Peggy Sagers: People of all ages want to learn to sew for countless reasons.

People who desire to sew are smart; they're creative, and they're ready to turn their knowledge toward today's fashions.

Where's the best place to start when a new sewer wants to implement their own ideas?

Is wearable success possible for first-time sewers?

Two young women start their sewing journey with us.

We've began with one of the most popular garments sold in the US today: the yoga pant.

When you have the information, feel confident and make your first pair, it will not be your last.

♪♪ ♪♪ male announcer: "Fit 2 Stitch" is made possible by Kai Scissors, ♪♪ Plano Sewing Center, ♪♪ Elliott Berman Textiles, ♪♪ Bennos Buttons, ♪♪ Imitation of Life, ♪♪ and Clutch Nails.

♪♪ Peggy: This is such a fun, incredible journey that we've gone on over the past little while.

Madison and Erica were non-sewers a few months ago and we can officially call them now seamstresses.

Is that a fair word?

Madison Smith: That's fun.

I've never been called a seamstress before.

Peggy: There you go.

You're a seamstress now.

So I'm going to start with just--you'll get to know them as we go through this process, but I'm going to start first with Madison.

What made you think you wanted to learn to sew?

Madison: My original drive to learn how to sew was that I wanted, like, to create my own clothes and have a unique and just my own fashion style.

But I told my mom that and she was like, "Oh, well, my mom taught me how to sew."

And so I visited my mom and it was cool 'cause she brought out her sewing machine and was teaching me like-- just, like, how to thread the machine and whatnot, and it was actually my grandma's birthday.

So it was cool because-- my grandma passed.

So it was cool experience of, like, our family, like, oh my mom--my grandma taught my mom to sew and then my mom was teaching me to sew.

So-- Peggy: There's a lot of tradition in sewing.

Madison: Yeah.

And then for personal reasons like I wanted my own style, like I want to have my own unique fashion style.

Peggy: I think it's great.

It's just a real sense of confidence that, "I can do this."

And, Erica, what about you?

Erica Con: Well, my grandma knew how to sew and my mom didn't.

She was always intimidated by getting the thread tangled in the machine.

So that intimidated me and so I never really picked it up on my own.

But then once I got this opportunity, I was like, "Yes, I really want to be able to alter my own clothes that I already have or make something that's completely my own that fits my body."

Peggy: What's your background?

What's your college degree and your experience you're schooling in?

Erica: I studied anthropology and pre-law.

Peggy: Okay.

And then what did you do-- you've done a lot of art on the side.

Erica: Yes.

I am an artist, and I teach painting classes now.

So I'm not using my degree.

Peggy: But that is interesting, though, to-- how that art I've seen really influence this whole process.

And with Madison having a machine before-- Erica, you did not have a sewing machine at all.

Erica: Correct.

Peggy: So this was your first-time experience.

Erica: Yes.

Peggy: And, Madison, had you made anything prior?

Madison: No.

I, like, just sewed some stitches, like, just-- I was really--I was, like, kind of scared 'cause I was just like, "Oh, I have to, like, make it all perfect and," blah, blah, blah.

So I just never really started.

And then just like when this came up, I was like, "Well, I'll just--" Peggy: And how did-- 'cause we both mentioned this, how did this come up?

Just briefly, how did it come up for you?

Madison: Your son in my yoga class told me that you were looking for some sewer-- some beginner sewers to teach to sew and-- Peggy: That's right.

That's right.

And you guys were prime victims.

You were young.

You were innocent.

You could listen to everything I had to say.

Madison: Yeah.

I told him like, "I want to learn how to sew."

And he was like, "Well, actually I have an opportunity for you."

So it was perfect.

Peggy: Yeah, that was perfect.

Okay, so what did we do first in the process?

Madison: Pick the pattern.

Peggy: And I decided, well, you do yoga pants, and I decided that because I felt like it was an easy skill.

Some people that I've actually talked to said, "No, that's not an easy first project to do."

But I think for everybody a yoga pant is a great place to start.

After doing them, what would you think?

Do you think it was too hard?

Erica: No.

I really liked that I could choose what I'm--what pattern we got and then from there kind of adjust to how it fit my body and see how it fit and then go make that adjustment afterwards.

Peggy: Okay.

Did you feel like it was too hard for a beginning project?

Madison: No.

And I feel like it was--like, to make something that I actually would wear was, like, really motivating for me 'cause I remember when I was going to start sewing my mom's like, "Oh, start with, like, a pillow," or whatever.

And I was like, "Well, I don't really care that much."

