early 20's before I was shown how to a machine ( today we have google and youtubaversity , didn't way back when). Oh, useful idea for those who may look to buy a machine i always recommend the old ones if you can get them. The first brand new one i did buy when i was young was an end of run Singer,(1990) i paid $300 Can. Approximately 70% off from when the machine began production cycle. Done the same when I only a few yrs back got my serger, seen one i took a liking to, kept eye on price drops, when i seen it lowering by vast amount i gave Singer a call to ask if the machine was close to the end of its run, got told they were indeed getting ready to modify production equipment for the next model. Cha-ching time to buy that 5 thread serger. When I first seen that serger it was close to $1300, i got it for $430 + tax, free shipping, did not invest in a case, i kept the Styrofoam it was shipped in, made a pretty sealable cover w/pocket for the binder that holds the manual for the machine for any future move . Yes the machine i brought decades ago still runs and is a pleasure to get the stitching done lol. As you are showing people, sewing doesn't need to be expensive to be fun, you just need to grease up your creative wheels and give it a go.🥰🤪😃
Thank you! Good tip about the end-of-run machines! Another really useful tip (which equally requires a bit of keeping your eye out, but can really get you a great machine for a fantastic price) is watching Facebook Marketplace/Kijiji/Craigslist... I see so many great machines on there, both way over-priced AND way under-priced, so with a bit of patience and luck, it's a great way to score machines (my serger was roughly $100 from Kijiji)
@@ShannonMakes yes for sure, i've been blessed to get 3 donated machines and bought an ELNA for myself from marketplace
The vest looks really sharp indeed! Really proves that you don't need to spend a lot of money to dress well. Loved the challenges! Makes sewing so much more realistic and approachable :)
Thanks so much!! I do love this vest!
absolutely adore this vest! looks great on you and fits perfectly. I am looking forward to summer content and other fabric crafts :3
Thank you!! 🫶💙💜 ALL THE CRAFTSSS!
Wrapping papper, like old Christmas papper usually has a grid pattern on the back. It is good to use as pattern papper. Cardboard is good for a surface. It works well
I have been admiring the white with greenery sideboard/set o’drawers?? for awhile. Totally my aesthetic. 😊I’ve not seen any of your work with furniture save the adorable Corgi couch. Looking forward to Shannon Makes Fun in the Sun Edition.
"Shannon Makes: Fun-in-the-Sun Edition" sounds so lovely... makes me want to do it even more!! 🤣🤣 Love it, thank you!
Shannon: it looks like it's enough for a vest, but we all know that's not true!
Me: Ah... Sure. Yeah, we all know that. Totally.
Yessss! I just moved and have been saving my boxes to donate or share with someone else in need. Now Im going to make sure I save one for myself!
Was... was this comment truly meant to be under this video? Because if yes, I'm a bit confused!
Yay for mock-up of untested patterns! 👍🏻 That’s a great vest, very on brand.
Thank you! 🫶🫶 I love my mock-ups!! Saves me from wasting fabric, in the long run!
Love this. After my grandmother passed away (22 years now), my aunt and I were sitting at her table joking about how she would squeeze garments out of the tiniest bits of fabric and took great delight in having so little left over she could hide it in her fist.
Think you could do a video on your button hole technique. Right now I am working on a backup machine, without a foot, I am using a zig zag method I learned years ago, but its not there.
Yours are beautiful.
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed the video and that it reminded you a bit of your grandmother. I didn't necessarily plan to do a video on the buttonhole technique, but I'll keep it in mind for future video options!
It is indeed a beautiful fit! And great fabric too. Very clever solutions to the budget with the towels and so on. I think you made clear that sewing does not have to be a really expensive hobby. Well done.
Thank you! 😊
yes, i have been bopped in the head by the thread take up lever, many times hahaha, my goodness its nice to know its not only me!
lol, likewise, good to know it's not just me 🤣
This is what I love about sewing. There's something so gratifying about giving fabric a second life as well as making something I already wanted to make.
So true!!
That is a handsome waistcoat, lovely work Shannon
Thank you! 🫶🫶 Glad you enjoyed it!
The vest is beautiful and looks great on you! Well done! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you so much!!
