Another blogger Clever Girl published a post on her sewing satisfaction, and this morning a sewer on PR posted about her dissatisfaction with her sewing. Over the years I've had periods of time when I wasn't happy with my sewing for various reasons, one of them being poor fit. If it's uncomfortable and if you don't look great in what you sew you won't wear it. More recently I wasn't happy with the quality of my sewing. My grandmother always said that the inside of clothing should look as good as the outside. Mine certainly didn't. I've worked on this, and while I am still not 100% happy with my results on this front, it is much better. If you start out with a pattern that fits you, then you don't have to rip out as much and so the garment looks much fresher when you're finished. I've worked on my details. My topstitching is good. Openings are matching lengths, which is obviously front and center and if this isn't correct, than it is just glaring, as least to me. My zippers are well sewn. I still have issues with my buttonholes, but this is more a machine issue than my fault. I can make very nice bound buttonholes!
My fit has really improved enormously over the last few years. I tissue fit; I sew in an order that allows me to try on a lot during sewing. I rarely get truly surprised about fit anymore. I had a lot of wadders when I first started sewing knits, especially the more difficult, softer sorts like rayon lycras. This was particularly discouraging as I live in pants and knit tops. Part of my problem was figuring out the ease I like with various kinds of knits. It also didn't help that one of the first patterns I tried is a small brand that designs with a lot of negative ease. Not my favorite kind of fit! Now I rarely have a wadder with my knits. I have learned not to rely solely on pattern directions or to be tied to them but to use my own judgment on construction with much better results. Another thing that makes me happier with my sewing is learning to sew for my lifestyle, not just what calls to me but no place to wear it. If I take weeks to tailor a fabulous suit, but I don't wear suits, then I don't have anything to wear in my everyday life.
So on the whole, yes I am happy with what I've been sewing lately. I haven't written about my failures, but maybe I should. A lot can be learned from failure.
So are you happy with your sewing? If not, why not and if you are, share your tips for happier sewing.
Have a great weekend.
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I guess I'd put my satisfaction rate somewhere around 75%. I tend to have less satisfaction with the knit tops I make, and I should probably just buy these rather than making them. I have the same lifestyle problem that you do. My lifestyle is very casual, but I seem to spend a lot of time making jackets that I probably don't wear enough to justify all the time that goes into making them. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually pretty happy with my sewing results. However, I don't sew for myself. I sew primarily for my grands and occasionally for other children. Children are so much easier to fit than adults. I have gotten very picky about the insides of my garments over the past few years. I like your grandmother's view on this.
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister! For a while, it was enough to sew, and not be embarrassed by the clothes I made, but then I decided to challenge myself and - surprise - not only have my results gotten better, but I actually enjoy the process MORE.
ReplyDeleteSince I mainly sew for myself, I would have to give a satisfaction rating of 85% and I'm happy with that, we aren't perfect and that's bound to be reflected in our projects.
ReplyDeleteThis is a thought provoking post......The whole sewing re entry for me,has been about the fit,look and lifestyle clothing choices as you and LindsayT referred to.
ReplyDeleteI am working on FIT issues constantly and no longer feel as intimidated by patterns,but no two are ever alike! I work on what I call LOOK issues constantly. I dont want my items to "look" home made whether it be zippers, buttonholes,insides etc.I still struggle with this!
And while I can wear skirts and dresses to work,I also need to be honest about LIFESTYLE issues and make jackets that I wear on the weekends with jeans and stay away from items(such as jeans) that would frustrate me no end....although I admire those who can do it.
I am usually very happy making items for my oldest D (younger is not there yet) as she is happy to wear what I make.....so my satisfaction rate is enough to keep my sewing rewarding and yearning for more information and learning..
....Just dont ask me to take up the hem on your pants or whip up a prom dress for your daughter...but that is fodder for another post!!!
I'd say I'm about 80% satisfied with my sewing. I'm satisfied with my technical skills, but I think I should work toward better fit.
ReplyDeleteI think I've finally got enough experience under my belt to be satisfied with my sewing. It also helps that I have many TNT patterns that only need a bit of tweaking on occasion for the constant weight fluctuation that I experience.
ReplyDeleteMy satisfaction varies from project to project! If I'm happy with the finished product than I'm a happy camper! Sewing TNT helps and then sewing more involved projects as helps...I tend to pay better attention to the details when the project is more involved.
ReplyDeleteOver the 45 plus years I have been sewing my satisfaction rate has been up and down. Two years ago I was quite unhappy with many things I made but then I took a pattern drafting class and my sewing world turned around. I had a sloper that I could design from or use to alter patterns and the drafting process gave me a better understanding how pieces actually work together - if one alteration is made why another one is required. Secondly, I finally convinced myself to enjoy the sewing process and not to focus so much on completing the project. So I would say that I am 90% satisfied but I also know that my body will continue to change, patterns and styles will change and I'll have to adapt my sewing style to meet those changes to remain happy with the end project.
