CraftsFAQ

HOW DO I LEARN TO SEW?
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/306291 18.aspx
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/303689 98.aspx
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/300139 30.aspx
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/285705 96.aspx
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/280399 30.aspx

xnickerx:
Actually, there is a sewing for dummies book and sewing for dummies clothing patterns.

While many local sewing stores offer classes, it isn't always possible to take one. You can learn on your own- youtube will be your best friend. I also recommend burdastyle who has some great how-tos that go from beginner to advanced. There are tons of blogs as well- look for ones with lots of pictures and easy to follow explanations. What I recommend:

1. You should learn how to pin patterns properly, cut properly, etc. For instance, when you cut your fabric needs to be flat on the table and your scissors held so the finger-holes are perfectly vertical. Most people naturally cut at an angle- but this won't work when sewing.

2. Fabric and thread can be expensive, and why spend a ton of money on practice? Start by sewing up and down the blue lines on binder paper. Don't thread your machine- all you want to do is practice foot-control and straight lines. The needle will leave a little dashed puncture line so you can see where you were and if you did a good line or not. And no waste of materials. Once you got that down, step up to coloring pages. Get the simple ones for toddlers (like the ones you color with the fat crayons, lol). These have a few simple curves and you will learn to sew curves and what to do when two lines intersect. Again, no materials wasted.

3. Start with simple, not small. Fashion sewing (clothing) is the hardest to do. I recommend starting off with things where size doesn't matter: pillow cases, cushion covers, simple handbags (like totes and grocery bags). Pajama bottoms and baby summer dresses (the infamous pillowcase dress comes to mind) can also be done by a beginner. Quilts with squares and rectangles can be made, but the smaller 2x2 squares can get pretty fiddly so you may want to start off with much bigger squares.

4. To see if you are moving up a level, make a full apron. One with a ruffle, or pockets, or something with detail work (or all the above). Try a beginning sewing pattern from the shops (fyi burda also does free patterns you download at home). If you got that, move onto learning how to put in a basic zipper- those makeup bags and pencil cases are awesome for this and there are a bizillion tutorials online. Once you got that down, the rest of your sewing advancement comes naturally and with practice, practice, practice.

5. Realize that many times it isn't you, it's the cheap machine. It is stupid to pay $600 for a machine when you are learning and still deciding if you like to sew. How do you even know what kind of machine to buy if you don't know what kind of sewing you like to do? The cheaper machines are infamous for jamming, snapping thread, having funky loops on the bottom side of the stitching (tension control problem). If this happens to you (and it happens to all of us), remind yourself it's the machine, not you, take a deep breath, and move on.

MrsJuneHawk:
I taught myself how to sew. I got the Sewing For Dummies book and it helped me a lot at the beginning. You need to be fearless and have the mindset that if you mess something up, it's only fabric (so hold off on that $100 a yard Chanel fabric!).

I started sewing cloth diapers and an apron and realized that wasn't for me, my heart was in garment sewing. So, I went ahead and bought patterns labeled "Easy" and got to it. Eventually I bought fitting books and actually tried to make things fit me as opposed to sewing right out of the envelope.

Aussie*s_Mom: Someone posted THIS LINK a few weeks back.

lindeenwedding: This is a great book. Pretty much covers everything you listed.

CollegeGrrl219: I like the Singer Complete Guide to Sewing. It has several full color illustrations that are helpful about fabric types, needles, etc. It seems to be almost exactly what you are looking for.

danieliza1127:
Go to Google and just do some searches about how to sew and watch some videos. There are a ton of things out there. I started by buying some really cheap fabric and just practiced sewing straight lines. I also did some reading to figure out what tools I would really need, like a rotary cutter, which is wonderful!

The first really simple project that I did that I'm not even that crazy about, but was good for learning how to follow sewing directions and sew straight lines was this one: http://tinyurl.com/ms9qdk

Some sites that have easy projects:
http://www.sewmamasew.com/tutorials.php
http://www.oneprettything.com

And then also if you're interested in home decor, be sure to check out http://www.thenester.com and www.livingwithlindsay.com

Joann's has classes as well, but I haven't taken one yet.

CollegeGrrl219:
Step 1: Read your owner's manual.

Step 2: I highly recommend the Singer's Complete Guide to Sewing. I know you have a Brother, but the Singer book has some universal tips in it.

Step 3: Craftster.org has a community section of message boards where I have found tons of tutorials on how to make easy stuff without buying patterns. I have learned a lot there, whether you are a quilter or a clothing person, they have it all there.

