NBR-Sewing

lindsayanne14 · November 2014

Anyone sew as a hobby? I've been considering learning to sew recently as a hobby but I'm at a loss as to where to begin. Are the classes offered at craft stores a good place to learn the basics? How do you choose a sewing machine? What types of things do you make?

CivilMommy · November 2014

I taught myself on a basic singer sewing machine. There are lots of youtube videos. I started by making a simple fleece costume using a McCalls pattern.

I just dove right in and learned along the way.

There are classes at sewing shops and fabric stores...even some community centers have them. I didn't have time for a planned class, so I just taught myself in the evenings after the kids were asleep.

I had a Singer Pixie Sewing Machine - bad idea - the compact machine had lots of issues. I upgraded to a standard size entry level Singer this year (my mother's day gift). Watch amazon for deals...this was a $300 machine on sale for $150.

Right now I mostly just hem pants and make Halloween costumes, but I have plans to make fleece PJs and deconstruct a bridesmaid dress into coordinating kid Christmas outfits.

This was my first project - see the horrible zipper install!:

This year:

cwiceangel · November 2014

I really only sew historical clothing, I use my moms old singer. The newer machines are kinda crappy... Yay plastic parts. Don't think you need to go get the machine with the 50 different patterns. You really probably won't use them. For what I do anyway, I pretty much only use straight stitches, button hole thing (my technical term) and a zipper foot (for piping, no zippers in my historical clothing). If you can find an old singer that's mostly metal snatch it up. They don't make them like that anymore and it's a real pitty. I'm not talking the one in the table with the manual pedal. But the one I use is from like the late 80s early 90s.

AFrye0726 · November 2014

I do - I bought a really nice brother machine off of Amazon. But I've been sewing most of my life with my mom. I do a lot of quilts now and then more simple stuff like curtains and pillows. I'm sure I'll get into more baby things as time goes on. But get a simple machine to start with. Pinterest is your friend. My mom taught me a lot and nothing can take that away, but with patterns and articles I still think I've learned more about sewing on the internet. Plus if ya have questions you can always ask

wolowizard · November 2014

My mom taught me to sew when I was in elementary school. I always just used her sewing machine. I can make clothes, but I don't like to. I don't think they come out very good. I really like making quilts. That's about all I make now. My favorite ones are the ones made out of baby clothes. I've made several of those for my friends over the years. I can't wait to make one for my baby.

epidemic · November 2014

I LOVE sewing! My mom sewed ever since she was little, and got back into it while I was in high school at my prompting for a t-shirt quilt.

I wanted to have something productive to do while my husband was away in Korea for a year, so she helped me buy the things I needed (machine, cutting mat, rotary) and got me started. I've branched out from quilts to all sorts of baby clothes.. all you really need is a printer and google skills to find those tutorials and just get started! It's fantastic!

lcole08 · November 2014

I taught myself when DD1 was around 2 and only wanted to wear dresses and skirts. I found a bunch of patterns on pinterest and watched a couple youtube videos and went to work. I mostly sew for my girls - special request dresses, halloween costumes, things for their dolls. I made new family Christmas stockings 2 years ago. I want to makes quilts out of their baby clothes. I really enjoy it much more than I ever thought I would.

Prpljade · November 2014

My mother taught me. I'm not in love with it, I prefer to crochet, but I do own a simple little Singer I got at Target for super cheap and can mend just about anything who him hoping comes in handy to keep LO dressed in non raggedy clothes!

I've never taken a class but I know a few who have at Joann's and said they learned a lot.

lindsayanne14 · November 2014

@CivilMommy‌ your costumes are awesome!

Thanks for all of the tips, I guess I feel a little intimidated, but I think I'll give it a try!

whippoorwill3 · November 2014

I love sewing! These days I mostly make clothes for my 2 yo. Craftsy.com has some great classes if you want to try one online. And there are TONS of great sewing blogs out there. That's where I look for inspiration and ideas on which patterns to use.

theinvadermothership · November 2014

Love to sew. I learned by just messing around and reading the user manual of my sewing machine. Everything else is learned through experience or the internet.

Blankets are super easy way to start. Pick up some cute baby flannel and sew up 3 sides and voila, instant warm, soft baby blankets for your LO.

Clothes and following a pattern is a little harder, so i suggest try finding basic, easy to read patterns to start. GL!

whippoorwill3 · November 2014

nungongju said:

Love to sew. I learned by just messing around and reading the user manual of my sewing machine. Everything else is learned through experience or the internet. Blankets are super easy way to start. Pick up some cute baby flannel and sew up 3 sides and voila, instant warm, soft baby blankets for your LO. Clothes and following a pattern is a little harder, so i suggest try finding basic, easy to read patterns to start. GL!

I feel like success with a pattern comes down to personality types. I'm a rule follower and love having instructions so it was easy and enjoyable for me to learn how to sew off patterns. I have a good friend who is super creative and visual and not good at following directions so she has a hard time with patterns. She does better just making it up as she goes.

Lyndsey13 · November 2014

I started sewing 2 years ago. I knew the VERY basics when I started because I sewed with my grandmother when I was a little kid a couple of times. I spent hours on Pinterest, YouTube, etc. learning. Blankets are super easy things to start with. Or sewing cotton onto Gerber cloth diapers to make burb rags can be super easy. I've had the most difficulty with clothing for my little girls. Even things like crib skirt and curtains can be pretty easy.

I still have a lot to learn but I enjoy it so much! It is so worth being overwhelmed trying to figure it out. I've also had a ton of fun up-cycling my old clothes into little dresses and such for my 2 year olds. That makes their clothes pretty darn cheap!

nellie13 · November 2014

I second the Joanns comment. They often offer their classes half price. They'll teach you basics on your own machine, and from there you can learn thanks to the Internet and Pinterest.

demirhae · November 2014

Brother is the way to go, my singer died and it was sad but my brother is going strong. Check out my blog I haven't updated in a while but I've chronicled my journey. It's been fun I highly recommend it!
www.SewDemi.wordpress.com

Want a personalized experience?

NBR-Sewing

Re: NBR-Sewing

_________________________________________________________________

DD 7/2010, DS 3/2012, #3 due 4/24/2015

Choose Another Board

Search Boards