Everything wrong with this 'perfect' me-made garment and why noticing ‘mistakes’ is a good thing!
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- Stoping looking at 'perfect' self sewn garments on the internet and thinking that your work is garbage compared to that...it's not! And I guarantee those 'perfect' garments are in fact not perfect at all and the fact that you start noting all these flaws is a good thing! (promise!)
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I just self-drafted my first pattern, a simple 2 dart sleeveless dress, with facings around the neckline and sleeves.
It fits like a glove, but somehow I cut one shoulder over half an inch wider. And I'd completely finished the dress. No way was I up for picking all that out!
So, I found a site with good instructions on drafting flowy flutter sleeves. I've set the sleeves on the *outside* of the armholes- measuring carefully, this time, to even out the visual differences. You know what? It's fixed, and looks even prettier than it did originally! And who's going to know, or care, that I set the sleeves weird? I just tell myself, it's not going to be entered in some contest for judging! Sew calm, friends, sew happy, and remember that you're AWESOME with needle and thread!
2 weeks a ago i sewed the perfect jacket.every little detail was right.lining ,pocket,hem...just perfect.after years of working on jackets finally i've made it.i am very proud of myself.
Well done 👍🏻
Only this week, I’ve sewed 2 little summer dresses for my friends daughter. Both times I saw what was wrong, but let me tell you that little girl was *so* happy to have her _auntie_ make dress just for her. I took inspiration from that little girl.
That's wonderful!
Awwww that's so cool!
I'm moving to be closer to my sister and I really want to be the cool aunt and make some stuff for my niece!
A compliment about my sewing... Well... I'm persistent. I know that there's a learning curve and that I have to practice. I know that I will get better in time.
There's something that my art teacher said back in school that stuck with me: when you look at your own work, you notice everything that is different from how you intended it to look, but others looking at it don't know the picture you had in your mind when you created it. They appreciate it as a whole.
I'm an incorrigible perfectionist, and this lesson is exactly what I need to be told every now and then.
I bought bags of squares from forsaken quilt projects at the thrift shop and did nothing but sewing hundreds of straight lines for weeks and I can't believe the difference it has made in my speed and precision. My top stitching looks amazing these days!
That's so awesome!
Well done, Practice may not make perfect, but it does make improvement. I think my mistake was watching the needle not the position of the fabric.
What an amazing idea!
Isn't it amazing how going "back to the basics" helps building skills. I helped to teach a series of sewing lessons for tweens. The very first thing they learn is a straight line whilst learning how to gently guide the fabric, taking is slowly, and keeping eyes on the guide. Congrats on the improvement!!
That’s such a good idea!!
Accepting sewing mistakes helped me with accepting my own body and eventually recovering from a ED! People see the overall picture as amazing, I should do the same.
Congrats well done you. So hard
Wow, that's amazing! I never thought of that. I keep hating my body so much for how uncooperative it is. I never thought of this as therapy💗 Congratulations on you😊👍✌️
You are literally sewing for yourself. Well done.
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
I thank you for this comment. A very wise truth.
Congratulations! ❤️🩹❤️🥰
I'm not a sewist (I 'just' do patchwork and darning to existing garments for myself and close friends, because my disability means fine motor control isn't easy for very long) though I think it's amazing what you're all able to do. My compliment for myself is that my repair work is sturdy, looks nice when it's finished, and extends the life of garments that would otherwise end up in a land fill. And my little fixes save my friends and family money because they don't need to run out and immediately buy a new pair of fast fashion jeans when the inner thigh starts to wear down!
Those darn inner thighs! How do you fix that, because whenever I try to do that, it just majorly rubs😬
@@gohawks3571 You darn them, lol. With pieces of jeans on the inside and matching thread if you want an invisible mend. If you don't mind showcasing that you mend your clothes to avoid spending money (or because it's your favorite garment), place the patch on the outside, and stitch the edges to the pants.
@@sapphirecamui6447 Ah, I was only sewing it! Pieces on the inside makes great sense; thank you! I got those thunder thighs, lol😁
@@gohawks3571 In a pinch, just sewing the place works, but it's not that resistant/long lasting. With an inner patch, the repair will last for longer. And if you have a sewing machine, sewing lines in all directions will add more strength. Well, even hand-sewing lines in all directions is helpful. good luck!
@@sapphirecamui6447 Excellent, thanks!👍👍👍
Thank you, Evelyn, for your "chat" about unnecessary comments our about "garment making mistakes". It is hard for me to be satisfied with my sewing and i have been sewing for many years. However, I have come to the conclusion that the garments I make are most of the time better made than ready to wear. i also love to quilt. A professional quilter, Angela Walters say "Finished is better than perfect." When I heard that statement, it changed the way I think about sewing of every- kind. I have also come to the conclusion that Home Made is a wonderful expression of an appreciation of the process in sewing that it takes to make something beautiful. That in itself is very satisfying.
I love love buying and making vintage (30-40’s) clothing. When I see a beautifully handmade suit I like it so much more than a designer brand.
I stopped sewing for 20 years while in went to university and worked etc. coming back to it....a lot has improved! Sewing for myself I would either not finish or throw it out. I was super critical. Now, I am wearing everything....no matter what and finishing projects. I realize the value of my time now.
I'm so proud of you for realizing your time has value. I hope the sewing projects you make bring you joy!
I'm struggling with that issue now! I start something feeling great and confident, but halfway through I don't feel confident and feel like if I don't stop to think on it I'll screw it up waisting all my fabric, so I set it aside and never finish. The ones I do finish I don't like and don't wear and feel like they look sloppy and laughable. Im even too ashamed to donate them to Goodwill.
