Sewing is an amazing craft to learn, and with enough commitment, it’s possible to turn it into a full-time career. But it’s not easy: you will need a solid base for learning, along with lots of practice and experimentation. As always, you can start as a hobbyist, experiment with various ideas, and then pursue a career in this niche. That way, you can make mistakes, improve your skills, and become the best sewing professional you can be.
Understanding the basics of sewing
It’s very important to familiarize yourself with a few sewing terms before getting started. A good idea is to check the table below:
Term
Explanation;
Seam allowance: The area between the edge of the fabric and the stitching line
Notions: These are extra items, like buttons, elastic, zippers, etc.
Basting :Temporary stitches that allow you to hold the fabric before you perform the final stitching
Bias: Diagonal direction across the fabric’s gain; it delivers the most stretch
Selvedge: It’s the woven edge of the fabric, which is tightly woven in order to prevent fraying.
Additionally, when you start up, you need to understand the differences between hand and machine sewing. For hand sewing, you have simpler projects, and it’s all about manually tackling the project, be it repairing small tears, hemming, or embroidery. With machine sewing, you harness the use of a machine for larger projects, including home décor or clothing. Machines are great because they can help create uniform and stronger stitches.
Fabric types
When it comes to fabric types, there are a few major ones that you need to know when you start sewing:
• Natural fibers are acquired directly from nature, and they include things like silk, wool, or cotton
• Then, we have synthetic fibers that are man-made. These include nylon or polyester. The upside with synthetics is that they can be more durable and also stretchy.
• You can also find woven fabrics that are structured and easier to handle. Then, we have knit fabrics that are stretchy as well, and these are very good for t-shirts.
What sewing methods and equipment should you know?
Investing in a sewing machine is an excellent idea, and usually, you have these options:
• Mechanical machines have dials, and they are great for basic stitching
• If you need something more complex, you can get an electronic machine; these have decorative stitches along with computerized settings.
• Then, there are sergers or overclockers, specialized machines that you can use for avoiding fraying and finishing seams.
finishing seams.
Other tools you will need in order to start sewing would include needles, scissors, pins and clips, a ruler, measuring tape, seam ripper, and an ironing board. These will help you process the fabric, sew it adequately, and then press the fabric to ensure a professional finish.
Basic sewing techniques
When you get started with sewing, a primary focus is to learn how to thread the needle. In short, you have to use sharp scissors in order to cut the thread and then moisten the tip of the thread. After that, you will need to insert it in the needle’s eye. Lastly, you know the end securely before stitching, and you’re finished.
Hand stitches
If you want to start with hand stitches, it’s a very good idea to use the running stitch, which is an in-and-out stitch, great for gathering and basting fabric. Backstitches are very good for seams, and the whipstitch is great for preventing fraying, while also joining fabric edges. There’s also the slip stitch, which is suitable for hems and whenever you want a nearly invisible stitch.
Machine stitches
When you use a machine, you can opt for a straight stitch, or you can use the zigzag ones, which will prevent edges from fraying. You also have stretch stitches, which allow kits to keep flexibility.
If you want to add some finishing touches, you can press the seams flat and trim the excess thread. Also, adding some topstitching will allow you to elevate projects and give them a more professional look.
What is a pattern, and how can you read it?
Patterns are basically a roadmap/framework you can use for sewing projects. When you read a pattern, you usually have to focus on:
• Instructions and symbols, more specifically, things like grain lines, darts, and notches found on the pattern.
• A measuring tape can be used to record the inseam, hips, waist, and bust. Then, you compare those to the size chart found on your pattern.
• Sometimes, you will need to make adjustments since you rarely get to match the pattern sizes.
• At the end, you cut the fabric, after you align the piece with your fabric’s grain, a crucial aspect since it prevents any distortion.
What beginner projects should you get started with?
If you want to put your new sewing knowledge to work, a very good idea is to try out some beginner projects. Tote bags are a great starter, because they teach you basic construction and straight seams. Pillowcases are a bit more challenging because they add notions like fabric alignment and hemming. Then, you have scrunchies, which are rather simple to do, and aprons that combine pockets, seams, and hems for a more complex project.
Common sewing issues you can encounter
One of the great things about sewing is that you can always learn from any project. Everything is different, so there’s always an opportunity to learn new things. Here are some common sewing issues you might encounter, and how you can fix them:
• Thread tension problems appear due to stitches being too tight or too loose. If you encounter this problem, adjust the tension dial on the machine.
• Needles will sometimes break due to pulling the fabric too hard. Avoid pulling too hard or, if that’s not the case, use the right needle. Using the wrong needle can also lead to this problem.
• There are times when you have uneven seams. What you want to do is to use masking tape or seam guides in order to have straighter stitching.
• Fabric puckering appears at times due to the wrong thread tension. However, in some cases, you need to use a stabilizer due to the fabric you’re using.
These are some of the most important things you need to know about stitching as a beginner. Once you master the foundations of stitching, you already have the groundwork needed to become a more advanced hobbyist and potentially a stitching professional. Stitching requires patience and a lot of practice, but it always pays off in amazing ways. However, these methods and tips shown above are just the beginning. Join us in part 2 as we develop more advanced tailoring techniques and learn how you can become a professional in this industry!
She could easily have become a seamstress if she'd wanted to go down that route. I sometimes wish I'd inherited her gift, if ony to make my own clothes or even alter, redesign and basically be able to make clothing items I like. I must be getting old... I look around the high street and I hate most of the stuff they now sell in clothing stores 
