5 TIPS ON HOW TO SEW NON-POINTY DARTS! ✂ (Basically how to sew your best darts ever!)

[@Evelyn__Wood]

Which is your favourite tip your going to try? And that is YOUR best tip for us? ✂️ If you like this content and are ready to take your sewing further, I invite you to join me at Vintage Sewing School www.vintagesewingschool.com/

[@ma-yi9ye]

ur channel is very helpful for me :)) i also really enjoy the vintage vibe and ur accent is really relaxing and it makes me watch ur videos even if i’m still a very beginning beginner.

[@b.755]

Another tip: after you tie off, you can thread a needle and put the tails inside the dart to hide the thread tails.

[@Evelyn__Wood]

Oh yes, thank you for adding this one!

[@mountainjune]

That's a great tip! Those tails are a pet peeve of mine, thank you. 🤗

[@violet-green-eyes9574]

What a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that 🤦‍♀️. Thank you fot sharing! 🪡

[@b.755]

You're all very welcome!

[@rosalie4069]

Thanks!

[@kimshafer123]

I love your videos!❤. I’ve sewn for 60 yrs and I still learn new wonderful things from you. Thank you very much for what you do.

[@marilynbook4211]

Nice to know what I learned over 50 years ago still holds true today.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

Oh, I love people like you. I learned to sew at least fifty years ago on my great-grandma's treadle machine. I still call my mother for sewing advice when I get stuck.

[@Evelyn__Wood]

The good thing about sewing is the techniques never really change! 😃

[@Ellaodi]

My grandmother was a seamstress who learned on a treadle, and i now own that treadle and call her for tips!!

[@a1nelson]

I’ve been curving the last cm or so of my darts for a long time. After my first pointy dart, it just seemed like a better way to do finish the end/point. Unfortunately, today, I learned that I am a little less of a rebel than I thought I was. Haha. Thanks for another great video.

[@Evelyn__Wood]

🤣🤣🤣

[@lorieburtt592]

I love when you advocate for some “old fashioned” techniques, like tying thread ends instead of backstitching. We are so used to relying on the sewing machine that we often forget that a few hand-worked details not only give better results, they can save us time and frustration in the long run.

[@lindachandler2293]

Funny story. I went to our little town's weekly auction barn several years ago. There was a box of so small they were useless cloth scraps, rusty pins, broken things and 3, yes 3! different shapes of ironing hams or whatever you want to call them. He said 'Somebody give me a dollar for this mess' and I raised my hand. He was very surprised another lady went $2, I bid $3. She went $4 and every so stingy me went one more time for $5. I got them and have used them for years. He never did understand why we wanted that box 🤣

[@juliepowell5941]

Lovely story, thank you for sharing it😊

[@minimalistqueen2992]

😂 we got the same taste. We would’ve been fighting over that box 😂

[@AquaFrangi]

I’ve been unintentionally curving my darts because I’m so bad at sewing in a straight line 😂

[@stumpybear60]

You’re good at sewing by being bad at sewing? LoL

[@airicastarwall1349]

@@stumpybear60 Mission failed successfully

[@gill8779]

I am so glad that tying off the stitches manually is recommended, I am a novice but worked this one out myself.

[@hannahbradshaw2186]

My 90 year old great aunt taught me this. It's fiddly at first but works so well.

[@cynthiastraub1912]

Mind blown! Where have you been all my sewing life? LOL.

[@helenparker1870]

If you have a large cup size tack the dart and try on first, sometimes you may need to pull the point of the dart further away from the bust point to minimise the point. I have a very large cup size and often split the dart in to two and pivot to another part of the garment to minimise the point of the dart. (A simple bodice side dart on me would be 7 inches wide before stitching, which if sewn up always creates a very pointed dart)

[@PacakeQueen]

Thank you for this suggestion! It really helped me with fitting a bodice I was getting frustrated with

[@katherinemorelle7115]

Make sure to never have the point of the dart directly on the apex of the bust (that’s where the nipple is). It needs to be about an inch away from the apex. That’s mostly useful for when you’re drafting or changing darts around, but important to know nonetheless. A great example of why to never have the points of your dart end at the apex was the pink dress Anne Hathaway wore to the Oscars in 2013. Those were some very pointy darts that ended at exactly the wrong place.

