Does Anyone Here Sew?

@clownfish (3272)
United States
November 14, 2006 11:39pm CST
Hi! I am learning to sew. I'd say I'm at the very beginning level. For those of you who sew, how did you learn? What would be the best way for me to learn to sew? Thanks in advance!
3 people like this
8 responses
@mayaroma (196)
• Norway
15 Nov 06
Hi. I was lucky, I learned from my grandmother who was an expert. I would start out with some very easy patterns and buy more difficult ones the better you get. Practice makes perfect.
1 person likes this
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
15 Nov 06
Hi and thanks for your response! I wish I could have learned from my mother in law - she passed away several years ago. She was the most prolific sewer I've ever seen. I've learned to buy simple patterns - just because they say they are simple doesn't mean they are! haha I found that out the hard way! I'll keep learning and trying! Thanks for the encouragement!
1 person likes this
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
16 Nov 06
Any more tips or suggestions?
1 person likes this
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
15 Nov 06
No, I can't sew. I just borrowed my mom's sewing machine to try to hem some curtains, figured it would be easy to do, weren't wide, only about 6 inches each. I messed her machine up so bad, she still hasn't figured it out lol. Somehow the dang needle got lost or broke off way down inside or something, I don't know. Told her she deserved it for lending me the machine, she should've known better when I asked her to thread it for me :)
1 person likes this
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
15 Nov 06
Hi and thanks for your response! I can use the machine all right, it's just reading patterns, etc, that is stumping me. I actually made a weighted blanket for my daughter with no pattern by myself, but I bought a few patterns to make blouses and that's where I'm having trouble. Thanks, though!
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
13 Mar 07
I can tell you a couple of thing about the pattern if you are still interested. That Arrow that goes down the center of your patterns is to be put on the streight of the grain. You line it up with the squared edge of your fabric. Hope this helps and you haven't given up sewing. I loved it when My hands were good and I could sew. Made a lot of my daughters clothes. Both my girls sew today.
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
30 Mar 07
Hi! I haven't completely given it up, but I did get discouraged. I bought a pattern for a really pretty blouse that was marked as being easy for beginners, but a lady at my local JoAnn Store looked at the pattern and said it was terribly difficult! Bummer! :-( I've bought some much easier patterns since then, so maybe I can try again when the weather is nicer. :-)
• United States
3 Apr 07
I actually took a sewing class, beginner level, with my best friend years and years ago! It was great because it gave me just enough insight to be dangerous! LOL Just kidding. It did teach me enough to be able to create simple items with the machine, read a pattern (somewhat) and be semi-comfortable with sewing. I strongly recommend a class for beginners. Most places that have sewing machines for sale offer classes also. I'm not sure if the crafting stores, like Jo-Ann's offers them or not.
@Bee1955 (3882)
• United States
29 Mar 07
Sew away! - lady
Everyone should learn how to sew! My father knew how (his mother and grandmother were avid sewers, crocheters and knitters), my sister and I learned from our grandmothers, and my youngest brother learned from my dad and me. We learned how to make a shirt all BY HAND and then another on the machine.My daughter was taught by me, too, and last Christmas I gave my teenage granddaughter a big sewing basket full of notions and thread.
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
30 Mar 07
Hi! What a wonderful family tradition! I wish sewing had been passed down through my family. My mother in law was the one in our family who was very talented. I wish I had learned from her when I had the chance! :-)
@Riptide (2758)
• United States
29 Mar 07
You can probably take classes in some sew and vac shops, if you have those where you live. Colleges might offer them as well. My mom was an excellent seamstress, unfortunately I didn't inherit that talent lol. I'm sure you do well if you put your heart into it :)
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
30 Mar 07
Hi! Thanks! I really hadn't sewn since 7th grade Home Ec class LOL but I made a weighted blanket for my daughter with no pattern, I just figured it out. You'd think I could use a pattern after that! LOL NOT! I do have a freind here who sews, too, so I'm sure she would help me with some of the easier patterns I bought. I would love to get better at it.
• United States
3 Apr 07
After five months, how is the sewing coming along? I think the best way to learn is just to keep trying and practice. That's it basically.
@aweins (4199)
• India
3 Apr 07
i learn it when i did my fashion designing. then too oi m not an excellent person to sew yhings but i can design pretty well.