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Category: Sewing Tips and Techniques

Sewing enthusiasts, both beginners and experienced seamstresses, sewing tips and techniques are necessary to learn to create beautiful and long-lasting pieces. Choosing the right fabric is a key part of sewing that can influence the outcome of any project. Therefore, sewers must consider durability, weight, texture, and color when selecting fabrics. Furthermore, accurately interpreting sewing patterns is also essential to ensure proper sizing and fit.

Anyone in the sewing industry should acquire sewing techniques.  Another thing to consider when sewing is to learn sewing tips and techniques. Also in measuring and cutting, pressing, and finishing seams to take their sewing skills to the next level. Basic stitches such as the straight stitch, zigzag stitch, and buttonhole stitch are also essential to learn.

In addition, having the right tools and equipment is very important for learning sewing techniques. A good sewing machine, quality scissors, a variety of needles, and thread are necessary for achieving the best results. Staying organized and keeping a clean workspace can be very helpful to the sewing process and make it more enjoyable.

Explore the possibility of Ecclesiastical Sewing if you enjoy sewing and are seeking a way to use your abilities to make lovely and meaningful liturgical projects. Making altar hangings, paraments, altar cloths, liturgical vestments, and other items for use in churches and other religious organizations. With dedication and a passion for sewing, you can able to create stunning pieces that not only showcase your skills but also add beauty and meaning to religious services.

Thus, sewing is really an enjoyable and fulfilling activity that can result in beautiful and durable objects. To create something special, it’s important to choose the right fabric, learn how to sew, have the necessary tools, and maintain order. By learning these aspects, anyone can create amazing and unique pieces that reflect their creativity and skill.

sewing scissors, embroidery, pinking shears, gingher, fiskars scissors, dressmaker shears, paper scissors, small scissors

Sewing Tips – Top 10 Scissors for all Occasions

When it comes to selecting scissors, take some time to examine them carefully, try cutting with them or at least opening and closing them a few times. The mechanism should operate smoothly without sticking or feeling loose and sloppy. The blades should come together in a smooth motion.  Be sure to read any information on the packaging about recommended care and sharpening instructions. And once you find a pair that feels good in your hand, enjoy and take good care of your investment

Stole Hanger Clergy stole hanger Pastor stole metal hangers

Top 5 Pastor Stole Finishing Touches

When making pastor or priest stoles in the Ecclesiastical Sewing workroom, there are always a few last-minute details to stitch up before completing that final press and sending a stole off to a new church home. These guidelines when you create your own stoles just like we do in the Ecclesiastical Sewing Studios, you will be well on your way to having a finely “polished” and finished pastor or priest stole.

Custom Clergy Stoles | Custom Stoles or Priest Chasubles

How to Determine the Correct Stole Length

Pastors and priests come in all sizes from petite to very tall, with many variations in between. Our standard 4 1/2-inch wide clergy stole style is 53 inches long before adding any tassels or trims. The 53 inches is measured from the Center Back neckline to the bottom edge of the stole. The stole length is perfect fit for people who are approximately 5’6″ to 5’11” tall. The 51-inch clergy stole is designed for people who are 5’5″ tall or shorter. The 55-inch stole works well for people who are 6′ tall and over. There are many different stole styles, and the finished length of the stole will also vary based on the selected stole style.

Luther Rose Brocade Liturgical Fabric Higher Things Conferences Fringe trim machine embroidery Church vestments Pulpit fall altar hanging Baxter MN

Adding Fringe Trim to a Pulpit Fall or Superfrontal

To sew fringe, you have two options. The first is using a multi-step zigzag stitch with a matching thread color. Keep the stitch width wide and length short, with zigs and zags about 1/4 inch apart. The second method involves using an edge foot for straight stitching. Adjust the needle position to stitch about 3/16″ from the fringe’s edge, and guide the fringe along the edge foot for straight and even stitches. Sew slowly to maintain precision.

St. Margaret Liturgical Brocade for Church Vestments

St. Margaret Liturgical Brocade for Church Vestments

The religious brocade that we are considering today is the regal St. Margaret Liturgical Brocade fabric. This is a fabric created for use in church vestments. The design is masterfully created around the motifs of a large Tudor Rose and a Crown. Both are interspersed with vines and other floral motifs which create the impression of a large and grand pattern.

