Hardworking - a bright light burns through life, lazy - a dim candle

Building a base pattern - THE MOST CLEAR WAY (for beginners)

Good afternoon! I would even say a beautiful day. Because we are finally starting a series of articles on tailoring for adults. We have already sewed a lot of things for little girls - both dresses and bodysuits are different - now we will sew for big girls. That is, for yourself. And since we have already practiced sewing, the fear of the pioneer has passed.

SO IT'S TIME TO TAKE A NEW FRONTIER. And by ourselves, with our own hands and our brains, master the wisdom of sewing according to real adult patterns. We will draw the base pattern ourselves - in a new easy way (I spent more than one week to create this lightweight method for constructing a base pattern). And then we will sew a bunch of all sorts of dresses, tops and tunics.

Not- I will not give you a single ready-made pattern!

I am not Madame Burda. I am Madame Klishevskaya.))) And the main harmfulness of my character lies in the fact that I will make your head work and give birth to bright and clear discoveries in the field of sewing. The easiest and most understandable of all arts. Trust me, it is.

Yes- sewing by yourself is very easy and simple!

Right from scratch, you will get more and more beautiful and well-tailored things.

Moreover, you will do everything yourself, without a state of hypnosis, but in a sober mind and bright memory. YOU will DO it - moreover, you will UNDERSTAND what exactly you are doing.

I will reveal to you the secrets that I know. Moreover, I will teach you to discover more and more secrets of the world of sewing and modeling clothes yourself.

I will not lead you (blind and stupid) by the hand in the chaos of letters and numbers indicating the intricacies of the numerous lines of the pattern drawing. NO, I WON'T TAKE YOU HERE:

Well, you must admit, one such picture can catch fear and make a girl doubt her own abilities, who really wants to make a dress- but I was not very friendly in my school years with geometry and drawing. Even I - who loves both of these school subjects - beat around the bush for several years - not daring to start delving into the construction of such a drawing: “How long does it take to draw such a thing, and after all, you need to calculate everything correctly and not get confused in letters ... ".

And, nevertheless, today we will draw a pattern.

We will draw a base pattern (you can see a piece of it from above.))))

But - do not rush to get scared - we will create our pattern a little differently. Away from the engineering and design method - and closer to human understanding.

We will draw one with you - only one and only- pattern.

And then from it we will create more and more new models of dresses. And it will be very easy and simple.

• No obscure formulas
• No messy calculations.
• And without the letter-number cobweb.

Well, how? Have I removed a bit of your concerns?

I now relax - we will not start drawing right now. To begin with, we will take a pleasant walk through the pattern. The purpose of the walk is to get acquainted, make friends with the pattern and remove the last doubt that you can sew any dress.

So ... what is a pattern - the basis?

To put it figuratively, it is a cast from your body. This is your personal imprint. Any thing sewn according to YOUR base pattern will fit perfectly on YOUR figure.

Yes, you heard right - ANY THING can be sewn on the basis one single pattern. All-all models of dresses - are born, modeled, and sewn from one source - this is a base pattern.

I will now prove to you with an example. Even on three examples - in the form of photos and pictures.

Here is the first photo (below). Our base pattern is, in fact, your sheath dress (the one that fits perfectly on the figure). Dress made according to your pattern based, will repeat all the bends your his body. This simple sheath dress is sewn according to the usual pattern-base. You see, it's like a plaster cast of a girl's figure.

And today, having drawn a base pattern, you can safely cut on the fabric - and you will get such a dress. The only thing you can change the neckline is by giving it the shape that suits your face shape.

All other (any, any) dress models are just a modification of a sheath dress - fantasies on a free topic.

That's how it works in the fashion world.

One day the fashion designer thought...“But what if the bodice of the dress at the top is held on the shoulders by a round yoke (yellow outlines - fig. below), and the bodice itself is made in the form of overlapping opposite triangles (red outlines - fig. below). The result is what we see in the photo below.

Beautiful? Beautiful! What did the fashion designer base his fantasies on? On a base pattern. And you can come up with something of your own. We - women - just a lot of fantasy.

By the way - since we are talking about a round yoke here - this site already has one of my articles on creating and

And another fashion designer thought: “But what if you give the sheath dress a looser cut - make it wider. And make the line of the shoulder longer so that it hangs on the arm. And as a result, a new model is born (photo below) - also very beautiful. And very simple.

You can do that too. If you will UNDERSTAND what the base pattern consists of. And by what laws does it exist.

That's why I don't want to stupidly give you instructions on creating a base pattern (such as “draw a line from point P6 to point P5 and mark the place where it intersects with line X with the next point ...” - ugh!).

I want to wake up in you chuechka. I want you to feel the pattern, to know its soul. And learned to see what a simple drawing hides behind a photograph of any, even intricately tailored, dress.

Therefore, for the next 30 minutes we will not draw anything - we will walk along the pattern itself. Let's get acquainted with all its elements - find out what each line is for, and why it is located exactly here and drawn that way.

After such a "cognitive walk" you will feel the joyful clarity of understanding of everything-everything-everything. It's as if you've already drawn basic patterns many times. And take up the drawing with the feeling that this is a couple of trifles. Ha! Delov something!

