I have a frontal lobe injury plus had a mini-stroke a few month ago. Dr said to do things by hand to get my sequencing skills back. So did some knitting (which I’ve done for over 55 years) and the. Took up sewing again after not doing it for 15-20 (also did that since I was a little girl). I’m just glad I had all my old tools, especially the ripper and picker 😂😂😂😂
Agreed that testing new techniques on scraps before using the fashion fabric is KEY. Honestly i am such a beginner that i also test things i know how to do (e.g. zig zag seam finish) with a scrap of my fashion fabric plus the exact thread and exact machine setup I plan to use. Thanks to Evelyn Wood for her videos about what to test in sewing!
Sewing mistakes, I've been through them all... 😂 I would mention a big mistake I've made: not marking the right side of the fabric when there's no obvious feature (like a print) on it. It can lead to mixed colours and textures and an unwearable garment. 😅
these tips are amazing!! some of them i learnt the hard way, some i'm trying to overcome right now 😄 like, i'm often scared to screw up the fabric, mostly because i'm not sure that the pattern will fit me. and still i ignore making a muslin because it feels like such a waste of fabric! and it becomes a vicious circle 😄 the "don't sew when you're angry or hungry" is probably my favourite tip btw 😆😆😆😆 it's really hard to stop sometimes and all my loved ones know that there's a point when i'm going berserk sewing is so relaxing, they said xD
I have done all of these!!!😅😅😅 Muslin tips: If I’m more concerned about the steps of construction more than the fit, I make “mini muslins” in my kids sizes. If its a fit concern, I have already made it out of old flannel sheets and got some new pajamas out of it 😂
Not Making a Muslin: for those who think "muslin" means muslin fabric only--make your muslin (mock up) out of fabric that is similar in character to your garment fabric. If you are making a stretchy garment, using muslin fabric might not be the right fabric, but jersey might work better. I usually get old sheets from Goodwill or cheap fabric of similar weight and type, launder them for mock up fabric. (and with using muslin, launder that before using as a mockup too!). Not pre-washing: prewash a sample size to see how the fabric lays after washing. Rayon, for instance, changes sometimes drastically between the before wash and after wash (I had a pair of rayon pants that when laundered, they were stiff and ugly, but after pressing, they became light and fluid. Go figure). So a swatch of fabric is helpful. I would also add a Number 11: not getting to know your fabric (this might fall under the mistake of using the wrong fabric). Like with the swatch, get to know your fabric: content (and burn test if needed), dye (is it a bleeding fabric?), how the fabric responds to pulling, stretching, prewashing, ironing, stitching, what needles will work best, what interfacing weight will be needed, if any (or if a lining is better), and so on. I try to get to know the fabric, before I start anything. I also use recycled fabric sometimes and this is where knowing that used fabric is really important (areas of existing wear or where new wear/tear will occur). Nothing looks more "homemade" than a garment in the wrong fabric.
So many relatable mistakes! I definitely get on a roll and keep going without reading the instructions, so I should make it a rule to read through everything first and maybe highlight some unexpected or new steps. I do not make muslins... I think I would if the fabric I am using is really precious! As I declutter my fabric stash, I am learning that I get really excited by pretty things and don't think, "will I wear/use that?" Mercari will benefit from my excitement... especially if you like pink, look me up. Why do I ever buy anything PINK?
I think a big mistake I try to avoid is shaming myself for making mistakes! I try to keep the mindset that some things can be fixed or adjusted, and all along, I am learning… Be kind to yourself! Celebrate the wins.
This was so helpful! Thank you! I seem to have been a bit frozen in my project because it is a new pattern and I am a beginner. This has given me a lot of courage. Thanks!
I’m definitely a magpie! I’m in my 70’s and love sewing clothing for my fantasy self! I not only made one, but 2 Closet Core Blanca jumpsuits! Will I ever wear them? No, but I loved making them! Even won a Grand Champion on one at the fair! So many more makes hanging up in my closet that are beautiful. I love sewing any garment that has details. Welt pockets to pin tucks to embroidery! Yes! Magpie…that’s me!
Sitting here with a tummy ache watching you instead of working on the skirt project I am itching to start. Nothing good ever happens from sewing when hungry, tired, or a little bit sick.
