sewing is the only craft that i do solely for the finished product and not for the proccess. there are just so many little things to do and so little actual sewing!
I wanted to sew so bad but couldn't get the hang of a sewing machine and I kept giving up. Until i got a 1918 Singer. I loved that thing because it was so simple But, since it was loud and i couldnt get the tension right i gave up. It wasnt until I learned to hand sew by making a 1000 piece quilt did I finally learn to enjoy sewing. I learned so much about myself and what works best for me and no more frustration of a machine. Also, one plus I wasn't expecting: more of myself went into that banket. Like I can look at a section and remember what I was thinking about and feeling as I was sewing specific pieces that never happened with machine sewing
I love sewing, and my biggest tip is not to stress too much. You're not being graded(Telling myself that works because I have a lot of self-doubt and am a bit of a perfectionist and have had to just let myself be bad at things even though it drives me crazy), and it can be fun even when you make mistakes! The finished product is always worth it!
My advice for enjoying the process of sewing more is defintely good prep ! Sewing is the fastest craft I do, but also the most frustrating because things can go very wrong very fast if you are not focused and undoing and redoing the same thing several times drives me crazy. So preparing the fabric well, having all the tools around, having a clear space to work and the ironing board just next to me, makes projects go much more smoothly. Because when you are in the zone, things can go really fast which is very very satisfying !
quilting has so many rules and i follow almost none of them!! i think quilting can be one of the most fun and free form types of sewing and i find it soooo fun, but incredibly challenging. loved this video!!
I don't sew, so I am impressed when others make something from fabric. Your blanket looks great. I just want to add that I enjoy the music you choose for your videos. Keep trying new things...you inspire others.
I love your honesty! I have the same issues with my machines and it def makes the process less enjoyable. What keeps me going is that I always make objects that I really want in my life and that makes it worth it to me.
I think the only problem I'd have with this duvet cover is that I'd be watching tv and every single fibre of my being would tell my brain "you are so comfortable you're in bed under a cosy duvet it's time to not just nap but truly SLEEP"
I laughed really hard when I saw the 18 hours later when you were sewing the rows. I’ve made several quilts and always think that sewing it together won’t take that long, and it takes longer everytime.
First of all your duvet cover is beautiful! Great job! I have been sewing for as long as I can remember, I was probably 5 or 6 years old when I started and I’m now 65. I had more time for sewing when I was younger, and now only do about on or two projects a year. But here is my advice to you. Don’t be so hard on yourself, especially when you’re trying something new. Do you know of anyone who’s “first” anything turned out mistake free?? You need more practice and experience with sewing to be better, faster, etc. Try smaller projects that teach you new skills (just like knitting), they will take less time and money and help you to get better. If it’s available to you, take an in person class where you can get one on one help (I go that from my mother 😊). And if you find sewing is not for you, then it’s not for you - who cares. I don’t know if I can say I like sewing, but every now and then I have the urge to do it. Also, if you want sewing tools, notions, or even sewing machines or sergers, always check garage sales, thrift stores, EBay, etc., first because there are so many people who buy new and then find they don’t like sewing. 😂😂😂
Lately to enjoy more sewing I cut the fabric when I'm in the mood for it, because it's so rare all the pattern's pieces fit correctly on the fabric as indicated in the pattern (I'm talking about clothes here), mostly because the fabrics are not the same width as the fabric in the patterns... And it can take me hours to fit all the pieces and cut them and it drives me crazy if I was in the mood of sewing, because then I just lost hours to cutting fabric. So now I separate the two things in my mind, so when I want to sew I have everything already cut. Another thing I have yet to do, is to sew not what I need, but what I want to sew. All the things I've sewn lately was because I needed this or that, and it became only practical and not so pleasurable, especially if in the end I don't like the garment (that happened a lot). I know what type of garments I like to sew, so I would like to stick to making those and buy the others. That being said, congrats on the duvet cover, it looks really well! 👏 And I'd love to see the other one 😍 Oh and it's surely too late but personally I don't bother to tie a knot with the two threads on the wrong side of the fabric, or only when I'm making topstitch on thin fabrics. Otherwise I just sew back and forth at the start and at the end (like you did) and cut the thread short.
That is a wonderful quilt! Even seasoned sewists have issues with things lining up sometimes. I heard once to wash the fabric the same way you would wash the finished item. Makes perfect sense. I try to find the joy in sewing by slowing down. Appreciate every little thing that goes well. And if you love what you made, you are more motivated to sew again.
Looks like YT took my comment down so let’s try this again! First of all, I love your self-drafted design and bold contrast. Second, don’t worry about less than perfect alignment for seams. It’s still beautiful and functional! I watch Kate at The Last Homely House here on YT. She is so calming and makes me believe I can be a quilter, even though I haven’t made one yet. She has a casual presentation but very good tips. Another quilter I follow is Chris English, also known as AFullEnglish on social media. He does up-cycled, sometimes irreverent, and often activist quilting, and I love his pieces. ~Brenda
@@BreathingYarn I put the ‘at’ in front of the IG handle for Chris English, knowing full well that YT doesn’t like links in comments, but I took a chance.
I keep thinking about getting into sewing, and then have to remind myself I don't have a good space to spread out and cut the fabric, ect. I made a couple simple stuff animals in high school by hand, and enjoyed that. I also took a "fashion design" class in high school that was mostly learning how to sew. I hated using the sewing machines. One day I will sew the skirt I want to make, but I will be doing it all by hand.
