Date: 10/28/09 11:18 AM

I have been sewing since 12th grade, so now I will tell my age it has been 32 years. I am still just a a little better than begninning levels. As my children were growing up, I made alot of their clothing since we didn't have much money. However, everytime I try to sew anything for myself, I get discouraged, don't like how it fits, never wear. Recently, I have started to sew more. I make handbags and quilts, and craft items. Though, now I have the desire to make some clothes for myself. I really want to learn, how to fit patterns, how to make pieces that do not look hand made. My question, is where to start. Has most of you went to sewing school, college or is it just from experience. I have read many thread on this site in regards to on line classes, and tutorials, should I start there? Also, I do not have a dress form, or never have owned one. I looked at all the threads on making dress forms, and it is overwhelming. Should I just purchase one and try to use it? My built is 5'9" and I weight I am ashamed to say around 200lbs. When I purchase pants I buy 18 talls, and when I purchase tops I get a 1x or 2x depending on fit. I hate to have things cline, since most of my weight is around my waist....yuk.... Any way, what do you all suggest for me?

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Reply to Mary Heckman
Date: 10/28/09 12:27 PM

Mary,
Welcome to PR and sewing for you!

I think the answer to your question lies in your own preferences. In the past have you learned best in classes? Or do you learn best by trying new things yourself, getting feedback from photos you've posted online and then trying again? Do you prefer learning from reading books and following the photos and drawings? If you think back on how you learned to sew initially (or learned other skills) you might figure out your best way to update the skills you need.

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blog: goodworks1.wordpress.com

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Date: 10/28/09 12:32 PM

Hi Mary, don't give up!

There was a thread last month - http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/sewingclasses/board.pl?t=43768what do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started sewing? -- excellent tips, many I wish I'd known when I started!

My schools didn't offer sewing courses (I'm in my early 40's, BTW). I would have LOVED to have taken some. I've learned from some local community-sponsored courses, local quilting/sewing group, sewing DVDs, magazines, and my favorite resource - PR! - and learned so much over the last few years, that I feel like "I can really sew!" now. I only started 6 years ago.

The fit and the fabric make all the difference for me. If it doesn't fit, or the fabric is weird, it won't look right to me, and I won't wear it. Last year I made a paper-tape dress form Threads Paper Tape Double and it helped tremendously with fit. I still find that it takes me a long time to fit tissue to a form, so I've been trying to speed up and improve that process. This year, I've made some slopers (Shannon Gifford's courses on PR, and Wild Ginger's Pattern Master Boutique, - SG's classes really helped me understand how this software was creating patterns, and I'm hoping the software will help me draft my own patterns that fit) and I'm creating things I can actually wear now. I've joined a swatch club so I can get to know different fabrics and find things I like that coordinate.

I highly recommend the PR classes - I've learned a lot about how 'real' garments are constructed, and the fabrics that make them. NAYY, it's truly been worth it.

I'm obsessed, but I just call it a hobby and skip the expensive therapy!

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Date: 10/28/09 12:32 PM

Well it has been a long time since I have been in a class room. I would have to say from experience I learn better by hands on, someone showing me, and pictures. It is harder for me to read instructions and follow without a visual. I guess I just put that question out there because as I review all the patterns and read the comments everyone seems to be so knowledged. I would like to take classes, but I am not sure where classes are offere, other than JoAnn Fabrics and that is an hour away. I have thought about taking classes on line, but I am not sure that would be helpful. I would love to find a good tailoring class in my area. But my questions is also, has most of you sewers learned from experience or have you actual attended tailoring and sewing classes.

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Reply to Mary Heckman
Date: 10/28/09 1:46 PM

Hi! I am a few years older than you. I think fit is vital to women of our age. I love the Palmer & Pletsch books Fit For Real People & especially their new Full Busted video, which goes along with the book, but shows more detail. I don't know if you have a full busted issue, but I found there is a lot of good, general fitting tips here. The key to fitting is knowing what size pattern to start with & going from there. My husband helped me do a wrapped dress form. I am short, with a very short back waist length & this was the way to go for me. However, I found the wapping process to be very claustrophic, something I never saw mentioned. So, just a heads up if you go that direction.

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Reply to Mary Heckman
Date: 10/28/09 2:15 PM

I've learned from reading books, reading patternreview, searching the web and experience (no classes). That's just what works for me. A duct tape double has helped with fit, but I'm quite a different shape than you are and have different fitting problems. After years of not sewing, I restarted by making things with cheap fabric, and if they didn't turn out as well as I would have liked, I still could wear them while doing other hobbies that required "grubby" clothes - gardening, or washing the dog, etc. That helped to remove any pressure to have perfect fit or sewing quality.

