 Hello and welcome to our very first Secret Sewing Club - Book Group! We're sew excited to bring this completely new and exclusive sewing book club to our lovely Secret Sewing Club members and can't wait for the discussion to begin. So how is it going to work? Every month we will put a post in the Secret Sewing Club Facebook group with details of the chosen book of the month, some details about it and a link to the blog for even more info! You can then post your own comments and questions in the Facebook group and we will have created our very own sewing book club. We're planning for the books to be a mixture of fact and fiction and will also be including some books on wellbeing and self development. So if you have any ideas for future book you would like to be included please do let us know! November 2023 - Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing  For the very first book club we thought it would be good to start with a sewing book that is practical, comprehensive, explanatory and in our view an absolute must for all sewists. The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing has been around for quite some time, in my edition it states that it was first published in 1978, and mine is a reprinted copy from 1981. This is usually quite easy to find this book second hand from online sites such as eBay, Amazon Marketplace, World of Books and Abe Books for a reasonable price. There are also more up to date versions of the book available, however we have not looked at a newer copy to compare with the original version so the information included here is based on the 1978 book. If you do own a copy of a more up to date version we would love to know what you think of it, please do tell us in the comments below or the Facebook group. This is a very comprehensive book covering many many aspects of sewing from the very start of finding a place to sew, though to tailoring techniques and sewing projects. As this book is from 1978 it can feel somewhat dated in some of the language and terminology and projects, but the practical information and techniques are as relevant for sewing in 21st Century as they ever were. Whilst the picture below of the contents page gives an indication of what is included in the book, the relevant discussion and technique guides are in depth with clear pictures to illustrate the process.  You can see in the picture below that whilst the contents page showed page numbers for 5 different types of zip, when going to that section this is broken down into even more detail to help you find exactly what you are looking for. And of course there is also an index in the back of the book for more ways to search.
Whilst, as I said before, some of the wording and pictures in this addition are somewhat dated and some of the discussion around fabric types and patterns does not align with with our own view in Start to Stitch about wearing what makes you fell good and what you like - we like dopamine dressing and wearing what makes YOU feel good- the practical techniques and information in the book is well presented, informative and accessible. It is in our view a real gem of a book and a fabulous addition to a sewing book library. The book club discussion about this book takes place within the membership group of the Secret Sewing Club. The SSC Book Club is just one is part of this comprehensive and super fun membership community. It includes access to ALL of the Start to Stitch Academy Courses, 2 open Q+ A's a month, a monthly Club Sewcial, Book Club and much more!
Membership enrolment for the Secret Sewing Club is currently closed, however doors will be opening again with a wonderful FREE online event in Spring 2024. If you love sewing or are just starting out and curious and eager to learn more then please register here to be the first to learn when the membership re-opens. We would love you to join us in our super friendly, inclusive, supportive and fun sewing club 😊
