If you are reading this article because you want to Learn to Sew, or at the very least you are curious about what this world is about.
First of all, let me tell you something.
I am so happy that you landed right here in My Golden Thimble blog.
We’ll do our very best to tell you and share with you all you need to know about sewing for the very first time.
Sewing is a wonderful hobby. Or should I say lifestyle? And it comes with great experiences and an all-hands community.
That’s why I am going to lay out to the best of my ability what you need to do to be part of this world. Also, tell you how sewing will allow you to explore and develop your creative mind and manual abilities.
NOTE: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase using one of the links in this article, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you (To know more about this, click here.)
Most of the seamstresses you are going to meet will have something in common.
Sewing was passed on to us by our elderly. Most likely, it is a member of our families, such as our moms or grannies.
What might have started as a simple way to pass the time or keep us busy now has become an essential part of our lives.
From the outside, sewing might seem like a very simple and easy hobby (if only they knew it).
Nevertheless, this activity has become an essential part of our lifestyles.
For some, sewing is a place to explore creative ideas. To others, sewing is the skill that allows them to transform material into garments and projects for their families and friends. It can also be an escape—a place where we can turn and get lost (literally and figuratively) in fabrics and threads.
How can Sewing Affect my Life?
Transforming plain fabric into wearable and functional objects gives us a way to show and express our ideas. Plus, there are a lot of benefits Sewing can have on your body.
Apart from the obvious benefit of being a place of creativity and fun, there is also the tangible result.
The ability to create clothes, accessories, elements of home decor, gifts, and so many more amazing objects we get to share with our friends and families.
So, if you want to sew only to make a quick fix on the hems of your pants or maybe sew back a button. That’s a great thing to do, too.
Just a fair warning. Once you start creating, this activity will give you so much back that you will not want to stop. Every time, you will discover something new. And each time you do, you will grow your skills.
Have you ever had someone ask you where you got that cool garment?
You will feel the pride of saying “I made this”.
But for now, let’s see what this sweet deal is about.
Can I teach myself to sew online?
In my opinion, yes, as long as you know what you are looking for. Learning to sew requires only a small amount of technical information.
Things like knowing the name and functions of sewing machine parts, and choosing the best beginners sewing tools.
Also learned some basic stuff, like the names of the tools and the most common hand stitches.
Or for most advanced sewists getting and learning how to use their first Serger Machine, Coverstitch, and even an Embroidery machine.
But I am getting ahead of myself.
To learn how to sew, you don’t need to have all of these fancy machines and tools. Even though they are pretty useful, you can totally start with the basic ones.
Needle, thread, fabrics, and a sewing machine.
Which should be my first Sewing Project?
My biggest recommendation for beginners at sewing is to always start with a small and achievable sewing project.
This way, we will be able to appreciate a well-finished project faster and more easily. At the same time, it will allow you to discover what sewing is about and learn if you like this hobby or not.
Sewing a complex project, such as a garment, as the first thing you sew might not be the best idea.
This can be very difficult and frustrating. Most difficult projects are time-consuming. I have yet to meet a seamstress who hasn’t spent a good amount of time seam-ripping to fix mistakes.
This is very normal, especially for those of us who have been sewing for decades, regardless of our skill level.
It’s a given. We are humans, and we will make mistakes. The only thing I am saying is to make more manageable mistakes at first.
That’s why I recommend starting with a small and simple project. This can be anything from sewing a pillowcase to a placemat set for your dining room.
Finishing a project will allow you to have a finished project in your hands faster. Which will give you a sense of accomplishment. Once you spend a good amount of time practicing your seams and learning to use the pressing tools you can go bigger.
What tools do I need to learn to sew?
These are some of the most important tools you need to start sewing:
- Sewing Machine (you can search for a beginner’s one)
- Threads
- Hand and Sewing Machine Needles
- Fabric
- Marking Tools
- Pressing Tools
- Measuring Tools
- Cutting Tools
You can start getting the essential sewing tools as your sewing journey evolves, but you definitely don’t have to have all of them at once.
