Advanced Sewing Workshops: Learn Expert Techniques

Sewing is more than just a hobby - it's a skill that combines creativity, precision, and patience. If you have mastered the basics and are ready to take your sewing to the next level, here are some significant steps to succeed with structured learning practices, hands-on experience, YouTube searching, and personalized guidance. Confidently refine your techniques and tackle more complex tasks learned in more advanced sewing workshops.

These advanced guidelines provide the tools and knowledge to create custom garments, home décor, quilts, gifts, and unique, creative, out-of-the-box projects with a professional touch. This blog explores the benefits of planning and laying out your sewing foundation, what you can expect moving forward, and how to find what works.

Strengthen your sewing journey with expert-led Simple Sewing workshops.

Choose Expert Sewing Workshops that Work For You!

More advanced Simple Sewing workshops are designed for individuals who already have a foundation in sewing and want to deepen their skills. Unlike beginner one-day courses, the two-day and pattern-to-garment projects focus on taking your techniques to the next level, providing professional tips, and teaching problem-solving strategies. Transform your sewing experience when working on more complex solutions.

Benefits of more advanced two-day and pattern-to-garment workshops include:

• Understanding sewing information outside YouTube: With more advanced hands-on projects, you learn professional sewing techniques, including design and problem-solving skills, with more difficulty, and your questions get answered one-on-one.

  
  

• Use multiple sewing tools and techniques beyond the sewing machine: Learn to use more advanced sewing tools in various ways, like rulers, French curves, and cutting and pinning techniques. Understand more tricks and terminology, gain discipline, and know how to proceed to accomplish your next task with assurance.

  
  

• Project variety: Work on understanding how to diversify and become more creative with activities, such as elaborating on sewing boxes, tote bags, and traveling toolkits. Thinking about how to diversify can include using scraps and reducing waste. Remember: there are always two to three different ways to create the same project, so get creative.

  
  

• Skill refinement: Master techniques like pattern understanding and making, simple fitting adjustments, thread and fabric play, gaining control of your machine, and how to use different types of fabrics, while thinking outside the sewing box.

  
  

• Community connection: Join sewing clubs, such as the Napa Quilters Guild or a guild in your community, and sewing circles to meet fellow enthusiasts, share ideas, and gain more inspiration. These places are also great ways to find fabric, accessories, and more.

  
  

By building your sewing skills through expert sewing workshops, video tutorials, and trying something new, you build confidence, accelerate your learning curve, and gain sewing esteem in creating professional-quality pieces. Growing through sewing can take time and perseverance, but it's worth the effort you put into it. That's a Simple Sewing promise!

Spring Floral Fabric Banquet Basket

What to Expect From Expert Sewing Knowledge: How To Get There

Expert sewing knowledge covers various topics, skills, terminology, and techniques. Depending on the sewing structure, you may explore:

• Pattern drafting and alteration: Learn how to create custom patterns from scratch and modify existing ones to fit your measurements perfectly. How to start? First, I begin with oversized costume patterns or clothing to learn how a basic skirt, dress, or pants are assembled. Start with a pattern with the least number of pieces, and then master the pattern with the most number of pieces at the end, which is more fitted within the same skirt, pants, or dress genre. Then ask, "How can I change this pattern slightly?" Can I add pockets, ruffles, gathers, or more sections? Make design changes incrementally instead of all at once.

  
  

• Advanced stitching techniques: Practice French seams, flat-felled seams, and other durable, neat finishes. Evelyn Underwood has great instructional videos on her channel that cover different beautiful seam finishes and stitching techniques to practice. Find what seam finishes work best for the project you are working on.

  
  

• Fabric knowledge: Understand different fabric types, their properties, and how to handle them for optimal results. The easiest starting point is with cotton fabric. Work to understand the various types of cottons, such as the difference between Walmart and a quilt shop. Feel the fabrics, sew with each type to see how they behave within the same project, like a tote bag. Ask the questions: What's the difference between quilted cotton and everything else? What needles are best with different fabrics and the weight of each fabric? What's the best thread? Find remnants of various fabric types and make small sample projects to test and familiarize yourself. Evelyn Underwood's YouTube video on fabric is a great video to watch.