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#getesetsewnovember - Sew Cosy  Well autumn has well and truly arrived here in the northern hemisphere The eveings are getting darker, Its starting to get a bit stormy, and there is a distinct chill in the air. And with November arriving in style with a huge storm here in Cornwall, we thought it was the perfect timing for a #getsetsew challenge. to warm you up a bit. And for those in the sourthern hemisphere, summer maybe on it's way, but there may be an odd chilly evening still so there will be something for yoy here too! The #getsetsewnovemeber challenge is..................Sew Cosy! Oh goodness where to start with this one! There are so many choices and ways to go with this challenge, it is wide open. Anything from cardigans, to jackets, to sweaters, to sweatshirts to joggers, to gilets, all the way though to scarves, gloves, mittens, hats and even slippers.  You could make a warming wheat bag pillow (check out this free pattern from The Sewing Directory), a wearable blanket (think an Oodie) like this free pattern. Or even a onsie (remember the really cosy one I made last year? you can find the pattern here) Or how about some cosy pyjamas? there are some great free patterns for pyjama bottoms that can bee teamed up with a t-shirt for long sleeved top pattern that you may already have in your stash. Patterns for Pirates have some grat adult and child free pyjama bottoms patterns: Walk the Plank Adult PJ bottoms and Youth PJ bottoms Ever though of making a quillow? That's a quilt that folds into a pillow, they are great fun and make great gifts too! There are lots of quillow ideas and tutorials that will appear as if by magic, well with a google search actually!!. And remember this #getsetsew challenge isn't limited just to just garment sewists, you can knit, crochet, quilt, patchwork, anything as long as the them of the item is 'cosy'. So there you have it....#getsetsewnovemeber is live. We can’t wait to seeing your cosy makes for this challenge. Don't forget to use the hashtag #getsetsewnovember when you post pictures of your makes in the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group. And most importantly don't forget to post the pics in the #getsetsew November album so we can be inspired by seeing your wonderful designs all in one place. The album can be found under Media > Albums from a computer, or by clicking on the three lines at the top left side of the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group page from a mobile device.. If you're on Instagram then please tag us in your posts @starttostitch we love seeing them 📷😊
Are You Ready??? GET, SET...............SEW!! #getsetsewoctober - Embroidery  🧵🪡GetSetSew OCTOBER has landed!🪡🧵 It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. I know what that's like and somehow seem to always fail at carving out down time for myself in any sustainable way.. But sometimes, we really do need to slow down and take some time for ourselves. Mindful slow sewing such as embroidery which allows us to focus on the present moment helps! Paying attention to the feel of the fabric in your hands, the sound of the needle piercing through the fabric, the rhythm of the stitching makes embroidery a great project to calm your mind, relax and take some time for you. It is the perfect autumnal activity 🎃, think cosy evening curled up in the warm with a hot chocolate or your favorite tipple close to hand. It is also a great way to improve your hand sewing skills and dexterity for your me-made garments too. Embroidery is also super creative. It allows us to express ourselves through our designs and favourite colours and it can be used to embellish garments, bags, cushions, and any number of other projects, and can also be used to create wonderful visible mends. ANYTHING goes for this challenge, you can mend your jeans, embellish your jacket, prettify a cardigan, cross stitch a bookmark - just do it by hand. As the choice of project and design is so wide for this month's #getsetsew we have put together a list of some of our favourite Instagram accounts for some creative inspiration. Instagram Inspo: @hellohoorayblog - sometimes we just go and scroll the feed for a dose of colourful uplifting dopamine. @embroideryartbynat - wonderful pieces of stitched artwork, some of it so realistic its hard to believe! @thefabledthread - whimsical fun designs that are reminiscent of historical tapestries but vivid and exciting and you will want every single one of them in your house! Annie designed 3 embroidery kits last year which are still available in the Joyful Sewing Boutique shop with a hefty 40% off! you can buy her glorious designs here
So, If you're looking for a way to slow down and soothe your soul, we heartily encourage you to try mindful slow sewing or embroidery. It's a great way to relax, de-stress, and be creative.
