Imagine being able to say to "that's a beautiful dress", "thanks, I've made it AND it has pockets!" at the same time. I'll definitely struggle with choosing with which line to say first, but that's a goal of mine 😁
I have also fallen victim to sewing garments without pockets. I think as a beginner, you're so focussed on the million other things you're learning, pockets get forgotten. Also its not always obvious where they should go, if you don't have a side seam in the right spot. Love your sewing content!
10 years in now i am just too lazy. I made myself overalls. Closed one the pockets in hotel room on way to a bar. I have dropped my phone trough the pant on my toes probably dozen the another one yet it still remains bottomless
It feels so weird to be wildly inspired by and also incredibly proud of you when we've never met?? 😂 You've definitely motivated me to use the Viking sewing machine I got an estate sale in 2019 to repair and make my own clothes! Might have to start with that green dress, because who starts with small projects, actually? Thanks for being so awesome and sharing this learning adventure with us!
For that long orange hat, you could just frog to the right length (assuming the fit/width is okay) and then re-knit the bottom, rather than frogging the entire thing!
I know you got typed as a dark autumn but you MUST have some winter qualities as well because you can pull off so many colors of that palette and you seem to gravitate naturally towards them anyway. Look at how much you shine against that magenta wall background! 😍
I really love that you showed both the wins and the not-so-winning outcomes. I am always tempted to shove things that did not turn out into a dark corner and beat myself over it. Recently, however, I've started keeping a journal of makes, and trying to be more open about my process rather than the outcome. Thank you for discussing it all.
The joy of finding linen bedsheets 🌟 a few years ago I made a pair of dungarees for my partner's nephew. It was his second birthday and he was sooo excited. He immediately wanted to wear them over all his other clothes and refused to take them off again. Loove your makes and comments. Sewing is such a fun and helpful skill (and hobby).
Wow you look gorgeous in that green dress. How badass is it that you MADE something so perfect for you! My grandma taught me to sew when I was young, and she put me in classes to meet other kids. It's a special memory for me, but I always felt like I couldn't get a sewing machine while living the apartment hopping life. You've made me realize it's possible!! ❤
I wish I was interested in sewing! For the knitting part, I laughed a little at every too big or too thick project. The secret is to read the label, it tells you how many stitches and rows per 4" you are approximatly going to get when using the suggested needle size. It's not perfect since everyone's tension is a little different but if you match the gauge of the yarn on the label to the gauge recommended in the pattern, you are more likely to get a hat instead of a sleeping bag 😉
Hi Leena, love your videos! Knitter here: do you gauge swatch before starting your projects? This is a way to make sure your finished garments will fit :)
I second this, because I used to not do a knitting gauge Swatch and my finish products would always end up being super tiny because my stitches were super tight weather I was using knitting needles or a knitting loom. Also the weight of the yarn can drastically change your gauge as well. Sometimes I have had to use two or three strands of worsted weight yarn to equal that of a chunkier yarn. The gauge is usually just a 4-in x 4-in square. If you are doing anything with cabling or lace it's usually one repeat of the cabling pattern or the lace pattern. I use a row counter app which you can plug in the number of stitches in each row and the number of each rows in your Swatch and compare it to the numbers given in the guage Swatch in the pattern and then how many rows and stitches are in the overall pattern to give you how much how many rows and stitches per row you'll need to end up with the same result. No crazy math required! (It's Row Counter - Knit and Crochet by Annapurnapp Technologies, and you can save your patterns in the app too!)
agreed! either the gauge, or making sure you have the right needle size/ yarn size (weight?). My first sweater I had to frog 6 times to figure out a good needle size for the yarn I chose
I was coming to say the same thing. Figuring out how to swatch and make changes accordingly to your swatch is a game changer in knitting and matters more as fit becomes more important. Most of us start with scarves and hats for a reason. It feels like a right of passage similar to sewing a garment out of quilting cotton to not use a swatch and find out first hand that doing a gauge swatch matters.
As a crochet girlie on a budget, one hack I've learned for making cheapo yarns less itchy is to use fabric softener and/or hair conditioner to make the yarn softer and nicer to the touch. It's usually recommended to do on the skein before you create your garment (so that the yarn gets more uniformly softened), but it works just fine on completed projects in my experience. The tricky part is rinsing them thoroughly. Also, if you're washing a skein, PUT IT INSIDE A MESH BAG. If you don't, you *will* ruin both a washing machine and your yarn. That or hand wash it. There's a lot more detail to the hack depending on what fiber type you're using, but the cheap stuff is usually acrylic/polyester, so washing it will be fine. Be careful using it on actual wool, you might turn your yarn into felt, especially if you're using roving.
I highly recommend buying fabric as a souvenir! Even if it's just a small amount, you can incorporate it into apparel very easily as a cuff, a pocket, a lacy collar, a change purse, or in a quilt, etc. It's wonderful to look at my handmade wardrobe and see buttons and patches that remind me of all my travels 😀
I really love the idea of sourcing items/ingredients for projects as a travel souvenir. I for a long time have tried to source items of use (a new scarf, a print for my wall), but the idea of having e.g. some fabric as a souvenir from that trip that you get to work with and create new memories with is even better.
I often get buttons at the local craft stores in the places I visit. I love them bc they’re small, cheap, you normally won’t need more than the 5ish you buy, and it gives such a fun accent to the pieces I make!
Omg, THAT'S why it's called frogging?! You are doing SO WELL Leena!! I absolutely loved watching this video while working on the knit tank top that's been torturing me all summer. Your knitting wins are big inspo for me.
“I lined the sleeves- STOP IT 😂” I died laughing ❤😂 this is AMAZING and makes me want to learn to sew!! Love the green one and last one the best!! Yay new clothes!!!!
Leena, I find your whole attitude inspiring!!! And i have been sewing for 50 years! I tend to avoid things I think are too difficult and there's so much i still dont know - BUT it is such a joy to sew - i share that with you. It's good to be nonchalent about ''failure' - because 'every stumbling block is a stepping stone'. You've got a great aim, and I know you'll achieve it - clothes you have knitted and sewn yourself that fit you, suit you, and that you will cherish.
I was just wondering this! Leena, can you share with us how you manage your time or maybe make a 20s Toolkit video on how to balance hobbies with daily life? 💛 Your videos are always amazing.
