Archive for the ‘Dressmaking’ Category
Fashion and dressmaking is a tough business. A lot of people are interested in showcasing their skill in making clothes and interpreting fashion. With a lot of competition, how do you make your clothes stand out or worth picking?
To improve the quality of your clothes, you would have to have understanding about fashion in general. The easiest way of being acquainted with fashion and its recent trends is by reading fashion magazines and watching runway and lifestyle shows in television. By doing this, you would understand patterns and different kinds of fabrics. You would also have understanding on different kinds of clothes and colour combinations and groups.
Aside from knowing the trends, you can also ask some people in your customer target area to identify what kind of clothes best appeal to them or they need. This could help you identify what kind of clothes you are going to make and eventually sell.
When a customer comes into your door to ask for a fitting and then requests different kinds of clothes, of course, you would like them to be happy. Make sue that they are easy to wear, comfortable and at the same fits the lifestyle and activities of the customer.
Aside from being fashionably aware, you would also need to be familiar with your present equipment. Surely, you do not want to lose a lot of time, effort and money by continuously making mistakes while sewing. Practice can contribute in making your skill close to perfect. For sewing machine owners, make sure that they would get the proper maintenance that it needs regularly. Even little defective parts on your sewing machine can have an impact with your product.
Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about Dressmaking, keep reading.
Aside from taking care of your sewing machine, using the proper equipment would also help a lot in creating a great output. For example, there are different sizes of needles. These different sizes are appropriate for different kinds of fabrics and sewing jobs. Of course, thicker fabrics like denim or jeans would require thicker needle that those used in sewing blouses. This would definitely help in making you sewing job easier, whether it is by hand or through machine.
Take good care of your equipment. Exposure to dust, lint and dirt can cause your machine to malfunction. You can cover it with cloth or plastic to make sure that they are free of pollutants. Make sure your dressmaking shears and scissors are kept in their plastic containers. Working with blunt equipment can be very troublesome and even dangerous.
Also keep your dressmaking equipments in one place. This would save time when you time from looking stuff all over the place. Your sewing patterns should also be stored in a place where it would not wrinkle and crease. To avoid wrinkling and creasing you can roll your patterns and keep them cardboard rolls. This will keep them crisp and wrinkle-free. In general, keep your workspace clean and organized.
Before you proceed with any kind of project, you would need a definite plan first. Actually, planning is not just something you do in dressmaking, but also for other projects. Before you cut or sew anything, you have to be sure about it.
If you are unsure, you can put it in place first with pins and see if the changes are working to your favour. But do not be too afraid of making mistakes. This would eventually help you to learn the tricks of the trade.
There’s a lot to understand about Dressmaking. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO
How does one dress up in the future? Will dress-making still be around? What will our clothes be made of? What will be the look of clothes in the future?
Given the dizzying pace of technological innovations all around, it is not easy to get the right answers to our questions. However, the future looks pretty exciting in every sense of the word. At the very least, in the sartorial sense, there is promise that we shall all be comfortable, that we will all look good, and that we will all be happy with our choices.
Or, at least on paper.
Age of agriculture
It took thousands of years for our past civilization to be able to make threads and weaving these materials into cloth. Around that time, our ancestors also discovered needles to do the stitching. They had been wearing animal furs and skins and plant parts as clothes for a much longer time than needed. Maybe, it was because hunting and food gathering took up much of their time and effort.
The Renaissance brought some sophistication to making clothes because artisans began to specialize in the craft. Still, everything was done manually. These were not only error-prone but also excruciatingly slow.
When the Industrial Revolution came, there were some surprising technological leaps and advances. Modernization machines like the cotton gin introduced by Whitney to cotton farming, the sewing machine needle by Otis, the zipper, the snap-on buttons — these and more made the manufacturing process faster and better than before.
Computerization
The advent of the Digital Age or the coming of computers in the 20th century revolutionized everything on the planet. These included all kinds of industries, production processes, manufacturing, education, science, technology, medicine, and many others. From then on, progress and new things happened fast.
One of the biggest beneficiaries to this technological revolution is the dress-making industry. Just like all the other industries that had long been dormant for years in terms of innovations and discoveries, the clothing industry never had it so good since then.
You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about Dressmaking. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.
