On your marks, get set, sew!
You don’t have to win Project Runway to create fabulous clothes for your own wardrobe. Sewing can be a great creative outlet, and if you start small and work your way up, it can be easy, too! You’ll be able to green your wardrobe, by choosing earth-friendly fabrics, recycling your scraps, and even getting new use out of your old clothes.
The sewing basics you'll need to get started are:
Sewing machine - You don’t have to spend a lot here, you don’t need an industrial-sized machine. Also consider shopping around at thrift stores for used machines, or find a used one online.
Thread – start with a few basic colors and you can build your stock of thread from there.
Scissors – it is important that you get a good pair of pinking shears here, because regular scissors just don’t ‘cut it’. However, until you get really fancy, this probably won’t matter much, so you can start out with just a good sharp pair.
You’ll also need tailors chalk, straight pins, (all reasonably priced, and available at your local craft store), and a measuring tape. Those big metal ones that you pull out won’t really work well for this type of project, so stick with an actual tape, made of cloth.
If you are a real beginner, there are some easy ways to practice and hone your skills before you start on your wardrobe. Use the fabric from an old shirt, pillowcase, sweatshirt, or what have you, to make a reusable shopping bag. Turn old sheer curtains into smaller produce bags so you don’t have to use the plastic ones at the supermarket.
These are easy projects to get you started, and it doesn’t matter here if your creation isn’t perfect. Your bags will still be perfectly useable even if you make a few mistakes. Tipnut has got 35 free tutorials and patterns to make all sorts of bags from all sorts of different fabrics you might have. They’re all straightforward and easy!
Once you’ve got the hang of it, you’re ready for high fashion. When you are just starting out, using a pattern is essential. You can purchase a pattern from craft stores, or go online to find one. Just search “sewing patterns” and a whole slew of sites will come up for you to browse through. The pattern will be marked for how difficult the project is. What’s nice about the patterns is that they come with step-by-step instructions and list everything you’ll need to complete them.
When it comes to choosing your fabric, take the time to consider your eco-friendly options. Organic fabrics, and ones that haven’t been treated with harsh dyes or bleach and have been dyed using natural ingredients are best. Try to find fairly traded fabrics so you know your purchase isn’t contributing to foreign suffering. Depending on what you’re creating, your pattern will tell you how many yards of fabric you will need.
And don’t waste those scraps! Save your scraps to turn into something else fabulous, make patches for torn pants, sew the scraps together to make fun pillows, or even use them around your house as rags for cleaning.
Once you know your way around a sewing machine, you can also put those skills to use in giving your existing wardrobe a makeover. Rather than throwing away old items, turn them into something new. Recycle your clothes to give them new life.
Take your time and don’t expect perfection right away. Sewing can be fun, and a great way to save money, create clothes that fit you perfectly, and can even help you green your wardrobe. What are you waiting for?
To learn more about it, check out Love To Sew and Treehugger.
Source: BecauseAction.com
