How long does it take to sew a garment?

[fabric_addict]

I've noticed that the actual sewing is the shortest part of garment sewing for me. It seems to take me endless numbers of hours to alter garment patterns to fit me. Is this true for everyone?

Perhaps it is partly how I'm going about it...I'm hoping to make a template that fits so that I can just use that template from then on to make it again and don't have to do any more measuring for a long time, unless my body changes shape. This process seems to slow me down considerably...or maybe it's just that my shape is different enough from the patterns to make it a more challenging prospect....or maybe I'm just not experienced enough.

When working from a new pattern, how long does it take you for each part of the process? Determining which size to use in which sections of the garment, copying and cutting out the pieces, cutting/marking the muslin fabric, making adjustments, cutting the real fabric and making the real deal?

[Magot]

You know where it says..make in an evening/weekend. Multiply by 4. I am not quick and I don't alter patterns..

[DorothyL]

I don't alter much. Most of my patterns have been used several times and I just kind of wiggle design changes around what I know fits. I get new patterns and try them out on less than favorite fabric with some basting and redoing and the next time, with fabric I really like, I pretty much know what I want to do. Most of what I make is pretty simple any more because that is what I want to wear.
But I do add a lot of extra steps to most things so they take longer than expected. Some times a lot longer. I don't see any reason to rush. I avoid deadlines.
Dorothy

[Pudge99]

I don't time myself, so I have no clue how long each portion takes. What I do is give myself deadlines. Almost all of my garment sewing must be done by a certain date. So I just complete it in that time. Like now I have a bunch of stuff I have to finish before I move. So I am sewing like a mad woman whenever I have a spare moment. When I sew for myself the longest part seems to be taping the pattern together as I use Wild Ginger Click and Sew patterns. As long as you enter the correct measurements there is no pattern adjustment needed. So I don't mind the extra time spent taping it together.

[MartySews2]

Since one's body changes subtly about every 3 months, I re-measure every time I make a new garment. Without having space at home to work, it takes me double the time on any project. Altering patterns are not hard, just time consuming. It takes me about 2-3 hours to alter a pants or top or dress pattern, another 2 hours to get it pinned & cut out plus another 4-12 hours of sewing time depending on the pattern & whether I'm tailoring the garment. Formal wear takes about 12-16 hours of sewing time as there are so many steps involved. I don't rush projects. I can usually make a pillowcase in about an hour from start to finish & a T-shirt in about 2 hours. I'm not a speedy seamstress. Sorry I don't like the word sewer as it reminds me of plumbing issues. I'm not a plumber. Besides, I like to take my time & enjoy the process. I also tend to do a lot of research on which technique I want to use when making a garment. That's why 3 months later, I'm still working on the same formal gown. The young lady is in no hurry since I couldn't do it within 2 weeks & neither am I. I also work on multiple projects so while I sew something every day either on machine or by hand, it's takes me a long while to get something finished.
Marty

[bridesmom]

Murphy's law of sewing, if I have a deadline for an outfit, It'll definitely take me much longer, because I'll do something stupid, or it won't fit, or....you know the rest. I know for a new pattern, it takes a while, but the 2nd time around, I can pretty much cut my time in 1/3 to 1/2.

[plrlegal]

Since sewing and quilting are hobbies and fun, restful pursuits for me, I don't have deadlines, unless it is a garment for a special ocassion. I work at my own pace and have never timed myself on any of the processes. Being about to take my time is why I refuse to sew for other people these days. Why do you think there should be a certain time in which to finish any pattern, etc.?

Patsy

[kaitlinnegan]

I'll try to answer! For the lower limit, I'm thinking a very simple pattern like a T-shirt or PJ pants with only a couple of pattern pieces. Of course it goes up from there! Oh, and times do not include any "dilly-dallying" which of course increases the actual time. 2 hours of "sewing time" might take a whole day!

Prepping the pattern
-cutting out all the necessary tissue pieces at the correct size, pressing the pieces: 30 minutes - 1 hour or more, definitely longer if I trace the pattern

Cutting out fabric
-finding the straight grain, laying out the fabric, laying out the pattern pieces, cutting, marking dots and notches, cutting out and applying interfacing: 30 minutes - 1 hour and up! This is a slow one for me.

Sewing
-pinning, sewing, serging, trimming, pressing, topstitching, etc: 1 hour..and up. Much longer if there's any hand sewing.

Fitting
I have no idea how long this takes! For some things, I can do a FBA and be done with it. For others, multiple iterations are required. I worked on fitting a pair of dress pants on and off for about a month. I think it's important to be patient with it. If your goal is to have the best fitting garment possible, take your time. Find some patterns that either already fit you well or don't require much fitting (knits or loose fitting clothes) so you can exercise your sewing muscles in the interim. If you are on a tight deadline, though, it's a good idea to take a "good enough" approach rather than aiming for perfection. It can be helpful to think of sewing and fitting as separate tasks with separate skills to learn, because they are really two totally different things.

[sewingmom]

Kaitlinn, you have nailed it!! For me fitting is an issue. I make to big of adjustments and have to back track. And hand sewing definitely slows the process. I am naturaly slow at most things I do. Though I am maticulose about the sewing I do, I still have to rip out stitches frequently. I think 4-6 times what is expected a garment to take from start to finish is a good estimate.

[Here_Fishey]

Hmmmm.... It really depends on the garment. Straight sewing time for a really simple knit shirt might be an hour or two. something more complicated will take much more time. (and for me, knits are much easier than anything else. Not as much fitting). I really don't have fitting time for my stuff, as I am using the Wild Ginger software, so all of that time was spent before the garment, but If I had to figure THAT time in.... a year???? (Sorry Kaitlin, but maybe I have a really long learning curve) Pattern prep for me would be taping pieces together and cutting them out. Depending on the pattern, maybe 15 minutes max.?.? The designing function, may take me weeks, or months, but that, IMHO may be the best part of using sorftware to design the pattern. Oh and not everything works as intended, but that may be either my sewing skills (or lack of) or me designing skills (even less of!!!!)