Sew intro - How it all began….

SEW INTRO

Jan 10

Written By susanna mensah

What made you want to go into fashion?

How did you learn to make garments?

What youtube videos, courses did you follow?

How long does it take to learn to sew?

Where do you get your fabrics from?

What sewing machine is good to use?

All these questions that a beginner sewer has when starting the sewing journey.

I thought it would be best to share my personal journey to help answer all questions.

Disclaimer: I can't recommend what works for me, will apply to you. We are all from different background and circumstances. Some have more financial resources, while others have more time, but lack of finances. Or you have responsibilities and have a lack of finances and time.

Yet the dream to one day be able to make clothes for yourself and love ones, still swims in your head.

If this is you, then keep on reading and hopefully, it will inspire you to start the sewing journey, no matter the situation you face yourself in.

A little brief history of me

I started to learn to sew at around the age of 12/13, but before that was always drawing designs of garments that I wanted to create. My dream was to become a fashion designer, have a catwalk show and my designs to be worn by millions of people. My mother knew how to sew, so I would often ask her to teach me. However, just because someone you know sews, doesn't mean they know how to teach. What I needed was a patient teacher, that had dedicated time for me to learn to sew.

My friends brought me to a local community centre and there was a Turkish lady that was teaching sewing lessons for 10 Dutch Guilders (before Euro's). This was within my reach and I went there with my friends once a week to sew up a trouser. Not a great way to start sewing, as it was difficult to make for a beginner. I only remember tracing patterns from a Burda magazine and the fit of the trousers wasn't great. The material was too light and did not hold the shape well. I know this now more when looking back.

School

In secondary school for my last two years, I decided to focus as a subject on fashion and textiles, in order to be accepted into university. However, I didn't get the high marks and had to settle for college in order to get into university.

I truly thank God that I went to college, as I learned the most there. The certificate received was in Customised clothing (haute couture) and management. For four years, I learned about textiles, the origins and testing proposition, pattern cutting from measurements alone, fitting and adjusting patterns, garment construction to the haute couture standards, copying designs from sketch to creation, fashion history, draping on the stand and everything fashion related. It was the most creative season of my life and it just expended even more when going to university.

University

Moved to England from Holland to attend university and got to intern for Alexander McQueen, when he was still alive. Going to Paris for the 1st time and seeing a catwalk show in real life, was one of the best experiences.

However, it was hard work with long hours and tears. Believe all that you read and understand that fashion isn't always glamorous, but a lot of hard work that goes behind the scenes.

Fashion career

Currently I am working, as a garment technologist and liaising with factories to improve the quality of production and bring the brand designs to live.

Now sharing with you all the steps in mending and making your own garments, therefore preventing the hard work done in production to go into landfill and inspire you to love your garments longer.

Are you a novice that doesn't know how to hand sew?

Are you a beginner that only knows how to hand sew?

Are you proficient that knows to operate a sewing machine?

Are you experienced that knows how to read patterns?