I wish I didn't feel this way, I want to feel more confident, I want to make beautiful pieces I can feel proud of, but how? Am I putting the expectations of a good piece too high? Am I being to hard on myself, and what about waisting fabric on a not good finished piece; does that make me just as bad as the fast fashion industry?
@@A.a.319 if you set it aside half finished, you’re wasting the fabric that way, too. If you want to feel a lot better about practicing, go to the thrift store and ask if they have a discard bin for items too damaged to sell. Often they will have a sorting section of things like damaged curtains and sheets, and you can practice with those.
And you could NEVER be as bad as fast fashion, even if you tried. Please don’t give up on your projects.
It’s okay to make mistakes and need to redo things, but you WILL regret not learning and improving when you get older.
I took a home ec course in HS and really enjoyed it, and spent most of my teens and twenties wanting a sewing machine of my own. Finally at 33 I bought one and kept telling myself I would learn to sew on it once I had a bit more time.
At 34 I became disabled and now suffer numbness, stiffness, pain and motor control issues with both hands due to neuropathy and the meds I take. And I regret not taking the time to learn. I finally sold my sewing machine on eBay a year or two ago, never opened, because I needed the money.
Practice when you’re able, and you’ll learn and have fun as you go. Good luck with your projects!
@@alliekingsley7919 Thank you so much for advise and I agree. Wow, you ready did give me a better out look on things. I'm not sure how to say thank you but that I'm going to take everything you said and actually apply it. I need to take the opportunities when I have the opportunities because tomorrow anything can change.
@@A.a.319 something I'm doing is making a useable mock-up out of a similar, but cheaper fabric. That relieves the pressure of damaging a first try on good fabric. The fabric required with the pattern is super important. Studying and watching videos have helped a lot too.
I FINISHED a project! I decided to make a clothespin apron and I refused to leave my room until it was finished. It is not even close to being perfect, I have barely any sewing skills and I am still just so pleased with it and use it all the time! I was even tickled to pieces about the fabric choice! ❤❤
I know what you mean about being tickled/thrilled with finishing a project.
This is true! I stopped sewing garments years ago in favor of curtains, upholstery, crafts etc… Now at 67 I have returned to garment making. Wow! Now having to relearn lost skills has become a true adventure, especially for a perfectionist. My seam ripper has become my closest friend. But, I keep moving forward.
That is fantastic, a wonderful adventure, and how brave of you for getting back into it and not being discouraged!
I had to buy a bundle of rippers because I wear them out. Lol
I agree, the seam ripper is the sewist best friend! I know mine is! ☺️
I bet your garments are amazing.
Saw the perfect T-shirt once. It said “If I have a seam ripper in my hand, now is not a good time”.
Thank you SO much for this video. This couldn't have come at a better time. Just yesterday I finished my first ever garment, and instead of feeling accomplished and proud, I felt like I let myself down and like the garment was an absolute mess. The zipper was 'too visible', the hem 'too wonky', etc.
Now I look differently on my first garment. Its far from perfect, but most people won't notice. I feel proud now with what I achieved; I even custom fit it to my body shape!
Thank you again! This channel really was the reason why I started to sew and it is quickly becoming my favorite thing to do and learn!
Amen, Andrea! Rock that 1st garment and carry on with your next. 💕 Feel the love with each one.
Your first ever garment!! Congratulations!! 🥳🥳 You should be so proud of your achievement. Sewing is a fun journey and you'll only get better from here 😀
My first me-made garment is a pair of pajama pants. The crotch line and the behind line are the same length, making the pants a bit wonky when i sit. But did i mention these are sleepwear? so i wear them indoors only, so who even cares?
That is so true, everytime i wear a garment i made or modified and people compliment me, i always just say "don't look too close!" i really need to be less self-critical, thank you so much!
One garment that i am proud of (despite it being FAR from perfect) is a costume i made for a ball. The category required a reveal from blue to gold, so i went all out with metallic lame fabrics, which i had never used before (it was a nightmare), as well as making a huge cape that occupied my entire living room. it was blue on the outside, and the inside i turned into a beach, with waves and seashells and pearls everywhere to lay it down on the ground when i did the reveal.
I ended up winning the trophy so i'm very happy, which just goes to show that those small areas where the lame began unravelling and the uneven cape (longer in the front than the back) in the end didn't matter that much.
That's cool! Wish there was a pic!
WOW!! I love watching people make costumes! That's so cool you would tackle such a complex project!
This is so tremendously helpful thank you!! Sewing is definitely helping me heal my relationship to failure and mistakes. I try calling them "unintentional customizations" or "evidence of humanity" 😂
Love “unintentional customization”!! ❤️
My favorite is “it’s a feature, not a flaw!” 🤣
Good for you!
I was watching this show “FaceOff” years ago with mom. One contestant was making wings for something and it was not working. So on the 11 th hour she took foam and spray painted the details to make wings. When the judges ask the contestants to talk about what their vision was, she told the saga of the wings. The judges thought that was the best part of the costume and were so impressed that she thought of it and executed it last minute. So many times “ mistakes” end up being so much better than what was intended.
like your thoughts
I just finished a cardigan and I love it. There are mistakes but no one knows it but me and I love the comments I got, knowing I can make it even better next time.
lost a lot of weight, but instead of buying new clothes, remembering all the skills I used to use 20 years ago and resizing all the clothes I have already, enjoying every minute :)
All I make are vintage clothes, and I've noticed all my vintage dress patterns have their darts a little higher than today's so I bought a bullet bra and now the dresses fit me better! 😀GREAT video BTW!!!
thank you. what a good idea. we are always too critical of ourselves.