As the wise man said: “We are afraid only of what we cannot understand and explain logically. But as soon as the thing that frightens us becomes clear to us, it ceases to cause fear in us.

So let's go and tame this "terrible beast" - a base pattern. Tame and draw in 20 minutes. Yes, yes, in 20 minutes - because after a walk - the pattern drawing will seem to you an old and well-known simple pattern - like a grid for playing tic-tac-toe.

Where does the base pattern come from?

So where does the base pattern come from - usually it is obtained from such a drawing:

The drawing contains half of the back part + half of the front part.

We will also draw a similar drawing with you - only more simply and clearly.

And what are these halves for, and where to apply them - now I will clearly show everything.

Here (!) I dug up a wonderful sample - below - in the photograph of a black and white dress, our halves are very clearly visible - both half of the back and half of the front. So to speak - clearly and clearly.

Yes, in the Potnovsky language, the halves are called “shelves”. Today we will draw these very shelves of the front and back. But first, let's take a closer look at what elements each shelf consists of. And most importantly, I will tell you what each element is for, what it serves.

To make everything as clear as possible, I will illustrate each of the elements both in pictures and in photographs of real models of dresses.

First, let's get acquainted with two obscure words: TRUCK And ARMHOLE.

Of course, you may know them. Or maybe not. My job is to introduce you.

So, get acquainted - PROYMA

When drawing a base pattern, you will create exactly that bend and size an armhole that fits you—when the armhole doesn't pull or dig into your arm.

That is, the pattern base contains acceptable minimum armhole size. You can model the armhole to your taste, any configuration. But your fantasy armhole should not be less than on the base pattern. That is, an armhole on a pattern basis - These are the limits beyond which your imagination should not intercede.

Your model armhole can be arbitrarily larger - but it cannot be smaller than on the base pattern. More - yes, less - no - otherwise it will dig into the armpit. Here is a rule in modeling designer armholes.

Now let's get acquainted with the tucks.

BACK PATCHES - shoulder darts + waist darts

Here in the picture above, I wrote everything about the back darts - and in the photo of the dress you can find 2 waist darts - one to the right of the zipper, the other to the left of the zipper.

But you don’t see the shoulder tuck on this dress. And on many dresses, too, it is not. Because for convenience and beauty, this tuck is transferred from the middle of the shoulder to the zipper (or along the edge of the armhole, where the sleeve will be, a corner is simply cut off). That is, the excess fabric is not pinched at the middle of the shoulder and is not sewn inside the tuck. And the extra fabric cut off in a corner at the edge of the shelf, where the zipper is sewn in, or at the edge of the armhole - where the sleeve will be sewn in.

Also, darts are optional if you sew from stretch fabric - it itself repeats the curves of your body and shrinks both in the shoulder area and in the waist area.

Next, let's get to know… HALF FRONT darts

Oh, you could write a whole poem about her.

I thought for a long time how to explain it more clearly - what it is for and what laws it lives by. I thought and thought ... and came up with.

The fact is that a woman has breasts.))) That is, the front of an adult girl is no longer flat. This means that the dress in the chest area should be convex. The tuck on the shoulder of the front gives the dress this very bulge in the chest area. Now I will show everything in pictures. How does this happen.

For example, we have a flat piece of fabric, but we need to make a convex piece out of it. To do this, you need to make a tuck on it. For example - this flat circle of cardboard, with the help of a tuck, will now become convex.

And here is how the chest tuck creates a bulge on the front detail

You noticed that the top of the bulge (that is, the peak of our round pyramid) is at the point of the tuck. Pay attention to this. Because when we draw a tuck for the chest, the tip of our tuck will be at the top of the chest(where the nipple or dome of the bra is usually located).

Remember that sometimes you measured a dress in your size in a store, which somehow strangely warped on your chest - this is because the tuck in the dress was directed with its tip past top of your chest. Here the chest did not fit perfectly into the bulge of the dress. Not under your breast shape, this product was cut at the factory.

But that is not all, what I want to say about the chest tuck.

The fact is that in almost all dresses this chest tuck is located not on the shoulder- but on the side just below the armpit. It's made for beauty. The tuck on the shoulder is more conspicuous, but on the side, and even covered by the hand, it is not noticeable.

When creating a base pattern, we draw a chest tuck on the shoulder only because it is more convenient to draw it there from the point of view of building a drawing.

And after the drawing of the base pattern is ready, we very easily and simply transfer the tuck from the shoulder area to the axillary area. Do not think that for this you need to make new drawings. Nope, everything is simple here - how to open a carton of milk - one minute and that's it.

Here, in the picture below, I schematically depicted transfer of the chest tuck from the shoulder to the side seam at hand.

Well, do you already feel how you have grown wiser in these 15 minutes?))) Whether there will be more ... We continue our walk along the pattern and now we will get acquainted with the lines. horizontal lines

CHEST LINE

The first acquaintance is the line of the chest. (A beautiful dress, isn't it? We'll sew it with you. Don't even hesitate)

The chest line is the most wonderful line on the pattern. It is so convenient to navigate it when drawing a base pattern, because:

• We know that we finish drawing the waist tuck of the back on the chest line.
• We know that we finish drawing the waist tuck before reaching 4 cm to the chest line.
• We know that the shoulder tuck is the front - we finish drawing on the chest line.
• We know that the lower edges of the armholes also run along the chest line.