That aim one way/aim the other method is how I clipped curves until a saw a video where the tailor pinched along the seam to clip the v in one snip, and slid the pinched portion along her fingers so she didn’t have to re-grip the fabric until she about three v snips.
huh... do you have a link for us all to watch and learn? cuz that sounds amazing!
@@ShannonMakes I’ll look for the specific video, but it was a while back, and she’s a prolific poster. The channel is Downtown Tailoring.
@@ShannonMakes Here’s a short with a really deep curve so she does one v per grip, but this is the idea:
czcams.com/users/shortsf7K8wtCpfXs?feature=share
This vest turned out perfect! It surly doesn’t look like a thrifted Project!!! I love how you showed techniques that don’t use Fancy tools or cost lots of money. When I learned the pin and paper technique for copying a pattern, I just pinned my paper on to my bed. I pulled the sheet and blanket back and pinned the paper on to the bottom sheet right into the mattress. I also did it on the carpeted floor. I always used old fashioned brown paper grocery bags for paper. Making a mock-up then using part of it as the interlining was brilliant. Teaching folks how to save money now days is a blessing and a vital skill for all to learn. Thanks!
Ooh, I've heard of lots of people doing it on a cushion from a couch, but a mattress is great because it can be a much bigger surface to pin into! Love that!
"only 2$ left for a pattern" 😂😂😂 this is why its good to learn pattern drafting!
Edit: because I forgot there was still the rest of the vid to watch 😂 Im a lil disappointed there weren't the usual plethora of puns, but I was ✨invested✨ regardless!
Today's project for the binge is one of those fancy historical hussifs using fabric that was gifted from my grandmother in-law's stash, but modified to hold a field journal and wallet things ❤
unfortunately I don't think most people who are still just considering getting into sewing are going to find the notion of pattern drafting particularly accessible 😭 sounds like a fun project, your modern hussif!
@@ShannonMakes thats entirely valid. It requires yes amount of math and spacial awareness, which isn't super ubiquitous. I forget what is and isn't a beginner friendly thing. My general method is "start with the hardest thing first" and that definitely isn't for everyone 😂😂😂
Beautifully done and excellent problem solving skills! If you don't have the materials or tools for Method A, use Method B! Marvelous! Well done ye!
Thank you!! I feel like sometimes I run down to Method G or H, lol, but we get the job done regardless!!
That looks SLICK.
Love how you learn and teach as you go!
Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching 🫶
My apartment has a super thick carpet... thats how i went about getting a pattern off if my favorite sweat pants.
Making a mock up should be done a lot more. The mock up can be used as interlining or as a sew in interfacing. Plus you end up with the finished garment looking great.
I will do a mock up before cutting expensive fabric. I try to buy the best that I can afford. Once in a while I find something on clearance that is a real gem. I have blouses that been taken in and out according to my weight fluctuations over the years and still in good shape after weekly wear and laundering for the past ten years. I sew to have long wearing clothes. What I spent $30 to make would come to $150+ retail and not as nice. Plus I get something totally unique.
As to the zero waste or scraps argument, it's easy to cut it up and make a quilt either for home or charity. I have one that I wrap up in to watch TV or take with me to the hospital. Also worked for picnics. The scraps can bet cut into strips and sewn together, then made into rag rugs. A few ways to do it. I spent most of the 90s living below the federal poverty level, so had to grow my own food, home can it and stretch every penny.
Absolutely amazing. You are so talented and it gives me hope.
I HAVE THOSE SCISSORS!!! they are amazing and a lovely weight.
YESS, AREN'T THEY AMAZING!!?? I genuinely love them... are they maybe slightly less nice than a $50 pair of Ginghers? Possibly? But they're literally a quarter of the price, and they've lasted me through SO MANY projects!! (downside: they don't have a left-handed model)
@Shannon Makes yes I was looking at ginghers but couldn't have afforded them at the time. I took a risk on these and I'm so happy I did. I've had mine over a year and still sharp enough to accidently hurt myself 😵💫🤣
Honey, I love all the mockups, I am a research fan and know from my own experience that close, often does not get picked, by me to wear.