[@tamaravsthevoid]

Dedication is putting your video up at 3am-ish because that’s when your viewers are watching 😉 I just got home from night shift so I’m hopping into bed (I’m in Perth) but I’ll be catching up in the morning 🥰

[@Evelyn__Wood]

Tammi lucky I can schedule videos now! 😉 As I did used to stay up to midnight to post! Thanks for watching 😘

[@nbks6w8]

Love the Vintage Sewing School. Enrolling was the best sewing decision ever! Thank you for your generosity and sharing your expertise freely on You-Tube. For those on the fence....enroll in the school...it’s awesome! I am not getting anything free....so I have nothing to gain...but you do if you enroll!!! The community is super supportive and helpful!!

[@Evelyn__Wood]

Awww Carla 😍 I'm so glad your enjoying the school so much, and seeing improvements in your garments! I am thrilled to have you part of the VSS gang! 😘

[@emmarichardson965]

I eas partway through the dart when I remembered that I wanted to watch this video. Quickly implemented your tips and the dart looks great even before pressing!

[@brookecamarata2673]

Just finished a dress with terribly pointy darts yesterday, I'm glad to have watched this for next time!

[@Evelyn__Wood]

Excellent! I bet your next darts will be amazing! 😀

[@EtreTocsin]

Just pick them out and redo them. You will be so much more satisfied and want to wear your garment. Just be careful, take your time and lightly steam the thread tracks out before you redo the new darts.

[@JosieStev]

Good morning. 10 am here in hot California. Great tip🥰

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

We are in southern California and do not have central air. My wonderful husband leaves the dining room open to keep it cool in case I want to craft or sew.

[@gracieallen8285]

Leaving the tied threads at the point a bit and not cut the whole length off was a new tip I won’t forget.

[@ivorybow]

If only I had known this last week! I just started in the vintage sewing school, but had to get my dress made by Halloween. So I watched as many instructional videos I thought were relevant to my particular dress. I followed the Sew Patterns instructions. It fit perfectly! But, I didn't get to the part about darts. Next dress is already planned and I will definitely be using these dart techniques.

[@allyssak.lifestyle]

This is the first time that I've seen someone use the rounded, pressing tool thingy and it ACTUALLY make sense! Its like you're always giving me the keys to a grand treasure chest lol I appreciate you SO MUCH!!!

[@HCSCPT1]

So this is especially useful since I’m diving into a closet full of woven fabric shirt alterations. The plan is to take in backs and waists, and likely try for FBAs and dart placements. Finally tailoring these paperbag looking things to make them more wearable. Baby steps and lots of self-forgiveness. Fingers crossed and many thanks for your tips and lessons!

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

I have been practicing to do something similar with t-shirts until I perfect the 1943 "plain slip-on blouse" pattern to replace them. 😉

[@HCSCPT1]

@@user-mv9tt4st9k Hmm... I’ll look into that. Ty. ☺️

[@Evelyn__Wood]

Shelli I'm sure you've got this! 😃

[@lijo118]

I have to say, I am such a fan of your hair these days! It suits you really well!

[@Evelyn__Wood]

Thanks! I'm still experimenting with the straight hair, but I think it's working out ok!

[@ashleyhathaway8548]

@@Evelyn__Wood The loose finger waves are my favorite look on you. The soft, romanticism of them create balance when rocking a strong, bold lip color. A strong red lipstick with stick-straight hair and pretty soon you're in Little Nell territory. Thank you for these really informative videos btw xoxo

[@LetsSewIt]

Another hack from me; I don't have pressing hem and can't really afford one, so I use my hard pillow instead. It's fluffy and curvy, perfect for pressing those sleeves/busts 😘

[@LRWdesign]

Hubby bought me one of those little memory foam pillows for side sleepers that goes between your knees … I could use it as a ham but my luck it would melt! 😂🤣 I am buying a ham and a sleeve one too. I am not up to a clapper yet.

[@catofthecastle1681]

You could make your own and you could put in curves that you need instead of generic ones. I made a bust ham out of an old shirt that had princess seams! Perfect for any bodice pressing!

[@dale3404]

I learned to sew off an inch or so, turn the fabric, then sew into the body of the dart for a few stitches. This anchors the thread with no knot. It may not work on all fabrics, but I haven’t had a problem.

[@SparkyOne549]

I learned to reduce my stitch length in the last 1/4”. I don’t know if that helps, i’ve never had an issue making darts.

[@Domestic.cats.domestic.crafts]

I recently started doing this as well and it helps so much!

[@dale3404]

This does help a lot.

[@AndiTrombly]

I've been sewing for a very long time, and I have learned so many tricks from you. You have been a happy random find on KZbin .

