Link to the full you tube tutorial How to sew clothes on a sewing machine | Easy Sewing Projects for Beginners https://youtu.be/xro3uFW3smk
Cassie Cartmell – Faodail Creation
Table of Contents
How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine can seem intimidating when you first look at a dress pattern covered in lots of different pieces. However, once you break the project down into smaller stages, making your own clothes becomes much more manageable. If you are just starting out, following some top beginner sewing tips and learning how to thread your sewing machine correctly can give you a great foundation before you begin.
In this tutorial, I am continuing with my dress-making project and showing you how I assembled the dress after cutting all of the pattern pieces. I will take you through arranging the pieces on a mannequin, sewing the bodice and skirt together, finishing the seams, creating buttonholes, attaching the buttons and finishing the skirt with a rolled hem.
This is part three of my dress-making series. In parts one and two, I prepared the project and cut all of the fabric pieces, so everything is now ready to start assembling. If you are learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, this is the stage where the project really starts to look like a garment.
If you are learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, this tutorial will help you work through the dress-making process step by step, from organising your pattern pieces to completing the finished garment. Along the way, I will also share some top beginner sewing tips, including why finishing your seams is important and why taking your time with each stage can make sewing clothes much easier.
Before you start sewing, make sure your machine is correctly set up and that you know how to thread it according to your sewing machine manufacturer’s instructions. Having your machine properly threaded and ready to sew will help you get started with confidence.
How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine Using a Mannequin
When I am learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, I personally like to use a mannequin or dress form to help me organise the different pieces.
You don’t have to use one when learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine. You can absolutely assemble your garment on your sewing table. However, I find that putting the pieces onto a mannequin makes it much easier for me to see how everything fits together.
With a complicated pattern, it can be difficult to look at a collection of fabric pieces on a table and imagine what the finished garment will look like. Once those same pieces are positioned on a mannequin, everything becomes much clearer and makes How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine feel much more manageable.
Organising the Pattern Pieces – How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine
I started by taking my individual fabric pieces and placing them onto my mannequin. This is an important part of How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, as keeping all of your pieces organised can make the construction process much easier.
I kept the paper pattern pieces with me because I still needed to refer to the numbers and markings on them. Rather than trying to remember where every piece belonged, I could simply check the corresponding pattern piece as I worked. This is especially helpful when learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine and working with a dress pattern that has lots of different sections.
I then pinned the pieces temporarily into position.
At this point, I wasn’t trying to sew anything permanently. I simply wanted to get everything organised so I could see the overall shape of the dress.
As the pieces started coming together, the bodice became much easier to recognise.
This is one of the reasons I recommend using a dress form if you have access to one. It can make a complicated garment feel much more straightforward and make How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine feel less intimidating when you’re working with lots of individual pattern pieces.
How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine and Finish Your Seams
Once you start joining your pieces together, one thing you don’t want to overlook is seam finishing.
When you sew two pieces of fabric together, you are left with raw fabric edges on the inside of the garment. Depending on the fabric, these edges can fray over time.
Nobody wants to spend hours making a beautiful dress only to wash it a few times and discover that the seams are coming apart.
Using an Overlocker to Finish Seams – How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine
For this project, I used my overlocker, also known as a serger, to finish the raw edges.
An overlocker trims the edge of the fabric and encloses it with thread. This helps prevent the fabric from fraying and gives the inside of the garment a much neater finish.
If you don’t have an overlocker, don’t worry. You can use other seam-finishing methods, such as a zigzag stitch on your regular sewing machine.
The important thing is to consider how you are going to finish your seams rather than leaving raw edges exposed.
Why Seam Finishing Matters
Learning how to sew clothes on a sewing machine isn’t just about getting the pieces sewn together.
It is also about creating a garment that will hold up when you wear and wash it.
Taking a little extra time to finish your seams can make a big difference to the longevity and appearance of your handmade clothes.
Choosing Fabric for a Multi-Panel Dress – How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine
This particular project also taught me something about choosing fabric.