I can tell that you are feeling the JOY that comes from making and it makes me so happy! Well done on all of your creations so far and I can’t wait to see what else you make next!
as a very intuitive (read: easily demotivated) knitter and hand-sewer - I SO recommend ditching patterns. I only look to them for ideas/techniques/skills, but actually never follow them. I knit to size, try things on, pin things to my body and hold them up to current things that fit me well. it helps me stay motivated and also not finish a whole project that ends up being made only for my worm/snake friends lol
This was such a lovely video! So inspiring to see your sewing journey, you've made so many beautiful things in the last year. Just wanted to share a few tips from matching sizing (based on my crochet experience, so take with a healthy grain of salt). First, look for knitting patterns that include a gauge (should give the intended proportion of stitches to inches), and then make a gauge square to see how your size compares to theirs. It's kind of a faff, but it should let you choose your own wool of a similar-ish weight, and then adjust kneedle size if you need to get it to the same scale as the pattern. If you can only get one dimension to match, it's sometimes easier to aim for width, and then just change length based on vibes (but that depends on the garment). Or if you're feeling mathematically inclined, you can adjust the pattern to match your gauge, i.e. if you have 15 stitches to 4 inches and they have 10, you'd want to increase the number of stitches you cast on by 50% (I think). Also, I'd guess you're already doing this, but jut in case, checking the weight of the yarn the pattern calls for (i.e. DK, aran, fingering, etc) and making sure to match that is a good baseline (but obviously trickier with thrifted yarn!) You can also compare the yarn weight and length-a heavier yarn will have more weight for less length, so if you can find the length and weight of a skein of the pattern yarn, you can look for other yarn with a similar ratio. Finallyyyy, I don't know if you're blocking your knits, but if not, that's a really good way to adjust sizing a little bit, especially if something has ended up too small. I hope some of this is a bit helpful, and not all things you already know-things sometimes do just turn out a bit wonky, and it's all very much part of the process, but I just wouldn't want you to feel like you have to buy the exact wool a pattern recommends, given how spenny that can be!
That last dress is amazing and looks so good. And this video made me thibk about what exactly i have done this year. At first I thought "17 pieces is a lot, I don't think I have made that many this year." But after thinking about it a bit, I realised that I have made 6 completely new things and upcycled about ten. So I HAVE made a lot this year so far
Thanks so much for going through your mistakes and your joy. You really made me feel A lot more willing to try a new hobby and just be OK with making mistakes 🫶
This is so inspiring. I had such a terrible time at secondary school in Textiles and it really put me off sewing and using a sewing machine. I finally learnt how to use a sewing machine five years ago when I was part of a Design and Make course at Chichester Festival Theatre (so cool I know. I was the youngest person by about 40 years) and I am proud of myself. I even showed my mum how to set up her sewing machine as it was the same one I’d properly learnt on. Since then I’ve dabbled in sewing but the fear of failing and ‘ruining’ fabric has put me off. Your attempts remind me it is okay to fail and learn from them. Most things can be reversed or adapted when it comes to knitting, crochet, sewing. It is a real comfort. I also have to remind myself that at least I am trying to do better!
Thank you, you’ve inspired me to start sewing again after going back and forth in my head. I’ve ordered some books to refresh my memory and am soo looking forward to going to the fabric shop. Also, the last dress is gorgeous!
You're ACTUALLY influencing me into making my own clothes. Like now I just don't want to but clothes. I still if I really need to but I do want to do that less and start making them 😍 Thanks for giving me that motivation ang goal !
After giving the class of 29 8-10yr olds I was a TA for a small crochet snake with a marble in to fidget with each, I can confirm the small child joy thing, way more excited than I could have ever imagined
You 100% can make clothes out of quilting cotton. I find that there are so many more fun colourful patterns in the quilting section. At the end of the day it’s just about making sure the fabric you’re using suits the garment/pattern you’re making.
I've been toying with getting into sewing for years and felt so jealous of friends who had that skill. I just didn't think I was at the right time in my life to fit in learning a new skill but I loved watching videos about sewing and dressmakingcommitment
That green linen dress is a win. You're right, even when it looks like a sack it's somehow such a pleasant sight. There's something really Greek about it without the belt. Also, your hair blow-out with that dress was *chef's kiss*.
For those who have seen the film "Cruella" from a couple years back, that last dress has the vibes, no? Could totally complete the look with some dramatic makeup and hair styling!
That black and white dress is incredible on you! ❤ Also, use a glazed cotton thread for gathering: It’s easy to gather fabric on and pull out when you’re finished with it.
Oh my goodness, that green dress looks SO GOOD ON YOU! Amazed by how much you've made so far this year, and I glad you mentioned all the benefits that come with making mistakes sometimes 😊
Ummmm I don't know how I'm going to focus on anything now without a more detailed knowledge of that sewing notebook. It is inspired. I must have one. Mercy!!!
It all looks amazing!! LOVE the sleeves on the final dress. I also sew and I thought I could share some tips on gathering: -You don't have to remove the gathering stitches when you stitch closer to the fabric edge (1/4 inch or 0.5 cm) and then sew on the other side of it (so further away from the edge). It will be hidden in the seam allowance. -The gathering will be more even when you use two gathering stitches close together (like 1/4 inch or 0.5 cm apart). If your then sew in between the two gathering stitches, the gathering is super duper even and beautiful. (This means you will have to remove at least one of the gathering stitches) Sewing two also means there's less of a chance that the thread breaks when you gather it! I hope my explanations make sense!!
I'm about 2 years behind you - I've just bought a second hand sewing machine and am learning to fix and tailor my clothes and it's very fun! One day I will start making stuff from scratch and it's inspiring to see you make such cool stuff. Even if it's not perfect! Let's be honest - the fast fashion stuff we wear has tucks and rolled or bouncy hems or holes in the pockets! We just see it more when we make it ourselves. I look forward to feeling confident enough to attempt a pattern.
Your black and white dress with the statement ruffle sleeves: 😍❤️👏. Love it. Also, you touched on an awesome thing about sewing our own garments is the secret pockets in a secret favourite fabric - fab for scrap busting. But also makes me smile about my own makes and their secrets when I wear them. I also use secret favourite fabrics on facings of skirts, linings, etc. I just finished a midi length button up denim skirt, and I used left over red and black floral viscose to line the waistband and pockets and it brings so much joy just to put it on. Moments of joy. Congratulations on your journey, you’re awesome.