We can’t wait to seeing your makes for this challenge. Don't forget to use the hashtag #getsetsewoctober when you post pictures of your makes in the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group. And most importantly don't forget to post the pics in the #getsetsew October album so we can be inspired by seeing your wonderful designs all in one place. The album can be found under Media > Albums from a computer, or by clicking on the three lines at the top left side of the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group page from a mobile device.. If you're on Instagram then please tag us in your posts @starttostitch we love seeing them 📷😊 Sew Are You Ready??? GET, SET...............SEW!! #getetsewseptember - Shirts and Shackets  Sew here we are, September already!! The nights are starting to draw in and there is a feel of autumn in the air in the UK...well there was in August!! The move into September seems to have kick started summer again with a sweltering heatwave!! But hey ho that's no reason to rethink our September #getsetsew challenge choice as this would work perfectly as a cover up or layering garment too!! The #getsetsew challenge for September is shirts and shackets!! And the definition of a shacket is a shirt-like garment that is worn like a jacket. Hence its name, which is a combination of the words shirt and jacket 👔🧥 This challenge is perfect for everyone. For sewists who want to stretch their skills and tailored garment making knowledge there is the options of plackets, button holes, collars, yokes and pleats. Or for those who want to keep it more simple there are a multitude of over shirts, boxy shirts, and simple jacket patterns to chose from. And, if like our Annie, you have a button phobia (yes really!!) then why not explore alternative fastenings such as ties or snaps. Many shirt patterns can be adapted into shackets. We would advise that you check the finished garment measurements and maybe size up from your usual measurements to make a shacket if you want to wear it as an outer layer. And if you're already thinking ahead to Christmas, and I know some of us are! then you could make a shirt as the perfect personalised gift for a loved one. A quick search though our Stitch Sewcial Facebook page will provide you with some brilliant inspiration from members who have made the most amazing shirts and shackets. And as always we have put together a list of some of our favourite shirt and shacket patterns below. But in all honesty there are so many options out there you may want to to spend a it of time researching to find the perfect one for you that you would just love to make. And lots of smaller and indie pattern companies often have online tutorials to help out with those tricky elements. Style Arc Logan Shacket - An oversized jacket with slightly dropped shoulders, a two-piece shirt collar, and both breast and in-seam pockets https://thefoldline.com/product/logan-shacket/ Merchant and Mills Men’s Arbor Jacket or Shirt - A workwear-inspired jacket or shirt that wwould look great made in a variety of fabrics such as brushed cotton, canvas, wool or a lightweight linen. https://thefoldline.com/product/merchant-mills-the-mens-arbor-jacket-or-shirt/ Friday Pattern Co Ilford Jacket - This is a really versatile jacket thatcan be customized in loads of different ways such as two sleeve options, two lengths, and lots of different pocket templates so you can make the perfect jacket for YOU! https://thefoldline.com/product/ilford-jacket-unisex-pdf/ Hey June Handmade Fairmount Shacket - A relaxed, drop-sleeve button down pattern that is halfway between a shirt and a jacket - the perfect Shacket!! https://thefoldline.com/product/fairmount-shacket/ Thread Theory Fairfield Shirt - A favourtie in the Stitch Sewcial community the Fairfield is a button-up shirt with all the classic tailored details https://thefoldline.com/product/fairfield-shirt/ But as we've said there are hundreds of shirt patterns out there. A quick search of the word 'shirt'' in the Fold Line brings up around 3000 patterns to chose from. We have sub divided these below into their Men's, Women's and Children's categories to get you started, and remember so many of these are totally unisex., so the world is your sewing oyster! Women’s Shirt patterns from The Fold Line https://thefoldline.com/?s=shirt%20patterns&main_category%5B0%5D=Women Men’s Shirt Patterns from The Fold Line https://thefoldline.com/?s=shirt%20patterns&main_category%5B0%5D=Women Children’s Shirt Patterns from The Fold Line https://thefoldline.com/?s=shirt%20patterns&main_category%5B0%5D=Baby%20Child%20Teen Sew it's time to #getsetsew. We can’t wait to seeing your makes for this challenge. Don't forget to use the hashtag #getsetsewseptember when you post pictures of your makes in the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group. And most importantly don't forget to post the pics in the #getsetsew September album so we can be inspired by seeing your wonderful makes all in one place. The album can be found under Media > Albums from a computer, or by clicking on the three lines at the top left side of the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group page form a mobile device.. If you're on Instagram then please tag us in your posts @starttostitch we love seeing them 📷😊 Are you ready????....Get...Set...SEW!!!!!!
