14 things I wish someone told me about sewing as a beginner!

These are my top 14 tips I wish someone told me (or I wish I really took the time to listen to!) about sewing when I was just a beginner! Don't wait to learn the hard way!

0:00 Intro
1:46 There are all kinds of different needles for different fabrics!
2:09 Change your needle
2:44 Don’t be scared of cutting the fabric
3:24 That’s its ok to make mistakes
4:21 Take your time, its not a race
5:03 Patterns need to be adjusted to fit your body
6:19 Clean your machine
7:34 Take a break
8:18 Sewing is so much more than learning to use your machine
8:57 Pining is important
10:07 Test everything
11:05 How important pressing is
12:52 How important grainline is
13:37 It's not a race, slow down
14:21 My thoughts

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// WHAT TO WATCH NEXT:

How to DESIGN AND PLAN YOUR BEST SEWING SPACE, using the space you have!-Get 'Sew Organized' Phase 1

The best way to SORT AND ORGANIZE YOUR SEWING supplies! Get Sew Organized Phase 2!

How to STORE AND DECORATE YOUR SEWING supplies for your ultimate sewing space! Sew Organized Phase 3

GOOD SEWING is 70% Preparation, 25% Sewing and 5% Un-sewing! Do you spend your time where it counts?

Why bother making a toile/ mock-up/ muslin?? And how making one can improve your sewing!

SEW PERFECT THE FIRST TIME? Nope! Test these things and instantly sew better garments ‘first time’!

#1 WAY TO MAKE YOUR SEWING LOOK MORE PROFESSIONAL... plus (spoiler!) 3 tips on pressing and ironing!

Mistakes are part of the process!

SEWING MACHINE MAINTENANCE // What you can DIY to properly clean & de-fluff your sewing machine!

How to know when its time to change the sewing machine needle? 5 ways to tell

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Until next time
Evelyn

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#sewing #sewingforbeginners #leanrntosew #evelynwood

[tampere]

I'm 75 years old and have been sewing since I was 12. I learned from both my Mom and at school. The two things that my Mom taught me and are part of my sewing habits are taking time in the beginning with fabric prep, layout and cutting. I almost never cut and sew a garment on the same day. It was and still is easier to cutout two different patterns in one day than trying to cut and sew just one garment. The second thing is pressing as you go!! I learned and expression years ago the pressing irons away you sins!! Besides, pressing forces you to slow down and pay attention to what you've done and you still have to do!!!

[elsf]

It was a sad day when i finally got my sewing machine and realized that it was a sewing _machine_ and not sewing _robot_ 😔😋

[simplekill]

No.1 lesson that I need ingrained into my mind: Do not rush. I repeat, _do not rush_ . It backfires. I keep skipping little steps, because I think I can wing it, and well, I usually cannot. I would spare myself so much unpicking, readjusting, fixing and screaming, if only I didn't have an attitude of a seasoned pro with skills of a beginner.

[mb]

35 year old dude here. Saw my mom(God rest her soul) sew all her life. Now I'm trying to learn, thank you for this!

[gracerascon]

One of the many things my home economics teacher would say was "the inside of your garment should look as good as the outside."

[bevlinder]

I learned to sew in school when I was in 7th grade. I came from a confusing and dysfunctional home, and when my dad decided to buy me a sewing machine (which was a great surprise that he would do that), it became my best friend. It gave me something wonderful to do when I was bored, comforted me when I was sad, made me feel that I had something worthwhile to offer when I felt uselss. It remained my friend for many years. Then, at some point, I put my "best friend" in the closet and went on to pursue more sophistcated forms of art. But now, much later in life, I am back, my friend is out of the closet, and I realize that my other pursuits were fun for a time, but nothing can replace my sewing machine. So if I have something to add to your wonderful list, I would say, go to this friend for therapy, for sanity, for joy, and even for an opportunity to give to others, and to make them happy with a homemade gift, which is increasingly rare in our society.

[roxannlegg]

My BEST tip - as an experienced sewer is simply this. This is most necessary when youre struggling to finish a complex or creative garment. We can make a big mess when sewing. Esp when youre being creative...bits of lace, bias, diff coloured threads fabric scraps, pattern alteration scraps cut offs, snipped threads and trimmed fabric bits, overlocking cabbage everywhere...and you start to struggle keeping clean straight lines in your sewing. Youre starting to get mentally tired....you keep losing your quick unpick, or clippers, or your glasses. Your scissors are never where you need them. Youre running low on pins, and the diff types are being all mixed up! Suddenly you have NO NEEDLES - WTH?? Nothing seems to be working and youre ripping seams more than keeping them. This is the time to STOP. Sit down with a cup of tea. Watch an Evelyn Wood video. Then dust yourself off, your quiet sobbing can stop.! :-) Tidy up and clear away ALL your sewing. Swipe up all your pins with your magnet wand, sort thru them put it all away, tidy your sewing box. Sort out all the bits and bobs, vacuum even, dust your bench off, and if you dont sleep on it - cleaning away everything and start afresh - works wonders, for your mind and sewing environment. It can change everything. !!!