  
  

• Garment construction building: Build complex garments with linings, zippers, buttonholes, and collars. As mentioned above, think about advancing your skills through the building block method of sewing, adding no more than one to three blocks at a time, depending on the garment, instead of all at once. For example, take a simple two-seam skirt and make it the most straightforward way possible for the first one. Then, add a ruffle on the bottom of the next one and a zipper closure on the third. Then, add pockets, tucks, pleats, and more panels while keeping the waist the same size on the fourth, fifth, and sixth. Now turn one into an elastic band, a wrap around, make it a three-tiered gypsy skirt, aline vs. circle vs. semi-circle. On the side, study how they made skirts in various periods, such as the difference between the Victorian and 1950s, while exploring the history of skirt-making. Repeat this process with pants, vest, cape, jacket, dresses, and more.

  
  

• Sewing machine mastery: Use specialized pressure feet and attachments to enhance your work when necessary. For example, try a 1/4 inch seam pressure foot with or without a guide when piecing. Understand what the black button is for on a utility foot and when to use the walking foot. Understand how to justify your needle right and left to get the seam allowance (some machines only do one or the other, so check the manual). Remember to change your needle and start using different types of needles when topstitching, piecing, and using stretch and thicker fabrics. Practice your sewing ABC basics until you memorize them, like pivoting -- making sure your needle is down before turning, clip your corners, pull-through vs. flat lining method, make binding, sewing curves with care, clip your curves, when to use the zigzag stitch, how to make different pockets, and gaining control of your machine. Don't forget to iron, iron, iron those seams as you go! Making meaningful holiday gifts is a great way to master these skills.

  
  

• Creative embellishments: Have fun and get creative with sewing on ribbon, working with scraps, decorative stitches, including the zigzag stitch, understanding how to use fabric glues, and appliqué. Sew on buttons and zippers for decoration as much as function. Try new things, and don't worry about messing up! Remember, you always learn something in your sewing journey, no matter the project, task, or adventure. Keep finding ways to explore the world of sewing and have fun.

  
  

All my workshops include fun and creative hands-on projects you won't find on YouTube. These reinforce learning and allow you to apply new skills immediately. I always provide feedback and troubleshooting tips to help you overcome the toughest sewing solutions.

Happy Scrappy Beehive made with fabric scraps, ribbon, and thread.

What are Advanced Sewing Skills?

Advanced sewing skills go beyond basic stitching and involve techniques that require precision and practice. These skills enable you to create garments and items that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Some key advanced sewing skills include:

1. Pattern Making and Fitting: Understand body measurements and how to adjust patterns for a perfect fit. In the garment-making world, understand that it can take up to three mock-ups to achieve the ideal fit, so have patience. Getting to a more advanced level can take time if you are a sewing newbie. However, working towards this goal is worth it when you create the perfect pattern that fits!

   
   

2. Seam Finishing: Beyond the zigzag stitch, learn when to use techniques like bias binding, overlocking, and Hong Kong seams to prevent fraying and add durability. The best way to finish a seam with a professional touch will depend on the garment or sewing project, including the weight of the fabric. This can include understanding different hand-sewing hemming techniques. On my fancier skirts, I always hand-sew the hem. Look at how to make a Victorian walking skirt for great hand sewing and hemming tips.

   
   

3. Zipper Installation: Master invisible, lapped, and centered zippers for clean garment closures. Most sewists run from zippers, not towards them. The best way to overcome zipper fears is to buy zippers and start practicing on pieces of fabric, mock-up garments, and simple projects until you feel comfortable. Breathe, take your time, and be patient with yourself. Also, observing how vintage clothes were made compared to now will help you understand better zipper finishes for a more professional, ungraded sewing look.

   
   

4. Buttonholes and Fasteners: Creating professional buttonholes and attaching snaps, hooks, eyes, and plackets. Buttonholes can be another skill sewers will run from; however, most modern machines, especially computerized ones, have made this task much easier. Make sure to read your manual. Like zippers, be patient with yourself, take time, and first practice on a scrap of fabric. You can also learn how to do hand buttonholes like they did in the olden days, and still look beautiful.