#2 pattern instructions: if reading them on an iPad as shown in the video, the iCloud Files app allows “mark-up” on your PDF’s on your iPad. This means if you have an Apple Pencil, you can highlight as you initially read through, and make hand-written notes. I use this to write down my measurements, work out my size, highlight seam allowances, and make any notes to myself - all handy for future makes and hacks.
This is about muslins, I recently tried tissue fitting (thank you to Pamela Leggett’s expert guidance at Camp Workroom Social) and it has been a game changer for me. I wouldn’t honestly say that it take a lot less time than muslining, because you still need to trace off most contemporary patterns onto a Swedish trace or similar transparent tracing surface and it its tearable you need to tape the the curves and, finally, you need to draw in the seam allowances, but I have always had significant upper body fitting issues, and had to make multiple muslin changes (I’m looking at you D cup) and the tissue fitting allows for iterating without needing to use muslin (or whatever fabric) and then going straight to fashion fabric. If I’m still uneasy, because fabric has properties that paper doesn’t, I will baste and check my results, so far I have had trivial changes because a top was bias cut I needed to adjust the darts and because I had basted, NBD. Anyway, I had always been skeptical about tissue fitting because most patterns I use are not tissue… but since I already trace off almost all my patterns its not really that much extra time.
This video was all about me easily in the beginning. I can admit that I haphazardly read the instructions, I never make a muslin mock-up first, and I don't practice the new technique before sewing it on an actual garment. I think the reason I broke myself out of the mistakes was because I could see the difference.
I've definitely made all of these mistakes in my journey of sewing. I love to learn and therefore have enjoyed moments of mistakes because they have truly been the best teachers for me. Another mistake I have made during my sewing is starting to use a new tool that I've never used before without understanding how to properly use it but I know I'm not the only one that has done something like this lol :)
AMEN. I have lost my Sewjo again, and was just thinking I want to sew something easy that that I can work on a technique before sewing a whole garment which seems overwhelming right now😢. But I believe I coming out of this rut 😊
A question I always have and have never seen an answer to, is what do you do with all those muslins? Honestly, I haven't sewn for quite a few years and I'm enjoying all your articles and I'm gradually working up the courage to set up my brand new sewing machine (fear of failure?). I learned to sew in 8th grade way back when the Beatles were the top of the charts all the time, and I sewed a lot all through my son's early years, then put it away for decades. Then came back and made a lot of simple things until my 35 year old machine broke down. And I have NEVER made a muslin. I should add, I'm not an expert sewist at all, never was. And most of my life I haven't been able to afford buying material just for muslins. But what really puzzles me is, what do you do with all those muslins? Just throw them away?
I personally strive to make "wearable muslins." I use less expensive fabric and basically test a new pattern from start to finish, with the hope that I will also be able to wear the garment when done. Most of the time though, since I am a beginner, the fit is WAY off 😂 Some of the non-wearable muslins I keep as a record of my progress, some I give to friends and family who are closer to the size that it turned out, and some I straight up donate and take that sweet sweet tax deduction for a "custom made garment" 😉 Hope that helps!
Bonus: bedsheets from the thrift store are available in both knots and wovens and are super affordable for cute mockup fabric if you don't want to use literal muslin!
I get in with the seam ripper and pull them apart, save the larger pieces to reuse for future muslins, and use the smaller pieces as cleaning cloths / dusters or for practice material for a technique I’ve not done in a while (like button holes)
Firstly, same😊, I had a big absence from sewing before getting back into sewing again due to watching sewing videos on you-tube. It was about 20 years, and I also had to buy a new sewing machine, LOL. Secondly, I sewed these last two years without muslins - I just went in. I had some hits, and I had some misses, and I had some fixes like adding ruffles when a dress was too short… but I was just enjoying the process, relearning lost skills, enjoying the creativity. But recently I found as I was getting better, and found myself transitioning to natural fibres and more expensive designer fabrics and patterns for more classic wardrobe pieces, I’ve found myself working more on fit to my body before I cut into my expensive fabrics. I’ve made a muslin for every make this year. Learning how to raise or lower darts, raise or shorten bodices and skirts in the right places, shoulder placement, etc, has been a game changer to my sewing. Im also lucky to have a stack of old sheets from my last linen cupboard clean out. I also buy cheap “Sale” fabrics to use for a wearable muslin, that I might end up using for a house-dress. Which I did recently, making the short version in cotton poplin for a wearable muslin, and it’s probably one of my most worn house dresses because it’s so cool and comfortable. But the darts sit 1 inch above the pinnacle of my bust, and the waist sits below my natural waist-line… but with pattern adjustments, my next make in the maxi length I wanted and in some special linen fabric I initially bought to make this pattern in, it turned out perfect, and something I gladly wear out in. But mostly I prefer to make a muslin, because I want to see where everything falls, where the hem falls, where the darts and side seams fall on my body. I make adjustments to the muslin, often ripping apart seams, altering seams, letting out, taking in, raising and lowering where it needs it. It’s easier to transfer markings and sew seam lines from muslin directly to pattern pieces - effectively turning your pattern into a pattern block for many future makes and hacks.