The computer age ushered in some technological advances that were unthinkable before. These are all in the areas critical to mass production’s goal of less manual handling, better percentage in accuracy, and faster speed. All of these are geared towards the ultimate goal of lower manufacturing cost possible.
One future idea
There are several proposals regarding future clothes on the drawing board. Some had been in development for years. All of them, however, are still waiting for the manufacturing economics to be resolved (lower cost of materials and labor, some technicalities, etc.) before they can be implemented.
One example is the talk of a prototype of new clothes that are touted to be disposable. After use, these worn clothes will then be sent to the recycling plant to be processed into some other new products or into new clothes again.
The main idea is to bring the manufacturing costs of these clothes lower than the costs of laundry, repair and storage. Ideally, it should be cheaper to buy new clothes compared against the sum spent on laundry, repair, ironing and storage of traditionally-made clothes.
Our future clothes, scientists say, shall have automatic temperature control (special fabrics), sweat and odor disposal systems embedded into the material, as well as some kind of anti-bacterial additives incorporated in their manufacture. And these are just for starters.
Some questions remain, however.
What happens to that wedding dress you kept for sentimental reasons?
What about that dowdy-looking but lucky tennis shirt you hate to throw out?
Will you get rid of that favorite sweater someone special gave you on your birthday?
Will all of these be made of disposable materials, too, to be discarded right after use?
Stay tuned for more of tomorrow’s news on dress-making.
There’s no doubt that the topic of Dressmaking can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about Dressmaking, you may find what you’re looking for in the next article.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO
For parents, dressmaking can be a wonderful stress buster and a rewarding experience especially if they get to sew the clothes of their own children. Aside from the fulfilling experience that you are doing for somebody you love, dressmaking for children can also help you save some money because you don’t have to buy ready-to-wear garments that cost a lot.
Aside from being an economical activity, dressmaking for kids can also help you to be more creative and resourceful because the craft itself would encourage you to come up with designs without having to spend so much money.
Dressmaking for children does not really require outstanding needlework skills. All you have to do is to learn the basics of sewing and come up with your own style, designs, and ideas. You also need to be creative and patient when doing this because you will have to consider a lot when it comes to kids’ clothing.
Getting started
If you are planning to sew the clothes of your kids, the major consideration that you have to pay attention to is the time. If you were a full time mother or father, then time would not be a problem for you. But for working parents, this activity would require outstanding time management skills to finish a certain sewing project.
Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about Dressmaking, keep reading.
Once you have fixed your schedule, another consideration would be the acquisition of sewing tools. Since you will be sewing just for your kids, basic sewing tools such as sewing machine, needles, threads, serger, and shears are needed. If you are planning to sew an entire wardrobe for your kids, make sure that you invest in good sewing tools because they will make the work easier and hassle-free for you.
Dressmaking for children can be fun as well as economical. You do not have to be an expert to make a satisfactory child’s garment. After all, any sewing “mistakes” you make will not be around very long, since children outgrow their clothes so quickly. If you are a beginner, choose simple patterns. Save the harder ones for later.
Once you have all the tools that you need, consider the type of fabrics, designs, patterns, and colors that you will use for the child. In choosing fabrics, make sure that they are strong and flexible enough to endure everyday use. Opt for cotton fabrics or cotton variations with polyester because they are soft, comfortable, and easy to work on.
When it comes to patterns, always base them on the child’s body measurements so you can make the necessary adjustments. Also, opt for printed designs and bright colors to stimulate your child’s enthusiasm and cheerfulness. For boys, colors such as red, blue, green, and brown are recommended. For girls, soft and bright colors such as yellow, pink, orange, and violet are ideal.
To ensure that children will really like the clothes you will do for them, get their suggestions and approval before finally proceeding to the sewing proper. You can spend some time asking them what color they would want, the design they prefer as well as the characters they might want to add.
If you have spare time, you can ask them to do simple sketches of the clothes that they want and make a pattern out of these sketches. Aside from enhancing their creativity, you are also encouraging the child to gain independence as well as teaching him or her to make decisions on his or her own.
Of course, it’s impossible to put everything about Dressmaking into just one article. But you can’t deny that you’ve just added to your understanding about Dressmaking, and that’s time well spent.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO
Will clothes and dress-makers still be around in the future?
