SEW PERFECT THE FIRST TIME? Nope! Test these things and instantly sew better garments ‘first time’!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 มิ.ย. 2024
- It's not magic that makes a garment appear to be sewn perfectly 'the first time', it's testing so it's NOT your first time! Let me show you the 10 things I test on almost every garment so you can sew better clothes instantly!
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Did you think I tested this many things? 😀 Leave me a comment, are you a tester like me?
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So, I was wondering what this video would be about, and it wasn't quite what I expected. You're correct, I do all of these types of tests automatically. For beginner sewers, it is truly important to do them. I especially test my iron temperature-I can't tell you the number of garments I've messed up (melted) that just broke my heart. There is only one thing I would add. Most of these tests only take moments and they save minutes or even hours of mistakes (and unpicking) later. They are very important. You are spot on with this topic. Thanks for the reminder.
I test the stitches, ironing qualities, buttonholes and a few other things.
I wash the fabric and dry it by my intended method before cutting.
If it's expensive material, I make a whole test garment in a fabric with similar weight to check the fit.
So yes, I test.
I test everything! I also keep a notebook with notes and samples. It is a pretty fat notebook. 😊
Oh wow, this was so enlightening! I am a beginner and tend to be (very) inpatient, thinking "What can go wrong?" - and of course - more things than I ever imagined possible go wrong and make me pay for it with hours with the seam picker...😅
Seeing this video and learning that testing actually is part of the process, not only a beginners thing - made me look at the testing in a different way. Not as extra work but as a very helpful tool. Thank you so much Evelyn! Your love and passion for sewing and teaching glow in you and your tutorials are a joy!!!
I laughed my way through this video from the beginning to end. I cannot tell you the number of times I have not followed this excellent advice to "save time" or because I was sure that I could do it and then spent 20 hours unpicking the mess.
Lol
I feel like I'm the exact opposite my brain automatically goes ok I'm going to test if this works to the point of making 2 garments one out of cheep mock up material and one out of the intended material. Though im also a nervous reck.
@@victoriatube159 I love this idea and will have to try it out.
Testing is my favorite part! So low-pressure, explorative, and fun!
This is the first time I've thought of it as "testing" instead of "trials" and testing is so much more positive! In my career (software) I test all the time and work out issues and I love it. Truly this is the same thing. We are engineering garments and testing is necessary. I feel like I owe you for this one 😂 Thank you!!!
I am also a software engineer and sewing hobbyist! We should be friends :).
Thank you for this! For so many years, I believed that I was really bad at sewing because I didn't get things right first time and had to redo stuff. I thought having to unpick or seam rip meant I couldn't sew. It made me so despondent and I gave up for many years. It's only in the last couple of years that I realised actually no! You do need to test and it doesn't mean you are rubbish if something doesn't work straight away. Many of these I didn't think of testing so I will do that in future! Thank you.
I'm so happy to hear this! 😄
Yes, I agree so much!! Had I known about testing, it would have been so helpful and I wouldn't have gotten so discouraged.
I know I am very inexperienced with sewing, so I never feel bad if something is difficult. It means I'm learning something new. As a successful former teacher, myself, I had to learn to thwart all the negative crap students can bring - and help them become super-learners if I can.
I am so pleased to see some of the background work that is so taken for granted. Not everyone has been sewing for years. Thank you.
You are brilliant! Love, love, love your angle on efficiency. Slow and careful is not a waste of time . . . rushing and skipping testing is the best way to waste time. I have learned this from you and you alone. Thank you, Evelyn for giving me permission to take care and test.
Honestly the 2 best things my grandma ever taught me with sewing are always double check that your presser foot is down before stitching (silly I know but I forgot several times in the beginning) and to test out stitches on your scraps. Testing really helped me to practice sewing neat straight lines without risking that messiness ending up on my finished pieces, and it taught me a lot about proper stitch length, thread tension, etc. i don’t always anymore if I’m working on something simple in a woven cotton or something, but I always keep that in the back of my mind. Thanks grandma!
