8 Tips To Take Your Sewing From BAD To GOOD! 

Hello friends! I hope you enjoy this side-ways glance at how to go from being a bad garment sewist, to a good one! Let us know what is the one tipp that moved the needle (pun intended) for your sewing? Watch this next to find out how to stop making silly mistakes ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XT_sRQZV3Z4.html

Please everybody remember there is no sewing police checking your work. Sewing is fun and not stressful xxx

I appreciate your videos because they're not an endless conveyor belt of fabric hauls and garments made. I often wonder what some RU-vidrs do with all the clothes they make. I'm not a clotheshorse, my lifestyle and budget don't allow it but I'm very keen to learn how to make and fit flattering garments. Thank you.

You've got a strong straightforward and clear presentation style. And you pull no punches while building up our confidence - pretty neat trick! Thanks for this one too!

I don’t usually comment on RU-vid videos these days, but I just had to let you know how much I appreciate you! My sewing journey has truly benefited from watching and rewatching your sewing advice videos.

The algorithm put you in my feed a few weeks ago and I've been enjoying your videos. You are so right about accepting what the measuring tape says. I made a coat 5 years ago and picked the size based on my ego. I really loved that coat but I was already tight at the shoulders when I finished it and a couple of years later, it no longer fits. There are also alterations that I resisted out of ego or laziness. Considering the time and energy it takes to make a well fitting garment, or even a garment that's just good enough, it's best to accept the reality of our bodies to avoid a broken heart down the road.

I don't know what your hair is doing either, but whatever it is she's doing it beautifully!!! So wavy and adorable!

My ex and I square danced and I figured out that it took me about 6 1/2 hours to make one western shirt with pearl snaps, but 8 1/2 hours to make 3. So much more efficient!

Perfect timing I'm ironing blocks for a blanket that my boyfriend asked for 6 months ago. And since it was for him I haven't had the confidence to do it . And since I realized that was road block I have gotten over it I'm starting on it today .

Something that has helped me up my sewing game is really learning my machine. I'm actually struggling with that at the moment because I just upgraded to a fully electronic model and I've never sewed on one before! Lots of RU-vid tutorials and practice! I tried sewing a project on it before I fully learned how to use it and I got so frustrated I walked away from the machine for quite some time. Learning how to better use my machine really made a difference. That might sound dumb to some people but I just thought I could sit down and sew something like I can on a sewing machine without a computer 😂😅 oops! (Edited for grammar)

I've been enjoying your videos. I don't want someone with "hacks" I want to learn how to actually sew and if that means failing along the way, so be it.

I love your channel so much 🥰🥰🥰Such wonderful advice. Wish I had been able to watch you back when I began sewing three years ago! Regarding the size acceptance issue…I have always loved vintage fashion, and became obsessed with 1940’s style patterns and decided to learn to sew. I collected SO MANY PATTERNS. But I didn’t learn to sew any of them. Know why? I thought in order to look good in them I had to look like the tiny little women in the inspiration photos I was collecting. I starved myself…crash dieting and felt ill all the time. My hair started to fall out. And all the time I was telling myself I would learn to sew garments as a “reward” when I lost the weight. 😢So sick and sad. I didn’t want to cut the pattern to my size and “ruin” it. Thankfully my sweet husband sat me down and told me I had to stop the madness and just start sewing! Thank goodness I listened. I love sewing now; I’m learning to make so many lovely things that actually fit MY body the way it is NOW. So that would be my advice…don’t wait to be a different size; sew for your figure that you have now and enjoy the learning process! ❤️

Claire, I love your videos. It always feels like we’re sitting in the same room having a conversation about this and that. You’re so down to earth and honest about your sewing journey and your insights are so helpful to those of us who “visit” with you each time. TY!!

The other way to make the process more efficient it to re-use your perfected pattern. Whether you're making exactly the same garment in a different colour or print, or whether you're making simple changes like longer sleeves or a zip instead of buttons, once you've got the perfect bodice pattern it's worth capitalising on it.

