truth #9 is an oldie but a goodie. we've all heard it before, especially those of us that have played a musical instrument. so, today's truth about sewing is #9, practice makes perfect.
let's be honest. there are things that we can practice all day, every day and not get to the level of proficiency that often is associated with years of practice. now and then, we encounter people that just "get it." they grasp the concepts and techniques and can rapidly master the process. admit it,we hate those people (in the nicest way, of course). it's reality though. i do, generally, believe that sewing is a skill that can be taught to anybody that has the interest to learn to sew, but there are also those that just seem to have a gift.
whether you believe the whole gift part or not, everybody needs to practice. as an example, you go to a class to learn a new technique. you feel like you really "got it" during class. awesome! congrats! class was a success. then, you put the project away and don't touch it for a while (could be weeks, months, years, whatever). well, you might find yourself back at square one. it happens, and to be honest, it sucks.
so, how do you practice? for me, i will pick projects that utilize certain skills. so, if i haven't done buttonholes in a while, i'll make something that uses a buttonhole like PJ pants (for the drawstrings). i want to practice sewing curves, i can pick a garment pattern that has sleeves or a quilt that has curves. need practice with zippers? why not make a quick zipped pouch? who can't use a zipped pouch?!?!? need practice with sticky fabrics like oilcloth, vinyl, or laminated cotton? why not make a quick zipped pouch to use for cosmetics? that means zipper practice AND sticky fabrics practice! yay for the 2-in-1!
you might ask if i have decided that i like putting in zippers after having done them over 50 times? the answer is still no. can i put them in with a reasonable amount of confidence? yes, i absolutely can after so many attempts. do they scare me like they used to? no. do i still get nervous? yes, sometimes (i did say that this is the truth about sewing blog, so i'm not going to lie).
remember, it's only really new the first time you try something, and each subsequent time is practice and skill reinforcement or re-learning. can you reasonably expect that each attempt be stellar or better than the previous attempt? HA! you must be joking. not a chance, but the likelihood of success does increase when you keep trying. remember, though, sometimes walking away for a short while can be quite necessary for the health and safety of you and those around you.
will i ever consider myself a master of a certain skill? i doubt it. i can master a concept, but i admittedly equate mastery with perfection. so, perfection, and thus true mastery, is basically unattainable. i'm quite comfortable with a variety of skills. i can look at a pattern, especially one for a quilt or bag, and know quickly if there are any areas that might be an area of concern. if there is a part of it that seems to be beyond my skill level or a skill that i'm not familiar with, i will find a project that utilizes the skill on a smaller scale. maybe even incorporate a something new into something you know well. it can reduce the stress associated with trying to learn something that is almost entirely unfamiliar. start small and work your way up. practice.
practice doesn't have to mean making 50 buttonholes on scraps of fabric in one sitting. maybe practice by using them in less visible projects (like the pair of on buttonholes on PJ pants). at some point, you will probably have to shift to making 7 highly visible ones down the front of a shirt that you spent hours and hours making, but you will have the experience from practicing. i would still say do a quick test using a piece of your actual fabric and thread before launching into your highly visible buttonholes down the front of a shirt. the quick test is also, you guessed it, practice and an opportunity to work out some of the jitters.
so, i'd say mix it up. try different patterns and different fabrics. don't always do the same thing. to some, people, i probably seem like i'm guilty of this. i've made a shirt from my favorite t-shirt pattern 9 times, but there are no two shirts that are the same. i've used 5 different colors and 7 different fabrics from 5 different fabric lines. i've made versions with and without darts, and i've changed supplies and finishing techniques. in the end, they probably all look the same to somebody that just sees me on the street (other than the colors), but there are subtle changes. for me, all of the work is to try to create my perfect t-shirt (hey, that's the name of the pattern too). i've narrowed down the fabrics to 2-3 that i really like. i know that a certain type seam tape irritates my skin which led to the discovery that clear elastic works better for me. the best part? after all of that, i don't feel like i worry about my next shirt being a spectacular disaster because i practiced it. the practice helped with more than just making a t-shirt. i now feel pretty good about sewing with a variety of knits, and i'm getting better each time with the coverhem on my serger.
the bottom line is that you just have to do it. less talking about sewing and more actual sewing. you will improve if you actually do it. it might not ever get to a level that you would consider perfect, but satisfaction is attainable.
to wrap up, why not mix in some new stuff with the tried and true ones you love? maybe even consider digging out an old pattern that you haven't made in a while as a refresher. you know that you can do it because you've done it before. see? you are practicing!
so, go forth and practice. sew up some tiny pieces! sew up some curves! sew up something using a fabric that you don't use for most of your projects! just get out there and do it. you can do it, but you have to be willing to put forth the time and effort. no effort and no time = no improvement. something as short as 5 minutes repeated a couple of times can make an amazing amount of difference. i don't know anybody that is so busy that they can't spare 5 minutes out of their week. take a shorter shower? watch a little less tv? make something for dinner that doesn't require you to stand in front of the stove every night? you can find the time if you really want to do so.
while you think about what i've said for truth #9, practice makes perfect, i am going to pull out a couple of patterns for projects that i am co-teaching soon so that i can review and practice before i have to walk others through it.
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