You are so knowledgeable and this was an excellent presentation. Anyone who sits down before a sewing machine needs to know these things or else you become frustrated and unsuccessful with sewing. Next you hate it and stop sewing after investing in the hobby. Ask me how I know this🙄
As a young sewist I skipped a lot (let's be honest all) of the testing. I learned a lot of lessons from them. I now do all the tests. No more waisted money, cuz fabric isn't cheap. Love the videos a look forward to them, and not just because of covid@
This made me feel so much better I kept thinking I just sucked cause my stuff wasn’t turning out! No it’s fine I just need more tests lol
Evelyn thank you for being so honest. I have been sewing for years, and I have realised I am impatient, I always want to sew quickly, and miss some of these steps, then I wonder why the garment I am making is not perfect. Love your video’s x
Ooh Jill we are all guilty of doing this! I am! 😂 Thankyou for watching and I hope it helps out your next garment! ❤
Yes I agree with you whole heartedly!
This advice has been an epiphany! It has taken my sewing to a higher level ⭐️
Evelyn, I just want to applaud you for your entire line-up of sewing instructional videos! I may not sew garments, but your tips & instructions are so well done & thought out & can apply to all forms of sewing! I am by nature a perfectionist & appreciate your attention to details. Thank you for your time invested in making each & every one to help ensure others can achieve professional results in their sewing projects! You are a gem!
Never thought of testing all those things beforehand. Thanks for the lesson. I did do a mock up of a wedding dress using an old sheet. The bride was hard to fit. The dress was a perfect fit.
Of course it was, you tested so well!! ❤
Huh, an old sheet. Now I have a reason not to tear them into rags. I don't need more rags.
*Beginning sewing project disaster story time!*
When I was a teenager, my mom gave me a sewing machine and a set of "beginning sewing lessons" at a local fabric shop. For the class, they had us make a pair of elastic-waist trousers. Teenage Me was mortified that the instructor told me to make my trousers a "pattern size 12" when I usually wore a modern US size 4, but I went along with it since they were just going to be pajama trousers.
The pajama trousers came together perfectly. Arrogant Teenage Me thought, "Ha! That was easy, I've got this sewing thing mastered." I decided I was going to make the trousers again in a fancy linen fabric, but this time I was going to make them in my "correct" size and I would make them with a zipper instead of an elastic waistband (because all that "sizing up" was just so you could get that drawstring pajama look, right? and altering a pattern was easy, right?).
So, Teenage Me confidently cut out my fancy fabric (which had NO stretch at all) in the much smaller size I thought I *should* be and sewed everything together in a flash. Before I was going to put the zipper in, I decided to try the trousers on to see how they looked... and Teenage Me was mortified. The new "correct size" fitted trousers barely made it halfway up my thighs, let alone over my behind. I had just wasted all that linen fabric (and my sewing pattern) to make something that could only fit a prepubescent child.
*Moral of the story: Pride goeth before the fit.* I have since gotten over myself and learned to focus on the garment measurements rather than the arbitrary sizing. And from that day forward, I have NEVER cut into my "nice" fabric without first testing the intended pattern on a toile.
I had no idea about testing. I tried sewing clothes years ago and lost heart. I have started quilting recently and really want to try making clothes again. Thank you for giving me the confidence to try again.
Same here. The same thing happened to me and I'm so glad to find these videos to help me make clothes properly.
When I made my first blouse, I made so many errors that I didn't know what happened. I love it anyway, but I sew the neckline twisted, the arms are attached in a funny way, I used seam allowences so small that it was a pain to stitch, because I only saw things made with the serger.
Nowdays I leave giant seam allowences so I can fiddle with them freely. I learned why we still use hand sew in various ways. I never thought I would make a skirt by hand, and I did, and it turned so awesome that in mind really proud of it.
I’m new to sewing and I thought that is why I need to first try everything, but it makes total sense to test everything even when you are skillful because each fabric and pattern, and stitch behaves differently. Your videos are actually a must for any new sewer. Thank you so much!
Yes! Thank you so much for bringing this up. In the industry testing is such a huge part of getting to the actual garment. The pattern is tested, the fabric shrinkage is tested, the machines are tested, different finishes, different pressing methods...
I think of testing and fitting the same way I think of painting prep. The prep takes a lot of time, but the final product looks wonderful. It's always worth it.
She said somewhere sewing is 70% prep. It's like that with many things, to pave the way so they go smoothly.
