My Sewing Advice for My Past Self

[@lovemesomeslippers]

I absolutely sew slowly. I told myself I’d speed up but then realized that I really don’t need to. I’m not doing piecework to feed my family so it’ll go however fast it goes.

[@evitaevita98]

I'm slow as well! I'm hard on myself about it and have to remind myself that it's okay.

[@jmsmom67]

I feel the same. I was like, who cares how fast I get something done.

[@hoppaheedahoe2581]

I sew slow and enjoy myself. I enjoy my well-made clothes while improving my techniques. I’m advanced and can sew anything too. Im always looking to learn a new skill with my next make just as I have done since I was a child.

[@PatternScout]

Same! I realized at some point that I can go at my own pace and that made me love it so much more!

[@kah597]

I'd give this comment 10 thumbs up if I could!

[@Hremo_158]

Excellent Tips! It's sad that school does not offer the same sewing programs us older gals were afforded back in the day. I took sewing from 7th Grade till I graduated. By my Sr Yr I had advance Tailoring. We learned all these Tips each year. To this day, I have never owned a pair of Curtains /drapery that I just bought from the store and hung up. 😅 Most of my store bought ready to wear is Altered in some way for fit or personal style. Thrifting /upcyling has been my thing long before it was "fashionable"

[@roseannboi6632]

I agree with you that sewing skills have been not included in school programs. I learned sewing from my mother and in middle school classes. Sewing fashion garments seems to be on the rise.

[@PatternScout]

Thank you! It really is a shame! I was so fortunate to have a grandmother that sewed and taught me (and a mother who let me run loose creatively! haha). I can't tell you how many times I have been so thankful for the sewing knowledge!

[@lavadaroufs]

Great job explaining, encouraging and inspiring new sewers. Most of all, I think slowing down and enjoying the process is the best and at 76 I'm still doing it!

[@PatternScout]

Definitely!!

[@roseannboi6632]

A wonderful video! Everything you say about sewing is true. I am 71 and have been sewing since I was 15. Sewing is truly a process, as many have said. I started by making an apron and learned to advance my skill through the years. My one advice is that when you make a sewing error or can’t figure the pattern out, put it down and return the next day. I have learned many things from your videos and all the other sewing channels. Thank you for your informational video!

[@christinewhitehair6889]

I could have written this! Including the apron!

[@roseannboi6632]

@@christinewhitehair6889 many older sewers out there who started out with aprons and jumpers and A lined skirts in high school. The KZbin channels such a world of info. Thanks and keep sewing.

[@PatternScout]

That is great advice to add to this list: taking breaks! I always feel better after a break when I get frustrated. Thanks so much for watching!

[@allsquaredup9717]

I have made and sold rag quilts and other items for years, but never made clothing. I was super sick a few weeks ago and I discovered your channel. Between you and the channel Thoughtful Creativity I decided to finally try a garment. I made my husband some pajama bottoms from a flannel sheet from Goodwill. I figured “Just do it. How bad could they be?” They are cute and wearable!! It was so fulfilling and fun. I’m definitely going to try my other pattern, a dress. But not from Goodwill flannel. 😜

[@julianachandler2975]

“This is a learning process” is definitely my mantra these days. When I was younger I was more focused on having the garment and frequently frustrated, after sewing to quickly🫤.In addition to what you have in this video, I would tell myself how bad pattern sizing was and to learn pattern drafting/modification.

[@PatternScout]

Yes, that is such a good point to make about pattern sizing and learning to make modifications! 🙌 i feel like that is one of the least understood parts of garment sewing for sure.

[@inforestsweheal]

I really appreciate all your advice and your candour about making mistakes, going slowly and learning as you go along. So many other video creators just show all the great outcomes... it's nice to know that I'm not the only one struggling at times and that I can work my way through if I have the right mindset, which you clearly do. thank you!

[@sarahirey7842]

These are the exact words I needed at this moment!, this sewing is such a nice hobby but sometimes so frustrating with the projects, you are absolutely right sometimes we must be selfish a little bit, to don't get frustrated along the way, thank you!

[@irenecoermann2439]

So timely for me. Just getting started and taking my time and learning without pressure.

[@elaineevans6278]

I so enjoy sewing and also mainly for myself and sometimes for my daughter. My wish is to have more free time to be able to sew. Between running a business, normal household jobs and cleaning, gardening... I also make it a point to never sew when tired because that is when I make mistakes. But retirement is on the horizon so I will make up for it then!

