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Learn to Sew – Project #1 (Lesson 3)

Hello everyone!  Today we’re moving on to Lesson 3 of Project #1.  I’m super excited that we will be finishing up today and I can’t WAIT to see your finished projects.

Word of encouragement: Don’t start project #2 until you’re done with your circle skirt.  You are learning skills in the 1st project that you will need to use in the 2nd project, that I will not be covering in detail.  Also, it’s best to finish your garments so that you have that great feeling of accomplishment when moving to the next project.  Try not to get into the habit of leaving projects undone and allowing them to pile up in the UFO (unfinished objects) corner.  So far I’ve been able to maintain a good habit of finishing all my projects before starting a new one.  I have 1 shirt hanging in my studio that I have not finished and It’s been there for almost a year.  I lost interest because I started another project before finishing it.  Now that I’ve told you all about it, I should probably finish it.  Haha!  Let’s sew y’all!!!

Share Your Creations

Now that you’re learning to sew, I want you to be proud of your work.  Finishing your first project is a great accomplishment.  Even if you make a few mistakes, don’t be ashamed of your work.  I want to see you ROCK that skirt!  Please share your creations with me.  I want to brag on you, so with your permission, I would like to share your projects on my social media and possibly this blog.  If you want to share with me, but not with others, I will respect your request.

To share your projects with me you may email me at co*****@an***********.com; you may tag me in your Instagram post (@anitabydesign); or you may send the photo as a private message to my Facebook page.  To give me permission to share your photo please write “Okay to Share” in your facebook post or email.  Come on ladies!  Don’t be shy!  I want to see your work!  Style that skirt and rock it!

 If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below, or go to the Contact page and send me an email message.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember: When you live in your DESIGN, it is from there that God SHINES!

Anita

Here are photos of the finished skirt.  You will find the videos at the end of this post.

Project #1 - Lesson 3 - anitabydesign

Project #1 - Lesson 3 - anitabydesign

Project #1 - Lesson 3 - anitabydesign

All Photos Courtesy of CEMO!

Start Lesson #3 Here (2 Videos)

Beginner’s Sewing Course – Project #1 – Lesson 3 (Part 1)

Project #1 - Lesson 3 - anitabydesign

Beginner’s Sewing Course – Project #1 – Lesson 3 (Part 2)

Project #1 - Lesson 3 - anitabydesign

Beginner’s Sewing Course – Project #1 (Lesson 3) – Closing

Project #1 - Lesson 3 - anitabydesign

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Anita Morris

Anita is the Author of STEP Into It, Overcoming Trials That Lead To Purpose. She is also an Online Sewing Instructor for beginner sewists. She is passionate about helping women to step into their purpose by walking in the calling on their lives. She hosts a popular YouTube channel where she helps women to become confident in their sewing skills.

This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. Brenda Edwards

    Hi Anita,
    I hope you will find this comment. Thank you so much for every second of your precious time spent on producing these videos. People that learn hands-on like me have to have clear precise visual directions. Exactly what you have done. Please know that those of us that absolutely needed these or we would have been doomed to fail. You have given me much hope, help and confidence that I will master the art of sewing. ??Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please make more for us.???

  2. Ursula

    Hi Anita!
    I cannot pull up the video where you did the ease stitch at the top. When I click on project #1 lesson 3 pt. 2, part 4 comes on so I don’t have a clue how to sew the top. I just see your skirt having stitches at the top when you’re sewing the yoke on. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place, please advise.

    Thank you so much!

    Ursula

  3. Deanna lohn

    I cannot locate the video for lesson 1 that covers the top basting and top of pocket stich. The blog link says project 1, lesson 3 part 2, but it is really part 3, as you only reference that you went over the top basting and the top of pocket has stitches as well, but I cannot locate this video. Since the pocket isn’t a part of regular pattern, i guessed(wrong) so would like to view this before attempt 2, to avoid this being a 100$ skirt

    1. Anita Morris

      Hi Deanna,
       
      I apologize for the confusion. I’m assuming your referring to the portion of the video where there was lost footage (I think?). If you’re viewing from a mobile device you will not be able to see the text overlay that explains how to insert the basting stitch that’s missing from the footage.
       
