Sew Simple! Fabrics
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
...a weekly feature providing answers to your sewing questions!
Suzy thought it might be fun to have owner and instructor of
Create!® Sewing Studio, Becca, share tips and tricks about sewing with you! Let us know what you think!
Q: What are easy fabrics for beginner sewing students to sew with?
A: The easiest type of fabric for beginners is a flat medium weight woven fabric. The best of these by far is plain cotton. Good quality cotton is easy to press and to cut. It drapes well and it’s easy to rip out stitches when you make mistakes. Cotton is very forgiving to the beginner sewing student. It is not slippery to handle, does not stretch when you sew it and it’s not heavy or bulky. Many of the beginners in our children’s classes choose cotton flannel for their first project of “lounge pants”. This is also a good choice since cotton flannel is just brushed cotton (another version of plain woven cotton) and is also very easy to sew with.
Additional fabric tips:
Buy an extra ½ yard of fabric and watch carefully while your fabric is being cut. Sometimes mistakes are made in measuring. Also sometimes fabric is damaged. Unless you are buying “seconds” your fabric should be first quality with no slubs, black marks, scuffs, stains or tears.
Wash and iron your fabric before sewing with it. Many fabrics shrink and/or bleed on first washing. Also press your fabric before sewing with it. Avoid perfumed fabric softeners. They are unnecessary with new fabric and the chemicals irritate eyes and noses when you press (iron) it.
Have fun searching for fabric for your project. With all of the colors and choices, fabric shopping can be a real pleasure!
Keep an eye out for more from Becca, each week in Suzy's newsletters!
Sewing Classes are being held all summer long (group & private available for Adults, Teens & Children)
Create!® Sewing Studio
70 Seminole Road
Acton, MA 01720
(508) 320-5475
Got a Sewing Question? email
Suzy thought it might be fun to have owner and instructor of
Create!® Sewing Studio, Becca, share tips and tricks about sewing with you! Let us know what you think!
Q: What are easy fabrics for beginner sewing students to sew with?
A: The easiest type of fabric for beginners is a flat medium weight woven fabric. The best of these by far is plain cotton. Good quality cotton is easy to press and to cut. It drapes well and it’s easy to rip out stitches when you make mistakes. Cotton is very forgiving to the beginner sewing student. It is not slippery to handle, does not stretch when you sew it and it’s not heavy or bulky. Many of the beginners in our children’s classes choose cotton flannel for their first project of “lounge pants”. This is also a good choice since cotton flannel is just brushed cotton (another version of plain woven cotton) and is also very easy to sew with.
Additional fabric tips:
Buy an extra ½ yard of fabric and watch carefully while your fabric is being cut. Sometimes mistakes are made in measuring. Also sometimes fabric is damaged. Unless you are buying “seconds” your fabric should be first quality with no slubs, black marks, scuffs, stains or tears.
Wash and iron your fabric before sewing with it. Many fabrics shrink and/or bleed on first washing. Also press your fabric before sewing with it. Avoid perfumed fabric softeners. They are unnecessary with new fabric and the chemicals irritate eyes and noses when you press (iron) it.
Have fun searching for fabric for your project. With all of the colors and choices, fabric shopping can be a real pleasure!
Keep an eye out for more from Becca, each week in Suzy's newsletters!
Sewing Classes are being held all summer long (group & private available for Adults, Teens & Children)
Create!® Sewing Studio
70 Seminole Road
Acton, MA 01720
(508) 320-5475
Got a Sewing Question? email
