okay...here's the deal...I REALLY want to learn to sew. It's something that I saw women doing when I was a child, and I've always wanted to learn how. Now that I have kids, I would really love being able to make clothes for them. But here's the problem. Usually, a woman learns to sew from her mother, but my mom is totally allergic to sewing. So that's out. So if any of you sewing mama's can help get me pointed in the right direction, I would be SOOOOOO thankful.
Also....as an absolute beginner, what sewing machine would you recommend for me? Thanks!!
OMGosh, first of all, NEVER go to www.sewwhatsnew.com.
OMGosh. OMGosh.
OK, now that I've recovered, check out http://www.sew-whats-new.com/
They have online lessons here: http://www.sew-whats-new.com/sewinglessons/
and just a wealth of other info. Also try about.com. I learned to sew in 4th grade in a girl-scout-type club. Plus, my grandma worked in a dress factory, so I just grew up to the sound of the sewing machine (she lived with us, and had this monstrous old cast iron Singer!)
I'm sure anyone here will be happy to answer questions! As for what kind of machine, well, what are you looking to spend on one?
I taught myself-- I just looked at things and thought, "that's just a straight line, I can do that!" In the beginning I did square things like pillow shams, etc. Then I moved on to tablecloths, then I looked at a basic skirt one day and realized it was just two big rectangles sewn together, and so on and so on.
I just now, after 10 years of "visual" sewing, have started buying actual patterns, and if you get the ones marked "Easy" or "No Sewing Experience" they are very easy to do.
I have a totally basic, cheap sewing machine--very base model--and it still works fine, so if you're just getting started you don't need a fancy machine. Just make sure you get a reliable one that won't fall apart or something. Mine's a Brother...
My mom sewed for me and my sisters when I was younger and before she went back to work. Previous to the last few months, I hadn't touched a machine since junior high - LOL! By then all I could remember was how to thread the machine and bobbin and how to sew in a straight line. But I've been so inspired by all of the mamas here, and I have actually learned a lot just reading the posts. It's fun to sew for ds. Also, having Bethan (Scarlet) as a playdate buddy doesn't hurt either *g*.
I have a basic machine - a Kenmore from Sears that I got for a wedding present. It works great for me (don't know how much it was though), but then again, I'm such a novice that I think that the caliber of the machine would really be negligable in my case.
All that to say, you can definitely teach yourself to sew.
I learned in 7th grade home ec also. I made my sister a hanging diaper holder and a pair of shorts for myself My mom did sew, but she didn't teach me. I didn't sew again until I was pregnant with Ara. I decided to make a baby quilt. Did I bother to check a quilting book out of the library? Of course not, I just sat down and did it. I should take a picture and show you guys, it is kind of funny. Anyway, when Ara was 5 months old I saw someone wearing reversible pants and decided to make some for Ara. I borrowed a pants pattern from my mom and her machine and sat down and made them. The first pair didn't turn out, but the second pair did. I cannot follow pattern though, I just visualize something in my head, then design a pattern for it. I guess I am self taught, asking friends or my mom questions when I can't figure out how to do something.
I think the biggest thing in sewing is know your limitations and how to design around them. I am NOT a detail person, so I design around that (which is why I don't do much patchy stuff or quilting).
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Allison
mama to Ara, Simone, and Zarin
I took a sewing class and learned the "basics"....then I work on something just a step above my level - if I get stuck, then I go to the fabric store and havesomeone help me.
this is crazy because until this thread I had totally forgotten about that class.
7th grade home ec I learned to thread a machine and more importantly learned how important it was to thread it correctly. I made a stuffed surfboard pillow as my project... that's it... and I was so intimidated by the whole project that I put the fin on backwards duhhhh.
My grandmother always sewed stuff for us. My mom was always too afraid of failing to try it herself... that and having 3 kids close together ... and having a mom a stones throw away who could do it for you didn't help her.
My sophmore year in college on of the women I met was a sewer, she helped me make my first quilt (shhhh I don't count it but I should) It was a whole cloth quilt. One fabric, batting, basted, edges serged, then I ZOOOOMED and top stiched it a bit.... boy was that thing ugly... I purposefuly lost about a year later. The fall of what was to be my junior year I came home early (one week into a three month trip) from a trip with my sisters and I was too late to enroll in school and had some spare cash and lots of spare time so I bought a sewing machine and set out to make a King size quilt for my mom... since she always wanted to make one but never found the time.
Too this day I prefer straight lines...simple projects... but this board has forced me to try new things... hats, pants, dresses, dolls... all things I would not have tried otherwise.
I still don't like patterns, honestly they scare me, too big, too many parts that I can't really visualize... and every garmet I've ever made I seem to find fault with... I'm still working on that... I'm going to nick that attitude in the bud in the next few weeks here you wait and see. The pillowcase dress, an apron dress, some patchy clothing for a friend (I trust her to donate things if she really doesn't like them).
~as for a machine... personally i wouldn't rush out and buy one... talk your idea up to your family and friends and my guess is that someone has an extra someplace that they would be willing to let you borrow/have while you are decideing if this is something you want to persue.
I have a low end White that was on sale 10 years ago for $100-120. I've had a higher end machine and I hated it... but I still love my cheapie. I don't need the bells and whistles, I don't need embrodery stiches just a good straight stich, a nice satin stich and button hole capability is all I really need but I'm not sure they even make such a basic machine any more.