I mean, no judgement to people who sew just for the process and the fun and don’t mind so much how it fits… but I know that I very solidly don’t fall into that category 🤣🤣🤣
Yes I've clocked myself in the eye brow with the take-up lever more times than I can count. I tend to do it late at night when I'm getting tired, so I use it as my sign that it's time to put everything away for the night.
I also try not to work too late into the night because that's when SO many mistakes happen for me 😭🤣💤
That vest is beautiful! It looks fantastic on you. Nice job!
Thank you!
Very nice, I would wear that in a heartbeat 💓
I admit it, that's a superior method to my way of tracing out existing clothing (I literally try to get each piece flat enough to trace on paper). I'm going to try it when I trace out a pair of pants or recreate... I like using dollar store gift wrap for pattern paper, I used to use newspaper back when I knew someone who still got one, now I use the newsprint from ads that I still get in my mail box (thank you Canadian Tire and Bulk Barn), though I recently scavenged a roll of 2'x3' packing paper and that's what I'm using now.
Wish I could get decent scissors for $11 but being left-handed, they're hinged wrong and most of them hurt my thumb so I kinda have to get decent ones because you just can't get cheap lefty scissors, or at least, nowhere I shop... I do have one pair of not terrible general scissors for paper that's fine for one or two cuts at a time but even they hurt after a while if I'm cutting out a lot of pattern pieces.
That vest looks so cute! I've got plans for a princess seam vest with some electric purple satin stuff from a remnant bin and I've already made a wearable mockup, I wanna try piping on that but I'm not entirely sure how to make that work with the bag lining method you used where you turn it inside out through the shoulder straps, there's even a way to burrito the thing so you can get most of the rest of the sewing done by machine but I dunno how it'll apply to piping. Guess I'll make i up as I go along, as usual LOL
Yes, that dollar store wrapping paper is brilliant, especially when you can find the ones that have the grid on the back... absolutely genius (albeit a bit more fragile)!!
Also the struggle of being left-handed and finding good scissors is NO JOKE. It's quite annoying actually (I was just having a conversation with Ora about this the other day) how so few companies give any thought into developing their line to include scissors for left handed people 🙄🙄
Glad you like the video and the vest, thank you for watching and, as usual, leaving a lovely comment!
I love the genuinely budget friendly content so much - it's extremely refreshing.
Two tricks I have used for pinning fabric down - if you have a carpet in your house you can pin it directly to that (I do this often). Otherwise, for small items the padding on an ironing board also works well. 🥰
You're very welcome! And yes, many people have been recommending using the carpet, which seems both very resourceful and not the most ergonomic option... at least the towel and sheet (or corrugated cardboard) option can be placed on a table, if one has a kitchen or living room table to use!
That paisley print is so pretty! It’s also super cool you managed to clone the vest! And it came out so well!
Thank you! I love that fabric too, and I'm thrilled that it turned out so well too! Thanks for watching!
Love the 0 waste content! I too try to be conscious about the waste I produce with textiles so watching these videos is great. I’m curious to see this project journal of yours! ❤
Thank you!! And there will probably be a little video about the journal at some point!
Waving from Ontario!
Hellooo from cold-but-slowly-getting-warmer Montreal! 👋
@@ShannonMakes we have sun today !!!🙄🤨😛🌷
It's great to listen to someone talking with such commitment, serenity and passion about the subject of sewing :) And not some fancy one.
Presenting the topic with such enthusiasm makes everyone want to dig up a long abandoned machine and sew something :D
Thanks for the video and inspiration.
Thank you!! 😊😊 so glad you enjoyed the video, thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts!
So beautiful! As usual, thanks so much for your videos and content. I really love watching them !
Thank you!!! I'm so glad you're enjoying them! 💛💜💙
Those are the sewing shears I have! I have had them about a year as well and they are wonderfully sharp! I even got a pair for my mom for Christmas. They are way better than any other shears I have had.
Right!? I love mine!!
Cute vest.
Thank you!! 🫶🫶 Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!
Beautiful results, Shannon!
Thank you!!
I love the pin leapfrog! Great idea!
It was a fun clip, and one of the first things I filmed, but eventually as I did it more, my technique evolved a bit, and the leapfrog turned out to be not the most efficient method 😭 kept the clip in though because it looks fun!
