I am a long-time sewer (more than 50 years!) and recently learned a new technique for hems. My husband had some trousers made at a tailor in Thailand (they let me watch for a bit 😊). Once the trousers were hemmed, they stitched a piece of satin tape to the hem at the back of the pant. This makes the fabric slide over the back of the shoe - doesn’t hang up on the shoes and adds a tiny bit of weight to keep the pant leg straight. Brilliant!
Your hair is fine! No need to feel self conscious about it, just put your mind into the tips instead of worrying about your hair or make-up. Only recently learnt about Overstitching, but Staystitching is new for me, so Thank you Very much for these tips. I've also learnt that there IS a difference between ironing and pressing. Ironing is what we do when we move the iron around the fabric, but Pressing is when we lift the iron up and put it back down onto the seams, etc that we are sewing. It's called Pressing because it presses the stitches into the fibres of the fabric properly. I always hand stitch hems, but... although I only take up a very tiny piece of the outside fabric with the needle, I keep the rest of the thread between the actual hem so that if bending down, especially with very fine stiletto heels, the heel can't catch in the hem. It also looks a great deal neater from the inside. It's easy for a skirt to blow over a little and then the inside of the hem will show.
Hi! Good tips! I learn how to sew in the 70' and these were the 5 rules! My Mom was strict! I am watching lots of vlogers and I found that everyone is such in a hurry to finish their garments! Take the proper time and do it well is the key to be satisfied and success of your creation. Thank you for reminding all the new and old sewers those tips! Have a wonderful day! Christine
Christine Lafleur Yes I too learnt in the early 70’s and in those days i basted everything by hand as I didn’t know you could baste by machine! Hand sewn tailor’s tacks too and all the tips you have mentioned! It was a good grounding. I did needlework O’level which was really quite tough. You had to make a proper shirt with collar and collar stand and cuffs and buttonholes etc, a lined skirt, a dress and something of your choosing - I did a smocked child’s frock!
Lol ... I went through the skip the staystitch stage. Then I did, BUT to save time I would just go around the neckline. Back to basics: sew the direction of the arrows!! And it really doesn't take that much time. Thanks for the video.
Many thanks dear 💕 I know most of us know about them however like little school kids we like to take the short cuts which always lead us to an unsatisfactory garment or a simple mess 😩. So a BIG THANK YOU for reminding us in such a quick yet detailed way 😘😘
Excellent tips and very well explained. I take my time when making something as I want it turn out nice. Years ago a friend's mother had some drapes made and they didn't hang right. She asked me what I thought. I had no idea. Later on I realized they were cut off grain. Her daughter was a professional seamstress and didn't know either!
I don't like ironing clothes normally but I LOVE pressing while sewing. I feel like I'm sculpting the garment into shape and the iron is my tool to do that.
May I add another tip? I love the feel and look (sometimes even the smell :-) of a fabric I bought and cannot wait to use it. BUT then, even before starting to place the pattern pieces there needs to be one annoying but necessary step. And I really hate it, because I want to start NOW. Tip 0: WASH (and iron) your fabric on the same temperature as you will use for the finished garment. Especially natural fibers and mixtures with those can shrink quite a bit. Knits can have a different dimension after washing. Skip this step, use all the great tips given above and you will have a lovely garment that may not fit right or at all... Good luck!
Great video and your absolutely right these little things really DO make a difference. I pooh poohed pressing for ages when I first started sewing. Now im the opposite and can't stand not to (and notice if it's not done - mind or others 😉) I can't believe the difference it makes 😀😉 Yes Tilly has got a pattern for a ham and sleeve ham - I've made them both and use them often. The only thing I haven't got is a clapper - I improvise so know it works.... Just haven't got round to doing it 😉 x
I really know where you are going with this. There is a fine line between Wow!😀 and Wow!😝! Top stitching is a real place where things can go really good or bad. I was just top stitching a wool jacket, and was not in love with it, but it is a plaid, and doesn’t show much, and the stitching is buried down into the fabric, so I just have to live with it.
Excellent reminders-- I used to be really lazy but now do try to do all these finishes! Should get a sleeve ham. I have the other one and it is very useful. Thank you for your time to share :) Sarah
I’ve just discovered the prym iron on tapes, so good for stabilising necklines and pockets etc. My mum taught me all these techniques and I never skimp! Makes a big difference to the quality of the make.
Shoena, this was actually very helpful, can you do more videos like this, i.e.e how to read the back of a pattern, how to size up or down a pattern sleeves, waist, etc, thank you.