Step 4: Get thee to a library.

Step 5: Find other sewing nerds and make friends with them.

jebuell:
Have you ever sewn before? Do you know how to thread and use the bobbin on your machine? If the answer to both of those is yes I just recommend starting with something fun but simple. Maybe bean bags for your kids or burp clothes for your baby.

When I first got my machine I hadn't sewn since middle school and I had completely forgotten how to thread my bobbin! Plus it was a different type of bobbin then I was used to. So I had to re-learn. My manual was crap so instead I just went to YouTube and typed in "how to thread a sewing machine" and found some great videos. Then I clicked on other videos to get an idea on how to troubleshoot my machine and do some advanced things with it. But if you bought your machine from a sewing shop check to see if they offer classes. Often if you buy from the store they will offer free classes for you. If your machine came from another source you can still go to your local sewing shop (even Joann's) and ask if they offer classes and sign up for a small fee (I find usually $15-40 depending on the class). To me that wasn't worth it considering I was able to find similar classes on YouTube, but it sure would have been helpful to have someone there to ask questions to!

JoyGotDots: I took a class and found it a great way to start. There are also online tutorials and books, it just depends on how you prefer to learn.

1Thess517: I got one for Christmas last year, and my mom and I went to the (really nice) quilt shop in town and bought enough fat quarters for two crib-sized quilts and a fat quarter book (fat quarters are 18"x22") and we just went at it. lol We both just picked easy patterns (mine was a strip quilt and Mom's was just a block pattern) and sewed the rest of the weekend. Most people will recommend going to a class, but I am a better learn-by-doing person.

modb1rd:
It depends on what you want to make. If you are interested in making clothes, I would try to take a class, either at a community college or a sewing store. If no classes near you, start out with an elastic waist skirt and then a simple t-shirt. That will teach you to sew both on solids and knits.

If you want to quilt, an intro class at a quilting store is great but if not, start with a baby sized quilt. A single irish chain is a good first quilt. http://quilting.about.com/od/blockofthemonth/ss/iris h_chain_3.htm or http://www.quilt.com/Blocks/IrishChain/IrishChain.html

Aussie*s_Mom: I took a class at a sew shop and learned a lot.

cnstarz:
I learn by doing. I started off by making several variations of the fat quarter handbag from http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=737

And then I practiced making a basic straight skirt with darts, a side slit, and a zipper. That taught me a lot. (Simplicity 2906)

Well actually, the next thing I attempted was a wrap dress, I don't know why, but I spent like a freaking week and got the collar and everything right, and then the last step was putting on sleeves and they looked like crap, so it's still sitting unfinished in my closet.

Now I'm making a couple more in different fabrics, working to improve my accuracy. Then I'm going to work on some pants and a skirt from a different pattern. Pattern companies make easy lines, like It's Sew Easy, etc. and they're a good place to start.

My biggest issue when I started was mastering the fine art of sewing in a ***straight*** line. I've heard suggestions that you can start by practicing straight lines on a fabric with thin stripes.

ourbabylove2010: I made pillow cases to get familiar with the machine. I would recommend taking a class, if one is available, because I depended heavily on my mom to help me learn.





I'M NEW TO SEWING, WHAT SEWING MACHINE SHOULD I GET?
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/29176673.aspx http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/44624791/ShowThread.aspx#44624791

cmeon_the_water: This is the one a bunch of us picked up on Overstock recently. I love it- very easy to use, and I've been using it almost daily this month. It's got a lot of fun features, too. Another very popular beginner's Brother is the CS6000i, and this is its brother (more stitch functions and a basic alphabet)! It comes with the same manual. :)

jesss10: I would go for an entry level machine from Janome, Baby Lock, or Bernina. My best advice is to go to the dealers in your area and see what they have to offer. Definitely get it from a dealer because they usually offer classes and support if you need it.

