How long did it take you to learn to sew?

Question

I'm teaching myself to sew and it's not as easy as I thought. It's like a whole different language. How long did it take you and what's the best pattern to start out with? I've made Christmas stockings, a skirt for myself and a reversible dress for my baby. Where should I go next?

Answer 1

Honey, I've been sewing for 40 years and I still learn stuff.

Go to a fabric store and look for a dress pattern for your baby that is NOT reversible.  That will let you learn about facings. Still small, but not too complicated.

Answer 2

I've been sewing for almost 3 years and there are still things that I'm learning.  Make whatever strikes your fancy.  

I look up patterns on-line from the different companies then I wait for Joann's to have their monthly pattern sales (held on certain days) where you can get 5 patterns for $5.00 or for $2.00 each depending on the patterns.

Answer 3

If you count hand sewing, I started 50 years ago, and I'm still learning new tricks and better or different ways of doing things.  That's what's so much fun with sewing -- you can learn the basics and then take it to wherever *you* want to go, with detours on the way through all sorts of fabric arts if you so desire.

The real question is, what would you like to sew?  What are you having trouble with so far?

Many beginner problems are traceable to getting the fabric a bit stretched while you're sewing, so you might want to work on fabric handling techniques -- if your library has any of the Islander Sewing videos, borrow them and watch how Margaret handles fabrics.  You don't have to learn a single technique that she teaches... just watch her handle the fabric and feed it into the machine (the shirts and pants videos are both especially good for that).  http://www.islandersewing.com -- or rentable from Smartflix.

If you're feeling very fish out of water, you might like the new DVD Connie Crawford did called Studio Sewing Skills.... this takes a young lady through the process of sewing a camp shirt -- starting with how to thread the machine.  There's also a supplemental packet of materials that includes zipper insertions, etc.    http://www.butterick.com/item/CC770.htm?...

http://www.butterick.com/item/CC771.htm?...

The pattern they're using is: http://www.butterick.com/item/B5047.htm?...

If you'd like to continue with sewing for your daughter, Kwik Sew has three very nice books, very step by step, with the patterns included -- Sewing for Babies, Sewing for Toddlers, Sewing for Children.  The instructions are clear and the toddlers and kids books include information on how to change the basic patterns that come with the book to make new designs (this is an extremely useful sewing skill!).

http://www.kwiksew.com/Location_set.cfm?...

If you're happy with the accuracy of your sewing, but the final product looks kinda homemade, the issue may be in choice of interfacing or in pressing.  Interfacing issues can get complicated, but let's leave it at ready to wear sewing uses lots more and lots lighter weight interfacing than home sewing patterns generally call for.  As far as pressing, ask your library to get you either or both of these videos: Cecelia Podolak's Fearless Pressing or Mary Roehr's Pressing to Perfection.

Mostly it's just a matter of practice... you keep going, you do a little ripping, you make a few things that wind up in the wastebasket, you figure out a little more how things work... then one day you realize you haven't had to rip a single seam today.  Or that it's now faster to make your daughter a new t-shirt than it is to get a load of laundry done.  <g>

Tell us what you'd like to do, or where you're feeling lost, and I'll bet you'll get some good help.