Hello friends! I'm baaaccckkkk! Enjoy! Like comment subscribe. If youd like to go a step further you could purchase me a kofi www.ko-fi.com/penguinandpear thank yooouuuu xx

It took a long time for me to realize fabric stashes are DEmotivating. I finally let it all go, used up some, donated the rest, and now I pick the project, then get the fabric and everything else I need for it. Getting rid of my stash saved me $$ and freed up a wall in my spare room!

I often go through my wardrobe and find “orphans” in my closet, then focus on making a piece to go with it and creating a whole outfit from jewelry to shoes. It can be its own dopamine hit along with being practical.

I love saying " I will not fix or make you an outfit because it doesn't bring me any joy" and people really seem to understand that 😊

Speaking of saving money…. I really got into up cycling thrift store clothes. If I mess up, it didn’t cost much. It made me braver trying new techniques.

"Your home is not a storage solution 🏡 It's a home that should be enjoyed ☺️ How do you keep speaking directly to my soul?!?! I'm printing this out - holy crow Claire!

So glad to see you making sewing videos again...I first found you because of my interest in sewing and found some good information on your videos. In contrast to people who buy unnecessary gadgets, I may err on the side of being a tight wad and trying to get by with the least amount of money spent on projects. I'm 67 and have been sewing since the age of 9 when making clothes was a definite way to save money. I still enjoy sewing and saving money, even with all of the cheap clothes available. And, I love your point on this video about not needing to make every thing we wear!

Welcome back! Like someone else said, I've sewn my clothing for 50+ years, back when sewing saved money, so I haven't bought anything truly expensive that I regret - not even my stash, as I still love most everything. As soon as you made the first hand motions I knew you were indicating the buttonhole thingy! That is the one thing that has always intrigued me, but I realized my manual measurements will be more precise. Now I will NEVER look at those wistfully again. I'm so cheap, I put off buying decent shears until about 8 years ago. Bought the 9-1/2" Kai dressmakers only to have my sis gift me a pair of Ginghers 2 weeks later! Turns out, with arthritis, my hands and fingers appreciate being able to switch between the two as they apply pressure on my joints differently. As soon as you know you're sticking with sewing, buy a good pair of shears, and a good pair of 5" to 6" trimmers. Cheap snips are fine. Paper scissors can come from the dollar store, but if you're a crafter, you probably have 5 or 6 suitable pairs already. I worked out early on that t-shirts and Jean's were a waste of my time and money to make, plus they were the only RTW garments that I could find to fit. Now due to old lady body shape, I have to make those, too. I refuse to consider bras and panties.

Great to see you on this channel again, sweet Claire! Purchasing expensive or excessive fabric??? No, no, no! I made a collared blouse out of a thrifted bed sheet and got loads of compliments. Tons of sewing spplies? No, no, no! I did a major declutter a while back (thanks, Claire!) and have never looked back. Sew a dress in a few hours and sewing for others??? No, no, no! Way too much pressure. It would defeat my purpose of sewing for fun. Thanks for another informative and interesting video. More videos from any of your channels??? YES, YES, YES!

One unnecessary thing I bought was a Dressmakers Dummy. After all the padding I did, I hardly used it. You can sew without it.

The setting behind you looks really nice. I’m glad you were able to do your living room the way that you wanted to❤ your plants look beautiful and healthy

Good to see you back Claire. I can buy a full set of sheets for about $20.00. At a fabric store in Canada, I would be paying around $26.00 for 1 meter of fabric. I am a quilter for the most part, so I use the flat sheet for the backing of a quilt and I will cut the fitted sheets to use in a quilt. I would like to start garment sewing. I have a 2 year old granddaughter who I think would love handmade dresses from her Gramma. This video contained such good advise. Thank you. Cheers from Canada🍁

i just alter skirts and dresses that i already own, because none of them come with pockets (who would have thought?), but instead of sewing pockets on or into the garments, i made two very nice 18th century pockets which i can bind around my waist under the skirts. so what i do now is cutting and hemming slits into the dresses and skirts to have access to these pockets underneath. of course this does not work for anything that is skin-tight, but i don't wear clothes like this anyway.

Great video Claire and may I just say you look wonderful. When my kids were growing up they knew not to touch my sewing scissors. Ha ha great memories. ❤️🇨🇦

Looking forward to see you more often on this channel. You have good points about fabric collecting and sewing. I got fabrics bought that are sitting on my shelf that I probably will never use but I love them. Then I got fabric on my shelf that I probably will never use cause I changed taste. Those are mostly prints. In beginning I bought mostly fabrics with prints😅. Nowadays I only sew in solids unless for grandkids. I jumped on the train with cutting with projectors. Now got 2 of them. That made me actually sew less... Now there is a software helping calibrating and I finally started sewing again ❤ Been following your content for years and I like what I see. Its refreshing compared to other sewing channels.

Thank you, Claire! I’m a quilter and all these tips apply to that as well.

