Advice on learning to sew?

Question

I've always wanted to know how to sew, my mom can but never actually teaches me anything she just keeps putting it off and I was wondering if I could just teach myself.

My mom said I could use her sewing machine, but I really have no idea how to do this.

Are there any books I could buy to teach me? Or any websites that would have anything useful?

Can anyone name a few?

I want to be able to make my own clothes and lolita dresses which look pretty complicated.

All the advice you can offer would be appreciated greatly.

I'm eighteen and I wear goth clothing if that has any bearing on the situation.

Answer 1

Style of clothing doesn't make a whole lot of difference to how you learn how to sew.  I'm going to suggest Connie Crawford's new DVD:

http://www.fashionpatterns.com/NEW_DVD_S...

It's very step by step, starting with basic machine skills, and teaches ready to wear sewing methods that are quite efficient -- I wish I'd learned to sew that way from the start.  

Other possibilities include books like Simplicity's Simply the Best Sewing Book, or Readers' Digest Complete Book of Sewing, Crawford's Guide to Fashion Sewing (again, the easier ways compared to the usual home sewing methods) and looking for a basic sewing class or two near you (try fabric stores, sewing machine shops, adult ed/community education programs, community colleges)

Answer 2

First, I would get your mom's machine and practice the various stitches it has on scrap material.  Have her show you how to thread the main thread and the bobber.  Learn how to adjust the stitches.  I'd get an easy pattern, one of the 1 or 2 hour patterns.  (like a plain top with no buttons or zipper)  Or call a sewing machine sales company or hobby company like Michaels and ask about classes.  (your local jr college may also offer classes) You may even find one of your friend's grandmas if she would help.  Grandma's are great for teaching sewing!  They can show you tricks and helpful hints.  They have videos, but I like the one-on-one better.  (esp for questions!) Good luck.  I know you'll do great once you get started!

Answer 3

Winifred Aldrich or Aldritch has great easy to follow pattern cutting book.  You can use it to learn from scratch, you mum could help with anything too complicated.  You could also find a class in your local college.  I started by taking apart very slowly and carefully old clothes and copying and altering them