Wow, and that final dress! The sleeves were truly brilliant, especially with the inside being lined with that same fabric. The black blocky bits were a perfect way to break up the pattern, but that pattern is so much fun! And it sits on your body SO WELL! It looks exaggerated and comfortable and so you.
I love seeing your eye for yarn/knitting gauge evolving! You may find Elizabeth Zimmermann’s “Knitting Without Tears” is a good knitting book for starting off with a bunch of different classic projects (like sweaters you design for yourself!) 😃
I'm sure someone has told you this by now, but the reason your knitted projects aren't coming out the correct size for the pattern is because doing a gauge swatch and making sure your gauge matches the pattern is really important! 💚
Girl. You know you can knit a swatch of the wool before you commit to the whole project right? It tells you on the pattern that this many stitches for this many rows should result in a square this size. If it doesn't, your wool/ tension/ needles are wrong and your garment isn't going to end up the size you thought. I did enjoy this video. Sewing content makes me happy
I love everything you made, especially the green dress and the last dress! My brain is telling me I don’t need a new hobby, but my heart is like..how FREEING it must be to be able to sew up whatever you like!
I absolutely LOVE your clothing-making videos. I watch them and it makes me so excited to knit again! Seeing how excited you are for each piece to is just the best.
the heart sweater is amazing 😭 if i lived in a colder climate i might dedicate a lot of time to learning how to knit, but for now i’ll sew. this video was so fun to watch ❤
The lining of those sleeves just transformed my life! And now I need to try it for myself! Thank you! Please make more videos on this making your own clothes! ❤
I love how you've gone from "me having to watch your makes through my fingers, while hiding behind the sofa" to "Wow! I'd wear that" so quickly. Learning to sew and pattern make from rectangles is a great idea, much less intimidating.
I loved this video. It made me really excited for the possibilities I have when it comes to not being naked. I’m always repairing my own clothing but maybe I can actually make something.
As someone who knows how to sew, I can't believe something made out of squares can look as good as that marble dress! I think this might have turned my opinion about frills and ruffles. But that fabric is a stunner for sure! Also, yay you for sticking with it and having fun too!! I don't have the patience to make things "just to see what it will look like". It's a wonderful quality that you can. The beanie fails are hilarious, but make one appreciate people's craft so much more. Thank you for an amazing video (as always both entertaining and educational)
so nice to sew all the awesome things that you've made, and the great 'fuck it! why not?" attitude you have to learning new stuff. I love that you're able to identify new things you've learned and stuff you'd do differently instead of getting critical. 10/10 amazing attitude and really cool projects, I hope you continue to get great joy out of this as you go
When you mentioned gathering is hard I felt so seen. I've been sewing for years and only this year cracked the secret to good gathering. The trick is to have at least two, better three lines of gathering stitches. Then what I do is gather it all up really tight and from there then distribute the gathers evenly instead of trying to do so from the beginning. Your seamline should run between two lines of gathering stitches. Since I've been doing this I'm getting better and better 💪
Never have I ever been more motivated to get Instagram xD. Love this, great stuff, attitude, info pacing etc. I find sewing videos are either "Here's 30min on one item" or summaries where they hold an item up for less than a minute. So this was perfect ^^
I love that you used the patterned fabric to line the sleeves in your black and white dress; it's a really fun touch and it looks awesome! For knitting, whenever you're trying a new yarn, if you aren't making a test swatch, you probably should. Knit up 20 or 40 stitches and 20 or 40 rows, then measure your result (maybe trace it or write it down in your project book). (You can frog the swatch after if you want.) This way, you'll be able to better predict if a new yarn will work the same on a project you've already done as one you've previously tried, so you'll be able to catch whether you need to adjust a pattern or not. Also, if you get around to trying out felting for stuff like hats, slippers, etc, you'll definitely want to knit up a swatch and felt it each time. I've even had situations where different colours in the same brand felted differently when making hats.
Loved seeing all of your creations! ❤. Relieved to see the things that went wrong and your great attitude about the learning as a valued part of the experience. I’ve also been watching, Thoughtful Creativity, here on UA-cam. She is a very experienced sewer but simplifies drafting your own patterns and DIYing thrift flips. Even if I don’t sew something directly from her, she explain why some things work and others don’t. She has an easy method to get you gathers even. Happy sewing 🧵Jen
So impressive. You stuck to the knitting and made in one year more than I managed to make in 3 years. Gave it up. My stepmother owns $300 worth of needles and yarn and patterns. Lol! I do not love that sewing pattern book but great job making those clothes!
How naive of me to think I could create something from scratch that I would like and wear and fit me well, in my first, second, x try. Thank you for showing the whole learning curve. It is so much more realistic than creating false expectations about sewing or own clothes will be perfect from the beginning. That's why this is an art, not a science, right?😊 also, btw, your last bkac dress using the same pattern from the front but under the sleeves was ace!! And the printed leopard pockets in the colourful dress! That c was genius! The sack dress with our without the belt is fab! Ah! Also b thank you for keep translating the sewing terminology for us (binding, frogging, etc)
Really need to learn knitting as it's faster and more yarn efficient than crochet, which is my only me-made craft at the moment. I love seeing what you've made Leena. The fun of making mistakes in the early days of yarn work is so hysterical sometimes, I definitely relate to the worm hat 😅 😅 thanks for sharing your makes!
I started a very similier journy in 2020 and have gotten into pattern drafting as a way to avoid learning how to read a pattern! a bodice block while time consuming to make, makes pretty much everything you could want to draft or make 100x easier I highly recomend if you ever find that just rectangles aren't doing exactly what you want
It would be really nice to see more use of hemp or other non-wool fabrics! The wool industry is a really dark, predatory industry, and wool isn’t a sustainable product by definition. Maybe a good video for the future!! Fabric sourcing!! ❤ You should be soooooo proud of all you’ve learned and made, holyyy! So awesome to see.