#getsetsewaugust Swimwear  After our break for series 9 of the Sewing Bee we’re back with a new #getsetsew challenge for August. And what a challenge it is! This month the theme is swimwear. Be that bikinis, one piece costumes, swim shorts etc., This is an opportunity to explore working with stretch fabrics and elastics maybe in a way you haven’t done before. For those of you who don’t swim or sunbathe then there is also the alternative option of making underwear. The idea is that you are working with stretch fabrics and elastics. As always, for some inspiration we have put together a few of our favourite swimwear patterns that may help to get you started to think about what you'd like to make. We will also be adding a resource file into our Stitch Sewcial Facebook group, so please add any other pattern ideas you have into this too 😃 Paid for patterns: Ellie and Mac have a large choice of swimwear patterns to purchase for adults and children. These include costumes, two pieces, tankinis, board shorts, and rashguard wear Waves and Wild also have a selection of swimwear patterns for children Helen’s Closet Sandpiper Swimsuit is a popular choice and one of Annie's favourites The Coralie Swimsuit and bikini pattern from Tilly and the Buttons is another popular choice The Friday Pattern Company have the Seabright costume pattern, and they also have the popular Vernazza two piece pattern If you search ‘swim’ in the Foldline then there is a huge selection of patterns to chose from fro adults and children, that can be filtered by style, size, fabric, sewing level etc, so you can find the perfect swimwear pattern for you swim👙🩱🩳😊 There is also a wide choice of swimwear patterns available on Etsy Free patterns: Mood Sewciety from Mood Fabrics have several free swimwear patterns for adults with a variety of different designs and styles available The Small Dream Factory have a free child’s swimsuit pattern with a tutorial Fabric and Haberdashery Stockists Some of Annie’s favourite swimwear stockists of fabrics, haberdashery (elastics, cups etc), lining and powermesh for swimwear include: Little Legs Fabrics Fabric Godmother Stitches and Ink Etsy As always a google search will bring up a wide range of other fabric and haberdashery shop choices. Sew it's time to #getsetsew. We can’t wait to seeing your makes for this challenge. Don't forget to use the hashtag #getsetsewaugust when you post pictures of your makes in the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group. And most importantly don't forget to post the pics in the #getsetsew August album so we can be inspired by seeing your wonderful makes all in one place. The album can be found under Media > Albums from a computer, or by clicking on the three lines at the top left side of the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group page. If you're on Instagram then please tag us in your posts @starttostitch we love seeing them 📷😊 #getsetsewapril - Make a Dress  This month we have a #getsetsew with a difference!! As you may know we started our #getsetsew challenges as an antidote to our Sewing Bee chats ending, and with the new series of the Sewing Bee starting in May we will be returning to our weekly Bee chats and pausing #getsetsew during May and June .........or will we???? So this year we've decided to make the #getsetsew challenge for April a little bit different. The challenge will be set as usual but the opportunity to enter your makes will last until the end of June. So you have a whole thee months to join in 😀 and still fit in the Sewing Bee chats 🐝 #getsetsewmarch is all about the dress! And that is the only stipulation. You can chose to make any style of dress, use any fabric you want, make one for yourself, a family member or maybe a friend, as long as it is a dress!!
As always, for some inspiration we have put together a few of our favourite dress patterns that may help to get you started to think about what you'd like to make. We will also be adding a resource file into our Stitch Sewcial Facebook group, so please add any other pattern ideas you have into this too 😃
These are just a very small seletion of all the hundreds of dress patterns that are available. In fact the foldline has more than 2000 dress patterns in their library that can be filtered by style, size, fabric, sewing level etc, so you can find the perfect dress for you 👗😊 Sew it's time to #getsetsew. We are relly loolking forward to seeing yorumakes for this challenge. Don't forget to use the hashtag #getsetsewapril when you post pictures of your makes in the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group. And most importantly don't forget to post the pics in the #getsetsew April album to be in with a chance of winning a small prize. The album can be found under Media > Albums from a computer, or by clicking on the three lines at the top left side of the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group page. If you're on Instagram then please tag us in your posts @starttostitch we love seeing them 📷😊
