This is my sewing philosophy and I hope it’s yours too. On this channel you’ll find a lot of sewing inspirational content, advice and some how to’s as well.
I have 6 years worth of archive videos so if there’s something you want to learn I am sure you’ll find a video showing you how. I was plus size for a long time so much of my videos focus on that.
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As soon as I buy ANY fabric (it can be time consuming) but it is a habit I’ve got into, I overlock the edges (except for fabrics that don’t fray) and wash it straight away. That way I always have fabric ready and if for any reason (if it’s one that frays) and it’s not overlocked I know it’s not been washed. I do not have any unwashed fabric 😂.
Interesting summary- all so true. I make a lot of clothes and my motivation is largely to “complete the garment, start the next one” because I feel under pressure from my plans and stash. However I am trying to shift my focus to actually enjoying the process more and taking my time to more appreciate the skills I am gaining and the garments I am making. Thank you Claire- great to see you looking so well. Hope you get back to sewing soon. 😊 Lynne
Oh Claire, I hear you on the self 😢. I became a phlebotomist, for 6 months I was terrible, uncertain, incompetent. One day I realised I had been criticising, bad mouthing and destroying mySelf, there is NO such thing as 'constructive' criticism. Well, I started using Louise Hayes, You Can Heal Your Life. It helped me to support, encourage and inspire myself. The improvement was overnight, I became a very good phlebo. Thanks for the reminder, your help in all matters, as well as sewing is pretty vital, valuable and appreciated
That story you told about being utterly defeated by altering a sewing pattern resonated so much. I recently went through something like that before I realised that gaping pockets was the nature of the pattern I was using. So many factors come into play when using a pattern!
Great information … as a +size lady myself I have also found that there are pattern Co’s that provide measurements other than the basic bust, waist, hip, such as calf, thigh, upper arm etc and for me, they are a massive aid when fitting to your own shape. Also, I found the sewing jargon confusing, especially on RU-vid when the vloggers cross continents … that is also a great asset too, but sometimes the terminology varies
I don't sew for saving money but for better fabrics and better "fashion", better fitted to my needs and feelings. And I love to be creative. Best antidepressiva ever! ❤
When batch sewing and pressing, handling is also critical. I carefully lay pieces on a plastic tray for transporting between work areas, carefully lifting and placing each piece. Beginners are often not yet aware that picking up and pulling cut pieces by a point or an edge will stretch the edges that are on the bias. I often add stay stitching one thread width into then steam allowance while checking against te paper pattern to help prevent stretching. Typically, bias doesn’t fray, but it does stretch and isn’t easily returned to the original shape it had before cutting. I sometimes mark the stitching line with chalk, add stay stitching,and then cut the shape.
I love that youre nudging folks to minimalist sewing, or at least decluttered sewing. I minimized everything sewing and I'm still making nice garments. I buy for each project and check to see if I have notions I need before buying anything. I'm so over owning enough sewing stuff to open a Joann's! 😂
Thank you so much for this video…….just made my first dress in 40 years! …..it took me a whole day just to cut the pattern out 🙈😂 so glad I took my time with it though. You’re an inspiration 🙏
Hi its good to see you again you look great (I hope you feel great too). Like the tip about drawing the sewing line on the fabric.What you said about sizing we can also apply the same tip when buying clothes too. As your normal size in one item maybe different in another depending on the manufacturer. Ive now got to point I think who knows that Ive got to go up a size, only I would anyway.
omg I’m about 3 different sizes depending on what shop I go to 🤔 I started sewing 🧵 at school in the 70’s , then got my own machine, went to a sewing college, & worked in 2 sewing factories 🏭 but all that was back in the 80’s just started sewing 🧵 again making my own clothes etc & loving it 😍 xxx
You do save money if you compare your garments to high end garments. If you are comparing to cheaply made garments that use low quality fabric you are not only comparing apples to oranges, you are comparing apples to dragon fruit ( that was the most expensive exotic fruit that I could think of). If money is tight, then you are better off buying second hand quality clothes. You really save money sewing home dec items, for example decorative pillow covers. Even using expensive fabric, you can get at 2 pillowcovers or more depending on what you back them with compared to pillow covers that start at $20 each.
I compare the clothes I sew to the clothes I buy from rtw. Those are at the cheaper end so it doesn’t pay to sew my own. That said, there’s a lot of benefits to dressmaking that those cheap garments cannot offer such as bespoke fitted pieces.