I am currently hand sewing a wool gown essentially??!? And I am definitely enjoying slowly and deliberately making design choices as I go to make it EXACTLY how I want it. There is so much joy to be had in making clothes you want to wear! I really love the secret patterned bits and the pockets made of the beloved leopard print My tip for knitting is to first make a test square with the yarn and knitting needles you intend to use! This usually ends up being about 10 knit stitches across by ten rows. Then I measure how many stitches per inch I am naturally making (with how my specific yarn is behaving, the tension I apply, the knitting needles I happen to have). Then I check my stitches per inch against the pattern to see if the scale of the pattern seems to work right. If it's waaaaaay off, you might even consider modifying the pattern to match your materials. I find it saves a lot of headache and lets you use the yarn you like!!!
Hey Leena! I hope you see this, I am a dedicated fan and knitter of over 10 years as well as a brightly colored indie yarn enthusiast SO I have advice for you! I know this is a bit long, but if you want to make pieces that will definitely last in your wardrobe, I promise this will help. 1 - If you want to make a pattern out of a yarn that is not listed in the pattern (which is normal, please do!) then check the weight of the yarn and the number of meters of the yarn and see if they match. If you have a 100 gram / 170 meter yarn and the pattern asks for a 50 gram / 80 meter yarn, that will be better than buying another 100 gram ball with a different number of meters. Just make sure you have the correct number of meters of yarn for the project total to determine how many skeins to buy. Use the ratios! 2 - before you start knitting your project and casting on, make a swatch using the yarn you want to use. The pattern should say something like this "gauge: 21 stitches x 22 rows". This means that with your yarn, if you cast on 21 stitches and knit for 22 rows you should have exactly a 10cm square. If you don't, then you will end up with a hat that is wildly out of shape compared to the pictures! If you're swatch is bigger than 10cm x 10cm, use smaller needles. If your swatch is smaller than 10cm x 10cm, use bigger needles. Try again until you get it right. Then use the exact same pattern but with the needles that got you the correct gauge swatch size. I hope this helps - my knit pieces are some of the longest worn and most loved in my wardrobe . You will get there and are already doing great! Good luck
I love every item in this video! I was already hoping that the dress you were wearing would be one of your own creations, it is amazing. The lining in the sleeves is spectacular! Thank you for going through the ups and downs of sewing and knitting your own pieces, it makes me want to make my own clothes too :)
You know what would be a really great knitting exercise for you? Making a hat without a pattern and frogging until it fits. It teaches you a lot about working with patterns and especially adjusting them to fit your chosen wool
for easing gathering you can get a gathering foot! they only seem to work on lightweight fabrics but are good for ruffles, you can’t really control the density of the gathers they are so good for consistent dense ruffles
You knitting your purple sweater inspired me to crochet (my hands don't like talking to each other enough for the coordination of knitting lol) my first ever non-scarf wearable item! I had stashed away 3 big rainbow cakes of yarn, unfortunately I am short and not sure if I care find it again or the right weight in colors that will go with it, but you still inspired me! I've literally been crocheting since I was 7, I am in my 30's and I never tried anything like this before! I usually stick to blankets and scarves! I'm also 99.9% sure I also have a thrifted pair of those leopard pants! I love them dearly! I currently am on a clothes buying freeze. I have to keep telling myself that or I will just "pop into the thrift" and walk out with things, it's just my nature, that I'm working on! But whenever I'm feeling like I need something new, I just walk into my studio and look through the 5, yes 5, fix it bins and get working. Thank you for sharing! This was lots of fun!
I learnt to crochet this year and accidentally created an addiction. I haven’t made anything fully yet, but I have some huge granny squares ready to stitch together into a huge blanket. I find it’s a lot quicker and more travel friendly than knitting.
Congratulations! I have taught sewing and knitting, and it's tough convincing students that it''s normal to make some weird looking items as you first get the hang of things, especially with using the wrong yarn or fabric for the pattern. (Yes, I give them tools for how to avoid this issue and they do it anyway.) Note on project 14- I don't know if this applies, but alpaca yarn will grow DRAMATICALLY after you knit it. If this year is alpaca, now you know why it is so long. It will grow no matter which pattern you use.
Listening to you talk about indie yarn knowing you’re probably deep into the natural fibres hole by now 😈😈😈 woolcome to the dark side, we have financial instability
Your black and white dress is phenomenal! I love the lined sleeve with the same fabric of the bodice, I actually gasped when I noticed it. I hope you treasure it forever!!
What I’m most impressed with is your creativity in picking out designs and patterns which fit your style. I’ve been finding out that I have never analysed what I like in clothing.
For dress 17 if you don't have enough fabric to make a pocket, maybe you can use little bit of black and white fabric that you have to make a welt pocket with a flap or a welt pocket with a tab
The marble dress and stories behind fabrics used to make it made my heart melt and I just had to show it to my girlfriend which is not interested in topics like this at all, I just forced her because it was to precious oh me oh my 🧡🧡🧡
I actually prefer the sack dress in its sack form. Looks very "I bake sourdough bread and unschool my children"
If I ever become a mom, this is the style of mom I want to be.
@@JoyandSerenity. you'll like 'really very crunchy'
The side slit is the real gamechanger in these kinds of 'pillow case' dresses.
I feel called out
I know you mean homeschool but unschool made me laugh
I am obsessed with the final black and white dress! I was staring at it in awe the whole video!
Yesssss agreeed!
Imagine being able to say to "that's a beautiful dress", "thanks, I've made it AND it has pockets!" at the same time. I'll definitely struggle with choosing with which line to say first, but that's a goal of mine 😁
I have also fallen victim to sewing garments without pockets. I think as a beginner, you're so focussed on the million other things you're learning, pockets get forgotten. Also its not always obvious where they should go, if you don't have a side seam in the right spot. Love your sewing content!
I agree - plus they seem like the easiest thing to forget and then go back and ADD at a later date, so I’m practicing forgiveness
10 years in now i am just too lazy. I made myself overalls. Closed one the pockets in hotel room on way to a bar. I have dropped my phone trough the pant on my toes probably dozen the another one yet it still remains bottomless
And not every dress or skirt should have pockets. If it's very light weight or fitted without much volume, pockets make it look weird and bunched.
It feels so weird to be wildly inspired by and also incredibly proud of you when we've never met?? 😂 You've definitely motivated me to use the Viking sewing machine I got an estate sale in 2019 to repair and make my own clothes! Might have to start with that green dress, because who starts with small projects, actually?
Thanks for being so awesome and sharing this learning adventure with us!
haha honestly that's just heartening to hear
For that long orange hat, you could just frog to the right length (assuming the fit/width is okay) and then re-knit the bottom, rather than frogging the entire thing!
