Hello friends!
When I first started sewing, right out of college, I didn’t have many resources available to help me learn. Sewing wasn’t very popular back then, there weren’t blogs and websites (it was pre-internet!) that I could read, and the fabric and trim stores in Manhattan catered to knowledgeable people in the fashion industry. Needless to say, it was difficult to learn about sewing back then.
I couldn’t afford classes, but I had watched my mom sew when I was growing up, and I continued to ask her a lot of questions as I got started. I also devoured as many books on the topic as I could find. I think my mom gave me a subscription to Threads magazine, but the articles in the magazine back then were so technical and my knowledge about sewing was so limited that I really didn’t understand much.
But here’s the thing: I persisted. And by the time I went to school for fashion design, I had managed to assemble enough information that I could sew a blazer or button-down shirt without too much trouble. All that to say, if you find yourself reading something that doesn’t make sense, don’t despair! With practice and patience you’ll start to understand what you’re doing and you’ll develop a greater base knowledge that will help you when you tackle new skills. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! That’s what our forums and our Facebook groups (for Liesl + Co. and for Oliver + S) are for, so use them.
What skills are you going to tackle next?
Pinterest Picks
I love this silhouette, below left. You could get a similar look with our Gallery Tunic and some wide, pegged trousers. Also, wouldn’t it be fun to use faux leather in our Afternoon Tea Blouse for a look similar to below, right?
I’m still loving the military-style blouses and those oversized pockets. I recently sewed myself a linen Classic Shirt with the pleated pockets, and I’ll need to get some photos soon!
You could sew a similar dress to the one below, left, with our Playtime Tunic and an added ruffle collar. The eyelet petticoat is adorable, isn’t it? To do that, just cut two skirts, one longer than the other. The color blocked dress is also so pretty and could easily be sewn using our Fairy Tale Dress pattern.
Weekend Reading
- I’ve always been curious about the work of Madeleine Vionnet, and these two articles answered a few suspicions that I’ve had. One of these days I’d like to find time to work more in bias!
- “Wear it out” seems like a good motto for all of us.
- What grade are you starting this fall? I loved this idea that we can each try something new in the fall.
- Anyone else living with a VSCO girl? 14 years old, y’all.
We’ll be back next week with a fun tutorial for you and lots more! What are you sewing this weekend?