Lots of good tips Sheona. This is how I learnt to Sew but also did a lot more tailor tacks and tacking ,which I don’t do so much now. I only started sewing jersey 2 years ago and love what you can make. I’ve often wondered how people do pattern Tetris with such small amounts of fabric or cut things out of other garments or duvets/sheets. Love your sweatshirt fabric. I think I have a liberty fabric like another of your sweatshirts in purples /pinks from Fabrics Galore. It has a very furry soft inside in lilacypurple. I don’t want to cut into it 😍
New subscriber here, just started learning about clothes sewing and I find your channel invaluable resource! Thanks for all tips you've shared so generously!
Thanks for this video, I really liked it! I have a quick question for you... can you use french seams, hong kong seams etc on stretch fabrics, and if so how do you maintain the stretch (as you'd generally use a straight stitch for them)? Thanks a lot!
Hi Kate! Hong Kong seams yes on a stable ponte or double knit - inside a coatigan for example but I personally wouldn’t french seam, I think it would stretch out too much.
Great tip, must remember them. Do u wash ur fabric b4 cutting? Also looking forward to the joni dress 👗. I must get some fabric for it. Tnxs love u channel.
I was told by my Sewing Machine shop that I should buy only $9 brand thread, because the other threads are cheap and the tension fluctuates. This will mess my own tension up. Does anyone know if this is true? Many thanks! Elisha
Great tips! I wish I'd known about the clapper sooner. This week I was struggling with pressing my thick poly-velvet francoise dress. It's all done now...oh well. Now I know for next time! Thanks!
My mother was famous for making an outfit at the last minute too..do we have a common ancestor with that gene..lol...my kid sister and I said we inherited the procrastination gene...she is 70 and I am 76
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I am a long-time sewer (more than 50 years!) and recently learned a new technique for hems. My husband had some trousers made at a tailor in Thailand (they let me watch for a bit 😊). Once the trousers were hemmed, they stitched a piece of satin tape to the hem at the back of the pant. This makes the fabric slide over the back of the shoe - doesn’t hang up on the shoes and adds a tiny bit of weight to keep the pant leg straight. Brilliant!
Your hair is fine! No need to feel self conscious about it, just put your mind into the tips instead of worrying about your hair or make-up. Only recently learnt about Overstitching, but Staystitching is new for me, so Thank you Very much for these tips. I've also learnt that there IS a difference between ironing and pressing. Ironing is what we do when we move the iron around the fabric, but Pressing is when we lift the iron up and put it back down onto the seams, etc that we are sewing. It's called Pressing because it presses the stitches into the fibres of the fabric properly. I always hand stitch hems, but... although I only take up a very tiny piece of the outside fabric with the needle, I keep the rest of the thread between the actual hem so that if bending down, especially with very fine stiletto heels, the heel can't catch in the hem. It also looks a great deal neater from the inside. It's easy for a skirt to blow over a little and then the inside of the hem will show.
Hi! Good tips! I learn how to sew in the 70' and these were the 5 rules! My Mom was strict! I am watching lots of vlogers and I found that everyone is such in a hurry to finish their garments! Take the proper time and do it well is the key to be satisfied and success of your creation. Thank you for reminding all the new and old sewers those tips! Have a wonderful day! Christine
Christine Lafleur Yes I too learnt in the early 70’s and in those days i basted everything by hand as I didn’t know you could baste by machine! Hand sewn tailor’s tacks too and all the tips you have mentioned! It was a good grounding. I did needlework O’level which was really quite tough. You had to make a proper shirt with collar and collar stand and cuffs and buttonholes etc, a lined skirt, a dress and something of your choosing - I did a smocked child’s frock!
I think it’s good to know these and then you can decide if you skip one you know what the the outcome might be! Have a great week!
Pattern placement and using matching thread another two helpful tips
I was taught in school to press open the 5/8th seams, then press each edge under by 1/8th inch and sew. Did that for years.
It never hurts to remind us of these 5 tips, no matter how long we have been sewing. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this blog. Val🇨🇦🇬🇧❤️
Always helps to have reviews, thank you, Pat
Great tips Sheona. Look your commitment to professionalising our hand made makes. Thank you.
Lol ... I went through the skip the staystitch stage. Then I did, BUT to save time I would just go around the neckline. Back to basics: sew the direction of the arrows!! And it really doesn't take that much time. Thanks for the video.
