Setting Yourself Up For Success: 15 Tips for Successful Sewing

March 22, 2017 · 8 Comments

Setting Yourself Up For Success: 15 Tips for Successful Sewing

The idea of setting yourself up for success is one of my favourite things at the moment.

I suspect people might think I have it all together. I really don’t!

Recently I started the Flylady thing again as the mess in my house was out of control. A big part of this is that we’ve been redoing the kitchen, but it’s not all kitchen stuff! I’m finding it very difficult juggling everything at the moment and feeling that I’m failing is not very nice.

So I set myself up for success. The Flylady is about keeping on top of things. Even tiny things like putting all the shoes onto the shoe rack in pairs, or making the boys’ lunches the night before, can make a huge difference to how smoothly things go in the morning.

This idea can be applied to sewing too!

Here are my tips for successful sewing and what you can do to set yourself up for success.

15 Tips For Successful Sewing

Before You Start

Decide When to Make Your Thing

Identifying some time when you can work on your project greatly increases the chance of you actually doing it! Just sticking it on your to do list isn’t enough. You need to decide when.

Finding time can by tricky, especially when you are busy. If you need some ideas of how to find time to make stuff, there are some tips here.

Find a Place Where You Work

It’s much easier if you have somewhere where you can leave things out while you have a project going on. If you can find yourself a space, you can also get things ready beforehand. That way, when you’re ready to start, you can get going straight away.

If you live in a small house and/ or have lots of kids, this can be difficult. Remember, it doesn’t need to be a whole room! Just a corner where you can leave your sewing machine out. I’ve written a post about finding a space to sew which you can read here.

Check That You Have Everything You Need

It is very frustrating to start making something, only to discover that actually you need velcro, or that you don’t have thread in the right colour.

Even if you live opposite a shop that sells this kind of thing, the shop is unlikely to be open at 5 am, in the evening or on a Sunday afternoon. So check that you have everything first!

When you do have everything, it’s a good idea to put it in a box or a basket. Then you can put the box or basket near your sewing machine and you won’t end up wasting time hunting for stuff because you can’t remember where you put it (been there! 😉 )

Check That You Know What To Do

If you’re using a pattern or a tutorial, read through it a couple of times so that you know what you’ve got to do.

You might decide that you want to do things in a slightly different way.

You might want to change the order of the steps, or do something else differently, like add a button instead of a zip, or add an appliqued design.

It might be that you want to make things easier, like sew bias binding to a curved hem or a neckline, instead of hemming or using facings.

If there’s a technique you’re not sure of, take some time to have a think about how you’re going to do it. You can find out how to do pretty much anything online. YouTube especially is very good for this.

Other Things You Can Do Beforehand

Thread your machine with the correct thread.

Make sure that you have anything else you might need to hand. This will probably include pins in a pincushion, scissors, unpicker, tailors’ chalk, tape measure.

If you’re making clothes for yourself, check your measurements against those on the pattern. Jot them down so that you don’t end up having to re measure yourself.

Get any other measuring done before you start and write it down somewhere.

If you’re using a digital pattern, print out pattern pieces and instructions.

Iron your fabric.

Iron pattern pieces if you’re using a paper pattern.

While Sewing

If you need a break, take one. Studies have shown that less breaks actually mean lower productivity. Having a break is not a waste of time!

If you are tired, go to bed. Last summer I made a dress for a family party. I sat up late and I rushed it. The dress ended up being a total car crash and I couldn’t wear it. I had to buy something instead.

Take time to do the things that will make a difference to the finish. Trim your seams in half. Finish the raw edges. Press your seams. If you need to let something hang over night, then let it hang. Don’t rush it!

Try to keep tidy. I want to take my own advice on this one! If you put things back where they live, fold up fabric and move it once you’ve finished cutting out and generally control the mess, you’ll waste less time hunting for things and there’ll be less to clear up at the end.

