{"id":63281,"date":"2017-11-15T05:07:06","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T10:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/?p=63281"},"modified":"2017-11-15T05:07:06","modified_gmt":"2017-11-15T10:07:06","slug":"15-tips-to-improve-your-sewing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2017\/11\/15-tips-to-improve-your-sewing.html","title":{"rendered":"15 tips to improve your sewing"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re relatively new to sewing, it can sometimes seem complicated and difficult.\u00a0 But there are lots of easy ways to improve your sewing and make it look more professional and polished.<\/p>\n

Here are 15 tips to start you on your way.<\/p>\n

\"15<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Press as you sew. Good pressing will make your sewing look so much better!<\/li>\n
  2. Make sure that you cut accurately and that you transfer your markings to the cut fabric accurately.<\/li>\n
  3. Sew as precisely as you can. Use the markings on your sewing machine to help you sew with an accurate seam allowance, or put a piece of tape on your machine to use as a guide. Practice makes perfect!<\/li>\n
  4. Use coordinating thread. Here’s a video with a hint for how to choose your thread color<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  5. Use good quality materials. Poor quality fabric never looks as good as good quality fabric.<\/li>\n
  6. Finish your seam allowances, and pick appropriate seam finishing techniques<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  7. Include details like topstitching<\/a> and special trims to make your sewing look special.<\/li>\n
  8. Slow down and enjoy the process. Sewing is just as much about the making process as it is about the finished result. It’s not a race!<\/li>\n
  9. Hand baste when necessary. It will save you time and frustration and will save you from ripping stitches to re-sew.<\/li>\n
  10. Don’t be afraid to use the seam ripper<\/a> if something doesn’t work out exactly as you wanted. Even really skilled sewists rely on their seam ripper!<\/li>\n
  11. Keep an eye on your stitch tension. Make sure the stitches are even and the thread doesn’t pucker.<\/li>\n
  12. Make sure the fabric you’ve chosen<\/a> is suitable for the pattern or style you’re making. Fabric suggestions on the back of the envelope can be helpful, and pay attention to similar styles and fabrics. This is a skill that you’ll learn with practice, too.<\/li>\n
  13. Don’t feel like you need to make everything. Sew things that are at your skill level and that you feel comfortable making. And then wear them with things you’ve purchased so your wardrobe will look less homemade (in the bad sense).<\/li>\n
  14. Study clothing in stores, in your closet, in vintage shops, and in museums to learn how it was constructed and to get ideas to improve your own sewing.<\/li>\n
  15. Pay attention to current fashion so you stay up-to-date. Fashion changes over time, and your eye will change as well. Even classics need to be tweaked to look current.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What tips do you have to add to this list?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Want to improve your sewing skills? Here are 15 simple tips to help make your work more professional.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":63294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20687],"tags":[86],"class_list":["post-63281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-tips-and-tricks"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/improveF.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5jZS5-gsF","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":54969,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2016\/05\/introducing-quick-sewing-tips-sharpening-tailors-chalk.html","url_meta":{"origin":63281,"position":0},"title":"introducing quick sewing tips: sharpening tailor’s chalk","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"May 4, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Today we're introducing a new series of quick video sewing tips with this hint about how to sharpen your tailor's chalk.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/SharpenChalk.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3487,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2012\/01\/strategies-for-efficient-sewing.html","url_meta":{"origin":63281,"position":1},"title":"strategies for efficient sewing","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"January 11, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019ve been speeding through some sewing recently, testing the spring patterns and making a few things for S and for myself at the same time, and this has started me thinking about strategies for efficient sewing. My personal sewing time is scarce because of a few projects we're finishing up,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/sewing-supplies.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":77626,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2021\/09\/a-guide-to-making-the-most-of-your-sewing-time.html","url_meta":{"origin":63281,"position":2},"title":"a guide to making the most of your sewing time","author":"Masha Richart","date":"September 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Struggling to find time to sew? We'll help you with this list of time-saving tips that will help work your hobby into even the tightest schedule.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/timetosewhero.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1071,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2010\/08\/tips-for-sewing-with-knit-fabrics.html","url_meta":{"origin":63281,"position":3},"title":"tips for sewing with knit fabrics","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"August 31, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Everyone is excited about knits right now. I must admit, I didn't have much interest in sewing knits when Moda first approached me with the idea of adding interlock to the City Weekend fabric collection. But when the sample fabric arrived, I realized what a wonderful opportunity I had been\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "tutorials"","block_context":{"text":"tutorials","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/tutorials"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/knitsT.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":77656,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2021\/09\/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-sewing-time-part-2.html","url_meta":{"origin":63281,"position":4},"title":"how to make the most of your sewing time: part 2","author":"Masha Richart","date":"September 22, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"You all had some great ideas on how to make the most of your sewing time in our last post. We're bringing your tips into the spotlight in this post.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/time-to-sew-hero.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":62094,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2017\/07\/technique-based-workshops-on-creativebug.html","url_meta":{"origin":63281,"position":5},"title":"technique-based workshops on creativebug","author":"Rachel Le Grand","date":"July 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Liesl has twelve technique-based workshops available on the Creativebug site. You can visit the Creativebug website this summer to check them out and improve your sewing skills.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/creativebugtechniquesF.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63281"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63298,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63281\/revisions\/63298"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}