Many thanks dear 💕 I know most of us know about them however like little school kids we like to take the short cuts which always lead us to an unsatisfactory garment or a simple mess 😩. So a BIG THANK YOU for reminding us in such a quick yet detailed way 😘😘
I think reminders are always good, we all skip things which is fine, we just need to remember what that means for the finished garment!
I knew most of the tips, but it was good to be reminded. Also, I have patterns to make the pressing ham and sleeve insert. I'll have to get started!
Made me chuckle - my kids say the iron is only out when I'm sewing! (nothing else gets ironed/pressed) Gorgeous fabric in your Linden!!
Same here and I call it pressing so it feels less like ironing 😂
I remember being taught about laying out patterns on the grain line during my first sewing lesson at high school
Excellent tips and very well explained. I take my time when making something as I want it turn out nice. Years ago a friend's mother had some drapes made and they didn't hang right. She asked me what I thought. I had no idea. Later on I realized they were cut off grain. Her daughter was a professional seamstress and didn't know either!
Haha well you realised in the end!!
I don't like ironing clothes normally but I LOVE pressing while sewing. I feel like I'm sculpting the garment into shape and the iron is my tool to do that.
Brilliant way of putting it. I tell myself pressing is different to ironing 😂
I really enjoy watching your videos. RUclips vloggers have taught me so many inside secrets about how to attack all kind of beginners mistakes.
May I add another tip? I love the feel and look (sometimes even the smell :-) of a fabric I bought and cannot wait to use it. BUT then, even before starting to place the pattern pieces there needs to be one annoying but necessary step. And I really hate it, because I want to start NOW.
Tip 0: WASH (and iron) your fabric on the same temperature as you will use for the finished garment. Especially natural fibers and mixtures with those can shrink quite a bit. Knits can have a different dimension after washing. Skip this step, use all the great tips given above and you will have a lovely garment that may not fit right or at all...
Good luck!
Thank you! I’m working with knit right now and I wish I knew this before
Absolutely!
😳😳😳
Great video and your absolutely right these little things really DO make a difference. I pooh poohed pressing for ages when I first started sewing. Now im the opposite and can't stand not to (and notice if it's not done - mind or others 😉) I can't believe the difference it makes 😀😉
Yes Tilly has got a pattern for a ham and sleeve ham - I've made them both and use them often.
The only thing I haven't got is a clapper - I improvise so know it works.... Just haven't got round to doing it 😉 x
I’m the same, used to skip it not now can spot it a mile off! X
I use an old piece of pine I collected from a building site in early 2016 for my Taylor's clapper. It works well.
Perfect, that’s all mine is just sanded pine!
It is interesting how you describe home made vs hand made!
I really know where you are going with this. There is a fine line between Wow!😀 and Wow!😝! Top stitching is a real place where things can go really good or bad. I was just top stitching a wool jacket, and was not in love with it, but it is a plaid, and doesn’t show much, and the stitching is buried down into the fabric, so I just have to live with it.
Carole Just Carole I'm late watching this but I giggled at your Wow vs Wow comment!!! Sadly I think I'm more often creating the wrong kind of Wow!! X
Hi there nice to hear all of your excellent hints and tips and I have also subscribed as well 😊😊👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻
Hi thank you for your sewing tips. I love your accent beautiful lady.
Thanks for the reminders! My mom taught me all these tips many years ago but it’s good to refresh 👍🤗
Thank you, glad it was a handy reminder!
Excellent reminders-- I used to be really lazy but now do try to do all these finishes! Should get a sleeve ham. I have the other one and it is very useful. Thank you for your time to share :) Sarah
I’m the same sometimes I feel like skipping them but know I’ll regret it!
You make beautiful garments. I didn’t know about the understitching. I’ve always just tacked the facing down. Will try that next time.
Great tips. Another one that I use all the time is ironing over a piece of fabric that is 100% cotton
Fantastic presentation, really natural style and some great tips too - thank you
I totally agree with every word you have said I love this video. I love my makes look as professional as I can make them.
Thank you, I’m glad it resonated with you!
I’ve just discovered the prym iron on tapes, so good for stabilising necklines and pockets etc. My mum taught me all these techniques and I never skimp! Makes a big difference to the quality of the make.
Ah yes I love stabilising tape and wonder tape too!
Great tips as l am a beginner to dressmaking so found very helpful. 👗
So glad it was useful. Happy sewing!
