How do I learn how to Sew?

Question

Hello, I want to learn how to sew.

Where do you learn to sew?

Are there any tafe courses/schools in the NSW region of Australia?

How expensive is it?

What are you expected to bring?

Does being left handed alter anything?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

I taught myself to sew as an adult.  I think I was 19 or 20 or so.  

I'd suggest getting a book from the public library.  If you're mainly a visual learner, get one with good pictures and diagrams.  If you're mainly an auditory learner, get one with good descriptions and read them aloud to yourself (sounds a bit stupid but works really well for us auditories.)  

Anyway, start simple and work up to complicated things.  If you're a kid, start with a kids' book.  If you're an adult or a teen, start with a kids' book.  Huh?  Yes, a kid's book.  These don't assume you know anything, so they're often best to start with.  The projects are short and simple, too, so you can master that skill and move on.  After you've used the kids' book for a couple of weeks, take it back to the library and get an adults' beginning sewing book.  It'll make a whale of a lot more sense if you've already started with the kids' book.  Again, I know it sounds a bit odd, but I also know it really works well.  

Then, after using the two different beginning sewing books, get yourself a beginners' sewing pattern from the fabric shop.  After all these starts, you'll be in good shape to do anything.

Answer 2

You could go to your local cleaners and ask the semtress to teach you or simply enroll in a class.

Answer 3

I can answer some but not all of your questions.

I learned when I was about 8 or 9 in a kids' class, altho I've been around it all my life. My mother was an excellent seamstress, and my grandmother sewed professionally as well as being a recreational quilter and needleworker.  Many excellent sew-ists don't learn till later on, tho. I'm left-handed, and most of the time it doesn't matter a bit.

Here in the U.S., most high-schools teach the basics to most students, and a lot of high schools (grades 8 or 9 thru 12?) and park districts offer beginning night-school sewing classes fairly inexpensively ($30-$40 USD is common) for adults who somehow missed out - not sure how it works there. Stores which sell sewing machines often offer classes, too. Especially in a less-expensive class, you're expected to bring your own supplies but they'll tell you what to bring. It usually includes a sewing machine, fabric scissors, pins, needles, thread, thread snips, and fabric (you may be able to borrow a machine, but no seamstress who HAS 'good' scissors will loan them! ;) ).

If I were you, though, I'd try to find someone who sews who lives near me or goes to my church or teaches at my school, and see if I could work out a trade - they'd teach me to sew and I'd either teach them how to do something I'm good at, or I'd pay them by doing chores or errands.

Sewing is a great help and satisfaction in so many ways - you'll be glad you learned!

Answer 4

Where to learn - You can start by checking with your local fabric and notion stores. They usually offer a selection of classes and a beginning sewing class is typically offered.  I also took a sewing class when I was in college, in the USA. (Which is nice because they provided the machine and I didn't have one.) I mainly learned from my mother and she began to teach me when I was 7. You can also check out books from the library or search for tutorials online. There are even sewing video tutorials. A two of my favorite books that you can get from the library or online are:

Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol - Great beginning book. Gives a lot of basic/beginning information and some simple projects. The instructions are not too detailed though.

Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson - Personally my favorite sewing book. The projects are more for an advanced beginner. However, she gives AWESOME instructions on basic sewing skills. If I were a beginner I would read that part of her book. So read that part first, then go on to the projects.

Cost - Sewing can be more expensive. However, it depends on what materials you decide you "must" have and what you are sewing. To me, a sewing machine is a must. But you may want to borrow one or take a class before you take the plunge. If you buy a sewing machine, expect to pay $150 - 200 USD for a NEW sewing machine with the basic functions. You can find used ones for cheaper and I know people love them just as much as a new one. You just have to do a lot of looking. Again, start with fabric or notion stores. They usually let you try out the machine so you can see if you are comfortable with it. They also can let you know what functions are a "must" for a first machine. The basic supplies you will need are: a machine -  if needed, scissors, rotary cutter, pins, safety pins, measuring tape, seam gauge, marking pencil, thread, and seam ripper. There are more but it would depend on what you are sewing. (ie: quilt, clothing, simple craft, etc)

Expected to Bring - Again that depends on the class/project/what you have or don't. But you can expect to always bring the "basic" sewing supplies.

