Tips To Bring Sewing Into Your Life
Sewing can be a very fulfiling and relaxing part of your life. Most sewers on completing a garment
feel immense satisfaction when they look at the finished product. The following points will hopefully assist beginners to master the art of sewing well fitting clothes.
Take care in choosing what type of sewing machine you purchase. In the first instance it is
advisable to purchase a machine which has all the features you need, is easy to operate yet
sophisticated enough to meet all your requirements. Before commencing sewing learn all the
features of your machine which are available to you. For example, a variety of stitches such as
straight sewing, zigzagging, overlocking, hemming and fancy stitches for embroidery etc.
It is important to maintain your sewing machine by regular oiling, dusting, removing fluff from the
bobbin area and when not in use always cover the machine. It is advisable to place your sewing
machine in a room protected from the sun. If space permits it is a great advantage to have a
separate room for sewing which permits all fabrics, cottons and sewing utensils to be kept in the
one area which enables you to leave uncompleted work on the machine and recommence sewing when time permits.
After you are completely comfortable with the operation of the machine then it is time to consider
what is important when first learning to sew. For example, choose easy to handle fabrics such as cotton, linen and polar fleece. Avoid fabrics such as silk, satin, chiffon or other slippery materials. Sewing threads or cottons should be strong, good quality and well known brands, not thin and
weak threads.
After selecting your fabric and thread choose a suitable pattern. Commence with a simple and
easy one. Care must be taken when placing the pattern on the fabric making sure the straight grain line on the pattern is the correct distance from the selve edge (a selve edge is the bound outside edge of the material). This is extremely important as failure to take care in checking this will result in an ill fitting garment.
feel immense satisfaction when they look at the finished product. The following points will hopefully assist beginners to master the art of sewing well fitting clothes.
Take care in choosing what type of sewing machine you purchase. In the first instance it is
advisable to purchase a machine which has all the features you need, is easy to operate yet
sophisticated enough to meet all your requirements. Before commencing sewing learn all the
features of your machine which are available to you. For example, a variety of stitches such as
straight sewing, zigzagging, overlocking, hemming and fancy stitches for embroidery etc.
It is important to maintain your sewing machine by regular oiling, dusting, removing fluff from the
bobbin area and when not in use always cover the machine. It is advisable to place your sewing
machine in a room protected from the sun. If space permits it is a great advantage to have a
separate room for sewing which permits all fabrics, cottons and sewing utensils to be kept in the
one area which enables you to leave uncompleted work on the machine and recommence sewing when time permits.
After you are completely comfortable with the operation of the machine then it is time to consider
what is important when first learning to sew. For example, choose easy to handle fabrics such as cotton, linen and polar fleece. Avoid fabrics such as silk, satin, chiffon or other slippery materials. Sewing threads or cottons should be strong, good quality and well known brands, not thin and
weak threads.
After selecting your fabric and thread choose a suitable pattern. Commence with a simple and
easy one. Care must be taken when placing the pattern on the fabric making sure the straight grain line on the pattern is the correct distance from the selve edge (a selve edge is the bound outside edge of the material). This is extremely important as failure to take care in checking this will result in an ill fitting garment.
All seams should be neat and finished off firmly so that they do not fray. Iron seams while
assembling the garment step by step. It is very important not to leave ironing until the garment
is finished as this results in untidy and bulky seams.
Familiarise yourself with easy sewing methods such as hemming, finishing off all seams, cutting off straggly ends or pieces so that the seams are flat, strong and withstand wear and tear.
After completing a few garments you will find you are more confident to proceed to more advanced patterns and gain great satisfaction from your work.
Sewing can be a relaxing and fulfilling hobby for many people from teenagers to working adults,
expectant mums or grandmothers who now have the time to learn to sew. As your confidence grows you can venture into more detailed and interesting garments.
assembling the garment step by step. It is very important not to leave ironing until the garment
is finished as this results in untidy and bulky seams.
Familiarise yourself with easy sewing methods such as hemming, finishing off all seams, cutting off straggly ends or pieces so that the seams are flat, strong and withstand wear and tear.
After completing a few garments you will find you are more confident to proceed to more advanced patterns and gain great satisfaction from your work.
Sewing can be a relaxing and fulfilling hobby for many people from teenagers to working adults,
expectant mums or grandmothers who now have the time to learn to sew. As your confidence grows you can venture into more detailed and interesting garments.
Bette Davoren is a sewing enthusiast from Australia. She has been sewing for over 50 years and has made thousands of garments. Her sewing has ranged from simple styles to intricate patterns and currently enjoys automatic embroidery on clothes and linen.