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Learn to sew your own creations including one of a kind, custom made prom dresses.[/caption]
For the modern woman, style is everything and an important part of that is ensuring that you always have the right outfit to wear to any occasion, whether it is an important business meeting, dinner with friends or a weekend sightseeing trip. For most of us, keeping up with the latest fashions can be more than we can afford when buying off the rack. One of the best ways to ensure that you keep abreast of the latest developments in fashion and ensure that you always have a wardrobe bursting with outfits for every occasion is to take up sewing. Sewing your own clothes enables you to bring couture from the runways of New York, Paris and Milan to your wardrobe without the hefty price tag. Sadly, in recent years sewing is less of a life skill and more of an enigma and something that many feel is out of their reach or beyond their abilities. In years gone by, every young girl would leave school with at least a few of the basic sewing skills under their belt however, with society constantly changing and women becoming ever more powerful in the workplace, sewing lessons have ceased to exist in our schools and many young girls are stepping out into the world without being able to darn as much as a sock. Sewing is widely acknowledged to improve a mood and lift depression and what greater sense of achievement than seeing something come together from just a piece of fabric and some thread to something you can wear with pride. With programmes such as The Great British Sewing Bee gaining in popularity sewing is back in vogue and with just a few essential items and a lot of patience and concentration you can create stunning pieces that will be the envy of all of your family and friends. Here are some of the essential items you will need to get started with your first projects:
Pins - pinning is a necessary part of any dressmaking project to ensure precision and to make your material easier to cut. Pins are useful for holding your pattern in place or for pinning embellishments to your design before committing to sewing them on.
Needles - whether you are using a sewing machine or tackling a hand sawing project, it is important to ensure that you are selecting the correct needle. Sewing needles come in a variety of sizes and which size you require will depend on the type of fabric you are using. Generally, sewing needles are labelled by number and the general rule of thumb is that the finer your material, the lower the number of needle you should select. There are many different kinds of needle for different sewing projects apart from dressmaking and these include darning, embroidery and tapestry.
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Gutermann Sew All is an excellent all round thread.[/caption]
Threads - as well as considering what size needle your require for your sewing project, it isimportant to also consider the type of thread you will need. A good quality thread can be the difference in a successful project. A good all round thread is the Gutermann Sew All Thread, this excellent quality thread is ideal for many applications including dressmaking and tailoring projects. Gutermann Sew All Threads are available in a massive range of colours so you can always be sure to find a shade suitable for your chosen fabric. It is worth picking up a nice spool of thread as and when you see it as you will always need a wide variety in your kit for use at a moments notice. We stock a massive range of high quality threads including threads for more specialist projects and for hand and machine sewing.
Dressmaking Scissors - before embarking on any sewing project you should ensure that you invest in a good pair of fabric scissors. A good pair of scissors will ensure smooth cutting of your fabric and comfort when working. When purchasing your first pair of dressmaking scissors, you should consider a number of points particularly weight, balance and the types of fabric you will be working with. Try visiting your local sewing store and try out a few different kinds so you can decide which pair feel most comfortable in your hands. We stock a wide range of dressmaking scissors which are designed to last many years from renowned manufacturers including Fiskars and Janome and for those who are sewing on a budget our non branded scissors are still of the highest quality.
Tape Measure - the beauty of sewing your own clothes is that they will be made to measure just for you, ensuring a perfect, tailor made fit. To ensure the best possible fit it is important to invest in a tape measure to accurately record your body measurements.
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Sewing Patterns can be used to create everything from winter coats to evening gowns.[/caption]
Sewing Patterns - for dressmaking projects it is possible to use a sewing pattern. There is a massive variety of sewing patterns available by manufacturers including McCalls and Butterick carrying patterns from world renowned designers including Vogue, Issey Miyake and Donna Karan and include everything from flirty summer skirts to business suits and vintage dresses. It is important to accurately record your body measurements before setting about cutting out your patten as pattern sizes often differ massively from high street sizes. Once you have measured, look on the back of the pattern envelope to determine your size depending upon your finished measurements. Remember to account for seam allowance when cutting your pattern and always leave space for alterations. For your first projects, most manufacturers carry a 'beginners' range such as the Simplicity 'It's So Easy' range and the 'Very Easy Vogue' range.
We hope you have found today's tips useful and whether you are a beginner in the world of sewing or an experienced dressmaker we always love to see your creations on our Facebook page.
Until next time!
