So I want to start making some of my own clothes - I'm likely going to be using some of the things I already have to make patters with -

does anybody have experience in making their own pattern blocks? and where do you buy your supplies??

can you recommend a decent basic sewing machine?

if I'm blocking pieces from an existing piece, what would be the amount I should cut in excess to give space for a hem?

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I need to start making my own patterns as well, so I would appreciate advice too.

My sewing machine is my mom's and old as fuck. Some of the digital ones I've used at school are so awesome though. I would look into getting on of those. Don't remember what brand the ones I was using were.

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Come on now and wrap them around me

i don't know about pattern making, but you can find tutorials to make clothes without using a pattern online ! or (something i've done recently) use a pretty basic one and change some things to make it different.

mmmm i think singer is a good brand for sewing machine. mine is pretty new and easy to use (not with 4894829 buttons)

so like if you are tracing out a pair of pants that you own and didn't cut open you would generally add half an inch for seam allowance and an inch and a half for hems. generally. depends on what type of sems and hems you do? i like blind hems that have the raw edge folded under. and french seams, so for that you'd have to give yourself more room for seam allowance.

i did flat patterning in school once and only once. there are loads of books.

i haven't used my sewing machine in so long i had to go look at the brand. its a singer. bought it new a few months back. its real basic, the way i like my machines. machines with all those buttons and functions are kind of pointless? if you have the money, i'd suggest a juki. they do a home version of their industrial machines if you can find it. best machines ever.

i hear good things about janomes.

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if you can spare the extra $, it's worth it to invest in a machine that's electric and can do more than just your basic stitch (straight stitch). Embrodery machines are to die for.

What I would recommend is not getting a Singer if you want to do anything other than basic. The shit that's been selling on the market these days is pretty much Singer and just Singer trying to appeal to a under 30 crowd that's, you know, hip and cheap and selling them cheap machines. The best machine you can buy is a Viking or a Berninas and you can still get them used at a good price and good quality. If you're buying used (which I recommend) DO NOT buy anything that you haven't seen/worked with (as in haven't tried out to make sure it works).

Best places to buy supplies is some sewing shops located in NYC and California. If you're interested in more info, I'll dig up the list of people I used to buy off of.