In the End

Sometimes things go wrong. To borrow some words from Robert Burns, sometimes the best laid plans of mice and men go awry. Not everything is within our control.

Yet by following these tips for successful sewing, taking a little bit of time to do some preparation before you start, and taking time where it counts, lots of little things that could go wrong probably won’t.

If things do go wrong, well, this is why you need to locate your unpicker before you start! And lots of mistakes can be disguised with a ruffly flower 🙂

If you have made something and it’s not gone according to plan, you might like to read this post about what you can do when a sewing project goes wrong.

Linking up here.

10 Tips For Getting Fabric For Cheap or Free

January 5, 2017 · 10 Comments

10 Tips For Getting Fabric For Cheap or Free

Buying fabric can be expensive, not to mention patterns and the haberdashery that’s needed for a sewing project as well.

So how can you feed your need to sew without it breaking the bank and instead getting fabric for cheap or free?

Here are 10 tips for getting fabric for cheap or free.

1. Don’t throw anything out! Small pieces can often be used in scrap projects or for patchwork or applique. You never know when those little bits might come in handy! It can save you money if you don’t need to buy extra fabric for applique because you already have stuff you can use. Which brings me on to the next point!

2. Look at what you have already. This might sound obvious, but if you’ve been sewing for a while, you’ve probably accumulated a collection of fabric, with some larger pieces as well as scraps. It’s very easy to forget what you have! If you have a rummage, you might find stuff that you could use without having to buy anything more.

3. Consider what else you have that you could use that didn’t come from a fabric shop. Duvet covers, sheets, old curtains and tablecloths all have plenty of fabric in them. Even if they are a bit tatty at the edges or have a tear in them, you could still use them. Mens’ shirts are also a good source of fabric, especially for making smaller things and clothes for children.

You could also have a look in your own wardrobe and see what you have that you could either use for fabric or repurpose in some way.

4. Raid the charity shops. If you don’t have old duvet covers and curtains, charity shops and junk shops often do! A couple of years ago, I found 2 Liberty tablecloths in a junk shop for 50p. They were worn at the edges, but still beautiful and with plenty of useable fabric in them.

5. Look out for sales. January (and often the summer as well as shops have a clear out before getting new Christmas stock in) can be a good time to buy Christmas fabric. Even if there is not a sale on, fabric shops often sell off bolt ends and remnants at a reduced price. Following your favourite fabric shops on Facebook is an easy way of finding out about sales, as they’ll often put them on social media.

6. Look on Ebay. You might have to spend some time trawling, but there are bargains to be had. The fabric I bought for this coat was £5 a metre from Maggie’s Fab Fabric. There are other similar sellers too, especially if you look for fabric that’s not quilting cotton, like suiting or jersey.

7. Ebay is also a good source for tablecloths and old sheets, so it’s worth a look if your local charity shop/ junk shop doesn’t have anything. Just bear in mind that you will have to pay for postage!

8. You could also check out Freecycle. You can post on there that you are looking for old curtains and stuff if you can’t find anyone who’s trying to get rid of some.

9. Ask your friends and family. You could put out a request via Facebook, or email, or just ask! You never know what people might be wanting to throw out. I find that people occasionally offload stuff on to me because they know I’ll use it! I’ve come into some nice cotton fabric in the form of gently used pillowcases, old jeans and felt squares in this way!

10. Swap some stuff with your sewing friends. If you have some fabric that you know you’re probably not going to use, see if you can swap it for something else with a sewing friend. They probably have stuff that they know they won’t use either, and will be happy to swap with you.

Do you have any more tips for getting fabric for cheap or free? Leave me a comment and I promise I’ll reply!

Happy sewing!

Rotary Cutter Or Scissors?

July 29, 2016 · 3 Comments

Rotary Cutter or Scissors: Which is Best?

Until about a year ago, I’d always used scissors and pins. I’d never even considered that I had a choice between using a rotary cutter or scissors until I saw them on The Great British Sewing Bee.

