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Practical PDF Sewing Patterns

in Beginners· Blogs by Jess· Learn to Sew Leave a Comment

Sewing for Beginners Part 1 – The Tools of the Trade

Have you always wanted to start sewing but not known where to start?

We are here to help you out! Over the coming months, we will be posting a series of blog posts that will help beginners get started sewing. Part one will take a look at the tools and equipment you will need before you can get started sewing. 

Here at Flosstyle, we understand that sewing can be daunting for beginners. We want to help you create your own wonderful creations and have you sewing with confidence like a pro! The first thing a pro needs is a sewing toolkit with the essential tools of the trade. 

Sewing is such a wonderful hobby that sparks creativity and boosts your well being. If you’d like to read more about the benefits of sewing, read our Sewing for mood, mental health and well being post. But for now, let’s get into the tools of the trade!

Sewing machine 
Firstly, and most obviously, you will need a sewing machine. There are so many different sewing machines on the market, so choosing one that is user-friendly for beginners can be intimidating. We suggest doing research and buying a sewing machine that is marketed at beginners to ensure you’re set up for success. Watch this space, in the future we will post a beginners sewing machine buyers guide. A sewing machine is a huge investment to make, and you shouldn’t take it lightly. If you can’t wait for our guide, we suggest joining our facebook group, Flosstyle Fair, full of members who can help you with your decision. 

Scissors
In your sewing kit, you’ll need two pairs of scissors: one for cutting the paper patterns and one for cutting fabric. These are similar to the pair I use.

Pins
A set of pins is essential for all sewers. Pins secure pattern pieces to the fabric to aid in accurate cutting. Pins also secure the pieces of fabric you’ll be sewing together to ensure they are correctly aligned. 

Oh, and don’t forget a cute pin cushion for storage! 

Unpicker / seam ripper 
While you may not think you will need an unpicker, we recommend making sure you have one before you get started sewing: unpicking mistakes is unfortunately inevitable. Thankfully, an unpicker makes relatively easy work of unpicking stitches. 

Thread
As you get more confident and start sewing a variety of items, you’ll want to have a lot of different colours of thread in your kit. Start with whatever colour will match your first project and perhaps a black and white too. Remember some colours will match well with a range of others like the photo below.

Measuring tape
Measuring tape is especially important for taking your own measurements, as well as measurements of the others you are making clothes for. 

Spare sewing machine needles 
While sewing machine needles don’t break too often, it’s a real inconvenience when they do! That’s why we recommend always having spares on hand. 

Chalk / fabric markers
Many of your upcoming projects will require you to make marks on your fabric. Using chalk or fabric markers allow you to do this without staining your fabric. 

Ruler 
As outlined in our How to use PDF sewing patterns blog post, a ruler is essential for ensuring your pattern is the right size (especially important when you’re printing your own PDF patterns at home!). Don’t forget to check out all the PDF patterns we have available in our Flosstyle shop.

You could also use your measuring tape for this, but it’s a lot easier with a clear ruler. 

Sewing box/bag
Now that you have all these tools, you can’t forget about a sewing box to store them all in! There are a bunch of different types of sewing boxes or bags to choose from ranging in price.  

Optional:
These items are not necessary to start your sewing journey, but they may help, and this wouldn’t be a comprehensive toolkit guide without including them. 

Rotary cutter
A rotary cutter is similar to a pizza cutter, but it’s used to cutting fabric… not delicious pizza. Some people find rotary cutters a lot more accurate than fabric scissors. If you decide to opt for a rotary cutter rather than fabric scissors (or, in addition to fabric scissors), you have to make sure you use a cutting mat, otherwise, your sewing bench will be all sorts of cut up.

Spare bobbins
While you can re-thread your bobbin using your sewing machine, some people prefer having spares that are threaded and ready to go (I admit, due to my lazy-ness, I am definitely one of those people!). However, this is very much a personal preference and can depend on the projects you’re undertaking as to whether you need spares on reserve. 

Seam Gauge
A seam gauge allows you to measure small areas of the fabric as you sew. This tool is especially helpful for hems, seam allowances, buttons and pleats. While a seam gauge is incredibly useful, it isn’t essential for all projects, especially more simple projects aimed at beginners. 

Now that you know what you need to get started, it’s time to get shopping! Let us know what you buy for your toolkit in the comments below. Keep an eye out for the next post in this series. 

Happy sewing!

Jess 

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in Pattern Hack· Sewing· Sewing for Baby· Ultimate Bucket Hat· Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Ultimate Bucket Hat for Spring

I recently sewed up a UBH for my 3 month old daughter. We were planning on going for a short hike. Well GPS led us in the wrong direction so we ended up just going for a walk at the beachfront instead.

I made her version with the reversible chin strap that Gail sewed up in this video.

Super helpful for little ones so that they don’t loose their hats but please remember always under supervison only.

I added a clip at the bottom of hers.

Please see our two hat method to help with sewing yours up in Gails Sew Along videos.

