00:00Street Style is brought to you by Garnier.
00:09Now we all love a good outfit, particularly when it fits like it was made just for us.
00:15But how many of us have considered that we could achieve that every single time
00:19if we would simply learn to make our own clothing?
00:22And on that note, I have here with me today,
00:24Ms. Tiffany Cupid, sewing instructor and owner of Cupid Designs TT.
00:31Ms. Cupid, thank you so much for having us today.
00:34No problem, not at all.
00:35Now when I think about it, I personally cannot sew.
00:38But my mother, her mother, a lot of the older women, I would say it was like,
00:42all of the women especially knew how to sew and then it kind of died off.
00:46But to me, it's as though I'm seeing a lot of people now learning to sew.
00:50What is your experience? Would you say so?
00:51I feel like a lot of people are getting back into sewing as a hobby
00:56as well as a means to just be able to save a little money,
01:01whether it's by making their own clothes
01:03or simply by being able to alter things for themselves.
01:06So if I wanted to embark on this journey, where do I start?
01:11Your first step would be to obviously get a sewing machine.
01:14I like to say a good domestic machine is a good place for beginner.
01:18You do not need something overly complicated.
01:21You really just need something with basic straight stitches, zigzag stitches,
01:26and you need a machine that you are able to use easily.
01:30Once it is you have the sewing machine, then I would say just practice.
01:33Just jump right into it.
01:35Make simple projects to be able to start.
01:39Okay.
01:39In my head, I think something simple would be like a straight skirt or a tube top.
01:44What would you recommend?
01:45My take on simple projects is start off with something with just straight stitches.
01:51So that's like a tote bag, maybe a pillowcase,
01:54maybe being able to hem the curtain that's too long.
01:58And when you want to kind of dive into garment making a little bit,
02:02then start with an elastic band skirt or maybe a pair of pajama pants.
02:07I know people want to just jump right into making the harder items.
02:11But sometimes, I like to say sewing is being able to learn simple techniques first
02:17and then add on as you go and then be able to make more complicated stuff.
02:21Walk us through the steps towards making a piece of clothing.
02:26Okay.
02:26So I like to tell my students that there are a lot of different ways to make clothes.
02:31It's not limited to one only.
02:32So my three main methods would be you can use clothes that you have in your cupboard.
02:38So you get a clothing item, you lay it onto fabric, you cut around it,
02:42and you can use that to start creating clothes.
02:46The second way is to get a commercial pattern.
02:48So commercial patterns are patterns that somebody else created,
02:52and you can purchase paper versions of them.
02:55I don't know if they sell them locally.
02:56I don't think so anymore.
02:58But you can get a digital commercial pattern.
03:01So you download it, you print out all the pieces, and you use that as a pattern.
03:05Or you learn how to flat pattern draft,
03:07which for me is the best way to learn how to make clothes.
03:11And what do you get for your beginner's sewing kit?
03:14So a beginner's sewing kit, you don't need every single gadget that you see advertised online.
03:21This is not a necessity.
03:22I would say you start with a good seam ripper.
03:25You need a pair of fabric scissors and a pair of paper scissors because we never interchange the two.
03:33You're going to need some pins, a good measuring tape,
03:38also a tailor-shock so you can use this older version,
03:42or we have the pencil versions now.
03:44You need some good thread.
03:46Obviously, your sewing machine.
03:48If you are getting into pattern drafting,
03:50then you're going to need some drafting rulers.
03:52And one of the most important tools in your sewing kit is your iron.
03:57As it pertains to, I guess, the basic skills,
04:01what would you identify the basic sewing skills to be?
04:05For me, that will include first learning how to tread a sewing machine,
04:09how to sew straight, how to maintain seam allowance,
04:12how to be able to do zippers, how to be able to do buttonholes,
04:15and all of those things are included.
04:17So let's go through how to tread a basic domestic sewing machine.
04:23A lot of them tend to have graphics at the top that help you along.
04:26So you really just want to follow, you know, the directions.
04:31What's super important is paying attention to the direction
04:34that you put your spool of thread down.
04:36So this one requires us to have our thread go around to the front.
04:40Then we look for the numbers on the sewing machine.
04:43So this will be your first step.
04:45Then there's our number two here.
04:47Then number three.
04:49Another important aspect is making sure that your needle
04:51is in the highest, most position when you are treading the sewing machine.
04:55That allows the thread to go through your tension.
04:57This, as well as it allows the silver part here
05:02to be at the top position, which is necessary.
05:05You go around, then down.
05:09A lot of older machines require you to kind of
05:11use the thread and actually chuck it through
05:14the eye of the needle.
05:16A lot of modern machines now have a threader.
05:19So it makes it a lot easier to do so quickly.
05:27That's all the excess and your top thread is treaded.
05:32Obviously, when sewing, we need a top thread
05:34as well as a bottom thread.
05:36That's how stitches are usually formed.
05:38So we're putting in our bottom thread.
05:41This machine has a drop-in bobbin,
05:44which is usually an easier machine for beginners to start off with.
05:51And once you have your top thread and bottom thread
05:57in there, we are ready to start sewing.
06:06And guys, you heard the lady.
06:08If you are thinking about possibly burning out to do your own thing,
06:11just go for it, get yourself a basic sewing kit,
06:15get yourself a good sewing machine,
06:16and have at it.
06:18Once again, I am Vanessa Cutting,
06:20and this was Street Style.
06:22This is what we have for this episode.
06:23We'll see you all again next week Thursday.
06:33Street Style was brought to you by Garnier.
