Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Works For Me: Sewing Shortcuts



I am not much of a sewer usually. When my oldest daughter was a baby, I made a series of cute little dresses complete with roses on hats, pinafores and pantaloons. Froo Froo stuff. I started when she was about 6 months and finished them when she was wearing size 2T. Luckily, I knew myself well enough to have made large sizes so they still fit her.



It kind of burned me out on the clothing making thing and in recent years I've focused more on curtains and cushions and such. I'm really a quick results kind of person. I have a hard time sticking to projects that take a lot of time, and I no longer have a lot of time.



Last spring, I realized that I had three little girls and had yet to do the matchy matchy thing. I could even match me with them. So, I decided to sew again. But, I decided I would try things a little differently and this is what I've learned:

1. Elastic is wonderful! I passed up any pattern that required zippers, gathering fabric, wide hems, buttons or interfacing. Simple styles are just as darling as frilly ones. Plus, I decided I'm not out to impress with my sewing skills. In fact, if you lift up one of my girl's hems to check the quality of my stitching I will no longer consider you my friend!

2. You don't need to make a casing for the elastic when inserting it in sleeves. Before sewing the sleeve's seam, just stretch the elastic along the casing line and stitch down the middle of it.



3. Use a pattern more than once. Patterns can be expensive, so I decided to use up some of my fabric stash to practice with the patterns. Bonus: more space in the sewing tubs and more clothes for the girls. And, each time I get faster at it because I now have the instructions practically memorized. It hasn't gotten boring because I have tried to make different variations using different fabrics and trims.



4.There is more than one way to sew the same thing. Take the easiest route. For example, the skirt I sewed for myself wanted me to make a tiny narrow drawstring with an elastic section in it's middle that would be threaded through a casing, coming out of buttonholes to be tied. Forget that! I just put elastic in a casing like I did my daughters and called it done!

5. When sewing multi-size patterns for myself, I cut off the larger sizes on the pattern. I figure when or if I do gain multiple sizes I'll be too depressed about it to sew myself clothes anyways.

6. When cutting out large pattern pieces, I used overturned, heavy cereal bowls instead of pins. Saves much time and keeps slippery fabric in place better.

7. Lace is wonderful! It hides uneven stitching and can give a nice detail without having to gather fabric. Just use gathered lace instead.

8. I adhered a piece of magnetic tape to my sewing machine to stick pins to. I now spend less time looking for my pin cushion. Also, I set up to sew where there is no carpet. Pins dropped on a hard floor are less likely to land pointing up and ready to stab your foot while you're looking for them. Ouch!



9. I completely made one of each outfit, before cutting out more, to better check sizes. The blouse I made for my oldest daughter, for example, ended up fitting everywhere but in length. I didn't want her showing off her belly button every time she raised her arms, so I sewed an eyelet trim around the bottom to make it more modest. The rest of the blouses I cut out for her, I made sure to add length.



So, what sewing shortcuts have you found?

And don't forget to check out more Works For Me Wednesday ideas over at Shannon's Rocks in My Dryer!

25 comments:

  1. We trace our patterns all out on freezer paper so that they can be reused! I hate having to buy new patterns because the paper is so flimsy! I love your magnetic tape idea!

    Tracy

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  2. Great ideas! I especially love the magnetic tape idea as I am always losing pins.

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  3. Great ideas! I especially like the magnetic tape. I haven't sewn anything in ages but need ot get back to it -- I have a hard time finding what I like in stores.

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  4. Thanks for all the great ideas. I'm just getting into sewing again, and organized all of my patterns yesterday as my Tackle It Tuesday meme. I just wanted to remind everyone that if you have a computerized sewing machine, the magnetic tape might make it all screwy. Be careful. It is a great idea though.

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  5. You are my kind of gal! Thanks for all these tips. I love to sew and create things, but unless it's simple and rather quick(several hours at best) I will have unfinished projects all over. I still have some from 2-3 years ago, waiting on zippers, because I had so much trouble getting them in right!I already use some of these tips, such as plain elastic waist skirt, instead of those little buttonholes with drawstring. (Really, who is going to see it anyways?)

