Comments on: The Timeless Art Of Sewing http://www.domesticcents.com/series/the-timeless-art-of-sewing/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:37:11 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tommy Lee http://www.domesticcents.com/series/the-timeless-art-of-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-165 Tommy Lee Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:01:31 +0000 http://www.domesticcents.com/?p=315#comment-165 Hi, Good information on your site for top sewing machine and your post regarding imeless Art Of Sewing — Domestic Cents looks very interesting. I am trying to build a good blog and would love any ideas you have to improve my site. Hi, Good information on your site for top sewing machine and your post regarding imeless Art Of Sewing — Domestic Cents looks very interesting. I am trying to build a good blog and would love any ideas you have to improve my site.

]]> By: Liz http://www.domesticcents.com/series/the-timeless-art-of-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-159 Liz Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:00:58 +0000 http://www.domesticcents.com/?p=315#comment-159 I am new to sewing and knitting both. Last year I made 3 garments for myself and it was amazing to be able to wear them and share with others that I did it. Thanks for this series I will be anxiously waiting for the next installment. <abbr><em>Liz’s last blog post..<a href="http://modern50shousewife.blogspot.com/2009/01/3-grocery-stores-trip-across-town-by.html" rel="nofollow">3 grocery stores & a trip across town by 1pm</a></abbr></em> I am new to sewing and knitting both. Last year I made 3 garments for myself and it was amazing to be able to wear them and share with others that I did it. Thanks for this series I will be anxiously waiting for the next installment.

Liz’s last blog post..3 grocery stores & a trip across town by 1pm

]]> By: DRiPpy Chick http://www.domesticcents.com/series/the-timeless-art-of-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-140 DRiPpy Chick Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:32:04 +0000 http://www.domesticcents.com/?p=315#comment-140 I would recommend that anyone new to garment sewing start with a nightgown or pair of pajamas. If the seams aren't straight or the buttonholes (if any) aren't perfect or if it fit isn't perfect, who cares... you will still have a comfy garment to wear, and a sense of accomplishment. Some general sewing advice from someone who has three rooms and half a basement in her house dedicated to her textile addiction: 1) always prewash your fabric and dry it in the clothes drier. You want to shrink it as much as possible before you cut it out. Basically, I don't care if the fabric care label recommends drycleaning... I buy enough to compensate for shrinkage, preshrink and then wash the finished garment as I would any other laundry item. While others will freak at this suggestion, it has worked for me consistently without problems. prewashing also removes the sizing in the fabric 2) borrow as many books on sewing techniques from the library as you can get your hands on and read them voraciously. Even very experienced sewsters (sewists? seamstresses?) can learn new tricks. 3) don't be shy to shop flea markets, secondhand shops, consignment shops and even IKEA for fabric and notions. Freecycle can also be a good source of materials 4) Buttons can be expensive. I have been known to spend more on the buttons for a garment than for the fabric, lining, interfacing and other notions combined. An otherwise great garment will look like crap if the buttons are crap. 4 a) I have been known to buy second hand clothes that don't fit me for the great buttons. 5) Crazy quilting is a great way to get rid of bits and pieces of fancy fabrics that you will undoubtedly pick up along the way. 6) Community colleges, fabric shops, quilt shops and even boards of education will all offer beginning sewing classes. Don't be shy... sign up! 7) Invest in a really good pair of fabric scissors and lock them away where no-one else can get access to them. Use them for fabrics only. <abbr><em>DRiPpy Chick’s last blog post..<a href="http://drippychick.blogspot.com/2008/12/credit-crunch-concept-isnt-new-just-ask.html" rel="nofollow">Credit crunch concept isn't new... just ask the Romans!</a></abbr></em> I would recommend that anyone new to garment sewing start with a nightgown or pair of pajamas. If the seams aren’t straight or the buttonholes (if any) aren’t perfect or if it fit isn’t perfect, who cares… you will still have a comfy garment to wear, and a sense of accomplishment.

Some general sewing advice from someone who has three rooms and half a basement in her house dedicated to her textile addiction:

1) always prewash your fabric and dry it in the clothes drier. You want to shrink it as much as possible before you cut it out. Basically, I don’t care if the fabric care label recommends drycleaning… I buy enough to compensate for shrinkage, preshrink and then wash the finished garment as I would any other laundry item. While others will freak at this suggestion, it has worked for me consistently without problems. prewashing also removes the sizing in the fabric

2) borrow as many books on sewing techniques from the library as you can get your hands on and read them voraciously. Even very experienced sewsters (sewists? seamstresses?) can learn new tricks.

