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Okay ladies! I need your help. For years I\'ve been

Posted: Nov 27, 2010

saying I was going to take up sewing. In high school home ec class, we had a sewing project and I liked it, but never kept up with it. My mom can sew on buttons, patches, and hem a pair pants by hand in a pinch, but machine sewing was something she never learned. Her mother, my grandmother, was the seamstress in the family. She could make clothes, quilts, you name, she could sew it. However, my mom just never bothered to learn the skill like my aunts did.

Anyway, I\'ve been working two jobs, 16 hours a day, trying to catch up my bills and make christmas money and I\'m at a point now where after Christmas, I can go back to just working one job. And my mom has decided I have talked about it long enough and that I need to take up this hobby that I\'ve been wanting to do. So for Christmas she has bought me a sewing machine. I\'m pretty excited, but a little intimidated. I can\'t remember anything I learned in high school, like the basics of threading the machine and seems to me like there something like winding the bobbin???

So am I biting off more than I can chew deciding to take up sewing when I\'ve made one blouse back in high school that wasn\'t even very good? Also, what kind of supplies should I have in my sewing kit? And what would be a good, simple first project? Should I take a class or can I learn through books and DVDs?

;

Good for you! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I am merely an occasional sewing hobbist, so will leave suggestions for your sewing kit to the experts here. Oh, except a needle threader would be on my list. In home ec, I made a pair of super-short short pants. Back then I had the legs for them. : ) A simple project? You could take a look at the pattern books and see if anything catches your eye, or the library may have books on easy projects to try out, and I am sure if you google free sewing patterns, you will find something.

Personally, I would take at least a basic class to get hands-on training, and maybe see if there is anything on YouTube. I found a pretty good knitting machine instructional there when I needed a quick refresher.

You sound so excited, and I am happy for you. Good luck, and let us know how your first project turned out.

Ohhh, I'm excited for you (see message) - RubySoho

[ In Reply To ..]
I had a devastating car accident back in 1995 which left me completely unable to walk without the use of an ambulatory device (mercifully, this was only "temporary" in that it was only 5 years and a couple of restorative surgeries before I got back to a normal life that included walking, LOL).

I was desperate to find things I could do sitting down or standing on one foot for prolonged periods of time. Amongst the options, I thought of sewing. I had never done it except for one epic fail in middle school, but I always admired those who could sew. I bought a sewing machine and some various "close out" fabrics in the bin at Walmart. I figured making a doll quilt for my daughter would be a good way to become acquainted with the machine, the various stitches, changing threads, etc. I cut out all of my squares (which took awhile but I could do this sitting down and watching TV so it was fun). Once I got all the squares done, I laid them out the way I wanted them to form the pattern and began learning to use the sewing machine by connecting the squares.

Wow, was it ever FUN! I learned all the little ins and outs and nuances of the machine, learned how to change thread colors and bobbins quickly, how to use a seam ripper, and just about every basic I needed to know before tackling a bigger project.

For my next project, since it was right around the holidays, I picked up a pattern at Walmart for a child's button-down V-neck vest, and I got some really cute holiday-print fabric and a silkier fabric for the back of the vest, and made my daughter a Christmas vest to wear for the last day of school before winter break. It came out really good and I wasn't too intimidated because I had become really comfortable with the machine while making the doll quilt.

The best gift I got that Christmas came from my mom, who shockingly had no idea how to sew but put together the best gift EVER for me. She took a boot (shoe) box, and went to the local fabric store and loaded it up with all different colors of thread, a seam ripper, pinking shears, regular sewing scissors, a tape measure, tons of 4-piece button sets that were on close-out, ric-rac in various colors and ombres, embroidery scissors, etc. I was just overwhelmed at the sheer volume of stuff she had gotten to fill this boot-box up. She paid less than $25 for ALL of it, yet it contained pretty much everything I needed to have the perfect sewing kit. BEST gift she ever gave me, seriously, because it was all things I'd need. Some of the buttons were so darned cute, I made it a point to choose patterns and fabric around them, LOL!

I've found mom and pop sewing places are usually a great place to get stuff, especially when a sale is on. I've found they usually have the most interesting assortment of buttons and other novelties, too.

Also, the Walmart stores in my area have BIG sewing departments and bins and bins of patterns, and they usually have a really cool assortment of fabrics in the close-out bins, both plain and fancy fabrics. Their non-sale fabrics are usually reasonable and of decent quality, too, and no matter what oddball color of thread I might need, 9 out of 10 times I can find it at Walmart.

