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Transcript:

Caroline: We are recording today on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples, including Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Musqueam, and K’ómoks first nations.

Helen: Hello and welcome to Love to Sew. I’m Helen, the designer behind Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co.

Caroline: And I’m Caroline, the owner of Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns.

Helen: We’re two sewing buds who love to sew and it’s all we ever talk about.

Caroline: We’re talking about sewing for others in this episode: what to make, what to avoid, and how to make sure that your experience is fun and fulfilling. We talk about the pros and cons of sewing for others, whether as a gift or as a favour, and we share tips about fitting and choosing fabric, and we share our experiences sewing for our loved ones.

Helen: If you love to sew, this is your show.

Caroline: Hello!

Helen: Hello? Who’s this? Hi, Caroline.

Caroline: Hi, Helen. Can I speak to Helen, please?

Helen: This is Helen speaking.

Caroline: Put Helen on the line.

Helen: How’s it going?

Caroline: I’m here to call you about your phone plan.

Helen: Oh my gosh. I’m hanging up. “You’ve won a prize. To claim your prize, please enter your social security number.”

Caroline: Oh my gosh, I have so much trouble hanging up on people who call me trying to sell something. I’m always like, “I’m so sorry. Bye. I’m going to hang up now. Bye. I’m really sorry. Have a good day. Bye.”

Helen: Oh my gosh. No, I have, I have to admit that I am just a…like, I just hang up.

Caroline: You just, you fully hang up?

Helen: Yeah. I don’t want to waste their time. They can call someone else. I’m not gonna buy it.

Caroline: No, I get it. I get it. I think this is a me, I think the apologizing is, like, a me problem. I think it’s like, I should probably talk about it with my therapist. Oh my gosh. Okay, well, speaking of therapy, Helen, when we catch up every month on Patreon and Apple Podcast bonus episodes, it’s like therapy for me. I love it.

Helen: It is therapeutic. I love hearing everything that happened in the month for you. And I get to like go back in my phone and look at all my photos and see what I got up to. And then we get to talk about what we’ve been sewing and what we want to sew. And it’s so much fun.

Caroline: Yeah, I get to tell you all about what I cooked, my favourite recipes, which is one of my favourite parts of the bonus content. But this is all to just remind you all that the best way to support us, the best way to support the show that you love, called Love to Sew, is by joining us on Patreon or Apple Podcast subscriptions.

Helen: And you get access to that bonus content every month. And we have so much fun catching up on those more casual bonus episodes. It really means a lot if you’re able to support us, even if it’s just for a short time. And if that’s not in the cards for you right now, we totally get it. Just thank you so much for listening and for cheering us on.

Caroline: Yeah, thank you for being here. I think we want to just jump right into the show, right, Helen?

Helen: Yeah, today we’re talking about sewing for others, AKA “selfless sewing.” But to be honest, I don’t feel like it’s 100 percent selfless. I actually get a ton out of sewing for others. I get to enjoy my favourite hobby. I get the satisfaction of giving somebody I love something that I made and hopefully I see them wearing or using that thing. It can be, overall, very fulfilling. But with that said, there’s lots of projects I think I would say no to.

Caroline: Yes, everyone has to figure out their own boundaries and comfort level about sewing for others. Not all sewists like sewing for others, and that’s okay. We have a whole episode called Can You Sew This For Me? Hilarious episode. I loved that one. It’s all about figuring out where your boundaries are and saying no when it doesn’t work for you. I think this was one of the ones with the stories, right? We had stories from listeners about things that have been requested. It’s so funny. So we’re going to link that up in the show notes for you all if you want to listen to that, if you haven’t already.

Helen: But this episode’s kind of the opposite of that one because it’s all about the big happy “Yes,” or at least being aware of the ins and outs of making for others before you jump in the deep end. And we’ve got lots of ideas and tips for how to make your selfless sewing projects smooth and successful.

Caroline: Yes, we do. Helen, I see you as a very selfless sewist. Generous with your time. You’ve made many things. Can you just kick it off by talking a little bit about your experience sewing for others?

Helen: Well, when I started out sewing and got really into sewing garments I was more of the “selfish sewist,” where I was mostly sewing things for myself. But as time went on, I got really into sewing for others because it’s such a fun way to try different things. And we’re gonna talk about some of those benefits in a minute here. But I love sewing stuff for Sam, in particular, my partner, because I get to see him wearing those items a lot. And he’s somebody that’s in my home. So it’s easy to do, like, fitting sessions and talk about fabric and actually make the garment fit really well and be something that I know he’s going to enjoy so that I get to see him wear it all the time, which is really satisfying. I’ve made lots of stuff for my nieces and nephews because kids’ clothes are pretty quick to whip up and that’s really fun and satisfying, too. They always enjoy receiving those. And since I got into quilting, I’ve been gifting more quilts, because I honestly can’t keep them all. I don’t have room for that many quilts in my house. So it’s really fun to be able to gift a quilt. It’s such a meaningful present. So that’s been, like, a new addition to my selfless sewing that I’ve really been enjoying.

Caroline: Oh, the nice thing about gifting quilts is that there’s no fitting involved, and it’s something that the receiver will keep for a really long time and cherish. So I love the idea of gifting a quilt.

