Learning to sew

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Learning to sew
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Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 1:51 pm Post subject: Learning to sew

Having made what is for me a remarkably successful start with knitting, I'd like to think about learning to sew in the next few months. Everyone I say "I'd like to learn to sew" to says "Have you got a sewing machine?".

The answer is no, why would I have a sewing machine if I can't sew?

But now I wonder if I could get one, and a decent book, and teach myself? I'd like the idea of being able to make things for the house like cushion covers, curtains, even - can you do this? Bed linen from decent cotton which costs millions to buy and is difficult to find. If it were possible it would be nice to be able to turn things up because if I ever try it by hand things wind up attractively decorated with bits of finger. And then I might theoretically try clothes one day in the future but I think a course would be in order there.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 2:18 pm Post subject:

I guess why folk ask about the sewing machine is that if you want to do household sewing a sewing machine is going to be so so much quicker. It is possible to hand sew a kingsized duvet cover but it will take a very very long time and machine sewing will produce a much more durable seam in the end that will cope with the washing machine.

I guess what you have to decide is what you mean by sewing, if its putting on buttons, mending and embroidery type projects then thats hand sewing but to make something, the sort of things you want to do, really requires a machine ( there will no doubt be people that disagree here)I'm sure there are second hand ones or on e-bay or something. Just make sure it comes with a handbook and you'll be away. There are alsorts of books and magazines to guide you through making things and most paper pattern manufactures do ranges designed for beginners that are easy and quick to make.

Did you do any sewing at school?

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 2:22 pm Post subject:

Go for it - I love making my own stuff - Netto, Aldi etc have recently been selling a good basic sewing machine for about �20

The biggest lesson I learnt is that a little time spent doing the basics pays off in the end product

I've been sewing for years but unless I'm making something really quickly I always tack my pattern pieces together it really really helps

As for learning - well there are usually Home Furnishing courses running at your local college.

Take a look at https://sewing.about.com/ for some really good Sewing 101 articles

Books I'd recommend https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0762104201/ref=pd_sim_b_dp_4/202-1043366-4221456

I have an old version of this and still use it all the time or any of the Singer Reference library books are good but like anything else I'd recomend checking out the books in the library and if you find one there that works for you stick with it

Good Luck

Joanne

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45671
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 2:28 pm Post subject:
If I have a poke around here I'll probablably be able to find some fabric for you to experiment with Last edited by tahir on Mon Jan 10, 05 2:39 pm; edited 1 time in total

*Fluffykitten*

Joined: 03 Dec 2004
Posts: 74
Location: Merthyr Tydfil

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 2:29 pm Post subject:

Hello Bugs
My local college does an evening class in basic sewing skills which covers machine setup and simple maintainance eg, how to thread the machine and change needles, troubleshooting etc; actual sewing (always a bonus on a sewing course) you start off with making a small toilet bag and progress to clothes!! including following a pattern. This is a years course but if you go back for a second year (depending on student interest) they cover very basic pattern grading and cover the making of more complex projects. There is no qualification at the end its just a basic guide on how to find your way around the sewing machine etc.
BTW I bought a basic singer sewing machine on ebay just before christmas for �8!!havnt used it yet but i tend to get my mum to do all my sewing as she teachs on the above course

.
Definately a good idea to check out the evening courses in my oppinion if youve the time to spare.

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 2:38 pm Post subject:
I would agree that classes in basic sewing would be a necessity if you are a complete beginner. If you buy your machine new from a shop, they might run something like a "Get to Know Your Sewing Machine" class or workshop, which will prove invaluable.

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 2:40 pm Post subject:
My wee electric PFAFF machine is very old and really small and does everything! It's worth getting a swing needle machine if you can, to finish edges off and do quick darning etc. (It runs off the solar - only 70watts). I feel that rather than buying material (unless you have a Tahir closeby! ) it's cheaper to buy garments second-hand and redo them, or rip out and remodel. HWH

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 3:38 pm Post subject:

I think I'd reccomend a course. I went on one when I first got my sewing machine, which although it was a beginners course and she did teach the three of us who started as beginners together (we all made a pair of trousers!) people just kept signing up for the course and used it like a group. They would go to do the sewing once a week, and the tutor would help them out. Plus you wouldn't have to buy a sewing machine - you can use theirs!

I never got very good at it, but I can follow a (dead) simple pattern (they are a lot easier that the knitting ones!) like basic shift dresses with a bit of shaping, and simple trousers. Fleece is forgiving to work with, and you can start with hats and scarves and progress to jumpers (and even I could manage them, so you'll be fine!) I think my machine came from argos, but it was a pressie from himself (under instruction)

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 3:51 pm Post subject:

Believe it or not those fabulous old fashioned Singer machines are really cheap, and a lovely item to have a round the house if you don't take to the sewing. You can pick 'em up on ebay for about twenty quid.