I always felt that my sewing is a hobby but such a practical one over other hobbies I have. My aim is to sew a nicer fitting pants for the older body. Ready to wear is for the younger body and us older bodies don't want our clothes so ill fitting and hanging unattractively. Home sewing is the way to go even if more expensive for fabrics.
This is all great, basic information. When I began sewing in the 60’s, there was a huge difference in the cost between homemade garments and ready to wear. The development of fast fashion made sewing your own clothes much less appealing from a financial point of view. Now, I sew because I enjoy it and I absolutely hate shopping 😂!
Almost everything i need to sew fits into a cigar box. I have a sewing machine but i seldom use it and only for tedious things like curtains and tote bags. Clothing i sew completely by hand because i can sew anywhere, take it with me anywhere. Just throw it in a bag with the cigar box and I'm all set. It's great to have something to do with my hands when I'm visiting or having to sit and wait. (And much healthier than smoking. 😂) I also like to sew in bed with my feet propped up watching a movie. Hand sewing is very precise and very forgiving. I don't change the needles on my machine because it's 142 years old and i have very few needles 😂, but i don't really find that it's a problem. I thrift all of my material, thread etc. i save buttons from old clothes. If i had to buy new, i couldn't sew. Money is very tight, as in, i use a clothesline, tight. But no, I'm not sewing with bedsheets! Heaven forbid! I find beautiful, quality fabric at local yard sales and flea markets. I recently bought a whole box of 40 year old fabric for $5, still in new condition. I love every bit of it. Some beautiful Cranston prints in gorgeous colors. I also bought some homemade curtains and reused the material in my (now favorite) dress. I can get whole bags of partially used thread for as little as $1. Money should never be a deterrent from sewing. If you have no money at all, you can put the word out that you're looking for free sewing supplies. Lots of people collect fabric and then lose interest in sewing and they're happy to see someone else get use from it. No it's not the same as picking it out at the store because you never know what you're going to find, but that's part of the fun, finding curtains in a nice fabric and thinking, this would make a nice dress! (I paid $1).
I’ve found loads of gorgeous fabrics in second hand shops 😍 like curtains, duvet covers, men’s shirts (that I’m gonna make into a ladies top), loads of other clothes that I can use the material for tops etc & the other day I found a gorgeous plain pink (my fav colour 😁) quilted duvet cover 😁 I grabbed it straight away lol 😂 it’s going to be a jacket for me whoohoo can’t wait till the pattern comes 😂 xx
Great video…I’m getting better but boy did I find myself hitting roadblocks at the beginning and wanted to give up. First, reading commercial patterns made me feel like an ignorant fool. I learned to put down the instructions…take a fifteen minute break, and come back to it with fresh eyes. Also, while capable of sewing quickly now, I find I enjoy going slow and deliberately while at my sewing machine. Each garment comes out much nicer when taking my time. Thank you for all you do for us Claire to help us become better sewists ♥️♥️♥️
I've been sewing for decades and I still can't figure out commercial patterns. They're too hard to follow and never ever fit. So I make my own patterns. I cheat. I just trace clothes that I already have onto packing paper. I reuse the same patterns over and over. When they get worn out, I just trace them onto new paper.
@@lisalamphier1410 thank you! Those darn patterns are beyond frustrating! Instructions are very vague and illustrations not much better. you’ve given me the motivation to do the same and true my own patterns! I have two tops that I have literally worn so frequently over the years that they have become threadbare. I’ve saved them to deconstruct and trace my own pattern from them. They’re very simple design and knit. I’m going to try it this weekend . So pleased to hear it really does work to do this! Thank you! I really loathe the commercial patterns 😂
Its a good question! I havent since my marriage fell apart last September. My home has been half packed to leave for some time so cannot sew right now (plus focusing on my mental and physical health). I do plan on sewing once I have moved.
I use a surgical scalpel to remove stitching. The blade is curved, allowing me to get under the thread, lift and cut. Laying the piece flat and then cutting. every 4-5 stitches, makes it very easy to pull out thread sections with a surgical tweezers. After removing threads, I always clean my area, brush out the inside of the machine, and then use an inexpensive link roller on myself and on my surroundings. Thread and dirt in the bobbin case can cause malfunctioning and lead to a costly repair, so housekeeping right away after removing seams is important.
😅Gurl, I’m a size 24 USA and I ROCK a bikini at the beach and at the pool! If someone takes exception to that, they can just keep on walking! Love the channel - Just found it - PREACH!