Helen: Yeah. Me, too. I’ve also made, like, aprons and robes and other kind of Christmas present-y kind of things for my family members. And everything that I’ve made, I think, or almost everything I’ve made, has ended up being one of those cherished possessions that people do wear and use over and over again. So it really has paid off. And I think the more experiences like that that I’ve had, the more I want to do more selfless sewing.

Caroline: Mmhmm. Yes, absolutely. I kind of feel the same way. I used to not be as much of a selfless sewist and I only sewed for a very select few individuals and very rarely, but I’ve been doing more selfless sewing lately and I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s kind of contagious, infectious, like, that feeling of giving something and it being received really well just makes you want to do it again.

Helen: Totally. What kind of stuff have you been making?

Caroline: I have been sewing a little bit for my sister-in-law, although now she is sewing for herself with my supervision. So that’s been a fun transition, going from making her things to helping her make things for herself. I always sew for my sister. I haven’t made anything for her in a little bit, but she was one of those people that I used to sew for a lot and I would never really say no to her when she would request things. And my sister cherishes the things that I make her. I made her leggings when she was first pregnant. My nephew is now seven. She still has these, like, bamboo jersey leggings. She, like, hand washes them, wears them all the time, and yet, they are in pristine condition. So yeah, it’s very cute the way that she cherishes the things that I make. I’ve made some things for my niece recently. I made her a pink unicorn dress. I talked about this on one of our bonus episodes. And it’s, like, her power dress. My sister has sent me pictures of her wearing it, like, on her first day of school, for, like, photos for things, like, anytime there’s like a special occasion, she’s like, “I’m wearing the unicorn dress.” So that really warms my heart to know that I could make something that makes her feel really good and, like, powerful and strong and brave. So cute. But yeah, other than that, like, little things. Obviously I have some for Shea in the past, sweatpants and an apron and other things and my mom and friends and stuff, but mostly, you know, mostly what I just talked about.

Helen: That all sounds amazing. I mean, I don’t think there’s a right amount to sew for others or sew for yourself. It truly is whatever is right for you. And if you feel inspired to sew for others, it can be really fun. So let’s get into the benefits of sewing for others. In my opinion, the biggest benefit is the satisfaction, like, seeing a loved one’s excitement when they get the project and then later seeing them wear or use it. It’s so satisfying. It’s truly priceless. I often find that the handmade gifts that I give really get cherished. They’re like reminders of the love that you share. And people who love you and appreciate you will love and appreciate the effort that went into it. And they’re really going to take that seriously.

Caroline: It’s so true. Another benefit of sewing for others is that it can be a good learning experience. You might get the chance to sew a different style of clothing or use different fabrics than you would normally wear. Lots of listeners have told us stories about making special occasion outfits for their friends and relatives, from wedding gowns to prom dresses to birthday outfits. A lot of those stories are from our Love to Brag episode, which is all about our listeners’ proudest sewing moments. Honestly, a few of them are from our Sewing Horror Stories episode as well, but I think you can avoid the horror story side by giving yourself plenty of time to work on whatever you’re working on. More than you think you need.

Helen: Yes, so true. And sewing for someone else can also be a great opportunity to practice your fitting skills. If you’re the type of sewist that likes a bit of a challenge, this can be a cool way to stretch your mind muscles and work out some adjustments. It will advance your understanding of all the ways that a flat piece of fabric can be made into a beautifully fitted three-dimensional garment.

Caroline: Yes. The next benefit is for those of us that have been sewing for a while, and that’s that you don’t keep the project. This might sound like a drawback, but trust me, it’s a benefit for those of us with a full wardrobe or a crammed quilt closet. You still get to do a bunch of sewing, but you don’t have to store or take care of the finished piece. Any sewist who’s more into the process than the finished product can appreciate this benefit. Even beginners. And if that’s you, you might want to get into sewing for others. Suzy Quilts actually told us that as soon as she’s done with a quilt, she doesn’t care what happens to it. She’s there for the process. And so she gives away a bunch of her quilts. This is such a cool way to spread her talent and love around. And I know you relate to this, Helen. I love it.

Helen: I do. And you know, the more that I sew, the more garments that I have in my collection, the more quilts I have around my house, it does just become a matter of, like, you don’t have as much of a need for things. You don’t have as much of a desire even to make new things for yourself. So you can take that energy and that passion and put it towards other people. Sewing for others… that passion. “More passion. More energy.” Sewing for others can make you someone’s true superhero. Making a custom item or helping someone with their mending or alterations can be a big deal. Sewing is like our superpower and people are absolutely in awe of what we can do. So using it to help others is just, it’s just cool. Just dang cool.

Caroline: Mmhmm. My rule is that you have to ask before bringing your mending to my house for me to help you with.

Helen: If you’re assuming I’m going to do it, then I’m definitely not going to do it.

Caroline: Yeah. It’s a good rule.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: But honestly, there are some drawbacks to sewing for others, so we’re going to talk about a few of them. It can be hard to fit another person. Most sewists sew mainly for themselves, so fitting others is going to be a learning curve. We do have some great tips for you later in this episode, but just know that it’s not going to be as easy as whipping up a dress with the same adjustments you’ve already done 10 times.

Helen: The second thing is that it can take time away from projects that you want to make for yourself. If your sewing time is limited, if you aren’t on board for spending your sewing time on someone else, you know, it’s okay to say no. You should work on what you want to work on.