[@cerambycidae]

Wow, I had no idea this was even a problem, I thought they were *supposed* to be pointy XD. Thanks for the video!

[@mrsducky3428]

Thank you! This is what I learned years ago, but couldn't remember 😅😂🤣

[@ShantellBancroft]

It's been quite while since I've watched one of your supa good vids. Typed 'sewing darts' in the box, this came up. This is exactly what I was after. Sewed some grooooooss dart points on a skirt I drafted this week. Missed the end targets completely lol. Not usually so tardy, but its been a while since I've been on a sewing machine. And the machine I sewed on this week wasn't my domestic , but a industrial. Beast!! So I guess perfect points was taking to much?? Lol. So you better believe I've saved this vid to my private playlist. Thnak you so much Evelyn!!

[@stumpybear60]

I’m getting better at making things (sewing, too) by watching your videos. I want to take your courses when I get enough time off from work. You explain things in a way I can understand. Thank you!

[@HollyOak]

The courses are all at your own pace. You pick the one that interests you and follow along. There's a preferred order to do them in, but if you really need to know about zips for instance, you can do that one.

[@annazann7236]

As a perfectionist I so appreciate all you sewing tips. Thank you 😊 It's nice to know as wel it is a 'proper' way to go, as having a larger cup size I also always curve my darts a bit.

[@margarethirsch1074]

Marking 1cm before dart end is genius! Will be using that

[@pandaleigh88]

I had heard of sewing along the fold a few stitches, but it really sinks in with the clear visuals you provided! I've got a darted bodice on my worktable now, I can't wait to put this into practice!

[@katherinenobles5034]

Except for the second tip, these are exactly what I was taught in middle school! Nice to see that 60 years later, the classic teaching holds true!

[@patrickhenigin4805]

We got cheated. We weren't allowed to take home ec classes when I was in Jr high. They didn't think boys needed basic skills like cooking and sewing. They didn't think girls needed to learn about taking care of their cars. I can buy expensive shirts at the fancy stores that fit pretty good for $50, but the $10 shirts at the off price stores fit like tents. Sure, I watch tool hacks on KZbin, or find easy ways to fix things, but this life hack is just as important.

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

I have never made a dart I liked. I’m saving this to review before my next dart!!

[@luvnalaska44]

While I’ve been sewing for over 30 years, I am new to making clothes for myself. Loving your videos and feel ready to tackle a few vintage style dresses. Your channel is wonderful.

[@ColleenFletcher]

Thanks for all of your tips - my vintage silk shirt has great non-pointy darts thanks to you!

[@yolklab]

Wonderful Evelyn, thank you

[@RobynHannamSkyWriter]

You speak to me - lovely clear Aussie accent and good visual. Sewed as a teen, I’m now 74 and not a standard pattern shape but want to look good.

[@michellecornum5856]

Tips for making darts without tips. Moving the spot you are aiming for is brilliant!

[@heidibee501]

I really appreciate this because due to weight loss a couple of well placed darts can be a lifesaver. Now my clothes won't have that pointy fifties look.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

That pointy fifties look also had to do with the bras women wore. 😄

[@heidibee501]

@@user-mv9tt4st9k Yes. My older sister had bras like that.

[@alisonclark7576]

Like the tip for sewing along the fold at the point! I love my ham which I made from scrap fabrics and wood shavings (pet store) during first covid lockdown. How did I ever manage without it!

[@banthony8545]

Just when you think you know it all! As an experienced sewer, I love it that I'm still learning even more basic skills. My take aways were: 1) marking 3/8 from end point. Great method to also keep darts symmetrical. I usually keep an eye out to make the last three stitches of the dart point on the fold but I feel your method will refine my method, keep me more accurate. 2) ironing dart on a curve. Last year after 49 years of sewing finally I bought a sewing ham and I love it. I just also purchased a sleeve board, I spent extra and got a really good one and it's been worth every penny. Not watched you in awhile and I must say love your hair and make up changes, especially your eye make up. And of course love your spirit.

[@airicastarwall1349]

Thank you!!!! I'm working on a project and the pattern came with an online tutorial, but the bust dart portion was anything but helpful, I wasn't even sure how to sew it :( This is amazing and I'm definitely checking out more of your videos!

[@starwarssyl1177]

Thank you!

[@odetteboudreau5970]

Thank-you, love these tips, can't wait to try them. That is a very sweet hairstyle for you. If you don't mind my saying.....🙂

[@Evelyn__Wood]

Thanks! I just cut the fringe/bangs and still figuring it how to style it right!