I think it might be knitted sideways and then joined? I had the same thought though!
I know you got typed as a dark autumn but you MUST have some winter qualities as well because you can pull off so many colors of that palette and you seem to gravitate naturally towards them anyway. Look at how much you shine against that magenta wall background! 😍
I really love that you showed both the wins and the not-so-winning outcomes. I am always tempted to shove things that did not turn out into a dark corner and beat myself over it. Recently, however, I've started keeping a journal of makes, and trying to be more open about my process rather than the outcome. Thank you for discussing it all.
The joy of finding linen bedsheets 🌟 a few years ago I made a pair of dungarees for my partner's nephew. It was his second birthday and he was sooo excited. He immediately wanted to wear them over all his other clothes and refused to take them off again.
Loove your makes and comments. Sewing is such a fun and helpful skill (and hobby).
Wow you look gorgeous in that green dress. How badass is it that you MADE something so perfect for you! My grandma taught me to sew when I was young, and she put me in classes to meet other kids. It's a special memory for me, but I always felt like I couldn't get a sewing machine while living the apartment hopping life. You've made me realize it's possible!! ❤
I wish I was interested in sewing! For the knitting part, I laughed a little at every too big or too thick project. The secret is to read the label, it tells you how many stitches and rows per 4" you are approximatly going to get when using the suggested needle size. It's not perfect since everyone's tension is a little different but if you match the gauge of the yarn on the label to the gauge recommended in the pattern, you are more likely to get a hat instead of a sleeping bag 😉
Hi Leena, love your videos! Knitter here: do you gauge swatch before starting your projects? This is a way to make sure your finished garments will fit :)
I second this, because I used to not do a knitting gauge Swatch and my finish products would always end up being super tiny because my stitches were super tight weather I was using knitting needles or a knitting loom. Also the weight of the yarn can drastically change your gauge as well. Sometimes I have had to use two or three strands of worsted weight yarn to equal that of a chunkier yarn. The gauge is usually just a 4-in x 4-in square. If you are doing anything with cabling or lace it's usually one repeat of the cabling pattern or the lace pattern. I use a row counter app which you can plug in the number of stitches in each row and the number of each rows in your Swatch and compare it to the numbers given in the guage Swatch in the pattern and then how many rows and stitches are in the overall pattern to give you how much how many rows and stitches per row you'll need to end up with the same result. No crazy math required! (It's Row Counter - Knit and Crochet by Annapurnapp Technologies, and you can save your patterns in the app too!)
agreed! either the gauge, or making sure you have the right needle size/ yarn size (weight?). My first sweater I had to frog 6 times to figure out a good needle size for the yarn I chose
I was coming to say the same thing. Figuring out how to swatch and make changes accordingly to your swatch is a game changer in knitting and matters more as fit becomes more important. Most of us start with scarves and hats for a reason. It feels like a right of passage similar to sewing a garment out of quilting cotton to not use a swatch and find out first hand that doing a gauge swatch matters.
As a crochet girlie on a budget, one hack I've learned for making cheapo yarns less itchy is to use fabric softener and/or hair conditioner to make the yarn softer and nicer to the touch. It's usually recommended to do on the skein before you create your garment (so that the yarn gets more uniformly softened), but it works just fine on completed projects in my experience. The tricky part is rinsing them thoroughly. Also, if you're washing a skein, PUT IT INSIDE A MESH BAG. If you don't, you *will* ruin both a washing machine and your yarn. That or hand wash it. There's a lot more detail to the hack depending on what fiber type you're using, but the cheap stuff is usually acrylic/polyester, so washing it will be fine. Be careful using it on actual wool, you might turn your yarn into felt, especially if you're using roving.
Can confirm, being the magical crafty fairy Godmother is a incredible feeling! ❤🎉
I highly recommend buying fabric as a souvenir! Even if it's just a small amount, you can incorporate it into apparel very easily as a cuff, a pocket, a lacy collar, a change purse, or in a quilt, etc. It's wonderful to look at my handmade wardrobe and see buttons and patches that remind me of all my travels 😀
I really love the idea of sourcing items/ingredients for projects as a travel souvenir. I for a long time have tried to source items of use (a new scarf, a print for my wall), but the idea of having e.g. some fabric as a souvenir from that trip that you get to work with and create new memories with is even better.
I often get buttons at the local craft stores in the places I visit. I love them bc they’re small, cheap, you normally won’t need more than the 5ish you buy, and it gives such a fun accent to the pieces I make!
@@haseulslonglostseal2052 Yes, I love this! What an awesome idea!
This is so amazing! The final black and white dress is a true designer moment, well done!
That green dress is so lovely 😍 Second hand curtains are also a great way of getting lots of fabric for cheap.
Omg, THAT'S why it's called frogging?!
You are doing SO WELL Leena!! I absolutely loved watching this video while working on the knit tank top that's been torturing me all summer. Your knitting wins are big inspo for me.
“I lined the sleeves- STOP IT 😂” I died laughing ❤😂 this is AMAZING and makes me want to learn to sew!! Love the green one and last one the best!! Yay new clothes!!!!
Seems like you're a professional at crafting designs. You certainly have a talent for making incredible creations more show-stopping.
Having begun my sewing journey in Jan, you explaining how you're learning through mistakes PERFECTLY mirrors my experience
Leena, I find your whole attitude inspiring!!! And i have been sewing for 50 years! I tend to avoid things I think are too difficult and there's so much i still dont know - BUT it is such a joy to sew - i share that with you. It's good to be nonchalent about ''failure' - because 'every stumbling block is a stepping stone'.
You've got a great aim, and I know you'll achieve it - clothes you have knitted and sewn yourself that fit you, suit you, and that you will cherish.
How do you make so many clothes and read so many books!? Audiobooks?
I was just wondering this! Leena, can you share with us how you manage your time or maybe make a 20s Toolkit video on how to balance hobbies with daily life? 💛 Your videos are always amazing.
Personally, I LOVE listening to my podcasts when I sew bc I can just get lost in my head for a bit, so that might be a good idea!
