I've only been sewing for around a year and a half now, however in the time, I've learnt so many different things, I really feel as if I've made progress.
Rewind to my 21st birthday, where I purchased my very first sewing machine, my Brother LS14. It was cheap, cheerful and if anything, a little bit daunting. As simple as this machine was, I really felt as if I was out of my depth even when using a simple straight stitch. I had a dabble in a few odd sewing projects (albeit it disasters) and I remember trying to make my first vest top. Needless to say I was clueless, and I'm not even ashamed to admit it.
From binge watching videos on Youtube, I slowly but surely started gaining more knowledge about different sewing techniques, terminology and what I'd need to do if something went horrifically wrong with something I was making, or my machine. I then also managed to find the black hole on Youtube for sewing...fabric hauls. My god, I have watched so. many. of these and lusted after all the fancy fabrics.
Fast forward to today, I now have a fancy computerised machine and the majority of my wardrobe is me-made. And if I'm being honest, I'm actually really proud to say that. I love the reaction I get from people when they ask where I got my clothing from, and my response is, "I made it myself". I'm even taking the time to do alterations for other people and even making clothes for other people.
I've had a little time to sit back and really think about what sewing means to me, and what I've learnt from it in the short time that I've been sewing for. So, I thought I'd narrow it down to 5 key points and hope that this is of some inspiration to you too!
1- Don't give up too easily, take your time.
This is something I really have mastered in a short space of time. I've always been the sort of person to give up on something if A. I don't like it, or B. it's not going my way. With sewing, I've had to learn how to correct my mistakes and actually persevere. This has come from handing different types of fabrics, tackling patterns higher than my skill level and also the need to have a pretty garment at the end of my hours of slavery at my machine! One thing I also learnt very quickly is just to take your time cutting out patterns. Shoddy cutting leads to shoddy stitching and shoddy stitching leads to a...shoddy finished project!
2. Read. the. damn. instructions.
I cannot stress this enough. Even if you've read them once, read them again. And even once you've read them twice, read them three times. I learnt this from day one of using my first pattern. It's worth an extra few minutes noting all the different techniques required, knowing where every notch should match up etc. Also study the layout of the pattern pieces on the fabric, notice the grainline of the fabric and more importantly, measure twice and cut once! Don't be afraid to keep referring to your instructions, they're there for a reason!
3. There's more to fabric than just cotton
I was so oblivious to the sheer amount of fabric which is available to us Sewcialists. I'll be the first to hold my hand up and say my first couple of skirts I made were out of a really cheap polycotton as I thought cheap prices = bargain = many masterpieces. This certainly is not the case. I quickly came to realise that sometimes it's worth spending the extra few pounds per meter of fabric as you really do get what you pay for. When I started out sewing, my aim was to make clothing cheaper than I could buy in shops, ready made. Please don't fall into this trap, as it's just not true. Certain garments you can make cheaper, but the fabric quality will just suffer for the cheaper price tag. I now spend hours and hours flicking through different fabric websites and shops just drooling at all the different fabric available. One thing I will advise you to do is really understand what type of fabric your garment requires, as some fabrics just aren't suitable. Handle the fabric, understand how it's constructed and how it'll work with your pattern.
4. Use the correct tools
This is also something I'm happy to admit - I thought one needle does all. Again, sorry Philly, but this just isn't true. I've now used denim, jersey and also the trusty universal needle and yes, you really can tell a difference, so if you have several projects in mind, invest in the correct needles. Also, invest in a decent pair of scissors as you will save yourself a lot of hassle, or if you don't fancy scissors, a rotary cutter. Similar with fabric, it's worth paying a little extra more as you get far better quality tools for your money.
5. Don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone.
I found this quite difficult in my first few months of sewing, as I generally found myself going for quite boxy shaped patterns and very, very plain fabric. I've never been one for wanting to wear bright colours or anything skin tight, but if I'm being honest, I now very rarely buy plain fabric and if anything, I'm being more adventurous with the type of patterns I'm purchasing. If you've known me for more than a year, you'll know that I used to live my life in leggings. I'm not even joking, anything I wore was with leggings. I now find myself reaching for skirts and dresses a lot more, purely for the fact is that I'm proud I've made them myself. I'm also becoming more confident in wearing brighter and bolder patterns. This has taken me such a long time to overcome, as I'm really quite an anxious person however slowly but surely, I'm coming out of my bubble.
