Winnipeg Sews

View Original

Thursday Tip with Hali - Sewing Pattern Levels

Thursday Tip // Sewing pattern “levels”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Do you check the difficulty level of a sewing pattern before purchasing? Most pattern companies will have their own, specific criteria for what they deem a beginner pattern and so forth. This information isn’t always readily available on pattern company websites so I (Hali) scoured the internet in hopes of giving you a tad more info on this topic. These “levels” are somewhat subjective as something that was challenging for me as a beginner may not have been for you etc. So, take it with a grain of salt.....⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Complete beginner/zero experience - You’ve never touched a sewing machine before (Take our Hello Machine class and you’ll be well on your way!)

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Beginner - You are comfortable with your sewing machine and its settings and have completed some simple projects with woven fabrics but you have yet to sew with knits or try more complex steps eg. zippers, elastic waistband. (Our T-shirt Class would be a great option if you want some help getting started with knits)

⠀⠀⠀
Confident beginner - You can sew comfortably with wovens or knits, you have used patterns and understand their markings but have yet to make many fit adjustments or major changes to your patterns. You are familiar with different fabric types and interfacings and can use them appropriately.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Advanced beginner - You are comfortable sewing with a variety of fabrics and different types of patterns, making minor fit adjustments, inserting zippers, sewing elastic, buttonholes, darts, bias binding.


Intermediate - Your TNT (Tried and True) patterns are becoming a quick sew for you without even looking at all the instructions. You can confidently tackle collars, button plackets, set-in sleeves, and different types of seam finishes.


Advanced - You are confident sewing with specialty fabrics, you can problem solve and make fit adjustments with success and combining patterns to get the look you want doesn't scare you.