I just love listening to you and your journey. As for the sewing and ppl asking you to alter clothes, im a quilter and I have ppl asking me to alter their clothes and I end up going to KZfaq to find out how to do that lol. I only do it for family members but if I am not able to do it I will say no. Love ya girl and keep doing your do ❤

Don't forget we are not sewing our own socks either. 😊 Sometimes we have to step away from social media and ask what we want and if we like something. Like you say we are only going to sew what we truly enjoy.

Lovely to see you again, Claire; and hear you delightful accent, teaching us all.

More expanding on your secrets than new ones: - Existing clothes in your wardrobe and your family/friends wardrobe are great sources of fabric and notions. - backpacks are great sources of zips - I save them especially from backs where the fabric are damaged. Also from cooler bags. - instead of buying expensive water soluble markers, just get a pack of kids washable markers from the stationary shop (or get it from your child or from friends or neighbours who are decluttering their stationary) - test on some to be safe but the ones I use (faber castell) doesn’t set even after ironing.

Oh, you are so right! I start wonderful quilting projects and they end up on the work in progress pile. I tell myself I’ll get them out again but that never happens.

I love to sew, will make things and do repairs for my kids and nobody else. If you take into account the expense of material, thread, machine, needles, rulers, etc., and more importantly the time spent, there is no amount of money that will compensate for everything involved. I do it for love and that makes it worthwhile.

By the way, others noticed it, too, but you are really looking good, and much healthier than even 3 or 4 months ago. Whatever you're doing, is working. Keep up the good work!

Great vlog Claire. I am self taught and started in the late 70’s and never knew some techniques were difficult. I just made a pattern I liked and followed the instructions! Sometimes I made mistakes and sometimes there was head scratching but I was never afraid. Now, watching everything on You Tube I am more nervous and hesitant because I am told some techniques are difficult. Having said that, I have learned a lot and wouldn’t be without it. 😊 Happy Sewing.

You're back!! Yay!!!

So glad to see you back !! You are looking absolutely beautiful !!! I thought of you recently when I repaired a jacket for a friend !!! It was quite a challenge but I persevered and it came out looking great !!! My friend was impressed and I surprised myself !! Anxiously awaiting your next watch !!

I am thrilled you are back. I love seeing you🎉😊

As usual, that was a great video! How come it felt like you were talking to me? How did you know my house is a giant storage room!??? LOL How did you know I buy gadgets I don't need? Is there a drone watching me from behind? lol anyway lots of good ideas in this video. Speaking of scissors, my ex once took all my scissors and blades and even my butterknives outside to his grinder and "sharpened" them all because he didn't think they were sharp enough. eegads, was I ever upset.... I was on the warpath that day for sure. Anyway thanks, as always. Your videos always make me laugh.

You're back. I was waiting for a new video. Thank you .

Lovely to see you back ❤ Greats from Belgium😊

You have hit the nail on the head. Some will heed your advice, some will ignore it. Thanks for your encouragement.

I have all my scissors and all my moms

Thank you for your common sense advice around sewing especially for beginner. I love what I have but it is so easy to overbuy: notions, fabric, sewing machines. I want to invest in more sewing skills.

Hi Claire, Your video was really visually appealing, very pretty background and colors. Great suggestions as well. I agree so much with your ideas and can relate!

Soooo glad to see another sewing video!

Your videos are always interesting and helpful. Hope you are doing well.

So happy to see your back making videos again! Love it!

Thank you Clare very wise words. I was cross stitching and was asked oo that's lovely could you do me a birth sampler ,the baby is due next week. It was a need to think quick. I take months to do designs, but if you don't mind that feel free to go find a kit no bigger than A4 and will do my best. Never mentioned again. I am keeping quiet that I have started up my sewing machine again. Lesson learnt.😂

I'm sat here watching you while I make a snood for a friend 😂, but it's a trade for a pair of painted miniatures. ❤

Totally true on the scissors. I have fabric shears and snips in regular blade and serrated blade for both. Pinking shears, thread snips, micro-tip snips. I have a large pair of scissors and a pair of snips for paper. And I keep them in a locked box that only I have the combo for. Ain't no one getting my preciouses lol. I have found offering to teach people to sew or send them tutorials stops the pestering pretty quickly. If that doesn't work then I just bluntly say no.

The professional way vs our way is so relevant! Nice vido Claire

Such good common sense. Thank You Claire. So good to see you back on here. ❤❤❤

Love this video nice to see you again you are looking good i agree I don't sew for people too much pressure as sewing gives me joy have a great week 😊😊😊

More good advice!!! Good to see you again!!!

So nice to see you again. I hope you're doing well. Keep the tips and knowledge coming 👌

Another great video, thank you. I really can't think of a machine or gadget that I've bought that I really didn't need. Not having a lot of money by the time I could save the money for it I woud realize I didn't need it. Unfortunatney, I have a BUNCH of fabric that I've had for years that I don't even like anymore that I am donating.

I like to see how others do things but I do what works for me. I've found a lot of gagets 2nd hand. I love tubes that help you turn tote handles

Very good tips, Claire. Thank you!

