Finding Your Sewing Passion: Exploring Project Ideas and Determining Your Supplies
Welcome back to our sewing series! If after reading our last article, you’ve decided to start sewing - congratulations! (If you didn’t read our last article, you can find it here). Now it's time to dive deeper and figure out what you want to sew. We need to first understand what we want to sew in order to purchase the supplies we need. This will help you buy the right supplies for YOU and your projects (who wants to waste their hard earned money on a tool they don’t need?). In this article, we'll help you explore different project ideas and determine the specific supplies and tools you'll need based on your chosen sewing ventures. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of the patterns, fabrics, notions, and techniques required for your top 10 makes. Let's get started on finding your sewing passion!
Step 1: Explore Available Patterns:
Etsy: Browse through the extensive collection of sewing patterns available on Etsy. Explore different categories like garments, accessories, quilts, and home decor to find inspiration for your projects. A few of my favorite Etsy stores include:
a. KianaBonolloDesigns - A fashion designer and sewing influencer, Kiana has a ton of wearable, cute designs for sewing clothes.
b. VikiSewsPatterns - hip and trendy designs with detailed instructions and how to’s
c. TransformedByTracy - With a wide range of patterns from under garments to prom dresses, these fashion forward designs can add to any wardrobe.
YouTube: Discover the world of sewing tutorials on YouTube. From beginner-friendly projects to advanced techniques, YouTube offers a wealth of free resources to help you learn and create. Many sewing patterns include video tutorials which are now on Youtube, a few of my go to’s are:
a. PatternScout - A practical sewer, she provides tons of patterns, tutorials, and information on her own creations.
b. GinaSeams - I cannot rave enough about how much I love Gina Seams videos. She provides tons of patterns, pattern hacking ideas, and inspiration from her own sews.
c. CassieOlufemi - Super hip and affortdable (hello free patterns!) - Cassie provides drafting, sewing, and designing tutorials for everyday streetwear.
Your Top 10 Projects:
Now, after doing a bit of research (I suggest taking at least a few days and surfing Etsy, Youtube, and other sites), make a list of the top 10 sewing projects that you're most excited about. Consider garments, accessories, quilts, or any other items that resonate with your personal style and interests. Write down what inspires you about each project, the types of fabric they require, any special techniques (e.g. installing a zipper), and any additional notions needed (like buttons, interfacing, etc).
Categorizing Your Projects:
Based on your top 10 makes, categorize them into groups such as garments, accessories, quilts, or home decor. This will help you identify common supplies needed within each category. Identify any reoccurring themes within your list - do you like designs with lots of buttons, zippers, or other notions? Do a lot of your patterns require a stretch fabric, cotton, or otherwise? This will help us in the next step (and next article) of gathering our supplies to know what we really NEED vs. what we may want. Furthermore, by identifying the items we really want to make, we’ll also be able to pick the right sewing machine - our most expensive purchase - that’s right for us. Write down any reoccurring supplies and needs for the items on your list below - include fabric choice, notions, stitches (e.g. zig zag vs straight), and pressure feet (e.g. zipper foot, walking foot etc).
Great work!! Do you have your list of needed supplies now? By exploring available patterns, creating your top 10 makes, and analyzing the specific requirements of each project, you've taken significant steps toward finding your sewing needs. Remember to consider the fabric, notions, and techniques needed for each project and explore various sources to gather your supplies. Building your toolbox with both universal and project-specific tools will empower you to bring your sewing dreams to life. In the next article, we’ll talk through the needed sewing supplies more in depth and some suggestions for making those first purchases. Happy sewing!