I've just begun to learn to sew. I test everything because I know nothing and have no skills, so I have to test, but when learning a technique I just test on some scrap fabric. That said, this video made so much sense to me, I never considered that others tested things before doing them on the final garment, I just assumed that once a technique was learned, there was no more need to test. It was such an a-ha moment to me, that testing on the actual fabric too will now become a habit of mine.
You are adorable! The more I watch your videos, the more I love you! Smart, enthusiastic AND beautiful! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
What would we novice sewists do without you? We’d stop before we really got started...thank you ever so much.
Tension on my machine has always been an issue for me, so I've learned to test a swatch of stitching every time I change: fabric, thread, needle, stitch type, or construction area/thicknesses I'm going through. It's a lot of testing, but that's what fabric scraps are for! On my finicky machine I have to tweak the tension on both the bobbin and the upper setting almost every time to ensure nothing puckers or tangles.
I am actually surprised this wasn't one of the tests mentioned in the video (although I suppose it would be included in the first test - after rethreading). Tension is something my machine really seems to struggle with so I always test it, even if I am just switching from seaming 2 layers to three layers it can change the tension requirements or from seaming to hemming.
A stay stitching video would be amazing!
And I definitely wish I’d learned about staystitching before I’d made my circle skirts- because of course, the waists are now far too big, and I now need to put darts into them so they don’t fall down.
The very first ribbon skirt I sewed was a mock skirt. With grosgrain ribbons instead of satin (so I wouldn't mourn the loss in my mistakes). It was just a small one, kinda like the tiny sleeping bags department stores put on display. I am glad I did it that way. It A. Gave me the confidence to make a real skirt and B. I got to learn what NOT to do with my machine on the mock garment instead of the real one.
As for testing things, I usually only work with cottons. And I'm always doing the same thing (sewing ribbons on) so I actually don't test them. However when I made my maxi skirt out of some jersey stretchy type fabric I did test the different stitches on a scrap piece. Again glad I did. I learned a straight stitch was miserable on that fabric and shouldn't even be considered. Glad it was the scrap not the skirt that took that abuse!
Yes!!! This is what the mock up is for!! And your sewing is better for it!! 😃
I do some testing but not as much as you talked about. Didn't think to test some of the stuff you pointed out. I'll be testing more things in the future. Thank you for the information.
My pleasure Tammie! I never knew I should or could test all these things either... obviously it was magic how other people got great results first time 😂😂 I hope it helps your next project! ❤
I still remember terrifying my mother by making the (separate) train for my wedding dress straight out, without testing it on an old sheet (yes it was fine!) I used the sheets on mocking up the bodices for all my bridesmaids (and me) instead...
Dress was dupion silk (so quite well-behaved), underlined and lined in cotton. Bridesmaid's dresses were cotton.
I made a strapless sillk evening dress for a friend, mocked up in curtain lining (fairly columnar dress) all fine, so made the dress up... and it slipped down to reveal boobs! The toile had been fitted with a normal day bra on, she planned to wear the dress without a bra (it had some boning). So hurriedly made spaghetti strap rouleaux out of the silk! She still has the dress, still wears it, some 20 years later :)
So true about testing your machine stitching when you are starting a new project. Once I've cut out my garment, I use the fabric off cuts to check the sewing tension on my sewing machine and Overlocker. I learned this the hard way. A few minutes practicing my button hole technique with a new fabric would have saved me from ruining a nearly finished shirt.
I am so glad I found you. I've only watched 5 videos and have learned so much! Thank you.
I learned sewing back in the early 80's. My teacher was very strict, and before we cut our dress or jacket fabric, we had to make a calico toile. The fittings were endless, and if "mrs Grump" was'nt happy with your stitches, you had to do it all over again... 😞👚👗
Mind... blown... I've heard you say on other videos that you tested something. I didn't realize how much testing you do.
I did have the incident that you mentioned about the interfacing being too stiff. I've also had the not stiff enough. My cautionary tale that happened recently was with knit. I did test the stitch before actually stitching the garment together but I just tested it on a single layer of fabric so, when I sewed a seam, it was different. Rookie mistake. I did not test the hem before doing it on the neckline and, sadly, a double fold hem was too heavy for the fabric and made it fall forward weirdly. And it was waffling. The neckline was high enough that I could cut it. THEN I tested a hem on scrap fabric and found that a single fold was much much much better.