New to your channel love it. I started sewing at age 8 and worked as a factory sewer in the 80s. In my younger years I could buy a pattern and sew it to fit me. My body has changed alot over the years and I was frustrated that I could not sew a pattern that fit me well anymore (even though I bought the correct size). You have opened my eyes. I need to slow down, do adjustments, and have my seamripper handy. Thanks

Thoroughly enjoyed this video! I feel like, we can feed off the videos we consume, and if a lot of videos are showing a constant flow of purchases and five to ten garments I’ve made this week, it can affect our perceptions. While these videos are fun, I’ve found that if I follow more channels that show the sewing journey from tracing to toile construction, fitting, sewing and then hacks - I get more value out of their channels because they teach me better habits and normalise the journey for a more rewarding garment.

I'm glad I made some awful clothes in the past because the practice of making mistakes makes you wise up to better choices next time around. Currently doing more small projects and quilting. It's true if you can't see the small errors from 1000 metres it's probably not a problem. Love your channel ❤

I discovered you today, and OMG how I love you. Your wit, your wisdom ,and outspokenness. I think I've watched 6 of your videos so far, and never has anyone, until now, made me smile, or chuckle throughout.

I so appreciate your approach to sewing! I have chronic pain and I, too, can't keep up with what many people can do. And I appreciate the difficulty in accepting one's self for our real measurements vs our fantasy self! And I am opinionated, too- hopefully as graciously as I find you to be!

You look gorgeous!!! You said this fabric might not be for everyone, but man, is it for you! So nice 💜 Thank you for the great advice, too 😍😍💐

After I started sewing with my serger, I started getting lots of compliments on my clothes. I’m not sure why. Previously, I’d sewn lined wool plaid coats, blazers, and skirts and gotten some comments. After I started serging items I got tons of compliments. Maybe they didn’t think the complicated outfits were homemade?

We call them “Escalators” in the U.S. too! I wish I could like your video more than one time, each new point you mentioned needed another “like”!!

Thank you for your perspectives and insights. Having been fortunate to learn how to sew from a young age (and then having a sewing machine), I have to say that your point about focusing on the mistakes rather than the good sewing has certainly been a large part of my thinking. Now that I have reached my 70's I care little about that (or what others may think) and have begun the journey of making my own patterns. This came from a need to learn how as I wanted to sew more clothes for myself (am mostly a standard size person) and became quite shocked at the cost of new patterns! And really the reward has been great learning how to make patterns from slopers -- have a much better understanding of the whole process and how it relates to our bodies. Hope you may keep it up as you are going to help inspire many others with your approach and encouragement to sewing.

My favorite tip you gave here is that it's okay to have multiple projects in the works at one time so that you can work on whichever appeals to you at that moment 11:44 minutes. I've been stuck on a simple pattern, so have not done any sewing for a few weeks. Now, I think I will set that aside & start something else, then go back to that one.

I just started back sewing about 3 months ago. And I did the same thing. What is wrong with me? And I'm so thankful to know there is nothing wrong with me, it's just a number.😊 Thank you for making the video.

I just started sewing and your videos have been so helpful. Your tips help set (or temper) my expectations, keep my impatient perfectionist in check, and allow me to enjoy the PROCESS instead of just focusing on the result. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience!

Hats off to the fast fashion seamstress across the globe. The seamstresses are precise. They get paid by the piece and those have to pass whatever the quality standards the buyers impose. The working conditions have fallen and its not worth it to be more precise is because the consumer doesn't care. However they have 10000x times the experience and precision any of us do and their garments look 1000 times better than anything I make in a fraction of the time. The only reason they don't is they are not made to measure. I appreciate the fast fashion garments that I have. I am sewing to tailor those pieces to fit me and mend them in appreciation , not treat them as disposable.

Thank for your honesty and common sense! It’s so refreshing to watch you and your videos. Have been binging most of them 😂

You loved making this video and we loved watching it. I, too, am opinionated. I know what I like. I have also learned what type of patterns will most likely be flattering. I have never made a mistake free garment. Never never never.

