Great video! I adhere to all of your rules too, including the bonus ones (but like you, very occasionally making 'calculated risk' exceptions). One additional rule I have for myself, which I call a "personal policy", is to live in a new garment for, at the very least, a full day before making another garment using that pattern. In the first flush of excitement about a new garment it's easy to overlook fitting or practicality issues that become clear the longer you wear it while going about your business. As tempting as it is to bash out another one in a different fabric when it's all shiny and new, I force myself to wait and see how that first garment really performs, so I don't end up with two items with the same problems that may not have been immediately apparent from a quick try-on.
All of these rules were drilled into me by my mother. When teaching me about grain lines, she had me make the fabric “grain perfect” to demonstrate how she eye alone can fool us. I’ve been sewing for over 50 years and think of garment construction as a feat of engineering!
I ALWAYS use a pressing cloth. I buy way too much unknown content fabric and I’m not going to destroy ANOTHER iron or press melty holes into something that feels like cotton but is actually plastic.
I agree with every one of your rules! I was taught back in the late 60’s those same rules. One that I will add is never cut notches into your fabric! In school we were taught to actually cut the notch. I rarely do that now but use a erasable marker or chalk to mark them.
Me either, all my clothes are line dried 😊 I do tumble dry the fabric when it is just fabric to help get all it's shrinking tendencies out of the way before I sew it though 😊
I have been sewing for 50 years and I still live by all of those rules. However, I have tried different methods for tying off darts and I always go back to just hand tied like you said. I think it’s the best method. I’m so glad that others are using the rules too. They make for a better garment and the pressing ensures your garment is not “homemade”, the dreaded comment by all sewers.
Yup, I always prewash my fabric (been surprised too many times by shrinking) or, in case of woolen fabric, pre-steam the crap out of it. Because you could end up with shrinking very locally when you press a pocket or something etc. I only ignore the grain in case of shortage of fabric🤪 but when there are other parts correct of grain against it, most time you come away with it. But I do as Bianca, I sew heartily over my pins 😂😂
This was a very good video. I also have learned these rules the hard way, and when I sewed for my daughters, or shopped with them, I explained how I assess garments in stores to determine their quality, and some of these lessons formed them even though they did not like to sew. The oldest worked at a Winner's retail store, and when someone brought untagged merchandise to the cashier, they would send my daughter into the stock to find a tagged version. She would notice brand details and quality and knew where to look for like merchandise within the store. It also meant she could spot a bargain.
Hi Sian - I do all that you do. I also "go my own way" on some construction methods that work for me, and construct garments in the order that suits me. I learn heaps from you, and thank you for that. I now french seam quite often, and in the early days of owning an overlocker, I too was scared of it. It helps that I understand it better now, and always check my threads before starting to sew on it. Happy saturday from New Zealand x
Being scared of my overlocker was why I learnt French Seams too 🤣🤣 glad it wasn't just me! I agree with you about construction methods, I think some pattern instructions are a little lazy because the "better/cleaner" method is harder to explain in writing 😉
I follow most of these rules most of the time. I do occasionally sew very slowly hand cranking my machine over the odd pin when precision is required. I don't always wash my fabric when it comes into my stash but I was almost all of it before use - exceptions being wool mainly. I keep a spreadsheet of all the fabric I buy and make a note of the date it was washed - no date means it hasn't been washed. I also overlock the cut ends of any fabric likely to fray in the wash before it goes into the machine. So if it's been overlocked it's almost certainly been washed. Even so, no date noted on the spreadsheet and I'm likely to wash it a second time before cutting into it just to be sure. 😀 One rule that catches me out every time is that either my thread or my bobbin WILL run out in the middle of the last seam or other length of sewing i am doing on a garment - I wish i could break that rule now and again!
All great rules that I myself follow with exception to hand tying dart ends. I see off the end pull some thread thru to give a little slack then sew a few stitches within the dart and backstitch. Isn’t it great that everyone can have their own way of doing things. An additional rule fir me is to read all the instructions through before starting a project. Then I can choose to follow their instructions exactly, partially or go totally rogue and do it however I want.