❤😊that turned out so pretty ❤❤
I have never worn vests. It is cold here and I decided to try a vest for wandering the mountain. I picked up a $2 quilted vest at the thrift store. My goodness it is darling. I am making more! I have a quilted piece of fabric, gotta try it.
Hilariously enough, here in the Netherlands the thrift shops almost always have nearly free tracing wheels, I keep finding them. And sometimes thrift shops have more sewing supplies if you ask the employees/ volunteers about them. Once I was pointed at three brimming banana boxes full to rummage through, I had a lovely time digging out treasures.
Yes!! So many of my sewing supplies have come from thrift stores, and they're so cheap! Great tip about asking the employees about extra sewing stuff tho!!
Where do you thrift? Because in my city there aren't even buttons in the thrift store, no fabric either. If I see pretty bedlinnen I'll use it. But no tracing wheels whatsoever. Almere area.
I use leftover cheap gift wrap for pattern paper all the time because the rolls hold so much.
Yesss, dollar store wrapping paper for the win!! (bonus: you have pretty patterns afterwards, see: my Victorian Miss Frizzle video 😂✨)
You did an amazing job on this project, loved it!
Thank you!! 🫶
Great jog, your vest is beautiful, you are a excellent in sewing.
Thank you so much!
I love using the technique you used to sew lining in. I use that technique often and love it.
yea, it worked super well! Took me a second to wrap my mind around the armholes, but as soon as that part was clear, then it was smooth sailing!
Mockup is never a bad thing!
I mean, you don't have to convince ME!!
I love this video ❤
The process. The alternate methods. The tool priority advice. The tips and tricks. The advice to seek out more advice on ye olde CZcams.
Your content, your ability to share and educate your process, your energy, and showmanship all make your channel fun, engaging , and entertaining.
I’m here for any content you want to share ❤
Thank youuuuu so much for your lovely words, I'm so happy that you enjoyed the video and the.... tips? advice? everything? Thank you for the unwavering support 🫶🫶
I've copied a pattern from a garment by pinning the paper directly to it and then carefully cutting the paper down to match the seams. It wasn't perfect and needed some adjustment afterwards (the garment I copied didn't fit that well) but it worked fine! All of the fancy tools in guides and videos make the process much faster and easier but it is completely possible to make things with the bare essential scissors, needles and pins.
Holy hell! Thank you so much for the towel idea instead of using a tailors ham!
Its hell looking for one with saw dust and not poly fill.
Very nice. I have never thought to trace a garment like that, very interesting. Love the blue paisley fabric. Nice job.
Beautiful vest.
Thank you!! 💙💜
Great idea to pin the garment into foam mats...I've always just drawn them out using weights on the floor and it's squibbly. Thanks!
And I will add to the scissor discussion, as a lefty who often has to pay premium just for scissors that function. I used a standard pair of left handed Fiskars for nearly 8 years before they dulled out, and I did a lot of sewing. They retail at around $12 USD. And they're slightly more expensive, but I recently found a wonderful pair of true lefty dressmaking shears, sold on Amazon in a set with snips and a tape measure for $30 USD. (See? Premium. The righty version sells for $13!) I'll reply to this with links in case CZcams eats the comment.
omg, yes, the left-handed struggle is real (and ridiculous how little companies seem to care)... that was definitely a down-side I noted on another comment about these scissors: they don't come in left-handed 😭😭
As another lefty who had the struggle...my mom made sure I had left handed scissors but eventually I learned how to do it right-handed just because it was easier when they got lost or stolen by siblings.
You can save your scraps for crumb quilting. 😊❤❤
Carpet works great for this punching tracing technique. If it's a lower pile carpet I've had good success with my area rug
Yesss!! Lots of people are commenting this (although I will say that if you have the table surface available to you, using the towels or yoga mats or even sofa cushions might save your back a bit!!)
For mockups i make wearable mockups or use them as linings. Cause then i feel like its not a waste
I like the vest very much, and I am going to try out that cloning technice with the pins myself, never thought of that! But also. FaLsE pockets, bah humbug, and so on.
Thank you! But I don’t tend to enjoy or use pockets on such a tight fitting garment though, so the time and fabric would be wasted 😊
I usually copy using my carpet as the pad! It probably wouldn't work with a super fluffy or super flat carpet, but it works great with mine.
