Is it possible to make your own clothes by hand?

[Unionville]

My grandma used to hand sew all her kid's clothes and they looked great. I'm sorry I did not learn from her. I don't like sewing machines and I'm tired of buying throw-away crap clothing in the stores. Does anyone here hand sew clothes?

[deborah]

Sewing clothes by hand is easier in some ways than sewing them by machine, but you follow the same process, and it takes a little longer. I sew clothes by machine but have been known to make them by hand. The Folkwear patterns are quite good, particularly the early ones (lowest numbers), which actually did have hand sewing suggestions included.

[I'm a red panda]

Sure you could- people did all the time before sewing machines- but it will be an incredibly time consuming process; both the actual work to get all the sewing done, and the time to learn to stitch well enough to be able to sew small even stitches that will hold for clothing seams.

[MayDay]

It would take for-freaking-ever.  Sounds horrible to me, but if that's your jam, go for it. 

I am not convinced you could realistically (in any kind of timely way- like say one item of clothing a month) make small, straight enough stitches to make it look good. It would take A LOT of practice.  I could see hand sewing detail parts like collars, but the long straight seams to make pants?  Ack. 

The other issue is that sewing clothing from nice fabric is really expensive, because nice fabric is really expensive.  The only way to sew economically is to use thifted/re-purposed/etc fabric or hunt for super clearances.  I think you would be better off financially finding high end consignment and thrift stores and buying expensive clothing used. 

I sew because it makes me happy.  I occasionally save money (made the kids bathrobes from old bedsheets, etc) but mostly I probably spend more. 

[meg_shannon]

I agree with MayDay, and I sew. It does take a lot of practice to learn to sew by hand well. That's why little girls had to always work on their samplers and nine patch quilts. It was the practice before they had to sew clothes for their own household.

[I'm a red panda]

Freaking-for-ever is a much better way of putting it than "incredibly time consuming".  I cannot imagine sewing anything larger than infant clothes by hand; and even still, I can't imagine the tiny, even stitching I'd need to do to make the seams strong enough for wear.  Thank goodness for sewing machines.

The other issue is that sewing clothing from nice fabric is really expensive, because nice fabric is really expensive. 

Yeah, I didn't address that because they didn't ask about cost, just mentioned quality (though I'm with you- I don't think this is a way to get better quality. It would take years to be able to meet mass produced quality, and decade to meet high-end/couture quality.)  But you are right- good fabric is incredible expensive.

I sew my own clothes, with a machine; but really- they are just about Target quality. The fabric I buy is generally "budget", so I get a "budget" product. And it still costs more than just buying it, but I consider it fun to make clothes.

Also note, that while my clothes greatly resemble the ones off the rack, they still have fit issues. Because learning to tailor/alter is another skill entirely.  So unless you learn to draft your own patterns, or learn to alter very well (I can only do basic alterations on purchase patterns), making your own clothes still doesn't mean they are going to fit you better than ones in stores.

[Unionville]

But is it any longer than making a quilt?  I've done that before.

[TrMama]

Yes, it's certainly possible and would probably take less time than a quilt, especially if you choose a pattern without a lot of seams. I've done a lot of complicated clothes sewing and although I use a machine (and serger) sewing by hand isn't impossible. I've also taken up knitting, and it's also time consuming, but relaxing. Takes me a couple months to knit myself a sweater, working on it in the evenings while I watch TV.

If you want better quality clothes than what the stores sell, the trick is to buy better quality fabric and use better quality thread. Many mass produced garments are put together with loosely woven (or knit) fabric and thin, weak thread. The bad thread (and loose stitches) are what cause seams to open up. If you buy regular sewing thread (Gutterman or Coats & Clark) from a fabric shop, it will be better than whatever the sweat shops use.

[I'm a red panda]

What kind of quilt? What size and pattern?  Just the piecing or also the quilting?  What kind of clothes?

Too many variables to compare directly.

My running stitch when I piece a quilt is larger than I'd use to make stable clothes, and my quilting stitch is much further apart.  So I'd expect clothes to take longer than say a simple baby quilt.

[GuitarStv]

I sew tons of stuff by hand, mostly to do alterations.  It takes a while, but I only do a few minutes a night.  I've altered a jacket, altered four cycling jerseys to fit better, and taken in some pants.  Learning to stitch properly takes very little time.

[maco]

Mostly my handsewing is for historical clothing*, but yes, you can sew everything by hand. I'm rather bad at using a sewing machine, really, so if I want it to come out nice I do it by hand. For instance, the silk chiffon sleeves and the concave/convex curve at the bust (bane of every non-professional machine sewer) on my wedding dress were done by hand.

* tailor-made historical clothing is my intended side hustle...after I get my husband's historical wardrobe sorted out

For reference, I sewed a simple skirt pleated into a waistband one weekend while at a family reunion. For a gown with several layers of interlining padstitched together (to provide structure), I took a month (while working a full time job). For a historically-inaccurate gown (interlining with hemp cord for structure) done on sewing machine, cutting and assembly would be a full Saturday (and then a few hours to hand-stitch all the eyelets).

Now, you want to talk really "make by hand"... my mom's Christmas present next year will be sewn from fabric I will weave specifically for it. I don't intend to spin the yarn for that project (though I have spun for weaving before, but only for weft not warp), as I've never spun tweed. That does get me thinking a bit, though...

[maco]

I could see hand sewing detail parts like collars, but the long straight seams to make pants?  Ack. 

Eh, one night this summer, I sat down with a group of ~8 other people, and we each took a piece of a long coat. We chatted and sewed (using backstitch for the seams and whip stitch for the raw edges) lining to fashion fabric by candle light for a few hours. In that time, we got all the pieces lined and corners clipped. The next day, assembly was done by whip stitch, by two people in a few hours, including making and insetting black cord in each seam.