Really enjoy your 5 tips, easy to work with and remember. Thanks
Thank you, so glad they’re helpful! X
Shoena, this was actually very helpful, can you do more videos like this, i.e.e how to read the back of a pattern, how to size up or down a pattern sleeves, waist, etc, thank you.
So glad it was helpful, and yes I’m trying to do more tips and tutorials :)
Lots of good tips Sheona. This is how I learnt to Sew but also did a lot more tailor tacks and tacking ,which I don’t do so much now. I only started sewing jersey 2 years ago and love what you can make. I’ve often wondered how people do pattern Tetris with such small amounts of fabric or cut things out of other garments or duvets/sheets. Love your sweatshirt fabric. I think I have a liberty fabric like another of your sweatshirts in purples /pinks from Fabrics Galore. It has a very furry soft inside in lilacypurple. I don’t want to cut into it 😍
Yes I machine baste now mostly! Is it the watercolour Stripe, as I’ve just sewn that up and love it!
Great video! So useful! I would love to watch your top tips for jersey too! X
Thank you! If you look back through the channel I’ve done a Jersey tips video
Thank you for talking about understitching. I didn’t know about that. I think I’ve done it wrong in the past.
So glad it’s helpful!
Thank you, such good advice
Great tips Sheona. Always good to get a reminder. Your Etta dress is lovely. Thanks as always for sharing 😻
Hi Sheona, As a beginner I’m very grateful for your tips. I hope you find your pattern. Bec
You are so welcome. And I found it, Yay!!
Fab tips thank-you 😁 also thanks for update on Joni, I’m hanging on for your tutorial, velvet at the ready :-) x
New subscriber here, just started learning about clothes sewing and I find your channel invaluable resource! Thanks for all tips you've shared so generously!
Could you please do a video(s) showing the different types of seems please?
Funny I was just thinking how pretty your hair is when you said you were having a bad hair day!😄
Thanks for this video, I really liked it! I have a quick question for you... can you use french seams, hong kong seams etc on stretch fabrics, and if so how do you maintain the stretch (as you'd generally use a straight stitch for them)? Thanks a lot!
Hi Kate! Hong Kong seams yes on a stable ponte or double knit - inside a coatigan for example but I personally wouldn’t french seam, I think it would stretch out too much.
Love the tips! Your hair is pretty! ❤️☀️💙
Thank you x
Great useful video!
Thank you!
Hi! New subscriber here. Love all your tips. I’m a beginner and it really helps. Thank you ❣️
Thanks for subscribing and so glad it’s helpful!
Love the top you have on what fabric is it x
It’s a Liberty Shirting from Fabrics Galore!
Great tip, must remember them. Do u wash ur fabric b4 cutting? Also looking forward to the joni dress 👗. I must get some fabric for it. Tnxs love u channel.
Thank you! And yes, ALWAYS prewash!
I was told by my Sewing Machine shop that I should buy only $9 brand thread, because the other threads are cheap and the tension fluctuates. This will mess my own tension up. Does anyone know if this is true? Many thanks! Elisha
Hi just watched your video And you mentioned the back on your dress needs altering can you show me how are you are going to do that please
Sorry I mean the neck is to big
I just unpicked it and took some extra out of the raglan sleeves at the back then reattached the neckband
Feel quite chuffed, I do all of those!
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
When talking about Grain line you could have mentioned how to find it. Perhaps just mention that it is parallel to the salvage edge of your fabric
you can also pull a thread in the fabric to find it.
She did mention
Very helpful, thank you .x
You’re very welcome, thanks for watching!
Great tips! I wish I'd known about the clapper sooner. This week I was struggling with pressing my thick poly-velvet francoise dress. It's all done now...oh well. Now I know for next time! Thanks!
Great info.
When pressing, is it best to use steam or does the water agrivate the fabric??
It totally depending on the fabric. Test on a small area first
thanks!
Isn't ironing and pressing different? I always thought ironing is sliding the iron and pressing is strict on no sliding the iron?
I am not the only person that loses items out the pattern envelope.
Nope definitely not just you!
How about a quick trip back to your grandparents...bet they'd love to see you! Excellent tops btw, and great vlog.
My grandad isn’t out there all year, I see him back home regularly ❤️
Great tips and you’re adorable but leave your hair alone! Lol
Thanks and I know, I need a haircut it’s getting in my eyes!
My mother was famous for making an outfit at the last minute too..do we have a common ancestor with that gene..lol...my kid sister and I said we inherited the procrastination gene...she is 70 and I am 76
you are beautiful
💝💝💝
👍
NYU uh