Learn To Sew
Like a Pro
with these expert resources.
Secrets
Of Sewing
is a comprehensive
sewing instruction program with over 300 pages
of vital sewing information. To help you
maximize your learning, it comes with a helpful
work book designed to guide you step by step to
learn to sew.
In addition to the core
textbook and work book, there are several very
useful bonuses that you will treasure for years
as you learn to sew.
My
Sewing Dictionary
is a vital tool for you as
you learn to sew. There are many specialty
terms used in sewing, quilting, and crafting
that have special meanings. My Sewing
Dictionary provides both a PDF ebook format and
an easy to use sofware that makes it easy to
acces the definition and explanation of each
sewing term.
The Rotary Cutting
Guidebook
Many beginning sewers
overlook the special skills and details
involved in laying out patterns as well as
cutting out patterns and fabrics. The Rotary
Cutting Guidebook reveals the vital secrets you
need to learn how to sew and cut out your
projects.
To learn more about this
special instruction course CLICK
HERE.
For more learning
opportunities explore the complete sewing
education package.
CLICK
HERE.
To Learn about hand sewing
and needle arts CLICK HERE.
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Sewing
Lessons And Learn To Sew: Choosing
Patterns
Your Own Patterns
For the beginner it is
important to start with simple and quick
projects that build upon basic sewing skills.
For our simple patterns, we actually used items
that we found around the house that we could
copy (pillows, purses, bags, skirts...). The
criteria was that they had straight lines. We
started with our own patterns - which reduced
the concern for not being able to understand
store bought patterns. More importantly, we
were learning, unknowingly, how to visualize
the construction process.
For her first project, my 6
yr. old wanted to make a teddy bear (against
the rule; it had all curved lines). We looked
at it closely. We traced the outline and cut it
out. We looked again - she noticed that we
couldn't just sew it together because her teddy
bear didn't have fabric hanging out on the
edges. She learned the first lesson in
construction - you place your fabric with right
sides together so that the seam is on the
inside. Second lesson - she asked how to make
it fluffy. She learned she would have to leave
a hole somewhere so she could stuff it. Third
lesson - after her teddy bear was completed we
noticed how skinny it was as compared to the
original. We learned to cut things out bigger
to allow for seams and stuffing. Fourth lesson,
we couldn't fit the bear back under the machine
to sew up the hole; she learned how to do a
slipstitch.
This seems so basic, but
what we didn't realize was how it was
sharpening our ability to visualize the steps
to constructing a finished product, which later
made reading patterns so much easier.
Three Steps
1. Look at what you want to
make - examine all of the lines (seams).
2. Copy the pattern on paper
and cut out the pieces of material (Step by
step directions after next article)
3. Spend time asking how do
I make these pieces come together to look like
the finished product.
Steps 1 & 3 are great
habits to get into. Notice I said habit. Make
this process become second nature, not a rigid
step that must be followed but a conversation
that you initiate with your children when your
looking at items that seem simple to make. What
is being internalized, through these 3 steps,
is invaluable.
Ask - How do you think I/you
should pin this next piece together? If we pin
it like this, will it look right? How does this
connect to the other pieces? This is
encouraging them to picture it in their
mind.
There are definitely some
people who have an extremely difficult time
doing this. If you notice an inability to
process the construction - show them yourself.
For instance, with a pretty purse you see in
the store say, "wow, look at how this is just 2
squares sewn together; or with the pieces
already cut out from a pattern you can say, "if
I sew this this way it will end up looking like
this, but if I sew it this way it will look
like that".
With those kids who want to
create their own things, let them go, don't
worry about them processing this with you.
Unbeknownst to them, they start doing this on
their own. First they figure out that all of
their seams are on the outside. As they keep
sewing they become aware of the differences in
their things, and they start either correcting
it on their own, or they will ask why. Again,
the same skills are being developed internally
- to visualize the end product.
This process not only
provided a huge head start on constructing
patterns, as well as removing the intimidation
of reading patterns, it also changed our view.
We started looking at things differently - when
we saw something we liked in our house, in
magazines, at stores, or at our friends' we
would always say, "I bet we can make that". We
studied it, drew a picture, started a file of
projects we wanted to try, and would make our
own patterns.
The girls started making
clothes for their dolls this way. They would
use scrap pieces of material, make their own
patterns, and sew shirts, skirts, dresses, and
pants. By the time we moved to store bought
patterns we were amazed at how much we
understood just by looking at the pictures. So
instead of spending time learning the terms and
their definitions we placed a word with our
actions that were already developed.
Even if you are wanting to
start with clothes, I highly recommend you
taking the time to make some of your own
patterns because of the skills it naturally
builds and the barriers it breaks down. There
are many clothes that can be made with your own
patterns.
*Added Bonus - this process
also builds confidence in and encourages you
and your child's ability to create your own
unique patterns, as well as, add your own
special flare to existing patterns. My 11 yr.
old, having both experiences, spends more time
making her own patterns. She sees something,
and automatically figures out how to make it
herself, with her own twist.
Store Bought Patterns
For those of you who have
kids who want to start with store bought
patterns for clothes, I suggest finding
patterns with:
1. Simple lines (pull over
shirts and dresses are usually the easiest)
2. No zippers - build up to
this skill. (If your sewing machine has a
buttonhole setting DO NOT be intimidated by
buttons! They are easy).
3. Look for patterns that
say Easy Sew or Quick Sew
Again, for the beginner it
is important to start with simple projects that
teach the basic sewing skills, and then
continue to build upon these skills.
If you yourself want to
start with clothing, unless you have a body
that perfectly fits the measurements on the
back of the pattern, I recommend you starting
with children's clothes. Altering patterns,
although it will be easy enough, should be
saved for a little later. I made a lot of
dresses for my girls when I was first learning,
which gave me the confidence to make
alterations for my own patterns.
Regardless of what you
choose, the same thought process should take
place. Just because you have directions in the
bag, you still need to learn to process through
the construction in your own mind. Ask your
kids the same questions even though the steps
are lined out for you.
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