How to Sew Darts | Beginner & Advanced 

Great tip!

jessica stier

I use the same method as Jessica Stier mentions with shortening the stitch length at the end of the dart; I also picked up the idea from an old issue of Threads. Another idea for flattering bust darts - if you wear an A or B cup, the point of the dart should be about 1/2 an inch from your actual bust point. If you wear a C or D cup, the point of the dart should be about 1” short of your actual bust point.

Bbf

I use exactly the same method even when I just sewed my first garnement

That's such a good idea! I'm a beginning sewist and I'm getting better at straight lines, but there's still room for improvement. I'm gonna try this!

Wow its really touch me.Old is gold u know.Love u granny😊😊😊

Thanks for the tip! I want to learn to sew, but I'm afraid to waste fabric.

Thank you for sharing your grandma tips

Thanks so much. I learned that from the local sewing factory, been shut down for decades now, but I can sew a mean straight line, my curve sewing sucks still. I've been trying to improve my curves for 5 decades. .😢 Have a great day.

This is a great tip! Thank you for sharing

Actually, in mass production I have seen sewers, including sample sewers, almost exclusively backstitch at the dart tip. That being said, tying the thread in a knot by hand and/or decreasing the stitch length at the end produces a much better dart and is better suited for tailored, bespoke, and handmade garments.

I was also told to never backstitch at the end. I was taught to run off the edge at the point, which accomplished what she does in the second example. Nothing in sewing is truly difficult, it just might seem overwhelming.

ah, never thought of it, sounds quite logical …..

A taylors knot (tying off) is generally r he cotoure way to do it. Generally, but hey its like make up do what word for you!

I ruined my project after being advised to "sew straight off the fabric at the end...don't backstitch at the end." Like the post (at time of writing) which sits above yours, "I'm too poor to make mistakes..so I gotta make it the first attempt." I now wish I'd backstitched at the end instead of trying to sew right off the fabric. My ( almost brand new ) machine protested and made the most godawful noise, despite the slow speed I took. The dart ended up being way too long. Because I'm still a beginner - the skirt was the first item of clothing I'd tried to make - I had taken such care by stay stitching / having everything ironed eight times. I was so nervous just pinning the pattern, using tracing wheels / carbon paper etc. Not a cheap pastime these days is it? I was beyond gutted when I failed the 'dart' test. In a way - my fault. I should have practiced darts before trying to complete one in my first project. But I had been lucky, I had previously managed to sew in a zip ( only into a pencil case..but ), quilting fabric and also adding a lining, so I thought I was on a roll and that anyway I had researched enough 'dart' tutorials, to fail. Now I just don't know what to do. It really discouraged me. Not really sure whose advice to follow.

Thanks for letting me know. I'll keep that in mind for the next videos I film!

Same here. It was hard to see. Using a contrasting thread wud help. Thx for vid. I've sewn since I was little girl (I'm old as the hills now) but I had never seen second method shown with such clarity. Thx again.

Agree, it made it hard to see which is front v back for darts.

Glad it was helpful!

That's a great tip using the fray check! Personally, I say do whatever method works for you. Some machines can't handle certain fabrics and wasting your time and possibly ruining your project trying get the machine to cooperate just isn't worth it!

To handsew on from machining I just pull out more thread from the needle and handsew with that..

Same

You could try making a muslin to practice on inexpensive fabric before making the real thing. This also helps ensure the garment will fit perfectly! Some people use old bed sheets to make their muslins so they don't have to buy any extra fabric.

go to the thrift store and buy a bedsheet to practice on. you can also practice on different materials, look for hand-me-downs, worn out clothes, and trashed clothes at the thrift store, yard sale, or goodwill outlet. you can turn them into rags or clothes when you're done

thats so real

Chris Von Hausen it really helped me when I first learned it. Hope it helps u too!

Forget the commercial patterns and just draft your own. They’ll be drafted exactly for your body. Read “patternmaking for fashion design” by Hellen Armstrong. It teaches you everything. Seriously. After you learn this book, your imagination will be your limit.

Every time I pull a pattern out of an envelope I end up putting it right back 😅 one day one day! Until then I'll keep using the tricks I find online and come up with!

Honestly, there are so many ways to do everything in sewing. There's truly no "right" way to do anything. It sounds like you must have been doing them well enough if you've been getting paid for it all these years!!!

@@TheAwlNighter1 exactly! You can stuff it with another tea towel to get a more rounded shape for a dart ☺ might take some practice though! 😯 I'd go with a combo of Bath towel and bath sheet. ☺

Bitemefox lol I knowwwwww :P

Or use a rolled-up towel.

I am a beginner and im always making mistakes on the darts .I also have no clear idea how to do measurement I kinda just adjust as I go

Barbie clothes are a great place to start! Projects are much easier to jump into if you're not worried about wasted materials or cost. Keep it up! You'll have a fabric addiction in no time lol

Hahaaa I can't count the number of times I've made a mistake that has me facepalming later

Yeah that's why I generally go for sleeveless, but that's just cause I haven't quite figured out the right way to make sleeves without cutting off circulation to my arms cause the patterns are built for someone normal rather than plus size. I've learned how to resize a pattern mostly, but sleeves are tricky for me. Cause my arms and shoulders are bigger and broader than most. This is also why I wanted to learn to make them cause shopping for them is a pain in the butt.

You are not alone.... lol! (Setting sleeves is a nightmare)

bwa sleeves…..tell me about it... when after sweat and tears the jacket seems to measure up then you insert the sleeves…. ouch!! @@mooshygirl

Seems to me one should size lining by following outline of garment normal side out, at least above its waist. Does that work?

You are so welcome!

It's a steep learning curve and nothing to beat yourself up over! I think everyone gets comfortable with knowing "everything" as we get older and don't try new things as much. The hardest thing for me is that I'm terrible at estimating the length of a project! It's also annoying that even when you do know how to do stuff, there's no guarantee you won't be picking out a seam 5 minutes in hahaaa

First of all, I have been sewing for a long time, and still mess up or need to research something new (such as bust adjustments). The awl nighter is my new favorite resource, so check here and her blog when you have a question. If you have no or only quilting experience using a sewing machine, practice on paper. Use a dull needle and then throw it away. Straight lines and broad curves. Concentrate on pressing, it’s the game changer. Persevere, it’s worth it.

Same here, but I kinda like being back at the beginning stage of learning, reminds me of when I was younger first teaching myself how to paint, watching beginner tutorials and what not, it almost feels nostalgic?

Oh no! I've been there too! It's the worst feeling :(

Fitting is probably the most difficult skill to learn imo. I'll try to include more videos with fitting adjustments. Thanks for the suggestion!

@@TheAwlNighter1 thank you!

I plan to! I've learned alot with filming/editing since I made this video, and it really needs to be remade.

Yay! That makes me so happy! Happy sewing!

Yayyy congrats on sewing your first dress!

@@TheAwlNighter1 Thank you. I may now become obsessed with making more!

I did your method on the dress and it worked. Thank you

Elizabeth Cooper yayyyyy thank you! I'm so happy it worked well for you!

Aw, thanks so much! I do really need to make a tailor's ham. It's starting to be shameful at this point haahhahaha! I'm in the opposite boat, I cut out the pieces for a ham and sleeve roll, but still haven't bought the filling. Hopefully, we kick our butts into gear soon!

Ursla Shelton it's on my list of videos to film!

Ursla Shelton i

Ursla Shelton same

Yes! I have that issue with pants alot and adding darts helps!

Nobody's born with it! RU-vid is how I started growing my skill! Hope my videos can help you elevate some of your thrift buys!