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DIY Cloth Sewing: Beginner’s Guide

Are you new to sewing? At times it might look very challenging to start a new project. However, if you consider it a journey, it might become easier for you to get started. In this post, we shall give you a beginner’s guide to DIY cloth sewing. This guide should make it easier for you to sew a basic garment without struggling. 

Let’s delve in!

Choose beginner sewing patterns

A sewing pattern is an essential tool that you will need to sew a garment. Typically, sewing patterns are made up of envelopes with lots of helpful information about the sizing, the skills you need, illustrations and photos, garment descriptions, body measurements, and fabric requirements and suggestions. 

Sewing patterns also have the instructions—that is, the guide to sewing the garment you need and the pattern template that you will use with your fabric when cutting out your garment. Now, when you get your pattern, you are ready to go. 

Fabric or pattern—what comes first?

You need to read your sewing pattern carefully to determine the right pattern for your garment. Besides, your sewing pattern, such as the patterns for sewing by Fayma, should guide you on the fabric you should buy. As a beginner, you will realize that you must get acquainted with lots of new terms. So, reading the sewing pattern first will make it easier for you to choose your fabric. 

If possible, go for a sewing pattern designed for beginners. These sewing patterns have easy-to-use techniques and don’t have complex fitting and tailoring. Most sewing pattern brands have patterns explicitly designed for beginners. 

Besides, you need to check if the sewing pattern comes with a seam allowance. This is because some sewing patterns don’t have a seam allowance, which can cause lots of problems for beginners. 

Choosing a fabric

As a beginner, choosing the suitable fabric can determine the quality of your finished garment. To start with, use a fabric that’s recommended on the sewing pattern. An easy-to-sew pattern will recommend a fabric that’s easy to work with, like plain, knit, and cotton fabrics. These fabrics are not slippery, don’t fray, and don’t require pattern matching like stripes, checks, and prints. You should avoid sewing patterns that need you to cut the fabric on the bias because this can add some stretch element to the equation. 

At times, you might feel like you want to challenge yourself and choose a fabric with a print. If that’s what you want, make sure that you consider the fabric’s color, direction, and size. If you are sewing something small like a bag, you might not need a big floral repeat. 

However, if you want to sew a dress with curves, keeping the stripes even in the entire project might be a challenge. Also, it’s important to note that the fabric color might look different in the store lighting vs. at home. Therefore, you should carry home a fabric swatch to ensure that you like how it looks on your skin and outdoors. 

Tips for successful sewing

Since you have everything you need to sew, how do you ensure that your sewing is perfect? Here are a few tips for successful sewing:

  • Always read the sewing pattern repeatedly before you start sewing. This can help you avoid getting things wrong, which can discourage you, especially if you are a beginner. 
  • Make sure that you pin perpendicularly along the seam allowance as you progress. This is because pins are easy to remove as you sew. Besides, pinning your fabric together before you start sewing gives you a good idea of how things fit together. 
  • Always choose the correct pattern for the style or pattern you want to create. Every sewing pattern has fabric suggestions—this information can be beneficial for beginners. Also, you need to pay special attention to similar fabrics and styles. While it can be a bit challenging as a beginner, it’s something you can perfect with practice. 
  • Don’t feel over-pressured to sewing everything. When learning how to sew, go for patterns set for your skill level and ones that you are comfortable making. This is the easiest way to progress without being discouraged.
  • Consider joining a sew-along. Today, most sewing pattern companies have sew-alongs immediately after they introduce a new sewing pattern. The good thing with sew-alongs is that they can guide you through every step for some time, making them the best option for beginners who want to achieve the best results for that pattern.
  • Invest in good sewing pattern books—this should make it easier for you to understand different sewing techniques and garment making. 
  • Buy a good sewing machine. As a beginner, you don’t need a fancy sewing machine to get things done. A basic sewing machine with a straight stitch and zig-zag sewing functionalities will work. However, your sewing machine must be study. Please note that sewing can be addictive, and you can find yourself sewing for long hours. Your sewing machine should be able to withstand the long hours of stitching. However, you should avoid a mini sewing machine. 

Christopher Stern

Christopher Stern is a Washington-based reporter. Chris spent many years covering tech policy as a business reporter for renowned publications. He has extensive experience covering Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Federal Trade Commissions. He is a graduate of Middlebury College. Email:[email protected]

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