I get, and like, the idea of a wearable Muslim, but in order to alter the pattern, don't I need to take the muslin apart to transfer the changes to the actual pattern for future makes? I am still figuring out the main process.
I’m guilty of being afraid to jump in. I really want to sew primarily apparel. I’ve learned to sew crafty items, purses, aprons, quilt, different techniques. But I’m afraid to just start on a clothing item. I feel like I need someone to check my work before I start cutting the fabric.
Can I just say how much I hate the term "vanity sizing"?? It's fat shaming. We know from sewing that sizes are completely arbitrary. Why not call it arbitrary sizing instead?
I have a frontal lobe injury plus had a mini-stroke a few month ago. Dr said to do things by hand to get my sequencing skills back. So did some knitting (which I’ve done for over 55 years) and the. Took up sewing again after not doing it for 15-20 (also did that since I was a little girl). I’m just glad I had all my old tools, especially the ripper and picker 😂😂😂😂
Agreed that testing new techniques on scraps before using the fashion fabric is KEY. Honestly i am such a beginner that i also test things i know how to do (e.g. zig zag seam finish) with a scrap of my fashion fabric plus the exact thread and exact machine setup I plan to use. Thanks to Evelyn Wood for her videos about what to test in sewing!
It never hurts to test beforehand!
Sewing mistakes, I've been through them all... 😂
I would mention a big mistake I've made: not marking the right side of the fabric when there's no obvious feature (like a print) on it. It can lead to mixed colours and textures and an unwearable garment. 😅
That's a great one! I have definitely made that mistake before!
Shrinkage -"I was in the pool" - love the Seinfeld reference! Thanks for making me smile 😄
We are big Seinfeld fans over here. 😂
these tips are amazing!! some of them i learnt the hard way, some i'm trying to overcome right now 😄 like, i'm often scared to screw up the fabric, mostly because i'm not sure that the pattern will fit me. and still i ignore making a muslin because it feels like such a waste of fabric! and it becomes a vicious circle 😄
the "don't sew when you're angry or hungry" is probably my favourite tip btw 😆😆😆😆 it's really hard to stop sometimes and all my loved ones know that there's a point when i'm going berserk
sewing is so relaxing, they said xD
I have done all of these!!!😅😅😅
Muslin tips: If I’m more concerned about the steps of construction more than the fit, I make “mini muslins” in my kids sizes.
If its a fit concern, I have already made it out of old flannel sheets and got some new pajamas out of it 😂
Love the mini muslin idea!
Not Making a Muslin: for those who think "muslin" means muslin fabric only--make your muslin (mock up) out of fabric that is similar in character to your garment fabric. If you are making a stretchy garment, using muslin fabric might not be the right fabric, but jersey might work better. I usually get old sheets from Goodwill or cheap fabric of similar weight and type, launder them for mock up fabric. (and with using muslin, launder that before using as a mockup too!). Not pre-washing: prewash a sample size to see how the fabric lays after washing. Rayon, for instance, changes sometimes drastically between the before wash and after wash (I had a pair of rayon pants that when laundered, they were stiff and ugly, but after pressing, they became light and fluid. Go figure). So a swatch of fabric is helpful. I would also add a Number 11: not getting to know your fabric (this might fall under the mistake of using the wrong fabric). Like with the swatch, get to know your fabric: content (and burn test if needed), dye (is it a bleeding fabric?), how the fabric responds to pulling, stretching, prewashing, ironing, stitching, what needles will work best, what interfacing weight will be needed, if any (or if a lining is better), and so on. I try to get to know the fabric, before I start anything. I also use recycled fabric sometimes and this is where knowing that used fabric is really important (areas of existing wear or where new wear/tear will occur). Nothing looks more "homemade" than a garment in the wrong fabric.
Great tips!
Pressing IS sewing.