Are you ready?? GET.....SET.......SEW!! At the Start to Stitch Academy we have a number of online courses available in our Academy, from our Back to Basics course for people who have little or no sewing knowledge, though to learning to Sew with Stretch Fabrics, and courses to teach you how to sew your own luxurious Soft Furnishings. In each of the courses we offer you’ll learn new techniques and how to troubleshoot common issues, as well as create wonderful handmade items. 🌟🌟Benefits to signing up for one of our courses include🌟🌟 🌟Lifetime access to your course, giving the ability to complete it at your pace 🌟Online App means you can access your course from any device. 🌟Access to a real life tutor via a dedicated facebook page 🌟Spread the cost while you learn with pay by installment options If you’re not sure what course to do first then why not take a look at our Which Course is Right for You? blog post which will help you decide. You can also sign up for our FREE Learn to Sew Mini Course, for a taste of what we do and how we do it, and 10% discount off future course purchases. So why not take a look and get started on your sewing journey today 😊 You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram and why not join our super friendly Stitch Sewcial Facebook group for even more inspiration and sewing loveliness. We look forward to seeing you there. #getsetsewmarch - Spring  We've had some beautiful, if somewhat chilly, days recently here in the UK, and it's so lovely to see gorgeous daffodils and primroses starting to appear. And some of you may even have even been lucky enough to have been able to see the amazing Aurora Borealis, it has been so active recently that it was even visible in Cornwall!! With sunshine and colour appearing all around us we decided to take this as inspiration for this month's #getsetsew challenge. So this month we have decided that #getsetsewmarch should be all about Spring💐🐣🐇🐑 With no set pattern, fabric or yarn for this challenge the choice of make is entirely yours, as long as it has a link to springtime. Think the changing season, spring colours, springtime themed fabric, or even a make for Easter. Ok Easter is technically in April but you could get ahead of the game! For some inspiration we have put together a few ideas that may get you thinking. about what to make. We will also be adding a resource file into our Stitch Sewcial Facebook group so please add any other ideas you have into this too 😃
Sew it's time to #getsetsew. We can't wait to see what you will make for this challenge. Don't forget to use the hashtag #getsetsewmarch when you post pictures of your makes in the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group. And most importantly don't forget to post the pics in the #getsetsew March album to be in with a chance of winning a small prize. If you're on Instagram then please tag us in your posts @starttostitch we love seeing them 📷😊 Are you ready?? GET.....SET.......SEW!! At the Start to Stitch Academy we have a number of online courses available in our Academy, from our Back to Basics course for people who have little or no sewing knowledge, though to learning to Sew with Stretch Fabrics, and courses to teach you how to sew your own luxurious Soft Furnishings. In each of the courses we offer you’ll learn new techniques and how to troubleshoot common issues, as well as create wonderful handmade items.
🌟🌟Benefits to signing up for one of our courses include🌟🌟 🌟Lifetime access to your course, giving the ability to complete it at your pace 🌟Online App means you can access your course from any device. 🌟Access to a real life tutor via term time zoom sessions and direct messaging 🌟Spread the cost while you learn with pay by installment options If you’re not sure what course to do first then why not take a look at our Which Course is Right for You? blog post which will help you decide. You can also sign up for our FREE Learn to Sew Mini Course, for a taste of what we do and how we do it, and 10% discount off future course purchases. So why not take a look and get started on your sewing journey today 😊 You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram and why not join our super friendly Stitch Sewcial Facebook group for even more inspiration and sewing loveliness. We look forward to seeing you there. #getsetsewfebruary - The Ker Pouch  So the loooong month of January is over and it's time for our February #getsetsew challenge. And this time we thought we'd do something a little different. This month we're giving you the pattern and the instructions to make your very own Ker Pouch. So you're asking just what a Ker Pouch is and exactly why you need one in your life?? You may remember that a few months ago I did a wonderful collaboration with Seasalt and as part of this produced a Ker Pouch pattern, instructions and a video tutorial. Essentially this is a drawstring bag or pouch, with smaller segmented compartments inside that this used for holding your jewellery safely both at home or when you are travelling. Ker is the old Cornish word for ‘precious’ - so it is the perfect name for a place to safely store your jewellery and other special pieces. The Ker pouch also makes a lovely gift for a birthday or a even a 'just because...' gift. And with Mother's day in March this could be a perfect opportunity for a hand-made present for your Mum or a valued person in your life. But what if you don't need or want a jewellery pouch? Well the beauty of this design is that it is very easily adapted for other