Exactly how high should a skirt be?
Is red the ultimate power color of all time?
When will bell-bottomed pants be back?
Why wear clothes?
According to experts, the original purpose of clothing was primarily functional. Garments were used to help protect us from the rain, the sun, the cold wind, and other unwanted elements in the environment.
Later, such cultural aspects as modesty and religious practices were added to the original list of reasons why we wear clothes. Specific rules were then included on how to wear these clothes, how they should look, and the things they signify.
The idea of fashion came in relatively recent as compared to all the other reasons. However, it is just as important as the others. It may take some persuasion for us to accept the fact that such a simple act as dressing up has something significant at all.
Fashion, for all the original shallow connotations we knew of it, actually covers the combined social, artistic and political trends of the times. Fashion, in effect, is the unofficial barometer of the people’s likes and dislikes, mores, and popular ethics.
Some fashion trends, however, defy logic when viewed against today’s perspectives. Sociologists and historians in the future will have their hands full for a long time when they shall be putting things in their proper historical places.
For a quick scan, let us check what happened in fashion in the last 100 years.
A rundown on 20th century fashion
The beginning of the 1900s saw the corset, a 19th century fashion hold-over, slowly abandoned. Women’s skirts still trailed on the floor but the gowns were narrower. Paris became he arbiter of style.
In 1920, fashion entered modern times. Clothes became comfortable because hemlines rose to the knees, perfect for dancing the Charleston. Knickers and drawers were out and panties were in. Clothes now used zippers, hook-and-eyes, snaps, and buttons for fasteners.
From 1930 to 1945, shoulder pads strangely became the rage. The hemlines, raised a decade earlier, were now lowered. Nylon was used in the making of stockings, although there was a temporary shortage for sometime because of the war.
It’s really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of Dressmaking. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.
In 1945 up to 1960, the couturiers ruled. Dior introduced the New Look. Balenciaga presented the high-waisted dresses. Givenchy made mix and matched separates. Balmain cornered the market for luxurious clothes, while Chanel invented the braided suit with gold chains and shiny costume jewelry.
In 1964, Mary Quant invented the mini-skirt and shocked the world. Hemlines kept on rising with micro-minis. Hippies took the scene with bell-bottom jeans and tie-dye shirts. Women loved Jackie Kennedy’s signature pillbox hats.
In the 70s, bell-bottoms still ruled. There were additions, however. Polyester, rayon and jersey dresses and shirts became popular. There were now three different skirt lengths to choose from: maxis (ankle-length) midis (mid-calf) and the original minis. Then, there were the hot pants, a shorter version of regular shorts.
The 80s had Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein in the scene. The street urchin look was popularized by Madonna. Leg warmers seen in ?Flash Dance? became the rage even for non-dancers.
Shoulder pads made a splashing comeback courtesy of the TV shows ?Dallas? and ?Dynasty?. Tattooing and body-piercing began. Men and women wanted acid-washed jeans as well as Michael Jackson jackets.
When the 90s came around, retro clothing took off. It was the decade of supermodels. Whatever Kate or Naomi or Cindy wore, the women wanted them. Princess Diana, not a model, also inspired many with her dresses.
When 2000 rolled in, it was the turn of the music scene ?look?. Heavy metal, hip hop, low-rise jeans, spiked hair – these fashion markers were most popular.
Fashion cycles
Fashion trends are like seasons, leaving and returning in cycles. Only that they go away when no one is looking and come back when least expected. There are no formulas, nothing cast in stone as far as fashion is concerned.
For fashionistas, don’t throw out your old clothes. They may look funny now, but you’ll definitely strut in them sometime in the future when they are back in fashion.
On second thought, you can do the strutting right now. Somebody has got to jump-start things.
Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO
The following article covers a topic that has recently moved to center stage–at least it seems that way. If you’ve been thinking you need to know more about it, here’s your opportunity.
Taking measurements before dressmaking is an art and a science because you need to combine dedication, time, and accuracy to get the job done. Note that measuring the body is more than just measuring the hip, bust, and waist in inches. Measurements for clothing should be more detailed especially if you aim to come out with a custom-fitted outfit. You have to aim to keep the accuracy at all costs. It can be tedious and costly re-doing a dress from scratch just because you messed up in measurements.