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Date: 10/28/09 2:41 PM

I took home ec in 7th and 8th grade and sewed on a treadle sewing machine at home. I made a lot of simple clothes (we won't count the red plaid wool suit I made before I knew you had to match plaids). When I went to college I became friends and later roommates with a woman who made all her own clothes, including wool coats, who helped me a lot by simply pointing out easier ways of doing things and clarifying directions. By the time I got married I had quite a bit of experience making garments. Most of what I learned was on my own by simply following pattern directions and looking at sewing books.

When my children were young, I began taking adult education sewing classes and made t-shirts, jeans, etc. For years in between I simply sewed on my own until about 4 years ago when I reconnected with my former sewing teacher who now owns a Viking dealership which offers classes (projects rather than "sewing lessons") which emphasize new skills.

Basically, I am self-taught for the most part with over 50 years of sewing experience. I have found that if you follow the pattern directions (until you get past that stage) and consult sewing books, you can master just about everything. I sometimes watch sewing programs on PBS television, but only when time allows. Doing something over and over is the best teacher. Each time you get better. I also subscribe to various sewing magazines.

My latest challenge is to master machine embroidery, which is a never-ending task. There are so many facets of it and new stuff comes out almost every day. I have the 4-D Embroidery Extra software and hope to one day purchase the Professional part of it, but time is what holds me back from learning more. I have to choose between sewing or learning new techniques.

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Total fabric on hand: 1/1/12 1598.9823 yds.
Sewn in 2011: 224.771 yds
Fabric Stash Contest goal: 100 yards
Goal for 2012: 400 yards

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Reply to Mary Heckman
Date: 10/28/09 7:53 PM

Mary, hi! We're only a year or two apart so I understand this same sewing journey. Good advice here which really boils down to do what works for you. I got back into garment sewing more than a dozen years ago, but had so many of your frustrations. I took read books, watched videos, subscribed to every magazine and newsletter but still wasn't consistently happy with what I was sewing. Some of it was body image at the time a well so I can understand that, too. There are a few significant things to help my sewing....along with a million small steps along the way. First, I got fitted for a good bra. cost me a fortune to buy that first one (I was a Target girl so $54 seemed outlandish...but that bra put the girls in the right place.) I got dressed up in my Sunday best and did expensive snoop shopping. I was intimidated and nervous so even had a story about looking for an outfit for a wedding weekend several months away. I could justify trying on lots of different garments that way...something for brunch, something for the evening, something for traveling in. I wanted to see what did really look good on me without worrying about budget or my sewing ability. I was surprised to see that my rectangle body (I'm built like a refrigerator at this age) looked good in clothes with shaping...think princess seams, asymetrical cuts...think wrap blouses, boot cut pants and fabrics with some structure but also drape. Then I had a custom dressmaker work with me on fitting some basic patterns...pants, knit shirt, princess seam dress, wrap blouse. I have a dress form but I was never able to tweak the fit properly like someone else looking at the garment on me. Wish I had done that years earlier, it would have saved me a lot of time and effort alone in my sewing room trying to translate instructions from all those resources. Now I have a basic set of 5 or 6 alterations that I make to each new pattern I try (I actually try fewer patterns because I make style changes to the ones that fit me so well) I make a quickie muslin to test my alterations and see if I need others and I even take them to that dressmaker if I want more insight and tweaking. I'm not sure what to suggest for you but thought I'd share what did work for me.

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www.luckysewandsew.blogspot.com

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Reply to Jane S
Date: 10/28/09 8:02 PM

Jane S. That is a great suggestion to go to a dress maker. I have a book that I am having trouble translating to my body. I think I need help and will take up your suggestion. Thank you.

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Date: 10/28/09 8:23 PM

All jokes aside on pattern directions, really, that's how I learned! I would follow the directions best I could and then as I grew older...I would tweak to improve. I would work my way through rather advanced patterns (Vogue Designer) back in junior high not really giving thought to the ratings. (Don't even think they rated back then)...a technique is just a technique. Some patterns just had more than others!

I took classes in my small community when available and often learned tricks from the teachers...usually volunteers in Girl Scouts and YMCA.

Now, the DVD's are excellent. Threads magazine, etc.

If you are near Philly, there is an excellent Saturday program taught by Laurel Hoffman at Philadelphia University. She draws people from all over the region.

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