How to Begin Sewing
Have you ever uttered the words, "I wish I knew how to sew!" before? Do you know someone who has? I hear it all the time after I've completed a project, people saying "Oh, you're so creative! I wish I could do something like that" or "You made that? I wouldn't even know how to thread a needle, much less make something on a sewing machine." I get it, sewing can seem daunting, especially if you've never tried your hand at it before. But in all actuality, it's only as daunting as you make it, and you may even surprise yourself! In the age of technology, it's amazing what you can learn just by watching self-help YouTube videos. I knew the basics of sewing before I really started to get into it, but most of what I've learned has come from video tutorials online and some from people I know.
Sewing isn't overly difficult, but it does require much patience and practice. Personally, I know I got frustrated the first few times I tried to sew because I couldn't sew in a straight line. But because I really wanted to learn, I kept trying and I finally got it. I hear a lot of people say they don't have the patience to learn to sew, and that's really too bad. Sewing can be used as an escape. There's something so calming about cutting fabric and piecing it together to create even something so simple as cloth napkins. But for those who do have the patience to learn to sew, they don't even know where to begin. Here are some tips for the true beginning sewer.
1. Take an Introductory Sewing Class
Instead of running out to buy a bunch of stuff to start your new hobby, take a test drive first! Look into taking an introductory sewing class at your local craft or fabric store, like Hobby Lobby or JOANN. If you don't have a local store nearby, look for someone locally who gives lessons. By doing this, you can get a feel if this is something you really want to learn or not. Most classes aren't that expensive to take, so at least you'll only be out a little bit of cash instead of a lot!
2. Get a Sewing Machine
The next step in your sewing endeavor is to invest in a sewing machine if you don't already have one. You don't need anything fancy to start sewing. You can get a very basic sewing machine for $200 or less (depending on where you buy) that will do what you need it to do as a beginner. Sometimes you can find some even cheaper if you get lucky and find one at a yard sale or Goodwill store. If you're not up for purchasing a machine just yet, see if someone you know owns one and will let you use it while you save up to make an investment in your own machine. You might even be able to rent a sewing machine from one of your local stores, but it may end up being cheaper to just buy one than renting one.
Here are some basic sewing machines under $200 that might be worth looking into!
3. Start With Simple Projects
I know it's hard to start simple, but trust me, you'll save yourself a lot of headaches and frustration if you stick with something simple for your first projects. You'll definitely want to avoid anything that involves curved lines until you get the hang of sewing in a straight line. I know when I started off I had a hard time keeping my stitches in a straight line, and I think most people also struggle with this. Some easy projects to start with are things that involve only straight lines, like curtains, cloth napkins, burp cloths, pillowcases, and pillows. Once you've mastered the straight lines, then you can move on to bigger projects, like sewing a pair of shorts!
4. Practice, Practice, Then Practice Some More!
Every skill requires a ton of practice. Think of an Olympic athlete and how many hours of practice they had to put in to get to their level of expertise. While you obviously won't make it to the Olympics for sewing, you get the idea. There will be some frustrating days when you sit down to your machine and things just don't go how you want them. You'll make mistake after mistake, but then one day you'll sit down and everything will come together. After a ton of practice, sewing will become second nature to you and everything will just "click." I haven't been sewing that long, but I know that I definitely wouldn't have gotten to where I am now if I hadn't kept practicing and trying new things. Just remember that everyone had to start at the beginning, even the best!
5. Invest in the Right Tools
Having the right tools while sewing is extremely important. These tools will make the difference in your projects looking homemade or looking professional. There are a ton of really convenient sewing accessories out there that are designed to make sewing easier, but they aren't absolutely essential. Start off your new sewing hobby with these items, and then as your skill improves, you can start adding a lot of the other fun stuff in!
Sewing Essentials:
I'm constantly learning new techniques whenever I sit down to my machine to sew. I like talking to other people who sew a lot to get their insight on certain projects, or how to do certain things. Learning from people who have been sewing a lot longer than you is an invaluable resource, and if you have a contact like this, use them! Who knows, you may teach them something you've learned along the way as well 😉
I also really like watching YouTube videos. I'll list some of my favorite channels so you can check them out!
