My Learn to Sew Journey
<a href="http://learntosew.xyz/simplicity-sewing-challenge-2016/">Simplicity Sewing Challenge 2016</a>
I am on a dressmaking journey, learning to sew clothes. I love to enter sewing contests to improve my abilities and to challenge my stitching skills.
I recently made an Alice in Wonderland Skirt, a toddler's waistcoat and a men's flat cap. It is my dream to sew myself beautiful fitted coats and short jackets.
In every beginner sewer's basic sewing kit, there should be a very sharp pair of dressmaking scissors, very sharp snipping scissors, sharp selection of hand sewing needles, pins and a pin cushion, threads, tape measure, buttons and zips.
As you experiment with fabrics, it is a good idea to get a selection of pins, suitable for each specific fabric. Silk pins are very much finer than quilting pins.
A good sewing machine does not have to break the bank these days and it can also do many different stitches and finishings. I started with a basic machine until I got confident and invested in a better one with 50 stitches. An overlocker is fabulous for finishing garments in a more professional manner, but it has a steeper learning curve than a sewing machine and contains a sharp blade, so it must be kept well out of reach of children.
Fabrics come in many different styles, types and finishes. Choosing the correct fabric for your dressmaking project is vital. Consider the suitability of the fabric for the specific project, whether it will require lining and if it will be dry clean only once it is made up.
There are many different wools, cottons, silks and linens, then there are also a whole host of synthetic fabrics too.
One of my favourite things about learning to sew is working with patterns. Tracing them, learning to read them and cutting out, I love it all.
There are many different pattern markings to get to grips with and measuring the body to ensure an accurate fit is vital. Many patterns differ in sizing from ready-to-wear high street clothing.
You can learn to lengthen or shorten pattern pieces to alter them to suit your body shape perfectly. Some of the trickiest parts to garment making include fitting a sleeve, inserting a zip and attaching elastic, but all these tricky little things can get much easier with practice. If I find a garment useful, I like to make several versions of the same item in order to practice my skills thoroughly.
Sewing clothes will not only save you money, but it provides you a creative outlet as well. Learning how to sew pants hems means you can walk into any clothing store and choose any trousers you like, knowing you can make sure they fit correctly.
Hand sewing is a very useful skill to get the hang of. It is taking me a while to master, but I'm determined as I can see the benefits. If you get good at it, then it can be so much quicker and neater to create a professional finish. It's particularly useful with small, curvy or awkwardly shaped items.
Interfacing can be fusible (attached with an iron), or sewn onto the material. It is used to stiffen a fabric, such as in a facing on a shirt or waistband.
If the stitching on your favorite skirt is unraveling, learning how to sew a French seam may be just the ticket to solve your fashion dilemma. French seams may be considered the piece de resistance, or the ultimate finish, in tailoring.