Sewing for Beginners: Tips and Tricks to Get Started

Hello Friends!  This is Tamar from Tamar Hope Designs.  I love sewing and want to share that love with everyone I meet! I have had so many people tell me that they really need to learn how to sew, but they don’t know where to start.  It feels like there is so much to learn, so many techniques and tools, and it seems overwhelming. They look at a gorgeous handmade dress and think, I could never do that. I’m here to tell you that it’s not as hard as it looks! It just takes a starting point and practice. You can start simple and add new techniques with each project as you get better.  If you want to learn to sew, here’s your opportunity. I’ll give you a place to start and a road map for learning new skills. Before you know it, you will be sewing that gorgeous handmade dress!

Tools

Let’s start with the tools.  There are a lot of tools out there, but you really only need these 10 things to get started:

A basic sewing machine

Sewing scissors

A seam ripper - to remove mistake stitches

An iron and an ironing board/mat

A flexible measuring tape

Pins or clips - for holding fabric together while sewing

Marking tool - Heat erasable pen or chalk

Prep

Take a look at your sewing machine manual.  This will end up being a very valuable asset in your sewing journey, and you can reference it often in the beginning.  You do not need to read through the whole manual though (unless you want to).  To begin, just learn how to thread your machine, wind your bobbin, and insert your bobbin in the machine.

Before you begin your first project, it is important to be able to sew a straight line.  This may seem simple, but it does require a little practice.  If you try your first project before practicing this one skill, you may end up being very dissatisfied with the results and conclude that sewing isn’t for you.  Take a moment to check out this post for some quick and simple practice exercises and tips.

Fabric

I recommend starting with woven fabric.  It is easier to control and therefore an easier fabric to start with.  Your pattern will talk about the right side and the wrong side of your fabric.  The right side is usually the most colorful and smoothest side.  It is the side that shows on the outside of your garment or project.  The wrong side is the side that will be inside your garment or project.  It is usually less colorful.  

Pattern

To begin with, choose a woven pattern that is simple and doesn’t require a lot of frills and special techniques.  It’s best to start with something that is simple and will give you a quick win.  Then you can slowly add new techniques and make more and more challenging patterns, learning as you go.

Some great options for beginner projects include:

Gladioli (without ruffles) photo credit:Jeannine Cymbalisty

Dahlia photo credit:Melissa Keyser-Sheffer

Rosewood (simple version) photo credit: Shara Nelson

Clove Shortsphoto credit: Jeannine Cymbalisty 

Valerianphoto credit: Axa L Francis

Erica (simple version)photo credit: Sabrina Pelay

Snap Dragon photo credit:  Laura Leidig

Blazing Star photo credit: Jenna Belcher

Once you have a few simple projects under your belt, you can learn how to gather fabric with this post and make projects with ruffles and flutters such as Willow. 

Then you can learn about zippers in this blog post and make Chicory. photo credit: Amy Pace

Then you can learn how to add button holes with this post and make any of the many patterns that include buttonhole closures. 

Once you’ve mastered these basic techniques, find any pattern that inspires you and go ahead and tackle it.  If you get stuck on a step, ask questions in a sewing group or find a youtube video on that particular technique. 

You can also try sewing with knits at this point.  First check out this post about Mastering Sewing with Knit Fabric.  If you made the clove shorts, the clove top is a great starter project for knit fabric.  

I hope this post helps give you a place to start and a roadmap for how to progress and move forward.  Sewing is a wonderful and very fulfilling hobby.  There is something almost magical about taking a flat piece of fabric and turning it into a beautiful piece of clothing or an accessory.  Then there is nothing quite like seeing the look on a child’s face when they get something handmade and personalized for them.  And finally seeing them wear it on repeat and not wanting to ever take it off is icing on the cake. 

You can do this!  Just take that first step.  Get started.  And see where it takes you!

Happy Sewing!

-Tamar