I can tell that you are feeling the JOY that comes from making and it makes me so happy! Well done on all of your creations so far and I can’t wait to see what else you make next!
as a crafty person who's followed you for a while it's so nice to see you making so much stuff
as a very intuitive (read: easily demotivated) knitter and hand-sewer - I SO recommend ditching patterns. I only look to them for ideas/techniques/skills, but actually never follow them. I knit to size, try things on, pin things to my body and hold them up to current things that fit me well.
it helps me stay motivated and also not finish a whole project that ends up being made only for my worm/snake friends lol
This was such a lovely video! So inspiring to see your sewing journey, you've made so many beautiful things in the last year.
Just wanted to share a few tips from matching sizing (based on my crochet experience, so take with a healthy grain of salt). First, look for knitting patterns that include a gauge (should give the intended proportion of stitches to inches), and then make a gauge square to see how your size compares to theirs. It's kind of a faff, but it should let you choose your own wool of a similar-ish weight, and then adjust kneedle size if you need to get it to the same scale as the pattern. If you can only get one dimension to match, it's sometimes easier to aim for width, and then just change length based on vibes (but that depends on the garment). Or if you're feeling mathematically inclined, you can adjust the pattern to match your gauge, i.e. if you have 15 stitches to 4 inches and they have 10, you'd want to increase the number of stitches you cast on by 50% (I think). Also, I'd guess you're already doing this, but jut in case, checking the weight of the yarn the pattern calls for (i.e. DK, aran, fingering, etc) and making sure to match that is a good baseline (but obviously trickier with thrifted yarn!) You can also compare the yarn weight and length-a heavier yarn will have more weight for less length, so if you can find the length and weight of a skein of the pattern yarn, you can look for other yarn with a similar ratio. Finallyyyy, I don't know if you're blocking your knits, but if not, that's a really good way to adjust sizing a little bit, especially if something has ended up too small.
I hope some of this is a bit helpful, and not all things you already know-things sometimes do just turn out a bit wonky, and it's all very much part of the process, but I just wouldn't want you to feel like you have to buy the exact wool a pattern recommends, given how spenny that can be!
That last dress is amazing and looks so good. And this video made me thibk about what exactly i have done this year. At first I thought "17 pieces is a lot, I don't think I have made that many this year." But after thinking about it a bit, I realised that I have made 6 completely new things and upcycled about ten. So I HAVE made a lot this year so far
Thanks so much for going through your mistakes and your joy. You really made me feel A lot more willing to try a new hobby and just be OK with making mistakes 🫶
The black and white dress is absolutely gorgeous 😍 and you look stunning in it. It also looks very designer/expensive 😜
When I clicked on this, I thought the title said "here's my first 17 mistakes" -- thrilled to find successes! So cool!
This is so inspiring. I had such a terrible time at secondary school in Textiles and it really put me off sewing and using a sewing machine. I finally learnt how to use a sewing machine five years ago when I was part of a Design and Make course at Chichester Festival Theatre (so cool I know. I was the youngest person by about 40 years) and I am proud of myself. I even showed my mum how to set up her sewing machine as it was the same one I’d properly learnt on.
Since then I’ve dabbled in sewing but the fear of failing and ‘ruining’ fabric has put me off. Your attempts remind me it is okay to fail and learn from them. Most things can be reversed or adapted when it comes to knitting, crochet, sewing. It is a real comfort. I also have to remind myself that at least I am trying to do better!
Thank you, you’ve inspired me to start sewing again after going back and forth in my head. I’ve ordered some books to refresh my memory and am soo looking forward to going to the fabric shop. Also, the last dress is gorgeous!
You're ACTUALLY influencing me into making my own clothes. Like now I just don't want to but clothes. I still if I really need to but I do want to do that less and start making them 😍
Thanks for giving me that motivation ang goal !
I love the green dress! Using a duvet cover as fabric is such a good idea!
The black and white dress ….. I am OBSESSED !!!!! I love it with my whole heart
After giving the class of 29 8-10yr olds I was a TA for a small crochet snake with a marble in to fidget with each, I can confirm the small child joy thing, way more excited than I could have ever imagined
You 100% can make clothes out of quilting cotton. I find that there are so many more fun colourful patterns in the quilting section. At the end of the day it’s just about making sure the fabric you’re using suits the garment/pattern you’re making.
I definitely have some quilting cotton clothing!
I've been toying with getting into sewing for years and felt so jealous of friends who had that skill. I just didn't think I was at the right time in my life to fit in learning a new skill but I loved watching videos about sewing and dressmakingcommitment
That green linen dress is a win. You're right, even when it looks like a sack it's somehow such a pleasant sight. There's something really Greek about it without the belt. Also, your hair blow-out with that dress was *chef's kiss*.
A cropped multicoloured version of that jumper would be amazing and amazing at styling summer dresses in more chilly weather ways ❤
For those who have seen the film "Cruella" from a couple years back, that last dress has the vibes, no? Could totally complete the look with some dramatic makeup and hair styling!
That black and white dress is incredible on you! ❤ Also, use a glazed cotton thread for gathering: It’s easy to gather fabric on and pull out when you’re finished with it.
Oh my goodness, that green dress looks SO GOOD ON YOU! Amazed by how much you've made so far this year, and I glad you mentioned all the benefits that come with making mistakes sometimes 😊
Ummmm I don't know how I'm going to focus on anything now without a more detailed knowledge of that sewing notebook. It is inspired. I must have one. Mercy!!!
It all looks amazing!! LOVE the sleeves on the final dress.
I also sew and I thought I could share some tips on gathering:
-You don't have to remove the gathering stitches when you stitch closer to the fabric edge (1/4 inch or 0.5 cm) and then sew on the other side of it (so further away from the edge). It will be hidden in the seam allowance.
-The gathering will be more even when you use two gathering stitches close together (like 1/4 inch or 0.5 cm apart). If your then sew in between the two gathering stitches, the gathering is super duper even and beautiful. (This means you will have to remove at least one of the gathering stitches) Sewing two also means there's less of a chance that the thread breaks when you gather it!
I hope my explanations make sense!!
I'm about 2 years behind you - I've just bought a second hand sewing machine and am learning to fix and tailor my clothes and it's very fun! One day I will start making stuff from scratch and it's inspiring to see you make such cool stuff. Even if it's not perfect! Let's be honest - the fast fashion stuff we wear has tucks and rolled or bouncy hems or holes in the pockets! We just see it more when we make it ourselves. I look forward to feeling confident enough to attempt a pattern.