Well, no, of course, you don't know that yet. I will give all these simple rules when we start drawing. And now I just want you to know that when drawing many elements of the pattern, you can simply focus on the line of the chest (and there is no need to painstakingly put down these alphanumeric dots).

As you can see, there are a lot!! Therefore, go ahead - learn, sew and enjoy life)))

AND WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT - WITH THE PATTERN BASIS? - you ask

And we will begin to sew according to the pattern-base of TOPS. Namely tops, T-shirts, tunics and then dresses.

You ask: "Hey, why not just dresses?". I give the answer to this question already in the first article of the cycle, so to be continued)))

Good luck with your sewing!

It's always depressing to be new to something. Often, when learning something new, our imagination and style are far ahead of our actual skills. Although this is unpleasant, on the other hand it can be motivating. Learning to sew from scratch on your own is easy if you learn the right information and do everything in stages. Sewing is a completely hands-on experience.

Reasons to learn to cut and sew

There are many reasons to want to learn how to sew on your own. From the desire to learn a new and very useful skill or be creative to a way to save money or even just out of necessity. First of all, the craft of sewing is so multifaceted - it's sewing clothes, and sewing home decor, and creating beautiful things for children or grandchildren, and fakes, and patchwork, and recycling old things and much more. And recently, independent sewing has been referred to in such terms as “stylish”, “innovative”, “fashion-forward”.

At the same time, many people are stopped by the very thought of the technical components of sewing: winding a bobbin, that if the needle breaks or the thread runs out on the spool, how to insert a zipper or make loops ... Little things overwhelm, it all seems too complicated, and therefore many never try learn to sew, despite the desire. But the benefits of learning to sew outweigh the unfounded fears.

How to learn to sew clothes from scratch? It is quite possible for everyone to master the craft of sewing, with motivation and practice. On the other hand, it is important to know and remember that sewing is a process that requires patience. Gradually, mastering step by step, from simple to complex projects, sewing will teach you to be a patient and passionate person and you will want to sew all the time.

The main motivating reasons to learn to sew and cut from scratch on your own:

1. Consider that sewing promotes self-esteem and develops a sense of independence. Whether you're redesigning store-bought clothes or creating a brand new item, it's an amazing feeling to know you can do it yourself!
2. Sewing helps save money. For example, if you need to replace a zipper, hem a pair of jeans, or mend a hole, all you need is two scissors, a strong spool of thread, and a reliable sewing machine.
3. Once you learn to sew, you will never meet your "reflection". Perhaps a woman worries about this more than a man, but in general, most people hesitate when they find themselves face to face with someone who is wearing the same clothes.
4. Sewing stimulates the expression of one's individuality. Today, it is especially relevant to “be obsessed” with brands. But making your own clothes means you're not limited by "authoritative" opinions about what's trendy or should be worn this season. You dictate the trend! And believe me, you will have a completely different attitude to shopping. Visiting the mall will become more about finding sewing inspiration than spending money. Perhaps you'll take a look at a particular fabric, color combination, or finish and find a way to incorporate it into your wardrobe and really impress your friends and family.
5. Sewing allows you to repurpose almost anything that is made from fabric. Old curtains can be turned into exquisite pillowcases, a used duvet can become a new shower curtain, a man's shirt can make a cute dress for a little girl or a trendy skirt, and an old sweater can turn into a decorative pillow.
6. Sewing can and does provide a new career potential. With practice and progression from beginner to expert, you can sew custom decorative towels or make a luxurious bedspread, fix upholstery on upholstered furniture or do amazing things, sew bags, accessories, pet clothes.
7. Why not try sewing haute couture clothes yourself, create your own masterpiece, enlisting patterns and fabric guides. Without sewing skills, fashion designers are not obtained.

Sewing is good for health - that's a fact. According to scientific studies, sewing calms the nerves and promotes the proper functioning of the body. If sewing helps patients with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder to overcome the disease, then certainly it will help us to relax after experienced stress, for example, received at work. Sewing stimulates the mind - in choosing fabrics, patterns, designs and the process itself. Sewing skills, measuring and sewing, nourish the brain cells, preparing them for more complex tasks in the future. Isn't it amazing?

I want to sew - where to start, what to do?

Before we get into the practical basics, it's helpful to understand some sewing terms. We can prepare everything we need to start sewing, but the instructions for the first DIY project can be misleading if they add sewing terms that we don't understand.