I'm self taught with sewing and pattern cutting (apart from what I did at school!), ended up working as a costumier for a while, and found the most useful things to have/do are a tailor's dummy when making clothes, good old bias binding, and to always pin and tack (it's so tempting to cut this bit out!)

I agree a basic course might help, especially with how to work with the bias of a fabric, as this can mess things up really easily.

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 3:52 pm Post subject:
Goind back to the original post, you may well find you can do cushions curtains and bedclothes with just the help of a good book on the subject.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 5:54 pm Post subject:

Crikey, thanks everyone - you truly are a lovely lot!

Where to start with replies (and really sorry if I don't respond to everyone, a virtual poke in the ribs will not be taken the wrong way!)...

Fiddlesticks, yes, do fancy making things from scratch if possible. We have very simple tastes so I'm unlikely to want to do anything ambitious which is just as well. But I'm very clumsy at hand sewing and not sure if machine will be much different.

Sewing at school was the same kind of pointless fiasco as cooking and woodwork - making pointless things that were totally uninspiring and as a result learned little or nothing. As far as sewing goes we did basic stitches at primary school, and some machine sewing at secondary, and I did once manage to make a teddy on my own (not from a kit) who looked good apart from having his head sewn on at a 45 degree angle

Thanks for the recommendation Jo, I need to go to the library tomorrow so will have a look then. I've looked at courses but also, no idea which to pick, and I suppose it's not a good time to start unless I can find a short course. If I find some I'll put the descriptions up here and ask for advice.

Tahir, thanks, I'm not going to turn that down at the moment! It's recycling, after all. Have you got any advice or do you only know about this from the industrial side?

Fluffy, that sounds like the sort of thing I'm after - a lot of those I've come across have been a bit too specific and therefore, I think, advanced. But the fact that they are out there to be found is encouraging.

Sarah, thanks too, I'd heard about the shop workshops but the woman in our local deparment store always seems to be at lunch. I'll try to pluck up courage.

HWH, that's a good idea about the second hand clothes...I could experiment on my own old stuff that's too good for gardening and too scruffy for work

Wossa swing needle though? (See what you're dealing with here?)

WW, now that's encouraging advice...if you can do it I can too?

But you aren't the 10-thumbed gnome that I am

And last but definitely not least, Nettie, is the machine you have not electric then?

I think the course of action then is...library...consult intimidating lady in department store...look for courses...consider second hand or cheap (prefer the first) machine to have a practice on, stick to simple projects and go slowly. My sister and OH's ma both have sewing machines, as does our surrogate dog's owner, but finding the time/getting there to ask for them to supervise me is a bit of a challenge - especially when I know so little.

I'll let you all know how I get on! Thanks again ladies and Tahir!

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45671
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 6:00 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

Tahir, thanks, I'm not going to turn that down at the moment! It's recycling, after all. Have you got any advice or do you only know about this from the industrial side?

Let me know whether you want blousey stuff or trouser weights, I've never used a sewing machine but I know how the processes work, I've corrected many patterns in my time (including the wife's) but only in a hands on uneducated kind of way.

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 6:16 pm Post subject:
Hiya, the Singer is a hand machine and I really love working with it, it's harder to make mistakes as you can't overshoot where you want to go or accidentally go off the edge of the fabric if you are rushing! I have an electric too which I use if iI'm in a tearing hurry to get something finished or have to do something huge like long curtains.

culpepper

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 638
Location: Kent

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 6:41 pm Post subject:

if you decide to buy an electric one,go for a free arm/flat bed type(the flat bed removes for sewing in sleeves),button holer, zig zag,straight stitch and a reverse lever.Thats really all you need.Ive got a singer that I bought when I was 18(so a long tome ago). The reverse lever lets you stitch back over the last inch of your stitching so you dont have to finish every end off by hand.
I wish mine was a hand machine as it would be more ecological but its a good machine.

Deedee

Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 250
Location: Surrey

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 05 7:15 pm Post subject:

Hiya Bugs being an old and sometimes decrepid sewing machinist by trade my two pennies worth would be make sure you have someone available to show you hands on really..reason why is I know so many people who have bought machines old and new who have no trouble actually sewing but do have trouble with the threading up, winding bobbins etc when they start..often resulting in the machines being dumped although they work perfectly!I just got an all singing all dancing quilting machine off my neighbour who used it once!! My industrial machine came off ebay total bargain and my overlocker was also from ebay.Are you anywhere near a Tysons sewing centre being in the south east?? I highly recommend them for sewing and knitting machines

I would love to help if you get stuck on anything its so nice to see people learning to knit and sew again..it was a dying art for a while and round here I'm the only one who sews..which is also a pain in the butt at times!!! Another tip TELL NOONE you sew LOL...

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