As a side note, the neckline had issues on my chest, given my frame and, in resolving it, I ended up turning a dress that looked sadly too 80s (that was not the look I was going for) to something looking more vintage (happy surprise! or maybe I just ended up doing it well after all).
I was teaching my 8-year-old to use my sewing machine, and I forgot to test after I changed the thread, and we had a mess. It was a fabulous lesson for her about testing!
I have been sewing 50 yrs & learned so much again today! I don't know why i haven't tested so many of these steps before. Interfacing test, brilliant!
I had a pattern for a garment that uses just a rectangle of fabric. Knit fabric. I had just enough of a really bad colored fabric for me, so I used that as my muslin. I did the whole project, tested for fit by wearing it around the house, determined that the armholes were a tad tight, so I unpicked that stitch and redid it. I then realized that I needed some type of closure for the front because a certain part of my upper torso and experimented with different things. All in all I have determined what I needed to adjust in the pattern and will be using my good fabrics to make the top in colors that look good on me! So even though the color is not the greatest I will wear it around the house just to see if there is anything else on it I want to adjust.
Thank you for making this - this is critical information. My mother instilled some of these in me over the (many) years, but I am definitely adding ALL of these to my sewing knowledge 'toolbox'. Testing is key to making sewing your own garments enjoyable, especially if you're a perfectionist like me... there is nothing more aggravating than making a bespoke garment and there be something wonky about it because I didn't take the time to test out things like the hem, seams or button holes on the actual fabric. Oh, and I just shared your channel with my 93 year old mother - she is going to LOVE you... every time I see you, I'm reminded of photos of her from the 1930s and 40s.
Great video! It is so easy as a beginner to skip some or all the testing to "save time." That's when you learn how very important it is to take your time getting it right as you go. So many of my first projects were disappointing but could have been amazing had I known the importance of making a mock-up and testing stitches on scraps.
Exactly all this!! 😀❤ Yes I too wish I knew the importance of slowing down, to better results!
I feel like most of the time when you cut corners to save time, you end up costing yourself more time in trying to fix the mistakes. Like I absolutely hate unpicking seams. As I get older my eyes have a hard time even seeing the stitches if it's black thread on black fabric, for example.I will do almost any amount of testing to avoid that headache of unpicking.
I have to admit that when I was younger, I was in a hurry to get things done. No surprise when the finished projects didn't meet expectations! After I retired, I realized how much I wanted to sew well (my sister-in-law was an excellent seamstress)and love the finished garments. That is when I began testing on the fabric scraps. I now always check my needle type and size, thread tension and stitches for each project. Also take time to stay stitch shoulders, necklines, armholes and also around the hemline, then hand baste zippers, curved seams, sleeves, and around hemlines especially if I'm hand hemming. I also seem to spend more time refreshing my memory on certain aspects of the project (say like attaching facings) so that I feel I know what to do and in what order it needs to be done. While the project may last longer, it is so much more rewarding when done! Thank you for a great video -- always so very helpful.
As an advanced beginner, hand basting and marking seam lines has helped to take the tears and frustration out of sewing. Yes, both take time, but so does seam ripping. Sewing machines and I have polite working relationship, no more. :) The time spent basting to control fabrics to almost always have the final seam come out perfect is worth it for me. That's also includes bonuses like not needing to deal with pins at the machine and not need to try to control fabrics through endless pressing. It seems beyond a certain skill, depending on project, it might not be worth the time spent. But if there people out there like me who eye pins with their blood thirsty qualities in mind, learned to iron just to sew well, and find hand sewing relaxing,it is worth the investment to at least check out as a technique.
I may well do more hand sewing after my machine has had many a tizzy. I guess the machine is great for really long and straight seams but small bits and curves can be less faff by hand
It's a bit of extra work, but I learned from my sewing teacher to test/practice the tricky separate garment components (e.g. collar, zipper fly) a couple times before going ahead on the real one. Really helps take away the dread of the hard parts!