uses. For instance you could leave inside compartments out and have a drawstring makeup bag that opens right up so you don't have to dig around for your mascara or blusher. Or how about using it with the compartments to store hair bobbles, scrunchies, clips etc? Another option could be to line with a wipeable fabric to use a a lunch bag, when open this also gives the added bonus of becoming a flexible map napkin/plate. Or how about using it for sewing tool storage, enabling you to keep all your sewing bits and pieces in one place - we do love a bit of organised sewing here at Start to Stitch. .And you don't have to stick to the sizes given in the instructions. You could make a much larger version that when open creates a play may and when closed a toy storage bag- think easy storage for those plastic building bricks! It may even help prevent you form standing on them... I know that pain only too well!! 😖🤣 Made in a waterproof fabric this could also be the perfect beach changing mat, big enough when opened to stand on whilst you strip off your swimming gear (whilst wearing a changing robe 😳😉) and then ideal to carry your wet swimwear home in. Or why not make one as a baby changing mat / bag. With a myriad of possible uses this drawstring pouch pattern is so versatile. And you can be sustainable with this make too, by using fabric pieces you may already have or re-purposing old clothes or items that you no longer wear or use, or that are maybe beyond mending. But these are just some of our ideas, what will you use your pouch for? Tell us in the comments below and we can add these to our list. Sew it's time to #getsetsew. You can download the pattern and instructions for the Ker Pouch from the Seasalt website here We can't wait to see what you will use your Ker Pouch pattern to make for this challenge. Don't forget to use the hashtag #getsetsewfebruary when you post pictures of your makes in the Stitch Sewcial Facebook group, and to tag us on Instagram @starttostitch we love seeing them. Are you ready?? GET.....SET.......SEW!! At the Start to Stitch Academy we have a number of online courses available in our Academy, from our Back to Basics course for people who have little or no sewing knowledge, though to learning to Sew with Stretch Fabrics, and courses to teach you how to sew your own luxurious Soft Furnishings. In each of the courses we offer you’ll learn new techniques and how to troubleshoot common issues, as well as create wonderful handmade items.
🌟🌟Benefits to signing up for one of our courses include🌟🌟 🌟Lifetime access to your course, giving the ability to complete it at your pace 🌟Online App means you can access your course from any device. 🌟Access to a real life tutor via term time zoom sessions and direct messaging 🌟Spread the cost while you learn with pay by installment options If you’re not sure what course to do first then why not take a look at our Which Course is Right for You? blog post which will help you decide. You can also sign up for our FREE Learn to Sew Mini Course, for a taste of what we do and how we do it, and 10% discount off future course purchases. So why not take a look and get started on your sewing journey today 😊 You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram and why not join our super friendly Stitch Sewcial Facebook group for even more inspiration and sewing loveliness. We look forward to seeing you there. Everything you need to know... If you're new here or just dip in and out of the group I wanted to do a formal post about Getsetsew to explain what it's all about! What is getsetsew? Every month, throughout the year, I set a challenge. It changes every month, is often inspired by the challenges that appear in the Great British Sewing Bee (it's basically our own less pressurised version!!) and is designed to:
What is getsetsew BINGO? You'll see from the pic below that Getsetsew Bingo is now a thing - and it's a way of recording how many of the challenges you have taken part in, or keep track of which ones you've missed out on in case you want to play catch up! I will also add a square version in the comments if you'd like that one for your insta feeds:) It was brilliant at the end of 2022 to see everyone's completed bing cards come into the group! Do I have to take part? It is NOT compulsory to take part in ANY of the challenges! being in the group is about so much more than Getsetsew, but what Getsetsew does do is give you a bit of a focus, if you need one. one month, no months, 5 months - or all of them, it's completely up to you! I am not even strict about deadlines..... your sewing has to work around YOU! Why no challenges in May and June? Getsetsew began as an antidote to the massive whole we all had left after the Great British Sewing bee finished just after Lockdown one in 2020 in the UK (where I am based) This group started life during that time and when the Bee came back on our screens we live chatted every week about each episode as it was broadcast and it really helped bring us all together. We still do that, when the series airs in the UK, and because the admin of this takes quite a bit of effort, we take a break for the months its showing so we can focus on that aspect of this brilliantly community. How do I find out what is this months challenge?
