How to Improve Your Sewing
I believe I have been sewing all my life. As a child my grandmother taught me to thread a needle and sew on a button before I was six years old. With lots of trail and error, I taught myself how to use a sewing machine when I was seven. Over the years I worked at improving my skills so that I could make my own clothes. A master seamstress named Minnie White let me come to her house every Saturday afternoon for a whole summer when I was twelve. She taught me how to measure, fit, and cut a pattern. Her motto was “always try to improve your skills and do your best” (the seam ripper and I became close friends). The suit I made over the course of that summer won a blue ribbon at the state fair.
When I wanted to learn to make a quilt, I took a class at a local quilt shop, in Tulsa, Oklahoma from Janette Metz, a master quilter. In Janette I saw that same patient spirit and willingness to share her knowledge that I had seen in Minnie. Again, I heard the words “do your best” and “always try to improve”. The lessons my grandmother, Minnie and Janette gave became the foundation for all the work I have done since. There are others who have shared their knowledge with me – wonderful teachers who each encouraged me to do my best at whatever skill I was learning. All of these people took the time to share some of their expert knowledge with me. They were each excellent teachers who believed in sharing their skills with others.
Do you consider yourself successful with your sewing and quilting? Do you have a goal that you are striving for in your sewing, crafting and quilting? How do you plan to improve your skills?
The past few years have been a huge learning experience for many crafters, quilters, and sewers, including myself. Like many of you, being confined during the pandemic was mentally and emotionally challenging. Having so much free time and being confined in close quarters had us all seeking new avenues to challenge ourselves and “keep our minds and hands busy”.
During this time, Zoom classes, webinars, and Youtube videos became my preferred sources of learning. The information available was endless. A Google search would bring up page after page of information with each click of a button. YouTube had a never-ending supply of videos all for free! I discovered Missouri Star Quilt Company. Their videos are amazing. Zoom became a household word. I had to narrow down my search. So, what sewing skill did I want to improve the most?
Like many of you, my stash had grown over the years to an unmanageable size. It was out of control! But I didn’t feel comfortable putting all those fabrics together. So there it was – the skill I needed to improve was learning how to make a scrap quilt. I began my search on YouTube first. Little did I know there was so much available. After many hours of previewing videos, I settled on a few channels that appealed to me most(Missouri Star Quilt Company and The Last Homely House) and began my stash busting skill building.
Are your putting limits on yourself? My grandmother (who I mentioned earlier) was an excellent teacher even though she only had a 6th grade formal education. I never heard her say, ” I can’t learn that”. Her patience in teaching me to sew was unmatched by others. She loved sewing and gladly shared her knowledge without asking for anything in return.
Are you a sewing teacher, like my grandmother or Minnie? Do you strive to improve your skills everyday for the benefit of yourself or your students? Do you reach out to others to get help or help them improve? Do you take classes from experts to stay current in your field? Do your students feel like a success when they finish your class? These are just a few of the questions that I am constantly asking myself as a teacher and a student.
As students we can practice skill building with only the click of a button and the investment of time. As teachers we have the ability to support students and encourage them to “do their best”. Kind words of encouragement can make a difference for all of us. If you watch a video or take a class online be sure to leave a “thank you” for the teacher in the comments. If you are the teacher, reach out to your students with uplifting words for their efforts.
I challenge you to improve your skills in whatever field of sewing or crafting you enjoy. Leave a comment and let me know your favorite way to improve your skills.
