Sewing incredible garments and amazing gifts

Sewing has been a journey of learning and enjoyment. I have sewn a number of incredible garments and amazing gifts through many years. Producing an incredible garment for myself inspires me to continue to sew. I have taught beginners how to sew, watched how they go from apprehensive to confident as they produce their own incredible garments. Join me in my blogs to chat, review, discuss and learn about everything sewing. Hopefully you will also be inspired to create your own incredible garments.

Table of Contents

Introduction:

I started sewing in 1987 when my first child was born. She was the luckiest kid on the block with a cupboard full of incredible garments of every colour and style. I learnt by doing, by making mistakes. Luckily children don’t always see the mistakes. I took a few lessons in sewing with stretch fabric as it was relatively new in the late 80’s. This set me on the path of enjoying what I did with my sewing machine. Now a senior myself, I still do a lot of sewing. Creating incredible garments for myself and my husband. It is a worthwhile past time for anyone, creating and making is enjoyable and keeps one healthy, happy and fully clothed.

7 Reasons why sewing is a life-changing addiction

These are all points which I relate to myself, others my have slightly different points but either way it is an addiction.

Every sewist has a first machine, this is always considered the beginner machine. Looking for and purchasing other machines when you get to grips with sewing is an unexpected bonus. In fact you could end up with a machine for every thread colour if you are not careful.
Sewing incredible garments depends on having a selection of sewing patterns. Bargain and discounted sewing patterns are like gold to anyone who sews. It gives you choice and options for all those incredible garments you are going to be sewing. One box of patterns grows, into multiple boxes as you start sewing for the family. Pattern swaps are always a good way of getting rid of patterns you no longer want.
Fabric is one of the most amazing things to collect. It makes your head real with cool ideas as you almost see yourself wearing it before you even buy it. A large stash of fabric is part of sewing and as it grows the ideas and inspiration also grows. Luckily after a period you calm down and use what is in your stash, then buy more again. Fabric shopping helps with all your anguishes and gives so much pleasure it should be a hobby in its own right. The final look and outcome of your incredible garment comes down to your fabric choice.
Haberdashery by way of rulers, threads and quilting templates, all add to the wonder of dress making, quilting and patch working. The thrill of finding an amazing tool that makes any process easier is shear pleasure.
Sewing for me feeds my soul, it reflects who I am, as I wear what I like in the style and the colours that I like. It all feels part of me. I am unique because there is no other incredible garment like it.

sew incredible garments using a ribbon trim

Don’t want to sew incredible garments? then try this..

Sew amazing items to decorate your house, from cushion covers to blinds. It is heartwarming to receive a homemade gift, it is also good to scrap bust whilst making a gift.

5 free downloadable sewing projects with tutorials, give them a go. CLICK HERE

Want to enjoy guilt free shopping for all those incredible garments?

Online fabric shops have a good selection of fabrics and often great bargains. These are my 2 go to shops for latest affordable bargains. Pound a metre and Pound fabrics both sell by 3 metre lengths which makes for a superb price.
Shop for fabrics you are guaranteed to use, don’t buy cotton fabric if you like stretch fabrics as you will not use it up quickly. Your incredible garments are more likely to be made of a stretch fabric.
Only look for fabric when you don’t have a suitable one already in your stash. A visit to the stash can be better than going to a shop. Each fabric in your stash you bought because it spoke to you.
Go to clothing shops and try the styles you like on. Look at fit, design, and how it looks on you. This should guide you to choose a pattern which works for you and can be used time and time again. Saving you money on patterns.
The big pattern companies have seasonal sewing pattern sales at the end of every season. Buy half priced pattern at the sale time.
Visit fabric shops to look and feel fabric, This will give you an insight into what you would buy online without feeling the fabric. Buy fabrics when there is a sale with a good percentage off.
Read the amount charged together with the length. Often shops sell per half metre and the price looks great. Double it for the price of 1 metre and it no longer seems like a good price.

Elastics for those incredible garments

Catastrophe following a sewing pattern? try this before you start sewing your incredible garment.

Youtube is a wonderful tool, search for your pattern by company and number. Chances are you will come across someone who has done a tutorial. Watch and refer to it when you are busy with your project.
When there is no tutorials on , try the Internet for pattern reviews or tutorial step by step.
Read it through a couple of times you may come to understand how it goes together. Just looking at the pictures will not help you. If you get stuck on a zipper insertion, refer once again to Youtube on how to insert the zipper. It will enable you to move on to the next step. Do this when you are stuck on pockets, zippers, collar finishes and plackets.
Should it be that you are at your witts end with the sewing pattern. The pattern companies usually have a call line where you can call them for help.

Tips and tricks, pattern reviews and fixing all those horrifying fit issues.

I am not using this blog to teach. I want to share my projects for those who want to learn more about fitting. Showing you my projects, pointing out any problems and fixing them. Fit is unique to everyone of us as our shapes differ. By reading the fold and stretch lines of the garment we can discover what is wrong with our incredible garment.

Sewing patterns from independent designers often have an easier way of doing things. There is however no right or wrong way, just a good way for you.

sewing room Sewing an incredible garment with the help of a friend over locker to use for edges

Tips to make your incredible garment look shop bought.

Press and iron as you sew. This makes the fabric flat to sew and match raw edges. You get really good no crease, puckered seams.
Snip all of the tiniest threads off. We do not want taking threads and seam end threads showing.
Sew with a new needle. Choose the right type of needle for the fabric. This stops puckering and pulling.
Quality interfacing at the right weight should be used. This keeps tricky pieces like collars and button plackets flat and not wrinkly.

5 Brilliant books I use as reference for my incredible garment sewing.

Sew your own wardrobe by Alison Smith. This is an amazingly good book. It is well laid out and will help guide any sewist. You should produce a lot of incredible garments after reading this book. Highly recommended.
The complete photo guide to perfect fitting by Sarah Veblen. A really interesting book, it is a look up my fitting error book not just sit and read book. If your sleeve doesn’t hang well, use it to look up why. Full of photographs showing fit error and text on how to fix the fit.
Kenneth King Smart fitting. This book is full of case studies. Choose the person who has a similar shape to yourself. See what errors occur on her body shape and how it gets corrected.
How to adapt and design sewing patterns by Lee Hollahan, this is interesting as it explains how to use your paper store bought patterns and change them into a whole new incredible garment.
Pattern Cutting Primer by Jo Barnfield and Andrew Richards This practical and accessible book covers all the basics of pattern design and cutting and gives readers the confidence to take matters into their own hands and produce perfect patterns for all garments and styles.