❤ love your video! Feels like you’re a friend giving worthwhile advice, which helps more than you realize. I recently padded a dress form with my actual measurements, a very awkward feeling to look at that dress form, so much padding! I’m over it now, my body isn’t perfect. I’m excited to move on, to use the dress form to make garments that fit ME. Thankyou for the boost and pep talk ❤

Thank you for this video, it is full of great advice for any craft, as well as life. I’m a weaver, knitter, and sewer. In all of these, there are things we do to prepare for a project that aren’t the “glamorous” bit of the craft. Knitting gauge swatches, making toiles, winding warps and threading the loom. You are right to encourage people to embrace these steps, and not rush through them or skip them entirely. If I want a sweater to fit, I need to knit several swatches with different sized needles, and wet finish them. Then I can get a good result with my personal knitting gauge and that specific yarn. Skipping that step to get to the “fun” part will likely result in wasting time and yarn on something that doesn’t fit. Patterns for sewing and knitwear are not likely to fit anyone but a commercial design mannequin without alteration. My shoulders are quite square, so I often reduce the shoulder slope on a top, as well as lengthening it for my long torso. I also trace the pattern onto pattern tracing paper so I can grade between my torso size and the next larger size for my hips. Making the pattern work for me and testing the fit with toiles is part of the process; embrace it! One tip in choosing sizes is to pick based on your high bust or chest measurement, rather than the full bust. It’s the shoulders and armscye that are hardest to adjust, so you want the pattern to do the heavy lifting there. Adding a full bust adjustment is easier than having the back and shoulders be wider than you need. As for weaving, people act like I’m crazy when I explain what goes into dressing a loom. There are many steps before you get to the part where you are tossing the shuttle back and forth. But every one of those steps is still part of “weaving”. Enjoy the whole process. Listen to an audio book while threading the loom, be willing to fix mistakes, and don’t rush it. Thank you for your videos. I’ve been enjoying them, and you offer a great approach to life. Don’t dwell on the negatives, but instead on what you have accomplished. Realize that carefully styled photos of models on a pattern envelope don’t accurately portray how the garment will look on anyone else. Learn more as you go along.

You are on a role w videos on both channels! Nice work Claire!

Great vlog Claire! For me, like you, it was accepting what the tape measure said and not thinking about RTW measurements. The other thing is toile, toile and toile again! Laura at the Specky Seamstress gave me a bit of advice early days - it doesn’t have to be perfect to be wearable! It’s a mantra I stick to today ❤️❤️❤️

I really loved your video. We are all unique and comparing yourself to others is the quickest way to despair. I definitely agree not to sew when tired or stressed. 😊

I love your honesty, it makes me realise that I criticise my own items! One thing I have done is by a mannequin that I can size up to my measurements! I have a balance disorder that’s why I can’t twirl! 😊

This is a great video! I have been sewing for years but am still a bit rusty on certain things. Once in a while I will come across a sewist that just blows me away in their craftsmanship and finish, and it does make me feel like I am just not on that level and I begin to wonder if I ever will be lol. I finally have the time to work on my skills as long as I want every day, so I know I will get there, I am just rediculously impatient with myself LOL Thank you, for the reminder.

I love your videos and channel. Your comments are spot on.

I am a big perfectionist and what made me continue with sewing is trading perfect for done.

Sometimes beginners take on projects that are best for those with experienced sewing skills, and they get discouraged. As in cooking, start with the simple things first to learn basic skills, then work your way up to more complicated projects. It's better to be proud of making a simple apron than to be disappointed and discouraged with struggling to make a dress with lots of pattern pieces and detailed features requiring specialized techniques. Again, you presented a great video! You're always so encouraging and approachable! ❤

Yes! Be opinionated-decide what suits me, think positively about my sewing…love this - I am not inadequate.

Claire….you are a blessing! What a fountain of wisdom you are! Thank you 💖

First time I have watched your channel and WOW, how refreshing it is to hear such honesty. Thank you 🙏 😊

Just found your site. Boy do you resonate in my brain. Been there, the slim one. Then I got older and that’s where the changes came. Took me soooooo long to accept this fact. Glad I found you! Now all I need to look at your videos. ALL of them. Thank you. 🌹

I love your opinions.I love your linen top.

Fab vlog. So true. My negativity was horrendous for yrs but as I'm older now i delight in my creativity and appreciate my gift. I mad my "mother of the bride " dress recently, was so thrilled with it and the compliments were so empowering. Thanks again

My thought going in to a new project: I had to rip it out. It’s a good thought that lowers frustration through expectation.

