"Activewear Sewing For Beginners" eBook

No patterns are included and the advice is suitable for all sizes, genders, and body types.

This is  "Activewear Sewing For Beginners" is the new beginner-focused eBook from FehrTrade founder and activewear sewing specialist Melissa Fehr. In this eBook you'll learn how to find and sew activewear fabrics and elastics, sew the most used stitches on your sewing machine or overlocker (serger), and how to test and adjust your garments for exercise.

This eBook is aimed at beginner sewists who are familiar with a sewing machine and basic garment sewing principles, but who have never sewn activewear before.

Topics include:
Why Sew Activewear?
Choosing Fabric
How to find the good stuff
Fibre
Stretch
Recovery
Wicking
Linings
Elastics
Laundry
Cutting Out
Finding the grain
Right vs Wrong Sides
Just Cut It
The Value of Scraps
Sewing Machine Stitches
Sewing Seams
Topstitching
Twin Needle
Edge Finishing
Troubleshooting Machine Stitches
Wavy Seams
Skipped Stitches
Overlocker/Serger Stitches
4- and 3-thread overlock
Mock flatlock
Troubleshooting overlocker stitches
Exposed needle threads
Wavy seams
Finishing overlocked seams
Circular Seams
"On The Road" Fit Testing
Test fabric
Hit the road
Identify your issues
Shifting hems
Do I need a gusset?
Resources

Additionally, you'll learn how to sew robust seams (on an overlocker/serger or standard sewing machine), select appropriate activewear fabrics, and what to do when things go wrong, like:
- Wavy seams
- Skipped stitches
- Off-grain fabric
- Shifting hems

It also includes essential activewear sewing advice, such as:
- What to do when a fabric isn't what you expected
- How to find the right fabrics
- Do I need a crotch gusset?
- Sewing strong, stretchy seams on a sewing machine
- The importance of negative ease
- How to make your activewear last longer
- How to effectively test the fit of your activewear in motion

This eBook is full colour, digital, 46 pages, and available in pdf format (around 19MB). This is a digital product and will be delivered to the email used for purchase. It is recommended that you read this book on a full colour device. Download the eBook to your computer's hard drive or cloud storage before transferring to a device to avoid download limits.


I am a long-distance runner and also a sewist - I've long been disappointed by the quality and fit of exercise clothing available on the market, so I've been sewing my own for the past few years - even running seven full marathons in my own-sewn gear!

This is a digital product - you will receive an email with the download link shortly after purchase. Please check your Spam folder, but if it hasn't arrived in 24hrs, please get in touch.a digital product - you will receive an email with the download link shortly after purchase. Please check your Spam folder, but if it hasn't arrived in 24hrs, please get in touch.