So… how did everybody do yesterday? That was a lot of information for one day – it was a ton to teach, so I can imagine that if you are a beginner that it was a lot to learn!
One quick note: I’m having fun seeing all y’all’s books in progress on Twitter! I wanted to open up the option to upload project photos to my Tutorials Flickr Pool if you like – that way we can all share with each other. If you ever need a handy link, just scroll down on my sidebar to that adorable picture of Hazel broadcasting my Flickr Pool. She’s adorable.
And a second note: I always appreciate your feedback in the comments. And sometimes, per your suggestions, I go back and add info to the posts for future readers. They thank you! Something I noticed y’all saying yesterday is that you’d like me to start a video by outlining what items you’ll want to have on hand. The people have spoken – I’ll be all over that.
Today’s lesson is about darts and other marking techniques. Darts is the biggie and we’ll spend the most time on that. And as a bonus: I make several full-on appearances in today’s videos. And that includes nervous apologies and wonky faces. Also, a handful of interactions with interrupting children that didn’t feel worth going back and re-filming. I figured it would keep things from getting dull, hope you don’t mind.
After darts, we’ll do just a quick lesson on tailor’s tacks and notches as marks for patterns. It will help us in week four as we jump into our bag project and this feels like a good time to cover them.
Finally, I have worksheets! I know, so official, right? Okay, so they’re not exactly worksheets. But, they’re little mini-patterns for you so you can get what it feels like to make actual marks from actual patterns. You can thank Adobe Illustrator. And Scribd. (provided Scribd cooperates for you all – please give me the heads up if you have any trouble printing your patterns!)
Okay, without further ado, let’s jump right in to darts and other marking techniques!
DARTS
We’ll begin with a little info about darts and why they are useful. As performed by yours truly:
Okay, now that we all feel awesome about darts and how useful they are, we get to practice!
Here is your first pretty little Sewing 101 pattern – go ahead and print it before you begin the next video. (and if Scribd isn’t working for you, just click here to print it from Google Docs!)
Also before you begin the video, you will need to assemble a few items:
tracing paper & tracing wheel
pins
iron & ironing board
at least two fabric squares (more if you want to practice)
sewing machine – threaded & ready to go
Okay, now we are ready to rock this lesson!
(oh, and one quick tip: you might be happier if you center your contour dart on your fabric square so it doesn’t look all sad and off to the side. you’ll see what I mean.)
How’s everyone feeling? Confident? Empowered? Way cooler than me?
How is page 6 in your book looking? Anything like this?
Awesomesauce.
Moving on to the last little part of our lesson today:
Marking with tailor’s tacks & notches
Now, gather the following items:
two or more fabric squares
scissors or snips
needle and thread
And, a quick video explaining these two simple (but useful!) techniques (note: all the other videos in this lesson were shot yesterday. the following video was shot today at 11am after a bit of coffee and no food. just consider yourselves warned.):
For Review:
1. Darts: marked with tracing paper, can mark only one layer of fabric at a time, works on the edge or in the center of the fabric
2. Tailor’s Tacks: marked with needle/thread, can mark one or more layers of fabric at once, useful if the marks are not on the edge of the fabric
3. Notches: marked with scissors (or non-permanent marking pen), with scissors it can mark one or more layers of fabric at a time, only useful on the edge within the seam allowance
And page 7, looking all shiny and finished!
That’s all for today, folks! Don’t forget to share your work from today’s lesson in the Flickr Pool if you like! And come back tomorrow for pleats and tucks!
Have a lovely Thursday, friends! The weekend is near!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Brother NX800 machine mentioned above for free in exchange for a mention of the product in my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Ah! Videos are private!
I just have to say that I can appreciate that you would even brave making a video for us with your children present. Thank you! I have a 4 and 5 1/2 year old that are not very patient when I need a few minutes of time :) Second, love the Stella & Dot ring — totally on my wish list from my hubby for Mother’s Day this year! My sewing will have to wait until Monday.
Oh, and glad that I watched the video because I totally spaced on the tracing paper. Also, went to Hobby Lobby to get one of your little ironing boards and no luck… knew I should have bought it at Joann’s when I was there.
They also have them at Target :)!
My kids are watching these videos with me (naturally) and are SO VERY CONFUSED to see someone on the internet who they know.
Question about the contour dart….When you lay it flat to open up the seam, like on ryan’s suit, would you make a slit towards the point on the dart?
Hi Teresa,
Sorry I’m just now seeing this! No, no cutting the fabric here. It won’t be concealed and you don’t want those raw edges if you can avoid them. Also, the clip isn’t’ necessary here. But good question!
R
Your darts tutorial couldn’t be better timed for me. I am making the Oliver + S Puppet Show tunic and there are darts ALL OVER that pattern! My initial panic has been calmed by watching your videos.
Thankyou!
On a lighter note, my 3 year old daughter was sat on my knee whilst I watched the videos and in the second one you popped your head into shot after adjusting the camera angle which just cracked her up. She thinks you did it to play peekaboo with her. I couldn’t hear anything you said because she was giggling and asking me to play the bit again!
Haha – love this! I felt like a dork after I did it and considered clipping it out. Glad I could entertain your girl :)
Hi Raechel! Just finished a blog entry on my Darts & Marking practice – – had a lot of fun, with only a small snafu in my understanding of tracing paper. But I’m tracking with you now!
http://thethinkingcloset.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/sewing-101-darts-marking/
did you make the tunic in the dart video? If so, did you shirr below the bust line?
Hi Teresa! No, I didn’t make that tunic, it’s from Fossil :)
I believe the gathering below the bust is elastic in a channel, not shirred.
Hope that helps!
xoxo
I am so glad I stumbled across your blog! I am loving this sewing series! I got a Brother SE400 a few weeks ago for my birthday and I am determined to actually learn to sew…not just wing it! I actually have a pinterest board called, “I can’t sew!” filled with things to make without sewing a single stitch! Now I have a new board filled with all the things I hope to be able to sew…once I finish your course! :) Thanks for all the help!
Mandy :)
Thank you!