Caroline: And “no” is a complete sentence.

Helen: True. No “buts.”

Caroline: No, that can be hard though, if like your friend is like, “Can you sew something for me?” And then you’re like, “No.”

Helen: “No.”

Caroline: That might be a little rough.

Helen: It does sound harsh, doesn’t it?

Caroline: Yes, it does sound kind of harsh. I’m just trying to empower you. You can say no, okay? Alright, our next sort of drawback is that some people will not appreciate your work. So if you aren’t sure that your recipient is going to appreciate the time and effort you put into sewing for them, it might be best to opt out. We do have some clues that a person is worthy of your sewing time. One of them is that they compliment you on your me-mades. I think that’s huge. If they notice, then they’ll probably love whatever you make them.

Helen: True. And better yet, they ask you questions about your sewing and they admire your skill.

Caroline: If they’re a maker themselves and they know how much work it takes into making something by hand, then they’ll probably appreciate your work.

Helen: They buy handmade things for themselves or often pin them on Pinterest, have an interest in handmade garments.

Caroline: If they’ve offered to commission you. So if they’re offering to pay you, that’s a huge bonus, right?

Helen: And of course, if they’re kind and generous people themselves, then they’re likely to appreciate your efforts. You know, you can sense these things.

Caroline: There is one caveat. Sometimes kids can underreact when they’re at, say, a birthday party, opening presents, the big, like, electronic toy or Lego might steal the attention. But, especially if you have a close relationship with the kid, they’re probably going to realize later on how lovely your gift is and treasure it. Helen, what has your experience been giving gifts to your nieces and nephews?

Helen: Mixed bag, for sure. Sometimes it is, like, total disinterest. Confusion, even. You know, they open it and they’re like, “Oh, what? A pair of pa…a pair of pants? Are you joking?” Like…

Caroline: Like, “This isn’t the Star Wars Lego that I asked for.”

Helen: “I already have pants, okay? I don’t need more pants.” But they always come around, like, unless it doesn’t fit, which is totally fair. You know, not everything works out and fits perfectly. And if it doesn’t fit and feel good, they’re definitely not gonna wear it. But as long as it’s something that feels good when they put it on and they like it, then it does tend to get a lot of wear and they really appreciate it. And I’ve given some quilts to a couple of my nieces as well. And that is a very rewarding experience, but also a little underwhelming at the start, because it’s so hard for a kid to contemplate and appreciate the time and effort that goes into it. Like, they don’t understand that all of those pieces of fabric were pieced together one by one. You know, like, that’s not, if they’ve never quilted before, of course, you wouldn’t know that. So they don’t always initially understand. But hopefully it’s something that they’ll keep for years and when they’re an adult they’ll look back and think about you fondly because they’ll understand at that time how much work you must have put into that present.

Caroline: Yeah. Totally. Okay. One final risk of sewing for others is that there is added pressure and the project might not work out. So when we sew for ourselves, it can be hard to push past failed projects and big mistakes. And then when other people are involved, it can make it even harder. If you’re thinking to yourself, “I know myself and I would die of shame if that happened to me,” maybe sewing for others isn’t for you at this point. I will say, there’s no shame in a failed project. It happens. It can help to budget more time than you think you’re going to need, just in case you face problems. But it’s also okay to call it and say, “I’m sorry, I bit off more than I could chew. It’s just not gonna work out.” It sucks, but everyone will live through it and everyone will be just fine.

Helen: Yeah, totally. You can chalk it up to all those learning experiences that we have while we’re sewing. But it can be a little tricky to navigate when there’s other folks involved.

Caroline: For sure. Yeah.

Helen: Okay, now that we’ve talked about the pros and cons, let’s talk about the actual process of sewing for others. We have some tips for choosing fabric and fitting. Then we have some project ideas that make great gifts. And we’ll round it out at the end with some general advice that will reduce your sewing stress so that you can enjoy the process and really feel how rewarding it is to sew for others.

Caroline: Yes. Okay. So when you’re choosing your fabric, you want to stay in the driver’s seat. It’s great to have your recipient involved, but you have to bring your knowledge to the table. You know what works and what doesn’t work and, to be honest, a lot of times non-sewists don’t. So don’t be afraid to say “That fabric is too thick to gather” or “You can’t use a stretch fabric with this pattern.” It can really help to use the compliment sandwich strategy to soften the blow and lead them to a better solution. Helen, do you want to play this out for me? What is, what would that sound like?

Helen: Okay, we’re in the fabric store. You’ve selected chiffon for your jeans. I say, “I love the colour of that fabric. Unfortunately, you can’t make jeans out of chiffon. So let’s head towards the bottom weights and see if they have some jewel tones over there.” So you have an honest compliment to begin with. You’re validating their decision in the colour. And then you explain why the choice doesn’t work, and you move on to a suggestion that will work with their original choice, or at least honour that choice. So: compliment sandwich.

Caroline: I do think this depends on the relationship, ‘cause if I was in a fabric store with my sister, I’d be like, “Girl, that is not the right fabric. This is not working.”

Helen: Right? “What about this?” You’re just like, “Absolutely not.”