Buying Handicraft Tools

Sewing as a new hobby can be ruinous if you decide to buy all the possible sewing equipment that is available. We are just learning the craft, and while we do not need to purchase complex sewing tools, it will be enough to have:

• Scissors: large for fabric, small for cutting thread, with serrated blades (for cutting edges). Sharp sewing scissors help keep the cutting precision, preventing hand fatigue. It is worth choosing high quality scissors and spending a little more money. Tip: Clean your blades regularly and oil them periodically; avoid over-extending the blades by trying to cut through multiple layers of fabric at once.
• Seam ripper (mistakes happen when sewing, and this tool removes unwanted stitches: the fine tip allows you to select individual threads, and the rounded tip removes stitches along the entire seam without tearing the fabric).
• A measuring tape is an essential sewing tool. It is advisable to have several copies, including a tape measure for measuring body parameters.
• Tailor's pins and pincushion (as a rule, they are filled with sawdust or pieces of wool impregnated with lanolin, which prevents the pins from rusting; special cushions are filled with abrasive material: such a filler removes dirt and rust, keeping the tips of the pins sharp and smooth).
• Tailor's rulers: 1 m; a template for marking and measuring, a template for allowances, an isosceles square, a cutting pattern.
• Marking tools (special chalk, marker). A very useful and economical marking tool that will be available to everyone is a bar of soap.
• Assortment of needles for hand sewing.
• Assortment of threads.
• Needle threader: An optional tool for hand sewing, however, it is difficult for someone to thread the needle and may be needed.
• Steam iron and ironing board, special fabrics (in extreme cases, a piece of muslin) for pressing. Pressing and ironing are an integral part of most sewing projects.
• Sewing needle.
• Round cutter (cloth cutting disc) and self-healing cutting mat to protect other surfaces from damage.

To work on a simple sewing project, such as a large woven bag, sachet, or decorative pillowcase, you only need a few tools: a tape measure, a needle, thread, fabric, and sewing scissors.

Before you learn how to sew your own clothes, create crafts or do other sewing projects, it is necessary to master the basic stitches.

Although modern sewing machines have virtually eliminated the need for hand sewing, there are still areas where hand stitching is essential for a high quality finish:

• running stitch;
• basting stitch;
• seam "back needle";
• long stitch;
• secret (invisible) seam;
• overcast seam.

Choosing a sewing machine

First of all, let's clarify that there are three types of sewing machines for sewing at home: mechanical, electromechanical and computerized. The motor of an electromechanical machine is powered by the mains, but everything else is controlled by gears, levers and switches. For those who are just diving into the fascinating world of sewing, it is better to recommend starting with a mechanical model. The beginner tailor should not be intimidated by the sheer number of options, especially since high-tech machines have so many features that most of them may never need to be used in the sewing process.

Of course, a computerized sewing machine takes care of many things, such as adjusting tension, remembering settings, and creating consistent stitches from start to finish and you may need it in the future, but the right thing to do is to focus on learning the basics of sewing with a good basic machine. To get started, all you need to learn is the variable length straight stitch, zigzag and buttonhole sewing functions that most modern models offer in automatic mode.

It is equally important to have a mechanical typewriter in your collection as a backup before it's your turn to buy an electronic or computerized typewriter. Computerized machines require regular maintenance that you cannot do yourself, as well as fix a possible problem in the system that controls the operation of the machine.

Regardless of your sewing skill level, there are a few basic features you will need when choosing a mechanical sewing machine:

1. The basic sewing machine should have at least a special buttonhole foot and a regular foot. Modern entry-level sewing machines come with a lot of presser feet, which is a good thing. Additional accessories and presser feet can be purchased if desired, but it is important to make sure that your machine is compatible with them (markings: foot attachment adapter low, with an inclined needle bar).
2. The choice of stitches (at least 10-15) will make the basic model more versatile.
3. Speed ​​regulation.
4. Needle up and down function.
5. Stitch length and width adjustment function, important to fine-tune each stitch (you may need different lengths and widths to create basic elements, buttonholes, stretch stitches).
6. Reverse stitch function.

Save a lot of time and effort by purchasing a mechanical sewing machine with a vertical rotary hook (bobbin loading, transparent cover) and automatic needle threading (although this feature is not available on most entry-level sewing machines, but a needle threader tool can be purchased separately ).

If you prefer to learn the basics of sewing on your own, at a relaxed pace, then the free online lessons available, or the paper version of the tutorial, will be a good guide to the world of sewing. They will guide you through all the steps, from sewing in a straight line to creating buttonholes. Can you learn to sew on your own? Of course yes, but don't expect perfection right from the start, remember that learning to sew takes a lot of time and practice and it's okay to make mistakes. The beginning should be accompanied by the creation of simple sewing projects, such as household items. Tailoring can be a daunting task for absolute beginners, so it's easier to start with bedspreads or decorative pillowcases.

How to learn to cut from scratch?

Making a base pattern yourself is easy if you know how to do it. It is better to sew your first piece of clothing from an inexpensive fabric in order to forgive yourself for some mistakes that are most likely inevitable in the first steps.

Making accurate measurements of body proportions is the key to learning how to cut your own and well-fitted clothes. All you need is a measuring tape, preferably a tape measure.

Learning to take measurements

Ideally, measurements are taken on underwear, swimwear or tight-fitting clothing, standing in front of a mirror to see that the tape is in the correct position. Depending on which piece of clothing we have to sew, we make the appropriate measurements. To create a blouse pattern, we need to know the total length, shoulder length, chest circumference, waist circumference and sleeve length; for trousers - waist circumference, hip circumference, overall length and bottom size; for a jacket - the circumference above the chest, the circumference of the waist, hips, sleeve length, waist length, overall length, shoulder and back circumference.

