3 Habits for Long Lasting Garments

We put so much time, energy, and love into sewing our handmade wardrobes—so why not make sure they last as long as possible? Today I’m sharing three of my favorite sewing habits that not only protect your garments but also keep them looking beautiful for years. These tips cover things you can do during construction and after your garment is finished, so your hard work pays off in a long, happy life for your clothes. Read or or watch the video version here: 

Finish Your Seams for Durability

Unfinished seams can fray with washing and wear, especially on wovens.  Fraying seams can shorten the life of a garment. If you’re new to garment sewing or coming from quilting (where seams are hidden), finishing seams is worth the extra step.

Some favorite methods:

• Serger finish: My go-to for most wovens. Looks professional and prevents fraying.  My favorite serger thread to use (when it won't show through the garment) is rainbow*!
• Faux overlock or zigzag stitch:  If you don't have a serger, you can use your home machine to create these finishes.  Take some time to practice on scraps to get the stitch length and width just right. 
• French or flat-felled seams:  These can be done on a sewing machine and create a strong, beautiful finishes that add extra polish. It takes a bit of practice, but provides a completely enclosed finish. 

🎥 Learn more:  I talk a lot more about these in my Seam Finishes video within the Improve Your Sewing Playlist on YouTube

Stabilize Stress Points

Some areas of garments—like shoulder seams, waistbands, and crotch seams—take a lot of strain. Stabilizing these spots helps them keep their shape and prevents stretching.

My favorite tools:

• ¼" Cotton Twill Tape:  great for shoulder seams on jackets, pants waistbands, and even the crotch curves of linen trousers that tend to “grow” during the day.  (Refer to the video above at time stamp 7:58 for a demonstration)
• SewKeyse Woven Stay Tape:  ideal for stabilizing shoulder seams on knits or supporting V-necklines.
• SewKeyse Double-Sided Hem Tape:  keeps hems perfectly in place before sewing and reduces tunneling when using a twin needle or coverstitch machine.

Launder with Care

Your laundry habits can make or break a garment’s lifespan. 

• Protein-based fibers (wool, silk):  Treat the fiber like you’d treat your hair. Use a gentle detergent like Soak, cold water, minimal agitation, and air drying.
• Vegetable-based fibers (linen, cotton, hemp, rayon):  More durable, but line drying will still extend their life. You can machine wash with your choice of detergent and dry yardage to pre-shrink before sewing.
• Synthetics (polyester, nylon, fleece) :  Low-maintenance, machine wash with your choice of detergent, but still benefit from air drying to prevent pilling or static.

A little extra attention in the wash means less fading, less distortion, and longer wear.

We spend so much time perfecting the fit, fabric, and style of our handmade clothing—why let it fall apart before its time? These small sewing and care habits keep your garments looking fresh, fitting well, and lasting through countless wears. Contact me to share your own longevity tips!

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