7 Tips for Pairing Fabrics with Sewing Patterns (for BEGINNER sewists OR if you hit a creative rut)😉

[@dineincreativity]

New Year, New Plans to Start Sewing Your Own Clothes?! Hopefully this video is helpful! What are other ways you have been able to successfully pair beautiful fabrics with sewing patterns to create garments you love? I always love hearing your thoughts. Happy sewing!

[@LRWdesign]

My tips as someone who has been sewing for 50+ years - Measure yourself everywhere and keep on a card and remeasure every few months as this will help you determine pattern sizing. - More accurate measurements are printed on the pattern for bust, waist and hip so use this for fit and not the finished measurements on pattern back. - Use old thrifted sheets to make a mock up and use a marker to adjust fit before cutting into your good fabric (make sure you mock up the changes to make sure the adjustments are good before adjusting your pattern pieces and cutting good fabric). Know the difference between lightweight, mid weight and heavy weight fabrics and there are many good online guides that will help you familiarize with fabric types and the categories. The suggested fabric on back of patterns is a good guide to what will lay well. Take your time, don’t rush sewing and the devil is in the details. Learn finishes like Hong Kong seams, French seams and when hand sewing is best. That’s it for me and hope it helps. 🥰

[@dineincreativity]

What an amazing array of helpful information! Thank you so much for taking the time to share. I can tell you have tons of experience and I appreciate you passing this info along to the rest of us : ) Happy sewing!

[@LRWdesign]

@@dineincreativity you are welcome. 🥰 I also suggest looking for secondhand sewing books for reference. I have a shelf of them including one from the 1950s from my mother. YT has a wonderful amount of sewing videos and is a great way to sew along by pausing the video as you go.

[@pilarmorgan9288]

Why not use finished measurements? It's all I use. Just curious...new sewist.

[@carolrobbins581]

These are all great tips. Thanks

[@dineincreativity]

You are so welcome!🧵🪡✨🌷

[@ZeldaSews]

Hi Rachel Ann. I have beautiful patterns and beautiful fabric. It's just matching them up is the struggle. Thanks for making it a little bit easier!❤

[@dineincreativity]

Hi Zelda! So relatable- I have a couple fabrics that I have held off on sewing up due to the matching process. It’s a work in progress for sure! 😊 Happy sewing to you!

[@CreativityFromBlueberryH-wo3gu]

Great tips!

[@dineincreativity]

I'm so glad you found them helpful! 😊

[@cindywinkler4172]

You're such a doll, thanks for the creativity 💕

[@dineincreativity]

Thank you so much for your kind words 😊 and for being here! 🌷✨

[@tammymasson2343]

I have loved watching your channel grow! This was such a great video, even though I've been sewing a very long time. I loved the last tips! I freeze up on decision making and cutting into my favorite fabrics. I really like your encouraging advice! I love your style advice, too! Happy new year 2025!!!

[@dineincreativity]

Thank you so much for being here, Tammy- and I’m so glad you found this video helpful! You have definitely shared such great tips/comments on my channel- I’m so appreciative of seasoned sewists like yourself! Happy creating and sewing! 😊🪡🧵✨

[@marylusk8287]

Happy New Year Rachel Ann, you have only been sewing for a few years, but you have a lot of good ideas to share. I enjoy your channel so much.

[@dineincreativity]

Hi Mary! Happy happy new year to you! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the channel and I so appreciate you being here. 🌷 Happy sewing to you!

[@amybrown9213]

Great tips! I like the idea to focus on shape and general silhouette. I would add: Colors: find your best basics, like what is your best green (might be peridot) or your best red (might be a pink. Patterns: pay attention to if you like yourself in smaller busier prints, larger prints, plaids square, plaids on a diagonal, or solids. Skill: consider how familiar you are with sewing before choosing fabrics that ravel, stretch, or slip. Also think about the complexity of the pattern. Prep: some fabrics have some starch in them, or are a material that shrinks. Pre-washing and pressing are a must.

[@dineincreativity]

Absolutely love these vital tips shared!!! Thank you for sharing your wisdom here and Happy Sewing! : )

[@lisadaniellesews]

Fun tip on getting inspired from various websites and not spending money! It’s easy to start purchasing patterns just because there is a good sale to build your stash, but do they suit you and fit into your lifestyle? Guilty of this myself! Would love for you to do a few videos on pattern/sewing instructions. Sometimes I find myself rallying struggling with constructing garments because I can’t understand the instructions and I can’t find a sew along for it. Happy and blessed 2025!

[@dineincreativity]

Love, love that you shared this relatable experience that I too, have also been guilty of. Especially with those amazing simplicity.com sales that sometimes happen! 😆 And, it has been on the forefront of my mind to do more sew along videos. Definitely will make a point here in the next several weeks to try to get one out. If you have a pattern that you’ve been interested in a sew along for, don’t hesitate to share, and I’ll see if I have it in my stash! Happy sewing and creating! 🧵🪡✨😊

[@lindarogers4188]

Thanks for sharing this helpful video.

[@dineincreativity]

Absolutely! 🧵🪡😊

[@ZeldaSews]

I'm with you as far as garment fitting me... I think I have a short waist and I do not look good in drop waist anything. "Personal style is fluid!" I 100% agree!❤

[@dineincreativity]

Cheers to the fluidity of personal style! And knowing what works for you! 🙌✨✨

[@TammyMyers-w5r]

Happy New Year🎉! Another great video!