[@loisfoster6073]

Your videos are the best and filled with lots of great tips.

[@Escape10mom]

Great tip! I've been wondering how to go about this! Thanks for sharing!

[@janeseemann2527]

Back when I was first learning to sew, my mum taught me to sew three stitches basically parallel to the fold line at the narrow end of the dart. Certainly takes away the dreaded pointy dart issue.

[@heidis.9988]

Thank you. I just started sewing my clothes, and now I can watch your videos to keep learning how to sew the perfect garment. Your videos are great and easy to follow. Thank you so much for doing what you do.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

Three out of five, ha ha. I have a lifting technique to iron my darts in a curve or I use a rolled washcloth: my sewing supply space is limited (I dream of a pressing ham). Also, I use a curve to mark my darts in a slight curve. The slight curving helps the garment better hug my not-so-straight-lined waist, bust, or hips. 😸

[@Tomes23]

You are so stylish! Always so glam.

[@aprildriesslein5034]

I've been meaning to get a tailor's ham, so I clicked thru to your shop. 🙂

[@cbm207]

Yas! Great tips. Lovin the hair and nails too

[@mariakaragianni863]

Thank you very much 💞💞💞 I always have difficulty with darts.

[@gillianbc]

I also reduce the stitch length towards the end to get a nice taper and it also helps prevent it coming undone

[@FerrisFamRanch]

Love it! Always tie the dart off!

[@namuyigacaroline7987]

I really appreciate your effort

[@lindasevers5109]

I am very small busted so pointy darts seem to be even more of a problem for me. Thank you for addressing this sewing challenge that can stump even very experienced sewers like me.

[@cloeshmoroz4512]

Aaaaaah, I just did very pointy some darts on a pair of trousers that called for darts to bring the legs into the waistband...nice that it was my toile and that I'll get to fix it for the real ones !

[@kimarmantrout9017]

I didnt even know how to make a dart!!! Thank You!! I spend more time learning with your videos than I do sewing :)

[@agam406]

The ironing - thanks for the great tip! I didn't know that. Now I need that special ham.

[@breeinatree4811]

I knew three of the 5 hints and my darts turned out ok. Thanks for the hints of moving the point I cm down and ironing on the ham. I'm sure all my darts will turn out perfectly now. I really enjoy your videos and get a lot out of them.

[@Evelyn__Wood]

I'm glad to hear it thanks for watching!

[@susanfletcher9697]

So presently I have an intense lo e hate relationship with Darts. Thank you for your video! Helped me a lot. Little less intense loathing for darts now as a result of watching your tips

[@susanfreeman6350]

I know this is an older video, but I hope you’re doing well. I’ve been sewing for 65 years and thought I had this dart stuff mastered. Recently though, I was sewing a blouse pattern from Liesl & Co with very nicely detailed instructions. The instructions specified to be sure to NOT tie that end knot tight up next to the stitching line. Tie a tight knit, but leave a tiny gap between the finished knot and the end of the dart seam. Interesting. It worked very nicely.

[@c.2538]

Evelyn this was SUPER HELPFUL! Right to the point & easy to see. When I search a technique on KZbin, odds are I’m knee deep in my project & not very patient. My darts came out perfect & I haven’t wasted any time ❤️ Cheers from New Jersey!

[@TheLizselby]

Thank you thank you! I’ve been sewing for years and have always struggled with darts. I used the tips and perfection!

[@jeanwestackroyd2966]

Thankyou Evelyn !

[@bellyjelly0812]

Thank you!!!!! Never sewn a dart before but this one looks like I’ve been doing it for years

[@dorothyhinz3543]

I love the points to follow in order to avoid points.

[@Parakeetfriend4215]

Now the use of the ham makes sense, a reason to use it for ironing, etc. So thank you!

[@franada5659]

Hello Evelyn. I had a sewing course decades ago. That’s why I consider myself an amateur. The dart I remember though as you show it here and I used it through my life. Now I ordered a new sewing machine and subscribed to your courses. If that is not exciting!

