SEWING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

SEWING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

Sewing is such a rewarding, fulfilling pastime and when you master the techniques and become proficient it can become a business. After many years of sewing for myself, my family, friends and then as a business owner. These are some of the tricks of the trade I have learned along the way.

When starting out on a sewing project ensure that the sewing room is clean and tidy as it is so disheartening to have to clear debris of former projects out of the way before you even begin. It is enough to put one off beginning the new project.

Know where every thing you will be need to use is in working order and at hand. If the sewing machine needs servicing or oiling get this done.

SEWING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES – These are some of the items I cannot be without

Well oiled and ready to use sewing machine. –    Mine is a Bernina. Have used this machine to do free motion quilting on numerous quilts of all sizes. The Biggest quilt being King size

Overlocker/Serger –   I use is my trusty Babylock. It only has three threads but has served me for 35 years or so.

Good lighting. –  I  bought a lamp which has a magnifying glass to enable me to thread invisible thread, into the almost invisible eye of fine needle, to sew crystal beads on wedding dresses. I have appalling eyesight as it is and now need to use this to thread any needle. It is indispensable.

Brother Embroidery machine not new, that was  gifted to me by my best friend,  it works like a dream. Over many years I have enjoyed making so many beautiful items for home, sale, gifts and Church Bazaars

Storage space

Good quality sharp scissors, variety of sizes and shapes.

Quick unpick (everyone needs these, even the best dressmakers)Great iron, I have a Russel Hobbs, that has a water storage tank underneath so doesn’t need filling up with water that often.

Bodkins and a lamp that fits on my forehead that to make threading needles easier,

SEWING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES –  to avoid frustration

My suggestion would be to have your machine serviced and ready for use before you even go shopping for the fabric and pattern.

It is time for me to begin to think of my summer wardrobe and will be taking my machine in for a service on Monday. This I find exciting and can’t wait for it to be done but in the meantime I have been sorting out my sewing room.

The trials and Tribulations of Sorting out a Sewing Room

One is not always fortunate enough to have a dedicated room in which to work. Perhaps you have more than one hobby or has the ability to  work from home and require enough space in which to work.

What a job to sort out my sewing room. I realized I need more storage space and as the sewing room is not as large as the one I had in my former home, it entailed me unpacking two bookcases which are now standing on top of my two desks. In these bookcases I have packed containers of thread and various other sewing notions so that they can be close at hand.

The sewing room now looking better but……… Oh dear me! …

It is time now to deal with the books (mostly recipe books and a few novels) which are now decorating half of my queen sized bed and the worktop in the kitchen.

Will phone a charity to come and collect. I hope that no-one just pops in for a visit before these are cleared away.

One job leads to another, so as my scouting sons and grandsons say, be prepared.

SEWING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES -Preparations – Measure up

When I begin any new project and before I buy the necessities, I have a friend (an honest one) take my measurements. We tend not to see ourselves exactly as we are and it can sometimes come as a shock to find that you are no longer the size you were and would need to get a larger sized pattern.

Once you have all the measurements done and have been realistic when getting the pattern and fabric the at least you won’t have cut the fabric to the wrong size, become discouraged and want to give up sewing altogether.

SEWING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES – Choose the Correct Fabric for the Job at Hand

Choosing the fabric is such fun and one can be enticed to buy just for the sake of buying because you love, love, love a certain piece. Before doing this however, think of what you want to make for yourself.

If you have the pattern, take it along with you to fabric shop so that you purchase the correct yardage (meterage) you require. All the necessary trimmings, zip, buttons, thread etc. to match should be bought at the same time.

Now with a light heart, off you can go home to the neat, tidy, sewing room with machine in perfect working order and set yourself up for a satisfying day or two of successful sewing.

Am of the opinion that it is best to iron out the pattern pieces once they have been cut. (When ironing pattern pieces, make sure to turn off the steam function on iron).

Follow the Pattern Instructions -SEWING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

All patterns come with clear instruction to follow which makes it so much easier to perform each task in the correct order. Follow the instructions

This is something one learns by trial and error. It is so easy to think that you know exactly what to do and just go your merry way when the pattern maker definitely knows better,

A few of my close friends think I am mad to iron out the pattern pieces but it works so much better for me. Can’t stand working with the paper crumpled or creased.

SEWING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES to deal with Alterations

Any alteration which need to be done to accommodate size difference, should be done before cutting the fabric. By measuring a couple of times before cutting all should be well.

We all have different ways of marking out the darts and it really depends on what fabric you are working with if you can get away with just putting pins through the indicated dots and matching them up on the other side before pulling the two pieces of fabric apart.

Then matching up, pin your darts. Sew straight away before moving on to next step. It is better not to have pins left in too long as they can become unpinned and be replaced in the wrong place thus throwing the measurements out completely.

It is wise to iron as you go along.

SEWING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES – These are some of the tricks of the trade I have learned along the way to Deal with More Challenging Fabrics

If you are using silky fabric which won’t keep the pins in place, then I find what works for me is marking the fabric with marking pen which will wash out.

Another, more permanent way is to sew a few loops of thread in the correct place, place a match stick over the dot and sew around it, loosely. Once that is done, pull out the match stick, gently pull the fabric pieces apart and cut through the thread and this will leave both pieces of fabric (back and front) with cotton loops showing where the dots need to match up.

Something really important, which I can’t emphasize enough, is the marking of notches as each piece of the pattern is cut. This is going to make your life so much easier. You will be able to match them up, do any gathering etc. to have your garment finished to perfection.

Measure carefully, twice, to be sure, before cutting the fabric pieces to avoid making any mistakes.

You will see that each pattern piece has a straight line on it, usually with arrows on each end. Measure from the straight line, at top and bottom, to the side of your fabric. The measurement must be the same to keep the garment hanging straight.

Placing the pattern on the fabric in the correct way is extremely important. This I found to my cost. When I was newly married, I wanted to make myself a winter dress and found a stunning piece of fabric. Sadly for me, I didn’t check how much I would need and found myself short so turned one of the pattern pieces the wrong way to make it fit the fabric.

I ended up with a dress which nearly drove me mad as the skirt swung to one side, despite all the tugging on my behalf. It was not at all comfortable. What a waste of such a good piece of fabric. A hard learned lesson.

It has been a pleasure to pass on these #sewingtipsandtechniques and hope that you will find them helpful. These are for basic dressmaking.