A Day of Sewing with Jade Sewing Studio: A Local Learning Experience
Review of a sewing class learned at my own pace with Our Neighborhood Learning Center.
I participated in the ‘A Day of Sewing’ class at Jade Sewing Studio in Dangjin through the Our Neighborhood Learning Center program.
The first step in making clothes was, of course, cutting the fabric with tailoring scissors. Unlike the regular scissors I usually use at home, the heavy and sturdy ‘tailoring scissors’ had a different presence from the moment I held them.
I was nervous because I had to cut along a precise line in one go. First, I placed the pattern on the fabric, secured it with pins so it wouldn't move, and then cut the fabric along the line by gently pressing with the tailoring scissors.
The instructor told me that the cleanest cut comes from cutting continuously without lifting the scissors from the fabric. There were more important things than I thought.
I had to keep my wrist steady so the scissors wouldn't wobble, hold the fabric slightly with my other hand to prevent it from shifting, and move the scissors in short, small motions to follow the curved parts slowly.
It wasn't easy to follow the lines accurately, especially for clothes with many curves like T-shirts. However, with each piece of fabric I cut, I felt like ‘My clothes are gradually being made,’ which made even the simple cutting process strangely enjoyable.
It was a moment when I physically felt that cutting is the foundation and most important starting point of clothing making.
This program, which I am introducing as a social media supporter for Dangjin City, consisted of a total of 4 sessions, focusing on practical exercises to make pajama pants and a T-shirt.
By following the class, I naturally learned the structure and principles of the sewing machine, and in particular, I properly understood the role of the ‘bobbin thread,’ which I hadn't known well before.
To me, who thought that stitching was done only with the thread visible on the outside, the bobbin thread was a completely new world. The bobbin thread is wound on the lower side of the sewing machine and interlocks with the upper thread to firmly secure the fabric.
It is a very important part of supporting the shape of the clothes, even though it is not visible from the outside. I had to carefully learn everything from how to wind the bobbin thread evenly to the correct order of inserting the bobbin into the sewing machine. If the bobbin thread is not wound properly, problems such as puckering or breaking of the stitching can occur, so I also realized how important small details are.
When I first participated in the sewing class, I was honestly worried.
This is because I had almost no experience making clothes, and even terms like overlock and stitching were unfamiliar. However, once the class started, those worries naturally disappeared.
The instructor meticulously guided each student at their own pace, and when there were difficult processes, she helped directly and taught step by step. Thanks to this, I became more familiar with operating the sewing machine as the class progressed.
The atmosphere of the class was also very good. The students, who gathered with the same mindset, shared their progress and laughed together, and thanks to the warm atmosphere, each class time passed really quickly.
The fun of choosing fabric was also great. The cost of materials had to be prepared separately, so the process of choosing fabric colors to suit individual tastes was also a small pleasure.
It was also a special experience that there was no part of the entire clothing making process, from cutting to measuring, threading, replacing needles, overlocking, stitching, and finishing, that didn't involve direct hand contact.
In the process of making clothes, the step that took more time than I thought was ironing. I learned for the first time in this class that it is not just about smoothing out wrinkles, but also a ‘process’ that accurately shapes the clothes.
In particular, when joining the top and back panels, it was essential to first align the lines of the two fabrics accurately and then fix the grain with steam ironing, rather than stitching them together at once.
When the fabrics are placed together, they may look flat at first glance, but to shape the curves and lines of the actual clothes delicately, it was essential to press the grain with sufficient steam. When steam is applied, the fabric moves very slightly, and if you grab the grain with your hand at that timing and iron it down immediately, the next stitching process becomes much cleaner.
Only when ironing is done properly, the side seams of the clothes do not twist, and the shoulder lines and side lines of the T-shirt also fall smoothly. It was a step that seemed simple but required more delicacy than I thought, and I directly realized that the final quality depends on how carefully you iron.
As I carefully followed the process step by step, the ordinary truth that ‘You can't do well in an instant, but if you do it calmly, even if it takes a little longer, you will eventually do well’ came to me in a new and big way.
Towards the end of the 4th session, pajama pants and a T-shirt, which I couldn't even imagine at first, were almost finished and in my hands. The sense of accomplishment at the moment of looking at the finished clothes was so great that it was hard to describe in words.
While talking with the instructor in the middle of the class, I was also able to hear about the process of how Jade Sewing Studio in Dangjin came to be what it is today. The instructor said that she has been living in Dangjin for over 20 years, and the workshop she is currently running is also in its 5th year.
Perhaps because of her long experience of living in Dangjin, meeting various people, and continuing sewing classes in the area, her teaching method and explanations were really stable.
She also said that she used to work in related fields at institutions or centers, and that experience was fully felt in her current classes. Her explanations were clear, and I was impressed by the way she explained the concepts from the beginning in difficult steps.
She guided each person's hand position directly and led them to follow slowly, so even people learning sewing for the first time could concentrate on the class without feeling burdened.
Because she has stayed in Dangjin for a long time and grown with the region, a comfortable and calm atmosphere was naturally permeated throughout the workshop, and I thought that this was the reason why I was able to learn with stability throughout the class.
It was also fun to look around the store while taking the class. Jade Sewing Studio in Dangjin was full of cute works like a small showroom.
The first things that caught my eye were the dog clothes, baby bibs, and baby clothes. The sight of the small-sized clothes neatly hung up was really cute, and I could feel the warmth unique to handmade products.
The fabric color schemes and details were also delicately crafted, so I even had the expectation that “I might be able to make something like this someday?”
In addition, there were pouches, small wallets, scarves that were easy to wrap around the wrist, and seasonal accessories on display. By looking at each work, I naturally understood how sewing can create various results.
Some were easy for beginners, and some were detailed works that required skill, so it felt like an advantage that there was a wide range of challenges that could be taken according to the learning stage.
Seeing these completed items in person made me naturally want to make other items even after this ‘A Day of Sewing’ class was over. The entire space was filled with a creative atmosphere, so I felt constantly motivated while taking the class.
It was a time when I could feel how precious the process of building learning time at my own pace is, beyond simply making clothes.
Dangjin Our Neighborhood Learning Center steadily operates various practical programs like this that can be used in everyday life.
I hope that many Dangjin citizens will continue to have the experience of discovering new hobbies and skills at learning centers throughout the region.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/dangjin2030/224090956466
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