Sewing?

[SisMorphine]

Alright, so we didn't have Home Ec when I was in high school, so at 28 I have no clue how to make a purse, a shirt, or even hem a pair of pants.

I'm searching for a sewing machine (fingers crossed that freecycle will come through), and trying to find local classes. But in the meantime does anyone have any favorite websites for me to read that literally discusses the basics? Like types of stitches, fabrics, etc and how/when/where to use them?

Thanks all!

 

[~Jessie~]

I'll be following this thread as well. I actually had this conversation with my husband last night about how I want to learn how to sew!

 

[puppydog]

Unfortunately, learn to sew websites are about as useful as tits on a man.
Honestly, enroll in some classes. It is the best way. I love sewing but only because I was comprehensively taught how!

 

[HayleyMarie]

Unfortunately, learn to sew websites are about as useful as tits on a man.
Honestly, enroll in some classes. It is the best way. I love sewing but only because I was comprehensively taught how!

I agree, I took years and years of sewing classes and it helps ALOT! Practice will help alot as well. You could start off with scrap fabric and make straight lines down the fabric.

 

[MandyPug]

Unfortunately, learn to sew websites are about as useful as tits on a man.
Honestly, enroll in some classes. It is the best way. I love sewing but only because I was comprehensively taught how!

Exactly what she said^^

Most patterns will tell you what stitch to use as well, but classes will definitely help you to get the patterns right more often than throwing them into the scrap pile lol.

 

[Taqroy]

I've never taken a class and I'm fairly proficient with sewing. If you really want to take a class it would probably help but I started out by buying the "Easy" patterns and making a couple of those. Just make sure you buy a seam ripper that doesn't hurt your fingers...lol. Every new pattern I make I have to rip out at least one huge seam and do it over. I started sewing about a year and a half ago and so far have made a skirt, a dress, a cape (for halloween), a penguin costume (for Matt for halloween), a TON of dog collars....and probably other things I'm forgetting. It's really fun when it goes right.

 

[Cheza]

Honestly, I taught myself, but I had a teeny bit of background because my mom showed me a few things when I was like, five. Take classes especially if you're going to get into things like bags that can get fairly complex. You can google things like blind hems, french seam etc, but really honestly, 99% of the stitching you use will either be a straight stitch or a zig zag.

Learning to sew a straight line is the hardest. There's 2 ways to do it... you can find a presser foot for your machine that has a guide on it (I use one of these because I need to sew FAST when I'm making up orders) or you can sew down the line of lined paper for a while for practise it works!

As far as the sewing machine goes, older ones are just fine (better in some cases), but make sure you go and see it first and take a scrap to sew. Try out all the settings and stuff, and when you do bring it home, get it serviced and cleaned out.

 

[SisMorphine]

Thanks all! I'm looking at some classes and unfortunately most have already started (like last week, ARGH!) so I'll have to wait until next month and I'm just ITCHING to get some knowledge in beforehand. And there is this one classes that I wicked want to take that is all about purse making, but it's held in Dorchester and truthfully I'm terrified of Dorchester. Do I risk getting mugged and having my car stripped and/or stolen just to take an awesome sewing class? UGH!!

I'm tempted to ask my mother for help, but she and I don't exactly have the best relationship, and all discussions quickly turn into screaming matches and people getting hung up on (I think this week alone our longest conversation has been 30 seconds, no joke). I can only imagine what'll happen with needles around! (KIDDING!!)

I might skip training on Sunday and drive down to the South Shore and ask my aunt for help. Maybe she'll give me "classes"?? All I know is I really want to get started NOW!!!

I'm also not good at being patient. LOL!

 

[Renee750il]

One of the percs of buying a new machine at a dealer is they usually give classes and/or will let you come in individually to learn to use the machine. That's a HUGE help. After that starting out on the Easy rated patterns will get you going.

There is nothing as frustrating when you're learning as a crappy machine. Dealers will often have used machines that have been traded in when someone upgrades, or you can get a good used one at a repair/refurb shop usually.

 

[Taqroy]

There is nothing as frustrating when you're learning as a crappy machine. Dealers will often have used machines that have been traded in when someone upgrades, or you can get a good used one at a repair/refurb shop usually.