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  6. Great ideas, and great pictures of all your girls. They are so cute in their home-made duds. I am with you on the more simple a thing is the better. I made all the girls and I matching outfits last year for christmas. I am never making anything with a lining, or with a sheer overskirt again!

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  7. My daughter just walked in and said "I want that for picture day!" I love to sew and miss talking about it (nobody here sews.)

    Casings: I always zig-zag over the elastic so it moves. You simply sew one inch down (like you're doing) and then zig-zag over the rest w/o catching any elastic. All the way to the end and sew another inch to the seam. The raw edges go into the seam.

    Thanks for the tip - I'm putting magnetic tape on tommorrow!

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  8. Oh my goodness Nettie, you're good! Thanks for showing us all the pictures and giving us the tips--your girls are darling!

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  9. OK, I didn't even read this whole post. I read up to "use patterns more than once" and decided it had to go in my faves. :) Thanks for posting this!

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  10. Great tips! I really should get back to sewing.

    Ummm this is one my mom taught me. You know when they tell you to sew the arm seam and then sort of fit it into the arm hole and sew it in this little circle? That is really difficult, especially when you are dealing with little arms. Just sew the shoulder part of the torso together then pin and sew the sleeve into place. Then in one long seam you sew the sleeve down through the torso, much quicker although I'm not sure I'm explaining it well!

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  11. Great ideas. I thought you liked to sew more then that. I like using patterns over and over too. My favorite pattern is the summer dresses that I make for my girls (see the Dora dress in my May archives). I really like that magnetic tape idea. I'll have to see if I can get some for mine.

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  12. Wow I am impressed and saving this post. My little granddaughter would look so adorable in some of these outfits! Thanks for stopping by my blog. And lucky you, a steal at $5.00!! God Blessed you mightily!

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  13. Thanks for the great tips Nettie! I don't sew a lot. I mostly do craft sewing and clothing here and there, but these ideas will be really helpful to me.

    I also reuse my patterns. I trace the pattern size I want onto white tissue paper so I never have to cut the original.

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  14. BTW, Cute pictures! Your girls are adorable.

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  15. Great tips...you may just have motivated me to try to sew something. It has been awhile since I've dug my sewing machine out.
    The clothes you make look great!
    BTW...I love the belly shot you posted! It is fun to have photos of the expanding belly. You look great!

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  16. I don't sew much, but when I do these tips will come in quite handy!!

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  17. You have officially inspired me to pull out my packed up sewing machine (as in from when I put it in storage three years ago.)

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  18. Fabulous tips, Nettie. I am going to use your length extender idea on some dresses I made my daughter that she has already grown to tall for. This is so good for her, because she never gets any wider just longer!! You saved my bacon.

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  19. You just said the magical words that I longed to hear, "Elastic is wonderful!"

    Thank you for your ringing endorseement.

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  20. Hi! I am Shelly's and handiemom's SIL. I have been visiting your blog now for a couple weeks. I love your works for me Wednesdays. You are so talented. I wish I had even a sliver of your talent. I was going to start a works for me Wednesday on my blog but can't really think of anything. So instead I started Out of ideas, I need yours! Maybe you can help me!?

    Your s outfits are gorgeous!

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  21. great ideas, and cute stuff you made!

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  22. Great tips! I'm a fast results kind of girl too. ;O)

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  23. I love the shirt you made for your dd. I think my girls would like it, too! I like to buy fabric, and I enjoy sewing, but it takes so much energy for me to get my sewing machine out and set up, that I hardly ever do it. My big sewing tip would be to give yourself your very own sewing room, so everything is all ready to go!

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  24. I just love that photo of you with the girls- all matching- well done! ;)

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  25. I am so impressed with your sewing skills. All of these clothes are adorable!

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