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Video: Five sewing myths busted!

We have all heard them, right? Perhaps we even believe some of them ourselves? I’m talking about sewing myths! In today’s video, I address five misconceptions about sewing. Now, admittedly, some of these are somewhat subjective, so I’m sure not everyone will agree with me. But let’s get the discussion going, and also I’m curious what are your pet peeve sewing myths?

9 Comments

  • sasha
    September 9, 2018 at 7:43 pm

    Great video! I agree that sewing is not inherently a sustainable practice, but as you pointed out it can be, and I find that my sewing skills are quite handy for making different reusable items like napkins and shopping bags. I don’t like to mend either, and my standard answer (which I learned from another sewist) is to offer to teach the person to do the mending themselves. They almost never take me up on the offer, and if they do, I’m glad to teach sewing skills!

    Reply
    • Johanna
      September 10, 2018 at 10:31 am

      Absolutely, having crafting skills is such a valuable thing. I love your answer, and I think they are missing out when they don’t take you up on that offer!

      Reply
  • Ada H Galli
    September 9, 2018 at 11:13 pm

    I feel the fabric manufacturers are phasing themselves out. You can’t get a simple cotton for less than $12.98 a yard! To make most garments it takes at least 3 yards – and you don’t really know if it’s going to fit or if you’ll like it. For about the same amount of money I can go to a store, try on a garment, and know immediately if it’s right or wrong. Plus – no work!

    Reply
    • Johanna
      September 10, 2018 at 10:34 am

      I think there is a lot that goes into the pricing of fabric, that we can’t see without knowing the realities. One is that the volume is so small for most fabric vendors, that this (or more) is what they have to charge, and I’m sure most fabric vendors still struggle to make any substantial profit. So it’s hard to compare with how the big garment companies does it. So to bring the point home, sewing our own clothes will seldom be a money saving activity. We do it for other reasons.

      Reply
  • Summerflies
    September 10, 2018 at 11:02 am

    Oh this is interesting. I don’t like mending although I will do it for my immediate family only. When someone else asks, I say no but I have a lot of machines and I’ll show you how to do it. This I also offer when someone finds out I sew and invariably says “oh you can make me something”, normally a statement not a question. So far no takers… so their time is more important than mine… that’s the implication. I also don’t like it when people say “oh I could never do that!”.. I didn’t come out of the womb sewing, but I’ve built up my techniques and skills (not to mention my stash and number of sewing machines) over a long period via practise. People need to remember any skill, sport or activity etc requires practise to improve. Same with sewing… you need commitment.

    Reply
    • Johanna
      September 10, 2018 at 3:22 pm

      Yes it irks me too, that I think there is a lack of understanding about how much time and learning we put into this craft. I too try to educate people to my best ability, but I think the disconnect to craft in modern society has really created this undervaluation of skills.

      Reply
  • bracken
    September 10, 2018 at 12:03 pm

    Really glad you mentioned sustainability. I am one who does buy cheap fabrics but I also make far more than I need and I am still very aware of plastic particles in the sea, child labour making fabrics ( possibly ) but who knows. I have mentioned this on my own blog more than once because buying fair trade and sustainably produced fabric is virtually impossible and if using synthetics then of course the very fact they are man made and essentially plastic is its self harmful to the planet. Good video. I rarely tune in to be honest but this one is a good one.

    Reply
    • Johanna
      September 10, 2018 at 3:37 pm

      Oh 100% it’s such a complicated issue, and so hard to make good choices, when the whole society and marketplace is set-up in a way that doesn’t really foster eco-friendlier choices. Even here in Sweden, where the environment is a pretty big on the agenda, it’s hard to find a large range of sustainable fabrics.

      Reply
  • Karen Gray
    September 14, 2018 at 2:25 am

    I agree with all your five points.

    Reply

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