I'm SO excited for you! I love the fact that I taught myself to sew. It was so hard finding sit-down or 1-legged activities I could do for 5 years, and besides the sewing, I also brushed up on my crocheting, taught myself to knit, and watched just about every cooking show on cable and perfected my cooking skills as well (I found I could do the 1-legged stand for about 15-20 minutes at a time and timed all recipes accordingly, LOL!). I even ordered Martha Stewart's jumbo cookie cutters, learned to make her royal icing, and constantly baked these HUGE decorator cookies for my daughter to take to school as a treat for the kids and the teacher. I was determined to NOT let my temporary handicap make me become depressed or give up on life. Instead, I worked it to my advantage and focused on what I COULD do instead of what I could NOT do, and I taught myself some wonderful skills. I no longer have the time to sew, crochet, knit, embroider, or cook like I did back then, but I know if I ever have any downtime for any reason, there are tons of options to fill my free time...including sewing, since I have my trusty machine up on a shelf in the closet ready to go.

If you like quilts, I'd strongly suggest tackling a quilt as your first project. You'll have fun picking out the variety of fabrics, picking the pattern you'd like to create, and using all different components of your machine as you go. Whether it's a doll-sized quilt or a full-sized quilt, I think you'd love the process. And cutting up all of those squares while watching TV is not only simple, it's a great stress reliever.

Keep us posted and if you get a chance post some pictures of your projects...I'm sure we'd all love to see them!

I agree - The Analog Kid

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree about the quilting as a good starting point. You can practice all the different thread tensions while you practice lining up the squares as you sew them together. My basics would include different colors of threads, a good pair of fabric scissors, seam ripper (how many times have I used mine, ha ha), and a tape measure.

My first sewing project was in home ec, some horrible smock/muumuu looking thing (yes, I am old). I got out the sewing machine again when the kids were little, we had the 99 cent fabric store near me and I would wait for sale day where it was 2 yards for 99 cents. I had to learn how to read a pattern, and eventually got pretty OK at it.

My greatest accomplishments? I made a beautiful dress for my daughter when she was 9, it had pleats, contrasting pointy collar and cuffs, and a huge bow in the rear. For my son I made pajamas with the feet in them-so not easy with my limited knowledge. I was so proud of them I thought they should have been hung up in a museum, ha ha.

Have fun with the sewing, it really is a great way to get out your creativity, and everyone loves homemade gifts. I made a Precious Moments quilt when my daughter was pregnant with my granddaughter, and made several mistakes on it. I was so embarrassed to let anyone see it. The upshot? She is 5 now, still doesn't see the mistakes and still uses it as her blanket when she watches TV on the couch at night. I even stopped seeing the mistakes after awhile. May you have as much fun with your sewing endeavors as I have had with mine! Let us know how the first project comes out!

Homemade gifts - RubySoho

[ In Reply To ..]
Oh, you're spot on with that comment! Since I was on SSI disability and a very limited income being a single parent, I found yarn on sale and for Christmas I let my mother and my sister pick out their favorite yarn and used a relatively simple but quality knitting pattern for a sweater. I started in October and had their sweaters done in plenty of time for Christmas. I think my mother and sister loved those sweaters more than any store-bought gift I could have gotten them, because they knew how much time was required.

Once the OP gets into the groove of sewing, I think she'll be amazed at all of the wonderful projects out there she'll be able to undertake and will never be short of ideas on what to give as a gift, no matter what the occasion.

Again, OP, have fun and post some pics of your projects once you get started up :-)

Self-taught sewing - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Years ago I used Mom's sewing machine with no instruction book, but it was a simple model and a Butterick pattern. I didn't have the options for on-line instructions then but if I did now I would check them out.

Good luck to you and many years of enjoyment to come from this past time.

I used to do a lot - Oracle

[ In Reply To ..]
You might want to check the patterns and Simplicity has a whole line that is meant to be super easy. I can't remember exactly what they're called, but you'll recognize them.

A great first clothing project would be something like a pair of scrub pants. You can make them in fleece or flannel or whatever comfy fabric you want, and since they have a casing at the top with either elastic or a tie, you don't have to worry about zippers or buttons or hooks, and you can just get the joy of making something wearable quickly.

Go for it! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
If you are getting a machine, it will probably come with a manual explaining how to wind the bobbin, change the needle, thread it, and so on. Machines can vary on how to do these things. (I always have to read the directions if I borrow my Mom's machine because it is so different from mine!) Depending on where you get your machine, they may show you how to do some of the basics.

Start with something simple, maybe a lap sized quilt or wall hanging. I never found making clothes to be my thing, so I make small to medium quilts. Making quilts, dolls, bags, or even hats/scarves is a good way to become familiar with your machine and different techniques not have to worry too much about the "perfect" fit of clothing.

Have fun, relax, and you can always rip it out and sew it again. :)

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