Thank you, I’m a new sewer and yes I am still making mistakes but I’m learning and learning from my mistakes. Love your videos ❤❤

I have just come across your channel and I love your attitude. I am extremely new to sewing but over the past week have had a real confidence knock. I keep beating myself up and saying how useless and thick I am as I can't get it right. however your videos have given me the confidence to keep going so thank you!

Your video reminded me of an incident in my earlier sewing days where I was agonizing over what I considered was a mistake that everyone would be able to see on the front of a top I was making for a friend for a wedding. My 17 year old daughter at that time came and took the top out of my hands and stood a foot away from me and said, “Mom can you see it from here?” And I couldn’t and she said, “then don’t worry about because no one else will see it either.” In that moment I realized I had learned an important couple of lessons…1 you can learn perspective from your teenager, 😉 2 sewing is a journey and I will make mistakes and that’s okay. Take a breath or several…. fix it and move on. I just happen on your videos a month or so ago and I really appreciate your outlook on sewing. Thank you for sharing with us.

Let me start with saying how gorgeous you look. Every time you drop a video I have to look around my house to see if you have hidden cameras in here 🤣. I haven't been sewing for a while and most of what you're saying have been my thoughts exactly. Within the sewing community I have noticed that there are some trends that are really pushed on people. I have unfollowed/unsubscribed many people and only follow those that truly understand plus size sewing. I don't care for trends and sew what suits my body, and style aesthetic. IG will have you 2nd guessing yourself. I have been unhappy with what I sew because I stupidly compared what I made to others.... and critiqued not only my me made but also my pictures videoz etc. My time away from sewing has made me realise that it was the comparison to others that sapped my joy from sewing and not what I was sewing. Thank you for a wonderful video

Last night I spent several hours sitting up in bed with the overlocker on my lap, winding the little handle by hand because idk where the pedal is. One tip I'd add to sewing well is not mislaying your foot controls, and another is to be well enough to sit at a desk with your feet on the floor!

When I want to just sew I make a quilt top. Quilts are mostly straight cutting and sewing, no fitting issues, basting, or muslins. That straight sewing is refreshing so I can then focus on making a garment.

I have learned sewing for 3 years but I have made no more than 6 dresses which patterns were actually simple ones . I must admit the mistakes were not fatal and in fact friends complimented on my pieces never spotted any of them. Still, I have not been to start sewing again even thou I continue to buy fabrics from time to time . Did a new bodice block a month ago and that was it . Thank you for sharing your sewing journey as it has motivated me to go back to the sewing machine again .

I totally agree with you. I’m so glad your video popped up on my feed. You are a woman after my own heart and what you’ve said is exactly what I’ve been thinking. Keep up the good work and yes I’ve subscribed to your channel to help me. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Great reminders for all sewers! Techniques change as we change fabric types and machine capabilities!!

Being new to sewing (6 years) I sewed a garment for a relative and added a band on the front, because I made the jacket too small to begin with. After listening to the complaints, I suggested to said relative that if someone came up to him while he was in the supermarket, and pointed out to him that the seams were less than perfect in matching, (about 5 mm) then he could come back to me and I would redo them. After that, nothing more was said.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I'm so glad that I stumbled on your video. I've been struggling in my sewing journey and all of these tips (seriously all of them) are what I needed to hear. You've encouraged me. You've motivated me. I will not give up. Thank you, Claire, so much for sharing this with the world. 🙂

Wonderful content. I’m a brand new sewer and greatly appreciate your opinions and your videos. Thank you!!!

I have been sewing only a few years so I feel I'm still in a confident beginner skill set. I still do online classes to help me get in new skills with and instructor. I think we definitely beat up ourselves on garment if it's not going as well as we anticipated. Great advice your giving ❤

Oh wow i love your way of thinking. Of course we all have a way or our own journey. My mother was a fashion designer who wore a very glamorous size 10/12. To her enormous disappointment she had a daughter who wears size 20 something. She never stopped reminding me what a disappointment I was because of my size. Which was that way because as a child i had to eat everything given to me. Or I was ungrateful or undeserving. I wasn't allowed to join the swimming team cause swimmers had big shoulders. So surprise surprise she got a fat daughter. Fortunately I am working hard to put to rest all those constant negatives, and yes i am trying to make clothes. Hence watching you. You are an inspiration, thank you for your hard work at not only inspiring us but showing us practically how to improve our garments.

