Sewing: the beginning

My mother had a sewing machine that she only used for doing simple modifications, like resizing the length of trousers. Using a sewing machine is so easy that I didn't really need to learn anything to start doing the same.

I was never one to care much for what I wear (usually the first item I find on my closet) and the idea of sewing my own clothes or anything else was totally ridiculous to me. But being able to sew the hem of store-bought trousers actually saves time besides money. It is so easy and fast that it beats taking the trousers to a seamstress. That is why I have always planned buying a cheap sewing machine for this and similar purposes. This I have done recently. I have bought the cheapest machine I could find that is strong enough to sew some jeans (this is important because very cheap machines usually can only sew lightweight and normal fabric, not denim and other heavyweight ones).

Normally I would leave it at that and would not have bothered to learn new sewing skills, but as I mentioned in a previous post I have just moved and am ill. Which means I have found myself in the strange situation where I have to rest as much as I can, but I do not have a comfortable chair or sofa to do it. I also cannot find my latest knitting project among the boxes that I cannot unpack because I am too sick to do it (the same problem I have with getting the furniture, including my favourite chair for knitting and reading, in place). My life right now sucks big time.

So I decided to learn to sew some simple projects in order to test my machine is working properly and because searching around for online stuff is something I can do while remaining sat.

Youtube has very good video tutorials:
  • Made to Sew offers a very complete course in several lessons, but there are many other courses available. 
  • Debbie Shore is a very popular pattern designer and she offers easy video tutorials for bags and other things (not sure how appropriate these are for beginners).
Here are some useful links I have found (all free stuff):
Here are a couple of online courses I would like to take in the future:
Tilly, from Tilly and the Buttons has made quite a name for herself in the sewing community. Her blog offers free sewing lessons and paid patterns of her own creation. Even though this is a very popular resource, I do not recommend it. Here are the reasons: I prefer to learn by doing and her patterns may be simple, but they are not appropriate for the absolute beginner, they are way too difficult for someone who has never sewn before; she focus purely on dressmaking, but as a beginner I rather start with something I do not have to wear; her patterns are cute, but not my style.

When it comes to learning to use a sewing machine, the instructions manual that comes with it is most definitely the ultimate resource, but note that most sewing machines are set up in a similar manner. That is why tutorials that teach how to use sewing machines are useful for all standard machines. Video tutorials in particular can be quite helpful for the absolute beginner.

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