So What If I Sew

Welcome to the So What If I Sew blog, a place for me to learn new sewing techniques, explore different patterns and document my progress as I go.

As a human being my three main hobbies are reading, yoga and sewing. Yes I enjoy other things but those are the three that I am genuinely extremely passionate about. Sewing is also one of those hobbies that comes with an incredible community spirit which is lovely. I wanted to make this blog because I really love sewing and I feel like I have actually have something to share. I want to document my own progress as well. I inserted a sleeve perfectly yesterday for the first time and it made me realise how far I have come in just a year. This blog is all about progress, projects and developing new skills.

Sewing has always been a big part of my life; growing up I was surrounded by sewing. I was lucky enough to have an incredibly skilled mother who taught me the basics of sewing at a young age and did various sewing projects with me such as bunting and quilts. Once, on one memorable occasion, we saw an amazing pillow in a fabric shop that wasn’t for sale so mum decided we would get the exact same fabrics and we replicated it perfectly at home. I have always been quite headstrong and I just wanted to get on with it but sewing requires patience. Before I was event allowed thread and fabric, my mum taught me to machine sew by drawing lines on paper and getting me to sew along the paper until I could sew straight. She had endless patience with me and still does. Even now I ring her up even though I live hundreds of miles away to get her to talk me through facings, sleeve insertions and demystify sewing language for me. I started sewing in earnest in 2014 and now I am here in 2020. I have made multiple garments that I wear often and now I can do zips, sleeves, bust adjustments, bodices, dresses and even wired bra’s!

One of my favourite things about sewing is fit. The ability to create a garment perfectly crafted for your own body is so incredible to me. Fit is something I have always struggled with as I have what would best be described as a 1940’s build and its hard to find modern clothes that fit everywhere. Hence my particular interest in pattern hacks and pattern drafting. I am hoping one day to draft an entire dress pattern from scratch based on my own measurements.

What is the main focus of the blog?

• Patter Adjustments & Pattern Drafting – Fit is so important to me and I can’t wait to document the tricks I am learning.
• Dressmaking – I’m not really a “craft” sewing person, I don’t make things, occasionally I will make a quilt or similar but my main focus has always been clothes.
• Improving my sewing – The main reason I am doing it is to document my sewing and see how much I’m improving.

I want to start a public blog to add my voice to the sewing community and contribute the little amount of experience I have. Sewing is a hobby you have for life, its a skills that never really leaves you and no matter what there is always something you can make. My big project for the next month is a Shirt Dress and for this year I want to make my own coat! I have a lot of sewing practice left to do and lots of garments to make along the way but that is my next big milestone. Hopefully you will all join me on my sewing journey!