I try to remind myself "anything I do will be better than most factory made garments". I don't have all the skills but I'm obsessive about finishing seams and making things clean and secure.
3 times better then store bought garment. Also it be unique and in style that we like not what is fashionable now.
Your dress is darling. I never would have noticed the flaws if you hadn’t pointed them out.
Yes! We are too hard on ourselves! I'm growing in confidence and - shock/horror! - have started wearing my me-mades to work. No one has even said anything yet... so I'm taking that as a positive!
I’ve been sewing for over 50 years with a gap while my children were young. I’m still learning new techniques and skills all the time! A tough one to work on is NOT to point out the flaws. Haha. 😘
Exactly, it you don't point them out, it's must likey no one will even notice! 😀
A great reminder!
It took years for me to stop being so critical of things I made! The realization that the little mistakes didn’t have neon arrows pointing to it! Helped also I started sewing for kids they always loved it and were never still enough to notice the hem!
I’m not great at complimenting myself but I will say my finishing has improved greatly!! It’s fun but I would never say to anyone the negative things I say to myself. Even if the seams are wonky I will find something positive to say… unless it’s mine!!!
Yep, I've been guilty of pointing out my mistakes. I've finally stopped doing that. YES I'm still learning new things & I've been sewing for years!!! Always something new to learn!!!
This is a good video. I have been sewing since I was in the 6th grade. I am in my 60's now. I am always learning. I have been watching videos on how to put in an invisible zipper. I make sure I finish my seams. I use a clapper after I press my seams open. I take my time when I sew. I am not in a hurry. I hand baste.
Evelyn I look forward to your next video.
The most recent thing I've sewn is a black veg tan leather belt, with a red leather lining, hand-stitched with a contrasting thread. Are there a million little mistakes in it? You bet. But it's better than anything I could afford to buy. And being a busty, curvy, short waisted, sway backed, plus size human it means that I haven't had a belt that fits properly in over ten years. So. Over the holidays I fell down a leathercraft shaped rabbit hole. And from that dive will emerge All The Belts...
The hand-crank 1915 99K Singer is about to get dusted off soon. I'm in need of some summer skirts...
Great video. Cheers!
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
I am guilty of all of the above and you are absolutely right. Spotting all the small details that could have been done differently or better is so disheartening! It's encouraging to know that this is normal and a sign of progress. Great tutorial. Thank-you.
After so many years of sewing, I’m finally proud to wear what I make. Thank you for this video.
I just finished a blouse, using a pattern that was two sizes too small. I'm proud that I problem-solved by adding gussets, changing the dart placements, and (thanks to your video!) took the time to do under-stitching around the neckline to keep the facing in place. I also took the opportunity to try French seams for the first time and I love how beautiful the garment is on the inside. I feel very accomplished for trying out all these new things. The blouse fits and flatters my body. Hurrah!
Mom taught me how to graciously accept compliments when I was very young. She said to say “thank you” whether I believed it or not.
I had never thought about this! Glad my critical eye for my sewing is because I’m getting better.
Here’s my compliment for my sewing. I have gotten much better at slowing down and being more precise. Which in turn means my garments look better and fit better. And bizarrely, I’ve gotten faster at the whole process because I’m not having to rip out as many mistakes.
Absolutely second the effect slowing down and being precise has on the finished results!
"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast" in action!!! I sort of implemented this myself by stopping using my machines, they were just causing me stress and I've got so much more control over hand stitching! And it turns out I really enjoy doing it, so it doesn't feel like it's taking as long as it is.
That I am now confident enough to sew for others. It always felt like I couldn't because it wasn't "perfect". It doesn't have to be they are just happy you thought of them!
I watch your videos when I sew because it encourages me to keep going.
My last project was my very first circle skirt. I had a very successful first attempt with a beautiful floral and white print and I made the waistband with a cut out of the floral part of the print. I went shopping later that day and the store clerk LOVED my skirt. She asked if I was a designer!!
My current project (still in production) is a replica of the Chanel 2022 spring/summer look #22. A full length blue and white stripe cotton poplin skirt. I am claiming victory now. I am cutting out the pockets as I watch this video. 😉
A thousand times yes! Please focus on the amazing results and stop pointing out all the so called flaws! My last project was a dog mushing harness and the owner said it fit perfectly! Yay! One more loved pet doing a task they are genetically predisposed to do.
I am returning to garment making, now that I am retired and my kids are grown. My new attitude going into my sewing space is: “time to create and problem-solve!” This puts me me a positive frame of mind, regardless of the productivity, outcomes, etc.
Freeing one’s self from the expectation of perfection is sew (pun intended) liberating.
I like to say that I am going to play, not work, in my sewing room and garden. Because it is fun, and I enjoy it.
Ok let's go with compliments to self.
My hand sewing is fast with evenly spaced stitches so my finishes look very high-end, and I rarely had to unpick stitches due to a mistake lately. I managed to assess my needs properly to upgrade my sewing machine for a model that perfectly fits my needs to work faster, and I recently noticed I've gotten good enough to not have to pin anymore on basic woven cotton no matter the curves.
Also I drafted, checked, adjusted and finalized my bodice and sleeve slopers over the past couple weeks and now I can design and sew any top that I want for myself and it'll be perfectly adjusted to my current body, that's a big step forward because I'm b u s t y and I need that fitting to not wear potato sacks.