      Here’s what you will do:
       
      After sewing the sides and pockets onto the skirt, sew in a row of basting stitches at top of skirt, using a 5/8″ seam. Start at one end and sew to the opposite end. Make sure that the pockets are pinned flat onto the skirt front before sewing in the basting stitch.
       
      I hope this helps. I’ve renamed the links on the blog to make it easier to follow. I appreciate your feedback.
       
      Have a good evening!
      Anita

  4. Heather Flynn

    Thank you so much for these learning to sew projects. I typed “beginner sew” into YouTube and you were one of the first videos. I decided to take up a new hobby and try my hand at sewing clothes. I walked into Joanne’s and was completely overwhelmed and lost. I still ordered a sewing machine and have a week until it shows up. Which actually turned out to be perfect. I’ve spent every day reading articles and watching your videos. I marathoned the entire project 1 series in one go. I didn’t move from my bed until I had watched everything. You gave so many great tips and went slowly and everything was so clear. I can actually read a pattern envelope now! Then I started watching project 2 because I was hooked to say the least. I went to Walmart and bought that pattern so I can sew along with you in the video. I can’t tell you how immensely helpful it will be. The maxi skirt isn’t hard to someone who knows what they are doing but to a beginner the instructions might as well be a different language. So thank you very much. I’m now subscribed to you and so is my mom.

    1. Anita Morris

      Heather, I’m so sorry that I missed your comment. I’m so glad you found the tutorials and found them helpful. By now you’re probably sewing your first or second project. I hope all is going well. Feel free to ask questions if needed. I wish you the best on your new journey and welcome to the sewing community.

  5. Sewnaptural

    Anita, your videos are well done, clear, and concise. I’m working on the first project. Are you doing more classes? If so, can you give us an early start with the pattern to purchase? My Joanns pattern catalogs are the worst at my local store. I had to order the pattern from Amazon.
    Congrats on your son graduating!! I like how you styled the skirts for different occasions. Great ideas……

    1. Anita Morris

      Hi Sewnaptural! Thanks so much for the feedback. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the videos and joining in on the class. Yes, I will be doing more classes. I did not give pattern information in advance of posting the video for Project #1 because, for those who are new to sewing, I wanted to make sure they knew how to purchase the correct size by teaching them to take the proper measurements. Project #2 will be posting tomorrow and the pattern information is there. For the remainder of the course, the pattern information will be posted with the videos. Thanks again for coming to the blog. Have a great day.

      1. Vicki

        Thank you Anita….

  6. Lisa

    Thank you again for such thorough, detailed instruction. I can tell you put a lot of thought into your video classes. You are a great teacher and very professional in the videos. I do so appreciate how carefully you cover everything and how you use contrasting thread so that we can see everything so clearly. I really like the way you continue the normal seam into a basting stitch for the invisible zipper. Your tutorial on inserting an invisible zipper is wonderful! Thank you.

    I do have one question. What is the purpose of always starting with the needle down *before* lowering the presser foot? Is that to keep the fabric from puckering or for some other purpose?

    1. Anita Morris

      Hi Lisa. Thank you so much for such wonderful feedback. I’m really glad to hear you’re enjoying the videos and are able to follow along. To answer your question about the needle position, I start with my needle down for control. The needle position button on my machine allows me to start with the needle up or down. When I press that button, my needle will start and stop at that same position. Where it really comes in handy is when I need to reposition my fabric. When I stop to reposition, my needle is in the down position, so I don’t have to be concerned that the fabric will move. In the video I don’t use that button, but I start in the down position just to show where to start. I hope that explains it. That was a great question. I will have to cover that in a future video. I’ve already filmed this Friday’s video, so I’ll share it in the next one. Have a great day!

      1. Lisa

        Thank you! That will be great.

        Today I was going through some of my fabric stash and pulled out a cut that would make a great pair of pants. It got me thinking about how much time I spend pulling fabric and figuring out if I have enough for a particular pattern. Sometimes I’m just a few inches short of what the pattern envelope recommends but I can make it work.

        Do you find yourself spending time figuring out if your stash fabric will work for a pattern you bought later? Are you planning to discuss things like that in your videos?

        I’d be really interested in hearing about your creative process, how you decide which thing to make, if you’re inspired by something you find in your fabric stash or if you always start by looking at patterns first, etc.

        Thanks again for sharing so much of yourself and your skills with us.

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