Before making any dress, you need to first take the necessary body measurements of the person who will wear the outfit. If you are making your own dress, you need to take your own measurements. If you are dressmaking for another person, you need to schedule a session so you can take the necessary and important body measurements.
You should include the necessary measurement tools in your dressmaking kit. The basic tool for measuring sizes is a tape measure. You can use a nylon or plastic tape measure for the purpose. Use the English standard measurement (i.e. inches).
Before proceeding to measure anyone, be sure the person is not wearing bulky outfit. Advise the person to come wearing well-fitted undergarments. This is because oversized underwear may drastically affect the accuracy of measurements. For women, bras should fit well, and for men, boxers and other loose underwear should not be worn when in the session.
Make the person to be measured stand correctly and in good body posture. He or she should stand proudly, with eyes gazing straight ahead and both arms very relaxed at either side. The back should be ideally straight and shoulders in a relaxed state. Some people do not naturally stand this proud, but advise the person you are measuring to observe correct and proud standing for the sake of getting accurate and ideal body measurements. There is a need to take a good position base.
When finally measuring, take note that the job does not end in measuring the bust, the waist, and the hips. Other body areas should also be measured correctly. There can be differences in procedures when measuring men and women, but there are general body areas to scale.
? To measure the chest, put the tape measure under the person’s arms. Wrap the tape measure around the area, specifically to the fullest bust line part.
You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about Dressmaking. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?
? To measure the waist line, put the measuring tape at the person’s belly button. Let the tool fall naturally. The area where it fell is the waist line, the measurement you should take.
? Measure the fullest part of the person’s hip.
? To measure the arm length, place the tape measure at the top of the arm in the armpit area extending until the wrist. Bend the arm without taking off the tape. Take the measurement as the arm length.
? Take back length measurement after determining the length from the base of the neck until the waistline.
? Measure the length from hip to heel to get the accurate leg measurement.
In taking measurements before dressmaking, it is a standard practice to measure the areas thrice in one session. There might be differences resulting from changes in positions and starting points of measurements.
There is a need to do so to ensure measurement accuracy.
Of course, it’s impossible to put everything about Dressmaking into just one article. But you can’t deny that you’ve just added to your understanding about Dressmaking, and that’s time well spent.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO
In dressmaking, a pattern is very important because it gives you the initial outline of the dress or any item you are trying to create. Aside from providing you the outline, patterns also give you an idea how much fabric you should use and the ideal kind of the fabric for the project.
Dressmakers who have been in this industry for so long would agree that in order to get the right patterns for dressmaking, the tailor must first decide what kind of item he or she wishes to make and then the list of measurements needed. Compared to tablemats or curtains, patterns are more valuable when it comes to clothing or dressmaking because the “wearability” of the clothes will basically depend on the patterns chosen.
Where to find patterns for dressmaking
A specific pattern that will be used for dressmaking will greatly depend on who is going to wear it. Nowadays, since more and more people are into sewing and dressmaking, there are so many sources of patterns available. They come in various types and designs which aids comfort when sewing for clothes.
These patterns are available from almost all craft stores or specialty stores meant for dressmaking. You can get it from craft stores or specialty dressmaking stores where you bought the materials like fabric, thread, and the like for your project. Aside from buying these patterns at stores, you can also get it from various magazines that feature basic sewing or in online sewing sites.
The right way to measure
The more authentic information about Dressmaking you know, the more likely people are to consider you a Dressmaking expert. Read on for even more Dressmaking facts that you can share.
When it comes to patterns in dressmaking, it is best to always consider the standard measurements used by the dressmaking industry to be able to get accurate results. It is always advisable to make use of the measurement charts that can be found in various pattern books because these are based on the standard measurements used by almost all tailors.
The major considerations when it comes to dressmaking patterns are the accurate measurements of the person’s bust/chest, waist, hips, and back length for blouses and tops and the measurements of the crotch area, butt area, and leg length for skirts and pants.
Remember, when taking measurements from these key body parts, always make sure that they are taken with undergarments on using a tape measure that is held just enough to get the correct size and adjustments. It is always best if two people will work on taking these measurements so lesser errors will be committed. If you are the one who is taking the measurements, ask the person to stand up in his or her usual posture to get accurate clothing measurements.