[@brendashenda4249]

I resonate with this. Tonight, I set about to convert a tshirt to a tank and to add armhole and neck binding. First time. I took my time. I just chalked up the small flaws as experience. But it worked! and I'm wearing it tomorrow 😊 As one of my encouragers, I thank you. PS: and yes meditative...I love listening to the sound of the mechanical chattering of the parts ❤

[@pjacksreads536]

I absolutely agree with you. I only want to sew for me. If it were for others I wouldn’t love it as much. It’s therapeutic for me. I take my time, relax and enjoy the skill. The added pressure of sewing for others is completely different. They may put time restrictions or I’d worry if they’d like it or feel I have to be perfect.

[@PatternScout]

Yes! It's the added pressure of deadlines and worrying they won't love it (or respect the time that goes into making it, honestly!). Any little imperfections that make it into my garments, I can live with haha :)

[@ligiization]

I started sewing because i liked buying second hand clothes and almost all of them needed a little tweak to fit perfectly and i had a really old sewing machine laying around from my great-grandparents. Perfect kick-start.

[@lorieburtt592]

I loved this video. Achieving proficiency and producing at a level of excellence is certainly gratifying and worthy of celebration, but when you no longer make mistakes on the regular, you have stopped growing. I suppose it’s okay to stop growing. That’s a perfectly valid and wholly personal choice, but I hope I never stop growing. It’s exciting to try new things, to experiment, to learn new skills, and that will always be accompanied by mistakes. ❤

[@leannwhite620]

My sewing journey began about 5 years ago. I too, wish I had started sooner. For me, I felt like I didn't have time. Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. My work and family consumed a lot of time. This is where I'm at now. Kids nearly graduated from college and I work very part-time. Look out sewing! Here I come! My biggest tip for beginner sewists is thrift fabric. I thought if I totally ruined the fabric, it was ok because it was thrifted ($3 sheets). Now I thrift nearly all of my supplies. I am thrilled to take a basically discarded item and make a beautiful, wearable item. The downside (?) is my stash is huge! LOL Absolutely agree that just get started is the #1 challenge. Go for it! It doesn't have to be a perfect result. What is perfect anyway? In the eyes of the beholder perfect is usually not the same for someone else.

[@kerstinshadbolt1003]

A timely reminder. I'm too easy to be influenced and persuaded to add the latest pattern whether appropriate or not for my my shape, style or needs. Thank you for sharing your advice to yourself in this excellent video.🌷

[@rebecca-72]

This is totally what I needed to hear at the start of this long weekend (Europe). I’ve been wanting to get started on a linen dress hack for weeks…. Months? But I’ve not had my sewing machine out and running for nearly a year. It just feels like so much effort and I’m not a very talented sewist. But I DO enjoy the process once I start and I know I can do it if I take it step by step. Thanks for the “just do it message”!

[@PatternScout]

So glad it was encouraging! Enjoying the process is reason enough to do it!

[@Escape10mom]

Yes, I've started slowing down my sews for sure & am enjoying it much more.

[@nicolev.4640]

i just bought my first sewing machine a couple days ago, i have the singer m1150 there’s not much videos online of it being used and im a visual learner but you and your videos give me clarity and confidence!

[@PatternScout]

I'm so glad! Thank you for watching!

[@claudiainBali]

C..... My mother is a master at her craft, which is sewing and fashion design. She learned via the German system of being an apprentice and then becoming a master. She too still makes mistakes (so that is par for the course.....) and also, although she is a fashion designer and know s how to draft patterns, I can still help her get over small obstacles. Also, you already know...... she is impressed by two of your patterns that we purchased. So you know - you are a perfectionist, because otherwise my mother would have had some criticism which has not come up yet!

[@PatternScout]

Thank you so much! That means a lot to me! She sounds like a very talented woman!

[@claudiainBali]

@@PatternScout Well my mother is quite well known in the collectible doll world (esp USA) and has written 4 books on sewing for dolls (books that included patterns). But with being talented comes the characteristics of being a diva.... and this grates on my characteristic of being... well the opposite. You can look up my mother: Rosemarie Ionker. I do appreciate her and her knowledge, but at times I could smack her .....

[@vintagegirl68]

Love this! I started at age 22 with a machine from sears. It was a awful machine that would sew a seam and after washing the seam would fall apart! I thought all home use machine were like this. Fast forward a few years and I realized that my machine was defective out of the box. So I tried again and was very surprised. It takes a while to learn to sew well, glad I took the journey! Cheers!

[@libbykilpatrick1578]

Thank you so much for this vlog. Loved it and it was very inspiring. I'm off to my sewing room to start a garment that I was scared of!!!