So true!
So many relatable mistakes! I definitely get on a roll and keep going without reading the instructions, so I should make it a rule to read through everything first and maybe highlight some unexpected or new steps. I do not make muslins... I think I would if the fabric I am using is really precious! As I declutter my fabric stash, I am learning that I get really excited by pretty things and don't think, "will I wear/use that?" Mercari will benefit from my excitement... especially if you like pink, look me up. Why do I ever buy anything PINK?
I think a big mistake I try to avoid is shaming myself for making mistakes! I try to keep the mindset that some things can be fixed or adjusted, and all along, I am learning… Be kind to yourself! Celebrate the wins.
That is a really great attitude to take into anything in life!
Yup done all of them. Though pressing is something I kinda like. Don't sew when you're drinking wine.
😂 or too much coffee
This was so helpful! Thank you! I seem to have been a bit frozen in my project because it is a new pattern and I am a beginner. This has given me a lot of courage. Thanks!
So glad you found this helpful! Good luck with your project!
I’m definitely a magpie! I’m in my 70’s and love sewing clothing for my fantasy self! I not only made one, but 2 Closet Core Blanca jumpsuits! Will I ever wear them? No, but I loved making them! Even won a Grand Champion on one at the fair! So many more makes hanging up in my closet that are beautiful. I love sewing any garment that has details. Welt pockets to pin tucks to embroidery! Yes! Magpie…that’s me!
Love it!! The Blanca jumpsuit is so comfortable and cute, maybe one of these days you'll decide to wear it!
My daughter that loves clothes saw it in my closet and loves it.
Sitting here with a tummy ache watching you instead of working on the skirt project I am itching to start. Nothing good ever happens from sewing when hungry, tired, or a little bit sick.
It is so true! I love that you've found a way to incorporate sewing into your day, even if you aren't actually sewing.
I love this chatty video set-up!
Thank you! So glad you're enjoying it!!
#2 pattern instructions: if reading them on an iPad as shown in the video, the iCloud Files app allows “mark-up” on your PDF’s on your iPad. This means if you have an Apple Pencil, you can highlight as you initially read through, and make hand-written notes. I use this to write down my measurements, work out my size, highlight seam allowances, and make any notes to myself - all handy for future makes and hacks.
That's so handy! Great tip.
This is about muslins, I recently tried tissue fitting (thank you to Pamela Leggett’s expert guidance at Camp Workroom Social) and it has been a game changer for me. I wouldn’t honestly say that it take a lot less time than muslining, because you still need to trace off most contemporary patterns onto a Swedish trace or similar transparent tracing surface and it its tearable you need to tape the the curves and, finally, you need to draw in the seam allowances, but I have always had significant upper body fitting issues, and had to make multiple muslin changes (I’m looking at you D cup) and the tissue fitting allows for iterating without needing to use muslin (or whatever fabric) and then going straight to fashion fabric. If I’m still uneasy, because fabric has properties that paper doesn’t, I will baste and check my results, so far I have had trivial changes because a top was bias cut I needed to adjust the darts and because I had basted, NBD. Anyway, I had always been skeptical about tissue fitting because most patterns I use are not tissue… but since I already trace off almost all my patterns its not really that much extra time.
Nice! That's a great approach and a good way to avoid making multiple muslins to get the fit where you want it.
fellow D cup here and I can relate to the upper body fitting issues!
The muslin is a great place to practice new techniques 😊
So true!
This video was all about me easily in the beginning. I can admit that I haphazardly read the instructions, I never make a muslin mock-up first, and I don't practice the new technique before sewing it on an actual garment. I think the reason I broke myself out of the mistakes was because I could see the difference.
Mistakes can be a really great motivator to learn and polish skills!
I've definitely made all of these mistakes in my journey of sewing. I love to learn and therefore have enjoyed moments of mistakes because they have truly been the best teachers for me. Another mistake I have made during my sewing is starting to use a new tool that I've never used before without understanding how to properly use it but I know I'm not the only one that has done something like this lol :)
You are definitely not alone in that! It's hard not to jump in and wing it when you have a fun new tool to try out.
AMEN. I have lost my Sewjo again, and was just thinking I want to sew something easy that that I can work on a technique before sewing a whole garment which seems overwhelming right now😢. But I believe I coming out of this rut 😊
So glad you're coming out of the rut! I usually have good luck with sewing something easy when I'm feeling like I lost my Sewjo.