Caroline: Yeah, no, “Walk away from the chiffon.” It can also help to give options rather than turning someone loose in the fabric store or online. So ask them what colours and textures they might be interested in or have them send you inspo pics and then put together some good choices and see if they are excited about any of them. I know, personally, obviously I’m probably in a unique situation because I have a fabric store, but I’ll often just send a link to a collection and be like, “Choose one of these. Any of these will work.” And then they can kind of browse around and then usually we’ll find something that works for the project.

Helen: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. And often, people are really excited to get the guidance, too, because it’s so overwhelming. So they don’t really want to choose. But sometimes people do want to use novelty quilting prints or fun prints for custom garments and you know what? That’s often totally okay, as long as they understand what they’re going to get in the end. So you can let them know that maybe it might result in the garment feeling a little bit stiff, or help them choose an appropriate pattern to go with that fabric. But of course it’s so fun to get, you know, your favourite comic book character on a shirt. You can totally let them have this. But the key is really choosing the pattern that’s going to work with the fabric. So: button ups, scrubs, gathered skirts, loose-fitting tops, pajamas. These are all good choices. You can do quilted jackets, you can do bags. There are certainly lots of options for quilting cotton. And you could also try to suggest incorporating quilting prints as, like, a lining or just a smaller detail like maybe just a chest pocket or just a back yoke so that they’re getting that little blast of personality without having the whole garment be something they might not wear on the regular.

Caroline: Mmhmm. I think we’ve all been there in the early days of sewing, where you’re getting distracted by, like, the shiny thing, the exciting thing. A lot of the time that is quilting prints because there’s just so many options. But sometimes just, like, explaining to the person, like, “You’re actually probably not going to love wearing that” is enough for them to be like, “Oh, okay, show me something that will actually work,” you know?

Helen: Yeah. Totally.

Caroline: Alright. Fitting others is definitely an adventure, but if you go into it with a few things in mind, you can avoid the pitfalls and make a great fitting garment. So our first tip here is to take the measurements yourself to make sure they’re accurate. Non-sewists don’t necessarily even know where their waist is and might do something like pull the measuring tape way too tight. If you can’t be there physically, have them take their measurements on a zoom call so you can walk them through it and watch them do it to see if they’re not making any big mistakes, make sure everything is going to go smoothly. I will also add, if you’re sewing something, like, for the same person repeatedly, like, if you’re gonna, I don’t know, you made them a dress and then you’re going to make them a pair of pants or pajamas or something, take measurements every time the same way you would for yourself because measurements change and it’s a real bummer to make something that doesn’t fit. So make sure you retake measurements.

Helen: Totally. And if you’re sewing something as a surprise, you might not be able to get measurements. So you can ask someone else to take a look around the recipient’s closet, find out what size they wear. Or if you live in the same home, you could do it yourself. You could even look up the size chart for the clothing brands that they like to wear to kind of reverse engineer their body measurements. And another thing you can do with an existing closet of clothes is to use them as a reference point. So compare, say, a favourite button up shirt to the finished measurement chart on a pattern and that will give you a feel for what size to make and maybe how long or short you should make it in the sleeves and in the body. There’s tons of great information to be gained.

Caroline: Just make sure you’re using a garment that you know fits the other person.

Helen: Yeah, one that they really like, ideally. Yeah.

Caroline: Whenever possible, you want to make a muslin and test it out. This is the best way to ensure success. So I would do it in this order. So first, you’re going to take their measurements. Cut out and assemble a muslin. Have a fitting session. If you plan this with your sewing machine nearby, you can even make some adjustments and have them re-try on the garment. And if not, you can do a lot with pins or some quick hand stitching. Take notes so you don’t have to keep all the adjustments in your mind. That’s key, definitely take notes, because you will forget.

Helen: It’s true. And if the garment is super fitted or especially important, something like a wedding gown, you might want to make more muslins and do more fitting sessions until you get it just right. If it’s just a regular garment, though, you’ll be fine without a ton of fittings. One might be enough. And the last step is to make the adjustments to your pattern and then make the final garment.

Caroline: Yeah, and it’s worth it to do your best to make something that’s going to fit your recipient. After all, you’re going to put so much time and effort into it. Estimating and choosing the wrong size is really going to mess up the result. But as we said, there are several ways to figure out measurements, including sneaky ones. So do what you gotta do to get the right measurements so that it fits. Yeah.

Helen: Yeah, totally. I mean, it’s such an interesting process, because as sewists, of course, we make things all the time and sometimes they don’t work out and we’re like, “Oh, whatever.” We’ll just move on and make something else. And we can kind of, like, push past it by making the new shiny thing and not worrying about that thing that didn’t work out. But then, when you’re involving another person, they might have excitement about the garment, too. And then they might feel disappointment. And in that disappointment, they might also feel bad if they don’t like it, because they want to like it for your sake. So there’s a lot happening here. So the more you can put into making sure that it turns out the way everybody wants it to, the better, obviously.

Caroline: For sure. Okay, let’s get into the best garments to make for others. And the first category is kids’ clothes. Obviously kids’ clothes are great. We’ve both made them. We love them. They’re quick to make and they usually have a forgiving fit.

Helen: Lots of kids like knit garments, like leggings, sweaters, sweatpants, t-shirts. There’s so many cute knit dress patterns out there, too. And bonus, stretchy clothes are easier to fit. You might even have leftover knit fabrics from your own personal sewing that you could use to make kids’ clothes.