I totally can understand this. I love to sew. But I do not want to sew for everyone else. My sister wants me to sew her everything she sees. When i tell her she can buy it , she gets pissy. She does not understand that i do not what to sew all her clothes. I sew to create and for pure pleasure of making unique projects.

I charge $1million per leg to hem pants. I hate hemming but I'll do it if it means I can retire and sew some more!😅 keeps the riffraff at bay.

You look fantastic Claire! Nice to see you in my KZfaq feed 💕

Such good tips I always go and find your video on making bias tape.

Oh - coverstitch! Bought one 5 years ago. Have used it maybe 6 times and now it is just taking up space. Of course I will try to sell it, but I feel, I will have to be able to demonstrate it for the buyer. And I can’t 😳🤭

Good to see you!

I would add learn to do some basic hand sewing stitches: basting, overcasting, buttonhole and slip stitches are all invaluable to get a project completed quickly. I use pins, clips and glue as needed, but sometimes the best solution is a few hand stitches. High end garments have deep hems for a reason on skirt, dress and pants hems, the weight of the ham helps to make the garment hang bettter on the body. A deeper hem held up by blind hem stitches (machine or hand sewn) usually looks better than a quick serged and top stitched hem . After completing a few projects you will start to have favourite ways of completing cuffs, collars, setting in sleeves, waistbands and hems. Read the instructions but if you think they are too complex, or will give a poorer result it is ok to swap to tried and trusted methods that you already know will work. If you must have a stash, plain natural fabrics in colours you love are less likely to become rejects over time. Patterned fabrics have a tendency to go out of style. A few years ago I finished a skirt with a purple roses print that my mother started back in the 1960s, just in time for a resurgence in popularity of large floral prints. Good quality fabric will come back in style, just be prepared to keep it out of sunlight, damp, away from moths and wait a few decades!

Great Video 😊🎉

Thank you, this is wisdom, because it has happen to me, Love it ❤

Yes people think because I sew I can start making clothes and selling them or I'm master at alterations. Lol I laugh to myself and think wow you have me up on a pedestal but I don't think I'm at that level and don't know I would if I were.

I sew to save money. I can’t justify paying over $12 a yard for fabric. I have found a couple websites with great prices on fabric.

Great advice! Thankfully I'm fairly frugal in most everything so I don't have a large fabric stash and what I do have is for projects I know I will make. However when I bought a new sewing machine several years ago I got one that also does embroidery. After finding out how expensive that hobby is I now have no interest in pursuing it.

As along-time seamstress, I really appreciate your wisdom in this video. I think there is too much of the pushy buy, buy, buy mentality in a lot of these presentations.

Sewing and buying fabric and patterns for your fantasy life never works. If you wouldn't buy it off the rack, you won't wear it. This is a great list.

I had someone ask me to make her some curtains. I told her I don’t take commissions! I also say, I appreciate that you think I’m that talented, but I’m not as good as you think I am 😂

My husband thinks I’m a genius because I can sew. He isn’t trying to get me to make him anything. He buys the fabric so he knows it’s not cheap and he’s happy to buy me a ready made garments. Im no genius- I’m barely competent but it’s exciting that he’s impressed by something I can do. Sewing and bread. My husband is very impressed by the beauty of a good loaf of no knead bread. He thinks it looks magic. I am not going to ruin the magic by telling him how easy it is.😂

♥♥

“Touch my sewing scissors and die”. I really encourage newer sewists to not take it too seriously if somebody tells us something is difficult. Different tasks and skills are different for different sewists. I hear a lot of moaning about sleeves, welt pockets and other techniques or parts of garments. They never bothered me but other things have . You are going to find your own things to hate and to get a yummy thrill of the challenge about. Do not be intimidated by what other people don’t like to do or don’t do well or are scared of. Don’t be scared or influenced by any of it. Take the advice when you see it , learn great techniques and all of the wonderful things that are on offer but don’t take on attitudes or fears or phobias about things. I learned how to do a welt pocket before anybody told me it was scary. My teacher just told me the steps to do and how to do them and then I did them. She did not scare me out of trying. I had a terrible self-inflicted fear of buttonholes and then I learned how to do them (Covid was good for something) and I don’t know why I limited myself so much with that fear for so long because I am 57 years old! I have been sewing since I was five. There’s no excuse for that. Everything we do is just the first step and the second step and then the next step . We need to think things through sometimes but that doesn’t make it something we shouldn’t bother trying to do.

I used to help people out with my sewing skills, but it got too much, now I’m older and have got arthritis in my hands so I no longer sew for other people.

xXX👍👍👍

My favourite tip was to not take on a project that will take you forever to finish. I've learned this one the hard way by agreeing to make a quilt for my daughter in-law, first one ever and it is taking way too long and I've lost my desire to work on it. I much prefer working on garment sewing.

Ask me how many rulers I have. Way too many, several I used once. These are about $40 each.

Just pointing out that there are plenty of males who sew and not just females!