   
   

5. Tailoring Techniques: Adding darts, pleats, and interfacing to shape garments is another level up in sewing. This includes understanding where to create darts and pleats and what type of interfacing to add shape. This is where studying paper patterns and vintage clothing comes in handy, or going to your local second-hand store, buying, and then taking apart garments to examine how they were constructed. Remember again to make your mock-ups, just in case you need to refine where darts and pleats need to be for your body type. Remember, patterns are a guide to follow, not an end in themselves, unless you get lucky, especially for more fitted projects. Be careful when using iron-on when interfacing, if the garment's going into the washing machine. When iron-on interfacing is washed, it can misshapen. Instead, I'll use regular interfacing, sometimes a piece of scrap fabric or sheet, and then spray Quilter's Basting Spray to create a temporary hold while sewing. Understand that many different types of interfacing will change the garment, so always test first. Never skip interfacing if the pattern requires it.

   
   

6. Quilting and Patchwork: Combining fabrics with precision for decorative and functional quilts. You don't need to make a full-size quilt when working in the quilting world. Start small with baby quilts, and make pieced squares that turn into decorative pot holders, mug rugs, or art quilts that hang on the wall before tackling a full-size quilt. Find what type of quilter you are; don't judge yourself by others. Different quilters have different styles. My style tends to be scrappy, happy, fun, and free, whereas others are more meticulous, working with hundreds of little squares with acute accuracy. Other love animals, whereas others love to express nature. Learn to understand the color wheel, what high-end and low-end fabrics are, what works together and what doesn't, and why. In the beginning, have fun and play. Try new things and techniques. Find what works for you and what doesn't. What colors and patterns do you love most? Quilting can be a never-ending exploration of what is possible with fabric to create art.

   
   

7. Embroidery and Decorative Stitches: Enhancing projects with machine or hand embroidery. This can be tricky, but rewarding when done well. This has been my experience working with decorative stitches on my machine. First, the weight of the quilt or project makes a difference. The heavier the project, the more difficult it can be to get accurate, perfect decorative stitches to come out evenly. The heaviness of the project affects how the piece feeds through the machine. I have found using decorative stitches on smaller projects easier than on larger ones. That is where learning some basic free-motion techniques can come in handy instead of using fancy decorative stitching. Still, my favorite decorative stitch is the simple zigzag stitch or serpentine wavy stitch. Also, creating my own serpatin wavy stitch on quilted projects is my biggest go-to. Second, I've found that fancy decorative stitches are great when used on a plain fabric with a constraining thread, such as black with bright blue, yellow on dark green, to create my own patterned fabric, while using good quality, strong thread like Metter that won't break. Polyester thread is also stronger than cotton; however, it can give the embroidery a different look and feel since it's not a natural fiber. Make sure to test threads and designs on a scrap sandwich piece similar to what you'll be using before trying. Once again, it's about practice, patience, understanding what works for your project, and going through the trial process to get that professional look. Don't rush learning what you need to know while perfecting your decorative stitching techniques when adding thread decorations to your fabric creations.

   
   

Have fun, be patient with yourself, stay calm, and find your unique sewing identity. Developing these skills allows you to continue to tackle complex projects. Adding those building blocks to your sewing knowledge will produce outstanding results and help you gain confident skills that will last throughout your sewing journey.

Suezy-Q Teddy Bear in her Fall outfit

How to Find the Best Advice to Advance Your Sewing

Finding the right expert sewing instructors and equipment online or offline can significantly impact your learning experience. Here are some tips to help you locate quality instruction and tools to upgrade your sewing:

• Search online: Use keywords such as "Freemotion," "Making my First Quilt," "what to do with scraps," "different pressure feet uses," "how to sew with complicated fabrics," "how to make the perfect dart," or "how to read and make my own patterns." Also, don't hesitate to contact me by commenting on my home page. I'm always here for you.

• Check reviews: Look for feedback on tools and where people found them. Not all tools are made equally, and sometimes, it's worth the money to buy quality tools instead of cheaper knockoffs. For example, find YouTubers who have done Temu sewing hauls, such as Get it Done Quilts. I've discovered that quilting channels can become the best online testing resource for the best quality tools to buy at different prices, depending on what tools you are looking for. Once again, you are also free to reach out to me.

  
  

• Visit sewing shops: In Northern California, some top shops are Napa Sew and Vac on Solano Avenue in Napa, Village Sewing Center in Santa Rosa, and Cloth Carousel in Vacaville.