Caroline: It’s so true. And there are so many fun prints on knitted fabrics, like, kiddie prints. You can look for prints that are related to something the kids love, like unicorns or Minecraft. There are so many cool prints out there and kids love to wear their interests on their sleeve.

Helen: Right? Where are the Paw Patrol prints? That’s all my nieces and nephews want to wear.

Caroline: Aww.

Helen: Custom prints or designs are another fabulous idea. For example, you could applique a portrait of their cat on the back of a jacket or embroider a silly saying onto a t-shirt. I made a quilt for my niece Zoya that is all Z’s because her name starts with Z, or “zed” if you prefer, but it’s just all little Z’s, so it’s the first letter of her name, and so it’s extra special because of that.

Caroline: Yeah, that does really make it feel so much more custom and so much more special for the kiddo. I love that. We have an episode all about sewing for kids. That’s episode 169. We’re gonna link it for you in the show notes. There are a bunch of sewing pattern companies listed in that episode, so definitely check them out if you’re looking for kids’ patterns. There are so many kids’ patterns out there. If you include Etsy, it’s overwhelming. There are so many. And kids’ patterns are pretty easy to fit. So, I don’t know, the world is really your oyster, but we’re going to mention a few here.

Helen: The Mini Page by Chalk and Notch is a classic sweatshirt with a hood. You can choose between a regular and cropped length. And if the kid wants to be just like you, you can make an adult sized page for yourself and get matchy matchy. I’ve done exactly this with Zoya and Zulfi, two of my nieces. We all have matching hoodies.

Caroline: So cute. The Mini Rio Ringer tee by True Bias is a great way to spotlight a fun knit print. You can make the neck and sleeve bands out of a contrasting fabric for that retro look. I love this pattern for adults, too. I want one.

Helen: Yeah, it’s really cute. The Bubble Skirt for Big Kids by Brindille and Twig is for the budding fashionista. You can use either wovens or knits for the outer skirt while the inner lining is made of a nice comfy knit. Honestly, anything from Brindille and Twig. I’ve used so many of their kids’ patterns over the years. They’re fabulous.

Caroline: There’s also the Mini Eucalypt by Megan Nielsen. This is a woven tank and tank dress that would be a great showcase for a fun lawn or poplin print. It’s really simple and hackable too. This is, like, a great base pattern that you could use for a lot of different things.

Helen: Okay. Enough about kids. Let’s talk about adults. The simplest route when you’re sewing for a fellow adult is to choose an easy-fitting garment. So, robes are a great choice. They wrap around, they don’t need to fit closely, and a quality robe is such a nice gift. It could end up being something they’ll use for years. Choose a super soft flannel or fleece and make, say, the Arbutus Robe. It’s like a big hug. Or you could choose a slinky rayon or a pretty cotton lawn print and make the Veronik Robe by Closet Core. It’s super glamorous.

Caroline: Yes, the Veronik robe is great in a block print. I have one and I love it. And I’ve also made the Arbutus Robe. Both amazing patterns. Robes are so great as gifts.

Helen: Yeah, they are amazing.

Caroline: Aprons are another great garment that’s easy to fit. I won’t say that they’re one size fits all, because they really aren’t. Anyone who’s plus size is going to tell you that. But Hey June Handmade has a free pattern for the Allspice Apron, which has a rounded hem and crossover back. This comes in five sizes. And, of course, Helen, you have the free Sam Apron pattern, which is a more masculine style with lots of pockets and nice top stitching details. And this one is sized, too. I’ve made Sam. Love the Sam apron. It’s great as a gift. It’s, you’ve made me a Sam apron as a gift! Oh my god!

Helen: That’s true. I did. And it was so fun. I love making Sam Aprons as gifts. I mean, even for people who don’t regularly wear an apron, it might be just because they don’t have one yet that someone has made for them.

Caroline: It’s so true. Aprons are one of those things that you just, like, could go through your whole life without having one and then all of a sudden you have one and you’re like, how did I function without an apron until now?

Helen: Love wearing an apron. I feel like my Sam Apron might be my most-worn garment because I put it on at least once a day. Like, I wear it all the time.

Caroline: See, the great thing about the Sam Apron, because it has more of those, like, heavy duty, like, workwear almost, like you’re a chef, you’re in a commercial kitchen, like, kind of vibe, like, it washes so well, it wears so well, it’s super durable, it’s literally an apron you’re probably gonna keep for your whole life. Like, such a great gift.

Helen: Woof. Should we just stop? Podcast over?

Caroline: Full stop. Sam Apron: perfect project.

Helen: T-shirts and pullovers tend to be another easy-fitting one, especially since oversized tees are in style right now. Even fitted tees are pretty giftable, as long as the fabric has stretch to it. And t-shirts are such quick wins. It’s a win all around. They’re really quick to sew. Closet Core has their free Core T-shirt pattern. It has a boxy fit and two sleeve length options. And Friday Pattern Co. has the Old Coast Raglan, which is unisex and perfect for colour blocking. I mean, there’s so many out there, really. You can choose whatever one you have in your collection already or search for something new.

Caroline: I have to plug the Jackson Tee, because it’s such a great unisex…sorry, Helen’s Closet has the Jackson T-shirt. It’s unisex.

Helen: And pullover!