For the pulling and tying the thread, thats a finishing technique if you don’t want to back tack. I use it when I am hemming my jeans as a back tack with that thick orange thread is really noticeable. Most things though I just back tack as no one should be looking that closely without getting a slap. Loving your channel btw. Came here on a recommendation from Emily Knits and so glad I did ❤
If you were submitting the quilt to be judged...that would be one thing...but you are making it to enjoy. It looks fantastic and you learned something. If you like the style you made you may want to look into strip piecing. Even the best sewist with the best machine has issues. Sometimes when my machine is being stupid...I just pull the thread out and rethread it completely...or completely turn the tension to none and start all over. I think of it like a restart on the computer...it may not help but it does not hurt 😂
Hi, Isabella! Love your quilt top/duvet cover! I felt your pain, but respect your persistence immensely! Quick tip to help you in future projects like this one - to get better at aligning your “blocks” so that your seams match up, try ironing your seams on one strip in one direction (eg. upward to the north) and then on its neighboring strip, iron the seams downward (to the south). Then when you sew the strips together, the seams will “nest together.” Eg. they “butt up”next to each other, and this helps you match the seams more easily. It’s technically referred to as “nesting your seams”. I also use a boatload of pins when sewing long strips, especially one pin on each side of a seam I’m trying to align…! Great job for a first quilt top, though! Keep up the great work…!
So I am a proessional seamstress soo I really like sewing and for me it is just being able to make ... literally anything I imagine. In the school where I learned my trade they really pushed us to be creative, think outside the box of wearable and "makeable" and then find ways to make it and I just really love that :) Also the preciseness is somehting I personally really enjoy. Just teeny tiny details :D
That's a really lovely perspective! It's been a few months and I am really starting to find a groove in sewing. It is crazy how much there is to learn but I am officially a confident beginner!
I'm a self taught not very good sewer and for years I had trouble with nesting/the top thread getting stuck every single time I made anything, I watched so many videos and it wasn't untill someone mentioned in passing that it's important to make sure the pressure foot is down when threading the top thread for tension that I was able to Sew properly. Also another beginner pro tip that no-one told me is if your top thread is snagging around your bobbin when you're trying to pull away you're project rotate the needle one more time and it comes away. This was my PSA for simple sewing stuff that people just know and I never did for anyone like me.
@BreathingYarn ❤️ I love watching your videos every Sunday they come out. This video gave me the sewing bug and now I'm anxious to get my matchine out again (of course I get the itch the only time I lend it out to a friend)
Modern sewing machines are difficult because they are all plastic. When you are sewing a quilt top and you are chain stitching , you dont have to pull the first block out of the way. Just butt your next block up against the first one. When your feed dogs start moving it will give you the little space of thread between the blocks. You havent done anything wrong , you just dont know til you know. If you ride a galloping horse 10 foot away past your quilt top and you cant see the flaws then it is perfect. Done is better than perfect. Now the truth in quilting and crafting of any kind. We aren't machines we cannot do the thing perfect the first time or even the 4000th time. I love your quilt top and I love the "flaws" in it. I do have a couple suggestions for you if you wish to go a little more into your piecing. Elenore Burns aka Quilt in a Day and Missouri Star Quilt. I find these two have the best to the point tutorials. I would enjoy seeing more of your adventures in piecing. Most importantly you did nothing wrong.
I loved hearing your adventure with the tire pop and price guns. your husband sounds so wholesome and seeing you beam while talking about him is just so sweet 💗 I struggle with sewing as well! growing up my mom was ALWAYS sewing but I prefer couch-sitting crafts and hobbies (knit, crochet, reading!) and I find sewing so tedious and not relaxing, but I wish I loved it because I love the sustainability of being able to mend clothes or fix the fit on old clothes. hopefully I have a sewing era in my life 😂
You’re awesome, thanks! I love your term “couch sitting crafts”. It’s so true, I definitely prefer more portable crafts where I can chill in a comfy spot.
What makes sewing enjoyable for me is that I get to take this pretty fabric and turn it into something that I can use! And if it's clothing, then it's designed just for me in the way it fits and other details, like enough pockets:D So the same as with knitting and crochet, where I take the pretty yarn and turn it into something I can use:D From technical point of view I think sewing is enjoyable as a process when it's well planned out, my workspace is clear enough and I have all the tools, threads etc that I will be needing. My sewing machine is pretty old at this point, but I have learned how to properly use it only in the last year or so. Who knew you actually do need to change the needle once in a while:'D Also just watching a lot of sewing youtube seems to have helped me to build an understanding of what kind of things there are and should be taken into account even if I haven't tried it before. Also I like that sewing is really fast compared to knitting and crochet. Sometimes it's really nice to have a finished piece within a day or two:)
It’s gorgeous! I share all your feelings about sewing. Also your videos are just the best, I will be excited to watch any and all crafting videos you make!
Great job! I've tried to make patchwork quilts/blankets many times over the last like 20 years and have never managed to finish one. I love that you decide to do the thing and *gasp of awe* you do the thing!
pleasssseee do the other quilt/duev cover!!!! as someone who knows exteremly little about sewing, its fun to watch and attempt to understand before i try it and see how many time i have to start over to make something lol
You did an amazing job of a quilt ! To reduce the amount of threads you have to deal with, you can drastically reduce the length between the pieces when chain sewing (or batch sewing) : you really just need them to not overlap. Also, if your next project (of which I would love to see the video) involves a similar pattern, you might want to sew together long stripes of off white and brown (on the long side), and then turn your large piece of alternating brown and white stripes and cut it into 3 inches wide bands of squares, half squares, etc. It would, I think, make the process easier (less small pieces to cut, and they would already be aligned). Very impressed by your first attempt, congrats !
I'd say there are three main options for tying off thread when sewing: 1. backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam 2. Pull the thread through and tie off 3. Nothing. Usually when piecing, you don't worry about tying off your thread. Here are the reasons: You might be using a smaller stitch than regular sewing, which comes undone less easily, the ends of the thread will be sewn over a couple of times as you piece and quilt, and if you bothered to tie a knot, it might get cut off anyway if you trim your blocks. Personally, I don't enjoy garment sewing, but quilting much more suits my personality. I hope you enjoy it!
It's fantastic!! I'm so with you on the sewing feels-I love the process of knitting and love spending tons of time on it, but for sewing, I'm mainly just doing it because I want the final product. It's so nice that needles have no parts that get jammed 😂 Would love to see your next version!!
Your blanket is beautiful and I'm so glad you're going to give it another go. We are our own worst critics, but I think what you've made here is beautiful! Something I heard a couple of years ago is to (try to, it's hard) mirror your self talk to be the same way you'd talk to a friend. Even if they messed up, you'd never talk to them the way we talk to ourselves. You're awesome! It may feel wrong to say "hey, I'm awesome!!" but it's not. ♥ Sewing machine tension is important. I can't tell you how to fix it (I don't know enough to know if machines tension differently) but when it's off, it's the most frustrating thing ever. 😤 Get it serviced, should cost less than $50. Probably less because you're in the US. If you decide you love sewing, highly recommend getting a cutting mat, rotary cutter, and some quilting rulers. I find this set up so much faster and less frustrating than shears, especially for strips/squares/rectangular shapes.
Some people will say to figure it out on your own, and that is all fine and good if you start out with it working, and have time to learn it. I'm still learning mine and I've had it for ages. Sometimes it's really truly worth it to put it in the professionals hands instead of getting so frustrated trying to do it myself. You're likely to just not use it anymore. ♥
Agree with the advice about good prep! Starch can also be your friend for more precise piecing when it comes to quilting. :) Pulling the thread I’m assuming is when you quilt your sandwich? It’s to pull up your bobbin thread and tie knots so you can bury it inside your batting. I don’t always do it but it’s for extra security!
I love how that came out! I have been sewing quilts and clothes since I've been able to reach the floor sitting lol to make it enjoyable for me, I usually listen to audio books or music while I'm working. I almost always play with scraps I buy at the thrift shop for like 15 min before pulling out my "good" material to give my machine a chance to be an ahole and to rid myself of "crappy project" anxiety.
I have many insights as usual. I wish I could talk with you in person or over the phone. I have made patchwork quilts and simple square quilts by hand and machine. I know all about the technical difficulties of a sewing machine. I would suggest taking some online classes on machine maintenance. It will help so much. A question I have is, how did you join the layers together? The quilting technique creates pockets of air which captures the heat and creates warmth. The design reminds me of op art a geometric design style inspired by the Bauhaus movement. It is visually interesting. I am loquacious and out-going. My husband is not. He is always so fascinated that I can speak with a stranger as if we have been friends for years. A couple weeks ago, we went to a grocery to pick up a few things. The lady in front of us at the check-out had to decide what she couldn't pay for with her allowed budget. I spoke up saying that I had a few dollars left on my EBT card and offered the balance to her. We did the transaction, and she was able to purchase everything she wanted and had money left over. The cashier was so impressed that he gave us an additional discount on our purchase. I just love doing these types of good deeds. ACK! Do not end the thread like that! just sew backwards a few stitches. Perfection is not attractive. The best works of art have imperfections. That's what makes them unique. Try not to be so hard on yourself. If you are really stuck, ask a friend over to give you another perspective. I learn so much when making projects in a group. Breathe deep. Think peace.
Love you comment! To answer your question, I didn’t join the layers together. It’s technically not quilting, just patchwork. I didn’t know there was a difference until after I started. Now I’m all exited to dive in and learn more!!!
The knotting thing is an alternative to doing backstitches, it’s mostly used on darts or similar things, it’s not necessary 99% of the time, back stitching is fine. And as much as I love sewing i have 0 times, i complain the entire time and at the end im like “wow that was amazing I’m so glad i did that”
Well done! Great project, thoughtful reflection, and a tire story = very entertaining podcast. Plus I now want to hang with your hubby for wholesome fun! 😂
Your blanket looks great! When I started sewing, I was very insecure and sometimes I still am. I found a good thread really helpful. Sometimes I hate every part of the process but I want the finished project. And I am always very proud like a little child with their crafts. Ps: sorry for my bad english, its my second language and I am bad in expressing myself.
@@BreathingYarn aww thank you 🥰 Yeah love can help but also a little bit of hate 😂 that's a saying of my little sister. And I like to rip my woven cotton fabrics in pieces. That's the way I make little pillowcases.
Interesting fact: Quilters don't always prewash their fabric. One school of thought is that the shrinking of the fabric AFTER construction gives the quilt a more puffy, rustic look. Also, if you buy small precut shapes like a jelly roll (2.5" wide strips) or a charm pack (5" squares), you can't really prewash those because you'd lose too much fabric to fraying.
Much of quilting is trying to cut corners and save time lol. I was taught by my great aunt and one piece of advice if anyone wanted to make a quilt like this is to sew them together as strips instead of cutting them into squares. Then, you would cut it into strips the width you want them to be and sew them again in the design you desired. I am not sure that was a clear description lol. The blanket turned out beautifully and if you were happy enough with the end product to want to make another then it was a success.
yes! we want more sewing videos! also, can i recommend a quilting channel to you? "from carly b" is the name, i just really like to see their process and maybe you can too
Wow, it is soooo cool, and you designed it yourself!! You haven't done it wrong, though it could be done 'quicker' by sewing together long alternating strips and cutting them to the height you need. But that could be a bit boring :/ x
@@BreathingYarn 😂 oops! Sewing all the squares together does sound fun though. I took a photo of it on my phone so I can make one too, hope that's ok, you're officially an influencer 😉
Sewist here: knotting the top and bottom threads helps to lock in the stitch (but not totally necessary). As for your question about how to enjoy sewing more: is to start with smaller projects that do not matter as much if you mess up or can’t finish. Starting with stretchy or silky fabric is a recipe for frustration. The machine can smell fear and frustration, never let it sense your unease.
Thank you for sharing that story about your grandmother. I love the honesty to know she was doing it out love but you still wanted to learn, I feel that. 🥰
Sorry about so many comments! This video is just touching a nerve for me 😊 If you are a bit of a perfectionist, you can do what I did when teaching myself to quilt: At each step I would watch several videos and read blog posts about that process, then go do the thing, then watch more videos for the next step. I was exposed to a lot of wisdom and alternative techniques that way. Otherwise, I agree with other commenters, that you should not be so hard on yourself. Particularly on this quilt, the misaligned rows look completely like an avant-guarde design choice! I really like it!
unfortunately the way to enjoy machine sewing more is to just get really familiar with your machine. study the manual & learn do your own basic maintenance and repairs, etc. I learned on a particular machine & got really familiar with it & really enjoyed it, but then I had to get a different one and having to do that over again sucked so much I just switched to hand sewing instead. I will say that 90% of the time, when something goes wrong it's a thread tension issue. and there's multiple places to adjust thread tension depending on the machine, all of which effect each other, and you just gotta fiddle with it. then different fabrics and stitches need different tension and ugh. Try hand sewing instead is all i'm saying. But I'm a process crafter, not a finished object crafter, so i'm totally fine with the idea of piecing & an emperor sized duvet cover, possibly for years. (wow another aside. yes always wash your fabric UNLESS you specifically want that super crinkly look around the stitches, because that's a result of the fabric shrinking after being quilted.)
Oh I have the most random question. So, when you’re standing ironing the fabric, is the green book standing on the far end of the very top self a complete Grimm’s Fairytales? My sister had a copy of that book growing up and I have fond memories of leafing through all the different stories growing up.
Thread quality is a BIG thing for me for enjoying sewing. Makes all the difference because it saves a lot of frustration :)
sewing is the only craft that i do solely for the finished product and not for the proccess. there are just so many little things to do and so little actual sewing!
THANK YOU! Yes, I’m always surprised that actually sewing is such a small percentage of sewing.
I wanted to sew so bad but couldn't get the hang of a sewing machine and I kept giving up. Until i got a 1918 Singer. I loved that thing because it was so simple
But, since it was loud and i couldnt get the tension right i gave up. It wasnt until I learned to hand sew by making a 1000 piece quilt did I finally learn to enjoy sewing. I learned so much about myself and what works best for me and no more frustration of a machine. Also, one plus I wasn't expecting: more of myself went into that banket. Like I can look at a section and remember what I was thinking about and feeling as I was sewing specific pieces that never happened with machine sewing
That’s so awesome!
Love the pricing gun story. Yes, bobbin drama is the worst part of sewing. Your quilt looks so cozy!
I’m officially gonna call my bobbins, drama queens
I love sewing, and my biggest tip is not to stress too much. You're not being graded(Telling myself that works because I have a lot of self-doubt and am a bit of a perfectionist and have had to just let myself be bad at things even though it drives me crazy), and it can be fun even when you make mistakes! The finished product is always worth it!
That’s awesome. I’m gonna repeat that over and over “you’re not being graded”
My advice for enjoying the process of sewing more is defintely good prep ! Sewing is the fastest craft I do, but also the most frustrating because things can go very wrong very fast if you are not focused and undoing and redoing the same thing several times drives me crazy. So preparing the fabric well, having all the tools around, having a clear space to work and the ironing board just next to me, makes projects go much more smoothly. Because when you are in the zone, things can go really fast which is very very satisfying !
Thank you! I will definitely focus on that next time. Clear workspace, tools ready to go.
quilting has so many rules and i follow almost none of them!! i think quilting can be one of the most fun and free form types of sewing and i find it soooo fun, but incredibly challenging. loved this video!!
Love that take! No rules 🥰
I don't sew, so I am impressed when others make something from fabric. Your blanket looks great. I just want to add that I enjoy the music you choose for your videos. Keep trying new things...you inspire others.
Thank you 🥰 that’s so kind of you to say
I love your honesty! I have the same issues with my machines and it def makes the process less enjoyable. What keeps me going is that I always make objects that I really want in my life and that makes it worth it to me.
Yes, I’m definitely more of a product sewist than a process. 😂
I think the only problem I'd have with this duvet cover is that I'd be watching tv and every single fibre of my being would tell my brain "you are so comfortable you're in bed under a cosy duvet it's time to not just nap but truly SLEEP"
Mini duvets are dangerous! Lots of naps without my consent 😂
I laughed really hard when I saw the 18 hours later when you were sewing the rows. I’ve made several quilts and always think that sewing it together won’t take that long, and it takes longer everytime.
😂 sewing is a tricky craft. I keep thinking it’ll be so fast and I get fooled every time!
First of all your duvet cover is beautiful! Great job! I have been sewing for as long as I can remember, I was probably 5 or 6 years old when I started and I’m now 65. I had more time for sewing when I was younger, and now only do about on or two projects a year. But here is my advice to you. Don’t be so hard on yourself, especially when you’re trying something new. Do you know of anyone who’s “first” anything turned out mistake free?? You need more practice and experience with sewing to be better, faster, etc. Try smaller projects that teach you new skills (just like knitting), they will take less time and money and help you to get better. If it’s available to you, take an in person class where you can get one on one help (I go that from my mother 😊). And if you find sewing is not for you, then it’s not for you - who cares. I don’t know if I can say I like sewing, but every now and then I have the urge to do it. Also, if you want sewing tools, notions, or even sewing machines or sergers, always check garage sales, thrift stores, EBay, etc., first because there are so many people who buy new and then find they don’t like sewing. 😂😂😂
Love this! Yes and thank you 🥰
Lately to enjoy more sewing I cut the fabric when I'm in the mood for it, because it's so rare all the pattern's pieces fit correctly on the fabric as indicated in the pattern (I'm talking about clothes here), mostly because the fabrics are not the same width as the fabric in the patterns... And it can take me hours to fit all the pieces and cut them and it drives me crazy if I was in the mood of sewing, because then I just lost hours to cutting fabric. So now I separate the two things in my mind, so when I want to sew I have everything already cut. Another thing I have yet to do, is to sew not what I need, but what I want to sew. All the things I've sewn lately was because I needed this or that, and it became only practical and not so pleasurable, especially if in the end I don't like the garment (that happened a lot). I know what type of garments I like to sew, so I would like to stick to making those and buy the others.
That being said, congrats on the duvet cover, it looks really well! 👏 And I'd love to see the other one 😍
Oh and it's surely too late but personally I don't bother to tie a knot with the two threads on the wrong side of the fabric, or only when I'm making topstitch on thin fabrics. Otherwise I just sew back and forth at the start and at the end (like you did) and cut the thread short.
This design is incredible
I love your point of view. It’s a fun puzzle. A challenge.
That is a wonderful quilt! Even seasoned sewists have issues with things lining up sometimes. I heard once to wash the fabric the same way you would wash the finished item. Makes perfect sense. I try to find the joy in sewing by slowing down. Appreciate every little thing that goes well. And if you love what you made, you are more motivated to sew again.
Thanks 🥰
Looks like YT took my comment down so let’s try this again! First of all, I love your self-drafted design and bold contrast. Second, don’t worry about less than perfect alignment for seams. It’s still beautiful and functional! I watch Kate at The Last Homely House here on YT. She is so calming and makes me believe I can be a quilter, even though I haven’t made one yet. She has a casual presentation but very good tips. Another quilter I follow is Chris English, also known as AFullEnglish on social media. He does up-cycled, sometimes irreverent, and often activist quilting, and I love his pieces. ~Brenda
Ouuu, those sound like great channels!!! I’m also sorry TH-cam messed with your comments, I wonder why??? Thanks for posting it again though 🥰
@@BreathingYarn I put the ‘at’ in front of the IG handle for Chris English, knowing full well that YT doesn’t like links in comments, but I took a chance.
I keep thinking about getting into sewing, and then have to remind myself I don't have a good space to spread out and cut the fabric, ect. I made a couple simple stuff animals in high school by hand, and enjoyed that. I also took a "fashion design" class in high school that was mostly learning how to sew. I hated using the sewing machines. One day I will sew the skirt I want to make, but I will be doing it all by hand.
I love that! Hand stitching is so special 🥰
For the pulling and tying the thread, thats a finishing technique if you don’t want to back tack. I use it when I am hemming my jeans as a back tack with that thick orange thread is really noticeable. Most things though I just back tack as no one should be looking that closely without getting a slap.
Loving your channel btw. Came here on a recommendation from Emily Knits and so glad I did ❤
Thanks!!! 😊 Love your comment 😂
If you were submitting the quilt to be judged...that would be one thing...but you are making it to enjoy. It looks fantastic and you learned something. If you like the style you made you may want to look into strip piecing. Even the best sewist with the best machine has issues. Sometimes when my machine is being stupid...I just pull the thread out and rethread it completely...or completely turn the tension to none and start all over. I think of it like a restart on the computer...it may not help but it does not hurt 😂
I love your point of view. My only move when sewing is to rethread, my troubleshooting ends there 😂
Hi, Isabella! Love your quilt top/duvet cover! I felt your pain, but respect your persistence immensely! Quick tip to help you in future projects like this one - to get better at aligning your “blocks” so that your seams match up, try ironing your seams on one strip in one direction (eg. upward to the north) and then on its neighboring strip, iron the seams downward (to the south). Then when you sew the strips together, the seams will “nest together.” Eg. they “butt up”next to each other, and this helps you match the seams more easily. It’s technically referred to as “nesting your seams”. I also use a boatload of pins when sewing long strips, especially one pin on each side of a seam I’m trying to align…! Great job for a first quilt top, though! Keep up the great work…!
