4 Reasons You Should Learn How to Sew

Figuring how something has to be assembled can be overwhelming. There are so many steps to produce something from scratch. If the item you’re inspecting has fabric, then it most likely was made with sewing supplies to reach its final stage of production. Learning how to sew is not that difficult when you start small and put your mind to why you want to learn it. This post presents the benefits from some unforeseen sewing satisfaction that help to get the right mindset to start.
 

You Can Spruce Up Your Home Décor

Having simple sewing skills and an inexpensive sewing machine provides lots of possibilities to update, refurbish or even makeover your home. For instance, you can up-cycle throw pillows with new fabric to change the vibe or color. All it takes is buying the fabric of choice, cutting it and sewing it in a straight line. Most likely, you’ve seen already the perfect design for your home décor project, but it was only fabric.

Basic sewing skills would let you turn that cool fabric into something like curtains, a throw, pillows, table runners or even bathroom towels. Fabric is less expensive than buying a brand new item. Being able to sew you can give your home decoration your very personal touch. Plus, you’d probably have with one-of-a-kind decorations all your friends would gush about.

You Can Create Special Clothes for the Little Ones

My mom used to sew beautiful summer clothes for my sister and me when we were kids. She stopped doing so when we were teenagers and learned sewing. What’s great about sewing for young kiddos is that they’re still small and not yet have peer pressure for wearing a certain It brand. They still love that mom, auntie, granny made the clothes for them. Furthermore, their clothes are tiny. This means sewing skirts or simple shirts isn’t too complicated and you may even be able to use left-over fabric from another project. There isn’t a lot of body to cover. Gifting your niece, nephew, grandson or granddaughter something handmade is special for both them and you. They have a unique piece no one of their friends could possibly have.

You can start in small steps while improving your skills along the way to finally being able to make great clothes for yourself. Basic sewing skills would permit embellishing clothes with trimming, lace or satin bands, easy sew-on patches, all of which gives the pieces an unique special touch. Sewing skills also come in handy to create baby shower gifts for your family members, colleagues or neighbors who are expecting. The best baby shower gifts are always those that are special for the recipients like blankets with the new-born’s initials. You can prepare the item and sew on the initials last minute once you know the name. My mom saved personal things I was gifted as a baby and I still have them.

Upcycling Fabrics Makes a Positive Impact on the Environment

When you are a regular reader of my blog, you are well aware of the many environmental impacts of dye, sanded clothes and production of yarn. Fashion is one of the most polluting industries. Therefore, learning how to sew means you can still don something “new” while reducing to the environmental impact of fashion. Any fabric or old clothing can be turned into something new. I used my husband’s old shirts to turn them into skirts for me and an old sari to upcycle it into a full skirt.

You can take the recycling even a step up by actively search for old fabric at yard, moving and garage sales. Look at the potential a piece of fabric has. An old curtain could turned into a pillowcase or lamp shade or even into a statement tote/bag when it is brocade. The limits are only your imagination. Think of the famous quote

When you can dream it, you can make it. – Walt Disney

Believe me, it’s incredible what can do with a piece of fabric, creativity and some basic skills. You’ll love creating something new from an old product. At the same time, you can feel great about reducing waste. Look at this bag I made from an old shearling coat.

Basic Sewing Skills Can Save Some Cash

Being able to sew will save you money. Just think of how often an item fits perfectly, except that the legs, sleeves or hem are too long. Basics skills allow to shorten even high-low hems, patch up denim shirt, jacket, or jeans, lengthen kiddo jeans and to perform minor repairs like sewing on buttons, sequins and other embellishments – whatever got loose. The skill also saves time and reduces emissions as you won’t have to drive twice to the tailor or seamstress. Plus while fixing something, you could also update the piece with a trendy It element. Once you acquired the skills ,you will buy scrap fabrics to make Christmas stocking, Halloween decoration, Easter door wreaths, holiday and birthday gifts. Creating something special to gift also saves you money while having fun in the process.

It’s great for your mental health to look at your self-designed and hand-made products. You’ll feel great because of creating something special, unique and new, while saving money and having fun. Sewing not only benefits you with a new item, but also gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Why to Learn How to Sew in a Nutshell

The four main reasons are saving costs, recycling, creating unique items for yourself and as gifts, as well as benefits for your mental health.

Photos of me: G. Kramm
Photo of bag: N. Mölders

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