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CHIC WEEKLY ARTICLES
a new article every
Monday about Sewing & Fashion
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DRESS MAKING &
DESIGN:
The Beginnings of a Sewing Project
By Judi
Harris
Well, you’re
ready to start your next sewing project and you are eager to finish
the time-consuming preparatory work. Finding your pattern pieces,
cutting them out, pinning, cutting the fabric, and marking can all
seem tedious when you are excited to begin seeing the results of
constructing your garment. Sometimes
I get so excited about seeing the finished project that I overlook
certain steps I know I shouldn’t. Although these early steps aren’t
the most exciting, they are some of the most important. Think about it
this way: every pattern piece you cut out become the puzzle pieces to
creating your vision. If a piece is cut incorrectly--whether done
sloppily or not cut on the fold or grain line--your puzzle will not
fit.
So here’s some 35 years plus advise
on how to carefully prepare for a project.
1.
Make sure you check the pattern envelope and purchase all of the
notions, decorations, interfacing, lining, and other extra things you
may need when you purchase your fabric. This will allow you to match
your notions to the fabric and will save you a trip to the store.
2. Check the pattern envelope and
make sure you are buying the correct kind of fabric for the project. I
know this sounds simple but I can’t tell you how many times I bought a
pattern and fabric and then came home to discover that the pattern I
bought was for stretch knit only. Back in the 70’s “For Stretch Knit
Only” was written in very large letters on pattern envelopes, but
today patterns can be found with both cotton and knit garments all in
the same envelope (as often in the case of skirt-top separates).
3. Read ALL of the instructions
on your directions before you begin. This will help more than you may
realize. Sometimes steps in garment making do not make sense until you
are three steps father along. Reading the directions in advance will
help you to understand why certain steps are necessary.
4. I don’t do this all the time
but when I do it certainly saves me time in the future: cut out all of
the pieces in the pattern envelope and set aside the ones you’re not
using. This way the next time you are interested in making another
project from the same pattern envelope, all the pieces are already cut
out.
5.
Cut out all your
notches (on the outside, not in!) and do all of your markings for
darts, pleats, dots, etc. Why would you not? This is how you match
your pieces together to makes a great fit. Take the time out to do
this correctly and accurately.
6. Some days I will spend my time
just pinning and cutting different projects. I am so exhausted from
this that I call it a day after that. I put my pieces in a gallon
(10”X12”) clear plastic bag with a closure and hang it on a hanger
with the pattern envelope. This way everything is prepared and easy to
find for when I am ready to begin sewing.
The more I
sew, the more I find little things that I am still learning. That’s
why I began this website to share my love and ideas of sewing. Do you
have any ideas you want to share with everyone? Let us know.
Happy Stitchin’
Judi
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| Chic Weekly: on-line Fashion & Sewing Magazine |
| Founder & Publisher: Judi Harris |
| Editor in Chief: Jessica Lynn Harris |
| Art & Photo Editor: Andrew DiMaio |
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(610) 563-8633 |
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copyright 2010-2011 Love To Sew Studio |
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Article 38 March 14, 2011 |
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