How You Can Sew Digital Wearables | Learn To MakeIT
This is part 1 of Learn to MakeIT: A Beginner’s Guide to Sewing Digital Wearables, where we cover the fundamentals of using a sewing machine.
Have you always wanted to learn how to sew? In this day and age, the act of sewing is not as difficult or irrelevant as many of us would assume. What makes sewing more enticing now is the possibility of going beyond basic fabric work, and integrating modern technology into your creations.
However, before we embark on such possibilities, it’s best to start from the ground up and address the elephant in the room. How does one begin to sew in the first place?
Why Learn to Sew?
Learning to sew is more than just a hobby or a way to save money: it can turn out to be an enriching experience! Many who pick up sewing see it as a stress reliever and a way to take a break from their busy lives.
In addition, with newer technologies advancing the capabilities of sewing, you can now mesh your sewn items with a variety of digital objects like LED lights and sensors, taking your creations beyond ordinary fabric work!
What Do I Need To Sew?
Instead of the traditional needle and thread, the sewing machine will be your main tool in the process of sewing! At MakeIT at Libraries, we use the Brother A80 Sewing Machine, chosen for its notable ease in control and operation for new sewists.
Some other items you will or may require:
- Scissors: For this purpose, fabric scissors will be preferred. These are special scissors with longer, sharper blades that are distinctly angled to cut fabrics conveniently.
- Sewing Pins: These pins help to secure your fabrics during sewing, keeping them steady during the process.
- Seam Ripper: The seam ripper allows you to easily remove unwanted/accidental stitches on your fabrics.
- Bobbins: These cylinders will keep and hold your sewing thread together.
- Sewing Thread: Sewing threads come in different fibres and colours, so be sure to match your thread fibre with the fabric fibre to ensure no complications arise. For beginners, polyester threads are a safe choice.
- Fabric: This would be the material that will be sewed. Common materials include cotton, calico, and canvas.
- Measuring Tape: A flexible ruler that will be handy for measuring your required cuts or stitches beforehand.
What Are the Parts of a Sewing Machine?
A sewing machine typically comes equipped with many functions and features, some of which are self-explanatory such as the sewing speed controller, which allows you to control how fast your sewing machine sews.
Other key functions include the bobbin winder, which automatically winds your empty bobbin with your selected thread. Do also familiarise yourself with the presser foot lever, which controls the raising and lowering of the presser foot (vertical metal bar that stabilises the fabric while you sew).
How Do I Start Using A Sewing Machine?
Step 1: Prepare and load bobbins to the sewing machine
To begin sewing simple stitches onto your fabric using a sewing machine, wind your selected sewing thread around a bobbin. Look out for the bobbin cover, which is usually located under the sewing machine’s needle. Once found, open up the cover latch, load the filled bobbin inside, and reattach it accordingly.
Step 2: Thread your sewing machine
When you have loaded your filled bobbin, you will usually have a loose thread hanging outside of the bobbin cover, as well as from your selected sewing thread. Both free ends are meant to be used to thread your sewing machine. Different sewing machines have various ways of threading, so do follow the provided steps or numbering that each machine has to ensure that your threads are correctly secured.
Step 3: Learn to start and end sewing stitches securely
When the sewing machine has been threaded, raise the presser foot and adjust your fabric on the needle plate. Once you have found your desired starting point, you can secure it by lowering the presser foot and the needle together to create your stitches. After which, press the start/stop button to end the process, and raise the presser foot to retrieve your fabric, or re-adjust accordingly to continue sewing.
Step 4: Get a feel of the speed of the sewing machine
Different sewing machines come with a variety of speed options, which are suitable for various purposes. For example, a faster speed gets your long straight stitches done quickly, while slower speeds may be suitable for stitches that require precision over speed, such as going around a tight curve on a fabric!
Step 5: Learn about various stitches to apply in sewing
In sewing, there are different stitches that can be applied to your fabric. For example, a straight stitch is used to close up a rip or tear in clothing and ensure that the sewn area is kept tight and secure.
For a more decorative purpose, you may opt for a zig-zag stitch, which looks like a continuous row of the letter W. This is often applied as a seam finish on clothes, such as the ends of your shirt’s sleeves, to prevent the fabric from fraying.
Where Can I Try Out Sewing?
There are plenty of sewing classes scattered across Singapore, ranging from embroidery, cultural handicrafts or fashion design classes that are suitable even for beginners.
In MakeIT at Libraries, we offer free sewing Starter Sessions that aim to equip and familiarise users to a traditional craft and inspire them to infuse their creations with technology.
Here are a few beginner livestream workshops from the MakeIT at Libraries Facebook Group to help kickstart your journey in creating digital wearables:
● Light Up for Safety’s Sake: Learn how to add LED lights to cycle gear (e.g. backpacks, clothes) so that cyclists can be more visible at night, and continue cycling safely.
● Digitally Cut and Sewn Pencil Case: Get familiar with blending and mixing other digital fabrication technologies to create accessories for your sewing projects.
Once you’ve gotten more familiar with sewing, stay tuned for Part Two where we dive deeper into creating your own personalised digital wearables, accompanied by learning simple coding to bring your traditional fabrics into the digital age.
About MakeIT
MakeIT is a free-for-public library makerspace that aims to introduce the wonder of digital and tech-based creativity through 3D printing, robotics, sewing and other forms of tech-based tinkering to all adult and senior library members. All programmes and materials are free, and no expertise is required.
Join the community of makers at MakeIT on Facebook, or visit MakeIT at Libraries in person at the following locations:
