"Thanks, I made It!"
“Thanks, I made it!”: The Reward of Sewing Your Own Clothes
Written by Ryli stoker
Photographed by Emma Bowen
It has become increasingly easier to access clothing at the press of a button. This is great for convenience, but doesn’t let you make the most of what you already have. Taking up sewing as a hobby is a great way to engage your creativity and expand the lifespan of clothes already in your closet. Though sewing is not as common a hobby as it used to be, you can pick it up anytime, and it’s not as complicated as you may think.
Making and altering your clothing allows you to take an extra level of pride in the clothing that you wear. There is no better feeling than having a person compliment you on a piece of clothing that you made (or reinvented). Your clothing will be tailored to fit exactly how you want and there will never be another item identical to yours; extra flattering and extra unique. Upcycling clothes you already own is much gentler on your bank account and on the planet. Less fabric goes to landfills, your clothes last longer, and you end up buying less.
Sewing up little holes in a sweater or replacing a button may seem dull, but they’re worthwhile skills to learn. Embroidery is another mending option, which has become a gradually more popular crafting activity on social media as of late. You can find embroidery thread and needles at almost any craft store for a dollar or less. Cute, simple designs like lazy daisies add personality to your clothes, or can cover up the stain on your favorite sweatshirt.
Machine sewing can be a more complicated and expensive hobby, but there are ways to reduce the cost and stress. Look for machines second hand on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or ask a family member if they have one that they don’t use. You will find one that is affordable—if not free—and functional. Having a top-of-the-line sewing machine is great for seamstresses, but not necessary when you’re first starting out.
Threading the machine may be the most annoying part of the whole sewing process. Yes, it can be tedious and a bit irritating, but it shouldn’t be intimidating. There are plenty of online guides that can help this process along. Type in the name of your machine, and “how to thread” on YouTube, and you will find plenty of step-by step-video tutorials.
With threading done, you can start sewing. There are tons of stitches you can use, but it’s easiest to start with straight stitches. These are indicated by vertical, dashed lines on your machine. They can be used to mend holes, take in clothing, shorten a skirt hem, and more! A tank top that’s too loose, for example, can be fixed by sewing straight stitches parallel to the side seams of the shirt. No need to tie the back of your shirt with a hair elastic.
Zigzag stitches, another standard setting, work best with stretchy fabrics because they are more flexible. Zigzags can also be used to finish a raw edge, keeping fabric that you’ve cut from fraying. Always go back over the beginning and end of your seams using a reverse stitch to secure the thread. The reverse stitch lever should be labeled clearly on your machine, simply press it at the beginning and end of every seam line.
These two stitch settings can take you very far, and experimenting with them is the easiest way to learn. Practicing on scrap fabric will get you acclimated to your machine’s different settings.
Once you have these basics down, the fashion world is your oyster. You can change necklines, take in waistbands, shorten skirts, add embellishments, or totally transform something you have just laying around.