[sillyjellyfish]

For years my mom had a tailoring workshop and even though she never teached me how to sew (she tried like once when i was 7 and it didn't stick at al, which is why i am here rn), and literally all of these tips and tricks has been drilled into my head. I would also add:
- did you know, that there are different pins for different fabric and even magnetic clamp/weights and sewing clips so you don't have to pierce the fabric at all?
- did you know that there are adhesive sprays and water soluble plastic for fabrics that can't be pinned or fabric that have so much hair and fluff that it's impossible to pin them and see seam lines?
- did you know that pressing not even stiffens but also shrinks some fabrics and you should start by steam pressing whole roll of fabric before doing anything?
- did you know that you can sew flimsy fabric through paper to stop it from sliding left and right?
- did you know that there are several seam markers other than chalk, namely soap, pen marker, pinwheel, and mindblowing marker that disappears under iron which is awesome for silk that doesn't like water in any shape or form?
- did you know that your mockups should have at least twice the extra seam fabric to allow for adjustments?

[candicewaller]

These tips are all fantastic! Thanks for sharing them!! Here's the whole list for reference, if anyone needs it. I added my own addition for #15.
#1 - There are different sewing machine needles for different fabrics.
#2 - Change your needle
#3 - Don't be scared to cut your fabric
#4 - It's okay to make mistakes (this was a HUGE one for me)
#5 - Take your time, it's not a race (in reference to the speed of sewing on the machine)
#6 - Patterns need to be adjusted to fit your body
#7 - Clean your machine (I'm super guilty of this one too)
#8 - Take a break when you're tired
#9 - Sewing is so much more than learning to use your machine
#10 - Pinning is more important than it seems
#11 - Test everything!
#12 - Pressing is important. Don't skip it EVER!
#13 - How important grainline is
#14 - It's not a race, slow down (in reference to taking the time to enjoy the craft of sewing)
#15 - Prewash your fabrics if you're making a garment that you intend to wash. Nothing's worse than putting all that effort into finishing a garment, wearing it once, then finding it misshapen and shrunk after the first washing. This is especially important for natural fibers like cotton.

[kellysharpe]

Just talked to my mom. She also said she would measure the back half of her waist separate from the front half. This helped with creating a skirt (straight line) that fit like a tailor-made garment.

[elenin.]

I cannot stress enough how important slowing down and not rushing is.
If you don't enjoy the process, don't even think of taking up sewing.
I've had many of my friends coming to me asking me to teach them because they somehow, somewhere found a pattern they loved.
None of them ever got to finishing the project.
So, make sure you like the creating process, not the outcome.

[cherylhuot]

The difference between looking homemade and looking great is pressing everything as you go!! Dont ever skip it!! It’s so sad that sewing isn’t taught in schools anymore. I didn’t have anyone to learn from in my family and learned so much in my school sewing classes.

[pipancla]

#3 - when you start with secondhand and unwanted fabric also makes me feel better, not just in preparing for more valuable fabric but also for sustainability reasons!

[SolveigMineo]

I wish I knew you when I started sewing. Beginner sewist life without Evelyn in a nutshell : 1)spend 30 minutes on making an ugly stitch 2)spend 1 hour on unpicking the ugly stitch 3)redo the stitch 4)stitch turns out exactly as ugly as the first one 5)crying 🤣

[arvettadelashmit]

I can still here my sewing teacher, (Mrs. French at A.C. Davis Senior High School, in 1965) say, "Press as you sew for a professional look." She was so correct. Thank you for your video. Please stay safe.

[OzSteve]

I taught myself to sew (and draft patterns) from some Enid Gilchrist pattern books my mother gave me. They actually taught the importance of pressing, seams allowances, grainlines, etc. When I started out I was so scared I pinned everything like a maniac just in case. I still pin but not as fanatically. My worst situation was when my ex rang me one Thursday and said she needed a cocktail frock for Saturday evening. I had to buy material and draft a pattern before I could even start. I was still sewing beads on with 10 minutes to spare and vowed never to do it again. The dress won prizes at the Canberra Show that year so I didn't do too badly.

[pyenygren]

Take a break is important when I am hungry and/or tired. The dress or quilt will wait for me while I rest after I have eaten a meal! 😅

[lorlor]

I have experienced all of these. The one thing I relate to the most is, do not sew when your tired! I have sewn sleeves on inside out doing this 😂

[jeannieboniface]

My biggest lesson that I wish I'd listened harder to when Grandma taught me to sew - the more intricate / complicated a pattern is, the more hand sewing you're likely to need to do - lots of designer brands do lots of hand sewing in their process! Hours of practicing hand stitching is never wasted time, if you're going to do sewing. :)

[lizbrennan]

Oh I can't believe there are so many people like me! Skipping steps, rushing ahead. I've just retired and I'm still on the hamster wheel. I have to remind myself that sewing is not my job, it's my retirement pleasure. No time clock or boss! Just me. I love all the tips you give and refer back on them all the time. Slowly and patiently gets me a new wardrobe.