You're the second person to suggest that, so clearly it's a good technique!! Although someone else suggested sofa cushions, which might be a bit more friendly on the back (same with the towel and sheets - you can at least put them up on a table to save your back)!!
Love to make a mock-up, also, I found that modifying the shoulder angle help fix the awkward arm\breast junction 😊
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It is so inspirational to see that sewing can be done on a budget and done very well too!! Sending best wishes from Down Under 🥰💖💐🌸🌺🇦🇺😎
You're very welcome, glad to see that you enjoyed the video, thank you for watching! 🫶💙💜
The point about being able to use a lot of the blue cotton pieces as both a mock-up and as interlining for the finished vest is a pretty cool one that I had not thought of before, and definitely makes me less resistant to making a mock-up because that fabric won't be going to waste (if it's a project that's suitable for interlining, of course). I'm definitely going to keep this in mind for the future!
Yup, definitely! Although I don't generally see mock-ups as wasted, because if I'm making one, it's because I'm not sure that the pattern will fit well enough for me to be happy with wearing the final garment. So my personal perspective is that I'd prefer make a mock-up out of some crappy fabric that was on it's way out anyways, rather than skip the mock-up and make something that doesn't fit me and that I'll never wear because I'm not happy with how it turned out. Because that's just as equally a waste of fabric, but it's a waste of really nice fabric that would otherwise have been a very lovely garment!
Preaching the gospel of the expensive scissors!!
I know $11 isn't crazy cheap, but it's really pretty affordable considering that they've lasted me for two years, are still sharp, and have saved me so much time and headache... so I don't know that I'd call them "expensive"
@@ShannonMakesDidn't mean to say they weren't affordable or anything like that, it just I found funny your expression of "converting" your mom to the scissors, that was all.
Ahhh, perhaps you meant “inexpensive” then?!
@@ShannonMakes Sure, english is not my first language.
Yea!! You showed how you make buttonholes! I learned a number of things in this video. I did not know about the pin on paper way and I think that would be faster than my tortuous way (I do have some knitting puzzle foam blocks I could even use! I was hoping the paisley fabric was a no nap corduroy or cotton velvet but you handled it the way I have when I could t afford US$125/yd (min 1 yd) tartan lightweight wool for my anime Japanese school girl ties I make but I could take a cute, perfect colors smallish plaid print in a sturdy cotton at US$7/yd (only purchased the 1/4 yd I needed. I already had the interfacing to give the cotton more body and large snap.
This was exceptionally well-timed, as I'm currently drafting myself a vest pattern to use some fabric remnants I recently acquired. :)
ooooo, fantastic!! best of luck with your own vestventures!
Now you need to make some trousers or a skirt and a jacket on a budget. ;)
I mean, my 1911 skirt was (unintentionally) on a budget... the video isn't framed that way, but the only fancy tool I used was an extra long ruler, the paper was dollar store paper (that I got secondhand at the thrift store for $1 🤣), the wool was from the same thrift store, it was roughly $5, the lining was IKEA from the same laundromat haul I showed here, the drafting manual was free online, and the buttons were from my stash, picked up at a garage sale years ago and insanely cheap!
Thank you so much for the pin hack! It works so well and has opened my horizons! Love your work!
You're so welcome, I seriously use it all the time, and it's so practical!
Great result! I love it! 4 th option for the gaping along the armscye which I often have to use, is to check how you have sewn your shoulder seam. if you have sloped shoulders, a dead straight seam at the shoulder will often let that fabric drop a little and that is the resulting bulge at the armscye. so your shoulder seam might need to be angled a bit.
Now I have questions.... going to IG with them, because I need visual aids! 😆
@@ShannonMakes happy to answer questions. Also the other option you had with the unfortunate dart placement was to retrace that shape and leave the dart in given it was interlining. it should leave you the shape you need for the pattern piece.
I use butcher paper draft patterns, slightly see-thru, less slippery & you can pin right into the carpet (as well the plastic backing keeps pen marks off the carpet.
I grew up cutting on the living room floor so we could pin patterns & fabric down and cut everything out at once. Not the best on old joints though.
Yea, many people say they've been using the carpet, which I think is both a great idea and also not the most ergonomic suggestion ever!