Going over my own sewing rules shows pretty well how much I’ve learned from you 😊 The most important part for me is understanding why a rule exists because only then can you decide when to follow or break it. And “Don’t cross the seams!” totally fits into geeky sewing month! Why might need to put that on the merch list ❤
I'm having a bit of a "wah" moment, because I've got 6.5 m purple velvet just arrived to make a coat. Instructions say "dry clean only", so I'm not pre-washing (yes it's pure cotton velvet). Ditto the metre of purple habutai to line the sleeves. But yes. Material goes from the packet to the washing-machine (40 degrees) to the dryer (normal). Throw in a sacrificial (pale) towel when pre-washing intensely dyed material (my kitchen towel is currently pale purple, and another is pale blue). Press as I go.
Yes! I loved this video. Learning the fundamentals/rules of a practice enables you to break them in innovative ways, helping you find your style. With any practice, a person may have innate skill & get lucky with a composition, but a lack of education will always become apparent. I've been tuning in for a couple of yrs now, & have learned a lot from you. Thank you. Your teaching style is just right for me. Those that make snarky comments, give destructive criticism are unhappy people, it's like bullying at school. The Peeps can disagree & be civil, sweet, & constructive all at once. Peep for Life! 😄💕😺
The only other rule I have besides your three original ones) is don't sew tired, sewing that extra thing will not save me time tomorrow, it will only mean I make a mistake and have to unpick it.
That grainline! I, too, do my best to ensure the fabric is even. It's a pain, but I do it as best I can. Iron. Iron. Iron. I do iron - a lot! One must know the rules before one can break the rules. This is my motto with knitting.
About pre-washing … there are times I throw a “color catcher” (purchased in laundry aisle at grocery store) to learn if the color will bleed. If it bleeds I might wash it a second time … just to be sure. I also make a mental note when I wear the garment and subsequently wash it.
7/7 agreed. I remember feeling very overwhelmed and even a bit annoyed with all the "always do this" and "never do that"s when I was learning to sew (from books, no SewTube back then). I had been a knitter before, and sewing seemed to be much more rigid and rule oriented than knitting. But, one by one, all of those rules have started to make sense... 😸 It's like you said, main thing is that you end up with a result you like. It's ok to bend some rules to feel less overwhelmed when you're a beginner. You can always start following them again when your expectations for the end results are getting higher.
I always want to know WHY I have to do something a certain way and find that when I understand the reasoning behind the why then I feel much better about doing that thing.....or sometimes ignoring that thing 😉
I absolutely agree with your unbreakable rules. I do each one. I didn’t pre wash when I was younger but now I absolutely do. As for not sewing over pins, I sometimes do it accidentally and HATE it.
Yup. I also have a more intense washing for denims - between the indigo running and the ongoing shrinkage after more than one wash - I do run it through more than once.
I second all these rules! I’ve tried skipping some of them, and have had trousers shrink lengthwise. And discovering pressing as I sew made a huge difference for the finished result! Great advice! ❤
You are just beautiful… your garments are the highest quality of any I have seen. I wouldn’t argue with any of these. I always prewash! I never sew over pins… although once I did sew into my finger. I always learn from your videos and look forward to them. You do put up with a lot of #%^% from people who want you to do things their way! So… you do you and the vast majority of your viewers will love it!
I agree with all your rules - including the extra ones! I think if you want a great result, it's worth doing things properly, not cutting corners. Bianca has another rule which I also agree with, which is: "always clip your curves" 😊 And I have a final one of my own: "don't skip the understitching".
