5 Tips to Improve Your Sewing Skills

Whether you enjoy sewing as a hobby, you are looking for a unique gift ideas or want to be able to make a few alterations as needed, improving your sewing skills is always a good idea. Learning the basics or adding new dimensions to what you can do is surprisingly simple and here we look at a few tips.

Press As You Go

One of the most crucial tips from professional seamstresses is that you should always press as you go. Have your iron to hand and make sure that you use it on every step of the process. Pressing is different to ironing and there are proper tools you can use to get the job done perfectly. Heat settings are also crucial and some people recommend having a separate water bottle handy to spray the material and get the perfect finish.

Get The Pattern Cut Right

If you are making something from scratch and following a pattern, good preparation is essential and this starts with getting the pattern cut out correctly. Get yourself a sharp pair of scissors and make sure you cut every small element of the pattern perfectly. Also pay attention to the instructions on the pattern such as watching the grain of the material and how this should line up with the pattern. If you need to measure anything as a part of your preparation, measure it twice to be certain.

Pay Attention To Seams

Seams are the finishing element of a sewing project and also the failsafe if you find you need a little more length in a piece. Therefore, taking time to do them properly is one of the most important parts of an embroidery project. Even if you are simply taking up a pair of store-bought trousers, then getting the seams right will make all the difference. If you do a lot of sewing, you may want to invest in a serger, a special sewing machine that helps to get the seam just right.

Get The Right Needle

Needles can be a bit of minefield because there are dozens of different sizes and types. Getting the right needle can be make or break for the project because while all-purpose needles will do a good job, the right needle will do an excellent one. You can get special needles for fabric such as denim, ideal for adjusting jeans. Ballpoint needles are another example as they are great for more delicate fabrics as they won’t split the fibres.

Use Hand Sewing Where Needed

While using sewing machines takes up the majority of the work you will do, never be afraid to hand sew something to get the job done. There are lots of awkward little jobs that a needle and thread will be a better fit for than the sewing machine and will also produce a better finish. Craft projects such as hand stuffed toys are one example where a machine simply can’t finish the project but a simple needle and thread can be an excellent job. The same applies to small corners or for unusual angles that a machine can’t reach.