I am new to the worl of 3d modeling and currently am learning to use Blender at the beginner level i would say). I am a proficient Photoshop user and use my skills mainly to create clothing for use on the Second life Grid.    Ultimately I would like to learn to create clothes and accessories with 3d software.  Can anyone recommend reasonably priced/free software that best supports these goals?

Thank you for any advice in advance.  You guys on this site are awesome!!!!

*Krash, drooling at these artists work!

Blender will work well. Another free one you may want to look at is Truespace. I've used it for years, its much a case of personal preference.

http://www.caligari.com

"Hexagon" from Daz is a good modeller and I feel is reasonably priced also more user friendly than "Blender".. Even though I too am going through the process of learning "Blender 2.5" there are still still areas that I turn to "Hexagon" for, but I think that is primarly because I am still in the learners stage regarding "Blender"

Wings3D is my favorite modeler, and freeware. Although for modeling clothes I'd aslo suggest, Hexagon, Silo, or even gsculpt which also have some retopology (quite useful for making clothes, and a pretty rare feature to find in a freeware).

Thanks so much for your comments guys.  I'll look at them all.

I use Hexagon 1.21 and 3DCoat 3.5 together.

www.youtube.com/user/ShawnDriscollCG

Yes Hexagon would be great for you. The Software has an area for Second Lifes prim also :-)

Hexagon ver 2.5, Google Sketchup ver 8, Wings3D and Cinema4D ver 6 in combination with 3D Coat work for me... Sculptris is pretty easy to use and also free.... But not sure how they would work modeling clothes....