Church Vestment Making Classes Fall 2018

Church Vestment Making Classes Fall 2018

The Five Day Conference Includes several different Course Offerings: Beginning Stole Making, Advanced Stole Making, Pulpit Falls, and Monastic Chasubles.  Most students will start with the Beginning Stole Making Course and move on to the Advanced Stole Making or Pulpit Falls. Course Details, kit fees, and other pertinent information are available on the conference website.

Red and Gold Liturgical Brocade Fabrics

St. Hubert, designed by Sir Ninian Comper, was first produced as a liturgical fabric pattern circa 1890. This design has been recently reintroduced on a church fabric and is still lovely for use in making church vestments. As with most of Comper’s textiles, the inspiration for St. Hubert is of Netherlandish origin. This work comes from a 15th-century painting from the exhumation of St. Hubert. The fabric, made from a blend of cotton, silk, and metallic fibers, shimmers with accents of gold. While St. Hubert has a predominant right side, the fabric is also suitable for use on the “reverse” side, which makes for interesting design options

Gothic chasuble with Y orphrey bands church vestment priest clothing Christmas vestments catholic priest vestments

Chasuble Patterns for Making Church Vestments

The Gothic Chasuble pattern body is a delight to sew, The pattern is printed as a full-size pattern on a large white document pattern. The chasuble pattern comes as a multi sized pattern with a small, medium, and large size.  There are markings on the pattern showing placement for the “Y” orphrey bands at the shoulders. The “Y” orphrey bands are full-sized patterns. The pattern also has neckline-facing pieces.

Christmas Rose Chasuble and Stole Set

Virgin and Child Goldwork Embroidery Design

The Madonna and Child Goldwork Emblem is to be used on the back of a white Gothic chasuble. The chasuble is designed using our classic Gothic Chasuble Pattern cut with “Y” orphrey bands. The Virgin and Child design uses goldwork embroidery and colored thread embroidery embellishments on a hand-painted design. This Embroidery Design has a great deal of detailed work and requires care when applying it to a church vestment.

Religious Brocade Church Vestment Fabric

White and Gold Religious Fabrics

Ecclesiastical Sewing offers a special collection of white and gold liturgical fabrics for Lent and Good Friday. With unique patterns, including crosses and shimmering lurex threads, these fabrics are ideal for making chasubles, copes, altar hangings, and banners. The limited-time collection is perfect for churches with budget and provides an opportunity to create beautiful vestments for the seasons of the liturgical calendar.

York Ivory and Gold liturgical fabric

Dainty Liturgical Fabrics? How Will They Look!

The fabrics can be a range of tapestry fabrics such as the stunning Aragon Tapestry with its large Jardinière design, Brocatelles such as Wakefield or Evesham Liturgical fabric. These are all lovely fabrics that can be used to make an entire vestment, or they can be cut and used for accents on other vestments. The size and scale of each of these fabrics allow for limitless options to fuel one’s imagination. These fabrics has shimmering threads woven into the intricate designs which adds so much to the beauty of the final vestments.

Deacon Stole Patterns | Deacon Stole Sewing Patterns | Deacon Stoles

Final Pattern: A Stole for Our Deacons

The deacon stole pattern is no more difficult to make than a pastoral or clergy stole. The deacon stole sewing pattern has mitered seams at the shoulder and waist. It uses two pattern pieces: one for the top and one for the bottom of the stole. There are also separate pattern pieces for the interfacing and lining. The pattern allows for a 5/8” seam. A variety of cross appliques can be used on the shoulder seam. Whichever cross is chosen, will have a prominent display when the vestment is worn. Tassels or fringe may be applied at the bottom of the deacon stole, just as with the clergy stoles

V-Neck pastor or priest stole sewing pattern on white paper - create your own stole

On point with a V-Neck Stole Pattern

The V-Neck stole sewing pattern has become a favorite, a wider stole and can be made long enough to complement height requirements. This V-neck stole pattern is not any more difficult to make than a curved neck stole. There are points marked on the pattern to stitch so that the point will come out correctly. The pattern allows for a 5/8” seam. A variety of cross appliques can be used on the back neck seam.