Handedness -  I've never heard of any disadvantages to being left handed. However I am right handed, so ...

There are loads of great blogs and sites out there dedicated to sewing. Just do a search and see what is out there. Also, when you start, pick a simple project as your first. (an apron, pajama pants, quick blanket, simple purse or wallet, etc)  And read and reread directions, it will save you grief!!! This way you can focus on learning the skills and techniques of sewing instead of getting frustrated and hating sewing. I love to sew and find it therapeutic and so rewarding.

Answer 5

I'm mostly self taught, but started with friends and family teaching me the basics and helping me with things like pattern layouts.  I also grew up shopping for fabrics (and listening to older people comment on the quality of this or that fabric, or why you wouldn't want that bolt because the fabric is offgrain, or this other bolt is  a good bargain because the only thing wrong with it is a bit of grease along one selvage).    I've had a couple of short patternmaking and draping classes, and then gone on from there in that area.  I'm entirely self taught in serging.  I can't help you with Australian courses, but try asking fabric stores, sewing machine shops, and "adult education" sorts of venues about lessons.

My aunt and one grandmother were lefties -- the major issue there is that you'll want true left-handed scissors, both a large set for cutting and a smaller pair of tailor points.  

Because you're a lefty, even if you do go to an "everything  supplied" class, I'd suggest you want to bring your own scissors and shears.

  

(And because you're a lefty, you may find that you've got excellent spatial skills that will help you with patternmaking, should you choose to go in that direction.)  And you might bring a smallish mirror with a stand, just in case it's easier to watch mirrored hand movements.

Speaking of scissors, you might check for Kai scissors -- they are truly some of the best I've tried, and they're not too awfully expensive here -- about twice that of Fiskars, which is my "budget choice".  Be careful -- both companies offer true left handed scissors and the "handles reversed, right hand blade" sort.  Whatever scissors and shears you buy, make sure they'll cut all the way to the tip without tearing out.

Make sure the scissors are truly left handed, with the reversed blades, and not just reversed handles but right handed blades.  Notice the difference between N5210TL

http://www.kaiscissors.com/category.php?... and N5220Left http://www.kaiscissors.com/category.php?... .

You don't want the second type, according to all the lefthanders I know.

Each class will have a list of things you're expected to bring.  Some teachers (especially in the beginning classes) will supply everything for the first classes (it's easier than having people show up with the wrong stuff and then having to figure work arounds.)  

I teach on a casual, mostly problem-solving, basis, but if I'm working with a beginner, we use my stuff because I want to set them up for success in the first few projects -- so they pick a pattern from a small selection from my stash, and some easy to sew fabrics like wool flannel or silk suiting or cotton twill or interlock from stash, and we leave the jerseys and charmeuses for another day. <g>

Because you're a lefty, even if you do go to an "everything  supplied" class, I'd suggest you want to bring your own scissors and shears.  

(And because you're a lefty, you may find that you've got excellent spatial skills that will help you with patternmaking, should you choose to go in that direction.)  And you might bring a smallish mirror with a stand, just in case it's easier to watch mirrored hand movements.

Speaking of scissors, you might check for Kai scissors -- they are truly some of the best I've tried, and they're not too awfully expensive here -- about twice that of Fiskars, which is my "budget choice".  Be careful -- both companies offer true left handed scissors and the "handles reversed, right hand blade" sort.  Whatever scissors and shears you buy, make sure they'll cut all the way to the tip without tearing out.

Can't think of anything else being lefthanded will do in sewing, except you don't want to get stuck on the left end of a group instruction table with your fabric falling off to the left... you should be able to manage in a standard width sewing spot.  The left hand manages the bulk of the fabric during construction, so it's not like getting put on the end of the table during family dinner -- everybody needs that room to the left.  And you may have an advantage over a righthander on threading side loading bobbins... that often also means you're threading the needle from left to right.

Me?  I've been hand sewing since I was almost 4, machine sewing since almost 6. It's a great hobby... you can take sewing in so many directions, from fashion to household goods and decor, to commercial sewing, to costuming, to patternmaking, to sewing goods like luggage or backpacks, to recovering airplane wings to designing adapted clothing and equipment for special needs.  When you want a challenge, you can always think up a challenging project, and when you want to relax, there's always something fun and dumb you can think of to try.