Getting Past the Hard Part....PATTERN & FABRIC CUTTING!

[mrsbernstein]

Last night, I sat and the table adn talked to husband while looking over teh directions for my new sewing patterns.

I only purchased the "easy" patterns, so really...NOTHING looked hard. But, I still haven't started yet. Why? I hate to have to cut the PATTERNS and the FABRIC. Especially the fabric. It's like this mental block for me.

It may have to do withe the IRONING of the fabric. Or getting the grain lined-up just-right. Or PINNING all the pattern pieces to the fabric. Oh, I don't know.

But whatever it is....it holds me back EVERY TIME!

Am I the only one?

MRs B

[orangefoot]

Hee hee! It can take me days and weeks to get the cut pieces on the table and ready to sew!

One thing I do to speed me up is not pin the pattern. I get a load of tins out of the larder and put them on the pattern to hold it down and then just start cutting. Or I draw around the pattern with a sharpie I always mark notches by making a mark in the seam allowance with a sharpie too.

Another thing I did recently was take all my fabric out of its box an iron it all. Dh thought I was crazy because these are mainly bits of clothing which I have kept to re-purpose Anyhow it is all nice and flat and carefully folded so that is one less thing to hold me back! I very rarely buy fabric but if I do I wash it and iron it straight away so it isn't staring at me from the bag it came home from the shop in!

Face your fear MrsB and get sewing!

[mrsbernstein]

Well, today...I WILL face my fear! I like the idea of just weighing-down the pattern. Sometimes it has worked for me...and sometimes... ;-)

I suppose there is also that fear of ruining $6/yard fabric. Ugh. Oh, and did I mention that ironing is NOT my favorite task. And I always find myself ironing the PATTERN pieces, too! :-)

But today is a NEW day...and sewing MUST BE DONE!

Today! I WILL SEW! (Or at least CUT-OUT the pattern!)

Mrs B

[sabrinat]

Originally Posted by mrsbernstein

Last night, I sat and the table adn talked to husband while looking over teh directions for my new sewing patterns.

I only purchased the "easy" patterns, so really...NOTHING looked hard. But, I still haven't started yet. Why? I hate to have to cut the PATTERNS and the FABRIC. Especially the fabric. It's like this mental block for me.

It may have to do withe the IRONING of the fabric. Or getting the grain lined-up just-right. Or PINNING all the pattern pieces to the fabric. Oh, I don't know.

But whatever it is....it holds me back EVERY TIME!

Am I the only one?

MRs B

You're thinking too much and making it too hard. In the grand scheme of things most things are fixable. Just jump in! In the beginning most of what you will sew won't be the greatest...but you will improve.

[grniys]

This is just my opinion, but the so called "easy" patterns seem harder to me than the regular ones.

[klewaidz]

I'm right there with you. I have the material and pattern, but can hardly bring myself to cut. Cutting the fabric is the hardest part for me, but it gets easier every time. I used to make my mom cut all my fabric while I sewed. Now I'll do the cutting - but I still hate that fist snip.

[SleeplessMommy]

For single layer patterns, you can try weights and a disapearing ink pen (found in the quilting dept!) I use my quilting rotary cutter often - I guess I like to take risks!