Sewing?

[curses]

Anyone here like to sew? I do, but I'm a complete novice. I picked up my first pattern tonight, and was wondering if anyone wanted to impart any knowledge on sewing with patterns. All I've ever done before was alter clothing.

[Ymir's blood]

* Ymir's blood likes to sew.

I'm a novice as well, never messed with patterns other than for (usually malformed dolls.)

[pescifish]

I was ...erm... forced to sew as a kid. :chain:

I had to make quite a bit of my 'street clothes'** while I was growing up. It's nice to be able to use a pattern for basic structure and how the seams fit together, but be able to make alterations as creativity (and fit preference) dictates. The best part is being able to make something with the material you want, though it's smart to understand the suggestions a particular pattern will make regarding material type and the direction of the material weave (bias or otherwise) should go on each piece.

Just like other creative activities like sketching or music, I'd recommend doing a few fundamental things 'by the book' in order to get your techniques and basic skills down. Once you get a few of those under your belt, then it's so much easier to fully express your own creative talents.

Quality cutting tools are essential, get a good seam ripper, if you really get into it, a quality cutting board with a grid can really help to lay out the pieces correctly before cutting, figure out what markings you really need from the pattern; do them religiously and forget the rest (I used pins for some things, the carbon paper stuff or the freehand chalk, depending) use practice pieces to get the right speed and tension for your particular material, thread and foot (or the thread can get all balled up) stretchy fabrics require some slightly different techniques, so see if you can research suggestions online for how to handle them make sure you have plenty of needles spend the time to iron press important seams while sewing; it really does help the finished product don't skimp on the interfacing in critical areas! always be patient and learn when to be precise

It's the last two things that caused me to dislike it when I got old enough to run my own life. I like the idea of many creative craft projects, but don't have the patience to actually do the stuff. :bleh: Nowadays, I can :blame: my eyeballs instead of laziness. I'm sure I would frustrate myself into a quivering mass of tears just trying to get the material cut to pattern!

However, I did use the skills 10-12 years ago when I was unable to find a suitable carry on bag for my bird's traveling cage for a flight to New York. It was easy enough to find a pattern for a good canvas bag, alter the size to fit the cage. The pattern had the smarts for what a bag needs to be put together, so I didn't have to frustrate myself trying to reverse engineer something.

** As opposed to the Catholic schoolgirl uniform I wore most of the time.

[curses]

Thanks for the reply, pesci! Yeah, that last bullet point is usually my downfall. Well I think the worst of it for me at first is all these new terms on my patterns. Much googling will be necessary.

I have been experimenting with fabric that's about 25% lycra, it was a pain at first, but I think I've got the hang of that now.

The pattern I'll be sewing is Simplicity 5839, a kimono. What I really want is the haori, and I found this great cherry blossom jacquard last night I'd like to use. Do I need a special foot for the smoother, non cotton fabrics?

Edit: Another question..I'd like to save this pattern for future use. Is it worth it to use carbon and a tracing wheel as opposed to cutting on the pattern directly, or is this just a bit of a waste of money?

[pescifish]

The pattern I'll be sewing is Simplicity 5839, a kimono. What I really want is the haori, and I found this great cherry blossom jacquard last night I'd like to use. Do I need a special foot for the smoother, non cotton fabrics?I did a Google on that pattern and found a site (http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/patterns/sewingpatterns.pl?patternid=3638) for users to review them. The haori is the shorter jacket? It looks lovely! And I think that pattern might be easy to put together, though one review said the pattern had poor instructions. :sadcheer:

I can't be any help regarding whether you need a special foot or not. Beyond my experience on that!

Edit: Another question..I'd like to save this pattern for future use. Is it worth it to use carbon and a tracing wheel as opposed to cutting on the pattern directly, or is this just a bit of a waste of money?I reused patterns quite often during my sewing days even though I cut each piece with the material. Depending on how the different views work out, it's not that hard to tape the cut off pieces back on. Or the other view pieces are totally separate to begin with. If you plan on making the same view again, it's not a problem at all for reuse (other than trying to get the wispy thin pattern pieces folded up and back in the envelope, that is!)

However, my instant reaction to such a thought these days would be to avoid the time and hassle and just repay the expense of the pattern. But I tend to :spend: and waste. :blush:

[RevDahlia]

However, my instant reaction to such a thought these days would be to avoid the time and hassle and just repay the expense of the pattern. But I tend to :spend: and waste. :blush:
I do this really neurotic thing: cut out paper pattern, use it to make a muslin mockup of the garment, make alterations as needed and then mark the tissue to reflect alterations, then transfer the pattern onto sew-in interfacing. That way it keeps practically forever and I can throw out the goddamn pattern envelope. I only do this with patterns I really, REALLY like, though.

Yeah, I like to sew. It's a pain in the ass, though, because I am not shaped like any known pattern and my alteration skillset is really limited. But I hate to shop even more than I hate to alter patterns, so there you go.

[pescifish]

I don't think that's neurotic, Rev. I think the mockup with muslim thing is how real seamstresses do things! :yup:

[RevDahlia]

I don't think that's neurotic, Rev. I think the mockup with muslim thing is how real seamstresses do things! :yup:
Yeah, and a muslin is necessary if you're as oddly-shaped as I am. The neurotic part is the bit with the interfacing.

[pescifish]

Oops, misread your post and added a stupid typo on top of that.
My fingers are more used to typing 'muslim' than 'muslin', I guess. My eyes don't even bother checking, apparently.
:sigh:

In any case, I'm sure curses will do much better getting advice from you. I may have sewn dozens of garments as a teen, but I'm sure I never did it well and I never really liked it. I'll bow out of the thread for now! :bow4:

Good luck, curses, and I'd love to see photos as you sew. :yup:

[curses]

Thanks, RevDahlia and pesci! You have both been very helpful :yup: I will take photos of the mess I'm sure to make (it's expected on one's first try, right?) and subsequent outcome.

The muslin is a good idea, and I'm glad it's light on the pocketbook, I may need to do more than one trial run to get it right.

[Dingfod]

Anyone here like to sew? I do, but I'm a complete novice. I picked up my first pattern tonight, and was wondering if anyone wanted to impart any knowledge on sewing with patterns. All I've ever done before was alter clothing.I can sew on a button.

[curses]

Anyone here like to sew? I do, but I'm a complete novice. I picked up my first pattern tonight, and was wondering if anyone wanted to impart any knowledge on sewing with patterns. All I've ever done before was alter clothing.I can sew on a button.:giggle: That's a good start!

[RevDahlia]

The muslin is a good idea, and I'm glad it's light on the pocketbook, I may need to do more than one trial run to get it right.
I recommend going sloppy on the muslins or you'll make yourself nuts. Only put on one sleeve, pin shut any zipper openings, let loose threads hang free, don't interface any facings (although I don't recommend skipping them altogether; they do affect the shape of your garment), and for heaven's sake don't finish any of the seams. Quick and dirty is the name of the game. One thing you should NOT skip is pressing, though.

If you already know how to do alterations, you are so, so in business. That's the hardest part.

[Dingfod]

I can sew on a button.:giggle: That's a good start!A starter button?