Cutting out always takes ages, so it’s easy to see why on the Sewing Bee they would want to speed the process up a bit, and using a rotary cutter seems to do just that.

The other thing with using a rotary cutter is that you can use pattern weights instead of pins. You just lay the pattern piece over the fabric, drop your pattern weights on and away you go!

But is it always better to use a rotary cutter? Do we still need scissors or should they be consigned to museums like the treadle sewing machine? Although a treadle sewing machine seems like a good idea if you want to sew during a power cut or if you’re camping!

Here are the pros and cons of both.

Rotary Cutter

Pros

Cutting is quicker than using scissors.
Using the rotary cutter doesn’t lift the fabric in the way that cutting with scissors does, which means that you can cut quickly, accurately and easily, providing you’re careful!
You don’t have to pin the pattern pieces to the fabric as the pattern pieces and the fabric are not being moved about. Pattern weights can be used as an alternative, and they are much quicker than pins as you can just drop them on!
Other people in your house are less likely to pinch your rotary cutter and use it to cut paper than your scissors.

Cons

It gets easier with practice, but it can be hard to cut accurately.
Cutting out fiddly bits with a rotary cutter is very difficult.
It can be tricky to cut through more than 2 layers of fabric, whereas I can comfortably cut through about 4 layers with my scissors.
As well as a rotary cutter, you need a cutting mat. Both things combined cost more than a pair of scissors. Obviously a cutting mat is quite a big thing and you need to be able to store it and generally look after it. There’s a very informative post about doing this here.
I’m not sure how you’d go about sharpening a rotary cutter!
It’s easier to cut notches with scissors.

Scissors

Pros

We’ve all used scissors since we were very young, so no new skills need to be learnt!
It is possible to cut accurately and close to the pattern, as long as you keep the lower blade on the cutting surface.
Cutting out fiddly bits isn’t usually a problem, and you can always use smaller scissors.
It’s possible to cut through several layers of fabric.
If they get a bit blunt, you can always sharpen them. There’s a handy little gadget here, although I haven’t used it so I can’t vouch for how well it works (affiliate link).

Cons

Cutting with scissors takes longer.
You can’t use pattern weights with scissors, so you have to pin the pattern pieces on, which takes an age.
This means that the table or the floor is going to be out of action for longer. It might also be enough to put you off starting a project because you feel that you don’t have enough time to get the cutting out stage completed.

On Reflection

Rotary cutter or scissors? I’m going to sit on the fence here!

Ultimately I think it depends on what you are doing. If you have a choice, you can pick the right tool for the job.

For cutting out clothes patterns, a rotary cutter is probably best. It’s quicker to cut and you can use pattern weights instead of pins. The lines that need cutting are usually fairly straight or gently curved. It’s possible to cut neatly and accurately with a bit of practice.

For small or fiddly things, scissors are probably better. They are easier to control and you can always use smaller scissors if your big ones prove to be awkward.

If I had to choose between a rotary cutter or scissors, I would pick scissors. And if people develop an overwhelming urge to use them to cut paper, you can always do this.

If you are in a shopping kind of mood, these are affiliate links.

You might also like this tutorial for making a wrist pincushion.Linking up here.

How to Sew French Seams

June 15, 2016 · 15 Comments

How to Sew French Seams

Until I watched The Great British Sewing Bee a couple of years ago, I had no idea what French seams were.

Even when I did find out, I assumed that they were another one of those things that were only for people very experienced in sewing. People who had special sewing superpowers or who belonged to some kind of secret super sewing club.

Incidentally, I also thought this was true for boxed corners and magnetic bag closures.

This is really not the case!

There is no big secret and they are not difficult at all!

Why Use French Seams?

The time to use French seams is when you are sewing with delicate fabric like silk or chiffon. I used French seams when I made this foofy skirt!

Because these fabrics are very fine and are inclined to fray, pinking the seams probably would not be enough and would possibly show through on the right side.