[@فاطمة-ي8غ]

Your hair style is beautiful 😊🌸

[@rhondaphillips432]

THANK YOU FOR THIS PROGRAM, I'VE SEWED MOST OF MY LIFE BUT I'M DEALING WITH NEW PROBLEMS WITH DRESSES I PURCHASED. FROM GEORGIA USA

[@carolannegladwin]

Been sewing for years but still learning!!! Thanks

[@jojo-wy7yq]

Thank you very much for these tips. I'm gonna use them all! 😊

[@mountainjune]

Nice points, I learned all them from my sewing teacher except your personal tip about marking the point early, I sometimes miss my Mark's. That's seems like a good idea that I'll try with my next dress. Thanks Evelyn. 👍🏼🤗 and my tailers ham, I use it ALL the time, I don't know what I'd do without it.

[@anneburke2405]

Thank you Evelyn, problem solved. You are such a joy to watch & listen to.

[@megangoggans1208]

This helps so much! My darts are always so pointy and I thought that I was using my pressing ham wrong!

[@fionnomara2362]

Great video, thanks. The tip on tapering off to the end of the dart is one of the best pieces of sewing advice ever. Thank you!

[@MiffoKarin]

After I tie the ends of the thread, I use a needle to tuck the threads into the dart itself. That way you don't get those short threads that tickle or annoy you if you're not wearing anything under it.

[@janinebrown9773]

Great tips!! ❤️. I wish I knew that 40 years ago 🤣. Love your content! 🤗

[@Evelyn__Wood]

Thanks for watching!

[@ZBexx]

I absolutely adore your videos, new ones particularly but today I came back for a quick review 💞

[@zephyr4648]

this is so helpful, I cant wait to try this! I always dread sewing darts but these tips are so simple and clear, great video ;)

[@meganmills6545]

I always shorten the stitch for that last cm or so of the dart too. And if you have a special reason to really not want tails there you can start at the pointy end if you reverse-thread the bobbin thread up through the throat plate, thread guides, tension units etc (follow the same path you take to thread normally but in reverse) and wind a few times around the thread spool at the top. You get no ends and, by using very small stitches at the start (that is, pointy end) of the dart you can get a smooth start without a pucker. I recommend, of course, that you practice this a couple of times first. :-)

[@Shawcotts]

Thank you. Just sewed the MOST beautiful bust darts. Not a pointy in sight. Hope your treatment is going OK. Best wishes, Claire (in Sydney, Oz)

[@szivec]

This is exactly the information I was trying to find. Thank you!

[@BevEsch]

Can you please do a vid on drafting a jacket pattern if u dnt have the right rulers what to use love all ur vids

[@raraavis7782]

Here you go: growyourownclothes.com/2014/10/19/more-free-printable-french-curves-and-hip-curves/ Just print them out and glue them on cardboard and you got yourself a french curve and a hip curve, at least.

[@PalaszewskiFamily]

This is one of the most helpful videos ever. Darts can be exasperating and not intuitive. Thank you for making them fun.💖

[@jacquiwhysall6626]

That was excellent. Makes perfect sense. Thank you.

[@mary-lougatward5125]

Thank you for the tip about moving the point back 1 cm ❤️

[@3jermaine3]

Thank you so much ur incredible pls keep teaching us I can get enough of ur videos

[@lidapeters4223]

A lady seamstres of 94 years old told me that the fabric at the inside of the dart must be ironed up, so that you don’t look in the stitchline. I have tried it out and it really was better. Often the pattern is made to iron it down.

[@janharris2395]

Sounds interesting but I can't visualize it. %-)

[@lynettemb4532]

Great tips, thank you. I also make my stitch length shorter as I approach the end of my dart. I find this helps a lot.

[@blaed011]

You are the best, thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@christinesmith8663]

Thanks for the tips. I will try the 3 parallel stitches and pressing on the ham next time.

[@valeriecutler3671]

Fantastic as always Evelyn. Thoroughly enjoy all the tutorial you so kindly do for us.

[@rebeccacamacho-sobczak4282]

Ms. Wood, I love your videos!! You are precise, disciplined, and very detailed. BTW, I found about 23 patterns in a thrift store in 2 baggies: $7.98 ( US dollars)!!!!! I would like to send you 7 patterns . A couple of them are McCalls, one is Somplicity, and one is Butterick. But the joy in my life are: the vintage Vogue!!! One is priced at 1 dollar, one is at 60 cents!!! Please let me know. The bags are a little tattered to barely holding on but I think you will like them. BTW, one is copyrighted at 1950! What a treasure trove! please let me know

[@lornaorlebar9879]

Omg. This information is just absolutely priceless. Thank you so so much, I'm truly grateful for your generosity. My darts were atrocious. I'm sure I'll improve after your wonderful advice. I thank you again.

[@Carlajoba]

Excellent tutorial! Thanks 😊