Sewing can be rewarding yet nerve-racking, especially if you are a beginner. There are countless things you can do once you master the basics of sewing. For instance, you could work on new projects, you could do repairs and modify clothes that aren’t of the required sizes and much more.
The whole process is simple, you just need to practice and be patient to become an expert. When you have just finished learning how to sew, you can start with basic hand sewing tasks as you advance to more complex and involving projects.
If you are reading this article, chances are that you want to learn the sewing skills. Congratulations!
You are on the right page.
Here, we will share some of the basic sewing skills every woman must know.
Let’s get rolling.
Choosing a Sewing Machine
If you already have a sewing machine the better, but if you are yet to buy one, we would like to tell you that it can be difficult to figure out which sewing machine is best for you because there are plenty of choices out there, so deciding which one works best for you can be hard. But you don’t have to go through hell to choose the best machine since you can use our exhaustive guide about the best beginner sewing machines which can make your selection process simple.
Usually, there are three types of sewing machines:
- Handheld sewing machines.
- Treadle sewing machines – which have a foot pedal. (not used much nowadays)
- Electric sewing machines
When choosing each one of the above sewing machines, you need to know your budget, where to buy it (whether locally or online, whether you want a simple one- the simple one is the best if you are a beginner. These are just a few basic things to consider when choosing a sewing machine but there are many other factors you need to put in mind.
Using a Sewing Machine
Now, once you have your sewing machine, you will still need to understand some few things like how to thread it, adjusting the settings and as well as getting familiar with all the buttons.
Machines are designed differently and depending on which one you use, the user’s manual could be a helpful tool to help you get started. But it gets better. The latest beginner sewing machines are designed ready-to-use out of the box. You just need to read the manual carefully and you are good to go.
What You Need Before You Sew
Before you start sewing, you will need to have the fabric, a pair of scissors, pins, thread, a seam, and bobbins.
Here are the skills you need to know.
Pre-washing Your Fabric
The first and most important step before you start to sew is washing your fabric. It’s good to keep your fabric clean and free from shrinkages. Washing your fabric before you start to sew will also get rid of harmful chemicals that could cause skin irritation. Wash your fabric and dry it completely before you start working on it.
Taking the Measurements
In this case, you need to get precise measurements of the fabric. If you are sewing a dress, let’s say, for instance, it is for your customer, ask them to put on other undergarments they will want to wear under the dress. It could be a bra or any other undergarments so that you get accurate measurements.
Pressing
Many people mistake pressing for ironing. Ironing is slightly different from pressing in that you press the iron to the fabric for some time and then lift it up but you do not slide over the iron box on the fabric. This way, you will be flattening the seams and also getting rid of puckers.
Choosing the Right Seam Finish
When it comes to seam finishing, you need to ensure the outside of the garments matches with the inside. So, you need to pick the appropriate finish. It’s simple; you just need to bind the edges. Do this with a complementary color to make it look fun.
Working with Zippers
You could either use invisible or sew with regular zippers. Invisible zippers are those that cannot be sported easily but regular zippers can be seen from outside. However, regular zippers tend to last longer than invisible zippers and you can repair them easily.
Sewing Buttons and Buttonholes
Sewing the buttons is probably the last step and it can be intimidating, especially if you mess up with the buttonholes. Remember, the same way you would sew buttonholes by hand is the same you could do by machine. It is good to test with one buttonhole to see how the finished garments will look like.
Hemming
Well, there are clothes that do not need buttonholes, so probably the last step would be hemming the garments. You can hem the garments by turning up the edge of the cloth and sew by machine or include a seam binding to make it colorful.
Conclusion
That’s it. Up to there, you can now get down to sewing after reading these basic sewing skills.