Marking the measuring points will make the process much easier. For example, the neck: for the girth of the neck, we mark the center of the clavicle bone in front and the dominant bone in the back of the head, when measuring, the tape should touch them, closing over the jugular notch. We measure the length of the shoulder from the base of the neck to the tip of the shoulder, where we feel a rounded bone. We determine the length of the sleeve by measuring the distance from the end of the shoulder to the wrist, while the arm should be freely lowered. Armhole Depth: This point is located horizontally on the side seam, and vertically it should be about 1.5 to 2.5 cm under the armpit. The best way is to put on a T-shirt, look under your arm and mark where the seams meet in a cross. Do not mark too high or too low because this will pull the sleeve into the armpit or make the armhole too low.

We start with simple patterns

Training begins with the construction of skirt patterns. The straight skirt pattern will lead to other styles, including pencil skirts, trumpet skirts, "circle skirts". Having studied all the tricks on how to learn how to make patterns on your own, you can create almost any style.

Let's move on to the basics

For women, this is usually a cut of a bodice with a round neckline and a narrow skirt. This silhouette dress has the same construction method as the round neck bodice. On the basis, you can add different types of sleeves or change the neckline.

Choosing courses of cutting and sewing

The choice of cutting and sewing courses depends on how much you want to learn in each lesson and what you generally expect from the training. There are programs for learning the basics of sewing and sewing only basic models, for sewing underwear, for sewing children's clothes, guaranteeing how to quickly learn to sew.

There are expensive courses that offer programs that last a year or more, bordering on the professional level of skill, ready to teach the design and design of clothes, also aimed at people who decide to become professionals in sewing, perhaps as designers or textile-related specialties. . The competence of teachers plays an important role. What is the point of paying money for cutting and sewing courses in which the teacher is essentially self-taught, having completed short-term courses.

On the other hand, given the huge amount of information on sewing available in special books, DVDs, YouTube videos, on many websites and blogs, does it make sense to pay for courses to learn how to learn how to cut yourself and master the "secrets of sewing" ( which have been disclosed for a long time). True, some people like the social aspect or how sewing courses organize learning.

Learn to sew on your own

Sewing on your own is rewarding and enjoyable, but only if you're not patient enough or your initial results don't meet expectations can lead to frustration and abandonment of the idea of ​​learning to sew altogether. We don't want this to happen and are ready to start a new exciting hobby by following step by step through all the useful information on how to learn to sew yourself, improving each new skill by completing a few simple sewing projects.

It is better to start with stylish clothes, for example, an easy-to-make skirt with a gathered waistline, with a belt and patch pockets. This is a great project to learn how to sew with a sewing machine, sew on fabric, add buttons, sew on hemlines, sew on pockets, try your hand at inserting a zipper.

Other models for beginners that will help you develop your skills and learn how to sew: tops (pivot, sherbet, boho style), dress - sundress or fashionable dressing gown.

We select a pattern

Tailor's templates help to facilitate the work when constructing patterns, with the help of them we make the necessary curves (for example, armhole lines, side seams, draperies, location of loops, marking allowances).

Cut with seam allowances

Seam allowance - the amount that is added to the details of the pattern, the distance between the stitching line and the edge of the fabric cut. Seam allowances are required:

• to process the seams and edges of the fabric;
• leave enough space between the cut edge and the stitching line and take into account the wear of the fabric;
• leave enough fabric around the edge where the seam allowance pieces come together to make the front look seamless.

The allowance for straight seams is usually about 1-1.5 cm, for curves (armholes or collars) - 0.7-1 cm.

The creative possibilities of a sewing machine are almost limitless. But before you use it to sew products, you need to get to know your sewing machine well, which will solve almost any problem you may encounter. Read the instructions, practice things that seem incomprehensible. And before using the machine to sew clothes, it is better to practice with different seams on pieces of fabric that you would not mind throwing away.

How to learn to sew clothes for yourself?

Many online resources specialize in sewing lessons that will show you how to learn how to sew clothes from scratch. It's also much more inspiring to sew items that we actually want to wear. But a necessary condition is the desire to learn and comprehend new things. Without an elementary share of patience and perseverance, we will only lose time. Before moving on to the sewing process itself, we choose the model we want to sew, and the next step is to create a pattern on paper using our measurements.

We fold the fabric in half and inside out and transfer the paper pattern to it, fixing it with pins, and outline it with chalk along the edges. To facilitate the cut and not deform the fabric, it is important to use sharp scissors. Having cut out all the details, we proceed directly to sewing. One of the first elements of sewing clothes is a tuck. A properly made tuck will fit into the fabric and add a form-fitting silhouette to the clothes.

How to quickly sew curtains and lambrequins yourself?

Curtains are a good practice for beginners who are familiar with the basics of sewing. For the first sewing project, we choose a light cotton fabric, that is, with a structure that will facilitate the sewing process (a mixture of cotton or cotton with linen). When the necessary knowledge is gained, basic processing can be applied to almost any type of fabric.

Curtains can be sewn to the length of the window sill, below the window sill or to the floor; what will determine how much fabric is needed. For curtains to the floor (which will add picturesqueness and softness to the room), the height from the eaves to the floor, the hem for the hemming (45 cm) determines how much fabric is needed. For pleated curtains, the width of the fabric is calculated 1.5 times wider than the actual width of the window opening (standard width of curtain fabrics: 140 cm, 280 cm, 300 cm).

