TEN mistakes to AVOID as a sewing beginner (includes embarrassing personal examples)

[@OnePoetWanderer]

The 'bonus' one hits home for me right now! I'm technically not a beginner, I sewed a ton when I was younger and am now getting back into it, but I'm challenging myself with new skills. Sometimes despite all of the research I try to do beforehand, a thing just doesn't work out. Tried sewing with double gauze for the first time last week...turned out a hot mess. Working on some relaxed pants this week and trying to get the right fit, totally screwed up the first attempt. I was feeling frustrated last night and told my husband 'I KNOW that I'm learning and sometimes that means I have to make some mistakes before I get it right, but I just want to make something WEARABLE!' So anyway, talking a break from the pants to make a simple jersey top and then I will settle back in to conquering my challenge. Because it's all about learning and once I learn it, I will be so happy. 🙂

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Sounds like you have absolutely the right attitude there! I think those times will always come no matter how experienced we are, sometimes things just don’t work! I hate double gauze - it stretches 😝 xx

[@Angie29449]

Great video! I made all of those mistakes over time. Every. Single. One. It takes mistakes to learn.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

It certainly does and I'm glad I can laugh about them now haha xx

[@nataliestanchevski4628]

The thing about mistakes is that you probably won't make the same one twice, but there are an infinite number of mistakes you could make.😁 Even experienced sewists will mess up in new and exciting ways.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Ah yes so true, I’m still messing up and learning and I’m sure always will be. Thanks for watching x

[@janeybeasley9525]

All great advice, I remember being told think twice cos you can only cut once! I hate cutting out and have never learnt to love it but taking time here saves a great deal of heartache and possibly wasted fabric, as I know to my cost! ❤

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Ah yes measure twice, cut once. Such great advice 😊 Thank you for watching xx

[@SewMyTime]

Agree with every single word!!! I have lived your journey and am truly addicted. And, as my friend says “anyone who never makes mistakes never tries anything”. It is so true. Thank you for sharing. Happy Sewing 😊. Lynne

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

So true!! Thanks so much for watching xxx

[@janeybwells2810]

I always pre-wash woven fabrics but guided by Johanna from The Last Stitch I do not pre-wash knits with lycra in them. This makes them much easier to sew, no curling and I have never had a problem with shrinkage. I press the fabric before I cut out, before I stitch it - press the two pieces together if it is a long straight seam and after sewing. Makes such a difference. I have also learnt (the hard way) to take time to clearly mark the notches and I also tailor tack all other markings. Great video!

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Oh how interesting I didn’t realise you don’t have to wash Lycra blends. I’ll be trying this out in the future. Thank you for watching xx

[@cheryl3366]

Great video. ❤ I would add, make note about how you would change the pattern if you make it again. It's amazing how quickly you forget. It also helps me with knowing which pattern companies fit me best. If I am going to try a more difficult pattern i will look at those patterns. Save myself a lot of fitting issues.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Yes!! I am terrible at not noting changes I drive myself mad haha. Great point about pattern companies too xx

[@marygreen7225]

Great video Sally, thank you. I now prewash my fabric as soon as it arrives so I know it is ready to go!

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

That’s such a good idea I wish I was that organised 😝 x

[@denisekendall7147]

Hi Sally. Thanks for the video. I've been sewing for many years and have made many mistakes. If I'm having a bad day or feeling a bit down, I'll go to my sewing room and sew a couple of seams. Just the fact of putting the needle down into the fabric makes me feel 100% better in myself. I did recently have doubt about my sewing abilities. Our new daughter-in-law and I were on the same page when it came to her wedding dress design but the price of the same style in the shops was shocking $9,000 (New Zealand) for a very simple bias cut dress. Could I make it she asked? Sure no problem I said!!! Famous last words. No pattern, 100% silk and only an inspiration photo to go by. I made three toiles of that dress, first one out of an old sheet, the second out of some calico and the third out of some shocking satin. By the end I had perfected the style. I finally plucked up the nerve to cut into the silk and yes there was a glass of wine involved. Anyway she looked sensational and at a fraction of the cost. Thanks for the videos. I really enjoy watching them. Take care.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

That’s amazing!! Well done what an inspirational story 😊 I totally know what you mean about just sitting down to sew. Sometime you just have to make yourself do it xx

[@denisekendall7147]

@@SecretLifeOfASeamstress Thanks Sally. We had a little pinch me moment as well with the dress. The photographer submitted her work to various magazines including British Vogue and the wedding she chose was "our" wedding. She was accepted into British Vogue and "our" dress is featured in the latest issue which is presumably September. It's not available in NZ yet. It's the one with Kylie Jenner on the cover. There are several photographers featured and "ours" is number 5. Don't like to sound like I'm bragging but I'll never have a moment like that again. It's a shame you can't see the dress properly but the photo Vogue chose is quite stunning of them both. Take care.

[@EmL-kg5gn]

I refuse to listen to number one 😅 With my tendency to throw myself in the deep end I’ll inevitably have to get good at fixing all kinds of mistakes. I might as well get started right away 😂 I’ll listen to your other advice though!! Tysm for sharing your experience with us 💕

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Haha well that’s great if that’s how it works for you I’ve definitely been guilty of doing the same in the past x

[@EmL-kg5gn]

@@SecretLifeOfASeamstress I probably be regretting it soon haha but I’ll keep telling myself it’s a learning experience xx

[@CarolAReece-ii1ry]

Another very informative video Sally. Thank you. I'm very guilty of them all - at least I was. Older and wiser now 😊

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

I guess it’s a right of passage haha xx

[@AngelaEvers-tj1dg]

Excellent. Yes , I am guilty of most of the above.......except pressing! I have always been big on pressing. It makes such a difference. Super video.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

I love pressing now, so satisfying! Thanks for watching I’m glad you enjoyed it xxx

[@susankidd9963]

I agree with everything you said Sally great video.x

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thanks so much xx

[@careycraig3596]

Even when you are very experienced you can still make mistakes!

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Definitely!! X

[@india1422]

Pressing makes the difference between homemade and handmade

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

It really does x

[@Bernietheoc]

👏🏻👗

[@sew_So_beautiful]

I had to laugh when you said to trust your GPS because it knows how to get there better than you do. No one can find our house, even though we are on a main highway and our emergency number, which is used as a house number, at least in rural Ontario, Canada, is clearly marked, in front of the house on a big bright blue sign, as everyone's is, and on our mailbox. GPS's tend to use Google Maps, but if you try to find our place, it will send you down the dirt road with a completely different name than our address, that runs beside our farm, all the way to the back of our 50 acre farm, then follow a creek (actually more of a drainage ditch), half way through the field again, with no lane or road whatsoever, and that is where the little red tear drop will be found on the map. So apparently that is where I live, not the clearly marked big white house, about 50' from the main highway, whose address, I have. I guess I live in the beaver dam that has popped up there instead. Lol. Thank goodness following sewing instructions is much easier and more accurate than finding my house with a GPS.😂

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Oh dear haha! Actually now you say it our road used to be similar in the early days of gps. Maybe they can’t always be trusted lol x