How to Make Your Handmade Clothing Look Professional
Written by Leann Waldron
Hi there, I’m Leann Waldron. You can find me on my blog and Instagram account, @thecarolinasewcialite. As a sewing enthusiast and blogger, I’m excited to share my insights on how to take your clothing from looking homemade to handmade. Through my journey of creating clothing for myself and my two beautiful children, I’ve learned a thing or two about achieving that polished finish we all strive for in handmade clothing. Join me as I share tips and techniques to make your clothing look more professional. If you’re looking to hone your skills or you’re hoping to start selling your pieces, these tips will help you along the way.
Always Pre-Wash Your Fabric
An easy way to ensure you achieve a professional look is to always pre-wash your fabric. If you are working with a fabric that tends to shrink, it’s best to have it shrink before you make your garment. Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and wool have a higher tendency to shrink when washed. If you skip this step and sew your clothing without washing, you run the risk of your garment not fitting properly after it’s washed.
Press!
Pressing is one of the steps I thought I could skip as a beginner. Once I started taking the time to press every seam, I noticed how much of a difference it makes in a clean and crisp finish. I heard recently that you should spend as much time at your ironing board as you do at your sewing machine. Pressing seams flat will help remove any puckering, waviness, or wrinkles in your garment. If you’re using a knit fabric, sometimes the seams will become stretched out during the sewing process. You can use the steam on your iron to shrink the seam down and reduce the waviness. Pressing also helps achieve sharp creases and edges which add definition and structure. Make sure to use the correct setting on your iron for the fabric type in which you’re using to avoid scorching.
Use Accurate Measurements
One of the best things about making your own clothing is achieving a custom fit. Every body is different so adjustments need to be made to patterns to ensure your garment is fitting properly. Always use up-to-date measurements, especially if you’re making clothing for children. Kids grow quickly so their measurements need to be re-taken often. Use a flexible tape measure, wear fitted clothing, stand straight, double-check the measurements, and make sure not to pull the tape measure too tight around your body. Using your measurements and the size chart on the pattern, you can grade between sizes or make adjustments to individual pattern pieces to ensure your piece will fit and will flatter your unique body shape.
Adding Finish Touches
There are so many fun ways to add a finishing touch to your clothing to make it unique and professional looking. My favorite way to do this is to add a patch or label from Shine Bright Label Co. With so many beautiful and fun designs, it’s easy to find one to pair with any outfit you may be making. When I make clothing for my kids, I always try to add a patch when I can. They love seeing which one I choose for them and I will let them choose their own sometimes too! Adding the patches and labels instantly elevates the appearance of the outfit and gives it more of a personality.
Achieving professional-looking handmade garments is within reach by following a few key tips. Pre-washing fabric to avoid shrinkage and ensure longevity, pressing and ironing through the construction process, taking accurate measurements for a custom fit, and adding faux leather patches of woven labels will take your clothing to the next level! By incorporating these tips into your sewing routine, you’ll be amazed at what a difference it will make in a polished and professional finish.
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