As I told you before, to learn to sew, you need nothing more than a needle, thread, and a piece of fabric.
You didn’t even have to buy it.
It can be a scrap from an old shirt or garment you no longer wear.
Finding Your First Sewing Machine.
On the other hand, if you want to learn how to sew with a sewing machine, then you’ll need to get one for beginners.
There are many types of sewing machines. I always recommend mechanical ones to beginners. Make sure to get one with more than 10 built-in stitches.
The price difference is not that much.
But if you can’t afford a more complex machine, just make sure that it has at least straight and zigzag seam options.
Also, check that you can configure the thread tension and the stitch length and width.
If you are not quite sure what I am talking about, ask for help at the store. The employees there will most likely be knowledgeable about these kinds of functions and will help you choose the best option for you.
Try not to go too basic with your first machine, even though you don’t understand everything it can do.
The learning curve is quite fast, and you will find yourself wanting to upgrade sooner rather than later.
But don’t worry. If this happens to you, you can always sell your machine in the marketplace.
These products are evergreen, and surely you will find someone who needs it.
Another recommendation, and this one is quite personal.
Don’t buy a digital machine as your first.
A classical sewing machine will help you understand how the basic functions work.
From how a seam is made to how the mechanism of the machine works. Trust me, do yourself a favor, and avoid early frustrations with this. It will be a wonderful practice for when you are ready to get a new and more professional model.
Sewing by hand
If you don’t want to invest in a sewing machine and would rather learn to sew by hand, do this.
First, learn how to thread a needle. Then, go to this post and practice the basic hand stitches. Most of these basic stitches are also used on sewing machines.
So, it would be great if you could understand how they are made by hand first.
10 First Steps to Learn to Sew.
On the other hand, if you want to dive right into this journey with a sewing machine, do this.
1. Learn how to Thread a Sewing Machine.
The very first thing you gotta do is to learn how to thread a sewing machine.
Don’t be scared with all the pieces of a sewing machine. Threading a machine is actually pretty easy. The tutorial linked above shows you exactly how to do it.
Plus, we have a video tutorial you can follow step-by-step. We used a beginner’s sewing machine just like the one I suggested you get before.
You also want to know how to thread a bobbin correctly. A bobbin is a small attachment at the bottom of sewing machines that makes the other side of the chain seam.
2. Wind a bobbin the right way.
Learning how to thread a bobbin might be an obvious step for most of us. People just assume that following the instructions on the manual will give you good results.
But believe it or not, it is one of the most underrated skills. People do not give enough attention to this step. What most people don’t know is that there is actually a right and a wrong way to thread a bobbin. All of which we will show you on our how to wind a bobbin tutorial.
3. Practice your seams and stitches.
Once you learned how to thread a needle and a bobbin the right way will be time to move on to practice your stitches.
You want to learn how to control your stitches so you can create straight seams. To do that we offer you a free printable kit of practice sheets. You can download them instantly and print them from the comfort of your home.
Use these practice sheets to sew over the dotted line. Using paper instead of fabric gives you more control over the material’s movement.
Paper is way more solid and moves less than fabrics, even heavyweight fabrics. So, practicing this will give you more control.
It will also help you to perfect and control the sewing speed and make straight stitches.
4. Learn to balance your thread tension.
Once you have had enough practice with the paper sheets and you are ready to move on to fabrics, it will be time to learn how to configure the thread tension on your sewing machine.
In our tutorial, we will show you how and where to move the tension dial disks so you can achieve the perfect thread tension on both sides of the fabrics.
5. Choose your first Sewing Project.
Choosing the perfect first project is just as important as choosing the first fabric we are going to work with. Look for projects that you can sew with an easy-to-use fabric.
Fabrics such as cotton for quilting are ideal for this purpose. And the best thing is that you can use this fabric in almost any beginner project you choose.
