Sewing Tutorial Review

So it seemed like  to me it’s been a while since I’ve done a review.

Tutorials

Tutorials, what a great topic to do reviews. The Internet definitely has a vast assortment of  websites for sewing tutorials. But, just because there is a large variety does not mean they are all equally fulfilling your needs when learning to sew. Everyone can go on YouTube search and videos of sewing tutorials. That’s one way to get started.

You can just look at about.com to learn about sewing. Wikipedia will tell you about sewing, sewing machines, searchers scissors everything you need to know. But without a really good tutorial site to guide you through or hands on training, learning the art of sewing is not exactly easy. There are lots of methods from cutting up tee shirts for patterns, e patterns, and the old stand by paper patterns. Everyone eventually finds their way in or around sewing.  When I started sewing again  I just sewed.  I sewed lines, curves, pillows, pockets, things like that just to get back in the groove.  Moving on to patterns, the real deal I used some of the sites below.

Some of my Personal Favorites

When I first started sewingI discovered Melly! Her site is amazing, she covers it all! Those projects will keep anyone busy for quite some time.  Have fun sewing, cut up clothing from the thrift store and make something new, it doesn’t matter always how the project turns out.  It’s great to have fun.

Threads magazine is another great tutorial they focus more on fit and technique.  Their series, “Teach yourself to Sew” benefits the beginner.

Craftsy is a great place to go, they have both free and paid tutorials.

Tutorials for Appliqué Templates and Designs and tons of other fun projects abound. She has pages and pages of fun projects. The sewing machine needs you to mess with it, and that is what her site is about sewing a little of this and a little of that. She has a great whimsical area on her website, So Can She .

One day I found an overwhelming amount of information.  If that is what you are looking for, All FREE sewing is your new home.  All free sewing is an example of a wonderful tutorial site, they take you from objects they don’t have to be sewn all the way through bridal wear.

Melly’s tutorials are wonderful! She is thorough, imaginative, and can get you through pretty much anything.I like the way her site is set out, the site is easy to read easy-to-follow and includes email for subscriptions.

Of course Pinterest has tons ideas tutorials and such the one I use the most is Colette. She has authored a few books that I enjoyed reading as well.

The Next Level

The Next Level

I design a lot of my clothing, I’ve been dying to take my designing to the next level with a dress form! Constant trying on, next running to the mirror, next adjusting, next ripping seams, next sewing seams, next, next next, it takes for EVER! Then when you THINK your garment is ready you try it on…..NEXT  what the is the fit?  Do I want to portray this look?  People see me everywhere I go.  Do I feel good wearing clothing I should hide? See the problem?  A dress form takes care of the guess and next work.

So, what’s really NEXT?

Learning the ebb and flow of threads combined to create the fabric chosen for the garment.  It’s easier once on the dress form to define how the fabric reacts to movement, wrinkling, , and how it generally lays against a 3 D object, eventually your body.

A really cool part about a dress form is examining the look of the garment on something that is three dimensional.  Hangers cannot make clothing look good.  If they could, the body consciousness in America would not exist to the extent  at present.  I recommend shopping around before deciding on and purchasing a dress form. Also studying up on the dress form you purchase is a great idea.  I went with brand name only. I should have visited this instead.

Singer does it for me again! I don’t like the color, but I’m creative, I can recover it to match my studio.  I love that it’s so completely adjustable.   I found this one at Amazon.  The features are wonderful.  All of the below information is excerpted from Amazon.   I am not an affiliate.

13 key adjustments (bust, waist, hips, neck/back) provide a perfect fit

Height adjustment lets you customize the dress form to your height in a snap

Foam-Backed fabric exterior allows you to easily pin dresses, skirts, tops and patterns

Four leg metal base for extra durability and added stability

Pin cushion with key holder provides convenient storage for pins and adjustment key

In my own opinion, this dress form is pretty generous in range of size.  I like that the dress forms size changes with the twist of a knob.  The foam backing is a dream for any designer or seamstress.  I’ll follow up with a real life experience as soon as I get the chance to enjoy it.

I’ve figured it out, I used a chop stick to adjust the size.  Important tip that could change your life!