  
  

• Consider how you want to elevate your sewing: Decide if you prefer hands-on, one-on-one instruction, YouTube videos, or paper patterns over books and PDF downloads. Map out your how-to journey in your sewing journal from start to finish: where are you now, where do you want to end up, and how to accomplish that goal. Write down a day-to-day or week-to-week plan of projects and techniques to achieve, giving you a deadline. If you're quilting, see if you can get into some quilt shows to help with that deadline. If you sew outside the quilt world, look into small craft fairs for fun, or your local county fair that's looking to display local artists. Knowing you have a display deadline can become the most excellent motivator to help you move forward, and don't forget all those holidays coming up! Who doesn't love a handmade gift, even if it's a simple pot holder made with care?

  
  

• Evaluate Your Journey: Every month, evaluate your progress and note that in your sewing journal. What have you learned? What have you been able to cross off your list? How far have you come? What setbacks have you encountered? And why? This is a great way to keep you on track while taking accountability for your progress. Sometimes you don't know how much you've accomplished until you jot it down. Don't forget that even learning from mistakes and small finished tasks matters. If setbacks have occurred, describe how you'd overcome them next time. Remember, be kind to yourself on your journey. A big part has nothing to do with sewing on a machine, but the next steps in your sewing strategy to get there.

  
  

• Look for courses and videos that lead to your goal. Ensure the curriculum covers the skills and projects you want to learn. When diving into a new project, I do two things. First, I take the approach that I forget I know anything about the subject and take a humble approach. When I decided to sew skirts to wear, I watched many videos on the history of skirts, different types of skirts, and different techniques in sewing skirts together, even though I've sewn several dancing circle skirts in the past. This didn't matter because I don't know what I don't know, and there's always more to learn. Second, I lay out my patterns and read through them before cutting. Again, I make a mock-up, usually of fabric I can still wear if the mock-up turns out, but it isn't my best fabric. Sheets are great, and I also buy 8-yard rolls of Waverly black fabric online from Walmart that I can use for this purpose. It's not too thin or thick and holds up well without breaking the bank.

  
  

• Assess your accessories: A well-equipped sewing space makes all the difference. Modern machines and tools can enhance learning if they are needed. Ask, do I need to upgrade my sewing machine? Would getting a rotary cutter and a big mat help? Do I need special pressure feet for this task? Do I need better-quality tools, thread, needles, and different types? Do I need various sizes of quilting squares, and what size? Do I need paper to make patterns? Do I need to upgrade my fabric scissors or get them sharpened? Do I need to organize my space more efficiently and get or sew organizing containers? And most importantly, what is my upgrading budget if I need to upgrade, and do any of my sewing friends and neighbors have what I need?

  
  

Research and find the right people to follow, continue to check in on your progress, and make a plan to get the most out of your investment. Remember, sewing is a journey, not just a destination that ends. There's always something new to learn, research, find, and move towards. The most significant reward of sewing is the endless creativity and discovery process.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Sewing: Recap

To maximize your progress, here's a recap:

• Prepare in advance: Write down your goals and how to achieve them. Make a step-by-step plan to follow.

  
  

• Practice regularly: Reinforce new skills by sewing a simple project that you perfect before moving on. Try to sew for at least 15 to 30 minutes three to five times a week. You'll be surprised how much you'll accomplish with consistent practice.

  
  

• Ask questions: Don't hesitate to seek clarification, advice, and reach out.

  
  

• Take notes: Document techniques, tips, and troubleshooting methods. Track your progress, how you overcame obstacles, and what obstacles you still need to overcome.

  
  

• Be patient. Advancing your sewing can be challenging, but persistence always leads to improvement. Don't worry about making mistakes to be perfect. That's all part of learning and the sewing growth process.

  
  

• Experiment: Try different fabrics and projects to expand your experience. Have fun with scraps, glues, and different-colored threads to topstitch. The creativity is endless.

  
  

• Connect with peers: Share your work and learn from others in the sewing community. Look up sewing groups, quilt guilds, and circles, or start your own. Look into local craft fairs, county fairs, and quilt shows.

  
  

By actively engaging in your advancements, practicing consistently, keeping track, and setting realistic goals, you will see improvement and enjoy the creative process.

Unlock Your Sewing Potential Today

Expert sewing strategies open the door to endless creative possibilities. Whether you dream of designing your own wardrobe, crafting heirloom quilts, or launching a sewing business, continuing to advance your skills equips you with the confidence to succeed for a lifetime.

Consider signing up for my new workshops if you want to elevate your sewing. With expert guidance and hands-on practice, you can transform your passion into mastery and create beautiful, professional-quality projects.

Start your journey today and discover the joy of sewing!