Courses – So So Into Academy

Get Rid of These Bad Sewing Habits

Sanel Van Staden — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 12:19:22 +0000

Get Rid of These Bad Sewing Habits

Date Published: November 24, 2020

Whether you are a beginner or a well-established sewist, you might have picked up a few bad habits along the way that have stuck.

These bad habits could be the reason that your sewing is not working out in the best way. Or even the reason that your seams are not lasting nearly long enough.

Here are a few bad habits that sewists have and how to get rid of them.

You do not clean your sewing machine
Using sewing scissors for things other than fabric
Not ironing your seams
You do not follow pattern directions correctly
Putting pins in your mouth

You Are Not Cleaning Your Sewing Machine

Sometimes when something does not seem dirty, we do not feel the need to clean it. With a sewing machine, cleaning is a very important step without which you could get quite hurt.

Once lint starts to build up in the machine, one of two things can happen. Either your machine will just stop working and you will have little idea as to why, or the lint buildup could cause your machine to catch on fire.

Get rid of this bad habit and make sure to clean your machine on the regular. Sure, sometimes it might feel difficult and unnecessary, but not as much as a fire or a broken machine would.

Here is a great video on how to clean your sewing machine.

Fabric Scissors Are Only For Fabric

Fabric scissors are made for that exact reason, cutting fabric. The blades are only designed and suited to be used on fabric and materials. If you start using them on other things like paper, cardboard or even plastic, you will ruin the blades and end up with bad fabric scissors.

Get rid of the nasty habit of using fabric scissors on anything other than fabric. It is never worth ruining a pair of good fabric scissors.

You Do Not Iron Your Seams

Ironing you seams is a very important part of the sewing process. Without ironing, your seams will tend to split. By pressing your seams, your thread will meld into the fabric and tend to last a lot longer than if you do not.

It might seem tedious and so you could get into the habit of skipping this step. If you do, the overall finish of your clothing or project will be poor. Take the extra time to press your seams to ensure a good looking, lasting product.

Here is a video on how to press your seams.

You Do Not Follow Pattern Directions

Sometimes when you start working on a pattern, you may think you know what you are doing and be encouraged to skip a few steps. Very often, this can only end in disaster.

Make sure that you read the instructions and steps beforehand to get a good idea about how to follow the pattern. Each step has been tried and tested and is there for a reason. Rather take the time to read and diligently follow the steps than to end up with a less than an ok piece of work.

You Put Pins In Your Mouth

It seems like a quick place to hold your pins when you are in the middle of something, but this is a very dangerous habit to have. Some sewists have accidentally inhaled a pin into their lung after doing this and ended up severely injured.

Get rid of this bad habit and rather get a pin cushion to make sure that all of your pins are out of harm’s way.

Getting Rid of Bad Habits Once and For All

Sewing courses are a great way for you to lose bad habits whilst also improving your skill set.

Here are the courses that we offer at SoSo Into It Academy, so why not start today?

Author: Andrea Frisby

5 Biggest Mistakes That Beginners Make: Seamstress Addition

Sanel Van Staden — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 12:00:52 +0000

5 Biggest Mistakes That Beginners Make: Seamstress Addition

Date Published: November 16, 2020

As a beginner in sewing, you might encounter a few difficulties along the way. Often you will not even know that you are doing something wrong. When you make mistakes like this in sewing, it can cost you your entire piece of work.

Here are the 5 biggest mistakes that sewers make when they first start, so avoid doing these as much as you can.

The wrong needle size.
The tension is not correct.
You are not pressing your seams.
Using a measuring tape without knowing how to measure.
Choosing patterns for advanced sewers.

You Are Using The Wrong Size Needle

If you are not sure which needle to use and pick up the wrong one, it can cause some serious issues with the finish of your products. For instance, jeans would need a much stronger needle than chiffon.

The needle will affect the overall quality of your project. Having the wrong size needle can cause:

Skipped stitches in your clothes or materials
Your needles could break
You could end up with knots at the end of your fabric

Visit this link if you need a little bit of extra help with choosing a needle.

The Tension Is Not Correct

Usually, the tension in sewing might be a little hard to notice at first. The best way to ensure you have the right tension is to test which tension works best on the material you are using. Do this first before attempting to start the project.

Using the wrong tension can cause:

Pulls in your fabric, clothing or otherwise.
Pluckers in the seam, resulting in an untidy finish.

You Are Not Pressing Your Seams

Pressing your seams might take a long time as a beginner. You could even find yourself wondering what the point of all of it is. Luckily, we are here to break down why it is so important to press your seams:

You want your material or project to have a good finish.
You want to avoid uneven seams that appear messy.
You do not want crooked seams.

It looks like a lot of work at the time, but you can always press your seams in batches. If you want to have your projects coming out looking neat and professional, do not skip this step.

Using Measuring Tape Without Knowing How To Measure

When you are just starting out, using a measuring tape can be a bit tricky. To get the right measurements you have to be sure where exactly you need to measure.

Try not to do your own measurements either. You might be tempted to pull the measuring tape tighter or change your measurements to suit what you want them to be.

Click here if you need help with measuring and where on the body you should measure before starting a clothing project.

Choosing Patterns For Advanced Sewers

It is tempting to choose patterns that are advanced because you want to start that specific project. This is usually a bad idea that will most likely end in an unfinished, messy project.