What have you learnt since starting to sew?
♥
Rewind to my 21st birthday, where I purchased my very first sewing machine, my Brother LS14. It was cheap, cheerful and if anything, a little bit daunting. As simple as this machine was, I really felt as if I was out of my depth even when using a simple straight stitch. I had a dabble in a few odd sewing projects (albeit it disasters) and I remember trying to make my first vest top. Needless to say I was clueless, and I'm not even ashamed to admit it.
From binge watching videos on Youtube, I slowly but surely started gaining more knowledge about different sewing techniques, terminology and what I'd need to do if something went horrifically wrong with something I was making, or my machine. I then also managed to find the black hole on Youtube for sewing...fabric hauls. My god, I have watched so. many. of these and lusted after all the fancy fabrics.
Fast forward to today, I now have a fancy computerised machine and the majority of my wardrobe is me-made. And if I'm being honest, I'm actually really proud to say that. I love the reaction I get from people when they ask where I got my clothing from, and my response is, "I made it myself". I'm even taking the time to do alterations for other people and even making clothes for other people.
I've had a little time to sit back and really think about what sewing means to me, and what I've learnt from it in the short time that I've been sewing for. So, I thought I'd narrow it down to 5 key points and hope that this is of some inspiration to you too!
1- Don't give up too easily, take your time.
This is something I really have mastered in a short space of time. I've always been the sort of person to give up on something if A. I don't like it, or B. it's not going my way. With sewing, I've had to learn how to correct my mistakes and actually persevere. This has come from handing different types of fabrics, tackling patterns higher than my skill level and also the need to have a pretty garment at the end of my hours of slavery at my machine! One thing I also learnt very quickly is just to take your time cutting out patterns. Shoddy cutting leads to shoddy stitching and shoddy stitching leads to a...shoddy finished project!
2. Read. the. damn. instructions.
I cannot stress this enough. Even if you've read them once, read them again. And even once you've read them twice, read them three times. I learnt this from day one of using my first pattern. It's worth an extra few minutes noting all the different techniques required, knowing where every notch should match up etc. Also study the layout of the pattern pieces on the fabric, notice the grainline of the fabric and more importantly, measure twice and cut once! Don't be afraid to keep referring to your instructions, they're there for a reason!
3. There's more to fabric than just cotton
I was so oblivious to the sheer amount of fabric which is available to us Sewcialists. I'll be the first to hold my hand up and say my first couple of skirts I made were out of a really cheap polycotton as I thought cheap prices = bargain = many masterpieces. This certainly is not the case. I quickly came to realise that sometimes it's worth spending the extra few pounds per meter of fabric as you really do get what you pay for. When I started out sewing, my aim was to make clothing cheaper than I could buy in shops, ready made. Please don't fall into this trap, as it's just not true. Certain garments you can make cheaper, but the fabric quality will just suffer for the cheaper price tag. I now spend hours and hours flicking through different fabric websites and shops just drooling at all the different fabric available. One thing I will advise you to do is really understand what type of fabric your garment requires, as some fabrics just aren't suitable. Handle the fabric, understand how it's constructed and how it'll work with your pattern.
4. Use the correct tools
This is also something I'm happy to admit - I thought one needle does all. Again, sorry Philly, but this just isn't true. I've now used denim, jersey and also the trusty universal needle and yes, you really can tell a difference, so if you have several projects in mind, invest in the correct needles. Also, invest in a decent pair of scissors as you will save yourself a lot of hassle, or if you don't fancy scissors, a rotary cutter. Similar with fabric, it's worth paying a little extra more as you get far better quality tools for your money.
5. Don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone.
I found this quite difficult in my first few months of sewing, as I generally found myself going for quite boxy shaped patterns and very, very plain fabric. I've never been one for wanting to wear bright colours or anything skin tight, but if I'm being honest, I now very rarely buy plain fabric and if anything, I'm being more adventurous with the type of patterns I'm purchasing. If you've known me for more than a year, you'll know that I used to live my life in leggings. I'm not even joking, anything I wore was with leggings. I now find myself reaching for skirts and dresses a lot more, purely for the fact is that I'm proud I've made them myself. I'm also becoming more confident in wearing brighter and bolder patterns. This has taken me such a long time to overcome, as I'm really quite an anxious person however slowly but surely, I'm coming out of my bubble.
What have you learnt since starting to sew?
♥