ReplyDeleteLike Carolyn, my satisfaction varies from project to project. As I have challenged myself this year to make proper fit a priority as a whole I rate my satisfaction at about 98%. If I look good in it, I'm happy. It's amazing how shoes, hair and accessories factor into my sewing satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am not currently a sewer, your post was quite thought provoking for many things in our lives. For instance, cooking meals. I alter recipes to fit our likes, spice levels, components, etc. And with the same degree of success. Some turn out much better than others. Thinking about what you have written, makes me realize how hard I am on myself on craft and other projects. So, thank you for a thoughtful post, that I am going to read again and think about some more.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy, generally with the quality of my sewing. I admire garments finished nicely, and strive to do that. My problem arises when I see beautiful garments that I absolutely love, but are far too young a style for me. Boo! I dress appropriately for my age, but in my head I'm still 20!
ReplyDeleteI am generally satisfied with my sewing. In the past few years I've developed TNT patterns for pants and several tee shirts which go a long way toward successful projects. My goal this year was to get some TNT patterns for woven shirts and jackets, on which I am making good progress. I've finally learned the value of making muslins and I haven't made many new patterns in the past few years that I haven't first tested in muslin, and this has significantly improved my success and satisfaction rate. I've also started doing some snoop shopping and recorded things like hem lengths and leg widths that work well so I can incorporate them into my projects. I'm getting better at sewing pieces that will work together or with something already in my closet - so I end up with fewer orphans. And I've learned that simple is generally the best design feature - novelty tee shirt necklines don't work well under complicated jacket necklines.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting question. Lois K
I would say I'm 80% happy with my garments, but then again I gravitate towards easy garments. However, I swoon over tailored garments, that I tend to have problems with and fall prey to purchasing. I'm hoping that I can perfect my sewing skills to feel comfortable in sewing them.
ReplyDeleteYou know this is a fascinating post. When I do a lot of sewing for myself I can get pretty sloppy. It's the sewing I do for my clients that keeps me edgy and good. Finally, after I've done some mediocre sewing for myself, I will sit down and take on a difficult challenge just to get me back to keeping my skills honed. But the best guard I have is sewing for my clients - they keep me "honest"!!!
ReplyDeleteNope. Somehow my button repairs always look sloppy even if I take 20 minutes to sew on the damned things. I miss trading chores for clothing repairs! Though to be fair, the dry cleaner/tailor is really cheap in Korea...
ReplyDeleteThanks for such an interesting and thought provoking post. I have only taken up sewing again (after a long break) quite recently but I think that one of the key elements of achieving satisfaction with what I sew is that I can get a much better fit than buying RTW, that is why I almost always make up a muslin and try to get the best fit I can before cutting into the fashion fabric. I also think that you're right about the finish of a garment, even if nobody else is going to notice I think it's important to me to know that it's made as well as I can get it. That said, I have still made some things that I'm not entirely happy with .... is anyone 100% satisfied?
ReplyDeleteYour question forced me to think about my sewing in a different way. It depends on what I am sewing.
ReplyDeleteI am 100% happy when I sew home dec projects such as window treatments, slipcovers etc.
I took a fitting class and a pattern drafting class and that improve my sewing skills. I am 100% happy when I sew skirts because I can draft my own pattern, 50% happy when I sew tops and 50% happy when I sew pants. I guess my sewing happiness depends on the project. I sew to fit my lifestyle. I need to be more discipline regarding finding time to sew.
I am happy wih my sewing and I think I do feel that way because for me sewing is a never ending learning experience and I love learning!
ReplyDeleteLoaded question, Nancy. I was thinking about this topic yesterday. DD and I both wore dresses that I made to church yesterday. I noticed a fitting flaw in DD's dress. So I mentioned it to her and she agreed with my observations. I can comfortably say that in the past decade, I have become increasingly satisfied with my overall fitting and sewing skills. There is yet much more to improve upon. But I am happy about 80 percent of the time. Some projects a little happier than others. I agree with you on posting or discussing failed attempts. In my reviews, I tired to talk about the challenges as well as the successes. But there are failed projects that never reach the blogger or patternreview.
ReplyDeleteGood post and thanks for asking.
Nancy Erickson wrote a book called "Do you Love What you Sew" (or something like that) In it she states "Don't sew what you can buy" I try to live by this. If I can buy it to fit, made to my standards, and in the size and color I want, I don't waste my time sewing it. This way, I can really focus on making things that are really of good quality and that I love. Not to say that I never have wadders, but the more you sew, the more you can truly define your style and know what works for you. This way, you will only (or at least most of the time) make things that you truly love.
ReplyDeleteGood question, and I loved to read all the comments on this. I've been thinking a lot on my sewing in the past weeks as I'm on holiday with quite a bit of time to comtemplate things(actually writing this in the south of France). On the sewing side I'm not always satisfied on different levels, and a few months ago I was shocked to see how many of the garments that I reviewed two years ago are no longer in my closet. Mostly because of the fact that they don't go with other clothes or the style is not good for me. It is a process of learning to make what I actually wear, which is not too many prints, and I must remember not too buy these too much. Like Lindsay T I tend to make too many jackets for my lifestyle, but I do like to make them. When I'm back home again I really should take out my fall/winter clothes and make a good sewing plan.
ReplyDelete