Learning to sew: How perfect should a seam be? February 3, 2012 11:50 10 Comments

As perfect as I can make it? Or just good enough to crate it up and call it art?

As you can see, the right side is too narrow in the middle of this picture. Should I rip it out, dear readers, or is it good enough? I ripped out the seam on the other bodice-arm piece, and made it close to perfect. It was quite crooked, more so than this one.

I have a tendency to rip and attempt perfection. This slows down my progress immensely. It makes me feel hopeless. So. I wonder if it is better to get some completed garments into my closet, and thus boost my confidence that I can at least finish some dresses. What do y'all think?

Comments

ReadyThreadSew on May 20, 2015 12:30

I’m giving another vote for “good enough”. The only time I unpick an uneven seam is if it looks puckered on the outside of the garment or if it noticeably changes the look of the garment (such as a far too tiny/large seam at an armscye which changes the position of the shoulder). I really love looking at other sewists garments where the inside looks as great as the outside, but I don’t have the patience to emulate them. (See my most recent skirt for an example of a complete mess on the inside, but looks fine on the outside.)

Elaray on May 20, 2015 12:30

As everyone has said, you’ll get better with practice. I suggest clipping into a notch rather than cutting around it. That should make it a little easier keep the fabric edge on the seam width line as Marticia suggests.

Ellen on May 20, 2015 12:30

I agree with the others… practice makes perfect, and you don’t want to get bogged down here. And trust me when I say that others who do not sew will never know the difference. They will think you are amazingly talented. Only you will know the meanderings inside your garment!

Sew Ducky on May 20, 2015 12:30

Since it is on the inside of the garment, this is the perfect place to practice and let it go when it is not perfect.

Marticia on May 20, 2015 12:30

Don’t watch the needle as you sew. Watch the fabric edge along the seam width “line” on the machine’s foot plate. It’s like watching the line on the side of the road at night when there is an oncoming car. This, if you cut fairly straight, should help keep the seam width even.

Irene on May 20, 2015 12:30

For something to look perfect, every element has to be perfect. Having said that – it takes a while to get up to speed on perfect, so, so long as it is acceptable to you, doesn’t horribly distort your project, just move along and feel the thrill of finishing a project. Then on to the next one. Keep sewing until you and your machine function as one unit. (May-be some easy projects thrown in there between your lovely outfits, just so that you can keep on practicing.)

Leslie on May 20, 2015 12:30

As long as it fits, and lays well it’s fine.

K-Line on May 20, 2015 12:30

Hey, they work and no one’s going to notice. Just do it a bit straighter next time.

monkeysocks on May 20, 2015 12:30

The inside of my stuff always looks quite messy (partic as I always how to make a lot of alterations as I go). My theory is, I will worry about the inside looking good once I am much better at making the outside look good and having lots of nice clothes! Also, if you get perfectionistic and heartbroken that one seam looks wonky on the outside or whatever (as we all do!), just show it to a friend who doesn’t sew, they will generally just look baffle and claim they can’t even see the fault, let alone have noticed it!. Also, have a look at how straight (or not) some of the seams are in most RTW clothes, I used to worry that people would know I made my skirt because the hem was wonky. then I realised that the hems on all my RTW ones were wonky too!

Erin Cumming on May 20, 2015 12:30

I’ve learned to just slow down a little. I’m impatient, but I also only like to do things once. I get a lot more accuracy and save time, and, depending on the fabric, you can get away with a lot ;-)