Using an overlocker or an overcasting stitch would result in a bit of a mess, as the fabric is so light it won’t stand up to to all those zigzags. Also my sewing machine has a tendency to eat this kind of fabric.

Delicate fabrics are often used to make something special and French seams give a lovely neat finish to the inside of whatever it is you’re making.

The visible seam allowance is small and neat, with no raw edges exposed that might itch or irritate. All the raw edges are enclosed and there are no fraying bits or stray threads.

And they’re easy to do!

How to Sew French Seams

1. With the wrong sides together, pin the seam. If the fabric you are using is unstable, use plenty of pins!

2. Using about half the seam allowance, sew the seam. Trim the seam in half.

3. Press the seam. I press it to one side, then the other.

4. Fold the fabric along the seam so that the right sides are together. Press again.

I know this probably sounds like I am mad on ironing. I am really not! Pressing seams makes a huge difference to the overall finish.

5. Now with the right sides together, pin the seam.

6. Sew the seam using the rest of the seam allowance.

Now you have a lovely neat seam with the raw edges enclosed!french seams

It is possible to use French seams on curves too. Just be sure to trim the seam allowance right down.

If you like this post, you might like to take a look my Tips and Techniques page for other posts like this one!

Linking up here.

10 Questions and Answers for Beginner Sewists

May 13, 2015 · 4 Comments

I have been sewing my own clothes since I was 10 years old and I can honestly say that it is a lot of fun! I love walking down the street in something I have made myself, knowing that I could walk past 1000 people and none of them would be wearing the same as me.

When I was a little girl my mum made all our clothes and her mother sewed for a living! So it was my mum who taught me how to sew and I’ve gradually honed my skills as the years have passed (there is still some honing to do! 😉 ).

For people who are beginner sewists it can be so difficult to know where to start that it can be overwhelming. So here are 10 ish questions that you might be considering if you are new to sewing, with answers!

Is it hard?

It’s not! Seriously, the number of people who look amazed when I tell them I made the thing I am wearing myself, it’s crazy! If you can drive a car you can definitely operate a sewing machine. I can’t drive and I can operate a sewing machine!

Having said that, keep it simple at least to start with and try stuff out with cheaper fabric first if you are worried.

If it does go wrong, don’t give up! This is where having an unpicker is handy. Even experienced sewists have to unpick their work sometimes.

What sort of fabric should I use?

The easiest fabric to work with holds its shape well and isn’t too slinky or too stretchy. Cotton and polycotton are good fabrics to use and come in all kinds of colours and prints. They also have the advantage that if you need to unpick a seam, the old seam wont leave marks on the fabric.

Does the brand of thread I use matter?

Lots of people will tell you that Gutermann threads are the best ones to use but they cost a little bit more. I have used cheaper threads from Lidl and Hobbycraft and although they usually do the job, I have had trouble with the thread breaking on occasion.

What kind of sewing machine should I buy?

It’s probably best to avoid the very cheap beginner sewing machines as they are often not great machines and what they can do is very limited.

Equally there is no point in forking out for a massively expensive machine that has a load of features that you probably won’t use.

A decent mid range machine is the way to go. I have a Silver e8000 which according to Husband (who bought it for me!) is the machine they use at colleges. Before that I had a 1970s Singer!

The functions I use the most are straight stitch in various lengths, zigzags, overlocking style edging, button holes and the stitch for knits. I haven’t really used any of the decorative sitiches, although I might if I had girls instead of boys!

What should I make first?

Stick with something simple to start with. A circle or A line skirt would be a good way in. You can find a tutorial for making a circle skirt here!

Which patterns should I use?

Patterns can be unbelievably confusing and being able to make sense of them can be a skill in itself! Although I haven’t used them myself, I have a friend who always says that the Colette patterns are very good and very clear.

The problem I often find with patterns that claim to be easy is that, in my experience, you usually end up with something shapeless!

It’s perfectly possible to make things without using a pattern. You can find plenty of tutorials here on my blog and there are lots elsewhere on the web too.