I buy muslin by the bolt to mock up garments. Its cheap and does well. I also try to always buy an extra yard of fabric in case I make a mistake and I keep a piece to use for testing right by my machine.
I want to thank you for your lessons. I have made a dress and follow your hints and the dress was the best that I have made
😄 I'm so happy to that!!
Oh good! I didn't realize even someone as accomplished as Evelyn tests everything too! Sometimes, if I have doubts about how I can handle bulky fabrics especially, I will take the thread out of the machine and do a "dry run".
Testing? Yes, how about 3 or 4 times for each technique when you are making the last pass for prototypes for Collective Doll Companies! Very important because it’s got to be perfect. Thank you for all your amazing videos, Never ever stop learning! That’s a big part of the fun.
Learning to use a new machine taught me to test everything. Learning to set the tension! Bad patterns taught me to sew a dummy piece first. Especially pants. I found myself doing all that testing for better results. Thank you for sharing. I dont feel do dumb doing this.
After coming back to sewing after a 30 year hiatus and my first thought is to test, test, test! I'm glad my instincts were correct! First step was to get my old Singer machine cleaned & tuned and then "experiment". I'm very curious about fitting as I have always just followed the pattern, very excited to explore toiles and fitting! Your videos are excellent. Thank you!
I'm terrible at testing when I'm sewing. I'll do a rough fitting with my interlining or lining fabric, deem it good enough, and then move onto the final version. I typically use cheaper fabrics for my first time sewing up a pattern though, so they're kind of like wearable muslins.
I started sewing my clothing at 13 when ironing was already a daily task - so an iron was nothing new to me. I test so automatically in so many ways, to me it's all just how actual sewing is done.
This is a great video for anyone learning to sew. "Testing" isn't really optional work - it's always part of the process if you're looking for professional results.
My new year's resolution is to actually listen to advice like this. I am a little obsessed with 1920s menswear so I MUST test test test and mock-up. thanks for posting so many really helpful videos.
Thank you. I am learning sew much (😂) from your videos and love listening to you explaining how and why. X
Evelyn congratulations on ur 100k subs ur an amazing teacher
Thankyou so very much!! 😃😃
I never tested before... I sew since I'm 14 (36 now) but I only started testing since this year amd OMG my sewing improved soooo much!!! thanks for your videos, you share so much knowledge others would make you pay for it... I definately need to sign up for your classes 😉
I test everything and it has saved me time in the long run
I so appreciate you taking time to explain these important things. Thanks Evelyn
I have been a tester from when I was young.
As a teen and in love with vintage style I would try the pattern on fabric. I learned back then that I needed to test when I made a dress that the bust feel WAY beneath mind on princess seams.. I should have made the shoulder to bust shorter to bring the bust up.
As I have gotten older I can't always afford the material or the time for a mock-up. So... I am famous for pinning as much of the pattern to the person it's made for as possible to get a fit that works right.
Been sewing for almost 30 years and still finding things that I take an extra step.
Definately stitching, definately the iron.
Im happy to know people also test stitching in different fabrics and settings :)
As someone with an engineering background, Measure Twice Cut Once has been hammered into my brain very well. As well as all the workshop best practices.
And I've definitely learnt the benefit of a good mock-up/scale model/proof of concept.
I'm happy to know that me applying all this to sewing is not the overkill I thought it was!
I'm busy with my first ever skirt and it's in a half velvet half satin that's also half synthetic half something else.🙈
Every single time I turn my iron on, I test it on one of my offcuts so i don't flatten the velvet.
I can't go hot enough to get it properly flat but I'll probably spray it with water when its on me and that should get it good enough.
The one nice thing about this stuff is that it thankfully doesn't show watermarks.
I just get so excited to get sewing! I'm making myself slow down and test things now, because I've made so many bad items (and wore them anyways). But ugh it's torture!
Thank you so much for sharing this with us queen!! I felt like such a bad sewist and so slow for not completing garments as easily as I see in videos. This is so so helpful to know! I’ll definitely be slowing down and testing my stuff. Love your videos!
Nobody ever told me to test stuff! I've just been trying to make things work and turning the completely ugly pieces into scrap fabric stuffing. Will FOR SURE be doing this now.
