Posted by kittensrme on 2004-12-02 18:26:35
Post Subject: i wish to learn!
I've been wanting to learn how to sew FOREVER--nothing big, but just being able to fix tears in my Salvation Army clothes and maybe make a pillow or something. Does anyone have any tips or know of any books or anything I can look at?
Posted by smilingknitter on 2005-08-03 14:55:54
Post Subject: suggestions on taking a sewing class?
Hi,
My wonderful aunt gave me her sewing machine. I've always wanted to learn how to sew, and in the past bought inexpensive sewing machines which I broke trying to learn by myself. I don't want to break this one since it was given to me as a gift and it seems to be more pricey than what I've spent for in previous sewing machines. Any suggestions about enrolling in a sewing class? Is it possible to learn how to operate the machine all by myself? Time constraints and cost is what's making me hesitate in enrolling in a class. Let me know if it's worth it though.
thank you very much.
PS: Wondering how many folks was able to learn how to use the sewing machine by themselves??
Posted by maustudio on 2006-06-21 15:14:17
Post Subject: Not quite in Chicago!
Hello, I'm in the Rockford are! I went to UIC though. I'm a graphic/web designer also! I love to learn how to sew with a sewing machine. Currently, I'm just sewing by hand and making cute little cellphone charms.
Posted by CraftinFool on 2004-10-11 11:00:20
Post Subject:
I'm trying to learn how to sew at the moment too, and one website I'm planning to use for how-to heolp is http://www.sewing.org/enthusiast/html/e_learntosew.html.
Posted by april again on 2007-05-30 00:39:13
Post Subject: Is it worth learning how to sew if you are ...err curvy?
I have always wanted to learn how to sew and I just drool looking at the nice patterns that are out there...
Sewing machines are pretty pricy, and I havent actually used one since I was a teenager and my great aunt who was a home ec teacher wanted to teach me ( I didnt want to learn then GRR I could kick myself).
My point is...I am a heavy person, and I am afraid that learning how to sew may be a detriment because I wont be able to find patterns in my size or price range for fabric...are there any curvy women who sew? what do you suggest?
I would LOVE to buy a machine and take lessons but is it worth it?
Posted by Katrin on 2006-05-06 20:32:42
Post Subject:
If you're looking for ideas to do with a large amount of any kind of fabric, the first step is to learn how to sew. Otherwise, pretty much your only option is "drape it over something."
Seriously. Learn to sew. It's a useful skill, and you can have a lot of fun with it. You don't have to become a professional dressmaker to appreciate the ability to mend your own clothes, do basic alterations (like hemming), or make simple garments and accessories. A smaller new sewing machine (without a lot of extra features) can be found for less than $100, and you could probably pick up a used one for a lot less. It's totally worth learning.
For your first project with the jeans fabric, how about some throw pillows for your couch? Then you could move on to making yourself a tote bag and a skirt. Making an actual pair of jeans will take a little more advanced learning.
Posted by Miss E on 2005-01-05 01:39:42
Post Subject: sewing machine vs. serger - for a beginner? [xposted]
I really want to learn how to sew and start designing and making clothes and purses. I have no experience with a sewing machine, but I do know how to hand sew.
What would you reccommend for a total beginner? Should I get a plain sewing machine or a serger?
I've looked here and at craftster and have heard good things about Kenmore. What do you think of this 3/4 machine? I think one of you girls have it.
Posted by Snufkin on 2004-05-18 14:27:14
Post Subject:
The reason I wanted to learn how to sew is that my sister was supposed to be making me a shirt with this cool retro flannel from Repro Depot. That was 3 years ago and she's still working on it! And despite the two attempts I've made at a class, I'm a sewing moron who has serious problems with remembering how to thread a bobbin or make a stitch without clogging up the needle. So the 'project' I had for that class, ended up going to a seamstress. Maybe someday I'll get a patient sewing teacher and finally learn how to use a machine.
Posted by artgeek on 2006-02-12 20:51:45
Post Subject:
Full disclosure: I tend to hoard fabric. For years.
When I started sewing, however, this hoarding behavior was well-rewarded as I was able to make lots of things without investing in fabric and, thanks to the wonder of the Internet, patterns. Things I look at when trying to decide whether to put something in my fabric bin or send it on to Goodwill:
How unique is the fabric in terms of color, pattern or texture? I'm more likely to keep something that's a unique print or a basic color (figuring I can always find a use for black and white fabric, for example). Colors I actively dislike (orange, yellow) go to the donation pile.
What is the material? I've learned the hard way how difficult stretch fabrics are to sew, so those get donated. On the other hand, more expensive fabrics (eg, silk), I hang on to. When I have a project appropriate for silk, I have the opportunity to learn how to sew on it without wasting a bought piece of fabric.
What size pieces does the garment break down into? Look at the seams on your item and determine how much usable fabric there is. By this logic, I keep many more trousers and skirts than I do shirts and blouses, since the former usually gives 2-4 nice sized pieces of fabric and have significantly less detail work (think of all the buttons, cuffs, pockets on a man's dress shirt, for example).