What skills are useful to know?

Knowing how to attach a waistband is useful and the same technique can be applied to using bias binding to finish armholes, necklines and hems . You can read about attaching a waistband and using bias binding to finish a hem in this circle skirt tutorial, and finishing armholes and a neckline in this dress tutorial.

Being able to sew in a zip is also handy. You can find a tutorial for doing that here.

Knowing how to and where to sew darts can be the difference between making something that fits well and something that just ends up taking up space in your wardrobe.

Why are my stitches are loopy?

Check the tension on your sewing machine. 4 is usally a good number for most fabrics. If it is on 4 and still the stitches are loopy, adjust the tension dial.

If the loops are at the bottom, increase it.

If the loops are at the top, decrease it.

If that does not work, take the bobbin out and give the bobbin area a clean with a dry paint brush, then rethread the machine.

Why does the thing I’ve made not fit?

If you are using a pattern, do not be fooled into thinking that the size guide on the back bears any relation at all to normal dress sizes.

Measure yourself with a tape measure and check your measurements against the sizes on the back of the packet.

Make sure that when you are sewing up, you follow the guidance about how much to allow for the seam allowance.

The surest way to end up with something that fits is to keep trying it on.

If you have already made it and it’s too big, try taking it in. Put the garment on inside out and pin the side seams. If there are darts, you might need to take those in too.

If it is too small, unfortunately that is harder to fix. You might be able to let the seams out and darts if there is enough fabric. If it is still to tight, you might have to consider upcycling it into something else.

The thing I made is shapeless. How do I fix it?

If it is shapeless, it is probably because it doesn’t fit very well. The way to fix this is to try it on inside out and pin the seams so that it is a closer fit. If the seams are fine but it is baggy in other places, try adding some darts. You can read about darts here in this post, A Guide to Pattern Pieces.

If none of that works, you might have to get inventive! A belt? Or maybe you’ll just have to cut your losses and turn it into something else.

You can read about how I turned a shapeless disaster of a dress into a wearable skirt here.

Here’s a bonus one!

Why does the thing I made not hang right?

In order for clothes to hang right, the grain needs to be straight on the up and down lines of the pieces. So is you are cutting out a sleeve, the line running from shoulder to wrist should run parallel with the selvedge (the woven edges on each side of the fabric). With a top or a bodice, the grain should run parallel with the centre line. Skirts are the same, the grain needs to run up and down the centre. If you are cutting out a skirt piece on the fold, the folded edge will usually be on the grain.

And here’s another bonus one!

I want to make my own stuff without using a pattern. Where do I start?

The first thing you will need to do is take your measurements and record them somewhere.

Starting with something simple is a good place to begin, like a circle skirt or a simple top.

Identify clothes in your wardrobe and on the internet that you like. Draw a sketch and try to come up with a plan for how you will make it. Keep it simple and if you are worried, try practising with some cheaper or old fabric first.

For more helpful sewing tips, you might like this post: 25 Great Tips for Sewing Clothes Without a Pattern.

Setting Yourself Up For Success: 15 Tips for Successful Sewing

15 Tips For Successful Sewing

Before You Start

Decide When to Make Your Thing

Find a Place Where You Work

Check That You Have Everything You Need

Check That You Know What To Do

Other Things You Can Do Beforehand

While Sewing

In the End

Share this:

10 Tips For Getting Fabric For Cheap or Free

Share this:

Rotary Cutter or Scissors: Which is Best?

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

On Reflection

Share this:

How to Sew French Seams

Why Use French Seams?

How to Sew French Seams

Share this:

Is it hard?

What sort of fabric should I use?

Does the brand of thread I use matter?

What should I make first?

Which patterns should I use?

What skills are useful to know?

Why are my stitches are loopy?

Why does the thing I’ve made not fit?

The thing I made is shapeless. How do I fix it?

Why does the thing I made not hang right?

I want to make my own stuff without using a pattern. Where do I start?

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