I test really much! And I like coming into a "flow" and so step by step sew the garment (I only concentrate on one step in a moment). That makes enjoying the sewing (hard to explain).
I am a new sewer and this tips for testing things before doin on the real garment will make my sewing life so much easier !!! Thank you Evelyn! Love your videos they are so inspiring and educational!!!!
I got addicted to your video’s and for my new hobby. Thank you 😊
Awww well thanks so much for watching!! Sewing is such a fun rewarding hobby! 😄
I typed out your list of things that you should test when making a garment. I put it on my sewing machine cabinet and review it when I'm sewing. Thank you for doing this. You are doing a great job teaching. I also watch your tutorials when I start my day to get inspured.
So I’m insane and altering my own wedding dress 😂. But so far all I’ve done is practice with same materials (English net, bridal button elastic, etc). Because I want ALL the confidence before I actually start in on the “only one shot at this”item.
It never occurred to me. What a revelation!
I had no idea that this much testing goes on behind the scenes. I wish I would have known this earlier. I started on making PJs, though that would be easy. I cut it out, (without using a muslin) and ironed the interfacing to the front center of the garment, I believe the interfacing was too heavy because now its fabric feels like cardboard. If I had only tested it first! But I am a new sewer and didn't know. Now one tells you these things, the sewers on youtube make it look so simple. Thank you Evelyn for sharing this with us.
I have done alterations for years including bridal, so the process of seeing how quality garments are made from the inside out has upped my personal sewing skills over 50 years. Buttonholes were and remain one skill I test, test, test every time. And then I always start at the bottom buttonhole, just in case! I’m not so much into making a muslin for each new garment I sew as I know my body pretty well and measurements double checked helps. Also, I’ve found which pattern companies use a block that really fits me better than others. Closet Core is one of my favorites along with Love Notions. If I do use a new Indie company, I generally will make a mock up. This video was spot on with tips!
I’m still new and making my very 1st knit dress. It is a easy sew project but oh my goodness I have made so many unnecessary adjustments only to find out they weren’t needed. I’m enjoying learning the process. So very happy I am playing with a mock up and didn’t use “real” fabric. Thanks for the video it truly makes sense.
Gosh...yes to testing! All of the above you mentioned and also anything that I don't understand well in a pattern instruction (overlaps for example, I made a few times until I could get my head around them!). After cutting out my pattern pieces, I use the scrap bits to test/practice on. Saves me so many huge mistakes on the real thing! I am a great believer that you learn more from your mistakes than the successes! Such a great video for beginners...permission to test and practice! 🤗🤗
I’m just learning to sew and as I want to make good quality garment from the first time I do so much of testing as if I’m preparing to launch a rocket, not to sew a dress😆 your video came out just in time, now I know beforehand about some more things that could possibly go wrong and I’m all prepared. Thank you Evelyn!
Olha Mukhina I too am a beginner at sewing garments. One thing that I have found helpful is to make notations right on my pattern instructions. I will note where I have my needle setting (it can move) so I can have the correct seam allowance and still use the presser foot edge for my guide. Anything I do differently, I write it on the instructions. That will save me if I decide to make the garment again.
Beginner sewer here. Although I should say, picked things up for real after trying every so often since my childhood.
Currently I'm in the process of making an Edwardian walking skirt but without toile/mockup. For one reason actually. The fabric that I'm using is a super dark blue woolen "tanmono" or traditional Japanese kimono fabric bolt, it's basically one length of fabric that is only 39cm wide. Replicating this with regular 150cm wide fabric along with all the piecing on the separate gores is a little too time & energy intense for me. As well as somewhat ruining the fabric, would I ever want to use it for another project, since I've chosen a black tightly woven cotton fabric as my lining material.
With *all* of my other projects I've made toiles/mockups, just not this one due to it being made with such an unusual fabric. I'm almost done with the outer shell, constantly checking whether it's going in the right direction and so far, so good (pfew!).
You have really sold me on the idea of making a toile. My local bedding ware shop is wondering why I am suddenly buying a lot of (cheap) flat double sheets - the fabric for my toiles! Thank you.
I have to thank you
Like......A MILLION TIMES
cause ur my sewing teacher (😅)
Thankyou so much as youve cleared many of my doubts
Ps. Ur the best
😍😍😍 Aww this makes my day!! I'm so happy I could help!