Like, you know, I didn't really care that much to make a pillow.

Like, I really wanted to make, like, clothes.

Peggy: I can really relate to that.

I was the same way.

I wanted to go right for the hard stuff.

Madison: So this is just like even though it was-- I didn't get it perfectly, like, each time, it was just like a good way to start 'cause it was like, "I want to make pants.

Like, I want to make these-- like, I want to wear them, so-- Peggy: So I think it's really critical, and I picked up right away in both of you that you wanted to sew.

I didn't have to talk you into this.

It was amazing how this pulled together because y'all wanted to sew.

That was really enjoyable for me.

So let's talk about that pattern you first picked.

Both yoga pants, but, Erica, you went for-- Erica: So mine had three pieces.

And so I found that it was less intimidating to me than that one.

I was comfortable doing this one as my startup one, and now I can really just do it quickly without looking at the instructions.

Peggy: I love that.

That's amazing.

And really this one was-- I simply didn't want you to have the same 'cause probably you're roommates.

I just wanted you to have something different and go from there.

And then you picked one that had a little more pieces to it.

Madison: I like this one 'cause, like, I've never even seen, like, pants this style before.

So I was like, "Well, that's like I'm going for-- like, I want to sew for, like, unique clothes.

So, like, this is a different of, like, style."

So yeah.

Peggy: So then, how did you pick your style?

Erica first.

How did you pick your size?

Erica: So I went--I did my body measurements and then compared it to what was on the pattern and-- Peggy: And by body measurements let's just say-- do you remember what measurement we took as a standard?

Erica: The smallest part of the waist and then around the biggest part of the waist, I believe.

Peggy: Perfect.

So for pants you just really need those two measurements.

They are not really hard measurements.

Just measure that, know that you're dealing with knit fabrics, and in we went.

I think a lot of sewers think it's really hard, and I want to go through this process to just see that it just wasn't that complex.

You don't have to know everything about sewing to start.

So we took measurements hip and waist, chose your size.

We were off the races.

Madison, how did you choose size?

Madison: Yeah.

So I did the measurements and then--I originally went with a smaller size and then--no.

I went--I originally went with the bigger size, and then I made my first pair and I was like, "Okay, these are a little too big."

And so then I went down a size for the next one.

But then I realized in my other--when I did use different fabrics, that I actually wanted some bigger and some smaller depending on the fabric.

So yeah, like I know, like, with this material that I'm wearing right now 'cause these are like one of the first ones I made, that I wanted them to be a little bit tighter 'cause the material is a little bit thicker.

But then when I use, like, thinner material, I was like, "Okay, I actually want these to be a little bit bigger."

So-- Peggy: So let's talk about that fabric because first, fabric selections.

And, of course, I was kind of making sure you all didn't have to worry about prices.

We didn't have to worry about prices through this process, and that's a little bit artificial on some level because sewing fabrics do cost.

But Erica is going to teach us a little bit later about where you've gone for fabric.

So we'll hang on for that.

But let's learn about fabrics.

We've got some fabrics here on the table, and you guys go through them and tell me why they work or why they wouldn't specifically for yoga pants.

Madison: Well, this one, it's not really stretchy in both directions.

I mean, really at all it's not very stretchy.

Peggy: So we throw that one away.

That one won't work.

Madison: And neither is this one, but like this one would be-- this would be good.

Stretchy both ways, be comfortable.

Peggy: Erica, jump in.

Erica: Yeah.

So this one might work; but no, it's not really stretchy both ways either.

I would definitely have one that is stretchy both ways for the fabric.

Peggy: And we learned that that was kind of personal preference how much stretch you wanted it, what size you wanted it because there were some variables as to how those pants and the thicknesses were.

As you notice, this one's a little bit thicker.

Like you said, Madison, that one's a little bit thinner.

This one's not going to work at all.

Why?

Erica: No.

This one has no stretch to it.

So this definitely wouldn't work for yoga pants, which kind of stick close to your body and let-- not the bottom leg part all the time.

But I prefer to have a yoga pant that sticks to my-- all the way down my legs.

So I prefer to have the fabric stretch both ways.

Peggy: And there was one thing that I'll say I noticed with both of you in the very beginning.

You actually knew what you wanted.

When I asked you what you wanted, you didn't necessarily know the answers.

But by showing me garments and by showing me pants you had and by showing me stuff like that, I actually knew that you actually knew what you wanted.

And so a big recommendation I would always have is that you want to look at your clothes and say what-- not just that you like it but why do you like it.

