I have enjoyed sewing as a hobby since the start of this year. What started from a need for clothes that fit me became one of my favorite means of self-expression.
Whether you are considering sewing as a fashion enthusiast or for more sustainability in your life, there are many benefits that make it worthwhile to learn.
Sewing has also had an incredible ripple effect on my creative well-being. In this post, I will be sharing positive changes I’ve witnessed in my wardrobe and in my livelihood since becoming a beginner seamstress.
1) Say goodbye to poor-fitting garments.
There’s a reason tailors are widely popular in the realms of business and fashion wear. Stores sell clothes that will fit most. They do not take every shape and height into account. It can make a world of difference to wear a piece that’s tailored to you instead of something straight off the rack.
If you are interested in tailoring but don’t want to shell out the money for it, you’re in luck. While sewing, you learn techniques to make any ill-fitting piece fit like a glove. Tasks like taking up a hemline or synching in the waist will become doable with your newfound skill.
A rule of thumb is to always air on the larger side when sewing garments (or when buying them for that matter). It’s much easier to take in garments than it is to make them larger.
This air of caution was given to me by a seasoned seamstress. She further encouraged me to make 3 drafts for each garment: the first one an inch too big, the second a smidge smaller, and the third slimmed to my exact measurements. She found that often she stopped taking in the garment during the second draft since it fit comfortably and not too snugly.
Tip: Learn how to self-draft custom patterns
When sewing a garment from scratch, a great option to ensure fit is to self-draft your own patterns. This refers to the process of drawing out a pattern from your own measurements rather than purchasing a premade pattern.
The best resource I’ve found for custom pattern-making is Jess Dang on YouTube. She walks you through the self-drafting process on countless dresses, tops, and bottoms she has designed.
Taking the time to draft a pattern will keep you from making as many adjustments to the piece as you sew it. Not to mention the same pattern can be referenced for many different projects.
As you sew more, you will learn how to tweak pre-made patterns to accommodate your specific shape. You will also learn the value of making rough drafts of garments for fitting purposes before cutting into your expensive fabrics.
2) The process of turning formless rectangles into garments is wildly satisfying.
Like with any creative hobby, the progression of making something that didn’t previously exist is invigorating.
Now, I feel the need to forewarn that sewing can have a bit of a steep learning curve. If you go into it with the expectation of your first project being red carpet worthy (ahem, that may or may not have been me), you may be a little let down.
At the same time, this makes slow and steady improvements gratifying when they happen.
Even as a complete beginner, you can still enjoy taking a rectangle of fabric and making a tote bag or a simple dress. And as you grow, you can make those rectangles into increasingly complex and beautiful pieces.
The only boundary is really your imagination. With time, you can create anything you imagine.
3) You can select the perfect textiles for your sewing projects.
Part of why clothes at mainstream stores are cheap is because of the textile quality. Fabrics such as rayon and polyester are made from plastic. They are hardly luxurious to touch but easy to produce in mass quantities—a much-needed quality due to their short lifespan.
There’s been a recent surge in the popularity of natural fibers, particularly linen for summer dresses and pants, wool for quality winter wear, and cotton for all-year comfort. Even jeans companies have reduced the amount of synthetic stretch materials in jeans to meet popular demand.
When you choose your fabrics, the look and feel of them are entirely up to you. Colors and patterns are more plentiful in a fabric store than you’ll ever see in a clothing shop.
This offers whole new levels of customizability. If there is a small part of you that enjoys design, you might just find Nirvana perusing a nice fabric store.
Bear in mind that sewing is not a cheap hobby, although there are ways to be thrifty with it. Purchasing fabric by the yard and supplies costs about as much as buying a new clothing piece at the store. However, the finished product has far more meaning than a mass-produced clothing item.
4) Sewing creates the potential for waste reduction.
In recent years, it’s come to light just how wasteful fast fashion is. A great benefit of sewing is the potential for increased sustainability, both by choosing natural fibers that will make your garments last longer (and decompose when their time comes) and by choosing how little you leave for scrap.
When working with your formless rectangle, choosing where you place your pattern pieces can decrease your amount of waste overall. However, with most patterns, there will still be scraps.
Below is a list of great options to put your scrap fabric to good use:
- use scraps to stuff animal beds, pillows, pincushions, or stuffed toys
- use remnants from projects for patchwork
- make a travel bag or doll dress from your leftover 1/4 yard
- collect scraps from projects as swatches for a sewing journal
- make a matching hair ribbon or scrunchie from a long scrap
- bonus tip: if you impulse bought a fabric you ended up not liking, use it for test garments
5) Enjoy the company of supportive and insightful sewers.
You can start your sewing journey with the help of the internet. YouTube is a great resource for “how to” videos and inspiration. It’s where I picked up my initial sewing skills.
Pinterest and TikTok also have great sewing communities for you to learn in bite-sized clips. There are plenty of blogs that specialize in sewing tutorials and lessons as well.
As for in-person communities, many fabric stores host workshops and classes. Even simply speaking with the employees at these stores is a great way to find answers to your questions.
It’s been my experience that people who sew are happy to share their wisdom. Never be afraid to ask!
Bonus: 3 Ways Sewing Improved My Life
Introducing sewing as a creative outlet in my life was a great catalyst for growth. I learned lessons that applied in other areas of my life than crafting.
6) I learned to enjoy myself despite being a beginner.
I have psyched myself out of many new hobbies for fear of looking like a complete beginner.
With sewing, I was once again confronted with my lofty expectation of being an instant success, and I was far from it. I had no formal teaching and was entirely self-taught, so naturally, my first few garments were nothing to gawk over.
That being said, I was still incredibly proud of myself.
I wore my first dress out and about despite its flaws. Even though I knew I’d likely make mistakes, I bought myself quality fabrics for my projects. Most importantly, I found creative solutions for each mistake made.
In other words, accepting my beginner-ness helped me find enjoyment in something completely foreign and intimidating to me.
7) Sewing encouraged me to try more creative hobbies.
In the eight months since I first started sewing, I took up creative writing, oil painting, blogging, interior decorating, and gardening.
All of this in eight months. And amazingly without too much overwhelm.
I encourage you to find and commit to a creative outlet that speaks to you. Starting a single creative hobby can be a catalyst for amazing growth.
There’s a quote from Little Women that puts it well:
“Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.”
Louisa May Alcott
Find whatever is your definition of play and make time for it each day.
8) I quit online shopping for clothes.
Online shopping used to drain my time, wallet, and energy. Scrolling endlessly in search of something in my style and within my budget took ages. Finding the items I liked in my size was a whole other issue.
While online shopping may work for some, I am grateful I don’t do it any longer. Since discovering the flexibility of sewing, I haven’t looked for my clothes elsewhere.
I still purchase my shoes online, but one clothing item is much less overwhelming than purchasing a whole wardrobe.
The added benefit is I’m finally actualizing a long-time goal of mine: to own a wardrobe of mostly handmade items.
If sewing has piqued your interest, I will have more content soon to help you get your feet off the ground.
For now, I wish you all the best in all your creative undertakings.
Until next time,
O&K
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