Completely agree. I made a cardigan the other day, the fabric had been washed but not tumble dried. Now it has (unfortunately) been tumble dried and looks all wrong 😢
My sewing has improved 100% by listening to you and taking your advice. I wouldn't dream of sewing anything without washing and drying it first! And I used to sew over pins but no longer! Every one of your rules pays big dividends in the end. Pressing fabric and pattern pieces makes such a difference. And one of the first things I do when embarking on a sewing project is fill my iron with water and get it ready! I've watched you for a long time and the garments you turn out are perfection! Thank you Sian for reinforcing the importance of sewing rules! x
Great video. I had to break the grain rule once and it really scared me! The design was printed along the length of the fabric which meant I had to cut out the pattern on the cross grain, to avoid sideways trees😝 luckily I chose a loose fitting dress with a full, maxi gathered skirt so it worked. 🧶🌈💙🍓
You can't break the rules unless you know the rules, which also means understanding why they are rules, to begin with. I agree with all of yours though, especially washing everything! I don't even buy clothes and put them on my body until they've been washed. UGH. That being said I occasionally ignore grain lines if necessary and I have thought long and hard about how much I love the material and if I can handle it going wonky. And I've only run over pins by accident and then immediately scold myself for trying to kill my machine or me.
I totally agree about understitching before I press. I think it's easier and the results are much better. The only thing I do differently is that I usually wash my silk. I treat it delicately but if I only dry cleaned it I'd only get to wear it once or twice a season because I never get around to taking it to the cleaners. Sort of like my 100% cotton clothing that needs ironing, it spends most of it's life waiting in the ironing basket😄
Fab vlog.Great rules but the best thing was your delivery.You help sewers to know why the rules exist but allow us to choose whether to follow them.As an experienced sewer you could be preachy instead your vlog is informative and amusing.Love your,"you do you".
Great advice, thank you!!! I’m terrible at the pattern ironing/fabric ironing but I solemnly swear to do it properly from this day forth …. Oops my fingers might have crossed over a wee bit 🤞🏼 🙀😸😸😸😸
Yes good rules. However because I’m basically lazy I rarely iron my pattern which is silly cos I always iron the fabric prior to cutting 🤨. New Years resolution for October ‘iron the pattern’ xx
100% agree!! Even to washing wool and silk fabric - depending on the type, I will even machine dry it (yes, most will shrink a little, but I usually get extra) It really softens the wool, and will hand wash and line dry the finished garment when needed. That's the lovely thing about wool it it only needs a good washing every now and agin, depending on how often its worn. I love my Kai shears!! Ditto...haven't had to get them sharpened yet, and I use them A LOT!! 😀
Very good point! There are lots of tips and tricks for pre treating your wool fabrics at home. Damp towel with the wool in the tumble dryer is one I've heard of but not tried ......yet! 😊
I agree Hannah! I pre wash silk and wool because I do not want to dry clean later and if anything bad is going to happen twitch washing the yardage I want to know before I sew it. I air dry silk & wool instead of dry though. For wool I use The Laundress Cashmere & Wool shampoo wash & been very happy with the results.
A kid in the '60s, I couldn't be bothered to measure my grain line to the selvage. I would, however, pin at the grain line markings to make it look like I did because I didn't want to get caught by my mom/sewing teacher. 🤣🤣🤣
Good set of rules, I (mostly) follow all of them. Pre-washing for me is one I can't afford to skip, I'm allergic to some of the chemicals used in treating fabrics. Not washing before handling can equal a very unpleasant time for me. That's not to mention what other possible allergens/dirt/ick the fabric may have picked up durring manufacturing, shipping, storage and display! I will admit to messing with the grain though~either for effect or to deal with fabric shortage, I do consider what the results might be and chose placement accordingly.
Messing with stripes and plaid grains always looks awesome 😍 I could've waxed lyrical about graininess for a lot longer than I did (I cut a bunch of waffle out 🤣) but I was worried the video would end up being too long 🤣🤣
I prewash everything but not always immediately after purchase. Do the way I can tell later which fabric has been prewashed is that the ends will be overlocked to prevent fraying in the machine! Do you do this too Siân?
I've heard so many different methods described as "the correct and only way" to sew a dart! I really like your method, it's always given me a great finish 😊
@@KittenishBehaviourSian Can you add to this that you commence sewing your dart at the widest part and then taper off to the point for the best finish.
Hi Sian, could you tell me what knitting pattern you used for your cropped ochre cardigan please ? it’s gorgeous and I would like to make one too . I agree with all your rules and also break a few in certain circumstances 😂xx
An additional hard & fast rule: when you’re tired, STEP AWAY FROM THE MACHINE!