This was a gift from all of us to a friend who was being recognized for her expertise in Viking culture. It was a Viking caftan, wool lined with linen.

The bad thread (and loose stitches) are what cause seams to open up.

Of course, it's WAY preferable for the thread to snap than for the fabric to tear at the seam! Stitches too close on too weak of fabric with very strong thread act like the perforations inside a notebook. At worst, you can have sewing thread that's so tough it cuts through the fabric. Putting a few new stitches in when the old ones let go is way easier than figuring out what to do about a seam allowance that is now gone.

[deborah]

When I was making clothes by hand rather than machine, I was surprised at how little time it took - especially the long seams. Some things are much easier to do - for instance French Seams. Some historical things like accordion pleating must be done by hand. I found long seams were pretty trivial. And it does take less time than a quilt. I would probably double the time it takes to make something by machine to make it by hand, and it has the advantage that it doesn't make noise, and you can do it anywhere - even on a bus.

[maco]

Yeah, sewing pleats to a waistband or similar is way easier by hand. I'm told I'd have fewer issues by machine if I used a walking foot, but I don't own one. Being able to do it on the bus/subway/in meetings is definitely an upside to hand sewing. Or for that matter, while watching stuff on Netflix. I think I watched Elizabeth R and the Six Wives of Henry VIII while making my last dress.

[Rural]

 I don't do it, or I don't do much, but long seams like pants are not hard and don't take very long by hand. What takes a while is the fussy little pieces that must be lined up properly – like collars.  And those are fussy if you use a machine too, and don't come out nearly as well.

[Megma]

I sew and want to chime in...I agree doing it by hand would take for freaking ever. You couldn't pay me enough. I do hand finishing of some of my nicer garments and even that takes so long I get annoyed.

I don't agree with iowajess that you'd be at target quality (with a machine at least) for a long time. I've been sewing for less than three years on machine and make fitted silk tops and wool jackets, it takes tons of time still (I still take lessons, get help) and it definitely costs more for high quality fabrics, but any clothes of remote quality and fit is costly.

You can't just pull a pattern off a rack and expect it to fit for sure, to get good quality you need to do a lot of work with the fitting during your preparation (look up pattern proofing).

If you want to sew basic level garments, get a machine and you can get started with some simple things and see how it goes. There are lots of used machines on Craigslist for cheap or free and craftsy.com has some okish beginner classes, usually on sale.

[shelivesthedream]

Posting to follow.

[I'm a red panda]

I don't agree with iowajess that you'd be at target quality (with a machine at least) for a long time. I've been sewing for less than three years on machine and make fitted silk tops and wool jackets, it takes tons of time still (I still take lessons, get help) and it definitely costs more for high quality fabrics, but any clothes of remote quality and fit is costly.

You can't just pull a pattern off a rack and expect it to fit for sure, to get good quality you need to do a lot of work with the fitting during your preparation (look up pattern proofing).

No, I was saying that I personally am at Target quality. Because I just don't spend the money for great fabrics. Because great fabrics cost a lot. 

And learning fit takes time and practice (which means more fabric...) It is a seperate skill from just sewing.  So, for me personally, the clothes I make fit only slightly better than off the rack (some alterations are easy to take care of; others I just cannot master without going through many many muslins; and I don't want to spend the money on fabric to make multiple mock ups before doing an actual garment. So most of what I make I just consider a wearable muslin, and then try to improve it the next time I make the same pattern.)

I was really just trying to dispel the idea that making your own clothes would automatically mean they fit better than storebought, or be of better quality. That will only happen if you invest considerable time and a decent deal of money. IMO, it would be less expensive to buy and have a few good pieces tailored.  So unless you just like to sew (I do), making your own clothes doesn't make a lot of sense in this world.

[susaninsd]

Sharing some hand-sewn eye candy: http://alabamachanin.com/collection/collection

I believe there are links to a few videos on the website too.

Wish I had more time to sew ...

[maco]

For learning fit, make a mockup using thrift store bedsheets instead of buying muslin.

Bonus: retrieve the elastic from the edge of the fitted sheet for later use in clothing.

[Megma]

I don't agree with iowajess that you'd be at target quality (with a machine at least) for a long time. I've been sewing for less than three years on machine and make fitted silk tops and wool jackets, it takes tons of time still (I still take lessons, get help) and it definitely costs more for high quality fabrics, but any clothes of remote quality and fit is costly.

You can't just pull a pattern off a rack and expect it to fit for sure, to get good quality you need to do a lot of work with the fitting during your preparation (look up pattern proofing).

No, I was saying that I personally am at Target quality. Because I just don't spend the money for great fabrics. Because great fabrics cost a lot. 

And learning fit takes time and practice (which means more fabric...) It is a seperate skill from just sewing.  So, for me personally, the clothes I make fit only slightly better than off the rack (some alterations are easy to take care of; others I just cannot master without going through many many muslins; and I don't want to spend the money on fabric to make multiple mock ups before doing an actual garment. So most of what I make I just consider a wearable muslin, and then try to improve it the next time I make the same pattern.)

I was really just trying to dispel the idea that making your own clothes would automatically mean they fit better than storebought, or be of better quality. That will only happen if you invest considerable time and a decent deal of money. IMO, it would be less expensive to buy and have a few good pieces tailored.  So unless you just like to sew (I do), making your own clothes doesn't make a lot of sense in this word.

Ah ok, then we more or less agree. I thought you were saying to get past that would take years and pricy fabric. Good fit is a lot of work/time and it is cheaper to buy almost without exception.