Last month I bought a sewing machine. I was going to use it for my card making (it’s a trend in card making at the moment to have a sewn border around the edge of your card). I wasn’t going to get into sewing. No no. I was afraid of sewing machines and, although I’ll give most crafts a try, there’s something very scary about sewing. Also, I don’t have room in my flat for a fabric stash and fabric seems to be so expensive.
However, I started idly browsing online for sewing tutorials and patterns and I found a few I liked a lot. The machine I chose can sew only lighter weight fabrics and it does 4 step button holes, which seemed a faff. As it had been very lightly used and it was in immaculate condition, I took it back and part exchanged it, as it were, for a better Janome machine. Yes, I know, I am a shameless criminal.
I’ve bought some beginner’s sewing books (here and here). I can’t overstate how much of a beginner I am. I know absolutely nothing about sewing at all. I’ve had some great suggestions already, from comments here and on Twitter, but if anyone could recommend some online fabric shops and and simple online sewing projects, I would be very grateful. It turns out that September is National Sewing Month, so it seems like a fortuitous time to get started.
My list of hobbies now includes: knitting; crochet; cross stitch; photography; card making and sewing. Although I haven’t been able to do much photography lately, as I haven’t been able to get out. It’s a wonder I have any time to go to work with all that to do.
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September 5, 2011 at 9:18 am
The Girl
Ooh I’m looking forward to hearing about your sewing adventures. I too am scared of sewing machines, no absolutely nada about it. Same with the fabric – I feel like I’ve missed some valuable crafty life lesson somewhere, I feel like I’m the only one without a fabric stash! Although I have found a good online shop – http://www.doughtysonline.co.uk/ – they sell fabric by the quarter metre which a lot of places don’t, which makes it a little bit cheaper if you only need something for a smaller project.
September 5, 2011 at 9:30 am
Stitched Together
I would recommend maybe a couple of magazine which include very basic beginner type projects. Sew Hip is my favourite for the projects but Sew Magazine comes with proper paper patterns, which is fine if you are a shop bought size 12 as they only go up to sewing pattern size 16!
Book wise I bought Sew It Up by Ruth Singer, who is a lovely twitter lady too @RuthSinger, it’s full of gorgeous projects and good information. The other book I bought was The Complete Book of Sewing, which is a Dorling Kindersley book. Those two are the only books I have. They give you a good starting point, which if you need further details you can search for online tutorials, as there are millions! Sometimes you just need to know the name of the technique to get going, which is where books come in!
Can’t wait to see the lovely things you are going to make.
September 5, 2011 at 9:30 am
agirlinwinter
@The Girl – I don’t have a fabric stash either, so you’re not alone. Thanks for the recommendation – funnily enough my friend anniebead also suggested Doughty’s so I’m definitely going to check them out.
September 5, 2011 at 9:39 am
agirlinwinter
@Stitched Together – Thanks for your recommendations. I am going to add those books to my Amazon wishlist. I’ll check out the magazines too
I don’t know if i’m going to make lovely things, we’ll wait and see!
September 6, 2011 at 9:38 am
Natalie
I buy quite a lot of fabric on ebay – nothing expensive because you don’t know what you’re getting, but lots of FQs (fat quarters) – they’re not big pieces of fabric, but also can be inexpensive and great to practice on
September 6, 2011 at 3:43 pm
noknittedknickers
I have had some kind of George-slays-the-dragon conquest of my fear of sewing machines this year and this weekend past in a flurry of cushion cover making (I’m giving one away I’m so chuffed with myself). I really like Lisa Stickley’s Made at Home. Very pretty pictures and she makes it all sound so easy and unintimidating. Well done you for trading up! C.x
September 7, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Stephanie
I totally agree that work gets in the way of crafting! I used to do a lot of scrapbooking and card making before I started knitting. I still sneak in the occasional beading session, but have not done any sewing. I also think quilting would be enjoyable because I love colors and patterns!
September 19, 2011 at 9:31 pm
moonglo
I am so happy that you are learning to sew. It has been some what of a lost art for the last generation. Check out http://nancysnotions.com and she also has a program on public television stations on Saturdays, check your local listings. I have been watching her show for over 20 years. She is very good and can teach you alot! Keep posting about your sewing projects. Check out my blogs http://glosews.blogspot.com and http://sew-a-longs.blogspot.com.
Happy sewing!
glosews
glosews@sew-a-longs
October 9, 2011 at 11:48 pm
craftythriftydecoratingwifemom
You have a nicely set-up blog and are new to sewing. I’ve sewed for years, though not too recently, long story, but am getting back into it. Maybe you can help me learn to blog on WordPress and I can help you? As far as fabrics, if you can go to JoAnn Fabrics or somewhere similar, you can get great deals on remnants (<1 yd). Online they have sales and deals on shipping sometimes. I follow a number of blogspot blogs that are sewers, just have to get the urls to you.
Janet