3) don’t be shy to shop flea markets, secondhand shops, consignment shops and even IKEA for fabric and notions. Freecycle can also be a good source of materials

4) Buttons can be expensive. I have been known to spend more on the buttons for a garment than for the fabric, lining, interfacing and other notions combined. An otherwise great garment will look like crap if the buttons are crap.

4 a) I have been known to buy second hand clothes that don’t fit me for the great buttons.

5) Crazy quilting is a great way to get rid of bits and pieces of fancy fabrics that you will undoubtedly pick up along the way.

6) Community colleges, fabric shops, quilt shops and even boards of education will all offer beginning sewing classes. Don’t be shy… sign up!

7) Invest in a really good pair of fabric scissors and lock them away where no-one else can get access to them. Use them for fabrics only.

DRiPpy Chick’s last blog post..Credit crunch concept isn’t new… just ask the Romans!

]]> By: Livie http://www.domesticcents.com/series/the-timeless-art-of-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-132 Livie Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:23:42 +0000 http://www.domesticcents.com/?p=315#comment-132 I love the little skirts that you made, the are so cute, wicked fun and look very simple to make! :) I love the little skirts that you made, the are so cute, wicked fun and look very simple to make! :)

]]> By: Courtney http://www.domesticcents.com/series/the-timeless-art-of-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Courtney Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:52:53 +0000 http://www.domesticcents.com/?p=315#comment-129 I have the exact opposite problem! I am 6'1'', and pants are rarely long enough for me. I have to look for pants that have enough fabric in the hem that they can be let out. I have always taken these sorts of things to a tailor to do, but it seems easy enough that once I get a little more practice under my belt, I might just try a pair myself! <abbr><em>Courtney’s last blog post..<a href="http://theworldaccordingtomommy.com/wordpress/2009/01/05/go-ahead-and-make-your-resolutions-just-dont-annoy-anyone-with-them/" rel="nofollow">Go ahead and make your resolutions, just don’t annoy anyone with them</a></abbr></em> I have the exact opposite problem! I am 6′1”, and pants are rarely long enough for me. I have to look for pants that have enough fabric in the hem that they can be let out. I have always taken these sorts of things to a tailor to do, but it seems easy enough that once I get a little more practice under my belt, I might just try a pair myself!

Courtney’s last blog post..Go ahead and make your resolutions, just don’t annoy anyone with them

]]> By: Kate http://www.domesticcents.com/series/the-timeless-art-of-sewing/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Kate Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:02:49 +0000 http://www.domesticcents.com/?p=315#comment-119 I would say you could definately save at least $30 with the dress. The fabric I got was on sale for $7 a yard, and I got 2.5 yards, $17.50. Then I had to buy the thread, which was about $2, and finally there was the ribbon, which was $1 a yard. So total, this cost about $20.50 to make (without tax). I have seen simialr dresses at Macy's for $50-$60, and I even saw one similar at Anthropologie for over $100. One thing that I like about sewing is when I get tired of an article of clothing that I have, or if it goes out of style, I can alter it (ie. take off the sleeves, shorten pant legs to make shorts, add a sash, etc.) and that can curb my desire to buy new clothes. It definately saves me a lot of money. Thanks for the great post!! <abbr><em>Kate’s last blog post..<a href="http://curiositys.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/almost-lost-domestic-arts-sewing/" rel="nofollow">Almost Lost Domestic Arts - Sewing</a></abbr></em> I would say you could definately save at least $30 with the dress. The fabric I got was on sale for $7 a yard, and I got 2.5 yards, $17.50. Then I had to buy the thread, which was about $2, and finally there was the ribbon, which was $1 a yard. So total, this cost about $20.50 to make (without tax). I have seen simialr dresses at Macy’s for $50-$60, and I even saw one similar at Anthropologie for over $100.

One thing that I like about sewing is when I get tired of an article of clothing that I have, or if it goes out of style, I can alter it (ie. take off the sleeves, shorten pant legs to make shorts, add a sash, etc.) and that can curb my desire to buy new clothes. It definately saves me a lot of money.

Thanks for the great post!!

Kate’s last blog post..Almost Lost Domestic Arts – Sewing

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