Your black and white dress with the statement ruffle sleeves: 😍❤️👏. Love it. Also, you touched on an awesome thing about sewing our own garments is the secret pockets in a secret favourite fabric - fab for scrap busting. But also makes me smile about my own makes and their secrets when I wear them. I also use secret favourite fabrics on facings of skirts, linings, etc. I just finished a midi length button up denim skirt, and I used left over red and black floral viscose to line the waistband and pockets and it brings so much joy just to put it on. Moments of joy. Congratulations on your journey, you’re awesome.
Every single dress you make gets better and better 🤩
Wow, and that final dress! The sleeves were truly brilliant, especially with the inside being lined with that same fabric. The black blocky bits were a perfect way to break up the pattern, but that pattern is so much fun! And it sits on your body SO WELL! It looks exaggerated and comfortable and so you.
I love seeing your eye for yarn/knitting gauge evolving! You may find Elizabeth Zimmermann’s “Knitting Without Tears” is a good knitting book for starting off with a bunch of different classic projects (like sweaters you design for yourself!) 😃
I'm sure someone has told you this by now, but the reason your knitted projects aren't coming out the correct size for the pattern is because doing a gauge swatch and making sure your gauge matches the pattern is really important! 💚
Girl. You know you can knit a swatch of the wool before you commit to the whole project right? It tells you on the pattern that this many stitches for this many rows should result in a square this size. If it doesn't, your wool/ tension/ needles are wrong and your garment isn't going to end up the size you thought.
I did enjoy this video. Sewing content makes me happy
That green dress is so stunning!! 💚
I love everything you made, especially the green dress and the last dress! My brain is telling me I don’t need a new hobby, but my heart is like..how FREEING it must be to be able to sew up whatever you like!
The green linen dress is absolutely gorgeous….with or without the belt 😊❤
I absolutely LOVE your clothing-making videos. I watch them and it makes me so excited to knit again! Seeing how excited you are for each piece to is just the best.
the heart sweater is amazing 😭 if i lived in a colder climate i might dedicate a lot of time to learning how to knit, but for now i’ll sew. this video was so fun to watch ❤
The green dress🤩🤩🤩🤩
Edit to say: AND the goooorgeous black dress! Stunning!!!
The lining of those sleeves just transformed my life! And now I need to try it for myself! Thank you! Please make more videos on this making your own clothes! ❤
Buying material as a souvenir is SUCH a good idea!
I love how you've gone from "me having to watch your makes through my fingers, while hiding behind the sofa" to "Wow! I'd wear that" so quickly. Learning to sew and pattern make from rectangles is a great idea, much less intimidating.
I loved this video. It made me really excited for the possibilities I have when it comes to not being naked. I’m always repairing my own clothing but maybe I can actually make something.
As someone who knows how to sew, I can't believe something made out of squares can look as good as that marble dress! I think this might have turned my opinion about frills and ruffles. But that fabric is a stunner for sure! Also, yay you for sticking with it and having fun too!! I don't have the patience to make things "just to see what it will look like". It's a wonderful quality that you can. The beanie fails are hilarious, but make one appreciate people's craft so much more. Thank you for an amazing video (as always both entertaining and educational)
so nice to sew all the awesome things that you've made, and the great 'fuck it! why not?" attitude you have to learning new stuff. I love that you're able to identify new things you've learned and stuff you'd do differently instead of getting critical. 10/10 amazing attitude and really cool projects, I hope you continue to get great joy out of this as you go
Watching this video while embroidering seems like the right choice and I feel like Leena would approve😉
The black and white dress you're wearing is INCREDIBLE
The sewing book using only squares and rectangles is a great concept.
When you mentioned gathering is hard I felt so seen. I've been sewing for years and only this year cracked the secret to good gathering. The trick is to have at least two, better three lines of gathering stitches. Then what I do is gather it all up really tight and from there then distribute the gathers evenly instead of trying to do so from the beginning. Your seamline should run between two lines of gathering stitches. Since I've been doing this I'm getting better and better 💪
Never have I ever been more motivated to get Instagram xD. Love this, great stuff, attitude, info pacing etc. I find sewing videos are either "Here's 30min on one item" or summaries where they hold an item up for less than a minute. So this was perfect ^^
I love that you used the patterned fabric to line the sleeves in your black and white dress; it's a really fun touch and it looks awesome!
For knitting, whenever you're trying a new yarn, if you aren't making a test swatch, you probably should. Knit up 20 or 40 stitches and 20 or 40 rows, then measure your result (maybe trace it or write it down in your project book). (You can frog the swatch after if you want.) This way, you'll be able to better predict if a new yarn will work the same on a project you've already done as one you've previously tried, so you'll be able to catch whether you need to adjust a pattern or not. Also, if you get around to trying out felting for stuff like hats, slippers, etc, you'll definitely want to knit up a swatch and felt it each time. I've even had situations where different colours in the same brand felted differently when making hats.
Loved seeing all of your creations! ❤. Relieved to see the things that went wrong and your great attitude about the learning as a valued part of the experience.
I’ve also been watching, Thoughtful Creativity, here on UA-cam. She is a very experienced sewer but simplifies drafting your own patterns and DIYing thrift flips. Even if I don’t sew something directly from her, she explain why some things work and others don’t. She has an easy method to get you gathers even. Happy sewing 🧵Jen
So impressive. You stuck to the knitting and made in one year more than I managed to make in 3 years. Gave it up. My stepmother owns $300 worth of needles and yarn and patterns. Lol! I do not love that sewing pattern book but great job making those clothes!
How naive of me to think I could create something from scratch that I would like and wear and fit me well, in my first, second, x try. Thank you for showing the whole learning curve. It is so much more realistic than creating false expectations about sewing or own clothes will be perfect from the beginning. That's why this is an art, not a science, right?😊 also, btw, your last bkac dress using the same pattern from the front but under the sleeves was ace!! And the printed leopard pockets in the colourful dress! That c was genius! The sack dress with our without the belt is fab! Ah! Also b thank you for keep translating the sewing terminology for us (binding, frogging, etc)
Really need to learn knitting as it's faster and more yarn efficient than crochet, which is my only me-made craft at the moment. I love seeing what you've made Leena. The fun of making mistakes in the early days of yarn work is so hysterical sometimes, I definitely relate to the worm hat 😅 😅 thanks for sharing your makes!
