Any good sites for a beginner?

[wifty]

I am a beginner sewer and I was wondering if anyone had any good sites that could walk me thru the process?

I need to be able to know simple stuff, like do you pin a pattern when cutting it and what could be making my thread break and how to pick the best fabric for a project......basics. :-)

Any help is really appreciated! I have the machine and I have the need (to sew DD pants...she is a funny size) and I am itching to go, but its all greek to me!

with smiles

[sabrinat]

sewing.org
sewingmamas.com

[AngelBee]

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[sabrinat]

Here's a couple more that are actual online lessons.
http://sewcreativelyyou.com/pages/learntosew.php
www.sew-whats-new.com/sewinglessons
also www.patternreview.com also offers online fee classes. Haven't done any though, but many of the patternreveviw folks do.

My suggestion too is get a good reference manual and a simple pattern and just dive in. If you have questions, post here. there's usually someone who will know the answer.

[mamadodson]

google jan andrea she has some nice beginner patterns! have fun!

[art4babies]

I think just getting a pattern and following the instructions. I think you will find it is much less mysterious if you just simply follow the instructions. All patterns nowadays, I think, are labeled for ease of use.

[Sharondio]

Originally Posted by art4babies

I think just getting a pattern and following the instructions. I think you will find it is much less mysterious if you just simply follow the instructions. All patterns nowadays, I think, are labeled for ease of use.

Well, yeah, but not all of them are actually easy to use! I found it best to have friend who sews walk me through the first pattern. It took a little trial and error to comprehend how the pieces fit together. You have to be thinking multi-dimensionally.

Some of those commercial "easy" patterns stumped my wardrobe mistress who can write her *own* patterns.

[sabrinat]

Originally Posted by Sharondio

Well, yeah, but not all of them are actually easy to use! I found it best to have friend who sews walk me through the first pattern. It took a little trial and error to comprehend how the pieces fit together. You have to be thinking multi-dimensionally.

I always think of a pattern of being a foriegn language you need that sewing to english dictionary. I like my little manual "Simply the best Sewing Book" It explains all the terms and techniques in clear terms. But I still think sewing is alot of practice, practice, practice. Also I'd start w/Kwiksew patterns. They are so straight forward and easy to use. Those kwiksew books are the best!

[Katie Bugs Mama]

Reader's Digest has a *great* sewing book. It walks you through everything from picking a pattern and fabric to finishing the item. It's a bit pricey, but most libraries have a copy.

[Katie Bugs Mama]

Originally Posted by Sharondio

Some of those commercial "easy" patterns stumped my wardrobe mistress who can write her *own* patterns.

My MIL has been sewing for 60 years, including teaching sewing classes at the local community college, making all of her kids' clothes, and owning a small pattern-making/craft kit company. She's often baffled by the "easy" commercial patterns that I show her.

[zoebird]

how about sewing by hand? i don't have a machine and honestly when i have taken lessons, everything just 'runs away' from me.

but when i would sew by hand, i was able to do a decent job--better than with a machine.

it takes longer, but i just need some encouragement that doing so weould be 'Ok'--also, what would i use for thread? i'm used to doing cross stich with embroidery thread, but should i use spooled instead? will it be firm enough with the simple stitches that i'll be doing by hand?

[sabrinat]

Originally Posted by zoebird

how about sewing by hand? i don't have a machine and honestly when i have taken lessons, everything just 'runs away' from me.

but when i would sew by hand, i was able to do a decent job--better than with a machine.

it takes longer, but i just need some encouragement that doing so weould be 'Ok'--also, what would i use for thread? i'm used to doing cross stich with embroidery thread, but should i use spooled instead? will it be firm enough with the simple stitches that i'll be doing by hand?

I'm so impressed! I'd be scared to wear anything I made and sewed by hand.

[p.s]

How about check your local independant fabric store for sewing club?

[nmm2112]

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[jillybeans]

oh, and when you first begin, sew with an old sheet or something. cause you never know when you could mess up all that nice pretty fabric.

that was a few years ago, and now i'm selling my stuff as a business! Just keep at it and you'll be confident soon! Oh, and sewing things like pillow cases and placemats is an easy place to start for basic sewing techniques!

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by zoebird

how about sewing by hand? i don't have a machine and honestly when i have taken lessons, everything just 'runs away' from me.

but when i would sew by hand, i was able to do a decent job--better than with a machine.

it takes longer, but i just need some encouragement that doing so weould be 'Ok'--also, what would i use for thread? i'm used to doing cross stich with embroidery thread, but should i use spooled instead? will it be firm enough with the simple stitches that i'll be doing by hand?

My mother does like 90% of her sewing by hand since she can carry the projects with her and just do a few inches here and there while having coffee with friends or riding in the car. You're going to want spooled thread, embroidery thread is just too thick for easy stitching. With hand sewing, you'll want to tie off and restart your thread about every 10 inches, that way if a seam does break you only have to resew 10 inches. Areas that need extra strength, such as armholes, should be done in back-stitch.

With handsewing you'll probably find that commercial patterns aren't quite right. They're all made assuming machine sewing, so there are probably places where you don't need to use as much fabric or can fit things together in a different, easier way because you've got fine control over where each stitch goes.

According to my mother, she's found that smaller needles allow her to make smaller stitches more easily. She'll use a regular needle for basting and then switch to a quilting needle to finish off the seam.

Also, if you do encounter something you just *do not* want to do by hand, like hemming 60+ inches of skirt, even the most beginner of machine sewers can handle that task and most of us will work for brownies. (Or, if we're beginning enough, for assistance in cutting out our next project. )

[sunshinestarr]

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