Happy Sewing All!

Tash

in Beginners· Blogs by Jess· New to PDF Patterns· Sewing Leave a Comment

Sewing for mood, mental health and overall well-being

Now more than ever it is important to look after our mental and physical health. The COVID-19 global pandemic has had an unexpected impact on everyone’s lives, ranging from unemployment to being unable to travel to see loved ones interstate or overseas. In times of uncertainty and stress, sewing is something that has always been there to help me unwind, destress and relax.

Sewing has a number of benefits, one of the most important benefits of sewing is the impact it has on mental health and well-being. Read our Why you should start using PDF sewing patterns now blog post to learn about all the benefits of using PDF sewing patterns and visit our shop to find your next project. 

Sewing is mindful
In the field of psychology, dopamine is known as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Undertaking activities that boost dopamine in the brain can lead to living a more mindful and happy lifestyle. Activities that require focus, motivation, attention and learning have been proven to release dopamine in the brain. This means that sewing is basically a dopamine feel-good fest for our brains, which is why we always feel so good after a sewing session!

Not only does sewing boost dopamine activity in our brain, it has also been proven to elicit a calming effect on our bodies and our minds. We all lead such busy and stressful lives, and the importance of calmness is often forgotten and set aside. The art of sewing allows us to totally zone out and distract ourselves from negative thoughts and the day-to-day pressures we face. The ability to be calm and the practice of mindfulness improves emotional regulation and well-being. 

Sewing is an outlet that allows us to focus our energy into something positive and creative. Without realising, the process of sewing can actually be meditative: you focus solely on your project at hand and allow your creativity to spark and take over completely. Sewing can make us more mindful in our day-to-day lives without us even realising. It is so important for us to take time out for ourselves and pay attention to our thoughts and feelings, and sitting down with a cup of tea and your sewing machine is the perfect way to do this. 

I think we can all agree that when a friend (or even better, a complete stranger) compliments us on a piece of clothing that we’ve dedicated a significant amount of time to creating is one of the best feelings ever! Even the process of choosing a pattern and picking out a cute fabric can boost our self-esteem, and the process of finalising the project can lead to a wonderful sense of accomplishment. So what I’m saying is… the entire process of sewing is basically the best thing ever to keep our minds happy and healthy! 

Sewing is social
While sewing is thought to be a mostly solitary activity, it has actually been proven to greatly enhance our social lives and expand our networks. 

Isolation and loneliness have a significant impact on our mental and physical health. Feeling disconnected from those around us can lead to low energy, low motivation, problems with sleep, and even depressed moods. Having a hobby that helps you improve and strengthen your networks is invaluable for keeping your mind and body healthy. There are a number of sewing groups that meet up regularly, and even work on shared projects together. If you are interested in joining a sewing group, a great first step is to join the Flosstyle Fair facebook group. This group has over 8k members and is a great place to meet like minded people to get advice and discuss your sewing projects.

While the importance of having strong bonds and friendships is clear, sewing is also a great activity to do solo when you need some time and space away from everyone else.

Sewing is creative
Engaging in creativity has a positive impact on our well-being. The entire sewing journey engages our brains in creative thought. From researching different patterns to choosing seam finishes, our brains are focused, motivated and constantly learning.

On average, we have around 60,000 different thoughts in just one day: crazy right!? It’s no wonder that we can often feel weighed down and snowed under. Having a creative outlet like sewing allows us to channel our (60,000!) thoughts into one project: this has the same effect that meditation does on our brain. 

People who have been sewing for quite some time even have the ability to visualise how they will make something new, how they will fix a broken item, and how they will embellish a new project. Visualisation is a key component in keeping our minds active and leveraging off the new techniques and skills we learn as we progress in our sewing. This just further proves that having a creative outlet can improve our lives immensely. 

Sewing is therapeutic 

Not only does sewing have a positive impact on our mental health, it has also been found to impact our physical health too. 

Sewing greatly improves hand-eye coordination. For those who are new to sewing, it is clear that even threading the sewing machine can be quite fiddly and requires strict concentration. More seasoned sewers can thread a machine without blinking an eye, and can glide fabric through the machine seemingly without even paying attention. This is clear evidence of how sewing improves your hand-eye coordination the more you do it. Poor hand-eye coordination can impact every day activities such as writing, driving and exercise: this is why it’s so important to maintain strong hand-eye coordination (through sewing a super cute dress, just like our Flosstyle Lala dress pattern).

The entire process of sewing teaches us something new with each project we undertake: it is an ongoing learning journey. Constantly learning new skills and techniques keeps our brains engaged and active, which helps to prevent degenerative diseases and dementia. 

Following instructions and sticking to a clearly defined methodology allows us to keep our minds clear and focused. Give our Step by step guide blog post on how to download PDF sewing patterns a read to learn something new and boost your self esteem by creating a fabulous new creation.  