Aussie*s_Mom: Ditto. I HIGHLY suggest buying from a dealer. FYI, Brother makes Baby Lock. I've owned several Brother's (not several because they were crapping out, I just kept upgrading) and I've been happy with each one that I got from our local dealer. My first Brother was a machine my MIL bought me for Christmas from Walmart for $60 and it was junk (you definitely will get what you pay for). If I higher end machine seems out of your price range, ask about pre-owned machines. When someone upgrades, the shop will sell the machine that was traded in after it's been looked over and cleaned up.

hunniapple: My starter machine was a Kenmore - it's $179 at Sears. The reason I like it is that it's affordable but it has tons of stithch functions and a crazy assortment of feet you can buy to learn new things without worrying about having to upgrade down the line to another machine if you don't want to. Its really sturdy - Have had it for about 8 years and never had a problem with it. You can also drop the feed dogs for quilting.

gigglegurls10: I have worked with many machines (I have been a sewing teacher for the past 5 years) My personal feeling is that brothers and any other machines with plastic bobbin mechanisms are not worth it if you are looking to have your machine for a long time. Yes they do sew nicely and the drop in bobbin feature is nice but the plastic mechanisms wear down and stop catching the top thread (this is with a lot of use, I have 10 students using our machines per day, so the wear and tear is times 10 as well). I really like my 10 year old Janome, its a basic model and gets the job done. We just got Singer 1507 WC's in my classroom which are pretty basic but sew very nicely. Good luck finding you new machine!

catgal: I have a HuskyStar E20 (Huskvarna/Viking) that I've had for about 5 years. When I bought it, I needed one right away since I was getting too frustrated with my 50 year old Singer (bought it used) and I was in the middle of a project. The HuskyStar cost about $150 and is a very basic machine. The bobbin mechanism is metal and I haven't had any trouble with it at all. I will be upgrading at the end of Thanksgiving, since that was the intention when I bought the HuskyStar. I'd definitly recommend this one.





WHERE CAN I BUY FABRIC ONLINE?
I've included links to sites that Nesties have recommended at one time or another. Hawthorne Threads was, far and away, the most commonly recommended resource, but all of these have come with at least one Nestie endorsement. I've also included a few comments that I thought were helpful and summed up the general sentiment on some of these sites. I opted to leave out the full range of comments because it just got repetitive.

http://www.connectingthreads.com
http://craftersvision.com
http://www.denverfabrics.com
http://www.emmaonesock.com
http://www.fabric.com
http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com
http://Fabricpalooza.etsy.com
https://www.fabricsfromtheheart.com/store/index.php
http://fatquartershop.com
http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com
http://www.hawthornethreads.com
http://hbfabrics.etsy.com
http://www.homesteadhearth.com
http://www.quilters-paradise.com
http://www.thefabricfinder.com
http://tonicliving.com
http://www.warmbiscuit.com
http://www.webfabrics.net

rikkiandjulie: etsy. fabricdepot.com I <333333. It's a portland based store, but they have a great website.

raza13: joanne's fabric has a good online selection. and they are constantly sending coupons to my inbox for online items. there is also a site called fatquarterbundles.com that seems promising. i haven't bought anything from them though.

xnickerx: I second hawthorne threads. They have amazing customer service, great pricing, fabulous selection, and the coolest "color picker" option so you can easily match fabrics.

stephm0188: Hawthorne Threads has the BEST service, and their price breaks for frequent buyers are wonderful. I like fabricworm.com's selection, but the customer service is awful.





WHAT ARE SOME GOOD BEGINNER SEWING PROJECTS?
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/29132249.aspx
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/30539974.aspx
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/30181562/ShowThread.aspx#30181562
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/25324344/ShowThread.aspx#25324344

cmeon_the_water:
This little taggie toy was my first completed project, just yesterday- my 3mo LOVES it, and I don't think anything is easier. Follow the link to my blog post about it for a link to the tutorial I used, if you need one. It's extra cool because it has a layer of crinkle material inside, so it's noisy. ;)

I'll make her a normal sized taggie blanket soon, once I have the balls to work with the furry minky fabric I bought to back it! LOL

I came super close to finishing this dress today- a very easy project. The only part that's giving me issues is the straps, I'm not that great at sewing such thin pieces yet, so I think I'm just going to use ribbons instead.

And I know I want to make a bunch of these, once Gwen is old enough for skirts- so cute, and a very good tutorial!

drh's_biogirl: Definitely pick a fabric that is not slippery and not stretchy. Cotton or a non-stretching cotton/polyester blend. What about pajama pants? little girl nightgown? pillow covers? basic curtains? tote bag? Burp cloths are good and so are aprons.

Read2Me:
These children's aprons are super easy: http://www.skiptomylou.org/2007/03/20/dishtowel-aprons
And I love making these crayon rolls: http://www.skiptomylou.org/2007/04/25/on-a-roll

snowday!: Ditto pajama pants. Find a pattern that has pockets and an elastic waist. The pieces are big, so you won't get into any tight spots trying to put it together. Fitting problems are minimal or non-existent. I'm a big fan of starting with a simple garment. Ditto cotton and flannel.