The fabric must be washed and dried before sewing, then carefully ironed, removing all wrinkles and folds. This is an important step so that the finished curtains do not shrink and the seams do not fray during the first wash.

1. Trim the edge.
2. For the hem seam, turn the side edges 1-1.2 cm (to the wrong side of the fabric) and iron.
3. We tuck another 2.5 cm and iron. We pin the double bent edges with tailor's pins (heads to the right of the seam, which will allow them to be easily removed during stitching) at a distance of 10-12 cm from each other.
4. We sew with a straight seam, placing the stitch line at a distance of about 3 mm from each inner folded edge.
5. We tuck the bottom edge 1-1.2 cm and iron it.
6. We tuck another 10-12 cm and iron, fasten with pins in the same way as for the side edges.
7. We sew the lower part (at a distance of about 3 mm from the inner folded edge) with a straight seam, but to make it more reliable, we use a reverse stitch at the beginning and end of the seam.
8. The drawstring or "pocket" for the cornice is done in much the same way as the bottom edge. We turn the upper edge 1-1.2 cm and iron it.
9. We twist it again by 5 cm and iron it; fasten with tailor's pins.
10. We sew, laying a line that fixes the folded edge, securing with a reverse stitch at the beginning and at the end of the seam.

To create a lambrequin on the assembly, cut off a piece of fabric relative to the length of the cornice with a filling ratio of 1:3. So, if the length of the cornice is 2 m, then we need fabrics 6 m long and a certain height (40-50 cm). We process the bottom edge and side edges into a hem. We sew a curtain tape to the upper edge, after which we process the fabric.

We participate in competitions

Contests and workshops for sewing enthusiasts are organized by sewing clubs, sewing schools, professional sewing magazines, offering one idea or another (for example, a summer dress contest) and inviting all sewing lovers to participate. They are organized by any country. The rules for participation in sewing competitions are simple: a photograph of a self-sewn product must be submitted.

Start learning to sew with a reliable mechanical sewing machine, but try to avoid complexity. If you want to learn how to sew clothes, there's no need for the fancy embroidery stitches that are an advantage on a new generation of sewing machines.

Choose the most interesting sewing tutorial for beginners (actually, with a huge amount of information, there are not so many): it should be understandable, well illustrated, include patterns for basic clothing and home decor items.

Start learning to sew small. It is better to have fun and sew something simple that you really like and do it perfectly than to start with something complicated and be disappointed with the result. Keep expectations reasonable as you complete your first DIY sewing project, gradually increasing in difficulty with each lesson. It's good to try your hand at pattern making for a tunic or kaftan dress, or start with a kimono or poncho jacket.

Find sewing friends, participate in sewing communities on websites or blogs. Such participation is valuable not only at the beginning, but throughout the learning to sew.

There is something magical about being able to make your own clothes in the 21st century. We can use patterns created by both famous fashion houses and independent designers and adapt them to our unique style. To do this, we only need to master the basic sewing skills and develop them.

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Good day, beginner seamstresses! I only write on purpose beginners, without experience, since I often receive letters in the mail with questions: how to start sewing?, where exactly to start, if I didn’t even hold a needle in my hands? ..

Therefore, I decided to write this post as a continuation of my first article How to learn to sew from scratch? , and make a small selection of materials and videos specifically for very, very newcomers to this business.

So, if you haven’t held the needle yet, then you need to take it and hold it))) And make a few hand seams to understand that there is nothing tricky about it.

I will not now write smart things and terms about what a stitch is, etc. and so on ... but I'll just show you how they look and what they are needed for.

Basting seam

It is needed in order to connect two parts before we sew them on a typewriter. It is just necessary to sweep two parts for beginners, since the fabrics are displaced under the machine, usually the lower fabric is gathered relative to the upper one, so without basting you need to adapt and pull the bottom layer a little ( this is just my experience, it may be different on your machine). So still sweep away the details.

Seam "hand stitch" or "back needle"

This seam is used when it is not possible to make a seam on a typewriter (for example, the part does not fit under the needle), or you are working with slippery fabrics (with silk). This seam is no less durable than a machine seam.

For example: when I sew a hidden zipper into a skirt, 2 cm remains unsewn under the zipper at the bottom (this is a specially unstitched segment that we leave for the convenience of sewing in a zipper). And when the zipper is already sewn, it remains only to hem these 2 cm, and it is very problematic to do this on a typewriter. This is where help comes in. hand seam!

Overlock stitch

It is needed in order to overcast the sections of fabric so that the sections do not crumble. It is especially necessary in places where this cannot be done using a zig-zag on a typewriter or overlock.

Buttonhole stitch

Also, like the overcast seam, it is needed to process cuts and protect them from “shedding”. Compared to overcast, the buttonhole stitch is stronger and will not unravel immediately if you suddenly cut the overcast section, since each stitch is secured with a loop.

Blind stitch

This seam is used to create invisible seams, as a rule, the bottom of products (for example, skirts or dresses) from expensive fabrics (silk, wool) is hemmed with a blind seam, on which the line along the bottom of the product will spoil the appearance (for example, it is better to hem the bottom of a coat with a blind seam ).

The thread is selected with this seam perfectly to match the product, and when making a blind seam, do not tighten the thread, it should go freely.