[@PatternScout]

Yay!! :)

[@joulsw3739]

Great video. I hesitate too much about sewing. I have boxes of fabric and hundreds of patterns but now have to just JFDI! I lost my mojo for years but coming back to it again. Totally loving how your sewing room looks now ❤

[@awishtostitch1543]

Such excellent advice 👏👏👏 I'm glad I did some if these from the beginning: making garments i want to wear and using natural fibers, but it's still a great reminder to hear it again, especially as a sewist using IG! 😅

[@hazelhardy3941]

Just a brilliant video. All the things you have decided are things I’ve found out too. I only sew for myself, but I will hold someone’s hand if they want a go. And, the thing about not sewing everything in my wardrobe! I really really can’t find long enough swimsuits ( I have tried…) so after a lot of swearing and throwing things away, I made two very ordinary but nice swimsuits, and concocted a ‘bikini’ out of a longline bra and bikini bottoms as back up. Obviously I only wore the bikini, so that’s the new plan. No more making swimmers. Anyway, I just love your no nonsense, practical videos. You get to the point, you don’t waffle, you have practical and useful advice. Keep them coming.

[@PatternScout]

Thank you, Hazel! Glad you can relate! :) I am the same: always happy to chat sewing and help friends/family that want to learn!

[@kellycincotta3547]

Perfect timing for me to find this post! You have encouraged me! Thank you!

[@loreleig5062]

Very good advise, I’m also with you on garment sewing just for myself. I love to gift quilts for others instead!

[@des_des_00]

Yeah..... I'm totally guilty about the impulse fabric buying, lol. I work at Joann and I love when we get new stuff in - I can get my mitts on everything first! I also buy fabrics online. I do think I need to cool it on the fabric lust.... so hard, though, since I've always been a collector of things. 🥲🥲

[@chriswatson1698]

I am a fabric collector too. But I am a bargain hunter. I know what fabric was full price. I have loads of luscious wools, linens, cottons and silks that I bought half price, but I will have to live to 150 years to make them all up. Or wear them. Still, I really enjoy going through my stashes. I just adore fabrics. A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

[@lisafraser2313]

Loved this video! I haven’t done much sewing in the last 20 yrs but am starting to get back to it now. I learned to sew 40 years ago when I was 12 and I took Home Ec and Clothing & Textiles through middle school and high school. I enjoyed sewing so much back then - maybe because I had a tiny body and more free time 😅 It was when I started feeling like I had to be an adult and more responsible with my sewing choices that It lost it’s appeal. I felt like I should sew versatile basics (boring black wool skirt, curtains) and it just wasn’t the same. I guess I need my sewing to be a creative outlet. When I was in high school & uni, I did a lot of sewing. A few times a week I would pop into the fabric store on the bus route home from school. I had it timed between buses and could run in and out in 25 mins to catch the next bus!. I would run in and check out the sale section and the remnant bin that was always 50% off. I could grab remnants of beautiful cotton and rayon prints, or jersey for just a few dollars, rush home, whip up a cute top or skirt and wear it to school the next day! I had some unique clothes I really loved and felt so fulfilled by my sewing time. Now I am getting into upcycling and feeling some of that spark again. So before this comment turns into a novel, one tip I would add is to take the extra time to make a muslin (use old sheets or inexpensive broadcloth) when trying a new pattern or style, especially if it’s a more involved project and/or using pricier fabric. In my 20’s, when I was trying to make practical, quality basics for my wardrobe, I skipped the muslin step because I didn’t want to waste my sewing time on something I couldn’t wear. Ironically, I did end up wasting time and money because sometimes the finished garment didn’t fit or look the way I expected and I ended up disappointed with something hanging in the closet that I didn’t wear. Now that I a, getting started again I a, going to need to make a few muslins or slopers to get familiar with what pattern sizes fit my menopausal body. Unfortunately a lot of the small sized patterns I stashed over the years will likely be too small now but that’s ok. I’m taking this as an opportunity to learn more about fitting 😊

[@alisonwhite1942]

Thank you for sharing. I starting sewing as a teenager and loved it so much that for a few years I sewed most of what I wore. I loved the creative process of choosing a pattern and fabric but then I started d gaining weight and because I did not know how to fit the patterns to my changing body I lost interest in sewing but still enjoyed checking out the patterns from the big 4 and keeping up with the new release. The last time I sewed an item to wear was about 30 years ago. I'm now 60 years old and about 10 years ago was diagnosed with a chronic illness which has caused my body to go through changes that are hard to fit. About a year ago I started getting indie pattern videos as well as other avid sewers like yourself and I have caught the bug again. I have yet to make anything for myself but I am so excited to get started. Thank you for your insight and encouragement. There are points that you made that I am going to take to heart. Natural fibers as well as not rushing through a project.

[@PatternScout]

Thanks so much for watching! And so happy to read that you are catching the sewing bug again. The planning and excitement to work on new projects is one of my favorite parts of the process!

[@jenniferdossett911]

Would you consider making a video about what you would recommend as a starter kit? Machine recs, thread, scissors, etc.