When I originally selected my fabric, I didn’t fully appreciate just how many individual panels this dress had.
The pattern shows contrasting panels, and I had initially imagined that my fabric would work differently.
Once I started putting everything together, I realised that the fabric wasn’t quite giving me the look I had originally imagined.
However, I decided to continue with the project.
Your First Garment Can Be a Prototype – How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine
One thing I have learned from sewing is that your first version of a garment doesn’t necessarily have to be perfect. When learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, it is important to remember that every project is an opportunity to learn and improve.
Think of it as a prototype.
You may discover that the fabric isn’t quite right. You may realise that you want to change the size or make an adjustment to the fit. Perhaps you would choose completely different fabric next time. These are all useful things to discover when learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine.
That’s all part of the sewing process.
I would much rather finish the garment, learn from it and use those lessons the next time I make it.
If you are learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, don’t let the fear of making a mistake stop you from starting.
You learn so much by actually making the garment.
How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine – Step-by-Step Dress Assembly
Now that the pieces are organised and you’re ready to start sewing, here is the complete process I followed to finish my dress.
The Complete Sewing Process
Step 1: When learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, gather all of your cut fabric pieces and keep the corresponding paper pattern pieces nearby so you can identify each section easily.
Step 2: For How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, arrange the fabric pieces on your mannequin or dress form to see how the garment will come together. Pin them temporarily into position rather than sewing them immediately.
Step 3: When following How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, begin assembling the bodice, matching the correct panels together according to your pattern. Sew the seams on your regular sewing machine.
Step 4: As part of How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, finish the raw seams using an overlocker or another suitable seam-finishing method to help prevent the fabric from fraying.
Step 5: For How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, attach the sleeves to the completed bodice, making sure the pieces are correctly positioned before sewing.
Step 6: When learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, assemble the skirt panels by matching the correct pieces together, pinning the seams and sewing them on your sewing machine.
Step 7: As you work through How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, finish the raw seams on the skirt panels before attaching the skirt to the bodice.
Step 8: For How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, join the completed skirt to the bodice, carefully matching the seams and checking that everything is sitting correctly.
Step 9: When following How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, mark the positions of all your buttonholes. Take your time with this stage because accurate positioning will make sure the finished buttons line up correctly.
Step 10: As part of How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, attach the buttonhole foot to your sewing machine and select the appropriate buttonhole stitch. If your machine has an automatic buttonhole function, allow the machine to sew each buttonhole for you.
Step 11: When learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, carefully cut open each buttonhole. Take extra care during this stage because it is very easy to accidentally cut through the stitching around the buttonhole.
Step 12: For How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, position and sew on your buttons, checking that each one lines up correctly with its corresponding buttonhole. I like to sew my buttons on securely so they can withstand regular use.
Step 13: As you complete How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, finish the bottom edge of the skirt. For this dress, I used a rolled hem on my overlocker because it gives a neat finish and is also quick to sew.
Step 14: When finishing How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, give the finished dress a final check, looking at the seams, buttons, hem and overall construction.
Step 15: Finally, with How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, try the dress on and check the fit. Make a note of anything you would change before making the garment again.
How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine: Creating Buttonholes
Buttonholes can sound complicated when you are new to sewing, but modern sewing machines make this process much easier.
For this dress, I returned to my regular sewing machine and attached the buttonhole foot.
Once I selected the buttonhole stitch, the machine was able to sew the buttonhole for me.
This is one of those features that can make how to sew clothes on a sewing machine much less intimidating.
The machine controls the stitching pattern, so you don’t have to manually create every part of the buttonhole.
The main thing to remember is to carefully mark your buttonhole positions before you start.
You want your buttons to be evenly spaced and positioned so that the garment closes properly.
Be Careful When Opening Buttonholes – How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine
Once your buttonholes have been sewn, they need to be opened.
This is the part where I recommend slowing down.
It is very easy to accidentally cut too far and go through the thread surrounding the buttonhole.