Caroline: Yes, and pullover. It’s, I have a pullover. I have a t-shirt. It looks good on everyone. It’s easy to fit. It’s got that, like, oversized drop shoulder. It’s just, yeah, it’s, like, the perfect oversized t-shirt. I love it. But it’s not too oversized, which is what I like.

Helen: No, it’s not baggy. It’s just ever so slightly comfy, you know?

Caroline: Boxy. Right. Okay, button ups are a really impressive gift. And they’re a good way to gift all the awesome cotton prints out there. Or you could make one in a cozy flannel for layering. The Fairfield Button-Up by Thread Theory is tried and true in the sewing community. The Olya Shirt by Paper Theory is an oversized, stylish choice. This one has a yoke on the front and back that extends all the way down the sleeves. Honestly, Helen, I have to mention the Cameron Button-Up. Like, the Cameron Button…I’m sorry. Okay. Shoot me. I don’t know. The Cameron Button-Up is so good. It’s also unisex. It also fits great on everyone. You’ve made so many for Sam. I’m so jealous of all…I want Sam’s Cameron Button Ups. Like, I would like them and I know Shea would, too. So like, they’re so good.

Helen: Thank you. I do love making Cameron as a gift. It does work out quite well. I think the one thing with making a button-up shirt as a gift is just getting that ease right. Like, you want it to be a comfortable ease for the person. So that’s where, like, grabbing one of their shirts that they wear regularly for comparison is so helpful because it’s like, if you could nail that ease and then you nail the length, then you don’t have to necessarily do a fitting with them. You can do it all as a surprise, just using one of their existing shirts. So.

Caroline: Chef’s kiss.

Helen: Cardigans have enough stretch and ease that they’re easy to fit. And they aren’t nearly as much work as jackets. The Sable Cardigan by Seamwork closes with three little bows down the middle. It’s really cute and trendy. The Marlo sweater by True Bias is a little more roomy and has an adorable wide button band. Lots of options there. And a cardigan is really nice because it doesn’t have to cover your entire body. So you have a higher chance of fitting success.

Caroline: Yes. And of course, loose-fitting tops and dresses are great. The Bardon Dress by Peppermint is a super cute tank sundress with a tiered skirt. All Well’s Box Top pattern comes with a 50 page hacking guide so you can make a style that your recipient will love. I will also mention, anything with shirring, as much as shirring can be a little bit fiddly, we talked about it a couple weeks ago, it’s really easy to fit a garment with shirring. So if you’re making something for someone and you can’t, like, fit it in person, this is a great option.

Helen: Yeah. Along that line, anything that cinches with elastic is great for tops and dresses. The Songbird Skirt by Sew Liberated has an elastic waist and three tiers and pockets, of course. And then the Mabel Dress and Blouse by Tilly and the Buttons cinches in at the waist and sleeve hems with some shirring, so that’s a great opportunity to do just a little bit of shirring, but you will get a nice, like, cinched-in waist if that’s what your recipient is looking for.

Caroline: Mmhmm. Okay, so we talked about garments that we recommend. We’re also going to mention some garments to maybe avoid unless you want to do multiple muslins to get the fit right. The first one on that list is pants. There’s just too much that can go wrong here, people.

Helen: Yeah, and we’re talking mostly about, like, full-on pants. You could make someone an elastic waist pair of like pants if there’s generous ease, probably pretty successfully. But if there’s, like, flies and, like, yokes, pockets and all that jazz, I don’t know about that.

Caroline: Yeah, like, stretchy pants, too, or leggings, I think, are also a good option if you want to make bottoms. We did talk about a bunch of potential adjustments in our Pants Sewing and Fitting episode, so listen to that if you want to discourage yourself from sewing pants for others. Or if you need help along the way. It’s not that it’s not possible, it just takes a lot of work. I would say the exception would be, like Helen said, anything that’s looser fitting. Pajama pants. Like, no one cares if their PJ pants have a slightly droopy crotch, so that would be totally okay, or something just with a really generous loose fit.

Helen: PJs is such a classic sew-for-others project, especially around the holidays. I know a lot of people do PJ sewing for their entire family. I’m always very impressed when I see those posts, like, everyone lined up wearing their matching flannels. So cute.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Okay, jumpsuits are possibly an even worse choice than pants, because you have all the fitting issues of pants, plus length adjustments so that you don’t end up in wedgie city or droopy butt city. Our least favourite cities. And the odds of getting it all right without multiple muslins are not high.

Caroline: Overalls are a good alternative to a jumpsuit. The fit is much more forgiving, thanks to the open sides and adjustable straps. So if you really want something like a jumpsuit, overalls are a good option for you.

Helen: Mmhmm. Really fitted tops and dresses are another category to avoid. If you’re wanting to surprise someone, just make them an easy fit garment, because anything that’s fitted is going to need fitting.

Caroline: Yes. And special occasion garments are another category altogether. Prom or wedding outfits are really sentimental and meaningful. So they make great gift projects, but that also means that the stakes are pretty high. So before you commit to it, make sure the recipient is on board and involved. You’re going to need to do multiple fittings. Make sure the finished garment is something they’re really excited about because you don’t want to put in an enormous amount of work if they’re feeling kind of lackluster about it. So it’s got to be a collaboration.