And that was really fun for you to--to watch you all pick the fabric out, and even on the pair over here, Madison, knowing that this was not going to be the best fabric for your pair of yoga pants-- hey, man, I let you go for it.

Madison: I just love-- I loved the color.

I loved the texture and the fabric itself; but yeah, for me trying to make it a yoga pant just didn't work too well.

Just one--the fabric isn't ideal for a yoga pant-- Peggy: Because now-- Madison: Because it wasn't stretch-- it wasn't very stretchy.

It's also like really thin, but that's not too much of a problem.

But then also what I--it probably could have been done though, but with that pair specifically I cut it not straight on the fabric.

So it kind of like twisted a bit, and then my actual, like, surging and sewing of the pant was a little off.

Like, I went all too quickly.

Peggy: 'Cause it was the first time you've done anything.

First time you ever had a serger.

First time anything.

And you're wearing another pair you did.

So the lesson is forge ahead.

The first pair--what happened to your first pair?

Erica: My first pair turned out a little bit big, and then the longer that I wore it the fabric kind of stretched out a little bit.

So I realized I needed an elastic band around the waist.

Peggy: Because in the beginning we didn't want elastic.

We wanted to do without elastic.

Who needs elastic, right?

So all of these things are just such good experiences for you all and also determining what do you like and what don't you like, and I do think it takes a--you know, is your first pair wearable?

Absolutely.

However, you wouldn't make another one just like them.

Is that a fair statement?

Madison: Yeah.

Erica: Yeah.

Peggy: But I love that you guys are just--again, it was this attitude that just kept resoundingly so positive.

So your second pair--the first pair was a little bit large.

The second pair?

Erica: Second pair went down a size and I also extended the waistband higher to fit my body the way I liked it more.

Peggy: 'Cause you'd like to come up higher on you, and the pattern was a little bit lower.

Erica: Yes.

Peggy: Oh, I love that.

This was so fun for me.

I don't have daughters, I swear to you guys.

This was just so fun.

I probably would have started you sewing when you were 5, but then you wouldn't have wanted to and then it wouldn't have worked.

But this worked great.

I just had a lot of fun-- Madison: This was really fun for me, too.

Like really fun.

Peggy: All right.

So we went to the pattern.

And as we looked at these patterns and we looked at these differences, we-- go ahead, you guys.

You picked out the sizes that were right for you.

Madison: Yeah.

So my--this is my pattern that was a little bit more complex with the curve here; and that's where I had the most trouble with sewing, is that it was hard to get the--go slow enough.

Like my biggest thing was I would go really fast.

Like when I did my first pair, I was really like 40 miles an hour, like 60 miles an hour on it.

And then-- Peggy: I will say I wanted you all to learn on the serger because I know too many customers who'd work on a sewing machine but they're really uncomfortable for the serger.

So then they make the pants twice, and I just feel like that's sad that they're so worried about doing the serger I kind of put you guys on the serger.

It was a little unfair to you.

But when I heard that serger going like 100 miles an hour and I knew there was curves ahead, it was like, "Oh my goodness, I know what they're doing."

So it's okay, though.

We fixed it.

Everything was fixable.

Madison: I mean, I did learn a lot from that.

Like now--especially with the curves but also just in general just, like, to go slow.

Like I don't--like I was so excited at first I was like, "I want to sew a pair of--."

It's like, "Let's go."

And so, I went so fast, but yeah-- and I could definitely go a lot slower.

Peggy: And I think that that is--you know, it's part of our personalities too our learning styles, how we learn.

I learned that you had to do this.

It was really important for you to do it, and one of the things I said-- I can't remember.

I said, "Don't use pins.

It's not necessarily to use pins."

And who said, "I like pins?"

Madison: That was me.

Peggy: Yeah.

"I like pins.

I want to use pins."

So I had to relinquish some of the things that I did because of the styles that you learned, but it was definitely just a lot of fun.

Okay-- Madison: For me, pins were definitely helpful to slow me down and, like, to keep everything aligned 'cause I kind of underestimated how important it is to really keep everything aligned like--or else it kind of--like even on these you can't really tell too much, but like in some areas I was just like I could have--if I went slower or use pins or just even held it in place, then I would have--it would have been a little bit-- it would've matched better.

Peggy: And for me as you being on new and curves and pins on a serger, that just makes me crazy because pins and sergers just, like, are archenemies.

So I was so worried about that pin going into the serger.

Madison: You did emphasize that.

So I was like I was-- Peggy: Probably 45 times, right?

Don't use the pins on the serger.

Okay.

So that scares me.

Okay, so let's go back just for a minute.

We pick a pattern.

