I'm looking to see if there's anyone else at this site who sews most of his/her/zir own clothes. At least, the ones that aren't "appropriate" to their assigned gender.
I started making skirts because I like full, not clingy skirts, and nobody sells them, especially not in my size (waist: 46 inches.) I hate skirts that bind at the hips. Also, I go (contra) dancing roughly once a week and I like to have fun, dressy, super-twirly skirts for that. I also make lots of petticoats/half-slips in various sizes and fabrics to go under the skirts. Lately I've been working on jumpers (in the USA sense -- I believe in the UK they call them "pinnafores") and have made an "underdress" and plan to make more. I've done about 3 dresses (two of which I still have stuff to do on), but I'm not entirely satisfied with the results. I pretty much don't use a pattern, which is why skirts are easy (either a cylinder gathered at the top, or a cone) and bodices and sleeves are hard. I've assumed I can't get a dress or pattern that would fit me well, anyway.
On my wish list -- that is, stuff I'd like to learn how to make.
-- a good pouffy petticoat (like in the 1950's, or for square dance. The ones I can buy aren't pouffy enough.)
-- leotard/body suit. (I've been buying from
bodysuit.com, but they only have dull, depressing colors.)
-- "french maid" dress: the frilly kind, or maybe the kinky kind, not the skimpy ones.
-- tutu. Somewhere between the "bit of tulle tied around the waist" and a pro ballerina one. None of the brick-and-mortar fabric stores seem to sell stiff enough net.
I have quite of collection of fabric that I'm planning to turn into something or other someday (I should live so long!) I started buying fabric without a specific project in mind because you never know when you can find any particular fiber, weave, or color. (Online buying would be a possibility -- if the on-line stores knew anything about fabric. I mean, calling a loose plain weave "twill" or "poplin" is ridiculous!)