Try to borrow one first imo... someone has one or knows someone who has an older model that they would be willing to share.
My mother sewed all my clothes as a child. She showed me when I was very young. By the time 7th grade sewing came around, I was already sewing circles around the other kids. LOL I spent most of my time helping the other students.
I have a small size sewing machine for my dd to learn in a few years. I hope to teach her and share sewing projects. I can't wait!
So I learned the basics from her, and I mean just the very basic basics. How to thread the machine, how to sew a straight line, and that's about it. I didn't have any patience to learn when she was trying to show me. I don't think I ever really sewed anything until after I moved out of the house. After I was out and married and didn't have two nickles to rub together, my grandma gifted me with one of her old machines. She assumed that I knew how to sew and although I knew some things I didn't know much. I basically taught myself with a few easy patterns and a lot of phone calls to my mom.
Oh, and about the sewing machine. I would wait and check out the yard sales this summer. People sell them for very cheap! If you see an old one made of metal casing (not the old black iron ones), snap it up! They sew forever! The modern plastic ones are cheap and don't hold as well as the machines from just 30-40 years ago. Good luck.
My mom is one of the most amazing seamstresses on the planet....I mean, she's just fantastic. However, I *never* took any interest in sewing while I was growing up. I didn't take any home ec, either.
About a month and a half ago my dh found an old Singer machine sitting by the dumpster of our apartment building. Being the scavenger he is, he brought it home. So, I decided that I should learn to sew. lol
I didn't even know how to thread the needle, what a "bobbin" was or did, etc! But, the machine had the manual w/ it & I read it and learned the very basics from reading (i.e. where the fabric was supposed to go!). Then, being a woman of very little patience and too much confidence, I decided I could sew. HA! I bought a pattern for toddler pants & plugged through it. The sewing part was easy--reading the pattern was a challenge. I just called my mom w/ questions & asked a lot here, too....
I've now sewn 3 pairs of toddler pants, 1 pair of pre-teen pants, 1 pair of wrap-pants, three toddler tank tops, 1 knit preteen tank top (I'm terrible w/ knit!), 1 apron top, 2 pairs bubble shorts, 1 spinner dress, 1 craft apron, 2 pinafore dresses w/ matching bloomers, 3 toddler dresses (2 had zippers, one was patchy), 1 toddler jacket (w/ zipper!), and an apron top & skirt for Barbie.
I'm a kinestetic learner, so I really learn best from actually "doing"!
The dumpster sewing machine I have is a Singer from 1979...all it has is straight stitching & zigzags, the other stitches require these weird little cam things that weren't in the dumpster heap w/ the machine. lol
I pretty much taught myself to sew. I took home ec. in 7th grade too and making bags just didn't thrill me..LOL. MY dad used to sew alot of our clothes..YEP that's right My DAD!! You should see the awesome bellbottoms he made us as kids. But I did teach myself, I've been sewing since I was 13 or so. Only in the last few years can I say that I'm happy with what I make, it took alot of practice.
I own a singer sewing machine that I got from Walmart for like $200, works fine
When I was young, I used to like to mess around with fabric, tacking little pieces together for my Barbies (yes, I had quite a few of those things, and I played with them daily!)
My grandmother taught me to sew by hand and do embroidery when I was, hmm... 8? maybe...
I taught myself to cross stitch when I was about 9 or 10
My grandmother is NOT a patient woman! So, I was able to get some basics, nothing more (that is why I do not crochet, woodwork, or play a banjo!)
My aunt taught me to use her sewing machine when I was 12, I made pillows.... then, I moved back home and did not have a sewing machine.
I sewed alot of things by hand and did embellishments (on clothing I got from goodwill)
I made my wedding dress by hand (ok, it was just a sheath dress, nothing fancy!
When I was 17, I taught myself to quilt, I used the book Lap Quilting by Georgia Bonestell (spelling?)
I went to a dead show and saw these great clothes made from patchwork, I was hooked on patchwork and started playing around with that in clothing (something patchwork, that does not take the time of a quilt!!!
A few years later, dh bought me a sewing machine, and ugh... I did NOT know my limitations, and I was trying out all these things I could not make, LOL!
I was so frustrated, I would cuss, tear apart things, and end up hand sewing it anyway!
I am still not happy with my sewing, I have done it for a long time, but, I still do not see it as 'my' craft...
As long as I have been sewing, I feel I should really be doing some amazing things!
I agree with Allison, know what you are best at, and play it up!
I do not like actual garment construction as much as I love embellishment and design... so, I LOVE patchwork and i love to play around with dye and embroidery and such...
I really enjoy this board, and the sewing sites online now!
Since not many people have someone to teach them to sew, this is a wonderful tool!
(and, I can not call my grandmother at 2 am to answer a sewing question, but, someone is always ay amitys!)
Hope
EDITED: sewing machine, run, run, run from a Brother!!!!!!!!!!
You may meet someone that says they like them, but, um... run, anyway!!!!!!!!!
I am really happy with my White machine, and I agree, get something simple at first
How did you learn to sew?
7th grade Home Ec. Class
yet another 7th grade home ec...
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