Sew and Sow

Category: Machine

  • Baby Romper for My Baby Nephew

    Baby Romper for My Baby Nephew

    A few months ago, I heard the great news from my sister that she’s expecting! I am so excited to meet the baby bean, and am preparing for his arrival by making him clothes and other fun things. 

    I used a PDF pattern for the first time, which yes, does have a bit of a learning curve. Though this pattern was targeted towards beginners, I think it’s more appropriate for a confident beginner. Not that I am not confident, but it took several hours to make a muslin and learn how to sew buttons and buttonholes. 

    I got a yard of linen in sand, brown, and copper for this sewing pattern, and I have only done the sand version. 

    I went on Etsy for cute bear and dinosaur buttons and found exactly what I was looking for!

    This was probably the most apprehensive I have been about cutting the final garment fabric. It was such a soft, fragile linen that I did not want to ruin it. But I forged on anyway.

    And the results from this first round did not disappoint. It is so, so cute. I cannot stop looking at it.

    To my future nephew, I love you and I cannot wait to watch you grow out of this romper. To my sister, I love you and am so happy I can watch you grow, too.

  • All Well’s Box Top Pattern  – first completed project!

    All Well’s Box Top Pattern  – first completed project!

    It’s been almost a week since I picked up that muslin fabric and completed my first attempt at a pattern. And I’ve learned a lot! 

    My main pain points this week were: finding the grainline and of course, neck facing. I opted to forgo the bias neck binding to preserve fabric. It took me a total of five tries for the “final” result – which still needs some improvement. But I am so, so proud of this shirt and happy I have something I can wear in public!

    I used Amelia Greenhall and Amy Bornmans’ book, How to Sew Clothes. The Box Top is the first recommended pattern and the instructions were overall absolute beginner-friendly. The wording and illustrations for the neck binding could have used more context, but with a quick google, the instructions became clearer and I was able to successfully finish the project. I do wish the instructions were on a separate paper and not the book, however that is a small grievance. Overall, I am happy with the content and will continue to work through the patterns in the book.

    I used a medium weight, woven black cotton fabric I got from Amazon. In retrospect, I do wish I had gone to a brick-and-mortar store to feel the fabric first, but I am overall pleased with the quality. I pre-washed it and ironed it before cutting out the pattern. I learned a valuable lesson: black fabrics with dark threads are really hard to see stitching on. But with some extra lighting, it was fine.

    What a great feeling it is to finish a project! I cannot wait to experience this over and over again. It’s close to euphoria. I get to see a piece of fabric transformed into something useful through the work of my eyes and hands. I get so sew slowly and resist fast fashion. I cannot wait for my next projects. Speaking of which…

    My next project from the book will be the same box top pattern, using the ruffle version! I figure it’s a good idea to practice neck binding some more, while learning to ruffle fabric. Hopefully there will be a marked improvement in seams and binding.

    Until next time! Keep sewing!

  • My First Day Sewing, or, How to Twist the Neck Binding of a Box Shirt and Render it Unfixable

    My First Day Sewing, or, How to Twist the Neck Binding of a Box Shirt and Render it Unfixable

    Last night, I learned how to thread my blue Janome, thread the bobbin, pick up the bobbin thread, and sew a straight line. 

    Today, I put it into practice. 

    I traced a pattern from the book How to Sew Clothes by Amelia Greenhall and Amy Bornman in my size and cut it out NOT using the fabric scissor – a personal win. Then, I ironed the muslin, a fabric which sewists recommend using as sort of first draft fabric of choice. 

    I traced a pattern with pink tailor’s chalk and cut along the lines using a rotary cutter. Importantly, I did it on a folded piece of cloth (the second time around). Because I messed up. And cut a folded piece of muslin again for the back side. 

    I realized I had cut the muslin cloth too short and had to go with the cropped box top version. That was okay, though! I kept going.

    I got to straight stitching, ironing seams, seam ripping, zig-zagging, and hemming for about two hours. The neck binding came out, how you say, horrific. The shirt was not perfect. It was not even good. But it was mine, and my first try at machine-sewing a garment. And that is good enough for me!

    I have wanted to try sewing for months. I kept thinking about the romance and rush of not just making what I wear with my own hands, but the ethics of participating in fast fashion at all. All clothes are by and large still handmade, even with the assistance of industrial sewing machines. And I am starting to appreciate the time, skill, and effort it takes to make garments , bags, and other fabric-based things.

    I would love to get to the point where my whole wardrobe is sewn by me. But for now, I’ll settle for mending store-bought clothes and this boxy muslin shirt.