Thanks! I’m definitely giving that a try with the next blanket, I’m starting is asap in August!
So I am a proessional seamstress soo I really like sewing and for me it is just being able to make ... literally anything I imagine. In the school where I learned my trade they really pushed us to be creative, think outside the box of wearable and "makeable" and then find ways to make it and I just really love that :) Also the preciseness is somehting I personally really enjoy. Just teeny tiny details :D
That's a really lovely perspective! It's been a few months and I am really starting to find a groove in sewing. It is crazy how much there is to learn but I am officially a confident beginner!
I'm a self taught not very good sewer and for years I had trouble with nesting/the top thread getting stuck every single time I made anything, I watched so many videos and it wasn't untill someone mentioned in passing that it's important to make sure the pressure foot is down when threading the top thread for tension that I was able to Sew properly. Also another beginner pro tip that no-one told me is if your top thread is snagging around your bobbin when you're trying to pull away you're project rotate the needle one more time and it comes away.
This was my PSA for simple sewing stuff that people just know and I never did for anyone like me.
Ouuuu, those are great tips!! Thank you
@BreathingYarn ❤️ I love watching your videos every Sunday they come out. This video gave me the sewing bug and now I'm anxious to get my matchine out again (of course I get the itch the only time I lend it out to a friend)
I loved your confidence talk at the end. So good and so true!
thanks!
Modern sewing machines are difficult because they are all plastic. When you are sewing a quilt top and you are chain stitching , you dont have to pull the first block out of the way. Just butt your next block up against the first one. When your feed dogs start moving it will give you the little space of thread between the blocks. You havent done anything wrong , you just dont know til you know. If you ride a galloping horse 10 foot away past your quilt top and you cant see the flaws then it is perfect. Done is better than perfect.
Now the truth in quilting and crafting of any kind. We aren't machines we cannot do the thing perfect the first time or even the 4000th time. I love your quilt top and I love the "flaws" in it. I do have a couple suggestions for you if you wish to go a little more into your piecing. Elenore Burns aka Quilt in a Day and Missouri Star Quilt. I find these two have the best to the point tutorials. I would enjoy seeing more of your adventures in piecing.
Most importantly you did nothing wrong.
Thank you, you’re so sweet 🥹 I’ll have to write that down somewhere - if I can’t see the flaws on a galloping horse, than I’m good! 😊
I loved hearing your adventure with the tire pop and price guns. your husband sounds so wholesome and seeing you beam while talking about him is just so sweet 💗 I struggle with sewing as well! growing up my mom was ALWAYS sewing but I prefer couch-sitting crafts and hobbies (knit, crochet, reading!) and I find sewing so tedious and not relaxing, but I wish I loved it because I love the sustainability of being able to mend clothes or fix the fit on old clothes. hopefully I have a sewing era in my life 😂
You’re awesome, thanks! I love your term “couch sitting crafts”. It’s so true, I definitely prefer more portable crafts where I can chill in a comfy spot.
What makes sewing enjoyable for me is that I get to take this pretty fabric and turn it into something that I can use! And if it's clothing, then it's designed just for me in the way it fits and other details, like enough pockets:D So the same as with knitting and crochet, where I take the pretty yarn and turn it into something I can use:D
From technical point of view I think sewing is enjoyable as a process when it's well planned out, my workspace is clear enough and I have all the tools, threads etc that I will be needing. My sewing machine is pretty old at this point, but I have learned how to properly use it only in the last year or so. Who knew you actually do need to change the needle once in a while:'D Also just watching a lot of sewing youtube seems to have helped me to build an understanding of what kind of things there are and should be taken into account even if I haven't tried it before.
Also I like that sewing is really fast compared to knitting and crochet. Sometimes it's really nice to have a finished piece within a day or two:)
That’s amazing! Do you have any sewing channel recommendations?
It’s gorgeous! I share all your feelings about sewing. Also your videos are just the best, I will be excited to watch any and all crafting videos you make!
You're the best!
Great job! I've tried to make patchwork quilts/blankets many times over the last like 20 years and have never managed to finish one. I love that you decide to do the thing and *gasp of awe* you do the thing!
😂 you’re awesome
pleasssseee do the other quilt/duev cover!!!! as someone who knows exteremly little about sewing, its fun to watch and attempt to understand before i try it and see how many time i have to start over to make something lol
You did an amazing job of a quilt !
To reduce the amount of threads you have to deal with, you can drastically reduce the length between the pieces when chain sewing (or batch sewing) : you really just need them to not overlap.
Also, if your next project (of which I would love to see the video) involves a similar pattern, you might want to sew together long stripes of off white and brown (on the long side), and then turn your large piece of alternating brown and white stripes and cut it into 3 inches wide bands of squares, half squares, etc. It would, I think, make the process easier (less small pieces to cut, and they would already be aligned).
Very impressed by your first attempt, congrats !