@@Evelyn__Wood 😍😍😍
Yes, I feel the same way!
I watch and remember my first and truly green attempt at reapolstry of a smaller "sunflower" chair. Short on fabric I would learn that fabric really does have a directional grain. To see the result only happened after I sewed it complete. Luck was on my side because by chance I had alternated directions which created a wonderful striped effect as if I planned it from the get go. A rare lucky spot!!
Oh my goodness, this is so logical. I’m always learning and get so much practical advice from these videos.
I test rhings at work. Never thought about sewing tests. Now I'm not afraid to make garments bc i can make a mockup first.
Fortunately I watched one of your videos before I sewed my first garment.
Im so glad I learned about testing, and now view it as part of the process.
One thing I didn’t do was to test after I changed the stitch on my machine which is an extremely basic one.
I turned the dial from zig zag to my normal straight stitch, and the machine continued in zig zag.... lesson learned.
I now test every time I change the stitch setting.
Thank you for your wonderful videos.
The advice has been invaluable for an absolute beginner like me. ❤️
I came across this just as I was trying to streamline my processes for different fabrics so I wouldn't have to do so much testing. But if a pro like you still needs to do a lot of testing, I guess I will have to as well. 🤷 Thanks for the video.
The one lesson I haven't learned yet is taking a break before I work beyond my threshold. I don't like leaving things unfinished but when I'm too tired or when I'm getting frustrated with something, I hurry up and half-a$$ it to be "done." But it never actually works, I always have to go back later and redo it later.
I know about the iron issue. I had to travel to New Zealand for a wedding and I had to finish my outfit by hand. But I went to iron the jacket in polyester and the iron was too hot, oh damn. I was lucky I looked at the sleeve cuff and decided to fold up the cuffs to hide the melt on one sleeve. Major lesson learnt.
When you test write what you did down!! I know I would forget but I do test before sewing the actual project. Brilliant to have your notes if you make the same garment again or use the same kind of fabric.
Gulty - when it comes to making clothing for myself, never really do any testing, but for others I do. Made myself a dress a couple of months ago, but far to big, so it has hung in the wardrobe waiting for me to take apart and start again. New rules - test test and test again xx
I took a few lessons at Joann's years ago and none of the things I have learned from your videos was ever addressed. THe skirt, blouse and jeans we made have never been worn. We should have used cheap mock up fabric. The 1st class was a pillow - I still use that in my car. I took my granddaughter there for a lesson also and learned even less from that instructor. I will be signing up for your classes as soon as I block out some time to do it, ideally July :-)). Thank you so much for these videos.
The first 5 mins I have learnt that when I first started was that I had to know my body measurements. I started around 12 years of age. I watched my grandmother sewing by hand and machine and my dad making my sister and I dresses on the sewing machine. But I never knew about measuring my body to make the garment. I am understanding now of the importance of mock-ups but I have never done one. My thinking was along with the point you mentioned of 'oh no more sewing before I get my dress'. The main issue I am trying to learn is applying my body measurements to a pattern I want to make. I did it once and got so frustrated when it did not match me. I was going to attend a TAFE course to learn but due to Covid-19 that has gone down the tube for about 2 years. Not good since I am now 60 years of age. The first item I want to make is a copy of my body to put over my bodyform, but I am confused about how to do it. I have purchased many old pattern drafting books but I know I am a must-see and hear how to apply the methods. I am hoping I have got my issue covered in this very long message.
This is a good refresher for me, as I start sewing again. Remembering back to some disasters in the past - my prom dress comes to mind. I was not aware of doing a toile then. I think I had measured the pattern pieces for fit, but forgot to factor in that the dress (a Vogue pattern) had 3 layers of fabric - lining, underlining and satin outside layer (and had boning) - and had probably forgotten that the pattern pieces included seam allowances. I ended up having to putt in 2 extra panels under the arms so the bodice of my dress would fit me, because I had bought the last of the satin the shop had and couldn't get more. Thankfully, the princess seams were correctly placed for me, and it was a sleeveless dress.