Helen: Totally. And another thing that you can sew for others that you might not have considered is costumes. They’re so much fun. It can be a really cool way to experiment with your sewing and work with unusual silhouettes and materials. And costumes aren’t just for Halloween, though that is obviously fabulous and fun. People need costumes for all sorts of things: dance performances, music recitals, drag shows, live theater, Renaissance fair, cosplay events. There might be someone in your life that you could help with some of these projects, if they’re involved in any of these activities, and you get the opportunity to help someone out while also pushing the boundaries of your own sewing skills.

Caroline: Yes. I am not big on like dressing up for Halloween, but I am so game to make a costume for somebody else.

Helen: Right? So fun. I feel like there’s probably, like, local theater groups that probably need people to help with this kind of stuff, too. So if you have some volunteer hours that you’re looking for something to do, that could be really fun.

Caroline: Yes. Of course, there are plenty of sewing projects you can make as gifts that aren’t garments, and this is the perfect time to talk about it because this episode is going to come out just before holiday gift-giving season. You have the time now, so plan ahead. Start soon. Home items make really great gifts. Everyone wants their living space to feel nice and homey. Home items make especially nice gifts for housewarmings, wedding showers, birthday gifts for homebodies and cooks. So here are some of our favourite home items that you can sew.

Helen: Pot holders, oven mitts, bowl cozies, even those little cast iron skillet handle covers. These are all really cute and practical quilted projects. Bowl cozies are like pot holders that kind of fit around a bowl so you can carry it from the microwave to the table or even hold it while you eat at the couch in front of the TV. I do that. And you can use cotton batting and, like, cotton thread and make sure it’s all microwave safe so that you can put it into a microwave, even. They’re such great gifts. Caroline, I’ve also made those for you.

Caroline: I know you have.

Helen: I love making those. Every, like, holiday season I make, like, a few of those and just give them to people. ‘Cause I just enjoy making them.

Caroline: Yeah, it’s one of those things you don’t know you’re missing until you have one and you’re like, “Wow, I love using this. It’s so great. Solves a problem I didn’t even know existed. And now I need it.” Placemats and napkins are so lovely when they’re made out of a beautiful linen or a chic cotton print. Mitered corners and contrast bias binding make really nice touches. The Playful Placemats are great. These are from Cedar Quilt Co.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: So go check those out. And they’re free, right?

Helen: Yeah. That’s a free pattern. And that’s a good one if you want to dabble a little bit in quilting. Or if you’re an existing quilter, that’d be a quick project for you. But you also don’t have to do full-on pieced quilted placemat. You can just get a really nice piece of fabric and turn under the edges if it’s, like, a thicker weight. You have lots of options here.

Caroline: Mmhmm.

Helen: Fabric baskets are really cute and practical. Everyone needs storage solutions. You can make a fabric plant bucket and gift it with a plant in it. That could be so nice. We have a tutorial for plant buckets on the Helen’s Closet blog. The process is pretty much the same for making a fabric basket for holding, you know, whatever. Really, anything.

Caroline: So cute. Satin pillowcases are popular because the smooth fabric can reduce friction on your hair, keeping it less tangled and more shiny. Most of them have an invisible zipper to keep the pillow from sliding out. This would be such a nice gift for someone who’s interested in beauty. Maybe someone who’s a curly girl and wants to keep those curls intact. Satin pillowcases really help with that. So, great idea.

Helen: So great. Make sure you figure out what size bed they have, because sometimes if you have a king size bed, you get those king size pillows that are, like, extra long. So you want to make sure it fits.

Caroline: Yeah. So true.

Helen: Accessories are another total gifting win. There’s no fitting involved. The only fitting thing to keep in mind is to make sure your bag straps are long enough for your gift recipient. Even better, you could make them adjustable. And speaking of bags, what a useful gift. You can keep it really simple with a zipper pouch or a dopp kit. You could step it up and make a really cool backpack or crossbody bag. We’re going to link up our bag sewing episode in our show notes so you can get lots of tips. And I feel like the BF Patterns Bestie Bag or the Helen’s Closet Orbit Bag, those would both be amazing gifts for this holiday season. Can you imagine receiving one of those? I would be thrilled.

Caroline: I know! Me too. And I want to make some Bestie Bags for friends. I definitely have some in my, like, sewing to-do list, my sewing wish list. But it’s also been really fun to see folks making bags for their besties and sharing on Instagram. It’s so fun. I love it.

Helen: On the more casual side, you can also make a market bag or a tote. These are really easy projects that are really useful. I made a little tote bag for my friend Connor for his birthday. And I, you know, I just, like, it was his birthday coming up and I was like, “I have this fabric, I’ll make him a little tote bag.” Not really thinking too much about it. Gave it to him. He was, like, just, like, deliriously happy and has literally used it every day since, so. Such a win.

Caroline: It’s such a simple project and so impressive to someone who doesn’t sew.

Helen: Right?

Caroline: Love it. If you know your recipient’s shoe size, you can sew them slippers. Tilly and the Buttons has a free pattern for slipper boots and Sew DIY has a pattern for quilted slippers. You can put some lines of puffy paint or silicone caulk on the soles to keep them from slipping. That’s a great idea. But yes, this is such a cute gift. A little pair of handmade slippers.