If you can, try to avoid projects that need overlock or zig-zag finishing the raw edges of the fabrics.
Some of the projects that meet this requirement are things like pillow covers, tote bags, and placemats for your dining table. And not because it’s a simple project, it means it’s going to be less pretty.
A great example of this is our cherry grocery bag. It is a bag you can make with our free pattern, and it only needs straight stitches!!
6. Pay attention to these details.
There are some things you have to pay attention to the first time you make a sewing project.
The first is to know the correct name and use of the main sewing tools.
Also, always have an iron on hand. Press your seams as you go. This will improve the quality of your work when you finish your project.
It’s one of the best habits you can create from the start. Get a good steam iron. As soon as possible, invest in more pressing tools for sewing.
Another thing you must know is how to use a seam ripper and to always have it on hand. You should also designate a special space for all the patterns you start using.
If you like PDF printable patterns you can make a pretty organizer such as this one. Or, if you like digital patterns, make a folder organization system on the cloud or your computer.
You can use the pattern categories to label each folder. For example, women patterns, men patterns, kids patterns, pets patterns, and home projects patterns.
8. Don’t obsess with small mistakes
Don’t spend too much time correcting small mistakes.
People tend to obsess over every small detail and waste a lot of time trying to fix them.
I am one of those people.
And you have to know that the thing you are wasting your time on is probably not going to be noticed.
Of course, I’m not telling you to do things wrong. I’m simply suggesting that you allow yourself to not be perfect.
Remember that you are going to improve and practice things next time.
Making mistakes is human!
The most important thing is that you enjoy everything you do, as it is very special.
This leads me to my next point.
7. Take enough breaks.
There is no rule that says we have to finish a project in one afternoon!
We are humans, not machines.
This is advice that I have not yet managed to master 100%. And yet, practicing it has changed my life a lot.
Some projects that are very complex can drain our energy and patience. I used to keep working even though I was very tired and in a bad mood. And, of course, this only made my work worse and my finishes sloppy.
If you start to feel like you’re doing the same thing over and over again, it’s best to pause and walk away. Even if just for a cool 10 minutes.
For me, leaving it for an entire day is even better.
You will see that when you return, things will appear easier for you. And with that, you would enjoy your project more.
9. Designate a special space for your sewing tools, notions, and patterns.
It is very important that you have a space designated only for sewing things.
You don’t necessarily have to have a full sewing room. There are many people who only have one corner in their house. And that’s OK!!
It will be perfect as long as you have good organization and a space that is only for that activity. If you have a very small space, you can resort to closets or cabinets to help you store your things.
The important thing is that you have a space that is only yours. A place in which you can move around freely.
Later, if it’s within your means, you can take a whole room. At that time, you can dedicate yourself to organizing the perfect sewing room.
10. Practice, practice, practice.
I finished my first sewing project. Now what?
Keep practicing!
Practice and look for new challenges. This is what it’s all about. First attempts are rarely perfect. But if you don’t give up, you’ll see how you improve every day. Take a little moment every time you finish a project to appreciate it.
Everything you did has too much value. It’s something you created from scratch, and you should be proud of it. After love and appreciation, you can move on to see what you can improve.
See what you’d like to improve for the next time and search for online tutorials to help. You can also go to sewing clubs like the one we have in My Golden Thimble to ask the members for support.
This is also a great place to meet people with the same interests and get chatting.
Should I make my own pattern designs?
To learn to sew, you don’t necessarily need a great knowledge of pattern making.
You can download projects and patterns online.
But if you want to get a better idea of how sewing patterns work, there are many books that can help you.
To make your own patterns you don’t need many tools. Only pattern-making paper and special rulers.
Who knows, at some point, you will be making your own.
You will even be able to design your own clothes!
I hope this list has helped you find your way into this world.
If you still have any doubts you can write them in the comment box below and I will do everything to help you.
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