A & L : Sewing Lessons {DIY}

Year after year I have continually set a goal for myself to learn how to sew. This has not been an easy task when my teacher (my Mom) lives in Minneapolis and I live in Seattle. When home for an extended period of time I declared to my Mom that we were making a Midi Skirt, and when I say we I really meant my Mom was making me a Midi Skirt! All the credit for the skirt goes to my Mom but here is what I learned from careful observation.

1. Choose your pattern carefully. I made the mistake of choosing a European pattern, these patterns are not as clear and give less direction.

2. Don't be afraid to alter your pattern, I really liked the silhouette of skirt "A" but wanted to add length and put the zipper in the back. Keep in mind that if you are altering something on the pattern you need to account for extra or fewer supplies like fabric.

3. Make sure you have all the supplies you need, by the end of the week the staff at Jo-Ann Fabrics knew us- we were there on four different occasions picking up missing supplies.

4. Read the pattern very carefully, my mom likes to study her pattern the night before she starts a project, this helps her visualize each step.

5. Get started and have fun, as my mom says "you don't really know what you are going to get until you're done."

6. First projects can be frustrating but practice makes perfect so keep on creating new things. Since this was my experience making clothing I decided to have it hemmed by a tailor- it saved me from some frustration and I'm hoping a professional touch will help to look a little more polished.