First Costume Most Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

 

Are you making one of the most common mistakes I hear from mamas sewing their first costume? 

Let’s see what they are and how to avoid them:

Mistake #1: race to complete a project in one sit.

I know, we all fantasize with an epic afternoon of straight sewing… but we are moms, if that was only possible, right? We have busy schedules and long to-to lists, it is hard to find hours long blocks, we keep waiting for it, days or even weeks pass and if it doesn’t happen, we don’t sew at all. And even if by a miracle we do find those couple hours… can we stay focused for that long? Do we enjoy the ride or just feel frantic? Most likely we’ll keep making mistakes and/or stress out…

I find 20-30 min sessions are more doable, and plenty of time for a single step like cutting out a pattern, sewing on a zipper, or making hems. I can surely sneak out or watch form a distance while baby naps, or kids are busy with their favorite game. Plan ahead to make your project in short sessions (1-2 steps each) over a week or two and you’ll be sure to bring forward your best creation – with no stress - and get a ton of compliments!

Mistake #2: make a first or new kind of project on a tough material

We all like the fancy materials (velvet/lycra/silk/leather/faux fur…). Truth is, it is too hard to master a new material AND a new pattern at same time.

It is a good idea to try new patterns on a basic material (I would say cotton as a general rule – yes, designers use muslin for mock ups, lots of them) or materials you have sewn before (so you kinda know how to work it and what to expect). Cotton jersey is my go-to material, it works great for baby costumes, and it is oh so forgiving!

Mistake #3: start sewing straight on your good fabric/garment pieces

I know, we are so excited we want to jump to it… and then half way through the costume we realize seams are pulling, or are way too loose and come apart, needles rip the fabric, stitches are too short we can’t unpick a crooked seam….ahhh!

So, next time, WAIT! It only takes a couple minutes to run a scrap and find the right stitch length/width and tension for your specific fabric. Also, different fabrics need different needle sizes - make sure you use thinner needles (green 70/10) for light fabrics, medium needles (orange 80/12) for medium fabrics and thicker needles (purple 100/16) or denim needles for heavy materials. There are also special ball point needles for knits and stretch fabrics. Make sure to have a few needle options handy.

Sew like a pro = test, test, test! I promise it ends up saving time, and lots of headaches.

 

Remember: Sewing is a journey, an experimentation, and it doesn’t always go in a straight line, literally :) lol

 

Don’t expect first try to be perfect. Too much pressure is a real paralyzer and joy stealer.

 

I don’t like to think of mistakes in sewing but rather opportunities to use your creativity … or exercise your patience and fine motor skills as you undo that seam (again). But don’t need to really… who’s going to notice a little crooked seam when the whole outfit looks so adorable on your baby, and they are so happy all smiles in it. 

That’s why I love making costumes, I find them to be the most fun and forgiving way to learn and practice new sewing skills

 

Now get your sewing on and have fun creating something beautiful for your little one :D

 

Happy Stitching

 

PS: are you following @stitched_by_mama on Inatagram yet?