We pick a simple pattern.

I think, again, a yoga pant was really two pieces, three pieces.

You had more than that.

But I think it was a really easy place to start.

We learned that fabrics for a yoga pant have to have stretch at least in one direction, if not two.

But I think what I learned with you guys bringing me a pair of your yoga pants is that you really liked that two-way stretch.

It was what was actually natural to you because I figured out that your yoga pant and my yoga pant in my head, your yoga pant was closer to your body.

My yoga pant was a little more relaxed and not quite as form-fitted.

That's probably age-related.

So when we say yoga pant, it means different things to different people.

And so you all looked more for fabrics that would stretch in both directions, that could be closer to you.

So sometimes I think that whole process takes a little bit of time to learn.

And in the beginning also we set a budget so that we could be aware of money because all of this stuff costs.

Fabric cost.

Was it surprising to you the money, or did it shock you at all?

Do you feel like it was affordable for you?

Erica: The--like buying fabric on my own or-- Peggy: Yes.

Once you left the world of Peggy.

Erica: Yeah.

So I definitely went to a couple of fabric stores and was kind of not intimidated, but I didn't buy the more expensive fabrics.

But then I just kind of adjusted and I went to a thrift store and I bought a tablecloth and I started just working with clothes I already-- Peggy: Smart girl.

I just think that's so smart, so creative.

This is the creative side of her.

Go ahead.

What?

Madison: Yeah.

The tablecloths she brought home, I was like, "Where did you get this?"

Like, it was beautiful.

But it's like you can just really-- you can get quality fabrics like-- Peggy: And it's really funny 'cause sometimes for-- I think for women who have been sewing for a long time, it's hard to push them to go other places and get creative.

Well, I love that newness about you guys because you didn't let that influence you all.

Okay.

So, Erica, what was the hardest part for you?

Erica: The hardest part for me was threading the machine correctly.

I definitely threaded the sewing machine and the serger incorrectly very many times.

And I broke the needles on the serger at least four times by now, but now I know how to change the needles and I know how to thread the serger.

Peggy: So don't let a needle stop us.

Don't let a broken needle stop us.

Erica: It's--it is intimidating when it first happened.

I definitely put the serger down for a whole week after I first broke that needle because I was like, "I don't want to touch it."

But then I came back and learned it.

So-- Peggy: And I will say I just so admire that about both of you because not only did you say you wanted to but you really did want to.

You knew yourselves well enough that you didn't just say it and not want to put in the work 'cause you both put in the work.

And I will say that nothing daunted you like, you know, when you couldn't get that stupid sewing machine to get threaded correctly.

It was just like, "How did I do it?"

And I think on my part what I learned is I didn't think I'm a really good teacher in this respect because I was like, "Okay, here y'all go.

Goodbye.

See you next week."

You'd come back with all these problems and we'd fix them.

"Okay, see you next week."

But it was fun that we didn't really have deadlines.

Even though we did we had time to really spend on making this happen, and I think I really enjoyed that process.

Okay.

So let's--we met--we moved up.

We moved from a sewing machine to a serger.

And I know for a lot of people watching, to go on a serger first out of the box they're just going to think this is crazy.

But you are actually going to sew a curve on a serger.

You're going to make us proud.

Erica: So I'm going to sew these from the crotch first, and this--I was really surprised that this step how quickly it made my pants come together just for one little-- Peggy: I think this was your favorite part.

Erica: Yeah, 'cause that's when I was like, "Wait, I'm actually making something.

So the hardest part about curves is making it a curve.

So you have to kind of keep it straight and support the rest of the fabric and bring it-- you don't curve the thing.

You keep it straight.

Peggy: And, again, for everyone watching, they know I'm not cutting you any slack.

You're standing up.

There's no pedal that's on the floor back here.

It's up on a box.

So her skill levels have really come a long way.

Madison: Yeah, that's where I have the hardest.

Erica: Yeah.

I'm kind of pulling the fabric.

Instead of kind of curving, what I'm doing I'm pulling the fabric to keep it straight and also just kind of supporting it with both my hands.

Peggy: And that's a hard thing to explain.

Madison: That's why I feel like you just have to learn sometimes the hard way.

I had to learn the hard way and it just happens.

Peggy: I think you know, Madison, after you had said that to me a few times because when you first said that to me, I said, "No, I--my job is to teach you--" Madison: So you don't have to make those mistakes.

Peggy: Right.

So you don't have to make the mistakes, but I do think I resolved myself to the fact that there were going to be mistakes made and that those mistakes could just--were really truly-- look at her cut her tails.