A small, sharp seam ripper can be useful for opening the centre of the buttonhole gradually.
You can also place a pin across the end of the buttonhole as a safety stop.
How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine: Attaching Buttons
Attaching the buttons is another relatively simple stage.
Once the buttonholes were finished, I positioned the buttons and sewed them onto the dress.
I like to attach my buttons securely, particularly when they are going to be used regularly.
Before sewing them permanently, I recommend checking that each button lines up with its corresponding buttonhole.
There is nothing more frustrating than finishing all your buttons and then discovering that the front of your dress doesn’t sit correctly!
How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine With a Rolled Hem
For the bottom of the skirt, I decided to use one of my favourite ways to finish a hem: a rolled hem on the serger.
A rolled hem is a quick and neat way to finish a skirt, particularly when you want a narrow finished edge.
If your overlocker has a rolled-hem function, you can set the machine up according to your manufacturer’s instructions.
I always recommend testing your settings on a scrap of the same fabric before starting on the actual garment.
Different fabrics can behave very differently, so a quick test can save you from having to unpick your finished hem.
Getting a Professional Finish – How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine
The little finishing details can make a big difference to a handmade garment.
Finishing the seams, creating neat buttonholes, attaching the buttons securely and taking care with the hem all contribute to the finished appearance.
When you’re learning how to sew clothes on a sewing machine, it’s easy to concentrate entirely on getting the garment assembled.
However, those final finishing touches are what can make your handmade clothing look much more polished.
The Finished Dress – How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine
And finally, the dress was complete!
It doesn’t look particularly impressive on my mannequin because my mannequin is a very small size compared with me. It could definitely do with putting on a little weight!
However, I did try the dress on, and believe it or not, it actually didn’t look too bad.
Despite the challenges I had with my fabric choice, I was happy that I continued with the project.
Sometimes you simply have to see a garment on your actual body before you can properly judge how it looks.
What I Would Change Next Time – How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine
There are definitely a few things I would change if I made this dress again.
The first would be my fabric choice.
Now that I understand how many panels are involved in the design, I would choose a fabric that works better with those sections.
I would also take what I learned from this version and use it when making another one.
That’s one of the things I love about sewing.
Every project teaches you something.
How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine: Don’t Expect Perfection
If you’re new to how to sew clothes on a sewing machine, remember that you don’t need to get everything perfect immediately.
Your first garment may have things you would change.
Maybe the fit isn’t quite right.
Maybe you don’t like the fabric as much as you expected.
Perhaps you would finish the seams differently.
All of these things are useful lessons.
The more clothes you make, the more confident you become at understanding patterns, choosing fabrics, matching seams and making adjustments.
Instead of looking at something that didn’t work as a mistake, think about what it has taught you for your next project.
Final Thoughts on How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine
Learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine is a rewarding skill because you can take a pattern and some fabric and turn them into something completely unique.
This dress certainly wasn’t without its challenges, but that’s part of the fun of sewing. Using my mannequin helped me visualise the different panels, while finishing the seams with my overlocker helped give the inside of the garment a cleaner and more durable finish.
The buttonholes were straightforward using the automatic buttonhole function on my sewing machine, and the rolled hem provided a quick way to finish the skirt. Most importantly, I learned what I would do differently next time.
If you are thinking about learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine, don’t be afraid to start. Take your time, keep your pattern pieces organised and work through the garment one stage at a time.
You don’t have to get everything perfect on your first attempt. Your first garment can simply be the beginning of learning How to Sew Clothes on a Sewing Machine and developing the skills you will use on all the garments you make in the future.
This tutorial is part three of my dress-making series, so be sure to check out parts one and two for the earlier stages of the project. And in the next part, I’ll be reviewing the things I would and wouldn’t do again and, most importantly, showing you what the finished dress actually looks like when I wear it!
Read this next : Dress Sew A Long (Four Part Series) https://faodailcreation.ca/2020/01/19/dress-sew-a-long-four-part-series/
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