[@chriswatson1698]

Lots of KZbin videos. When I started sewing at the age of 14, there was no information other than what was on the patterns, and what I could get out of my mother and sisters, who weren't very experienced, or co-operative. Trial and error is a really inefficient method of mastering any skill.

[@julestopper7553]

I have been sewing my own clothes for over 20 years and I couldn't agree more with your tips- I think they even apply to seasoned sewers! I just rushed a project because I wanted to wear it to an event and I wish so much I hadn't rushed it, it's definitely not my best work- and I used a beautiful piece of Japanese linen I have been saving for years! Thanks for the thoughtful video!

[@francescaleaton4973]

Always love your vlogs. Thank you for your inspiration and encouragement. I won’t feel guilty now when I sew for myself ❤

[@joonmade]

All the cheers for guilt-free self sewing! 🙌🎉 It's taken so much practice when people ask, "Oh you made that? Can you make me one?" to confidently say, "Nope! I just sew for myself, and sometimes my husband. But thanks!" That's one thing the pandemic taught me after making all those masks -- my body and soul hate production-style sewing. You nailed it -- it sucked out all the joy for me. Lesson learned!

[@PatternScout]

Yes! I have gotten so comfortable with the word NO. haha. I'll sometimes joke that I charge $3000 for a custom garment. :) Production sewing is absolutely the worst for me. I plan to never do that again (I maybe sewed a total of 10 masks and made my loved ones swear not to tell anyone I made them one)!

[@daxxydog5777]

I just say, "I don't do commissions" , lol. Also, "I think you overestimate my talents" (in response to a friend who thought it'd be a great idea for me to remake her 80s wedding dress for her daughter - for free, no less!).

[@debbieyoungstrom5378]

Thank you for an excellent and encouraging video. Trying to get back into sewing and forgive my mistakes this go around. I still consider myself a beginner but want to continue learning how to make garments.

[@aukkran]

I didn't notice how much I hated polyester and synthetic fibers until I started wearing cotton and wool, partially due to your advice. I can't touch synthetic since, the texture is just too overwhelming. I'm finally excited about clothing and putting an outfit together because I finally feel comfortable wearing my clothes.

[@PatternScout]

I've been tempted by 100% polyester so many times, but it never fails to irritate my skin!

[@Sew_Learning]

Brilliant advice!!! I enjoyed this video! Thank you for sharing this with us. Sending best wishes from Down Under 🥰💐🌸🌺🇦🇺😎

[@PatternScout]

Thank you! :)

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

Im so new to sewing and i needed to hear these things to help me move past some of my roadblocks. I just listened on repeat while tidying and reorganizing my home office/craft room (the struggle is so real!) and im feeling so much more motivated to start my next project. Thank you! ❤

[@PatternScout]

So glad it was motivating! Thanks so much for watching!

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

@@PatternScout I sewed 1-2/3 blouses this weekend and have some swooshy secret pants ready to go next. Thanks for the pep-talk!

[@tenavinson3081]

Fun video, great tips! I watched while I was unpicking a linen jacket that needs some figuring out :)

[@PatternScout]

Thanks! :)

[@mchristofas]

Your such an inspiration Casey!

[@PatternScout]

That is so nice, thank you!

[@PloenPatterns]

Very helpful tips! ❤ Great video ✂️

[@kimberlypiter8718]

Fun and great advice😊

[@Suid-Afrika67]

Thank you! I needed that.

[@editadesena9892]

Thank you

[@sewingchanel]

Terimakasih,, sangat membantu ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@weaver7249]

Great advice!

[@susankidd9963]

Loved this video but I like all of your videos. I started sewing fifty five years ago and still make mistakes but just love sewing.I noticed you have a Pfaff machine do you use the IDT system on all your makes.

[@PatternScout]

I'm so glad, thank you! I actually don't use the IDT that much unless I am sewing heavier-duty fabrics. I find that it gets hung up on my thread sometimes...or if I change out my presser foot I usually forget to re-engage it :)

[@ames0596]

I am 65 and started sewing as a teenager. I feel like a failure at it because fitting is the biggest problem. I am 5'6" 134lb , Size 14 is too big sometimes a 12 is not right . I feel so frustrated. I have all the books on fitting etc. but just am not smart enough to figure it out! How did you master sewing and pattern drafting in only 5 years?

[@PatternScout]

I just did it A LOT. I joke that I am obsessed with sewing (but it is also kinda true). I get tunnel vision on projects and will not stop until I figure out a solution sometimes. I have had many frustrating moments with fitting...to the point of tears! But I'll take breaks and come back to it over and over. And once I figured out what adjustments worked for me it got easier to repeat them on new projects. It's a process! :)

[@sallydingle321]

👌🙏💖💖💖👍🥰

[@carolreece9950]

Great advice ❤