I was going to add this but I forgot. My first machine was super cheap and can't sew through two layers of fleece....horribly annoying. On the other hand my mom's 25 year old Singer sewing machine that she gave to me sews through darn near anything. So I highly recommend not skimping on a sewing machine if you think this will be a hobby you really want to do.

 

[zoe08]

I am teaching myself to sew. There are all kinds of free tutorials online. Think of something you want to make and search for tutorials.

I also have to recommend buying a new machine or going to a dealer to get a used one. I bought a used one off craiglist and it just frustrated me so much, I quit sewing for a while, and finally this past spring I bought a new machine. I still get frustrated with the tension, but it is so much better than the old machine (which I did have seviced and still had the same problems).

 

[milos_mommy]

I agree that sewing is one thing you can't learn off a website. Getting someone to teach you would be best, either a class, or your aunt. My mom taught me what I know, and hopefully eventually she can teach me more.

 

[puppydog]

Oh yes Renee! I forgot about that. It is a solid point. The classes they give with a new machine are basic but very good.

 

[Romy]

One of the percs of buying a new machine at a dealer is they usually give classes and/or will let you come in individually to learn to use the machine. That's a HUGE help. After that starting out on the Easy rated patterns will get you going.

There is nothing as frustrating when you're learning as a crappy machine. Dealers will often have used machines that have been traded in when someone upgrades, or you can get a good used one at a repair/refurb shop usually.

^^This is a really good idea. I'm pretty much self taught with some pointers given my friends along the way.

My machine was bought new, and is a Huskystar 215 (Husqvarna Viking budget version, basic and very good). It sews through 10 layers of denim, leather, and kersey wool. I love it, and it's been going strong for 7 years now with heavy use (I used to have a side business making men's victorian clothing).

Failing that, there are youtube video tutorials for EVERYTHING. I even found one that showed me how to replace the belt on my vintage 70s dryer. The exact model even. The internet is a miracle. :hail:

 

[Brattina88]

I think maybe they do something like that at JoAnn Fabrics around here. I think I almost went before with my grandmother, but something came up. I am very lucky to have a crafty grandma - she's taught me just about everything I know about sewing, crocheting, etc. She also taught my Dad when he was younder, and he helps me to If you have one in the area, it might not hurt to check it out

 

[SisMorphine]

BWAHAHAHA! Purchasing a sewing machine. Like I have money for that. Ya'll are silly Hell, I'm already panicking about finding the $75 to take a class!!

One of my friends told me that when she moves next week she'll let me know, but she thinks she has her mom's old sewing machine. Score!

 

[SisMorphine]

I think maybe they do something like that at JoAnn Fabrics around here. I think I almost went before with my grandmother, but something came up. I am very lucky to have a crafty grandma - she's taught me just about everything I know about sewing, crocheting, etc. She also taught my Dad when he was younder, and he helps me to If you have one in the area, it might not hurt to check it out

Thanks for the suggestion! Unfortunately I just looked and my local Joann's doesn't offer classes. The closest one that does is an hour and a half away. Boooo!

 

[zoe08]

if you don't have money for a sewing machine, then I wouldn't pay for classes right away. I would start with some free tutorials online and see how they go before investing in classes that you may not need.

What kind of things are you wanting to make? Because sewing is not a cheap hobby, and in many cases you won't be saving money to make vs. buy.

 

[SisMorphine]

I have ideas for a future business, and one of my friends is really pushing me to get learning on how to sew because her business and mine would really compliment each other.

And no, I won't be making my own clothes. LMAO!!!

But in general I would like to learn so that I can hem my own pants and small stuff like that.

 

[Renee750il]

I still do hems by hand, lol. Even the blind hem stitch on a machine is too visible for me. One of the reasons I have a love/hate relationship with sewing -- it has to be PERFECT. :wall:

There's no reason you can't learn on your own, but it's great to have an experienced sewer nearby to show you little tricks and techniques that make it easier/better. I like having book -- like the Vogue Sewing Book -- around because I can go back and check or refresh my memory.

My first project was a dress for myself, lol. About 30 pattern pieces, inset peaked waist, French cuffs, shawl collar, gored skirt, gathered and darted bodice . . . you get the idea, lol. It was one of those "do or die" things :rofl1: Like Tina Turner said, I never do anything "nice and easy."

Trust me, if you can do what you've done with Teeny and Blue, a sewing machine is going to be an easy beast for you to tame