Thanks! I’m so sad, I didn’t think of doing long strips and cutting them after until it was too late 😂
The machine tension is what is causing the frustration.
This came out so cute!!!!! You did a great job!!!! I'm looking forward to the next one!!
Thank you so much!!
I'd say there are three main options for tying off thread when sewing: 1. backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam 2. Pull the thread through and tie off 3. Nothing. Usually when piecing, you don't worry about tying off your thread. Here are the reasons: You might be using a smaller stitch than regular sewing, which comes undone less easily, the ends of the thread will be sewn over a couple of times as you piece and quilt, and if you bothered to tie a knot, it might get cut off anyway if you trim your blocks.
Personally, I don't enjoy garment sewing, but quilting much more suits my personality. I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you for that explanation! That makes so much sense. I always was taught to do backstitch, so it sounds like I can just keep doing that 😊
It's fantastic!! I'm so with you on the sewing feels-I love the process of knitting and love spending tons of time on it, but for sewing, I'm mainly just doing it because I want the final product. It's so nice that needles have no parts that get jammed 😂 Would love to see your next version!!
Yes! Thank you!
Your blanket is beautiful and I'm so glad you're going to give it another go. We are our own worst critics, but I think what you've made here is beautiful! Something I heard a couple of years ago is to (try to, it's hard) mirror your self talk to be the same way you'd talk to a friend. Even if they messed up, you'd never talk to them the way we talk to ourselves. You're awesome! It may feel wrong to say "hey, I'm awesome!!" but it's not. ♥
Sewing machine tension is important. I can't tell you how to fix it (I don't know enough to know if machines tension differently) but when it's off, it's the most frustrating thing ever. 😤 Get it serviced, should cost less than $50. Probably less because you're in the US.
If you decide you love sewing, highly recommend getting a cutting mat, rotary cutter, and some quilting rulers. I find this set up so much faster and less frustrating than shears, especially for strips/squares/rectangular shapes.
Thanks! I should definitely get it serviced, I’ve never considered that before but that’s not too expensive and I think would be worth it!
Some people will say to figure it out on your own, and that is all fine and good if you start out with it working, and have time to learn it. I'm still learning mine and I've had it for ages. Sometimes it's really truly worth it to put it in the professionals hands instead of getting so frustrated trying to do it myself. You're likely to just not use it anymore. ♥
Agree with the advice about good prep! Starch can also be your friend for more precise piecing when it comes to quilting. :) Pulling the thread I’m assuming is when you quilt your sandwich? It’s to pull up your bobbin thread and tie knots so you can bury it inside your batting. I don’t always do it but it’s for extra security!
Ouuu, good to know!
I love how that came out! I have been sewing quilts and clothes since I've been able to reach the floor sitting lol to make it enjoyable for me, I usually listen to audio books or music while I'm working. I almost always play with scraps I buy at the thrift shop for like 15 min before pulling out my "good" material to give my machine a chance to be an ahole and to rid myself of "crappy project" anxiety.
That’s a really awesome approach, I love the time to mess around with the scraps
I have many insights as usual. I wish I could talk with you in person or over the phone. I have made patchwork quilts and simple square quilts by hand and machine. I know all about the technical difficulties of a sewing machine. I would suggest taking some online classes on machine maintenance. It will help so much. A question I have is, how did you join the layers together? The quilting technique creates pockets of air which captures the heat and creates warmth. The design reminds me of op art a geometric design style inspired by the Bauhaus movement. It is visually interesting. I am loquacious and out-going. My husband is not. He is always so fascinated that I can speak with a stranger as if we have been friends for years. A couple weeks ago, we went to a grocery to pick up a few things. The lady in front of us at the check-out had to decide what she couldn't pay for with her allowed budget. I spoke up saying that I had a few dollars left on my EBT card and offered the balance to her. We did the transaction, and she was able to purchase everything she wanted and had money left over. The cashier was so impressed that he gave us an additional discount on our purchase. I just love doing these types of good deeds. ACK! Do not end the thread like that! just sew backwards a few stitches. Perfection is not attractive. The best works of art have imperfections. That's what makes them unique. Try not to be so hard on yourself. If you are really stuck, ask a friend over to give you another perspective. I learn so much when making projects in a group. Breathe deep. Think peace.
Love you comment! To answer your question, I didn’t join the layers together. It’s technically not quilting, just patchwork. I didn’t know there was a difference until after I started. Now I’m all exited to dive in and learn more!!!
Loved the tire popping story❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉😂
The knotting thing is an alternative to doing backstitches, it’s mostly used on darts or similar things, it’s not necessary 99% of the time, back stitching is fine.
And as much as I love sewing i have 0 times, i complain the entire time and at the end im like “wow that was amazing I’m so glad i did that”
Thank you for explaining that, makes a lot of sense! I can also relate to being crabby during the process but forgetting all the pain once it’s done 😂
absolutely love it!😍
Thank you!!
Slip covers/washable cushion covers!!
Ouuuuu, yes!
Well done! Great project, thoughtful reflection, and a tire story = very entertaining podcast. Plus I now want to hang with your hubby for wholesome fun! 😂
Thank you so much😂 and I’ll let him know!
Your blanket looks great!
When I started sewing, I was very insecure and sometimes I still am. I found a good thread really helpful.
Sometimes I hate every part of the process but I want the finished project. And I am always very proud like a little child with their crafts.