Helen: It’s really sweet. And I love slippers. It’s easy to make a beautiful scarf from pashmina wool or high-quality flannel. You can pull out threads along each of the four sides to make a really pretty fringe, or you could hem the long sides and keep the fringe on the short ends. Lots of options here. But this is a great one, especially if you want to make a whole bunch of gifts. You can really batch sew this kind of project and make a whole bunch.

Caroline: Okay. And we’ve already touched on this, but it’s worth mentioning again: the gift to end all gifts is a quilt. These are especially nice for sentimental occasions, like milestone birthdays, graduations, wedding showers, or baby showers. You can personalize them with the colours or themed fabrics that you know the recipient will love. You can make a t-shirt quilt from all their favourite tees. You can make a memorial quilt out of a loved one’s old clothing. You can use applique or embroidery to add more personal touches. There’s just something so magical about giving someone a handmade gift that will wrap around them and keep them warm. It’s just the best.

Helen: It’s so special. I mean, if you’ve ever been given a quilt, you know that feeling of just like, “Wow, this person really cares about me.” It really feels so special. And I know, you know, not everybody out there loves quilts and that’s totally fine. That’s something you kind of want to think about before you gift a big quilt is like, “Does this recipient want this kind of thing?” But it might be one of those scenarios that you don’t know how much you like it until you receive one. And then once you have a quilt you start using it and they’re honestly just the best because they’re the perfect weight and they’re so cozy and the sentimental value makes it feel like a warm hug every time you’re using it. And even if they don’t think they want a quilt they want a quilt. So I wouldn’t worry about it.

Caroline: I have to mention, we got an email recently from a listener who said they were listening back to old episodes and they said that you said that you had no interest in quilting and that Sam didn’t like quilts and that I said I had no interest in making bags. And they were like, “What a difference like a few years makes,” which is hilarious because now we’re just waxing poetic about bags and quilting.

Helen: It’s so true.

Caroline: But it is true what you just said. Someone who you might think might not love a quilt, they’re gonna love it when they get it and they get to wrap themselves in that blanket of love. So, quilting is amazing.

Helen: Oh, it’s so true. Yeah. It’s such a magical gift.

Caroline: Okay, before we wrap it up, here is some general advice for sewing for others. The first thing is just to under-promise and over-deliver. This is a great one.

Helen: Yeah, I often keep my sewing for others as a surprise because that way I don’t feel pressure about the situation, even if that pressure is kind of all in my head. And the reveal is so much fun. I enjoy that surprise element. So what I lack in being able to perfectly fit it on them, I gain in the actual surprise of gifting them the final thing and seeing their reaction.

Caroline: Yes. And don’t be too quick to volunteer. I’ve been in situations where, in the moment, I feel really excited and I’m like, “Sure, I’ll make you one.” And then I just feel regret. If this has happened to you, you might want to make a policy of sleeping on it for 24 hours before you offer to sew anything or before you commit to a request. You can just be like, “That’s awesome. Let me think about it,” if someone asks you directly. I think that’s very fair.

Helen: Giving yourself a little space is always good.

Caroline: Mmhmm.

Helen: And you want to be prepared for it to not get worn as much as you might like, especially with kids, as we’ve talked about already. They just like what they like and there’s not much you can do about it. So be ready to let it go if it doesn’t work out how you wanted it to. And if it’s really going to bother you, there’s no shame in deciding not to sew for kids, or not to sew for others, because you don’t enjoy that feeling of them never wearing it in your presence.

Caroline: Yeah, definitely. Budget more time and more money than you think you’re going to need. There are often unexpected expenses; notions and thread can really add up. And there are usually unexpected roadblocks when you’re sewing. So ask yourself, “If this takes 50 percent more time and money than I planned for, will I still be happy to do this project?” And if not, you might want to think more about it before you commit.

Helen: And you might enjoy sewing for others more than you think. I know we’ve talked a lot today about the risks and some of the drawbacks but, honestly, there aren’t many feelings that are better than sewing something that your loved one cherishes. It truly is a magical experience and it’s a really cool part of the overall sewing experience. So if you haven’t tried it, I would give it a go and maybe you’ll be surprised and you will absolutely love it.

Caroline: Yeah, do it. Hopefully we’ve convinced you to try sewing for others if you haven’t already. It’s great.

Helen: It’s great. That’s it for today’s episode of Love to Sew. You can find me, Helen, at Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co. and Caroline at Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns. We’re recording in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

Caroline: You can support Love to Sew and get access to bonus content by subscribing on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. You even get access to the back catalogue of bonus episodes. That’s over 75 hours of Love to Sew. So go to patreon.com/lovetosew or check out our podcast page on Apple Podcasts for more info.

Helen: Head to lovetosewpodcast.com to find our show notes. They’re filled with links and pictures from this episode. And if you’d like to get in touch with us, you can leave us a message at 1-844-SEW-WHAT. That’s 1-844-739-9428. or send us an email at hello@lovetosewpodcast.com. We’re going to be planning our next season soon. So if you have an idea for the show, a topic you’d like us to cover, a guest you’d like us to have on, shoot us an email. We’d love to hear about it.

Caroline: Please do. And thank you to our amazing podcast team. Lisa Ruiz is our creative assistant and Jordan Moore of The Pod Cabin is our editor. And thank you for listening. We will talk to you next week.

Helen: Bye bye.

Caroline: Bye.

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