How do I take part? If a challenge appeals, you just get on with it! If you have any questions ask us here in the group... and then share your make in here once you've completed it so we can all cheer you on! (We're VERY good at cheerleading here - it's one of the best things about this brilliant community ) Are you ready? Get, s e t, SEW! Annie xx 
#getsetsewjanuary - UFOs and USOs  It's 2023 and time for a new year of #getsetsew Hurrah!! If you are new to our #getsetsew challenges you can find out more about them here and also download our #getsetsew bingo card! With the title of this months #getsetsew you might be forgiven for thinking that maybe we've moved into the realms of the paranormal! Well not quite! But we did think that the start of the new year was a good time to have a sort through those unfinished objects (UFOs) or un-started objects (USOs) that the majority of us sewists always have, and to get one (or more!) finished. 🛸👽In fact the definition of paranormal states that it is 'phenomena...being beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding' which I think sums up my pile of UFOs and USOs just perfectly! 😂🤣 As this month is all about completing unfinished or unstarted projects there are no pattern recommendations, as you will have already chosen these at some point in the past. Instead we've considered why we can build up UFOs and USOs, what the obstacles to completing them might be, and how these could be overcome. Time - this is a common problem, there is never enough time to sew! Is it possible to carve out a small amount of time to do one element of the project? You don't need to find a while day or even a couple of hours, maybe 15 minutes to even just look at the project and plan how to break it down into bite sized chunks can help you get back on track with it. Overwhelm - do you have several or even many UFOs and USOs that it seem overwhelming and you don't know where to start or which one to start with? Maybe this is actually your starting point then. Why not get them all out, list them and decide which order you want to do them in. Think about the seasons or when you want to wear/use the finished item, do you have a specific event in mind. All this can help you to prioritse and re-motivate you New techniques - sometimes a technique or process that is new to us in a project can be a stumbling point leading to the project being abandoned. Maybe taking the time to go back and look at it again and reread in instructions can help you get back on track. And don't forget you can always ask questions in our super friendly Stitch Sewcial Facebook group, you can guarantee if you are struggling with something someone in there will have had a similar problem and be happy to offer support. Loss of interest - ever been at that point in a project when you just totally lose interest in it, you get sidetracked by other life event, or your sewjo just disappears. It happens to us all. Again many of the solutions are the same as those mentioned above. Breaking it down into bite sized chunks, re-reading the instructions, thinking about when you would like to have it made by. But sometimes it may be that the project just isn't right for you anymore, in which case you could think about re-purposing the fabric to make something that will bring you joy. So with the above in mind it's time to get those UFOs and USOs out of the naughty corner and back into the daylight. Are you ready??..........GET.......SET......SEW!!! At the Start to Stitch Academy we have a number of online courses available in our Academy, from our Back to Basics course for people who have little or no sewing knowledge, though to learning to Sew with Stretch Fabrics, and courses to teach you how to sew your own luxurious Soft Furnishings. In each of the courses we offer you’ll learn new techniques and how to troubleshoot common issues, as well as create wonderful handmade items.
🌟🌟Benefits to signing up for one of our courses include🌟🌟 🌟Lifetime access to your course, giving the ability to complete it at your pace 🌟Online App means you can access your course from any device. 🌟Access to a real life tutor via term time zoom sessions and direct messaging 🌟Spread the cost while you learn with pay by installment options If you’re not sure what course to do first then why not take a look at our Which Course is Right for You? blog post which will help you decide. You can also sign up for our FREE Learn to Sew Mini Course, for a taste of what we do and how we do it, and 10% discount off future course purchases. So why not take a look and get started on your sewing journey today 😊 You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram and why not join our super friendly Stitch Sewcial Facebook group for even more inspiration and sewing loveliness. We look forward to seeing you there. |
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