Tag Archives: Sewing

Learning to Sew–More on Sewing Journals and other Recordkeeping

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Learning to Sew—More on Sewing Journals and other Sewing Record Keeping

You’ll notice I entitled my previous post and today’s post Learning to sew. I think that’s an apt title, even though many of you reading these posts are experienced sewers; after all isn’t each project somewhat of a learning experience. I feel sewing is really a continual learning process and that is part of what makes it so enjoyable. There is always a new skill learn or a technique to perfect. A sewing journal can be a way to reflect on what you have learned about sewing or even about life.

There are other great ways to keep a history of what you have sewn. Why not take a picture of every completed project and keep a sewing photo album. You could even snap pictures of the project in progress if you like.

Some people make a special label for each garment. They include the fabric the garment was made out of, the size and any alterations, the date it is was made and any other pertinent information. I have never tried this one, but it sounds great. With labels, you can have a record of any garment you’ve made for yourself or your family, right at your fingertips.

About Tulle: It’s not just for tutus and wedding gowns any more.

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            Let’s talk about tulle, that classic favorite of brides and ballerinas. Tulle is a wonderful, versatile fabric that comes in a wide-variety of delicate and vibrant shades, suitable for any mood or project you have in mind.  Light, fluffy tulle was originally used primarily for ballet tutus and wedding veils, but today its decorative qualities are becoming more and more appreciated. Tulle comes in  several widths; the 54” width is appropriate for apparel and the 108” width is great to decorate for any event, from an intimate baby shower for family and close friends to a large, formal banquet or wedding reception.  

 

            The best thing about tulle is that it is inexpensive and many tulle projects require no sewing.  Tulle bows to decorate the backs of chairs, the ends of pews, or to make the table holding the wedding cake look simply as spectacular as the cake it self, can easily be made by anyone who can tie a bow.  I’ll be sharing some more non-sew decorative ideas for tulle with you over the course of the next few weeks.

 

            Those of us who just can’t stop sewing are getting crazy about tulle.  Besides the traditional wedding veils, skirts, and tutus, tulle can be fabulous in home décor.  Try your hand at a satin table runner or dresser scarf with a delicate tulle illusion insert.  I’ll have some tips on these projects as well.

Learning to Sew–A Sewing Journal

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Learning to Sew—A Sewing Journal

Have you ever made a marvelous garment or craft project, something you just loved and then forgot what extra touches you used to make it so great? Many of us have had this same problem after we have been sewing for awhile and have started to branch out and alter patterns or make our own patterns. You simply can’t remember how you altered that pattern or maybe even what pattern you used. Or maybe you still have the pattern and are wondering why you altered the way you did.

It happens. Is it a sign of memory loss or age? I personally prefer to look at it as sign of a lot of experience. I am so experienced I have forgotten half of what I’ve learned.

There is an enjoyable solution to this problem. Keep a sewing journal. Many people keep a journal of their life experiences or of what they are grateful for. A sewing journal may be more mundane, but it is a good way to keep track of those favorite projects.

Any notebook will do, although an attractive journal might be more of an incentive to write in. Write down everything you want to remember about each project: when did you start, what fabric you used, how long it took, what alterations did you make to the original pattern or did you make your pattern. It is also interesting to record what techniques you may have learned while doing this project or perhaps even what you were feeling or experiencing in the rest of your life while working on the project.