Isn't that amazing?

They really were going to be just mistakes made, and we were going to just rise above them and keep going and that-- Madison: I actually think like when I made those mistakes and you helped show me how I could adjust them and fix them, I feel like that was like one of the most important things I learned too.

I was like, "Okay, I don't have to just scrap this whole pair of pants.

Like there's ways to work around it.

Peggy: It did.

It took us a little while and creativity to fix it, but, you know, we got there.

You're right.

So I want to talk to both of you since we're here and talk to me about what you've made sense because you have not made just one pair of yoga pants.

I feel like we've just kind of launched you into outer space.

Erica: So I had this idea that I really wanted to make kind of a trench coat out of flannels, and I had a bunch of flannels that I didn't always wear.

So I made--well, actually-- Peggy: She made her yoga pants.

Erica: Yes.

I started making these yoga pants, and then I made a shirt.

That was kind of one of the first things I practiced with, was making just a really simple, like, tube top where you just-- and I used a tube top that I already had to make the pattern basically.

I just left a little bit of extra space for the seam allowance, but then--so I started with some extra fabric I had left over to make the shirt after I made the pants, and then that's when I started going into some clothing that I already had and just altering into this-- Peggy: Taking it apart, putting it together, going from there.

It's just gone all crazy.

And tell me what you've made.

You've made your yoga pants.

I know you've made at least two pairs.

Madison: Yeah.

I've made like three or four, I think.

So this was--so I made the first black pair, which aren't here, but-- these are my second, which are my favorite 'cause I just like--I like doing that fabric the first time and then doing it again.

I was able to, like, correct it and make it better.

Peggy: I am just so appreciative of your attitudes, your persistence, and your honesty.

Through this whole journey you were just so honest with how you were feeling, what you were thinking.

And I just really appreciate it.

Thank you guys so much.

Erica: Thank you.

Madison: Thank you so much.

I want to show real quickly because one of the things they said to me in the very beginning was that they wanted to narrow the leg, and I said, "Okay, let's wait to narrow the leg until after we've got a few pairs under our belt."

And that's exactly what so many of us want to do.

We want to sew the stars.

We just have to kind of wait to get into the rocket before we get to the stars.

That's a very hard thing to do, but I think it's a great thing to do because we want to get there and that wanting to get there will motivate and motivate and motivate.

And one thing I do think is really important-- I'm going to show you how to narrow this leg here in a minute, but one thing that I think is important is that-- in the beginning I gifted them some fabric and some pins and some scissors and some things like that to help them get started so that they wouldn't have to purchase those items, and I think that that's a good thing to maybe go to mom or grandma and just see if they have those things so you don't have to necessarily go out and buy them.

But I think it's a great idea to have a budget in mind because a budget helps us be a little more careful and a little more creative, I think.

And what Erica said about going to thrift stores and finding fabrics in all kinds of places, I think, is profound.

We absolutely can do that.

And Madison didn't say, but the top she had she actually thrifted for $3.

So I love that the girls are budget-minded and they-- I think that's a bonus.

So when you go to narrow a pant, it's very easy.

You just simply measure the amount you have front and back minus the amount you want it to be.

So you have to know what you want.

And Erica had brought me a pair of pants that she wanted.

And you're just going to take-- divide that by four.

The difference between the two, divide that by four and simply take that amount off each leg.

Okay?

So let's say we start with 20.

I want the final to be 12 now.

That's 8 inches of difference.

I've got four seems.

I've got two on one side and two on the other side.

So I take that, divide it, and that's how much I take off each.

And then I'm just going to taper right into the thigh and taper right up to the crotch.

So when I'm tapering the bottom, I'm tapering the knee as well.

I'm doing both.

But pretty much the top of the pant is getting left exactly as it is.

And so I know Erica is going to go home and finish these pants and next time we get to see her on her red pants.

So it's exciting.

Most of us are familiar with the home sewing machines and the features they offer, but what do commercial machines offer the home sewer?

If we sew as a hobby, could we benefit from an industrial machine?

We'll learn about industrial sewing machines and what they offer next time on "Fit 2 Stitch."

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ announcer: "Fit 2 Stitch" is made possible by Kai Scissors.

♪♪ announcer: Plano Sewing Center.

♪♪ announcer: Elliott Berman Textiles.

♪♪ announcer: Bennos Buttons.

♪♪ announcer: Imitation of Life.

♪♪ announcer: And Clutch Nails.

♪♪ announcer: To order a four-DVD set of "Fit 2 Stitch," series 11, please visit our website at fit2stitch.com.

♪♪