I love that little dress on you. When we could buy ready made dresses off the rack at stores, they did not fit us perfectly. Very few people can get a perfect fit off the racks. I don't think I have ever owned any garment that fit me perfectly (bought or home made).
I'm proud of being able to up-cycle used garments to fit me better and look different from their original look. If someone ask me where it got it, I say, "Goodwill." But, I don't tell them that I remade it.
Oh and you should be so proud to be able to do that. I do that too and it isn't easy remodeling old garments. So much more needs to be done and taken into consideration when trying to make something already cut into something that custom fits and is more designed to be more stylish for us. Lets both pat ourselves on the back.
I would not be able to bu6 something off the rack and have it fit me, unless the racket was full of clothes from the 1930-40’s. Anything from this time frame fit me like it was made for me, which is kinda fun.
Absolutely right, on so many levels! I've damaged items with multiple unpicking, so that they would have looked better if I'd left well enough alone. The 'flaws' you notice are lessons for you, nobody else needs to know.
Also, learn to accept complements, someone has just given you a gift, accept it and say "thank you". It's just rude to point out how wrong whoever was to say something nice.
As a man in the sewing world, I have little experience and confidence in what I am doing. So far I have made 2 shirts and pyjamas for myself and 2 skirts and 2 blouse’s for my wife. I am entirely learning from RUclips and experimentation. Each item I have made - I focus on the mistakes not the fact that I have created a completely wearable garment from scratch. I love this video and promise to be more positive with each new make. I am also going to start a journal of each make - what went right - and what I can improve. Thank you
I sewed the bolero from the Simplicity 8462 pattern. It's a 1940s reproduction. I was working with faux suede and polyester satin. The crazy part is I went from barely knowing how my machine worked to having a finished garment in just a week! The number of compliments I got for it was incredible.
I’ve now fully adopted the phrase “it’s finished, not perfect” and honestly it’s been such a help. That and it’s a feature not a flaw! 🤣
Either way this video is perfectly timed and so wholesome!
i think it's difficult to find "perfect" garments. I think that even big fashion houses will have small flaws in their clothes, especially since they target a standard, "ideal" body shape that real humans don't have. One flaw i noticed is how flimsy the buttons are attached. Especially on jackets and coats.
I don’t ever use the word perfect because nothing is. One of my sisters has “perfectionist tendencies “ and the stress level it takes to try and achieve perfection is too much.
Sapphire Camui that’s definitely something I’ve noticed too since I started sewing. It’s nuts! But it also makes me feel so much better about my own skill 🙂
I Love it “it’s a feature, not a flaw!
At the beginning of this year, I made a cushion cover. It was the first thing I had made in about 20 years. The invisible zip went in like a dream. I can't tell you how thrilled I was.
I have sewn since my childhood , made clothing, household items, clothes for my kids etc. I came back to dressmaking during lockdown and wanted to improve my skills. I have watched many , many videos, looking up how to solve problems. New patterns now have toiles made if I’m unsure - so many old sheets have been repurposed..... which has improved fit or allowed for complete changes. What am I most pleased to have succeeded in recently - learning how to insert an underarm gusset in a dress to allow for full range arm movements when I go dancing💃
It’s like you’ve made a video just for me! I just made my first dress and I’m a little disappointed and really needed this video.
Your first dress!! 🥳🥳 Well done! You should be proud, and each one will just get better and better as you practise 😀
Yea! Congratulations! 🎉 You made your first dress! 🥰 Think about starting a notebook or journal about what you make and what you’ve learned. It will be priceless to you going forward.
@@lynnshepard7485 oh great idea. I will, that’ll keep me going as well
Congratulations! I recently finished my first dress as well
You finished a dress!!! Now you know the next one will be better and you'll find new and different mistakes! But you finished a project instead of getting frustrated with it and starting a UFO (UnFinished Objects) pile!!! It's an achievement!
My biggest achievement is the winter coat I made last year. I'd sewn the occasional dress with the help of my grandmother, but nothing really complex. Last year designed, patterned and made a coat myself. Sure, one shoulder seam is 3cm longer than the other, but that doesn't really show because of the puff and the fullness of the coat. I'm still amazed that I was able to do that with a bare minimum of sewing experience (and of course with watching lots of your video's)
Wonderful video as always. I'm proud of myself for overcoming self-doubt and just trying to sew the things I wanted to. I'm proud of the lovely dresses, pajamas and dress shirts I've made for my kiddos in the past few months. I'm also so so proud of myself for successfully unpicking a favorite thread bare dress, using the pieces as patterns and making a brand new garment that turned out just wonderful! I see flaws and things I would do differently. But like you said, I see it as room for growth. Things to change next time. Still gonna wear my lovely dress and enjoy it!! Thanks for all the encouragement!
I sewed a simple pouch the other day. It is just a piece of thick woven cotton folded in half, but I think it turned out really sharp looking. I did the sewing trick that gives the bag a flat centimeter wide bottom. It was super easy, but looks great on the finished product and I am super proud of how good it looks :D
Also it was a nice success, because the next day I failed yet again to properly sew on the elastic for some shorts. Seam ripping has commenced and I will just have to try again (also I think I finally learned what I was doing wrong) :)
I recently made a pair of cute fluffy dungarees for my new granddaughter. I had to make them one handed, as I am disabled from a stroke now. Quite proud of the finished result considering the one handed work though!
Thanks. I was just telling my husband that a flawed self made blouse I want to toss, I’d happily wear if it were purchased off the rack! Insane standards we impose upon ourselves.
I am proud that I have been able to tailor a full length swing coat with velveteen collar, cuffs & velveteen covered buttons with hand sewn button holes! I knew of a few flaws (especially it being alittle too long for me) so I was able to sell it to my hubby's co worker who loved it 😍 and who was 4" taller than me - it fit her like a dream!
I just upcycled my first mens shirt and dealt with sleeves and armholes for the very first time, i struggled and found the project harder than anticipated (beginner sewer here). Despite the stuggles, i'm impressed with how much better the sleeves fit and the topstitching looks great, yay me!
I started sewing, in home economics classes in school, and continued for most of my life. My most challenging project, was a lined, camoflage patterned, dress, requested by one of my granddaughters, for her senior prom. She bought the pattern, with the camoflage fabric, for the dress, and hunter orange for the lining. The dress had a halter top bodice, with a skirt that was knee length in front, and skimmed the floor in back. She paired it with matching orange heels. She loved it, and later, wore it to a wedding.
That sounds like a fun and unique dress!
@@fullfiledprophecies thank you. And yes, It was.
I have learned to makeover a toile when I am not happy with the fit to make it for my body. I have the book you showed last video about sewing for different shapes. What a difference from sewing class in 7th grade- one skirt pattern fit all.😊
Can you sew a Tshirt
Many years ago, I was helping my sister make a skirt out of a pair of jeans - she's not really into crafting, so when she sees something she really wants to make anyways, she usually ropes me in for instruction - and she was getting very frustrated about a seam getting wonky and needing redoing. I said "a mistake doesn't become a failure until you give up", and that really bowled her over, while to me it was just... the way it is. I don't see mistakes as failures, 'cause usually they aren't. They're just things you either fix right now because they would bother you, or you live with it, learn from it and do something different next time. Keeping on with the craft in the face of disappointment is another way of not giving up, doesn't have to be the same garment that carries the progress. And since accepting failure is also ok, giving up is ok. Sometimes that is just the way it is. You fix it and keep going, accept it as it is, or give up and do/use something else. All ok.
Differentiating between mistakes (things needing a retake or adjustment) and failures (things needing a complete restart or abandonment) makes it much easier to deal with both of them, I find. Failures aren't that bad if you understand what went wrong, and mistakes usually just mean that the cost of time, effort, patience or tolerance for flaws went up a bit. I'd rather change the way we view and approach mistakes and failures than try to not those terms for unintended wrongs that may or may not be easily righted. We all make mistakes and fail from time to time, we can give ourselves and our projects enough space and time to handle things going wrong, and move forward anyways if we want to. Or give up and find something else to do if that suits us better, that is ok too. Sometimes the best way forward is another path altogether instead of bashing your head against a dead end, and sometimes it is really satisfying to keep going until there is a new door.
Well said!
I'm in the process of sewing my wedding outfit, and it is indeed stressful and I judge myself way too harshly because I want it to be perfect...
This week I NEEDED to sew something that it didn't matter if I made mistakes, so I grabbed some viscose and a pattern that I knew fit me and made a loose-fitting dress to walk around at home in. It was quite liberating to be sloppy and imprecise!
I’m a pretty good costume maker. My favorite garment I ever did was my own take on snowy white . I added patterns of fabric and trims that you normally wouldn’t see used so I would say When it comes to sewing I’m never afraid to add my own personal taste into things
Thank you so much for this video. I'm getting back into sewing after 26 years. I've been so hard on myself like everything isn't wearable. This is a process & I'm getting better every time.
I've been following a tutorial for a boned bodice by someone that has been sewing for about 6 years. I myself have been sewing for a few months. Still, I am so critical at some wobly, stretched areas on the strenght layer (which you can't see), visible slip stitches, wonky finishes at the bottom. I've put in so much time and learned a ton of new things. Still I want to telle everyone whatever I did wrong so they can not point it out. I'm thankful for this video and the comment section, seeing that most of us struggle with this.
« I want to tell everyone whatever I did wrong so that they can’t point it out » !! that’s exactly what I do too it makes me feel understood but I definitely need to learn to stop
Thank you for this video, it came at a perfect time for me! I am just finishing up a cute little dress in a wonderful fabric. I am proud of myself that I adjusted the waist height and hem length correctly from my toile and these proportions look great on the real thing!
As others have said, I quickly learned to love my seam ripper. My current thing I'm most proud of is a bodice mock up where I'm trying to move a dart from a waist dart to a bust dart to better suit my body. It's going surprisingly well and even though sometimes I don't like sewing so slowly, I keep reminding myself that I'm happier with the garment when I take my time to do my best. Also, I find myself thinking about how even ready to wear garments aren't a perfect fit on me, or most people, so with sewing the only difference is I get to decide how well fitted I'd like the garment. We tend to be our own worst critics, but like my grandpa used to say "We're not building a piano." I try to remember that and like your idea of just learning from the "mistake" for next time.
The first time that I refashioned a pair of pants into a dress was a great moment for me and that motivated me to fix, tailor and refashion my existing clothes that I wasn't so happy about and also, I have started to make my own clothes from scratch. I feel extra special when I wear something I made myself.
I agree with you Evelyn! I consider that because I am a sewer that each time I make something for myself or others or any project, that the more I do the better I become at my skills. I have had people say to me "oh I love your top did you make it"? I say thank you yes I did! Even though I used to say yes but it was a hard pattern to make I now say thank you even though I may have unpicked a seam a few times because I could not work out what the pattern was trying to inform me how to put it together. I now just move on with the conversation. I have been sewing now for 50 odd years and since having RUclips as my tutor, have learnt so many skills, hints and tricks. In the past I did do so many sewing classes and learnt a lot then but over the last 4 yrs have had to re learn lots of things plus get used to my Janome sewing machine which I have had since 2013. I only used it to take up hems and sew where the stitching was coming undone on garments etc. The sewing machine which I still have but dont use is an Elna which is computerized and bought it as a demo back in 1990's. I sewed heaps of clothing for my two boys and mainly stretch knit tops and bottoms. Thats when I discovered classes making knits and just absolutely loved making them. I also bought a Elna serger which was an ex demo and its still going well even now. I do make garments with woven fabric also for my grand children so have enjoyed making these too.
I've been sewing for 60 years. My grandmother was a professional designer and seamstress. She taught me to always smile and say 'thank you'. I sew many of my niece's outfits. She's 5' 11" and rarely finds readymade to fit her as she prefers dresses below the knee. I Iove the look on her face when I bring her something new.
I began sewing garments about 2 years ago, after 30 years pause. My "proudest" piece is a shirt made of linen (pattern from FabricStore), where I did 2 darts on the back (not existing on the pattern) because it seemed to me too large, somewhat baggy. And it really improved the shirt, now it has a really nice back :-) :-)
I haven’t completely stopped, but when I compare my me-made to ready to wear pieces, and I see flaws in both, I’m more lenient on myself.
Besides always loving how you get red to look good on you, I appreciate the lessons. I had a sewist point out that it is about how I feel about it, not whether anyone else likes it. She also told me that all aberrations are design choices and if my seams look straight from the back of a moving horse then I'm fine lol.
The fact that that phrase exists -- "It looks good enough from the back of a trotting horse" -- says that people have been angsting over small imperfections in their sewing all the way back to when horses were the normal mode of transportation. Perfectionism is nothing new! And even in those days when everything was hand sewn, so every sewist probably had LOTS of experience sewing very complicated clothing all the time, people still had to let go of the instinct to be too self-critical.
My husband (who I work with, doing maintenance and minor renovations on rental properties) uses the phrase, "Can't see it from my house!" to indicate that we're the only ones who're going to notice whatever flaw has been pointed out.
I think I'm most proud of myself for just *trying* things, regardless of how they turn out or whether I think my skills match the complexity of what I'm doing. I just want to make stuff, if it looks wonky but wearable I can convert it into post-apocalyptic costuming!
YES, YES, YES!!! I'm so proud of my most recent make! I modified a vintage pattern to better fit my style, took extra care with finishing my seams, and the color was new for me. I couldn't have been happier with how it turned out. And, I had some lessons learned that make the next one great too.
The last thing I sewed was a while ago now, a Regency dress (well, 'Regency' dress) for a fairy ball. It was a white cotton under-dress with a green organza over-dress (I was Summer)... and I totally meant to make the over-skirt meet edge-to-edge at the front, and the bodice to overlap. And messed it up in the sewing the skirt to the bodice so that the skirt overlapped too.
I'm still proud of that dress, though. Next time I won't be racing to finish a garment in the middle of the night, which *really* didn't help! 🤣☕
Any time we have something turn out not quite as planned, "It's a feature, not a bug!"
I’ve been sewing for over 60 years. Do I still make clothes that I’m not 100% happy with….yes. However, I love what I make and I wear 95% of them as when I look at ready made clothes, guess what. My hand made garments are so much better. They are neatly finished and are made to fit me. Keep sewing. It is a very relaxing and rewarding skill. Thank you for your encouraging videos. From a fellow Aussie.
Talking with my 35yo son about fast fashion and foreign made clothing, he commented how he appreciated having US made clothes as a kid. I was surprised that he might know where his clothing had been made, but he said it was easy. Our kitchen is in the US, and that's where I made his clothes. Of course they weren't perfect, but they were made with perfect love and received with perfect appreciation.
I am making my first dress. I never even used a sewing machine before. Back in the day, like many young women, I would make a mistake or not be able to do something perfectly and that voice we all have in our heads would start to criticise me so badly I wouldn't attempt the thing again. My inner voice would say things like, "You're useless. You're dumb. You can't do anything right". I have reached an age now where I shoo that negative stuff away. I know I need to work hard, apply myself and persevere. I must stop comparing myself with people who have been doing something for 20 years.
Working on this dress I have made a thousand mistakes. My inner voice now looks to what I have managed to achieve. I keep it balanced, but I compliment myself for the things I have managed to do. If I could say one thing to help young women it would be to do this. My heart breaks when I hear young women say they think they're ugly or fat or the 101 thing tormenting them. I want to shout "You're beautiful! Be realistic, but turn your thoughts around and learn to quietly compliment yourself.
Well, back to my unpicking lol.
Happy unpicking!! :)
Some of us just need a healthy dose of "eff it, I'm doing this anyways even if I'm not good at it". I literally took up a martial art that is all katas (choreographed sets of movements) because I was so bad at being choreographed I figured if I stuck with it, I'd at least improve myself, even if I never got good at the art, but 20 years later I'm good enough to teach when our regular instructor can't make it to class. Still terrible at being choreographed, but still trying to learn ballet well into my 40s.
I hope more young (and older) people can come to realize that doing a thing imperfectly is still superior to not doing the thing at all. People are always astonished at the number of things I do (my friend's mom asked my friend if there was anything I couldn't do?) and complimenting me on the things I make and do, even though a professional would do a much better job and probably take half the time doing it... Every crocheted baby blanket I've ever made has at least one major flaw in it somewhere. The baby doesn't care. There's probably blood on every woodwork and most sewing projects I've ever done. Nobody will ever see it. I know the flaws in all the drywall repairs I've ever made. Nobody will complain once it's painted. Something went terribly wrong with almost every car repair I've ever attempted, but I still have all my fingers and toes and a good number of times I've been able to avoid taking it to the shop, or if it was something that needed the shop, most of the time I was able to avoid needing a tow truck. Every piece of armour I've ever made has at least one mistake somewhere but it will still keep the wearer safe. I started darning my socks in nonmatching colours because it's easier to see and also, why not highlight that these things can in fact be repaired instead of discarded?
Doing it wrong still gives you experience, and eventually experience will lead you to do it right, or at least avoid previous ways of doing it wrong.
@@bunhelsingslegacy3549 Thank you for this lovely and inspiring comment.
You know you are done when it just makes you feel so good you just want to keep looking at it.
You petty good on your smile Karen
Today I finished sewing my first blouse which is my third garment (I'm a beginner). It's much prettier than a lot of things sold in the shops these days and it is made of dead stock fabric so I managed to divert waste from a landfill!
Your wise words that you wouldn't have picked those issues up when you first started - I think that's a marvellous way of looking at this - and you're so right - I could have looked at your beautiful dress all day and not picked those issues out as any problem.
Evelyn, if you ever decide to stop sewing, you could be a therapist! Your words and advice are always so helpful and affirming! Thank you from Sarasota, Florida 😁
This is so important! I'm friends with lots of artists/crafters of different disciplines and they're their harshest critics. Bought a tiny cute polymer clay figurine from one of them that allegedly has "wonky eyes" and a hat that came out "very ugly", and it's the prettiest thing on my desk now lol.
Not really sure about complimenting myself... BUT I re-did my master bodice block pattern recently, and had to do only one round of adjustments because I actually know where the fitting issues came from now! Before, I had to mess around a lot, but this time it went so smoothly! Got me really excited to start my new summer dress project 😄
It's amazing how much skill people have! A huge deal is having a master block pattern at all and you're refit yours as well!! AWESOME!!!
I have been a member of VSS for a little over a year and my sewing skills have improved sooooo much! I would never have thought that just one year could make such a huge difference in my sewing. Thanks for all your superb tutelage!
I recently wore a dress to a dinner out. The much younger hostess complimented me on my dress, I proudly stated, “Thank you, I made it!” Followed by her surprised rely, “ You MADE it?!” Only I was aware of what it took to complete this garment. How many stitches I had to rip out and a few swear words. But it was worth the compliment 😊
In the beginner sewing groups I’m a part of on fb, many posters preface their posts about their creations with ”it’s not perfect, but…”
I understand why they do it, but it is unlikely someone like me would ever notice the flaws if they don’t mention them. 🤷🏾♀️
I made my first jersey jumper using a self drafted pattern and I could not be more proud of the neck line! I was so nervous to do it I nearly left it as a raw edge in case I ruined the garment but I’m so glad I went for it because now it looks like a finished item rather than a half sewn handmade project 😊 x
It's true!!! I never let people say nice things about my proyects. It's like I think they're undeserved. I'm gonna try to change that!
I was able to design a quilted jacket using convergent and other patchwork techniques. I added a ribbon wreath to the back and folded flowers AND invented my own way of making folded leaves. Adding antique laces and mother-of-pearl buttons to the project just made my heart sing. I adore wearing my unique art jacket. I was so intimidated when I started it and, yes, I'd change some things if I could but those are my little secrets. :D
I just made my very first coat, and most people can't tell that it's me-made. That was my one goal and I achieved it! It's the first garment I've made that doesn't look home made.
What a great topic Evelyn, thanks for the encouragement and I now notice I've been very critical of my me-made garment. I've just started sewing due to endless lockdowns in Melbourne, the second garment I made I had 4 mock-ups coz I kept thinking the bust dart was not good enough. When the bust dart was 'fixed', I then notice armhole somehow got little too tight. Like many others said, if I buy this off the rack I would have been very pleased. I need to see the 'progress' not 'perfection'. Thanks Evelyn, always love your videos.
Ah... Yes. I started sewing about two years ago and it's some information I like to add as kind of an "excuse" for "daring to wear an imperfect me-made garment". No one really cares... Haha! I do repurpose last year's makes instead of wearing them again though. It is true that year over year my skill levels change and my more recent makes fit and look better. Progress over perfection!! Thank you so much for the encouragement, Evelyn!!
Oh how I feel like you are truly speaking to me. Welcome to MY sewing room 💕🪡🧵 THANK YOU !!🙂❤👵🏻
I've been working on improving my pattern making and hand stitching and I recently made a vest that I'm incredibly proud of because I made the pattern myself from an old vest of mine that's too small and sized it up *perfectly*. Now I can't stop sewing vests 😂 I always feel like a weird person in that I see the flaws but don't generally get upset with them unless they're visible to other people. It took a long time to learn to do that, though.
I just started sewing a few months ago and have been putting off cutting out my t shirt patterns I made. I’ve been so worried about if they’ll be right that it’s held me up from doing much of anything sewing related recently. After watching this video I cut everything out and serged the front and back together. It fits perfectly! Now I’m really excited to finish it up! This video came at just the right time. Thanks! Also if you have the time I’d love to see more serger specific videos. I understand the basics but I’m sure there’s a lot you could show us!
I've been sewing a while but I still go through that "I don't know what I'm doing, what if I screw it up, I better put this down before I wreck something" phase too, so now before I start on a new project I make myself finish an old one, and when I picked up something I started last year and finished it this week, I was wondering why I hadn't just done the thing, I was so close!!! Shorten the shoulder straps and it all fit exactly as it was supposed to!
This came at a perfect time as I'm about to make an entire outfit for an event later this year. I can't wait to get started but I am nervous because I'm working with new material and a few things I've never done before, but I won't learn if I don't try. And I won't learn if I don't make a few mistakes in the process.
I love this video. I has trouble lining up cuff seams and no matter what I did it always seemed to be about 1/4 of an inch off. But I had to give myself grace because regardless of that it is a completely wearable garment that I MADE! Anyway I did not give up and cuffs lineup wonderfully. Btw there are many fast fashion garments that aren’t “perfect” if shoppers paid attention to how the garment was put together. Thank you for a great video!♥️😊
Seams on fast fashinon brand look very often pretty bad. We as seamstresses take up our time to sew them nicely and neatly. Precision need time with hasty sewing we need accept wonky seams.
I got so much better at cutting fabric! It is the hardest part in sewing for me and I got so much better at it once I learned how to take my time - ironing, marking, copying, etc!
Also my hemming is invisible and tiny and super nice!
I have been paralysed with fear for years over the thought of producing my own wardrobe. I always have envisioned starting simple, labelling each garment with the year it was made and any other relevant information. And then (scary thought) WEARING nothing my my own handmade garments for some significant amount of time just to prove to myself that I could.
Currently I have two knit shirts and a few pair of undies that I have produced. It's not much. They're definitely not perfect. They're very basic and I doubt anyone looking would think anything was special about them. They might even think some of my design choices were weird. But I do love them! I feel so proud every time I wear them! I know each garment gives me more experience and grows my skills, and my understanding of my own fit and style preferences.
Some of my biggest hurdles are that I'm very poor, so it's hard for me to afford fabric or patterns. So to solve this I've mostly taken/adapted patterns from garments I already own and that would be simple to copy. And for fabric I've used knit bedsheets, since the weight and stretch is pretty similar to normal fabric for T-shirts or undies. But I'm a little bit frozen at the thought of moving beyond these cost-saving options into risking real money on potential failures sewn from new fashion fabric. But I know I cannot live my whole life in jersey knit. It's a wrestle.
Have you looked in Thrift stores for pretty sheets and shower curtains? For a few dollars, you can make amazing garments!
I shop for fabrics at the thrift store. An XXL men’s shirt, woven or knit, has plenty of fabric for a new garment. And often I can find top quality fabric for just a few bucks! Keep at it, it WILL pay off!
Hey, you already have a good start for a wardrobe! And if you love your clothes, the opinion of other folks isn't that important. I bet a lot of them would love to be able to create their own style and designs instead of having to browse clothes in stores (especially if their favorite color is consideres seasonal and they can only find stuff in that color during autumn or something).
Lynn and Barbara already suggested thrift stores (two of my favorite skirts are made from thrift store bed sheets; no one ever noticed or commented about it), so I'll add the sale section in fabric stores and their leftover fabric pieces section. Not sure if the stores where you're at have that section, but around here, there's always a big container with rolled up fabric pieces that are discounted. It's usually stuff people returned, someone cut the wrong length, or it was the end of the fabric roll and they want to get rid of it. Saved me a ton of money while I was studying but still wanted to sew.
(side note: if a project goes really wrong and you can't salvage it in any way, cut it up and use it as pillow stuffing! All my chair pillows are stuffed with failed mock-ups, cutoff fabric, and test garments that I couldn't reuse but didn't want to throw in the trash.)
I'm make a dress for a special occasion to give me confidence because I find some social events stressful. I've taken the time to handstitch facings and add a lining even though it's time consuming. I'm hoping this will stop me from 'fiddling' and thinking about the flaws - either in my sewing or in the pattern drafting itself. I enjoyed this vlog.
i've made a pair of 18th century stays (drafted myself to my size with the arc method ) althought i'm still a beginner not done alot of sewing project yet😊😊
Im proud Ive been making everyday tailored clothes Im prepared to wear in public. I grew up in a generation where I was ashamed if we had home made clothes - as it meant you couldnt afford to buy them. So, I have spent 20 years doing historical costuming. But i have ventured out into making everyday modern tailored clothes for looking nice...which is HUGE for me - as I am tall, plus sized, have really bad body image - and ashamed when ppl say "i can tell you made that". But recently ppl havent noticed and asked where I got it from. THAT was my ultimate flattery - that they didnt know I made it!
I finished my first garment a few months ago. I am proud that the hem is perfectly even, as it is a 6 gored skirt and the panels are in a J shape. Also I drafted the pattern myself and used a tomato cage hanging from my ceiling as a dress form. I know, hey?
Oh my gosh! A tomato cage as a dress form? How absolutely BRILLIANT - love it!
I'm somewhat self taught. I can usually make whatever you or I want. I've made prom dresses wedding dresses lined drapes baby clothes and Halloween costumes. I'm not intimidated by much and my motto is, "let's try it."
Indeed, you even don't know how much relevant that is. There have been times when I would just bin something because I have seen mistakes. Now I am trying to see it from the bigger perspective. By each mistake I am getting better. How cool is that. But true is. It took me years and your videos to change how I think. Thank you. Because you are not only teaching me..... you are doing much more. 💐