RubyTue:
I'd go with a tote bag or pajama pants. I started my friend with a tote bag.

If you go with an apron, make sure you pick a very easy pattern. I have nightmares of my "two-hour" apron that took 8 hours. That would not be good for a beginner. It it has ruffles and such. A really simple half-apron would be very easy.

kat.in.the.hat: PJ pants are a great start! This is my go to pattern - Simplicity

SpartanGirl: I made pajama pants from this 15 minute tutorial - Easy Pajama Pants. It was very simple and turned out great! I had never sewn any clothing before. I used a flannel fabric, and it was easy to sew with.

jinxed8605: Pillow cases are nice and easy, simple tote/purse patterns. There are lots of patterns you can find at the crafting stores that tell you difficulty on them. Hope that helps!

marytini: This pair of PJ pants. I used a pattern, probably simplicity. I really don't sew clothing, so I don't know if it was the right choice for a first project, but I did become better acquainted with my sewing machine and I guess that is really the point for a first project. I still hate paper patterns to this day. I prefer online tutorials.

jenifairies: Taggie blanket (with minky- that was fun!) and a dress (from a pattern - again, just shoot me) for my DD. I made them both at the same time.

xnickerx: A skirt with an elastic waist.

1Thess517: A Christmas crib quilt in a rail fence pattern. So easy and a good way to start.

franklintngirl: sewmamasew.com has some great projects

shanbrite2:
Love Sew, Mama, Sew, and curtains are a good project too. I'm a nano-step above beginner (only do straight lines, mostly piecing simple quilts) and found this apron to be a great learning project: http://sew4home.com/projects/kitchen-linens/341-patio-party-groovy-hostess- apron. Took me a little while to figure it all out the first time, but it turned out super cute and now I am making them for all my friends!

I also really like this bag tutorial: http://happythings.typepad.com/happythings/200 6/04/dsb_101_simple_.html. SUPER easy but cute and functional!

franklintngirl:
I don't sew but what about these?
This one looks easy and would be good for first time sewing, plus it would make great presents if you know anyone having a baby soon
http://www.makeandtakes.com/baby-burp-cloth-tutorial
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=562 http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=740

Gracielufreebush: Cute ideas. I was going to suggest anything that will let you try out the various stitches you can do. Home decor is great for practice. Lots of strait lines and embellishments. I think the first thing I made were pillows or curtains. Have fun playing with your machine.

danieliza1127:
I'm new to sewing too, and if you are, then I would suggest you practice just sewing straight lines and get to know your machine before you jump into a project. It sounds goofy, but it takes a little practice to read instructions and understand them!

coasters - http://foofanagle.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/simple-coasters/
tons of tutorials - http://everythingyourmamamade.com/2009/12/11/84-tutorials-for-the-home/
http://theidearoom.blogspot.com/2009/10/oven-hand-mitt-tutorial.html
http://7layerstudio.typepad.com/7_layer_studio/2008/09/scrap-savvy-bookmark-tutorial.html
http://orangeflowerpatterns.blogspot.com/2008/08/fabric-basket.html
http://www.ladyharvatine.com/2007/06/summer-slippers.html

MsJeshka: A pillow is a good beginner project. I'd call myself a beginner sewer and I've made an apron, a pillow and a very basic quilt.

prncschrsty: I started with bibs & burp cloths for my friends with babies. It was easy b/c they were straight lines.

June24Bride: burp clothes, pillows, curtains, aprons, and repairs mostly

fb98yh62dc08yh: Do a mini blanket/baby blanket, pillow cases, simple quilt.

JeniLovesNeil: Congrats!! I just got my frist sewing machine, too, and I signed up for Sewing in Baby Steps through Frugal Family Fun Blog. It's free, and each day she emails you a little project to practice with.

http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2009/08/announcing-sewing-in-baby-steps.html

Good luck!

1Thess517: [This] bag is SERIOUSLY cute and EASY! Great beginner project for sure. I changed a couple things (like the handles since I didn't have twill tape), but I love it and I'm going to make a ton more! :) http://www.chubbyhobby.com/make-and-create/market-tote-tutorial/



WHAT SEWING ESSENTIALS DO I NEED?
http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/28282033.aspx

iron
ironing board
pins
magnetic pin cushion
needle
thread
fabric
scissors (used ONLY for cutting fabric!)
measuring tape
seam ripper
marking chalk or disappearing ink pen
rotary cutter
self-healing mat