With rising prices and all, knowledge of sewing is yet another way for a housewife to save money and get creative. Also we can fill spare minutes by making beautiful and practical items for our families.
LEARNING THE BASICS- If you weren't lucky enough to have an Aunt or Grandmother interested in teaching you these things as a child, or didn't have the good fortune of attending at least one semester of a High School Home Economics course, find a friend who can show you how. Also there are videos on the Internet. Nowadays, it's difficult not to learn something.
COLLECTING THE TOOLS- Know which tools are good for what, and create your own sewing kit. It can be a box or a basket to store them in or a drawstring bag. Keep a pair of scissors that are for cutting cloth only. They'll stay sharper longer.
PATTERNS- Look for patterns online or at a store that sells fabric. Remember they can be altered if needed to make them suitable. Also you can make your own patterns from old clothes and other items.
There are two methods for pattern making. One is to take the piece of clothing apart in order to figure out how it's put together (such as a bead bag) and use the pieces as a pattern. The other is to make the pattern without taking the garment apart. There are methods that won't be covered in this post, but basically pins are used to poke holes through the garment pieces and this marks the pattern onto a sturdy paper on top of a layer of cardboard that is placed underneath the garment.
Soon you'll be in the habit of studying different clothes you are attracted to, thinking how to make them yourself!
FABRIC Cotton is my usual choice, since it is warm in winter and cool in summer, natural and comfortable. Feels and looks better, too, and saves a lot of time and effort to work with instead of the array of artificial fabrics produced for modern attire. Unless already preshrunk material, always buy a little extra to leave room for shrinkage.
SUGGESTED PROJECTS:
FOR BEGINNER'S
a pincushion
a bean bag toy
a sachet
a potholder
dish towel with decorative top stitching
an ornament
a simple apron
an appliance cover like for a toaster
simple curtains
a draft dodger
an asana
a simple slipcover
a pillowcase
a drawstring bag or reuseable gift bag
a scrunchie
a bib
a simple stuffed toy (with a rattle inside or jingle bells),
a book cover
a purse
finger puppets
art pencil roll up case
a duvet cover
stuffed animals (pets to go with the Krishna dolls- a blue bird)
a sock monkey
decorative flags
FOR THE MORE CONFIDENT
reversible baby slippers
a petticoat
a choile
a punjabi top and drawstring yogi pants
a lady's skirt
a pair of shorts for a boy
a baby pinafore
a top for a little girl
a girl's ruffled skirt
another ruffled skirt
little girl's purse
boy's kurta
a Krishna doll
a small quilt
quilted hot pad
quilted pot holder
a fabric basket
shopping tote
SEWING A PETTICOAT: Cut out 8 approximately 7 ½ X 26 ½ “ panels of cotton fabric. Sew together length wise side by side. Gather at the top for a nice fit. Sew on casing over the gathering. Sew on a 6 ½ X 60” piece to the bottom. Then add a hemmed ruffle to this. Finish by sewing the side seam, leaving room at the top for a nice fit and to add the drawstring for tying. (see notebook for illustration)
SEWING A SIMPLE APRON
This is a useful item for the kitchen and housecleaning because of the large pockets. You'll need a long piece of colorful, sturdy and absorbent fabric per apron, big enough to cover your lower body when folded in half, but also a little extra to tear off lengthwise to create the waistband. Also the fabric should be the same on both sides.
First, measure and tear off the waist band piece and set aside.
Next, hem one of the wide ends of the main piece of cloth and then fold the fabric about two thirds up, with the hemmed edge facing outward and placed about 6 inches below the other end of the fabric which will later partly be added a waist band.
Next, sew a seam on both sides that are perpendicular to the fold.
Turn right side out and press.
Next, topstitch down the middle of the apron, from the hemmed edge to the fold, in order to create two large pockets.
Make a waist band and sew onto the top remaining edge.
HANDSEWING It's useful to learn to sew stitches and garments by hand as well as by machine. An entire dress may be hand sewn for a beloved daughter. It doesn't take long at all to make. Also it's fun to make your own buttonholes. Annoying hooks and eyes on choiles can be replaced this way along with buttons.