Good video. My little response to your pattern buying advice... I've gotten burned by patterns that look good on the model enough times that 1. Even though sometimes I can fit in non plus size patterns, I won't buy a pattern from someone who doesn't offer generous sizing. 2. I seek out patterns that use models that have similar body types to me, and I will also look up patterns on Instagram to see how it looks on different body types. I get much better results that way and also avoid finding fault in my own body. To quote (or paraphrase) Jenny Rushmore. It's not your body that needs to change. It's the pattern

You are such a wonderful seeing coach. I’m seeing for many reasons and you are helping me on my journey to achieve all of them. Thank you Claire!❤

You are such an inspiration for us newbies! Love your videos!

I enjoyed watching your video. I learned different ways to change my sewing from bad to good. Thank you so much for mentioning this because I am my worst critic and my negative thoughts when I make a mistake carries into the sewing of my garments.

Love love the top you are wearing. Everything you mentioned is spot on. Just put love in your creations that is it. Just enjoy

Loving your videos, thank you! I’m an overweight learner with a disability and find your no nonsense refreshing!

Thanks so much for your insights, I really appreciate your transparency and honesty! I know it takes so much to be vulnerable, but what you’ve said really helped. I need to be kind to me to enjoy sewing again.

Wow, great advice, not the same ideas. I have found that you sometimes just need to walk away and also come to sewing rested, not tired. Also when I walk away, an idea may come the next day on how to do it.

Your blouse is beautiful! So glad I found your channel❣️

Thanks for this encouragement.

I've been watching you since 2021 and I've loved the journey. Off topic, but your makeup in this video is absolutely stunning. ❤🎉

Another fantastic video 💖💖💖

Lots of good advice. Thank you Claire. xxx

Thank you Claire, I needed to hear this today. Stop caring what others are making. I belong to a group and we try to make the same thing.....not same pattern, but same thing...like a Bucket Hat, skirt or shirt...etc...I usually don't want to make the challenge.

Great to see your fab attitude! Sewing must be fun for me……

Thanks!

I completely cracked up with laughter when you spoke of the PJ's. What a ripper 🤣 That is something I would do 💞🇦🇺

you are so wise about this. Thank you for sharing

Love creating have learnt to slow sew and enjoy the process making garments that right for me great video really enjoyed it

Such a good video.... thank you, thank you, thank you !

This is such a good video = thank you

Brilliant, enjoy the process…like the idea of different projects at different stages.

This all makes so much sense, and sometimes we need reminding of these things, so thankyou

I do these things all the time thanks for sharing

Thank ou for this. Love your way of looking at things.

Good video! I know that for years. Just trust yourself and don't worry about other's opinions.

love your opions - great thanks for sharing

Thank you for some really practical suggestions. I agreed with all of it. Great video.

Being too self-critical is a buzz killer. I went back to sewing for myself because I hated paying premium prices for poorly constructed clothing I got maybe one season out of. Something I do when I look at my closet is ask myself questions about the garments I wear that I've had a long time and love: why do I still have them? Is it the fit, the style, the color, the fabric type, or any combination thereof? For one example, I had a 100% acrylic sweater, black, short sleeve. I paid $29.00 for it at Lane Bryant. I had the sweater for 32 years and it still looked good, hadn't got thin, seams were good, it was still very black, soft and went with everything. It had a small bit of lace at the front neckline that didn't survive very long, but otherwise I got my moneys worth. Why buy shapes, fabric, styles that don't suit you? The clues are already in your closet on the garments you use and love. I lways measure patterns against my existing clothes that fit me well and adjust the pattern accordingly.

Some good points that I identify with.

I love those eyeshadows on you. Very flattering!

Such a helpful video! Thank you! And I love your makeup ☺

You got the Victory already! You GO! GO! GO!

Really appreciate your perspective and real talk about what gets in the way of us truly growing in our sewing practice ❤

I think you are AMAZING THANK YOU

Your hair looks lovely Claire

Another great video Claire, full of experienced widom, is good to be reminded of these things. Thank you 😊

Great video, I really enjoy watching. Thank you for your tips 😊😊😊😊😊😊

Yup! All of those things. I get so discouraged after sewing for YEARS. Sewing has really changed: access, patterns, machines, fabric, time, etc.

You go girl! I just discovered your channel.