Ps: sorry for my bad english, its my second language and I am bad in expressing myself.
That’s a good tip (and your English is perfect). I think I needlessly to have a little more love for the projects.
@@BreathingYarn aww thank you 🥰
Yeah love can help but also a little bit of hate 😂 that's a saying of my little sister.
And I like to rip my woven cotton fabrics in pieces. That's the way I make little pillowcases.
Your duvet cover looks great and reminds me of a artisinal chocolate bar
You’re awesome! And thank you. Also, I love that you see a chocolate bar! I’m totally gonna see that now and I love it!!! 🥰
Your hair looks so cool!
Thanks!
Interesting fact: Quilters don't always prewash their fabric. One school of thought is that the shrinking of the fabric AFTER construction gives the quilt a more puffy, rustic look. Also, if you buy small precut shapes like a jelly roll (2.5" wide strips) or a charm pack (5" squares), you can't really prewash those because you'd lose too much fabric to fraying.
That’s a good tip! I’ll have to look up rustic patchwork and see if that’s my vibe, I love a little homemade flair 🥰
Much of quilting is trying to cut corners and save time lol. I was taught by my great aunt and one piece of advice if anyone wanted to make a quilt like this is to sew them together as strips instead of cutting them into squares. Then, you would cut it into strips the width you want them to be and sew them again in the design you desired. I am not sure that was a clear description lol. The blanket turned out beautifully and if you were happy enough with the end product to want to make another then it was a success.
Oh you’re so sweet! Yea, I was devastated I didn’t think of that until I had cut the squares and I was too cheap to buy more fabric 😂
Definitely dry the fabric. You may have to iron them, also.
You did a GREAT job!
Thank you! 🥰
yes! we want more sewing videos! also, can i recommend a quilting channel to you? "from carly b" is the name, i just really like to see their process and maybe you can too
Omg I love her channel! I found her about a month ago and binged watched so many of her videos. 🥰
Lobster 🦞
Wow, it is soooo cool, and you designed it yourself!! You haven't done it wrong, though it could be done 'quicker' by sewing together long alternating strips and cutting them to the height you need. But that could be a bit boring :/ x
I didn’t think to do that until after I cut out all the squares and I was a little mad at myself 😂😂
@@BreathingYarn 😂 oops! Sewing all the squares together does sound fun though. I took a photo of it on my phone so I can make one too, hope that's ok, you're officially an influencer 😉
Sewist here: knotting the top and bottom threads helps to lock in the stitch (but not totally necessary). As for your question about how to enjoy sewing more: is to start with smaller projects that do not matter as much if you mess up or can’t finish. Starting with stretchy or silky fabric is a recipe for frustration. The machine can smell fear and frustration, never let it sense your unease.
Also beautiful work!
I need to put a sticker on my machine that says “I can smell fear” 😂
@@BreathingYarn I need that sticker too
You hit the nail on the head there, it's not a confidence thing there. So very well put!
Thank you for sharing that story about your grandmother. I love the honesty to know she was doing it out love but you still wanted to learn, I feel that. 🥰
Sorry about so many comments! This video is just touching a nerve for me 😊 If you are a bit of a perfectionist, you can do what I did when teaching myself to quilt: At each step I would watch several videos and read blog posts about that process, then go do the thing, then watch more videos for the next step. I was exposed to a lot of wisdom and alternative techniques that way. Otherwise, I agree with other commenters, that you should not be so hard on yourself. Particularly on this quilt, the misaligned rows look completely like an avant-guarde design choice! I really like it!
Thank you, I love this comment. That’s a really good process!
Is popping a tire the same as getting a flat tire? That seems like a good scenario for it indeed
Yes it is :) and it was
unfortunately the way to enjoy machine sewing more is to just get really familiar with your machine. study the manual & learn do your own basic maintenance and repairs, etc. I learned on a particular machine & got really familiar with it & really enjoyed it, but then I had to get a different one and having to do that over again sucked so much I just switched to hand sewing instead.
I will say that 90% of the time, when something goes wrong it's a thread tension issue. and there's multiple places to adjust thread tension depending on the machine, all of which effect each other, and you just gotta fiddle with it. then different fabrics and stitches need different tension and ugh. Try hand sewing instead is all i'm saying. But I'm a process crafter, not a finished object crafter, so i'm totally fine with the idea of piecing & an emperor sized duvet cover, possibly for years.
(wow another aside. yes always wash your fabric UNLESS you specifically want that super crinkly look around the stitches, because that's a result of the fabric shrinking after being quilted.)
Ouuu, thanks for the advice! You have some really good tips 😊
Don't knot the thread at the end of a row. Just backstretch and trim the thread.
Oh I have the most random question. So, when you’re standing ironing the fabric, is the green book standing on the far end of the very top self a complete Grimm’s Fairytales? My sister had a copy of that book growing up and I have fond memories of leafing through all the different stories growing up.
Good eye! It was a gift from my sisters when i was in high school. I love reading the short stories 🥰
If you want some sewing hype....watch Carly B.
Love her!
How big is the fabric underneath? Like what are the dimensions or measurements
I don’t remember, I think about 3ft x 6ft
14:11 girl was that portuguese? Hahaha
yea lol, I have a few Brazilian songs I've had downloaded for a while and was waiting for the right videos to use them on
@@BreathingYarn and you are picking it up? Nice hahaha if you need any more recomendations let me know. I'm from Rio