Sewing: A Skill That Never Goes Out of Style

By Sophia Plinski

Miss Nevada

I recommend that everyone learns how to sew, especially those who are passionate about pageants like me! In this blog post, we are going to discuss how sewing opens a world of opportunity to express yourself through fashion on stage.

Practical

To begin with, sewing is a practical skill! For example, if the button falls off your interview dress, you will be more than capable of fixing the problem and keeping your confidence going into the interview. Have you ever seen the perfect dress, but it was just not attainable because of the additional alteration costs? If you knew how to sew, it wouldn’t be a problem at all.

Thrifty

We all know that pageants are not cheap! Knowing how to sew allows us pageant girls to be thrifty.  Not so long ago, I realized that my runway dress needed some bedazzling! Since I have the wonderful skill of sewing, I was able to bedazzle my runway dress with an appliqué, a tail, and new sleeves! Now I have a beautiful, one-of-a-kind dress that was less than a hundred-dollars for my next pageant. So much nicer than the large amount I would have had to spend on a brand-new dress, with the added bonus of some fabric leftover to make something else.

Creative

Now let’s talk about sewing as an incredible creative outlet. Sewing allows each of us to express ourselves with styles even when they are not available on the rack. With sewing skills, if you can’t find it, you can make it. If you want to wear a vintage suit, a fun costume, or a period-accurate piece, you will have no worries. Some of my favorite examples include taking old clothes and giving them new life or sewing cosplay costumes of my favorite characters. I once took a rummage sale tablecloth, dyed it, and turned it into a jacket when I was unable to find the jacket I wanted in stores. Sewing is very fulfilling when you take your design ideas and turn them into reality.

Multi-Purpose

Sewing is not just about making clothes. The possibilities are limitless. When talking about pageants, hair accessories, photo props, hat embellishments, and bags are just some of the fun and useful things that you can create for your next pageant. During off-pageant season, stuffed animals, pet toys, quilts, kitchen linens, window coverings, and home décor are just some of the things you can create! One of my favorite sewing projects was making a stuffed cat to hold the TV remotes. Soon after, I made some weighted mice for the cat to chase. Walking by a store, I saw the perfect flowers to make my photoshoot pop. In no time at all, I had the flowers sewn onto the hat and ready for the photoshoot.

Sometimes the best dress for your next pageant is the one that has been sitting in your closet waiting to be revived; other times, a simple dress off the rack is the best choice, but it needs a little tender loving care to help it stand out. Pick up a needle and thread, and Presto! Your problem is solved!