Eleven Amazing Tips to Help You Learn Sewing

Are you thinking about becoming a sewer? Are you looking for advice on how to begin and what to do to be a good sewer? In this case, you came in the right place! We are going to show you eleven amazing tips that can help you become good at sewing.

1. Get a good sewing machine to start with.

When you are on your way to learning how to sew, you need a good sewing machine. It can become discouraging to try to learn sewing on a temperamental sewing machine. Especially if you want to make straight stitches, you are recommended to use a vintage sewing machine. However, this is not a must, as you can also use other types of sewing machines. And it is not even required to start with straight stitches, as many people nowadays start with zig-zag stitches.

In the USA, you can easily find a good sewing machine at an affordable price, in online shops, as well as at many local thrift stores. You can also try to find a vintage machine in your neighborhood or at your family members. However, when you purchase a vintage/old sewing machine from someone, make sure you ask the seller whether the machine has any mechanical problems. Another aspect that you should care for is the instruction manual. However, if it is missing, you can download it online for only a few dollars.

Although it is a good thing to spend more for a good quality sewing machine, you don’t yet know what features you’ll need in the future, so you may try to get a good machine that is affordable and only invest in a more expensive one later.

2. Avoid complexity as much as you can.

You should try to get a simpler sewing machine, to avoid anything from going wrong. This is one of the reasons why you are recommended to start with an old straight stitch machine. If you plan to make a garment, then you don’t need any fancy embroidery stitches, which is one of the renowned features of new machines. In what regards the mechanical parts, nothing has changed during the past decades. However, even if you prefer getting a new and modern machine, try to choose one that is simple. Avoid choosing it for its fancy computerized geegaws, as it is very likely that you’ll never even use them.

3. Buy a good beginner’s book.

This may be one of the most difficult tasks because there are not too many good books for beginners in the sewing niche. Although there are some amazing encyclopedic sewing guides, they are not necessarily recommended for beginners, as they contain too much information.

A great beginner’s sewing book is “Sew Everything Workshop”, written by Diana Rupp. It contains step-by-step instructions and also simple patterns for basic garments.

4. Start with small creations.

When you’re just a beginner, it is recommended to start with sewing something simple. If you try to start with something too advanced for your skills, you may easily end disappointed. You will learn as you work, but it is important to avoid getting discouraged if your results don’t match your expectations. You need to acknowledge that no matter what you sew, it is important to carefully choose the fabric and other details, as they really make the difference.

All the skills require practice, so this is also available for sewing. You will see that after a time, even the things that seemed difficult at the beginning, are getting better. Even if you don’t start with garments, you can practice your sewing skill with sewing scraps of fabric together. This helps you learn how to correctly use your sewing machine and it helps you improve your skill. Practice always makes you better.

6. Lower the stakes.

You should be aware that some garments turn out better than others, but this isn’t a reason for you to worry about. Although sewing is challenging, it is also fun, so treat it accordingly. Skill helps you create fantastic things, but you also need to enjoy what you do.

7. Make up your own rules.

You will find a lot of instructions in the sewing book or in pattern directions. Some of them are truly necessary and useful, while others are unnecessarily complex. You are recommended not to be afraid to try it your own way. You could end in finding a more simple way to do certain things. Even if it doesn’t work, you end learning something. Remember that you have nothing to lose if you try to find an easier way to sew.

8. Get into a sewing community.

You will be surprised by how many things you can learn from people you meet in a sewing community. You will also learn everything faster when you get the support and encouragement of other people. Sewing friends are valuable and being part of a sewing community makes sewing much more fun.

9. Make a play from sewing.

Don’t consider sewing as a work or stress, but make it fun. Sewing is challenging most of the time, especially if things don’t work out as you planned, but this is not a reason to make it stressful. It takes time and practice to learn sewing, but as long as you do it because you want this, it is a child’s play. You will, of course, make mistakes, but they are part of your job and they help you improve and become better in your work.

10. Make what you truly like.

You are an adult, so it is the time that you make your own rules. You are not required to take classes where you are forced to make something that you don’t like. On the contrary, it only depends on you what you do and what you want to create. Try to sew something you would like to wear, and you’ll see that it is more inspiring than doing something you hate. Start with sewing for yourself, as it is more fun than sewing for others. This way, you only need to please yourself and it is you who orders what to do.

11. Taking a class is optional.

Many people who want to sew think about the necessity of taking a sewing class to learn what they need at the beginning. While some people truly enjoy the social aspect of such classes and they appreciate that they have the chance to learn how to avoid making costly mistakes, there are people who prefer learning sewing on their own. Taking a class is not imperative, so it only depends on you to decide whether you want to take it or not. If you prefer to skip classes, you can also get all the necessary information from books, blogs, DVDs, YouTube videos, and other sites. 

Conclusion

Just follow these helpful tips and you’ll easily learn how to sew and you’ll love what you do. Remember that learning it on your own brings you more satisfaction, as it enables you to let your creativity run and create what you would like to wear. sew should be an enjoyable and fun activity for you, not a thing you do because you must.