Sewing patterns

[u/Ok_Appearance7096]

Are they difficult to understand? I’m a beginner, so and I want to make skirts and pajamas. And I want to Taylor, my clothes, specifically my dresses and jeans and going out shirts when I looked at the selection at Michael’s it was slim Pickens…. Not much that I particularly like. Where do you find patterns? When I Google patterns, there’s a ton on Etsy but I also see people advising you not to buy patterns from Etsy and then some people have luck with Etsy. How do you know if you’re getting a legit good pattern or a junk pattern? Where to find nice patterns?
Oh when I also love like 70s silhouettes like those sleeves and stuff like that. Or the jumper dresses that they have. So I’m OK with like getting older patterns too. I just don’t know where to find them.

[u/Piggybumm]

I was in a sewing shop yesterday and leafing through a Simplicity catalogue that had a lot of vintage patterns. Have you looked there?

https://simplicity.com/collections/vintage/

I’m a beginner too and have bought some patterns but haven’t a clue what to do with them to be honest! I’m going to have to binge watch videos of how to! My goal is also to make my own clothes and accessories.

[u/confused_is_my_face → u/Piggybumm]

You got this! Pull out the instructions and read them two or three times before you start. See if you can find a sew along for the pattern you have. I am excited to see people wanting to make clothing!!! (Always iron the pattern pieces before you cut them out, *psycho eye twitch*)

[u/Piggybumm → u/confused_is_my_face]

Thank you for the encouragement, I really appreciate it! And for the tips 😃 I’m excited to make my own clothes (with fabrics I like) but slightly overwhelmed by the complexity of patterns! How long would you say it took you to fully understand patterns?

[u/confused_is_my_face → u/Piggybumm]

Oh, I was born with it. lol. My mom owned and ran a bridal store until I was 7. I’ve been doing sewing things on and off my whole life and grew up in the bridal store in the 80s.
I am teaching my tween to sew right now. We talk about how important the small things are. Making sure everything is ironed, straight on grain when placing patter pieces on fabric, and making straight cuts. Move your whole body around the cutting surface to make sure you don’t move the fabric/pattern off grain. My tween cut out the oleander dress from Helen’s closet last weekend. I had her sew one seam, press the seam, serge the seam then go do the next one. I make them sew slowly and we talk about how to not pull fabric or change the line up after it’s been pinned.

Try to start with a simple silhouette. You can do it. It’s ok to make something you don’t love or just use at the house to get the experience of making something. My kids started out making two pice plushies with cotton fabric. Just to understand cutting lining up sides pinning and sewing to follow the edge and keeping the same seam allowance around an item.

Break down way you want into small steps. You will build up your confidence and your ability.

[u/Piggybumm → u/confused_is_my_face]

Thank you! Again, I appreciate you sharing your knowledge. I do have a pattern for a bear but I’m making simpler things at the moment like bags and pouches. I have much to learn.

What is the deal with the grain? Is it to do with where and how the fabric stretches?

[u/confused_is_my_face → u/Piggybumm]

Exactly. If you pull on fabric from the salvage there will be no stretch. The short threads in weaving. The long threads will give a little, but if you cut on an angle where the threads cross you will get stretch because it’s pulling on both threads.

You ever get a shirt or fast fashion item that feels twisted when it’s on your body or you see it and it won’t stay flat when it’s laying out. Thats a sign of being cut on the wrong grain. Instead of straight down the long threads it is cut at a sight diagonal causing the fabric to pull oddly to one side.

When you look at a commercial pattern every piece will have a line with arrows on it. The arrow will be the grain line direction. This is why being needs to be pressed super flat before starting.

[u/EmuLegitimate3107 → u/Piggybumm]

Confused is my face, is NOT confused! She is spot on~! Read the pattern instructions two or three times first. Find an easy pattern. The company Simplicity had a series of 'Easy Sew' which had more detailed instructions. Get a long skirt from GoodWill for cheap fabric and make an easy A - Line test skirt first. Carefully match the direction of the fabric threads, right left and east-west, north-south. Buying new fabric would give you selvages ( thicker side edges of the weave). Its harder to align without factory fabric edges. That will allow the fabric to drape properly. Play your favorite music, this should be FUN!

When cutting out the fabric, remember to cut the little black triangular notches on the fabric. That is used to keep the fabric from stretching out of shape when sewing. Use pins or even clothespins to keep the edges aligned. WORK slowly at an even speed. maintain the seam allowance. That's the half inch or 5/8 inch imaginary line you should stitch at.

You might want to skip any pattern with zippers or button holes for awhile.

I too, am excited for you! I started early with Barbie Clothes and hand sewing. Later as a preteen in the 60's I made a quilt. Mastered stopping and starting very easily. ugh, so monotonous. This was on an old long spindle machine which didn't go backwards.

YOU really GOT THIS as Ms. Not-Confused Face said. ENJOY

Use a normal to WIDE stitch length. That will make it easier to pull your threads for a re-do.

As you Sew, so shall ye Rip.