Calico Laine
Learn to sew your own creations including one of a kind, custom made prom dresses.[/caption]
For the modern woman, style is everything and an important part of that is ensuring that you always have the right outfit to wear to any occasion, whether it is an important business meeting, dinner with friends or a weekend sightseeing trip. For most of us, keeping up with the latest fashions can be more than we can afford when buying off the rack. One of the best ways to ensure that you keep abreast of the latest developments in fashion and ensure that you always have a wardrobe bursting with outfits for every occasion is to take up sewing. Sewing your own clothes enables you to bring couture from the runways of New York, Paris and Milan to your wardrobe without the hefty price tag. Sadly, in recent years sewing is less of a life skill and more of an enigma and something that many feel is out of their reach or beyond their abilities. In years gone by, every young girl would leave school with at least a few of the basic sewing skills under their belt however, with society constantly changing and women becoming ever more powerful in the workplace, sewing lessons have ceased to exist in our schools and many young girls are stepping out into the world without being able to darn as much as a sock. Sewing is widely acknowledged to improve a mood and lift depression and what greater sense of achievement than seeing something come together from just a piece of fabric and some thread to something you can wear with pride. With programmes such as The Great British Sewing Bee gaining in popularity sewing is back in vogue and with just a few essential items and a lot of patience and concentration you can create stunning pieces that will be the envy of all of your family and friends. Here are some of the essential items you will need to get started with your first projects:
Pins - pinning is a necessary part of any dressmaking project to ensure precision and to make your material easier to cut. Pins are useful for holding your pattern in place or for pinning embellishments to your design before committing to sewing them on.
Needles - whether you are using a sewing machine or tackling a hand sawing project, it is important to ensure that you are selecting the correct needle. Sewing needles come in a variety of sizes and which size you require will depend on the type of fabric you are using. Generally, sewing needles are labelled by number and the general rule of thumb is that the finer your material, the lower the number of needle you should select. There are many different kinds of needle for different sewing projects apart from dressmaking and these include darning, embroidery and tapestry.
[caption id="attachment_6303" align="alignright" width="125"] Gutermann Sew All is an excellent all round thread.[/caption]
Threads - as well as considering what size needle your require for your sewing project, it isimportant to also consider the type of thread you will need. A good quality thread can be the difference in a successful project. A good all round thread is the Gutermann Sew All Thread, this excellent quality thread is ideal for many applications including dressmaking and tailoring projects. Gutermann Sew All Threads are available in a massive range of colours so you can always be sure to find a shade suitable for your chosen fabric. It is worth picking up a nice spool of thread as and when you see it as you will always need a wide variety in your kit for use at a moments notice. We stock a massive range of high quality threads including threads for more specialist projects and for hand and machine sewing.
Dressmaking Scissors - before embarking on any sewing project you should ensure that you invest in a good pair of fabric scissors. A good pair of scissors will ensure smooth cutting of your fabric and comfort when working. When purchasing your first pair of dressmaking scissors, you should consider a number of points particularly weight, balance and the types of fabric you will be working with. Try visiting your local sewing store and try out a few different kinds so you can decide which pair feel most comfortable in your hands. We stock a wide range of dressmaking scissors which are designed to last many years from renowned manufacturers including Fiskars and Janome and for those who are sewing on a budget our non branded scissors are still of the highest quality.
Tape Measure - the beauty of sewing your own clothes is that they will be made to measure just for you, ensuring a perfect, tailor made fit. To ensure the best possible fit it is important to invest in a tape measure to accurately record your body measurements.
[caption id="attachment_6304" align="alignright" width="227"] Sewing Patterns can be used to create everything from winter coats to evening gowns.[/caption]
Sewing Patterns - for dressmaking projects it is possible to use a sewing pattern. There is a massive variety of sewing patterns available by manufacturers including McCalls and Butterick carrying patterns from world renowned designers including Vogue, Issey Miyake and Donna Karan and include everything from flirty summer skirts to business suits and vintage dresses. It is important to accurately record your body measurements before setting about cutting out your patten as pattern sizes often differ massively from high street sizes. Once you have measured, look on the back of the pattern envelope to determine your size depending upon your finished measurements. Remember to account for seam allowance when cutting your pattern and always leave space for alterations. For your first projects, most manufacturers carry a 'beginners' range such as the Simplicity 'It's So Easy' range and the 'Very Easy Vogue' range.
We hope you have found today's tips useful and whether you are a beginner in the world of sewing or an experienced dressmaker we always love to see your creations on our Facebook page.
Until next time!
Calico Laine