[@dineincreativity]

Happy New Year to you as well! 😊 I’m so glad you enjoyed the video!

[@unsewcial]

I made a video just like this so it was very interesting hearing your views and tips!!!🎉

[@dineincreativity]

Always fun to hear different perspectives! : ) Happy sewing!

[@karendarrell4845]

Thanks for this video, Rachel Ann! I just learned a valuable lesson this week about pairing fabric with a pattern. I chose a double knit fabric for a skirt with an elastic waist and it's just too bulky around the middle!! I will still wear it, but have to cover up the waistline with a top or belt because it's not flattering at all. Lesson learned;) Your suggestions are helping me to prepare for better match-ups next time! Happy New Year of Sewing!!!

[@dineincreativity]

It’s so funny that you mention this because I literally just went through the same thing with a knit fabric I had!😆 glad you are finding a way to make your skirt still work for you and happy new year of sewing to you as well! 🧵🪡✨

[@karendarrell4845]

@@dineincreativity 😆 It feels good to know I'm not the only one!

[@clarissaflowers6200]

This is incredibly helpful! At this point, I need to visit the store and touch the fabric to be able to determine if it is an appropriate fabric. Whenever I look at online fabric stores, I quickly become overwhelmed with the choices and wondering if it is suitable. Hopefully, I will feel comfortable with purchasing online once I gain more experience. Happy New Year and thank you again for sharing your skills and experience, your tutorials are highly invaluable to me!

[@dineincreativity]

So so happy that you found this helpful! I am definitely much more of a tactile person so completely relate to what you have shared. Happy fabric shopping, creating and sewing-and Happy New Year! ✨🪡🧵😊

[@pjacksreads536]

Great advice. I get a lot of fabric from the Salvation Army, also sheets and test my first garment before using my good fabric. Cost is $3-4. Definitely read the back of the pattern for fabric suggestions.

[@dineincreativity]

Love these tips! I think it’s such a great way to build skills with little cost and use of Preloved/thrift store fabric. Happy sewing and creating! 😊🧵🪡

[@aribella6913]

Great tips! I’ve been sewing all my life and I wish I would’ve known some of these tips instead of finding out the hard way…lol Even now after sewing professionally I make bloops. Usually it’s the wrong fabric for a pattern, but I think oh Heck, I’m gonna give it a try anyhow. Some were ok some hilarious. Fun, informative channel. ❤️

[@dineincreativity]

Learning the hard way definitely creates a lasting lesson I've found : ) Thank you for sharing such a transparent comment--it's nice to know that even with tons of experience, the bloops will still happen! Hehe Thank you so much for being here and Happy Sewing!

[@cassandrawade460]

I love to sew and wear suits, but they are out of style. I am trying dresses for the first time and haven’t found a silhouette that fits my body type. Love your videos! Thank you for sharing and wishing you a happy, healthy 2025!

[@dineincreativity]

Keep exploring dresses that feel comfortable to you and there are ways to keep suits looking modern and fresh! : ) Happy happy New Year to you!

[@kristinasekacova6061]

great video! I have been sorting out my fabric stash during xmas and found out that I have always first picked the pattern and then the fabrics, now as I have a lot fabrics to use (over 50 omg) I want to try out the opposite approach, thus to pick a fabric a add a pattern to it so that it matches all my closet and vibes etc. You made an excellent point as to watch for the recommended fabrics that are in the patterns, I know very well because the majority of my stash was bought for a pattern that I ended up not using ..... also the worst makes were the ones not respecting this appropriate fabrics for the project. Well, I have certainly learned my lesson there and over the years I make less and less of such garments ;) last but not least, go to the store people! online is not the best way to shop fabrics =)

[@dineincreativity]

Love this down to earth comment! So relatable and I know that happens to the best of us! 😆 Love this new approach you’re taking and it’s definitely something I am also really focusing on to create projects that suit me better. Happy happy sewing and creating to you!

[@carolynnovak9952]

I look at the symbols for body type on the back of vogue to make sure I don’t purchase a pattern that does not suit my body type. I buy new inexpensive bed sheets from Dollarama to make a toile. And I watch utubers like you to get feedback on how a pattern sewed up for them

[@dineincreativity]

I love that you use the body type symbols offered and make a toile! So smart and great tips you’ve shared. 😊 I always appreciate your thoughtful comments! Happy sewing!

[@sabinerosais1231]

❤❤

[@jeaninebilleaud5658]

What pattern t shirt is that?

[@dineincreativity]

I don’t have if in front of me right now-It’s actually a totally pattern hacked vintage turtleneck pattern that I’ll definitely be sharing in my next video!

[@ljiljanaavramovic2460]

I'm so afraid of sewing with jersey fabric 😁. Not a total beginner, not an expert too. I have a serger, have a few jersey fabric in my stash,but didn't try sew it yet. Just scared 🙈

[@dineincreativity]

You got this!!! Working with new fabric types can have a learning curve but I think the only way to really get a feel for working with them...is to start sewing!!! Good luck and happy sewing to you : )