Seam "goat"

The goat seam is needed to process the bottom of the product, when the allowances on the wrong side do not tuck inward, but remain open. In this case, this seam both basts the allowances of the product and processes open sections. As a rule, they are used in cases of working with non-flowing fabrics.

I think this is where a small review of hand seams can be completed, since they will be enough for you to start with. Most likely you will use only a couple of them, but you just need to know about the existence of the remaining hand seams, since someday they will definitely come in handy.

How to learn to sew. Where to begin?

If you have just embarked on this wonderful creative path of sewing and creating beautiful things for yourself and your loved ones, be sure to watch this video below. It will dispel your doubts (if any) and give even more confidence and faith in yourself and your strengths!

The process of creating any thing occurs in three stages:

1. Creating a model in your head (saw in a store or on the Internet and wanted to sew for yourself, or wanted to sew something that you can’t find anywhere else ...)
2. Building a pattern (find, download, buy or build it yourself, how to take measurements)
3. Tailoring technology. If it is a SKIRT:

• how to process the bottom of the product;

Many women want to learn how to sew or do other kind of needlework. This requires certain knowledge, attention and desire to learn. Cutting and sewing is a difficult and painstaking kind of creativity. Much will depend on what goals you set for yourself: to sew for yourself and your family, or to master sewing at a professional level. Where to start sewing lessons for beginners and how to acquire skills for a beginner in this business?

In any business, it is impossible for a beginner to do without the first lessons. For those who want to learn how to sew, you need to separate two concepts:

• learn to sew and cut;
• know how to sew on a sewing machine.

Almost everyone can master a sewing machine, if there is one. desire to learn technology basic sewing skills. In this case, systematic repetition is important in order to fill your hand.

Sewing things is another matter, and for this you need to master the basics of cutting and sewing. At the very beginning, you should determine for yourself the direction in needlework:

• making clothes;
• sewing soft toys for children or bags;
• work with home textiles.

Any of them are associated with specific sewing technique, the acquisition of special sets of tools, the development of sewing techniques. The modification of the sewing machine will also depend on this.

To master any trends in sewing art first you need a minimum set of devices, without which it will not be possible to start sewing for a beginner:

• tailor's scissors capable of cutting different types of fabrics with high quality;
• an accessory for correcting incorrect seams, it will rip the fabric without damage to the products;
• tape measure;
• chalk for patterns or remnants;
• pins and thread.

It is also necessary to acquire a sewing machine and begin to master the device and work with it.

Learning to sew on a sewing machine is easy. Lessons will not take much time and effort. Experienced craftsmen advise taking paper, not fabric, for classes. It is stiffer and will not drape in the stitching. The best option is ordinary sheets in a box from a notebook. Threads for the first lesson will not be needed. Paper should be placed under the folder and you can start scribbling. You need to learn how to make even seams, especially with turns. The needles in the typewriter after the paper immediately become unusable and are no longer suitable for further work. The needle should not be thrown away, as it can be used to work with flaps.

To make it easier to master the seam technique, no need to press the pedal of the machine. This will make it easier to control and even stitch. You need to learn how to adjust the device. Both threads - upper and lower should be stretched evenly, evenly and tightly. This will allow them not to tear, but to lay down in the line evenly, without tightening the fabric. If the threads are loosely stretched, they will tangle, tear, and the seam will turn out with a clear defect.

It is necessary to achieve straight, even and passing along the marking of the seams. After each seam, bartacks should be done to avoid their divergence. Training should begin with the development of simple seams and then move on to more intricate finishing seams.

Before you sit down at the machine, you should carefully read the instructions for working with it. You need to understand the settings, be able to thread the needle.

Experienced seamstresses advise beginners in sewing to start with:

• pillowcases:
• bed for a child;
• apron;
• tacks.

If such items are not needed in everyday life, then you can try to sew a straight-cut skirt. Magazines are now being sold, with specially designed models for beginners. Basically, it offers basic things that beginner seamstresses can do. Such products can be sewn in 1 evening. The cut parts are folded together with pins and then sewn with a basting seam by hand. If everything fits after trying on, then they should be sewn with a machine.

After choosing a model, you need to buy a fabric for it. The most suitable material for the first works - cotton of a dense structure. It will be easier to cut and process with a sewing machine. The fabric is inexpensive, therefore, if it is spoiled, then such a result will not entail large losses. If the first thing turned out to be successful, then you can move on to another type of product or sew a more complex skirt or clothes for your child. Mastery skills come with time and only with experience can sew complex things e.g. evening dress.

The main mistakes for beginners

Beginning seamstresses often make mistakes, but they can always be corrected and be sure to strive for this.

In any needlework, one should not rush and it is very important that haste does not develop into a habit. It is found not only among beginners, but also among experienced masters.

It is impossible to scribble without trying on, because after that it is more difficult to make the necessary changes. A line without trying on is acceptable if patterns are used, according to which clothes were sewn earlier, and the figure has not changed in volume.

Very common in tailoring magazine patterns are applied. However, individual parameters do not always coincide with them. As a result, the product will not sit perfectly on the figure.

To get the desired result, you need experience and a desire to learn. It is advisable to buy special literature, study it and consult experienced masters. Own mistakes will be costly, as the fabric can be damaged.

