Guide to DIY – 7 Splendid Tips

If you haven’t done much sewing or DIY before, it can be hard to know where to start. Craft and haberdashery stores are filled with so many exciting tools and materials that it can be overwhelming if you just want to start with a simple project. I’ve put together these 7 Simple Tips to try to simplify things a bit. I hope that if you haven’t tried DIY before, I can help you find the confidence and know how to not only give it a go, but also to really enjoy it while achieving satisfying results.

1. Gather your tools. Before commencing any DIY project, it’s important to make sure you have all the right tools. There are certain tools and equipment that you will find yourself using again and again for DIY, so over time you will be able to develop a kit containing all the essentials. Some of the absolute basics include: hand sewing needles, fabric scissors, paper scissors, quick unpick (sometimes called a seam ripper), pins, a tape measure and ruler, sewing threads in basic colours and tailors chalk (or a pencil suitable for marking fabric). For my full list of sewing kit essentials, check out this post. Find something to store all your tools in to keep them together and so you can find everything when you need to. Your kit could be contained in something as simple as a shoe box, or you could buy a pretty box, sewing basket or even a small vintage case would work. 
2. Get inspiration and ideas. There are lots of lovely craft books out there that feature all sorts of gorgeous projects. If you’re new to DIY, it might be worthwhile trying a project from a book so you can follow the step by step instructions. This is a lot less risky than making something up without instructions, but if you have the confidence to just make something up, go for it! I think it’s totally fine to be inspired by current trends and styles you see and love. We are all inspired and influenced by the things we see around us. However, I don’t think it’s okay to flat out copy other people’s designs, particularly if you intend to profit from it in any way. The line between copying a design and simply being inspired by it can be pretty blurry. At the end of the day, if what you are making is not disrespecting or devaluing the work of another designer, then you’re probably fine. Try to consider the aspects of the design you like and why you like them. How can you incorporate or re-interpret these elements into something that reflects your own personality and needs? Spend time developing your idea into something that is uniquely you.
3. Become a bower bird and start collecting shiny pretty things. Set aside a drawer or box to collect craft supplies such as buttons, elastic, press studs, ribbon, twine, lace, trims and scraps of fabric. Whenever I’m starting a new project, I always check what supplies I already have tucked away in my cupboard before I go out and buy anything new. As well as buying supplies from fabric and craft stores, considering looking in thrift stores or online on websites such as etsy.com. If you’ve got old clothes that are so worn out they’re going to be thrown in the bin, first check the condition of buttons and zippers. They may have enough life left in them to be kept in your stash and reused in a new project. 
4. Learn some basic sewing skills. I think this is really important. If you learn the basics, you’ll be able to apply these skills to any number of projects to achieve all sorts of things. It can be very disappointing if you try really hard on a project but your stitching comes undone or the buttons fall off. Commit to learning (and practicing) a few basic stitches, how to sew on buttons and how to finish off your hand stitching so it won’t come undone and you’ll not only find DIY projects easier, but you’ll achieve better quality results, too. There are so many great resources for learning how to sew. There are lots of beautiful books available that teach you the basics and include lovely projects that you can use your new skills to make. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on resources, consider buying books second-hand or borrowing them from your local library. The internet is also a great resource. I’ve written a series of Learn to Sew articles (that I’m constantly adding to), which feature easy tutorials for lots of basic skills. I know I’m not the only blogger who features tutorials, so if you’re unsure of how to do something, do a google search and see what comes up. If you find a particular blog or website that’s particularly helpful, bookmark it or subscribe to their feed so you can find them again easily. 
5. Altering thrifted clothes is a great way to build up the confidence to start sewing your own clothes as you’re not starting from scratch and haven’t invested a lot of money in a fancy new fabric. It’s also a great way to learn some basic fitting techniques. Taking up a hem, shortening the sleeves or replacing the buttons might be all a thrifted garment needs to give it a new lease on life. As your skills improve and your confidence grows, you can try more complex alterations or purchase a pattern and sew something from scratch.
6. Learn to use a sewing machine. I debated whether or not to include this one, because buying a sewing machine can be expensive if you’re not sure whether you’re really going to use it. However, while most projects can be sewn by hand if you don’t have a sewing machine, hand sewing takes about a billion times longer than machine sewing. (Yes, a billion times. I did the maths.) I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t have the spare time (or the patience) to sew big projects such as clothes, by hand. A great way to test the waters without splashing out on a shiny new sewing machine is to see if you can borrow one from a friend or relative. Or if you don’t want to borrow a machine see if you can organise a ‘crafternoon’ with your mum/friend/relative who has a sewing machine and you can each work on a project together. This gives you an opportunity to try using a sewing machine while having fun spending time with a friend. If you do decide to buy a sewing machine, consider buying one that’s second hand. My trusty Pfaff is second hand, in fact I think it’s from the 60s or 70s. It’s a great sewing machine and I absolutely love it!  
7. Be patient and take your time. Don’t put pressure on yourself to make something in a set amount of time, or for a specific event or occasion. More than once I have made the mistake of trying to make a new dress for a specific event with only a few days to do it in. I inevitably have insufficient time to test my pattern or fit it properly, or I don’t have the right supplies, or I rush it and it ends up an unwearable mess. Take your time to do things properly. If you make a mistake, that’s okay. Unpick it and take your time to fix it up. If you’re getting stressed and can’t figure something out, take a break and have a cup of tea. Often if I can’t find a solution to something, I’ll take a break or move on to something else for a bit and an idea for a solution will just come to me when I’m not expecting it. If you are patient and don’t rush yourself you’re more likely to enjoy yourself and you’ll end up with a higher quality finished product that you can be really proud of!

© 2011, Angela. All rights reserved. On reposting any images contained herein you must provide link to original post. Please don’t repost entire posts without my permission.

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