Great video! I adhere to all of your rules too, including the bonus ones (but like you, very occasionally making 'calculated risk' exceptions).
One additional rule I have for myself, which I call a "personal policy", is to live in a new garment for, at the very least, a full day before making another garment using that pattern. In the first flush of excitement about a new garment it's easy to overlook fitting or practicality issues that become clear the longer you wear it while going about your business. As tempting as it is to bash out another one in a different fabric when it's all shiny and new, I force myself to wait and see how that first garment really performs, so I don't end up with two items with the same problems that may not have been immediately apparent from a quick try-on.
That is a very good "rule" to have! I shall have to adopt it for myself I think 😊
Good idea
All of these rules were drilled into me by my mother. When teaching me about grain lines, she had me make the fabric “grain perfect” to demonstrate how she eye alone can fool us. I’ve been sewing for over 50 years and think of garment construction as a feat of engineering!
It is indeed engineering! You are so right! 😊
I ALWAYS use a pressing cloth. I buy way too much unknown content fabric and I’m not going to destroy ANOTHER iron or press melty holes into something that feels like cotton but is actually plastic.
I agree with every one of your rules! I was taught back in the late 60’s those same rules. One that I will add is never cut notches into your fabric! In school we were taught to actually cut the notch. I rarely do that now but use a erasable marker or chalk to mark them.
Ooooh interesting! I always snip my notches in to my fabric as I cut making sure to be well within the seam allowance! 😊
I never put anything I make in the dryer.
Me either, all my clothes are line dried 😊 I do tumble dry the fabric when it is just fabric to help get all it's shrinking tendencies out of the way before I sew it though 😊
I agree with all those rules. Also, don't sew tired. Your machine is a motorized vehicle and driving tired can cause some accidents.
For the first time in my life, having been a rule breaker for most of it, I am surprised to find that I adhere to all of your rules. Whew! :-)
Such good rules. Almost, if not all, of them I learned almost 60 years ago in HomeEc class when I was 12. Some things never change. Thanks.
I stick to all these rules, very occasionally I play with the grainline but not often. 💝 xxx
Do love your little chipmunk self. ❤🌹
I have been sewing for 50 years and I still live by all of those rules. However, I have tried different methods for tying off darts and I always go back to just hand tied like you said. I think it’s the best method. I’m so glad that others are using the rules too. They make for a better garment and the pressing ensures your garment is not “homemade”, the dreaded comment by all sewers.
Yup! Those are my rules too, my mother also told me to ‘measure twice, cut once’ 😊
"Measure twice, Cut once.....Swear.....Buy More Fabric and Start Again" 🤣 That is how I always hear that mantra after I saw a meme 🤣🤣🤣
Yup, I always prewash my fabric (been surprised too many times by shrinking) or, in case of woolen fabric, pre-steam the crap out of it. Because you could end up with shrinking very locally when you press a pocket or something etc. I only ignore the grain in case of shortage of fabric🤪 but when there are other parts correct of grain against it, most time you come away with it. But I do as Bianca, I sew heartily over my pins 😂😂
You little pin sewing rebel you! 😈
This was a very good video. I also have learned these rules the hard way, and when I sewed for my daughters, or shopped with them, I explained how I assess garments in stores to determine their quality, and some of these lessons formed them even though they did not like to sew. The oldest worked at a Winner's retail store, and when someone brought untagged merchandise to the cashier, they would send my daughter into the stock to find a tagged version. She would notice brand details and quality and knew where to look for like merchandise within the store. It also meant she could spot a bargain.