If you are taking bust or chest measurements, make sure that you place the tape measure around the person’s body?just across the chest or breasts?and slide it under his or her arms across the back. For the waist, always get the person’s natural waistline by placing a string around the waist before using the tape measure. While the measurement of the hips is usually taken below the waist, the back length’s measurement is taken from the bone that is most prominent in the back of the person’s neck.
Once you get all the measurements correctly, you can proceed to using the right pattern for the person who will wear the clothes and you may proceed to the dressmaking process. To make sure that you won’t have any problems in losing the measurements that are very important for patterns, make sure that you always keep a spare copy.
You can do this by photo copying the listed measurements or by simply copying the measurements in the logbook.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO
When most people think of Dressmaking, what comes to mind is usually basic information that’s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there’s a lot more to Dressmaking than just the basics.
Dressmaking can be a wonderful bonding activity for parents and children because it nurtures creativity and resourcefulness in both parties. Unfortunately, most children are not into dressmaking because the parents themselves do not encourage them to indulge in the craft.
If taught early, dressmaking could bring so many advantages to children. Aside from encouraging them to be creative, dressmaking also teaches these kids skills such as drawing. It also inspires them to make their own creations and will make them more aware about the independence they can get from this wonderful activity.
Teaching children the beauty of dressmaking
If you are a parent who is into dressmaking and would like your child to join you while you’re doing the craft, you must first show him or her the beauty of dressmaking. You can do this by slowly introducing the child into the craft starting with the dressmaking tools, patterns that can be used, different designs, color scheme and selection, types of fabric, and accessories that can be used in sewing clothes, bags, and other items.
When you’re teaching a child to sew, make sure that you explain the purpose and advantages of sewing. Explain how she or he can benefit from it and what are the different creations the child can produce. You can also let the child watch you when you sew to tickle his or her curiosity and try the craft by himself. When you are demonstrating the craft, make sure that you are confident with your work, and are ready to answer all the questions the child might have.
Those of you not familiar with the latest on Dressmaking now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.
Effective strategies to get kids started on dressmaking
No matter how you look forward to having your child join you while you are dressmaking, parents must never force the kids to do what they don’t want to do. So, to spare you from the pains of forcing a child to get into dressmaking, you must access assess the child’s personality first by observing him or her and by asking the child questions about his or her interest in sewing briefly. Here are other effective strategies to get kids into sewing and dressmaking:
1. Gauge the maturity of the child. Expert sewers would agree that the basic trait that the child to be able to enjoy dressmaking is his or her maturity level. This is because when the child is mature enough, he or she will develop the importance of finishing what was started. Maturity level can also develop dedication and discipline in your child because he or she already understands the pros and cons of what he or she is doing.
2. Measure the child’s interest in dressmaking. Aside from maturity, you should also gauge the child’s interest towards the craft. If you see him or her observing what you are doing while sewing and you feel the child’s excitement about the outcome of the item, then you should give the child a simple sewing project.
3. Start simple. When teaching a child to sew, start with simple projects such as a handkerchief, tablemat, or a simple blouse. Start with the basic patterns so the child will be familiar with different patterns available. Also, choose designs and colors that are bright and happy to stimulate your child’s positive attitude.
4. Teach basic sewing techniques. In teaching kids to sew for dressmaking, introduce him or her hand sewing first. When you see that the child has mastered sewing by hand, you can introduce him or her to using the sewing machine with your guidance.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO
Current info about Dressmaking is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest Dressmaking info available.
Dress-making was not as old as mankind as had been previously thought. It turned out that food-gathering was our ancestors’ first priority. The need for shelter came in second. Clothing, generally regarded today as man’s third basic need, came in much later.
The jury is still out there as to how late it was when our ancestors finally decided to make and wear clothes. Initial findings say it was some time around 650,000 years ago when people thought it was good and healthy to wear something to protect themselves against the rain, the wind and the sun.
The experts were also uncertain if the decision to wear clothes included the avoidance of stares from the others. That reason might just be plain conjecture. We still have groups of people, old tribes living in present-day jungles, who consider personal modesty a non-issue.