ALTERATIONS
Is the punjabi top you got as a gift too long? Shorten and hem it for a new look. Choile too tight? Let out some stitches. There’s usually a few extra rows to undo for a perfect fit. Sleeves too puffy? These can be altered also.
MENDING -Whether it's stitching up a small tear to make a slip last longer, or creatively appliqueing an original patch onto the back of a child's worn pants, or learning how to darn your own socks, mending is another important way to save money by sewing. An old adage is: “A stitch in time will save nine.”
SEWING TIPS-
If the fabric cannot be torn along its grain or is jagged, pull a few threads to show where to cut along the grain to assist in a straight cut.
Basting is useful for a good fit and an old fashioned replacement for straight pins.
Save extra fabric from a project for patches later on if needed or creative patchwork.
How to gather fabric with the sewing machine- Set controls to widest stitch and turn
tension at highest number (9)
MORE USEFUL SKILLS:
LEARNING TO KNIT AND CROCHET- Projects can include: a warm cap, socks, legwarmers, a diaper cover, baby booties, knitted or crocheted squares to stitch together for a comforter, a baby blanket, a crocheted rag rug, a pillow case, edgings, mittens, slippers, coaster, and knitted cording (aka French spool knitting). Some ladies I know have turned these skills into a profitable business.
Have some fun with children as well by teaching them to knit their own scarves, hats and socks.
LEARNING APPLIQUE- patches for kid clothing, decorative on quilts, potholders...
Applique may be practiced by starting small, such as making a potholder.
With experience, one can create appliqued scenes used for deity backdrops, puppet show backdrops, or colorful wall hangings.
LEARNING QUILTING Everybody loves a beautiful quilt. Again, one can start with small projects, such as a dolly quilt for a little girl.
BEAD WORK- Help with sewing the new deity garments at the temple or do this for your own home deities. Pay attention and observe the different possibilities. Interesting beading patterns may be recorded in a little notebook to use in your projects.
EMBROIDERY
It is one of the ways to add a special touch to many projects
button covers
french knot practice
gift bag
The old fashioned way to practice the varieties of stitches one may use was to create a sampler. These range from simple to ornate.
Many ideas are on the web including the stitching of verses from scripture or how about some lovely edged sampler pillows?
LEARNING THE BASICS- If you weren't lucky enough to have an Aunt or Grandmother interested in teaching you these things as a child, or didn't have the good fortune of attending at least one semester of a High School Home Economics course, find a friend who can show you how. Also there are videos on the Internet. Nowadays, it's difficult not to learn something.
COLLECTING THE TOOLS- Know which tools are good for what, and create your own sewing kit. It can be a box or a basket to store them in or a drawstring bag. Keep a pair of scissors that are for cutting cloth only. They'll stay sharper longer.
PATTERNS- Look for patterns online or at a store that sells fabric. Remember they can be altered if needed to make them suitable. Also you can make your own patterns from old clothes and other items.
There are two methods for pattern making. One is to take the piece of clothing apart in order to figure out how it's put together (such as a bead bag) and use the pieces as a pattern. The other is to make the pattern without taking the garment apart. There are methods that won't be covered in this post, but basically pins are used to poke holes through the garment pieces and this marks the pattern onto a sturdy paper on top of a layer of cardboard that is placed underneath the garment.
Soon you'll be in the habit of studying different clothes you are attracted to, thinking how to make them yourself!
FABRIC Cotton is my usual choice, since it is warm in winter and cool in summer, natural and comfortable. Feels and looks better, too, and saves a lot of time and effort to work with instead of the array of artificial fabrics produced for modern attire. Unless already preshrunk material, always buy a little extra to leave room for shrinkage.
