My 5 Dirty Sewing Secrets

This week I thought we'd have a bit of fun and I'd share my five dirty sewing secrets! My ethos with this channel and my approach to sewing generally has always been it should be fun first. If it works for you and makes you happy go for it, I don't think there should be a hard and fast rule book.

I also want to build an engaged community where we can all have fun sewing and talking about sewing together. I shared one of my secrets on Instagram a couple of weeks ago and we had such a lot of fun reading the comments and seeing everyone sharing theirs and having a good old laugh about it.

Finally I like to be honest and authentic about my sewing because I think admitting my mistakes or the 'naughty' things I do probably helps others to see no-one's sewing is perfect all the time. I hope this builds people's confidence to have a go and enjoy the process, including the mistakes and messy bits.

So here we are, I am bearing my truths and I can't wait to see what you say in the comments.

[cynthiasloan]

I'm with you on toiles. If I do them at all, I only do bits. As for screw ups, I've been sewing for ages mind you, but the other night I messed up, spent ages carefully picking it all out only to sew it back together the same exact wrong way!!! I decided not to set fire to the sewing room and just went to bed but still! TWICE!!!

[anainjamul]

I just subscribed and my dirty little secret is I'm a beginner sewist and have all the tools, sewing machines, fabric and patterns, but I haven't started yet!!!! Love your videos!

[carolinewilson]

I have done all of these but recently have channelled my Grandma and Mum, who taught me this amazing skill and am really enjoying slowing down and hand tacking before committing to the machine. I'm getting better results and enjoying the time and connection with them now they are no longer here. X

[grumpy_poo]

Whenever I have a massive 'fail' episode... I tell myself I won't do that again.... and just like back to the future.... I do it.... cutting 2 left fronts, sewing a zip in upside down, leaving a pin in an enclosed pocket lining.. etc etc..The unpicker is a very close and I am an experienced sewer....

[taniaaustin]

With the ironing of pattern pieces. Ive in the past have ironed the pattern piece on top of the fabric that you want to cut out and then pinned it together. Its worked on small pieces and it helps to keep them together with a little bit of static. You can do this in facings etc.

[mcbrenda]

I do the minimum number of buttonholes I can get away with. I do just enough to be able to pull shirts etc over my head. I then sew the buttons through both layers where there are no buttonholes

[janboulton]

Guilty of them all, always was and I am 70+ sewn all my life!!! I also dont read the instuctions, until its too late usually. I dont learn from written word and there were no tube videos in the 70s.. But no-one has ever commented on my hand made clothes so they look and fit wall, and these days if I mention that I make all my clothes, I am mostly met with astonishment.. Be creative, adapt things and enjoy the process.My son learned to sew by aborbing the process, and I was so proud when my grandson wouldn't allowi me to sew on his badges and sat an did it himself.. Keep on loving this amazing hobby Lucy

[marthaleereynolds]

Lucy! You inspire me. I'm 66 years old, have retired, and live in the US in Virginia. Our climate is hot and muggy in the summer, and thanks to you and your wonderful videos I've made several linen and cotton/linen blend pants (Bob, Ethyl, and Barry, as well as Picasso!) And have made tops (Patina and Selina). And this is just this Spring! I'm having a blast and have learned a great deal from you. (Including the burrito method! Brilliant! ) Thank you so much for bringing such joy and inspiration my way. Your Sewing Friend in Virginia, MarthaLee

[sarahmiddle]

Great idea for a vlog. I laughed when you talked about not transferring all the pattern markings and having to go back and find pattern pieces to add them in, do that all the time! And here, here to the message that it's okay not to be follow all the rules or try to be "perfect"

[elizabethtriplett]

Your enthusiasm for sewing is inspiring - and charming!

[KatVal-plwn]

Yes, done them all…and more. This is down to the experience of making my own clothes since I was 11 years old. Over 50 years I know what works and what does not.

[allisonjenkins]

We all need to go to sewing confession! If I'm making close fitted jersey tops that I know I'll be tucking it in, I'll often just overlock the bottom edge without hemming it😮

[adriane]

Beginners sewer and I love this video. Practice and patience. I get sew excited. My favorite tool seem ripper. Thank you

[ritaadler-everett]

Lucy, Lucy you naughty girl. Haha I'm right there with you on using pattern pieces without ironing them, sewing over pins (psst, I use the fine pins. My machine doesn't even know they are there) and making a toile all hinges on the price of the fabric. Another of my secrets is interfacing. I use whatever I have on hand and feels similar to the fabric. So far, I haven't had any issues. I think part of sewing is learning where you can take shortcuts or using a technique different to the instructions to save time.

[jdw]

I can identify with all of these! The markings and notches are the ones I have good intentions on every time I am cutting but normally manage the first couple of pieces and then stop again. I hate facings with a passion so try to line to avoid them if I can but yes share your frustrations when they keep flipping up!

[marionskinner]

Wow. I do the #3 all the time ... I think I just want to get to Thank you for being so genuine.

[AvrilBrown-ldgm]

Yes to all of them! I do try to make a toile but most often I think I don't need to (naive or what). As for facings I hate them! I'll do almost anything to avoid using them - even making my own bias binding!

[valarievowles]

Hahaha. New to your sewing channel and loved your confessions. 😂 I have been sewing since my early teens and am now almost seventy. Been there and done all of them. It's sew nice to learn I'm not alone. I've made so many different things from tent repairs to my daughter's wedding dress and everything in between. My cousin calls me a sewing ninja because, and here's my dirty secret, I often make it up as I go along! Can you change this button fly in my jeans to a zip fly, Mum? Of course I can! My seam ripper, curiosity, no such word as can't and lots of tea (or wine if it's really perplexing) are my favourite tools. My mum trained as a tailor ( with Burtons) and the best advice she ever have me was 'lay your pattern out. Go and get a cuppa then look at what you think you're doing '. Many was the time I looked and thought 'ooh! That should be on a fold'. It took me weeks of reading the 'destructions' for the wedding dress before I moved all the furniture back and laid out the metres and metres of duchesse satin and set off. Only to stab my finger with a pin and drop some blood on the fabric. I sorted it out. That's a very dirty secret for another time.
Enjoy the dirty secrets of others - they're often helpful. Ok.I'm off now - got a job to do as apparently I know how to upholster a footstool! Of course I do!

[tammyjohnson]

I sewed the back of flannel pajama pants upside down! Two pair in a row! Both were gifts and were one way prints. I didn’t even notice the difference when I was cutting them, pinning or pressing them ! The second set I was able to get another piece cut out. But the first one was all sold out of the print. So my bf who is the sweetest guy ever just told me not to worry about it and that he loves motorcycles driving upwards lol! They were designed to be driving on curvy road downhill. They do look ridiculous on the bright red background driving upwards. Sigh! But he wore them all winter. He won the “What A Guy” award for sure! So now I put a piece of blue tape on the fabric when I begin to pin the pattern pieces to signify that the fabric is facing the correct way and I have checked and rechecked it before the first cut. No blue tape, no cut! lol

[saraaronzon]

I talk to myself all the time when sewing! And when I mess up, I chuckle about it, then move on! It’s fun, entertaining and does decompress me from my busy life.