Sewing isn't overly difficult, but it does require much patience and practice. Personally, I know I got frustrated the first few times I tried to sew because I couldn't sew in a straight line. But because I really wanted to learn, I kept trying and I finally got it. I hear a lot of people say they don't have the patience to learn to sew, and that's really too bad. Sewing can be used as an escape. There's something so calming about cutting fabric and piecing it together to create even something so simple as cloth napkins. But for those who do have the patience to learn to sew, they don't even know where to begin. Here are some tips for the true beginning sewer.
1. Take an Introductory Sewing Class
Instead of running out to buy a bunch of stuff to start your new hobby, take a test drive first! Look into taking an introductory sewing class at your local craft or fabric store, like Hobby Lobby or JOANN. If you don't have a local store nearby, look for someone locally who gives lessons. By doing this, you can get a feel if this is something you really want to learn or not. Most classes aren't that expensive to take, so at least you'll only be out a little bit of cash instead of a lot!
2. Get a Sewing Machine
The next step in your sewing endeavor is to invest in a sewing machine if you don't already have one. You don't need anything fancy to start sewing. You can get a very basic sewing machine for $200 or less (depending on where you buy) that will do what you need it to do as a beginner. Sometimes you can find some even cheaper if you get lucky and find one at a yard sale or Goodwill store. If you're not up for purchasing a machine just yet, see if someone you know owns one and will let you use it while you save up to make an investment in your own machine. You might even be able to rent a sewing machine from one of your local stores, but it may end up being cheaper to just buy one than renting one.
Here are some basic sewing machines under $200 that might be worth looking into!
3. Start With Simple Projects
I know it's hard to start simple, but trust me, you'll save yourself a lot of headaches and frustration if you stick with something simple for your first projects. You'll definitely want to avoid anything that involves curved lines until you get the hang of sewing in a straight line. I know when I started off I had a hard time keeping my stitches in a straight line, and I think most people also struggle with this. Some easy projects to start with are things that involve only straight lines, like curtains, cloth napkins, burp cloths, pillowcases, and pillows. Once you've mastered the straight lines, then you can move on to bigger projects, like sewing a pair of shorts!
4. Practice, Practice, Then Practice Some More!
Every skill requires a ton of practice. Think of an Olympic athlete and how many hours of practice they had to put in to get to their level of expertise. While you obviously won't make it to the Olympics for sewing, you get the idea. There will be some frustrating days when you sit down to your machine and things just don't go how you want them. You'll make mistake after mistake, but then one day you'll sit down and everything will come together. After a ton of practice, sewing will become second nature to you and everything will just "click." I haven't been sewing that long, but I know that I definitely wouldn't have gotten to where I am now if I hadn't kept practicing and trying new things. Just remember that everyone had to start at the beginning, even the best!
5. Invest in the Right Tools
Having the right tools while sewing is extremely important. These tools will make the difference in your projects looking homemade or looking professional. There are a ton of really convenient sewing accessories out there that are designed to make sewing easier, but they aren't absolutely essential. Start off your new sewing hobby with these items, and then as your skill improves, you can start adding a lot of the other fun stuff in!
Sewing Essentials:
- Sewing Machine (See Above!)
- Self-Healing Mat
- Rotary Cutter
- Fabric Shears
- Thread Snips
- Glass Head Pins
- Pin Cushion or Magnetic Pin Cushion
- Iron
- Fabric Marker or Tailors Chalk
- Lip Edge Ruler
- Seam Ripper
Sewing Supplies for Future:
- Serger ( I want one! You'll want one if you sew a LOT)
- Pinking Shears
- Fabric Weights ( You can make your own with washers from a hardware store)
- Sewing Gauge
I'm constantly learning new techniques whenever I sit down to my machine to sew. I like talking to other people who sew a lot to get their insight on certain projects, or how to do certain things. Learning from people who have been sewing a lot longer than you is an invaluable resource, and if you have a contact like this, use them! Who knows, you may teach them something you've learned along the way as well 😉
I also really like watching YouTube videos. I'll list some of my favorite channels so you can check them out!
Don't let the fear of failure keep you from trying something new! I hope you decide to pursue your dreams of sewing!
Until next time.
-Jor
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