SUGGESTED PROJECTS:
FOR BEGINNER'Sa pincushion
a bean bag toy
a sachet
a potholder
dish towel with decorative top stitching
an ornament
a simple apron
an appliance cover like for a toaster
simple curtains
a draft dodger
an asana
a simple slipcover
a pillowcase
a drawstring bag or reuseable gift bag
a scrunchie
a bib
a simple stuffed toy (with a rattle inside or jingle bells),
a book cover
a purse
finger puppets
art pencil roll up case
a duvet cover
stuffed animals (pets to go with the Krishna dolls- a blue bird)
a sock monkey
decorative flags
FOR THE MORE CONFIDENT
reversible baby slippers
a petticoat
a choile
a punjabi top and drawstring yogi pants
a lady's skirt
a pair of shorts for a boy
a baby pinafore
a top for a little girl
a girl's ruffled skirt
another ruffled skirt
little girl's purse
boy's kurta
a Krishna doll
a small quilt
quilted hot pad
quilted pot holder
a fabric basket
shopping tote
SEWING A PETTICOAT: Cut out 8 approximately 7 ½ X 26 ½ “ panels of cotton fabric. Sew together length wise side by side. Gather at the top for a nice fit. Sew on casing over the gathering. Sew on a 6 ½ X 60” piece to the bottom. Then add a hemmed ruffle to this. Finish by sewing the side seam, leaving room at the top for a nice fit and to add the drawstring for tying. (see notebook for illustration)
SEWING A SIMPLE APRON
This is a useful item for the kitchen and housecleaning because of the large pockets. You'll need a long piece of colorful, sturdy and absorbent fabric per apron, big enough to cover your lower body when folded in half, but also a little extra to tear off lengthwise to create the waistband. Also the fabric should be the same on both sides.
First, measure and tear off the waist band piece and set aside.
Next, hem one of the wide ends of the main piece of cloth and then fold the fabric about two thirds up, with the hemmed edge facing outward and placed about 6 inches below the other end of the fabric which will later partly be added a waist band.
Next, sew a seam on both sides that are perpendicular to the fold.
Turn right side out and press.
Next, topstitch down the middle of the apron, from the hemmed edge to the fold, in order to create two large pockets.
Make a waist band and sew onto the top remaining edge.
HANDSEWING It's useful to learn to sew stitches and garments by hand as well as by machine. An entire dress may be hand sewn for a beloved daughter. It doesn't take long at all to make. Also it's fun to make your own buttonholes. Annoying hooks and eyes on choiles can be replaced this way along with buttons.ALTERATIONS
Is the punjabi top you got as a gift too long? Shorten and hem it for a new look. Choile too tight? Let out some stitches. There’s usually a few extra rows to undo for a perfect fit. Sleeves too puffy? These can be altered also.
MENDING -Whether it's stitching up a small tear to make a slip last longer, or creatively appliqueing an original patch onto the back of a child's worn pants, or learning how to darn your own socks, mending is another important way to save money by sewing. An old adage is: “A stitch in time will save nine.”
SEWING TIPS-
If the fabric cannot be torn along its grain or is jagged, pull a few threads to show where to cut along the grain to assist in a straight cut.
Basting is useful for a good fit and an old fashioned replacement for straight pins.
Save extra fabric from a project for patches later on if needed or creative patchwork.
How to gather fabric with the sewing machine- Set controls to widest stitch and turn
tension at highest number (9)
MORE USEFUL SKILLS:
LEARNING TO KNIT AND CROCHET- Projects can include: a warm cap, socks, legwarmers, a diaper cover, baby booties, knitted or crocheted squares to stitch together for a comforter, a baby blanket, a crocheted rag rug, a pillow case, edgings, mittens, slippers, coaster, and knitted cording (aka French spool knitting). Some ladies I know have turned these skills into a profitable business.
Have some fun with children as well by teaching them to knit their own scarves, hats and socks.LEARNING APPLIQUE- patches for kid clothing, decorative on quilts, potholders...
Applique may be practiced by starting small, such as making a potholder.
With experience, one can create appliqued scenes used for deity backdrops, puppet show backdrops, or colorful wall hangings.
LEARNING QUILTING Everybody loves a beautiful quilt. Again, one can start with small projects, such as a dolly quilt for a little girl.
BEAD WORK- Help with sewing the new deity garments at the temple or do this for your own home deities. Pay attention and observe the different possibilities. Interesting beading patterns may be recorded in a little notebook to use in your projects.
EMBROIDERY
It is one of the ways to add a special touch to many projects
button covers
french knot practice
gift bag
The old fashioned way to practice the varieties of stitches one may use was to create a sampler. These range from simple to ornate.
Many ideas are on the web including the stitching of verses from scripture or how about some lovely edged sampler pillows?