Hi Sian - I do all that you do. I also "go my own way" on some construction methods that work for me, and construct garments in the order that suits me. I learn heaps from you, and thank you for that. I now french seam quite often, and in the early days of owning an overlocker, I too was scared of it. It helps that I understand it better now, and always check my threads before starting to sew on it. Happy saturday from New Zealand x
Being scared of my overlocker was why I learnt French Seams too 🤣🤣 glad it wasn't just me! I agree with you about construction methods, I think some pattern instructions are a little lazy because the "better/cleaner" method is harder to explain in writing 😉
I follow most of these rules most of the time. I do occasionally sew very slowly hand cranking my machine over the odd pin when precision is required. I don't always wash my fabric when it comes into my stash but I was almost all of it before use - exceptions being wool mainly. I keep a spreadsheet of all the fabric I buy and make a note of the date it was washed - no date means it hasn't been washed. I also overlock the cut ends of any fabric likely to fray in the wash before it goes into the machine. So if it's been overlocked it's almost certainly been washed. Even so, no date noted on the spreadsheet and I'm likely to wash it a second time before cutting into it just to be sure. 😀 One rule that catches me out every time is that either my thread or my bobbin WILL run out in the middle of the last seam or other length of sewing i am doing on a garment - I wish i could break that rule now and again!
All great rules that I myself follow with exception to hand tying dart ends. I see off the end pull some thread thru to give a little slack then sew a few stitches within the dart and backstitch. Isn’t it great that everyone can have their own way of doing things. An additional rule fir me is to read all the instructions through before starting a project. Then I can choose to follow their instructions exactly, partially or go totally rogue and do it however I want.
My husband walked by as I was watching and said "respect the grain...you are always telling me about the grain" LOL xxxxxxx
Going over my own sewing rules shows pretty well how much I’ve learned from you 😊 The most important part for me is understanding why a rule exists because only then can you decide when to follow or break it.
And “Don’t cross the seams!” totally fits into geeky sewing month! Why might need to put that on the merch list ❤
"Don't cross the seams" does need to be on some merch doesn't it 🤣
I do all of these apart from pressing with the iron ( sometimes) I will from now on!
Thank you for sharing. X
Heartily agree. I do the same.
I'm having a bit of a "wah" moment, because I've got 6.5 m purple velvet just arrived to make a coat. Instructions say "dry clean only", so I'm not pre-washing (yes it's pure cotton velvet). Ditto the metre of purple habutai to line the sleeves.
But yes. Material goes from the packet to the washing-machine (40 degrees) to the dryer (normal). Throw in a sacrificial (pale) towel when pre-washing intensely dyed material (my kitchen towel is currently pale purple, and another is pale blue). Press as I go.
I agree with those rules and also sometimes break them either on purpose or by accident 😂
I also am terrified of sewing over pins. I shudder every time I see the closest historian do it!
Yes! I loved this video. Learning the fundamentals/rules of a practice enables you to break them in innovative ways, helping you find your style. With any practice, a person may have innate skill & get lucky with a composition, but a lack of education will always become apparent. I've been tuning in for a couple of yrs now, & have learned a lot from you. Thank you. Your teaching style is just right for me. Those that make snarky comments, give destructive criticism are unhappy people, it's like bullying at school. The Peeps can disagree & be civil, sweet, & constructive all at once. Peep for Life! 😄💕😺
Those are my favorite rules too!
The only other rule I have besides your three original ones) is don't sew tired, sewing that extra thing will not save me time tomorrow, it will only mean I make a mistake and have to unpick it.
That grainline! I, too, do my best to ensure the fabric is even. It's a pain, but I do it as best I can. Iron. Iron. Iron. I do iron - a lot! One must know the rules before one can break the rules. This is my motto with knitting.
Totally agree Sian 💕
About pre-washing … there are times I throw a “color catcher” (purchased in laundry aisle at grocery store) to learn if the color will bleed. If it bleeds I might wash it a second time … just to be sure. I also make a mental note when I wear the garment and subsequently wash it.
Very very good point! 😊
7/7 agreed. I remember feeling very overwhelmed and even a bit annoyed with all the "always do this" and "never do that"s when I was learning to sew (from books, no SewTube back then). I had been a knitter before, and sewing seemed to be much more rigid and rule oriented than knitting. But, one by one, all of those rules have started to make sense... 😸
It's like you said, main thing is that you end up with a result you like. It's ok to bend some rules to feel less overwhelmed when you're a beginner. You can always start following them again when your expectations for the end results are getting higher.
I always want to know WHY I have to do something a certain way and find that when I understand the reasoning behind the why then I feel much better about doing that thing.....or sometimes ignoring that thing 😉
I absolutely agree with your unbreakable rules. I do each one. I didn’t pre wash when I was younger but now I absolutely do. As for not sewing over pins, I sometimes do it accidentally and HATE it.
Love this video. I also understitch before pressing, I find it sits better for me.
Thank you!!
Yup. I also have a more intense washing for denims - between the indigo running and the ongoing shrinkage after more than one wash - I do run it through more than once.
Great rules most of which I follow thank you for sharing
I second all these rules! I’ve tried skipping some of them, and have had trousers shrink lengthwise. And discovering pressing as I sew made a huge difference for the finished result!
Great advice! ❤
You can join the "ask me how I know" club! 😉
I'm a stickler for the rules, so can endorse this :) Must say I do sew over pins sometimes, though lol
You little rebel you! 😈
You are just beautiful… your garments are the highest quality of any I have seen. I wouldn’t argue with any of these. I always prewash! I never sew over pins… although once I did sew into my finger. I always learn from your videos and look forward to them. You do put up with a lot of #%^% from people who want you to do things their way! So… you do you and the vast majority of your viewers will love it!
I am so very happy you still love the scissors. I swear by them. My Mom taught me the same rules you follow too. Sending you huge hugs!
They are my favourites! Thank you so much for introducing me to the brand! Hugs for you too xx
I agree with all your rules - including the extra ones! I think if you want a great result, it's worth doing things properly, not cutting corners. Bianca has another rule which I also agree with, which is: "always clip your curves" 😊 And I have a final one of my own: "don't skip the understitching".
Ahhhh yes!! Curve clipping and understitching are so important! Very good rules to mention 😊
I have broken all of those rules - ALWAYS to my detriment. I now stick to all 7 you spoke of.
I really try to avoid it because it just makes me so anxious! 😊
Completely agree. I made a cardigan the other day, the fabric had been washed but not tumble dried. Now it has (unfortunately) been tumble dried and looks all wrong 😢
Oh no I'm so sorry xx
My sewing has improved 100% by listening to you and taking your advice. I wouldn't dream of sewing anything without washing and drying it first! And I used to sew over pins but no longer! Every one of your rules pays big dividends in the end. Pressing fabric and pattern pieces makes such a difference. And one of the first things I do when embarking on a sewing project is fill my iron with water and get it ready! I've watched you for a long time and the garments you turn out are perfection! Thank you Sian for reinforcing the importance of sewing rules! x
Great video. I had to break the grain rule once and it really scared me! The design was printed along the length of the fabric which meant I had to cut out the pattern on the cross grain, to avoid sideways trees😝 luckily I chose a loose fitting dress with a full, maxi gathered skirt so it worked. 🧶🌈💙🍓
You can't break the rules unless you know the rules, which also means understanding why they are rules, to begin with. I agree with all of yours though, especially washing everything! I don't even buy clothes and put them on my body until they've been washed. UGH. That being said I occasionally ignore grain lines if necessary and I have thought long and hard about how much I love the material and if I can handle it going wonky. And I've only run over pins by accident and then immediately scold myself for trying to kill my machine or me.
Absolutely 100% agree with you 😊.
I totally agree about understitching before I press. I think it's easier and the results are much better. The only thing I do differently is that I usually wash my silk. I treat it delicately but if I only dry cleaned it I'd only get to wear it once or twice a season because I never get around to taking it to the cleaners. Sort of like my 100% cotton clothing that needs ironing, it spends most of it's life waiting in the ironing basket😄
Fab vlog.Great rules but the best thing was your delivery.You help sewers to know why the rules exist but allow us to choose whether to follow them.As an experienced sewer you could be preachy instead your vlog is informative and amusing.Love your,"you do you".
Thank you Maureen that is such a wonderful comment! Thank you again 😊
Great advice, thank you!!! I’m terrible at the pattern ironing/fabric ironing but I solemnly swear to do it properly from this day forth …. Oops my fingers might have crossed over a wee bit 🤞🏼 🙀😸😸😸😸
Yes, yes and yes!!
Yes good rules. However because I’m basically lazy I rarely iron my pattern which is silly cos I always iron the fabric prior to cutting 🤨. New Years resolution for October ‘iron the pattern’ xx
I iron my pattern as my iron is heating up to iron the fabric, that way I'm not just standing around for a couple of minutes waiting for a beep! 😉
I do everyone of your rules. Thanks for this update 😊
100% agree!! Even to washing wool and silk fabric - depending on the type, I will even machine dry it (yes, most will shrink a little, but I usually get extra) It really softens the wool, and will hand wash and line dry the finished garment when needed. That's the lovely thing about wool it it only needs a good washing every now and agin, depending on how often its worn.
I love my Kai shears!! Ditto...haven't had to get them sharpened yet, and I use them A LOT!! 😀
Very good point! There are lots of tips and tricks for pre treating your wool fabrics at home. Damp towel with the wool in the tumble dryer is one I've heard of but not tried ......yet! 😊
I agree Hannah! I pre wash silk and wool because I do not want to dry clean later and if anything bad is going to happen twitch washing the yardage I want to know before I sew it. I air dry silk & wool instead of dry though. For wool I use The Laundress Cashmere & Wool shampoo wash & been very happy with the results.
Thank you for continuing to make your fabulous videos and sharing them with us. Totally agreed with these rules, every rule has an exception.
😊we are kindred sewing friends, I have the same haired and fast rules. I agree you get a much more pleasant sewing experience and finished garment.
We are indeed! 😊
Totally agree ❤️
A kid in the '60s, I couldn't be bothered to measure my grain line to the selvage. I would, however, pin at the grain line markings to make it look like I did because I didn't want to get caught by my mom/sewing teacher. 🤣🤣🤣
LOLS!! You little rebel!
Good set of rules, I (mostly) follow all of them. Pre-washing for me is one I can't afford to skip, I'm allergic to some of the chemicals used in treating fabrics. Not washing before handling can equal a very unpleasant time for me. That's not to mention what other possible allergens/dirt/ick the fabric may have picked up durring manufacturing, shipping, storage and display! I will admit to messing with the grain though~either for effect or to deal with fabric shortage, I do consider what the results might be and chose placement accordingly.
Messing with stripes and plaid grains always looks awesome 😍 I could've waxed lyrical about graininess for a lot longer than I did (I cut a bunch of waffle out 🤣) but I was worried the video would end up being too long 🤣🤣
@@KittenishBehaviourSian This is so true! And a longer video would have been fine with me 😁
I prewash everything but not always immediately after purchase. Do the way I can tell later which fabric has been prewashed is that the ends will be overlocked to prevent fraying in the machine! Do you do this too Siân?
Nope 😬 I've never actually tried overlocking fabrics before washing!
@@KittenishBehaviourSian don’t you find the fraying a problem?
@@sueb4919 not really, it’s never been really bad for me 😊
Your dart finish is correct. That is what I was taught 50 yrs ago in my training.. just saying.
I've heard so many different methods described as "the correct and only way" to sew a dart! I really like your method, it's always given me a great finish 😊
@@KittenishBehaviourSian Can you add to this that you commence sewing your dart at the widest part and then taper off to the point for the best finish.
100% agree with your rules!
😊
Yep I do all your rules too ☺️
They are good "rules" 😉😊
Yep all three same for me. Not however very well behaved on the sewing over pins thing......
You little rebel you! 😈
Hi Sian, could you tell me what knitting pattern you used for your cropped ochre cardigan please ? it’s gorgeous and I would like to make one too . I agree with all your rules and also break a few in certain circumstances 😂xx
It's the Hortencia and it's listed in the description 😊
@@KittenishBehaviourSian thank you, I have since seen the vlog with you and your mum going through her knitting makes and spotted several there 😊🤣x
I hate ironing but have learnt through things not being great that I can’t skip it. Well … I can but I won’t be happy with the result
"Press as you go!" 😉
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Agree indeed. Wholeheartedly. And if you want to break them, make sure you understand why we harp on about them, so you know how to break them. 😉😽💕
Exactly! 😊
Don’t cross the seams 🧵