A simple sewing tip for beginner dressmakers…

You’ve dusted off the sewing machine and started sewing, you may have even worn a few things you have sewn, it feels great doesn’t it?

That magical moment when you are out and someone says they like your dress and you say ‘thank you I made it’…..  or do you?

Sometimes when I sew something myself and wear it, I like it but I don’t love it, it feels hmmmm lets say ‘not quite right’ …. it feels inferior to my shop bought items…shock, horror shhhh!

Shop bought = tacky seams and finishes, buttons and hems that come undone the minute you put the garment on. I know.

Then again I can wear something I’ve made and it feels like a couture garment!

Why? 

Its all in the details…..those teeny tiny simple things like seams.

So today I thought I would share a very simple tip. Do forgive me if this seem obvious to you it may not be obvious to everyone

Ok so your patterns says: Always press seams open unless instructions state otherwise.

Do you skip this bit? do you sew all your seams together and then press them?

If you do any of the above = ooops

Tip : Put your ironing board up the minute you turn on your sewing machine.

Sew a seam then press a seam is rule number one for getting a finer finish to a garment.

Look at the difference ….

Tip : Press the seam open then turn it over and press the other side too!

oh yes this is soooo important!

My sample is only small, so imagine how that unpressed seam would look on a dress?

Why? it relaxes the stitches, it almost helps blend them with the fabric. Therefore the seam sits where it should and becomes less visible too.

A seam should be as unobtrusive as possible, whilst being fit for its purpose ie. holding the fabric together and enabling good fit with movement where necessary. 

I hope this helps someone?

…..bestest sewing wishes to you …