77 AUTHOR INTERVIEW pattern pieces!). No matter where you are in your sewing journey, using a pattern that’s beginner friendly will allow you to sew a garment easily and with less stress. There’s nothing worse than starting a project and realising you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. I recommend starting with easy sewing patterns that are similar to styles you already have in your wardrobe. So maybe in the last exercise you found you really love wearing a camisole top, why not try finding a camisole sewing pattern which will allow you to sew a garment you know you’ll love. In my sewing book ‘Sew Simple’ I have a collection of 15 beginner-friendly sewing patterns that will get you sewing clothes you’ll actually love to wear. The styles are modern and stylish and are perfect for wherever you are in your sewing journey. Included in the book, there’s a versatile camisole sewing pattern that you can sew in two lengths allowing you to make a top or a dress. I love to wear clothes that slip on, are easy to wear and that have no tricky fastenings. Which is exactly what I incorporated in all the patterns in the book ‘Sew Simple’. The size inclusive sewing patterns come in sizes 6-32 and have detailed written and illustrated instructions for you to follow. It’s such a pet peeve of mine when instructions leave you more confused than when you started, which is exactly why every single step is illustrated so there’s no guesswork on your end. Using patterns that are easy to sew will allow you actually enjoy the sewing process and make clothes you’ll reach for again and again. 3Learn how to fit clothes to your personal shape I know how daunting and intimidating it can feel to put something on and not know how to make it fit. So many people give up on their sewing journey because they sewed a size that doesn’t fit their proportions properly. The good news is that there are so many things you can change about a pattern you’re using to fit you better. Let’s start off with the simplest, which is making sure you’re sewing the correct size for your body. When taking measurements, you’ll want to use a flexible measuring tape and retake them every couple of months. This will make sure they’re accurate and reflect the size your body is now. Then we’ll want to try a slightly more complex process called grading the pattern. Let’s say you’re sewing a top and you realise when you look at the size chart, your measurements fall into a size 12 at the bust and size 16 at the waist. You don’t want to simply sew a straight size 16 to fit you everywhere, you want to grade the pattern so you can sew both sizes at the right sections. This technique is called grading the pattern and involves drawing a line or curve that connects the sizes together. Inside the book ‘Sew Simple’ there is a detailed illustrated tutorial showing exactly how you can do this to any sewing pattern. There’s so many different adjustments you can make to a sewing pattern, to make sure it’ll fit your body exactly the way you want. Learning how to lengthen or shorten a top, make a full bust adjustment or even change up the neckline can allow you to really transform a pattern to your style. All these changes will allow you to sew clothes you’ll love to wear because it fits you just right. Don’t be afraid to make a test garment too (also known as a toile) to allow you to tweak the fit before cutting into your final fabric. 4Celebrate the small wins and enjoy the process The truth is, learning to sew clothes you’ll actually want to wear is a process that will take lots of trial and error. But don’t be so hard on yourself when things don’t turn out perfect. I truly believe every project is a learning curve that allows you to test yourself with new techniques and styles. Maybe this was the first time you tried sewing shirring and all the lines turned out wobbly, but you ended up with your first wearable piece! Or maybe you sewed your first skirt and realised it’s three inches too short, why not chop it up and make it a mini length? The more you sew, the more you’ll start to find what you like to make and what suits your style. I like to take pictures of garments I’ve made that I feel really proud of because it helps me keep motivated and reminds me of what my hands are capable of! I hope this has given you a clearer understanding of why projects you’ve sewn in the past might not have lived up to expectation and what you can do differently next time. If you want to learn how to start sewing and get stuck into sewing 15 beginner friendly patterns, check out my book ‘Sew Simple’. Instagram or TikTok @tammy.handmade www.tammyhandmade.com
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