I didn't realise it was faster! yes come over to the knit side, it's a blast xxx
@@leenanorms I shall give it a go! 🤣 Xx
I learned with knitting how important making (and later frogging) a gauge swatch is!! Saves you hours of making ill-fitting stuff
I started a very similier journy in 2020 and have gotten into pattern drafting as a way to avoid learning how to read a pattern! a bodice block while time consuming to make, makes pretty much everything you could want to draft or make 100x easier I highly recomend if you ever find that just rectangles aren't doing exactly what you want
It would be really nice to see more use of hemp or other non-wool fabrics! The wool industry is a really dark, predatory industry, and wool isn’t a sustainable product by definition. Maybe a good video for the future!! Fabric sourcing!! ❤
You should be soooooo proud of all you’ve learned and made, holyyy! So awesome to see.
I am currently hand sewing a wool gown essentially??!? And I am definitely enjoying slowly and deliberately making design choices as I go to make it EXACTLY how I want it. There is so much joy to be had in making clothes you want to wear!
I really love the secret patterned bits and the pockets made of the beloved leopard print
My tip for knitting is to first make a test square with the yarn and knitting needles you intend to use! This usually ends up being about 10 knit stitches across by ten rows. Then I measure how many stitches per inch I am naturally making (with how my specific yarn is behaving, the tension I apply, the knitting needles I happen to have). Then I check my stitches per inch against the pattern to see if the scale of the pattern seems to work right. If it's waaaaaay off, you might even consider modifying the pattern to match your materials. I find it saves a lot of headache and lets you use the yarn you like!!!
Hey Leena! I hope you see this, I am a dedicated fan and knitter of over 10 years as well as a brightly colored indie yarn enthusiast SO I have advice for you! I know this is a bit long, but if you want to make pieces that will definitely last in your wardrobe, I promise this will help.
1 - If you want to make a pattern out of a yarn that is not listed in the pattern (which is normal, please do!) then check the weight of the yarn and the number of meters of the yarn and see if they match. If you have a 100 gram / 170 meter yarn and the pattern asks for a 50 gram / 80 meter yarn, that will be better than buying another 100 gram ball with a different number of meters. Just make sure you have the correct number of meters of yarn for the project total to determine how many skeins to buy. Use the ratios!
2 - before you start knitting your project and casting on, make a swatch using the yarn you want to use. The pattern should say something like this "gauge: 21 stitches x 22 rows". This means that with your yarn, if you cast on 21 stitches and knit for 22 rows you should have exactly a 10cm square. If you don't, then you will end up with a hat that is wildly out of shape compared to the pictures! If you're swatch is bigger than 10cm x 10cm, use smaller needles. If your swatch is smaller than 10cm x 10cm, use bigger needles. Try again until you get it right. Then use the exact same pattern but with the needles that got you the correct gauge swatch size.
I hope this helps - my knit pieces are some of the longest worn and most loved in my wardrobe . You will get there and are already doing great! Good luck
That dark green colour of the linen dress is stunning on you!
I love every item in this video! I was already hoping that the dress you were wearing would be one of your own creations, it is amazing. The lining in the sleeves is spectacular! Thank you for going through the ups and downs of sewing and knitting your own pieces, it makes me want to make my own clothes too :)
You know what would be a really great knitting exercise for you? Making a hat without a pattern and frogging until it fits. It teaches you a lot about working with patterns and especially adjusting them to fit your chosen wool
Thanks! Appreciate all your videos this year. Happy Holidays!
Aw thank you Angela, that’s incredible sweet of you. Happy hols xxx
for easing gathering you can get a gathering foot! they only seem to work on lightweight fabrics but are good for ruffles, you can’t really control the density of the gathers they are so good for consistent dense ruffles
You knitting your purple sweater inspired me to crochet (my hands don't like talking to each other enough for the coordination of knitting lol) my first ever non-scarf wearable item! I had stashed away 3 big rainbow cakes of yarn, unfortunately I am short and not sure if I care find it again or the right weight in colors that will go with it, but you still inspired me! I've literally been crocheting since I was 7, I am in my 30's and I never tried anything like this before! I usually stick to blankets and scarves!
I'm also 99.9% sure I also have a thrifted pair of those leopard pants! I love them dearly! I currently am on a clothes buying freeze. I have to keep telling myself that or I will just "pop into the thrift" and walk out with things, it's just my nature, that I'm working on! But whenever I'm feeling like I need something new, I just walk into my studio and look through the 5, yes 5, fix it bins and get working. Thank you for sharing! This was lots of fun!
Oh. My. Godess. that green dress is everything!
I learnt to crochet this year and accidentally created an addiction. I haven’t made anything fully yet, but I have some huge granny squares ready to stitch together into a huge blanket. I find it’s a lot quicker and more travel friendly than knitting.
Congratulations! I have taught sewing and knitting, and it's tough convincing students that it''s normal to make some weird looking items as you first get the hang of things, especially with using the wrong yarn or fabric for the pattern. (Yes, I give them tools for how to avoid this issue and they do it anyway.) Note on project 14- I don't know if this applies, but alpaca yarn will grow DRAMATICALLY after you knit it. If this year is alpaca, now you know why it is so long. It will grow no matter which pattern you use.
I’m just starting with learning to make my own clothes and I really enjoyed hearing about all of your makes!!
The green linen dress is DIVINE on you!
The last dress is stunning! Thank you for sharing and inspiring us :)
Listening to you talk about indie yarn knowing you’re probably deep into the natural fibres hole by now 😈😈😈 woolcome to the dark side, we have financial instability
Your black and white dress is phenomenal! I love the lined sleeve with the same fabric of the bodice, I actually gasped when I noticed it. I hope you treasure it forever!!
What I’m most impressed with is your creativity in picking out designs and patterns which fit your style. I’ve been finding out that I have never analysed what I like in clothing.
your top in the intro literally slaps, i love it
omg wait i just finished it and WOW its a dress thats amazing
For dress 17 if you don't have enough fabric to make a pocket, maybe you can use little bit of black and white fabric that you have to make a welt pocket with a flap or a welt pocket with a tab
The marble dress and stories behind fabrics used to make it made my heart melt and I just had to show it to my girlfriend which is not interested in topics like this at all, I just forced her because it was to precious oh me oh my 🧡🧡🧡
What a great idea to buy fabric when traveling and make a garment with it!