I am so very new and green. As an older male who just thought sewing ment that needle going up and down then I started to learn what is real and what is fantasy dreams and Hopes. Now learning so much maybe the hard way?
My first letdown came with my seeking help regarding a bobbin and how for some help I went to the local fabric store, "How do I get that thread below up and how to make a stitch?" Ater going back a few times she remembered the small pieces of material I had picked up to learn and practice on. " She said, you said I was green but why oh why did you pick one of the hardest materials to sew - (this being active were because I fell in love with the vivid colors and I admit going thrifting overboard thinking I can fix this or change that....
I could type a book here but my accident morphed into a full onset disability and my icing goes hand in hand with short term memory loss. But I am trying and the fear has taken hold. I like or even love your UTube video/lessons.
the fit one is super helpful - a mistake i literally just learned he hard way from: I made a pair of pjs in brushed cotton and they fit beautifully - plenty of wiggle room in the shoulders etc. So i decided to make a second pair out of an old bed sheet. used exactly the same pattern, measured everything carefully, as far as i was concerned, The first one was 100% cotton, this one is 100% cotton, same pattern size so it is a carbon copy of the first one but with shorter sleeves isn't it... isn't it? ... No. No it is not. I can't move my arms.
Great idea about testing. I have used the basic testing, but never on fabric before sewing. Thanks a bunch.
Test sewing is just part of sewing. I've found that there is no fast way to sew, there maybe different or easier ways but, faster comes by being more efficient. Test sewing is part of that. I've never done a redo on a test strip. I know I've been guilty of fudging a pattern just so I can get more of testing material.
Yes! I am a professional seamstress and I always whenever possible test needles thread trims etc. to make sure I am not wasting my precious time! I do admit my vast experience helps but I still test so many of these things. While I have the greatest iron (cannot melt or shine as its gravity it fed with a shoe) I still test to really feel and see what will iron out and what will not. Too I have learned to use the iron to shape trims and bias bindings before sewing on. While I don't use a toille often (usually only on very fitted bodices in very expensive fabric or to be heavily beaded or applique'd) I do make large seam allowances and baste on sleeves for first fittings. But testing needles and thread and interfacings is super necessary every time.
I learned so many amazing sewing tips from you! Thank you so much! I think all theese advices will make a difference in my sewing! 😊 thank you for being on youtube and teaching us so many things!
You look so lovely showing your hair, it is so pretty. I have been sewing for over fifty years and just love your way of explaining processes x
I absolutely enjoy your videos. I have learned so much. I look forward to more.
Awwww thankyou for watching!! It makes my day to hear that! 😀
Thank you so much for your videos, they are very useful. I committed to a life of testing!
Yes!!!! Your garments will improve instantly I'm sure!!
Oh my gosh, I am a tester for sure. I always test button holes and the iron temp, stitch length.x...but the main thing I have trouble with is sizing. I don't know how to graduate cutting patterns for my size. My body shape is so straight up and down but it's just awful. I made a pair of free range slacks and I cut the pattern for my waist size and the hips were huge. I would love to learn how to alter the pattern before I get started and find a great pants pattern that I could use over and over due to the perfect fit...anyway, I want to tell you and everyone that your vintage stitch school is fabulous. I have really learned so much from the techniques you show as well as the way to pick out the different style era's....I just love it. Thank you so much for that. You are really such a knowledgeable sewist creator of fashion. The clothing stores have just opened here so I can go to the resale shops and start looking for things to re-fashion...so excited.
Yes. I test everything all the time. I just assumed because I'm nowhere near an expert and I don't want to ruin my good fabric. it makes me feel better to see that even a very experienced person like you does all that testing.
Great video! So much valuable information that we novice sewists never consider. Thank you. 😊
My pleasure Debra! I hope it gives you a few new ideas to try! ❤
Thank you, Evelyn! I learned the hard way to test my machine stitches first before sewing my garment but I'm afraid I never thought to test the interfacing. One thing I did test recently was the seam allowance lines on my sewing machine. I was suspicious that the 5/8" line was not correct so I sewed a small sample and in fact the resulting seam allowance on my fabric was almost 7/8"! I fixed this at the time by moving my needle over but I will fiddle with the placement of the throat plate when I have time.
That’s a good idea. I might do that now