Dressmaking books - fashion design - pattern making

Dressmaking
Find information about fashion design, pattern making, dressmaking books and general techniques

Home

Books

Sewing A Straight Line - Easy Effective Tips
by Barbara Evans

Do you sometimes have trouble sewing a straight line?

Some sewers merrily stitch a perfectly straight line while blithely singing to the radio, while others of us work so hard at it with great concentration and get so frustrated when the results end up looking like the wanderings of an inebriated spider. We end up breaking needles, tangling the bobbin thread and then feel like giving up sewing altogether.

Well, there is no need for all that, as I will show you a very easy way to learn how to stitch a straight line.

Sit comfortably at your sewing machine, remove the thread and the bobbin and take your foot away from the pedal.

Take a piece of firm pad paper and place the bulk of the paper to the left of the machine needle.

Using the hand wheel turn by hand, until the needle is nearly into the paper

Measure 1.5cm or 5/8in from the point of the needle to the right hand edge of the paper. This is your seam allowance and is usually the standard on most patterns using woven fabric.

Now stitch, keeping your eye on the distance between the side of the presser foot and the edge of the paper and keeping the same distance as you stitch along. This will produce a perfect straight seam with the exact width of the seam allowance.

Never look at the needle going up and down, you will feel dizzy or may even feel sick.

If you do not have a seam or measurement guides on the bed of your sewing machine, place a piece of tape next to the straight edge of paper. You will have a permanent guide to run the edge of the fabric along.

Now try the same with some fabric.

Cut two pieces of sample fabric about 20cm (8in) x 30cm (12in) and pin edges together.

Using Tailors Chalk, draw two horizontal lines about 6 cm (2 1/2in) down from the top and up from the bottom of the sample.

Practise stitching between the lines, keeping the stitch lines 1.5cm or 5/8in apart. Remember to reverse and trim loose threads at the beginning and ends of each seam.

On other sample pieces of fabric, draw large "S" and "W" shapes and practise stitching around the shapes a few times, keeping the seam allowance the same width as you stitch. You may have to pivot at the corners.

To pivot, lower the needle into the fabric, lift the presser foot and turn the fabric around, thus turning the corner.

Lower the presser foot and continue sewing. You will use this method of pivoting a lot in your sewing endeavours.

If you practise these simple exercises you will soon be able to sew straight, accurate rows. Keep your samples in a safe place, so in a few months time you can look back and see how much your sewing has improved. This feedback, the reflection of what you can achieve, provides great motivation for practising in and improving your other sewing skills.

Find books about dressmaking

Fashion Design drawing course: Principles, practice and techniques
Caroline Tatham, Julian Seaman
"has detailed descriptions on drawing fashion designs and making the clothes fit the shape of the model.."

101 Ways to Customise Your Clothes by Petra Boase
"very inspirational.."

Pattern Making for Fashion Design by Helen Joseph Armstrong
"A Great Book for Fashion Design students.."

Sewing Secrets from the Fashion Industry Edited by susan Huxley
"New sewing bible... Don't go near your machine without it!"

The Dressmaker’s Handbook by Rene Bergh
Useful information and a good guide to dressmaking

Fabric Savvy: The Essential Guide for Every Sewer by Sandra Betzina
"Excellent book for hardcore sewers .."

New Complete Guide to Sewing Readers Digest
"This encyclopaedia of sewing includes detailed directions, practical advice, time-saving tips, essential techniques and hundreds of creative touches.."

Sew Fast Sew Easy by Elissa Meyrich
All You Need to Know When You Start to Sew

Fashion Design by Sue Jenkyn Jones
"an excellent book for design students who are aiming at working their way up the ladder to sucess as a fashion designer .."

Figure Templates for Fashion Illustration by Patrick John Ireland
"I strongly recommend this book. top marks!! "

Pattern Designing for Dressmaking by Lyn Alexander
"Pattern Designing For Dressmakers is written for dressmakers, stage costumers and doll dressers.."

Make money from your hobby
“Using your present hobby or favorite pastime as your business base has many benefits. Why? Because any business you decide to become involved in should be doing something you LOVE something you believe in, something that you would work at NO MATTER what income it would generate...” read more

More articles about dressmaking

Dressmaking patterns from start to finish

How to make your own custom clothes patterns

Avoiding fusing failures

Fusing facts

Top 10 tips for better sewing

Fashion mistakes - 10 looks to avoid

Websites related to dressmaking

www.isew.co.uk
Promotes sewing, dressmaking, soft furnishings and crafts in the UK. Lots of sewing techniques, tips, projects, news, reviews and previews and where to buy sewing supplies.

www.gillarnold.co.uk
This site offers dressmaking training, a diary of events and articles of interest to dressmakers.

www.customdressmaking.com/dressarticles.html
Various articles on dressmaking

Dressmaking supplies

www.sewessential.co.uk
Sewing supplies and haberdashery store selling a huge range of items including books, fabrics, threads, needles, trimmings, bindings, cords, elastics, cutting tools, soft toy kits, needlecraft kits, cross stitch kits and much more

www.alldressforms.com
has affordable Dress Forms for dressmakers, seamstresses, fashion designers and costume design. Dress Forms available in various sizes, and body shapes

World of Hobbies - the quick reference site for hobby books, dvd videos and hobby related information
Find dressmaking books and information on fashion design, pattern making and the complete guide to sewing

Dressmaking related search terms: fashion design course - books about dressmaking - pattern making tips - ways to customise clothes - dressmaking supplies - guide to sewing techniques - fashion illustration tips - pattern designing for dressmaking - fashion design courses in London ....

Are you a hobbyist?
Hobby tools, equipment and materials suppliers directory

World of hobbies site map