Currently trying to cure myself of magpie syndrome by finding "holes" in my wardrobe and filling them.
That's a great approach.
I really appreciate this list. Thank you!
So glad you found it helpful!
A question I always have and have never seen an answer to, is what do you do with all those muslins? Honestly, I haven't sewn for quite a few years and I'm enjoying all your articles and I'm gradually working up the courage to set up my brand new sewing machine (fear of failure?). I learned to sew in 8th grade way back when the Beatles were the top of the charts all the time, and I sewed a lot all through my son's early years, then put it away for decades. Then came back and made a lot of simple things until my 35 year old machine broke down. And I have NEVER made a muslin. I should add, I'm not an expert sewist at all, never was. And most of my life I haven't been able to afford buying material just for muslins. But what really puzzles me is, what do you do with all those muslins? Just throw them away?
I personally strive to make "wearable muslins." I use less expensive fabric and basically test a new pattern from start to finish, with the hope that I will also be able to wear the garment when done. Most of the time though, since I am a beginner, the fit is WAY off 😂 Some of the non-wearable muslins I keep as a record of my progress, some I give to friends and family who are closer to the size that it turned out, and some I straight up donate and take that sweet sweet tax deduction for a "custom made garment" 😉 Hope that helps!
Bonus: bedsheets from the thrift store are available in both knots and wovens and are super affordable for cute mockup fabric if you don't want to use literal muslin!
I get in with the seam ripper and pull them apart, save the larger pieces to reuse for future muslins, and use the smaller pieces as cleaning cloths / dusters or for practice material for a technique I’ve not done in a while (like button holes)
Firstly, same😊, I had a big absence from sewing before getting back into sewing again due to watching sewing videos on you-tube. It was about 20 years, and I also had to buy a new sewing machine, LOL. Secondly, I sewed these last two years without muslins - I just went in. I had some hits, and I had some misses, and I had some fixes like adding ruffles when a dress was too short… but I was just enjoying the process, relearning lost skills, enjoying the creativity. But recently I found as I was getting better, and found myself transitioning to natural fibres and more expensive designer fabrics and patterns for more classic wardrobe pieces, I’ve found myself working more on fit to my body before I cut into my expensive fabrics. I’ve made a muslin for every make this year. Learning how to raise or lower darts, raise or shorten bodices and skirts in the right places, shoulder placement, etc, has been a game changer to my sewing. Im also lucky to have a stack of old sheets from my last linen cupboard clean out. I also buy cheap “Sale” fabrics to use for a wearable muslin, that I might end up using for a house-dress. Which I did recently, making the short version in cotton poplin for a wearable muslin, and it’s probably one of my most worn house dresses because it’s so cool and comfortable. But the darts sit 1 inch above the pinnacle of my bust, and the waist sits below my natural waist-line… but with pattern adjustments, my next make in the maxi length I wanted and in some special linen fabric I initially bought to make this pattern in, it turned out perfect, and something I gladly wear out in. But mostly I prefer to make a muslin, because I want to see where everything falls, where the hem falls, where the darts and side seams fall on my body. I make adjustments to the muslin, often ripping apart seams, altering seams, letting out, taking in, raising and lowering where it needs it. It’s easier to transfer markings and sew seam lines from muslin directly to pattern pieces - effectively turning your pattern into a pattern block for many future makes and hacks.
I get, and like, the idea of a wearable Muslim, but in order to alter the pattern, don't I need to take the muslin apart to transfer the changes to the actual pattern for future makes? I am still figuring out the main process.
I’m guilty of being afraid to jump in. I really want to sew primarily apparel. I’ve learned to sew crafty items, purses, aprons, quilt, different techniques. But I’m afraid to just start on a clothing item. I feel like I need someone to check my work before I start cutting the fabric.
You might try making a pattern that has a video sewalong included. That could help you get past your fears!
The mistake I’ve made the most often is not laying out my pattern pieces properly (not on the fold, pattern wrong way up).
I'm sure you are not alone!
omg... I'm a magpie! LOL
You're not alone! lol
Can I just say how much I hate the term "vanity sizing"?? It's fat shaming. We know from sewing that sizes are completely arbitrary. Why not call it arbitrary sizing instead?
Thanks for your feedback! "Inconsistent sizing"might be another useful term as well.
Sewing is only 10% sewing.
There are a lot of other elements to sewing than just physically creating stitches, it is true!