I sew, but I would hardly call myself a seamstress. My mom, who is an amazing quilter, taught me to work a sewing machine when I was in high school and I’ve been sewing on and off ever since. I get in sewing kicks where sew constantly for a few weeks, then don’t touch it again for 9 months. I’m currently in a sewing kick! As you can see by all. My. Sewing. FOs.

I know enough about sewing to get by. If the apocalypse comes I’ll be able to sew myself a pretty sexy toga. Because, clearly, Americans will all be wearing post-apocalyptic togas.

Want to sew but don’t know where to start? Pick a pattern! Here are a few things I’ve picked up along the way.

5 Sewing Tips for People Who Don’t Sew: Getting Started

1. Buy the Right Pattern Size: If you wear a size 6 at Target you will NOT be a size 6 in a sewing pattern.

Pattern Sizes

Looks confusing, right? This is the size portion on the back of a pattern envelope.

Measure yourself around the fullest part of your bust, your natural waist (basically right under your ribs), and at your hips. Match those measurements to the measurements above, taking the largest measurement as your size.

For instance, my measurements are 36, 27, 37, so according to the above chart I’d be a size 14 because my largest measurement is my 36 bust, matching the size 14 pattern size.

(Don’t let this size send you into an “I’m fat!” tailspin. At Target I’m a size 2 or 4/XS or S. Pattern sizing has never changed, so this is the size you would have been in 1954. It just shows how ridiculous our sizing has become.)

Take this size, go one size lower, and buy patterns for that size! For instance, I buy patterns for size 12.

2. Buy the Right Fabric: The pattern will give you a whole list of possible fabrics that I have never heard of, so I just use common sense. Look for words you know, like when you read ingredients lists on the back of processed food labels. Jersey=Knit. Cotton? I know that one! All you need is an idea of the fabric the pattern is calling for and you can run with it. If you use broadcloth for a jersey dress you will get a dress that won’t fit.

3. BUY NOTIONS! I don’t know how many times I’ve gotten home from JoAnn with a pattern, fabric, and no zipper. No hooks and eyes. No snaps. NO THREAD. I’m not even kidding. A lot goes into making a dress! It’s not just fabric.

Notions List

So here again is the back of a pattern envelope. In this case, if you were making Dress C you would need thread, three packages of double fold bias tape, and four buttons. If you were making Dress A you would need thread, three packages of double fold bias tape, and five buttons. If you were making Dress F you would need thread, a 7″ zipper, a hook and eye, and one package of twill tape. The pattern will tell you how to use your notions.

4. Buy the Right Pattern for You: Go about picking out a pattern just like you would pick out the finished product in the store. Don’t look at the pretty dresses on the cover of the patterns because most of that is in the fabric. Separate the fabric from the silhouette of the garment. You have a lot of empire waist dresses in your closet? Look for empire waist  silhouettes. Know you look bad in tunics? Don’t buy a tunic dress pattern just because you like how it looks on the model on the front of the pattern in the same way you wouldn’t buy a dress based on how it looks on the manikin.

Buying a pattern is like buying a dress without trying it on AND in black and white. You are adding color with fabric to the basic shape of the garment you are seeing in the picture.

5. Shop for Patterns Before You Get to the Store. Sure, you don’t know what JoAnn or Michaels or your local fabric store is going to have in stock, but you don’t want to be fighting with people who actually know what they are doing for pattern books and spots at the pattern book table.

All patterns are online. Simplicity. McCalls. Butterick. Go to their websites and search their patterns. Write down each pattern number you are interested in with a list fabric and notions each pattern needs. This way you can check your stash before going to the store instead of trying to remember what you have when you are in the store and inevitably buy extras.

The patterns are kept in large filing cabinets organized by brand and number at the store. This way you can go directly to each filing cabinet, pull your pattern, and be off to the fabric and notions sections in no time.

Now get out there and get sewing! Or, actually stay home and do some research first, THEN get out there and get sewing.

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