Looking for a fun activity to pass away the days? How about an activity that not only will save you money in the long run but can also become a way to potentially make money? What if that activity exercised your brain and coordination? You’re probably asking yourself what activity could possibly fill up your days, make money, save money, and exercise your brain. Easy! Sewing!
Let’s Dive In
Sewing is one of those activities that was once a necessity in daily life for making clothes, repairing clothes, and even something that was a livelihood to numerous people. You might think of sewing as an older generation task, but it is slowly coming back into the mainstream as more people are starting to live greener lifestyles.
The older generation would sew to maintain the clothes they had (it wasn’t like they could run out and purchase new items when needed due to monetary constraints), they would sew to make a new outfit out of existing fabric (clothing that their children had grown out of), and even those who made their living on the water would have rudimentary sewing skills (Fishermen would have to sew their nets to ensure their catch wasn’t lost).
Sewing is the type of skill that can transform your wardrobe for minimal dollars, can make that rip in that shirt you love go away, and it can hem up those pants that you couldn’t resist but discovered they were miles too long for your figure. Been thinking about sewing heavy fabrics? No worries, there are a lot of good heavy duty sewing machines that you can choose from! Are you also a novice beginner to sewing? Have no fear – today we are going to look at simple steps to enhance your sewing skills!
Practice Makes Perfect
The first and foremost thing you can do to enhance your sewing skills is actually pretty straightforward – practice. Without practice, you can’t enhance any sort of skill unless you have a natural, born talent for it.
Take your time when learning how to sew and start off with easy patterns that require simple stitches. Most sewing patterns come with user guides for measurements and some even have markers that can be placed on the fabric to keep the person sewing in a straight line. Check into online forums or even textbooks that teach you the sewing lingo, different types of needles and their uses, and even how to operate a sewing machine with confidence.
Practice simple stitches until you have those down pat before moving on to more complex ones. Turn to other methods of sewing and stitching as well before moving onto clothes, blankets, and whatnot. Think cross-stitch patterns that can be hung on the wall, plastic canvas pieces, and anything sort of arts and crafts that requires using a needle and thread (wool, silk, etc.) to get used to having it in your hands.
Machines, Arise!
If you plan to sew bigger, more complex projects; then you might want to consider investing into a sewing machine. There are numerous models on the market and they all range in pricing from basic to industrial. Determine how much sewing you plan to do, what you want to sew, and go from there to find the best fit for you.
Sewing machines also come with pre-situated markers and they use a metal guide to keep the needle in a straight line on the fabric. Check out an online tutorial for using a sewing machine, if possible, and learn the basic skills of your sewing machine. Some tips and hints that could be found include but are not limited to:
- How to change the needle of your sewing machine
- How to thread the needle of your sewing machine
- When to pull the fabric through the sewing machine and when to let the machine do all the work
- How to fix a tangled thread or bunched-up piece of fabric
- How to work the foot pedal to power the machine
- What types of sewing can be done on the machine, and more!
Get Comfortable
Sewing is the type of project that won’t be done in an instant. Sewing patterns take time and energy, so make sure to have a comfortable sitting area with lots of working room. Find the position that works best for your body and maintain it.
If sewing starts to cramp up your neck and shoulders, you will get frustrated and irritated which leads to mistakes in your sewing. These mistakes? Diminish your confidence and turn learning a new skill into a nightmare!
Conclusion
As you can see, sewing isn’t as difficult as some portray it to be – it simply requires some practice and dedication. Once you have mastered your new skill, why not try making some extra cash money with it? Seamstresses and tailors are in shorter supply these days, with sewing becoming a lesser practiced skill and art form. If you have the gift and skills for sewing; you could start a small online business, completing custom sewing jobs, and more for a respectable asking price.
You could even branch out into more ambitious endeavors when you mastered the art of sewing to make even bigger bucks. Think quilts, wall hangings, and similar projects!