This all began because we wanted to create a different kind of sewing book.
We wanted to share our belief that creating should be about pursuing joy, not pursuing perfection.
We’ve called the book Improv Sewing because we adore the happy accidents, the trial-by-error learning, and the oh-so-sweet flashes of inspiration that can happen when you free yourself to follow your instincts.
In the pages that follow, we map out each how-to step and even use official sewing terms now and again, but it’s really not about grainlines and seam allowances for us. Instead, it’s about enjoying the journey as your thread travels across the fabric. Do this, and in the end, you’ll have made something lovely and wonderful, because it will be made as only you, working at this moment in time, can make it.
With all that in mind, we’ve created over a hundred projects that allow for all kinds of improvisation. If you don’t have a fabric or tool mentioned in the material list, just use what you’ve got. If you don’t feel like hemming an edge, well, then keep it raw. Use our templates, or pencil your own. Follow our measurements to the eighth of an inch, or fudge it a little. These projects are meant to encourage all that. As you sew, know that mistakes are an important part of the process. Remember that even the project you feel like scrapping has value in what it’s taught you. No home ec teacher is going to be judging your stitches; no reality-TV show judge is going to critique your cut. The only person you need to please is yourself. Keep a playful mind-set, keep at it, and soon you’ll have a closet of cool custom-fit looks, a home filled with artful touches, and a life filled with friends and families who’ve been the happy recipients of your handmade gifts.
A few of our designs are a bit involved, but most of the projects are fast and fuss-free, because that’s what fits our lives and our natures. If you similarly have more desire to create than you have time to do it, you’ll be right at home here.
We’re well aware that our approach is unconventional, and that’s likely because neither of us has a traditional background in sewing. Nicole’s grandmother didn’t sew, and her mom didn’t sew. She steered clear of home economics in school and had a distorted image of sewing as a really difficult process with a lot of terminology, a lot of markings that made no sense to her, and a world of books that were too technical to be interesting. She came to it as an adult with a general DIY approach to her life. Debra has been intimidated by sewing machines all her life, and in fact spent years avoiding buying one, as they seemed to promise only guilt and frustration.
And yet here we are now, women with families and careers (and sewing machines), and we are making things like crazy and loving it, and increasing the amount of beauty in our lives by large amounts. That’s the feeling we wanted to share. We hope this book will be an informative and super-inspiring read, but mostly, we want it to inspire you to stop reading and start sewing.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
1. First, start with the basics. Sure, you’ll be tempted, but don’t skip chapter 1—it contains tips on fabric selection and presents some key how-tos for constructing and finishing your projects.
2. Next, learn to sew five building blocks for your wardrobe. Chapter 2 gives you simple instructions on taking measurements for skirts and creating homemade pattern pieces for dresses and tops. Chapter 3 shows you how to use them to sew five basic garments—a tunic, a dress, and three skirts. These are the starting point for many of the other garment projects in the book.
3. Then, add your own style with some easy and creative embellishment techniques. Chapters 4 through 8 each present a different method for adding texture, dimension, and style to your sewing. The chapter introductions contain helpful info and pointers on those techniques. Learn how to add ruffles or scribble-stitching to one of the five basic garments from chapter 3, or try something completely different—an appliquéd scarf, a stenciled dog bed, or a set of geometric place mats.
4. Finally, don’t forget to play around and have fun! Chapters 9, 10, and 11 let you really cut loose, encouraging you to stitch up projects using low-stakes materials and thrift-store finds. Get tons of ideas for turning life’s castoffs (cereal-box cardboard, torn t-shirts, tacky jackets) into lovely creations for everyone in your life, including yourself.