By Grace Martin
Grace with her Quilted Tote Class students.
I love quilting. I love the canvas for playing with color and shapes, prints and textures. I love that each step of the process is so different from the last, one layer building on the next. I love creating something that brightens my home and warms my loved ones.
For many years, I considered myself a "two-dimensional maker." During this time, I made many, many quilts and learned so much about the craft and its rich history. Garment making hadn't yet "clicked" for me. The geometry didn't make sense as I constructed clothing.
Worse, I became frustrated when garments didn't fit well (which happened more often than not) or the fabric I chose was not suited to the pattern. I wasn't sure how to correct these mistakes. There came a time when I swore off trying to sew clothes.
Now my sewing is very different. I not only sew clothes, but also teach others to do so. I still adore everything about quilting. And I also enjoy sewing clothes for myself and others.
I want to share my story of how I became a very passionate garment sewist and quilter. I find that my quilting experience helps me immensely when I'm creating garments. And it means I get to experiment even more with my absolute favorite medium: fabric!
A Simple Garment Changed Everything
With almost a decade of quilting experience under my belt, I saw a very simple sewing pattern online and was intrigued. It was a basic shift dress with dropped shoulders made up of a few rectangles. I purchased a linen blend and sewed it up quickly, never letting my hopes get too high.
When I finished, I was amazed by how much I enjoyed wearing it. I loved it and felt a strong sense of joy and pride when I wore it out in the world.
I also enjoyed that I was able to complete the project in a few sessions. Compared to quilting, it was relatively quick!
After I completed the dress, I sewed up a top and another dress. I checked out many, many books from the library and learned so much about sewing garments, different types of garment fabrics, and finishing seams.
I realized that my sewing skills gained from years of quilting gave me an advantage for sewing garments. The challenges of experimenting with new patterns, adjusting fit, and constructing garments suddenly seemed exciting, not insurmountable. In short, I finally found the fun in the puzzle.
Did I suddenly develop a passion for hemming pants? Do all my me-made garments fit perfectly? Nope!
But I enjoy the process immensely. And I know that if I get frustrated or tired of garment making, I can sew up a quilt block. And when I want a change from chain piecing, I will switch to a new garment.
Joy in All Types of Sewing
At Lakes Makerie, I am very lucky to meet quilters. I speak with many quilters who have similarly frustrating experiences with sewing in 3D. If this is you, know that you're not alone!
It can be easy to box ourselves as a quilter, garment sewist, or bag maker. After all, these are distinct crafts that require different techniques and skillsets. However, I want to encourage you to understand that you're capable of all.
I also encourage you to enjoy the different "rhythms." Quilting is repetitive and meditative, perfect for enjoying an audio book. Creating a garment involve less continuous sewing with more frequent stops. It takes far less time to construct a garment than a quilt.
Grace and her daughter in matching garments made from Nerida Hansen fabric.
Best Beginning Garments for Quilters
If you enjoy quilting, I recommend beginning your garment-making journey with a few patterns made from mostly rectangles or very simple shapes. Start with boxy or loose-fitting garments that will require less fitting. Here are a few of my very favorites:
- The Matchy Matchy Ballet Bow Skirt (Especially great because you can use your rotary blade for this!)
- The Matchy Matchy Collage Gather Dress
- Megan Nielson Hovea Jacket
- Elizabeth Suzann Florence Pants
- Elizabeth Suzann Linn Tee
Happy sewing!