Start with patterns for beginners and work your way through the different projects until you are good enough to try something a bit harder. This way, you will also be harnessing new skills and learning tips and tricks that will be necessary for later projects,

Remember that sewing is not a race. Rather do it at your own pace and learn to become a great sewer than try difficult projects and get disheartened before you even start getting good.

If you are a beginner, intermediate or professional sewer, it is always good to get some extra practise in the form of a course. Have a look at all the courses we at So So Into It Academy have to offer.

Author: Andrea Frisby

The Best Material for Homemade Masks

Sanel Van Staden — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 13:02:13 +0000

The Best Material for Homemade Masks

Date Published: November 9, 2020

Since the rise of the coronavirus, masks have become a staple fashion piece in the clothing industry. So much so that they are often overpriced.

Luckily, with the right tips and tricks, you can start making your own. What better place to start than deciding which material would work best for a coronavirus mask. It is time to try the combination of cotton and chiffon.

Here is everything you need to know.

The Material

The material we use to make masks all breaks down to how effective it can be against the coronavirus. The key to a good mask is its ability to filter droplets and aerosols.

Research has shown that whilst many of us wear reusable masks religiously, the cotton may be ineffective when it comes to preventing transmission.

Materials brought into question were:

Cotton
Chiffon
Flannel
Silk
Spandex
Satin
Polyester

Having tested an array of different materials, researchers soon decided on the most effective materials for face masks. The best material was then a mix of tightly woven cotton, 600 threads per inch to be exact, combined with 2 sheets of chiffon.

This combination of material has now been proven to be 80-99% effective against the droplets and aerosols in the air and thus, the coronavirus particles.

Having used a strong material like cotton, doubled with silk (which holds a static charge) provides the individual with a mechanical electrostatic double barrier. This is then wat more effective than an ordinary reusable mask.

The Fit

Even if the mask is made from the right materials if the fit is wrong the entire use of the mask is pointless. When making your face masks, you must ensure that they fit-well over the face and do not allow for open spaces where particles may enter.

Researchers have calculated that if a mask has open areas that are not snug-fitting, their effective ability is reduced by 50%.

The Pattern

The fit and the material then all come down to the pattern. Here are a few patterns to help you get started on your mask-making journey.

Try out a few styles and see which work best for you! Remember to keep the fit snug to ensure that you get the most protection possible.

If you are still learning to sew and need a bit of extra help, why not join one of our courses and brush up on your skills. Whether you are a newbie or a skilled practitioner, there is something for everybody.

Author: Andrea Frisby

Face Masks: The latest fashion trend

Sanel Van Staden — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 09:55:27 +0000

Face Masks: The latest fashion trend

Date Published: October 14, 2020

COVID-19 came quickly and took the world by storm. With it, it brought tight lockdown regulations, levels of isolation and most of all fear. These are all factors that could naturally be predicted in a pandemic type situation.

What we didn’t predict, however, was that face masks would turn into the latest fashion trend. In no time at all, masks morphed from disease blockers to fashion stoppers.

The Fashion Staple

Masks are now a fundamental part of your outfit. Do they match my outfit? Are they unique? Is this enough of a statement? These are the kinds of questions that have sprung up from the rubble of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whatever your outfit, there is a mask to match it.

Fashion Giants

Fashion giants like Prada, Louis Vuitton and Dior are all jumping into the mask fashion game. Not only are they designing and manufacturing masks for public appeal, but also for medical workers who indeed need them the most.

Cotton on, Woolworths and other clothing giants are examples of other companies that are also creating desirable masks and helping this new fashion item become a part of everybody’s outfit.

Face masks have so easily and thoughtless become a collection item that fit into our day-to-day outfit collaborations. Fashion markets have somehow found a way to monopolise on a pandemic, and the public is here for it!

Social Media

One way to track and copy trends is on social media. Instagram, Facebook and twitter are bombarded with mask-fashion every day. This way, people start to want in and buy themselves fashionable masks to fit into the new masking madness.

Anywhere you go you can find a trendy mask. Instagram, Facebook groups, the mall, the garage, they’re everywhere! It begs the question, is it safety first or fashion first?

Luxury Street Apparel

Not only have masks taken the posh brands by storm but the streetwear brands are also in line with the latest fashion trend.

Long before the COVID-19 pandemic came into fruition, face masks, neck gaiters and balaclavas were a staple part of the streetwear scene. Only now, this fashion staple has been amplified.

Types of masks

Now that COVID-19 has been with us for a while, fashion designers have found a way to create more than one type of mask! Here a few of the most popular options:

Cloth masks: Probably the most popular ones at the moment, cloth masks are simple shields against viral particles. They are also a great fashion statement and often sport different patterns or designs,
Bandanas: This triangular piece of cloth gives a much-needed break from the usual shape of cloth or surgical masks. Old style cowboy, new style millennial!
Neck gaiters: A staple of the streetwear scene, neck gaiters are worn around the neck and can be pulled up over the mouth and nose.
Surgical masks: The disease of the fashion industry are plain, boring surgical masks. Surgical masks are where it all started and now, fashion doesn’t want anything to do with them!

Make your own

With masks becoming a highly sought after fashion item, their price point is also rising. What was meant to be a safety measure has grown into a money-making empire.

So why not make your own masks?

If you’re interested in making your own face masks have a look at this tutorial and start your own fashion trends!

Or, join one of our sewing courses to learn about sewing, design and more!

Author: Andrea Frisby