The best way to learn stitching as a beginner is to get familiarized with the sewing tools and stitching machine, learn basic mending & try simple projects.
There are many ways leading your imagination to creativity (sewing) and here I share some of the best ways, how I learnt sewing and you can sew too!
The dictionary meaning of stitching is - Joining Parts Together
Table of Contents
What Do You Mean By Sewing?
- join, fasten, or repair (something) by making stitches with a needle and thread or a sewing machine."she sewed the seams and hemmed the border"
synonyms: stitch, machine stitch; antonyms: unpick, remove, rip, tear - attach (something) to something else by sewing."she could sew the veil on properly in the morning"
- make (a garment) by sewing."the two sisters sewed their own dresses"
What to Expect When Starting to Learn Stitching
When we call it Stitching or Sewing here, we can refer to all activities that revolves around or inside creating anything. It could be a wide array of things, like :-
- Visualizing Thoughts and Ideas
- Drawing and Sketching
- Cutting (Developing hand to mind coordination ) – fabric as well as paper / other materials
- Pasting
- Sewing
- Decorating / Merchandising
- Organizing – ideas as well as material
- There are so many other things, which we’ll take up as we proceed.
When we get ourselves into arranging different aspects to create one particular design.
To reach a goal, we get focused, we concentrate our energies and attention towards that and that’s what’s important to keep us creative.
No matter how boring your life is, once you get up to start it, you get into action mode and then nobody can stop you.
For you or for the kids, it’s a good productive engagement to start with making a few decorative stitches on your plain dresses.
I used to bond with my mother over some simple sewing projects.
I had a working mom, who used to have very little time for all or us six siblings but I used to enjoy the exclusive attention, she used to bestow on me while explaining things!
How To Know If You Can Stitch / Sew
Though, there is no hard rule that you need certain traits to sew but if you loved cutting and scattering pieces of paper / fabric tit bits around the room as a kid, while being busy doing your crafts, chances are you’d love to sew .
ARE YOU READY TO LEARN SEWING
I believe that sewing is a productive hobby and a profitable business which can never let you down.
You never have to be bothered about your friend wearing the same dress bought from the famous mall as you have your unique collection, which no one can copy.
But the question which may be popping in your head for some time is "Is it too much work and too difficult?" and moreover "Am I able to learn all those things to make a perfect dress at home myself?"
It is easy to answer this question, if you close your eyes and imagine yourself as a kid who is ready to try new things. Excited to be yourself and explore what all you can do!
If you loved cutting and scattering pieces of paper / fabric tit bits around the room, liked pasting, joining, decorating, creating something out of nothing then your chances of being successful as a designer is very high.
Believe me, this is a hobby, which can keep you engaged, productive and mentally stimulated too.
How to Start
We live in very happy and good times when so many people are ready to share their skills and knowledge with us free of cost genuinely.
Earlier, we used to search and find the resources (books, teacher, institute etc.) by going through different places, which was very time consuming but now, we can even learn through online videos tutorials at our convenience.
Seven Steps Guide to Help You Learn Stitching
Practice makes a person perfect and there is no denying this fact.
But another fact is every expert was once a beginner. Here I share with you the steps which may help you tremendously in your creative pursuit :-
1.Have a Mentor
Don't Keep Your Doubts in Your Mind. Ask Your Queries from Sewing Community and Share Your Challenges with Them.
§ Whatever you want to learn, it helps to have a mentor. Be it your mother, friend, teacher or online community which you can trust to answer your queries.
Have a mentor or join a like-minded group of people or community.
It will help you understand the basics fast and gain expertise quickly.
You will be elated that there is someone you can always go back to, when things are not going your way.
2.Books are the Best Guide
Trust the pen, paper and books.
The tips I am sharing with you may be different from all the advice you ever got about learning to sew your dress but these things helped me so I believe they can help you too.
Have some online or offline reference books which you can check, when needing clarifications.
Keep a notepad and write down details about the sewing project you take.
For example, if you make a handkerchief - write down fabric material taken, measurements taken, thread and needle chosen etc. with the date of initiating your sewing project.
This practice will help you learn and keep a record of your learning, which you can revise at any time in future for reference.
Also note down success rating of your project. Why it turned out good and what improvement needed for the next project?
6 Books to Buy for Cutting and Stitching a Dress
3.Know Your Tools
Collect all the tools that you need to make your dress.
You'll need measuring tape, tailors chalk, scale, fabric scissors, Iron and ironing board, pins, tracing wheel etc.
These tools are easily available at any sewing supplies store near you or you can check out online as well.
4.Practice Sewing
Get familiar with your sewing machine. Though, you can do basic sewing, decorative stitches etc. by hand sewing but it takes longer completing a dress.
It serves you for years and generally passed on to generations.
If you don't have a sewing machine then you must consider buying a sewing machine.
5.Understand Measurements
Understand body frame and how to measure using a measuring tape.
You need to understand that making your own clothes is not as difficult as some people have made it.
Joining a big fashion institute for learning dress making is a silliest mistake that you can make (because I have already made that mistake!)
They teach you drafting, illustration, sketching, portfolio building and hundred other things which leave you exhausted and wondering if fashion designing is really about making dresses!
Ready to Use Chart for Armhole and Sleeve Cutting
Learn The Difference Between Standard Measurements & Body Measurements
Actually fashion designing is much much more than dress making.
So, to understand dress making in a layman's words, you need to understand how a HUMAN BODY is created.
It's got WIDTH & LENGTH which we need to cover beautifully and elegantly.
For this you need to know a little bit about measurements.
That's simple! 2+2 together.
That's it!
6.Learn DIY Sewing Online
Next comes cutting dresses to your measurement. Though, ready made dress patterns are available in the market, it is advisable to learn pattern making yourself.
That way, you save your energy in find out patterns, money to buy them and then the storage to keep patterns intact for the next use.
Pattern making is easy and I generally mark and cut the fabric directly. If it's a designer piece then I adhere to patterns.
So, learn the practical way of cutting and making dress with me by joining me on youtube channel.
There are many methods and different techniques you can use to make your dresses.
One is to keep your ready fitting dresses on the fabric, leave some seam allowance and cut.
Another method is to use formulas and calculations and make a proper fitting dress.
7.Start Small
Start making simple handkerchief, cushion cover or do some simple long stitches to get a hold on your machine.
These are the ideas and tips for any beginner to start on a sewing machine.
Initially, you can take up these easy to do projects for yourself or for your loved ones and gradually you can make your dresses.
The next step is sewing your dress. In each tutorial I explained in detail. If you have any doubts you can ask me or the other members.