You can not buy fabric for tailoring products back to back. If suddenly a beginner miscalculated, spoiled, then without a supply of material it is unlikely that something will be corrected. Before cutting the fabric, it must be ironed. Wet processing of the material will give a natural shrinkage, after which you can draw on it.

Don't stop halfway. Very often, beginners begin to actively learn to sew and, without completing the work, they quit, especially if something does not work out. After that, it is difficult to force yourself to take on an unfinished thing. You need to be persistent and continue, otherwise you will not be able to learn how to sew.

Sooner or later, each of us needs the help of a tailor, and well, we go to the studio. There they will darn us, and sew, and sew. But why not try yourself as a tailor, not only to save money, but also to diversify your skills, learn how to create beauty, and always be ready to darn something at the right time. Fortunately, in the 19th century, the sewing machine was invented, which greatly simplified the process of sewing, and now it is not difficult for you and me to start.

To get started, we need a sewing machine, a simple task and enthusiasm!

Which machine to choose

There are three types of sewing machines:

• computerized;
• electronic;
• electromechanical.

Electromechanical sewing machines are the best for beginners, as they are the easiest to use. Nevertheless, they have a huge number of necessary functions, and a very affordable price, which is sometimes also not unimportant. When you reach the next level, you can sit down at an electronic typewriter, it has much more functions, but the price is correspondingly higher than the previous one. If finances allow, then you can start with this machine. As for computerized machines, they are for professionals, they perform any thematic functions and the sewing process itself at the highest level. However, they are the most expensive and are not needed for simple tasks such as sewing on buttons and darning socks.

Introduction to the sewing machine

Next, you should read the instructions, which you will definitely find in addition to the sewing machine. Explore all the features in as much detail as possible and decide which one you want to start with. Usually these are simple stitches that can be applied to any piece of fabric. Take the one that you won’t be sorry to spoil, don’t expect everything to turn out right away, in sewing, as in any other business, you need to have patience and perseverance. Having mastered one seam, move on to another until you have explored all the possible seams on your sewing machine. Your initial task is to learn how to make straight lines.

The lines are mastered, it's time to sew

There are many magazines and websites available on the Internet that make it quick and easy to learn how to sew on a sewing machine. Your task is to draw the correct information from there. Pattern instructions, a step-by-step description of the entire sewing process, information about how much and what kind of fabric is required for a particular model. Find simple models of skirts, aprons, handkerchiefs, learn how to do small things, fill your hand and move to the next level by creating more complex clothing items. It is very important to find a competent resource and follow the instructions in detail.

To get started, tune in yourself, and set everything up for your convenience.

Place the sewing machine on a stable table so that it is neither too high nor too low from you so that
there was no need to slouch or constantly reach up. Remember, the sewing machine needle is on your left, everything else is on your right. Partly in the correct setting is the key to success, be careful. Insert the needle as securely as possible, it should hold firmly, without staggering or slipping out. The needle is inserted with the hole up, and the sharp side remains below. Next, the spool is what the thread is wound on, passed through the thread take-up onto the bobbin. After turning on the mechanism and making sure that the bobbin is wound, put it in the lower part of the sewing machine, there is a special hole for it.

The whole procedure that we describe is in the instructions for your machine and it may differ slightly from ours, however, follow the instructions, since each machine has its own characteristics and its own range of actions, one has 15 functions, the other 100, one most of the settings are manual, the other either requires a minimum of settings, or the settings are computerized. When you make sure that the needle, thread, bobbin are in place, all the settings are adjusted, and the fabric is already under the needle, and is waiting for its long acupuncture session, you need to adjust the line, that is, tighten the upper and lower threads so that the thread does not weaken and tangle , then make sure the buttonhole is in the fabric and not on the outside of the fabric.

When the machine has made a seam, it should not shrink, it is important that the thread does not burst either during sewing or at the end. It also never hurts to adjust the bobbin thread tension according to the instructions. Then, when you take hold of the fabric, make sure that it does not come loose during the sewing process, fasten it with pins. Most of your fabric should be to the left of the needle, the rest to the right. In order for your product to turn out beautiful and without irregularities, be sure to make sure that the lines are straight and even, so that they do not fly away or peel off anywhere, this is very important. To prevent the fabric from unraveling, fasten the thread at the beginning and end of the stitch. If your sewing machine does not have a reverse function, make the knots yourself and hide them so that they are not visible on the line.

Next, try to make simple lines and bring this skill to automatism. Simple stitches do not mean that they just need to be done on pieces of fabric and thrown away, although this is a good exercise for practice, you can also sew something with simple stitches, for example, try sewing together several different small handkerchiefs, with beautiful ornaments, you will get one large scarf, which can stylishly cover your head or hang on your shoulders.

That is, you will practice, and you won’t even have to throw away the experimental material. You can also take ripped jeans and turn them into designer ones. Take pieces of fabric of a small size and a pattern and material that attracts you. Turn the jeans inside out, place your small pieces of fabric over the holes and darn. When you're done, flip the jeans right side out and voila, paneled jeans like no other have, your first designer piece. Keep in mind, if you try, you can master a whole new level of sewing, make friends with your sewing machine, and everything is in your hands.

Video lesson