How to Sew for Beginners – Learn to Sew
I see you. You have a sewing machine in your closet that someone gave you years ago. Or you found a machine at a garage sale and bought it with every intention of learning how to use it. Maybe you did actually pull the machine out to try to figure out how to use it. But it was SUPER intimidating and you had NO idea what you were doing. Am I close? I have heard this kind of story so many times! Don’t worry I am here to help! Let me teach you how to sew for beginners so you can learn to sew.
How to Sew for Beginners – Learn to Sew
How do I start sewing?
There are so many things to learn if you want to start sewing. I have created a course to help you learn the very basics. This course is perfect for anyone who has never used a sewing machine. In the course we walk through everything you will need to know to sit down and start creating sewing projects.
The best way to learn to sew is by watching videos and taking a sewing class. This course is both of those things combined. Check out my sewing 101 course HERE. The course has videos to walk you through every step of the process. This is a great way to learn about your machine and how to get it ready for sewing.
How do you use a sewing machine step by step?
There are several steps required for getting your sewing machine ready and then starting to sew. You have to thread the bobbin, thread the machine, attach the presser foot, thread the needle, prep the fabric. I know a lot of these things sound like a foreign language right? And the list goes on.
Sewing 101 will walk you through everything you need to know to get your machine up and running so you can learn to sew. I will teach you what all the different words mean and I will walk you through all the steps of prepping your machine. We also talk about troubleshooting and what to do if things go wrong. The course will walk you through all of the sewing basics so that you are comfortable using your machine.
If you want to learn how to sew with a sewing machine you definitely want to look into sewing classes. There are lots of great classes out there once you have learned the basics of your machine. But what if you don’t know how to use your sewing machine? Start with this sewing class and then you can branch it into all the amazing sewing tutorials here on the blog.
What is the best sewing machine for a beginner?
There are tons of great machines on the market. But my favorite machine for beginners by far is the Brother CS6000i. This machine has so many great features for newbies. It is great for kids wanting to learn to sew as well. You can read more about it in THIS post.
There are several features on this machine that make it my go to for beginners.
- Start/Stop Button – you don’t have to worry about using a foot pedal. This greatly cuts down on the learning curve because you aren’t having to coordinate your hands and feet at the same time.
- Presser Foot Reminder – the machine won’t let you sew with the presser foot raised. This is HUGE!!! I can’t tell you how many times I forgot to lower the presser foot and created a huge rat nest of threads on the back of my project. This feature is not only great for beginners, I still need the reminder sometimes!
- Speed Control – this feature goes well with the start stop button. You can set a limit on how fast the machine will sew. This frees you up even more to focus on just creating a straight seam.
There are other things I love about the machine, but these three things make it my go to for beginners who are wanting sewing lessons. Sewing for beginners can be so intimidating and this machine takes away a lot of the issues that make sewing less enjoyable as a newbie.
Sewing Classes for Beginners
When you join the course you will have access to our exclusive Facebook group that is meant for brand new sewers like yourself. This is the perfect place to go to ask questions about sewing and your sewing machine. This is a great extension of the online sewing classes where you are able to get all the info you could possibly need to start sewing.
Once you have learned how to use your machine there are several great places to find more sewing education. I have collected a list of all of my beginner and easy patterns, HERE. I also do a weekly Live video on Facebook where we create an easy project. This is a great way to learn because you can ask questions and see real sewing in action. The Live videos don’t cut out the small steps that those of us who have been sewing for a long time take for granted. Have you ever watched a video and they say just do this…and you have no idea how to just do whatever that thing is? That is why I love the Live videos because you can watch and ask those questions and see all of the action. Follow me on Facebook and tune in on Fridays at 10am CST. If Facebook isn’t your thing I also upload the replay of these Live videos to Youtube, find me on Youtube HERE.
What supplies do I need to start sewing?
There are hundreds if not thousands of gadgets out there for sewing. You could walk to aisles at Joann for hours and become completely overwhelmed. But most of them are just EXTRA. You only need a few things to start sewing. I have linked all of my favorites below. For the most part the brand doesn’t really matter they all pretty much work the same. That being said I do have my favorite brands which you will see if you check out the links below.
- Sewing Machine – We already talked about the Brother CS6000i above.
- Rotary Cutter – This is my favorite ergo rotary cutter. It is super easy to do and easy on the hands and wrists.
- Self Healing Cutting Mat – I recommend a larger mat because you can use it for just about any project. But if you don’t have the budget or space a smaller mat is ok.
- Clear Ruler – I like this one because it has the 1/2″ extra which is great for measuring.
- Scissors – You need a pair of scissors that is meant only for fabric. Mark them so nobody uses them for anything else.
- Thread – I am kind of a stickler about thread. Don’t skimp on your thread. If your thread isn’t high quality it will really ruin the sewing experience. It breaks, gets tangled, and gums up your machine. Good thread is just a few dollars more so don’t cut corners here.
- Clips or Pins – I recommend the clips for most projects. They save you from getting poked and bleeding!
- Seam Ripper – Yup you need a good one. Don’t fret, we all use them. I use my seam ripper regularly after many many years of sewing. Don’t get down when you have to use it. Just rip it and move on!
Is today the day? Take the plunge, sign up for the course, and let’s sew together. I SEW want you to join our wonderful community. I want you to have the confidence to create whatever you want to make. Join me HERE, I can’t wait to meet you!
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