If I'm ever in doubt, I look hard at the piece and then at my fabric pile. If there's already a lot of it (small pieces of black fabric, for example) or the original garment is in really good shape, I donate it and let someone else have a shot at it. If it matches another piece of fabric well, suits a project I've in mind or, heaven forbid, is denim, it goes into the fabric pile. Don't ask me what I'm going to do with all the denim I've accumulated, but I just can't seem to let it go. ;)
Posted by Jan1311 on 2006-01-02 15:06:31
Post Subject:
I have 2 big ones:
Move from the city. Buy a plot in a nearby small town (15 miles from the city) and save to build a home (we plan to buy a little pre-built house and use what we save in rent to save for the house);
Try to have a baby.
And 2 smaller ones:
Get a driver's license again. I haven't driven in ages and I'll have to go to traffic school, but it will be necessary with living further away;
*Really* learn how to sew. Get a "new" sewing machine (used but better than the one I have) and take lessons again.
Posted by imadavistwin on 2006-04-17 19:59:01
Post Subject: How did I start
I started because no one wanted to teach me to do the things they did. My grandmother could sew her butt off. I mean anything you could name, she could sew it. My mother became a knitter briefly but never had the patience to teach me either.
So, I started out teaching myself how to knit from following instructions in a book. Then I moved on to crocheting. Now I am learning to sew and am in the intermediate level. A good resource for you to learn how to sew is a website called: www.youcanmakeit.com. I love the course and I hope you like it as well.
Posted by Grungie on 2007-05-24 21:36:56
Post Subject:
I also don't remember being taught specifically how to be thrifty, but I do remember picking up certain things from my mom.
-Learn how to sew. Even if you can't do it well enough to make your own clothes, if you know how to do simple repairs you can make your clothes last longer.
-On clothes, spend a little extra if it means that you'll get something that's well-made. You actually lose money if you have a bunch of cheap clothes that wear out after a couple months.
-99-cent shampoo washes your hair just as well as 5-dollar shampoo.
-Support local businesses (I remember my mom teaching me this even before Wal-Mart started to take over everything!) Back then, it was a matter of trying to support our struggling little town that was losing money and residents to the big tourist trap next door. Nowadays, I try not to burn up a lot of gas driving across town to dump money into a big box.
Posted by amaryllis on 2006-07-12 10:48:19
Post Subject:
They all *seem* a bit too serious and not funny to me this time. But who knows, maybe some great personalities will surface. Does this show make anyone else feel like they need to get their sh*t together and learn how to sew really really well?
Posted by athena on 2006-07-12 14:24:47
Post Subject:
They all *seem* a bit too serious and not funny to me this time. But who knows, maybe some great personalities will surface. Does this show make anyone else feel like they need to get their sh*t together and learn how to sew really really well?
Posted by lazysundae on 2007-04-11 08:12:00
Post Subject:
Hey! I used to post here about a year ago and then I stopped. Never posted in this thread. 28-yr old HR Analyst at an ad agency in NYC. I've just now found job stability. Now more time for crafts!
One of my good friends lives right behind me in Brooklyn - we like to cook, and I'm going to teach her how to knit. We've only known each other a few months but we're like 2 peas in a pod.
I like photography, music, film, and cooking/eating good food. Haven't done as many crafty things as I'd like to but - I want to learn how to sew and I want to learn to make simple jewelry as well.
Posted by Chelsea on 2005-04-29 19:46:59
Post Subject:
I'm Chelsea, 25 and I live in Evansville, IN. I just got married 6 months ago and we've been together 10 years. I have two kitties, Loki and Isis.
What I like:
- reading (Roald Dahl, Chuck Palahniuk, books about homicide research and dead human bodies and what happens to us)
- movies (current favorites - Sin City, Dawn of the Dead, Matilda - Can't wait for - Land of the Dead (EEP!) and Devil's Rejects
- finding new crafty things to do
- christmas decorations
- free stuff
- finding great deals
- my keeties
- wandering through Michael's and Hobby Lobby.
- playing with flowers at work. :)
- storms
- finding cross stitch patterns I like (Kats by Kelly is my favorite)
I work in a grocery store and I'm in either the floral dept or the general merchandise/drug dept.
I don't have any kids, but we're working on it. :)
My crafting:
- I learned how to knit a week ago - can't figure out the purl stitch yet though.
- I do cross stitch (mostly the black cat "Kats by Kelly" designs and Christmas stuff)
- I just started collecting plates to make some mosaic pieces. I plan on making flower pots, purple and green coasters for our living room, and possibly a small table for our balcony.
- I am very interested in collage. I just discovered it a few days ago when I was looking through the craft section at Barnes and Noble.
- Painting with acrylics on canvas and small wooden or plaster pieces that end up being christmas decorations or magnets.
- I would LOVE to learn how to sew, but one thing at a time! (well, kinda a "few" things at a time really, but you know what I mean)
- I would also love to do beaded jewelry too.