What is certain, though, is that the manufacture of clothes had evolved into one of the world’s biggest multi-billion dollar industries. It had spawned its own specialized idioms, created fashion movements, made up its own philosophy and quirky politics, and created its own star personalities. It had even overlapped into the equally hyper entertainment industry. But that’s another story.
Our story is about the dying art of dress-making.
Clothing materials
It had been a long while since people used fur and leather from animals, as well as leaves, barks and hemp from plants as clothing. Wearing was simple: either these were tied to the body or were wrapped around the backs of the wearer.
Much later, the craft of weaving was developed and the use of hand needles to stitch fabrics together arose some 40,000 years ago. The making of clothes went a notch higher.
In China, silk was discovered around 3,000 ago, almost around the time the Egyptians found the use of linen. In Europe, wool was first used in Greece and later in Rome. It is remarkable that we still use these materials today.
Truthfully, the only difference between you and Dressmaking experts is time. If you’ll invest a little more time in reading, you’ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Dressmaking.
The art and the craft
Even then, the craft of tailoring was slow to come by. Everything then was done by hand — thread-making, weaving, and sewing. The techniques discovered and developed painstakingly over hundreds of years were handed down from generation to generation.
Alongside these, almost every housewife had a dress-making box at home. This box contained pins and needles, scissors, threads, and a tape measure. These were the tools mothers used in simple clothes-making and repairing techniques, as well as using them in teaching their little girls sewing lessons learned from their own mothers.
When the Industrial Revolution flourished in Europe, the textile industry was the first to be mechanized. This freed the people from the tedious job of making threads and fabrics which in turn are sewn into clothes.
Mass production
This was the beginning of the decline in the art of making clothes. These were the days when dress-makers become famous and people want to wear their creations. To make more of these clothes, more assistants and seamstresses were hired. Later, there were armies of their garment workers all over the world.
Nowadays, a piece of clothing is considered a ?consumable item’ — sold and bought over the counter no different from a can of soda or a bag of potato chips. This is because mass-produced clothes are less expensive now than the labor to make it.
There maybe a handful of traditional tailors lurking around. But they are getting harder and harder to find. They are, sad to say, a dying breed.
Another group of old-fashioned dress-makers are found in countries where strict traditions still dictate the make and form of their clothes. Sadly, their days may be numbered. In a fiercely traditional nation as Tonga, one sometimes sees men wearing modern T-shirts together with their traditional Tongan wrap-around skirt called tupeno.
It is a strange mix, but today’s Tongan men probably think they look better in it than before.
If you’ve picked some pointers about Dressmaking that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won’t really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don’t use it.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO
Seasoned dressmakers would agree that to be able to become successful in dressmaking, it is very important to have various sewing tools. This is because these tools would ensure not just the quality of work but also the convenience and accuracy the sewer or the tailor needs.
When choosing tools to be used for dressmaking, don’t get overwhelmed with brands or prices. Don’t be fooled that all tools for sewing that are expensive have always the highest quality. If you are knowledgeable enough, you can buy tools that are cheap but can meet high standards.
A rundown on sewing tools for dressmaking
For people who have just started their journey to sewing or dressmaking in particular, knowledge on sewing basics as well as the tools needed to make the activity easier and more convenient is a must. Here is a rundown of the most basic sewing and dressmaking tools needed:
1. A set of quality needles. If you are just starting to in dressmaking, the most basic tool that you need for sewing is a set of good needles. Whether you are sewing by hand or by machine, needles play a very important role because they are the ones responsible for stitching pieces of fabric together.
Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Dressmaking? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?
When you buy needles for sewing, always make sure that they are sharp enough to ensure that you will not have difficulty in stitching everything together. Sharp needles also veer you away from difficulties in the sewing process but also ensure that your fabric will not have any frays or snags.
2. High quality pairs of scissors. Another important tool is the scissor or shear because it is responsible for cutting, trimming, or clipping the fabric. Expert sewers suggest that a four or five-inched tailor point scissors or embroidery type of scissors are ideal for all of your sewing needs. Different types of shears such as pinking shears with zigzag blades used to avoid the fabric from fraying and dressmaker shears with bent-handles used to flatten the fabric while cutting are also considered as essential sewing tools.
