How To Sew
With Patterns
Or 15 Tips For What To
Do With Your Sewing Pattern
What to do with a sewing
pattern once you take it out of the
envelope.
You have searched the
pattern books, found the perfect pattern for
your material and now you are off home to make
it up.
What is the first thing you
need to do?
You will have selected a
pattern for your size, when you open the
envelope, everything is folded neatly.
1. Take the instruction
sheet and it will show you how to set out the
pattern on your fabric, there will be the
lay-outs for the different widths of fabric,
and for with or without nap. Some fabrics you
can cut out your pattern pieces in opposite
directions others you will have to lay the
pattern pieces all going the same way or else
the fabric will show a different shade, velvets
and corduroys are a good example.
2. Cut around the edge of
the seam allowances with paper scissors, not
the scissors you will be cutting the fabric
with.
3. Always check the pattern
pieces against you, you can pin the various
pieces together and try it on to see if there
needs to be any adjustments before you start
cutting the fabric.
4. With your fabric right
side out, place and pin the pattern pieces
according to the layout for your fabric width
and cut your fabric pattern pieces out.
5. You will see triangles
known as notches. circles, arrows, broken
lines, unbroken lines. On some patterns you
will also see on the seam stitching lines
arrows. This is according to the pattern maker
the direction to stitch that seam.
6. Once you have cut out all
the pieces, get your tracing carbon. Fold the
tracing carbon so that when you place it
between the fabric and trace, you will have the
pattern marked on the inside of your
fabric.
7. If possible get a plastic
tracing wheel, it will not cut into your
pattern tissue. some metal tracing wheels will
cut the pattern and make it hard to re-use that
pattern again.
8. Transfer all the pattern
markings to the inside of your fabric, use a
rule to guide along the long seam lines.
9. Now you are ready to
start sewing your garment and everything you
had on your pattern is now on the inside of
your fabric.
10. Once again, check the
pieces against you to make sure the fit is
right.
11. Pin, tack, baste where
necessary, press as you go, fit as you go and
follow the instructions, take it step by
step.
12. As a general guide when
deciding on what length of fabric to purchase
you need twice your length plus the length of
the sleeve if you are making something with a
sleeve. For skirts or pants you will need twice
your length.
13. When looking for
fabrics, anything that feels stiff will have a
lot of what is called sizing and when it is
laundered could go very limp and not hold its
shape.
14. A good test for crushing
is to scrunch the fabric in your hand and see
if the creases will fall out. If they stay,
then this will always crush no matter how
carefully your press it.
15. Purchase your notions
when you purchase your fabric, thread, zipper,
bias binding, interfacing, lining, check the
pattern envelope for what you will need to
complete your garment.
Well thats the main points
for getting your pattern tight and happier
sewing.
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