Adding even just 30 minutes of sewing to your daily routine can help you live a more mindful and healthy life. There aren’t many hobbies that are proven to improve your overall health while also giving you an opportunity to create your own clothing accessories and anything else you can imagine! Sewing is a great hobby for improving and enhancing our overall well-being (and that’s just one of the reasons why we think sewing is the absolute best!). 

Happy sewing! 
Jess

in Beginners· Free Downloads· How To· New to PDF Patterns· One Yard Tote Leave a Comment

How to use PDF sewing patterns – everything you need to know to get downloading and sewing!

If you’ve always been interested in PDF sewing patterns and wanted to know how to use them, then this is the post for you.

Here at Flosstyle we understand that downloading and using PDF sewing patterns can be daunting for some. We are here to help alleviate your anxieties and to open up a brand new world of PDF sewing patterns to you. Our blogpost “Why you should start using PDF sewing patterns now” is a must read if you’re still not quite convinced or want to learn more about the world of PDF Patterns.

We promise that you don’t have to be tech savvy to find and download amazing and creative PDF sewing patterns. Our step-by-step guide below is super easy to follow and will have you downloading PDF patterns in no time.

Step 1 

The first step to using a PDF pattern is finding the perfect pattern. If you’ve never used a PDF pattern before, we suggest trialing one of our free patterns. This post will demonstrate downloading the One Yard Tote pattern (and it will demonstrate how easy it is!). To fully get your head around PDF patterns, why not follow along with this post and download our One Yard Tote PDF pattern too. 

The One Yard Tote is a brilliant first PDF sewing pattern for you to download, assemble and sew. It’s free, it’s cute, and it’s even reversible! The One Yard Tote is perfect for carrying your groceries, books, laptop, craft items and even your swimmers for the beach. This is the perfect bag to accompany you to school, university or work as it’s perfectly sized for A4 folders and documents. All you need to create this versatile and useful bag is one yard of fabric and 2.25m of binding bias (yes that’s seriously it!).

Step 2

The second step is to download the pattern. Click on the image above and you will be linked directly to the one yard tote bag.

All you need to do is click on “add to cart”. Now click on the “view cart” button and you will see your one yard tote bag pattern in your cart. 

Next you will need to fill in some of your details and you will be able to download the pattern. 

Ta-da! The One Yard Tote PDF sewing pattern is now yours!

Step 3

The third step is something that a lot of people forget. Make sure you save your newly downloaded PDF pattern to your computer in a place that will be easy for you to find again in the future. We suggest you make a dedicated folder to save your PDF patterns in. Once you get a collection of patterns, you can create sub-folders for different types of patterns such as “dresses”, “accessories”, “toys”, and more. 

Your downloaded item will be one PDF document. This document will include clear instructions as well as the pattern itself.

Step 4 

Now that you have the PDF pattern downloaded and saved, the fourth step is to print the pattern. Our patterns provide very direct and specific advice on printing. To ensure your pattern is printed correctly please follow the instructions clearly. The most important rule to follow when printing PDF patterns is NOT to scale the print. Have a look at the image below, to see the settings we used. We kept the scaling option as “actual size”. (Depending on your printer this might also be “default” “no scaling” “100%”)

If you’re running low on ink or paper, you also have the option to print only the necessary pages (e.g. in the One Yard Tote pattern, you only need to print pages 4-6). You can keep the instructions pages open on your computer or ipad while you’re assembling the pattern and sewing.

If you don’t have access to a printer, that’s totally ok! You can ask your local print and copy shop to print off your pattern for a small fee. Officeworks charge around 10 cents for each page of printing. The One Yard Tote is a 6 page PDF, so it could cost you less than a dollar to print.

All Flosstyle patterns come with a test page to ensure the pattern has been printed correctly. Please ensure you take the time to measure the test square before you get started on the next step.

Step 5

The fifth step is to assemble the pattern. This is one of my favourite parts of the process. I love to have music playing in the background while I get completely stuck into my project (and yes before you ask, dance breaks are totally encouraged!).  

Cut the pieces out and sticky tape or glue them together. Flosstyle patterns provide clear instruction and direction so you will have no issues with knowing where to cut and where to stick the pages together. 

Step 6 

That’s it! Now it’s time to get sewing. We hope this guide has been useful and helped you feel more confident in your ability to download and assemble a PDF pattern. Don’t forget that one of the best things about PDF patterns is that you can print out as many copies of the pattern you need if you make any mistakes. 

Before you start sewing you might want to check out our One Yard Tote Timelapse Video showing how the tote is sewn together. For inspiration you can find all our blog posts about the One Yard Tote here.

We would love to see your Flosstyle creation! Join our facebook group, Flosstyle Fair and share your creations with us there. Our facebook group has over 8000 members who have a wealth of knowledge on using PDF sewing patterns and would be more than happy to help you out and answer any questions you might have. You can also share your creations on instagram with the hashtag #flosstyleoneyardtote for a chance to be featured on our page.

Happy Downloading and Sewing

Jess