3. Enough supply of marking tools. Next important set of tools for sewing is marking items such as the tailor’s chalk, water-erasable pen, and water disappearing pen. These are very significant because they are used to mark the fabric before it gets cut for sewing. Being a wax based marker, a tailor’s chalk?which comes in various colors?is a must for every sewer because it can provide markings that are not easily wiped out.
Seasoned sewers say that white colors chalks should only be used when making garments while the other colors can be used in various items. The water-erasable marking pens or water disappearing pens, on the other hand, are ideal to ensure that no trace of marking is present on the fabric of the clothing or any item being sewn.
4. Reliable sets of pins. Pins are also very important sewing tools because they hold pieces of fabric temporarily. Most sewers use pins to see the initial outcome of the item they are sewing. Pins are very important in any sewing project because these lessen the room for any mistakes before the final sewing. Make sure that you choose needles that are stainless steel and with fine points to achieve best results.
Other tools needed for dressmaking should include tape measure, needle threader, fabric glue, basting tape, bodkin, weights, soap, rotary cutter, seam gauge, thimble pads, flexible ruler, hump jumper, thimble, tracing paper, thread clippers, magnetic pin cushion, and yardstick.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO
When you’re learning about something new, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.
Wearing clothes
It was around 650,000 years ago when our ancestors covered their bodies with animal fur and skin as well as barks and leaves of trees. The main purpose was simply to protect the fragile human body against the rain, the sun, wind, and the cold.
These primitive clothes were either tied up or wrapped around the bodies as people went foraging for food.
Needles and threads
Some 19,000 years ago, evidence of needles made of bones and ivory were found. Around 6,000 years ago, woven textiles (linen) were found in Egypt as well as evidence of silk culture in China 5,000 years ago.
This marked the early beginning of dress-making.
Silk road
This was the series of ancient trade routes between China and countries in Asia Minor. The trading between them played a significant role in the development of civilization in China, India, Mesopotamia, Egypt, including Rome.
Classic clothes
In Greece, clothes were simple lengths of wool or linen secured at the shoulders with sashes used as belts. Peplos was a loose ankle-length robe worn by women while chlamys was knee-length robes worn by the men. Both were covered with a loose cloak called himation.
The toga in Rome was an unsewn length of cloth draped on the body over a simple tunic.
This tunic is held together at the shoulders and at the sides.
Medieval Europe
By this time, there had been improvements on the quality of clothes. The Byzantines dressed themselves with richly patterned, embroidered cloths draped over a tunica, the replacement of the toga.
Early medieval Europeans either took to the short tunics with leggings of the invading population (Franks, Anglo-Saxons, and Visigoths) or to the longer Roman tunics.
Cotton and silk as well as dyed linen were popular alongside the old wool.
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Later Middle Ages
Cultural historians agree that the 14th century signaled the beginnings of European fashion. People now used lacings and buttons. Expensive silk and woven brocades were imported from Italy.
It was also the time for the beginning of tailoring. Straight and draped garments were now replaced by curved seams that followed the contours of the human body.
The Renaissance
More people wore complex clothes following the fashion lead of the elites. Variations in the form and design of clothes adapted in various countries were now showing their differences.
Modern Europe
The early part of the 16th century had the influence of the formal Spanish dress. The century also saw the rise of the ruff (ruffles) and the popularity of needle lace.
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution mechanized the manufacturing processes using steam power. The sewing machine was invented in the 19th century, while the synthetic fiber, rayon, was discovered in the 20th. They were all part of the long Industrial Revolution.
In this era, textiles were not only manufactured in factories, they were exported to unlikely places. The transportation system was revolutionized and had progressed immensely. Goods became cheaper.
Fashion and the future
After World War II, there was no stopping the dress-makers all over the fashion capitals of the world (Paris, Rome, New York, and London) from flourishing in their industry.
Fashion trends become media events and followers of fashion lapped them up. Models became superstars. Whatever Kate, Naomi, Cindy, and Linda wore, everybody wanted to wear them, too.
Nowadays, the manufacture of the other pieces of the modern apparel is taken over by the dress-makers. Shoes and bags, kerchiefs and purses, perfume and jewelry and other beauty-related products are now merchandised aggressively.
About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO