So I've had a sewing machine and overlocker for awhile now. But in the old house there just wasn't enough room to have them out and use them often.
Then we moved house (about 6 weeks ago now), and last night I set up all the sewing stuff in our hobby room.
But now - I don't have any more excuses to avoid sewing! And I don't know what I'm doing! What do I do!!! I could um...try to sew a tea towel? What do I dooooo? Where do I start?
Seriously, all I've done is overlocked small cloth wipes, and made a pair of pants, completely without a pattern, out of old man's suit pants, which were sort of wonky but sort of worked and I felt very pleased with myself, and now we laugh at them every time we see them. I can't remain an 'instinctive sewer' for the rest of my life, particularly if I want to make clothes! My poor children!
Head to Lincraft, they have a rack of free patterns for small projects. You might find some inspiration in there. I think they do have a pattern for a book bag (not that you really need one), there is also one for kiddie art smock.
Just though, how about a table runner for Christmas?
Cloth pads? Thats how I started! I just looked up a few patterns, did something up, and went for it. It was a learning experience But bar the first two, I have 20 winged pads ranging from one layer two 3 layers, backed with PUL, and topped with micrrofleece.
i just started making a pink velvet dress for dd pattern less that flares out with hot pink velvet. I need to do the top tho make it into a corset like design in the back with ribbon straps. Made it with stretch crush velvet so she can have a tight dress or skirt. 4 equal panels and didn't sew the bottom up leaving it open and sewed in 4 triangles of material one is each and it looks good.
try a making a pillow cover or hand bag or something?
did you forget jazz'z dress leasha???? thats looks great!
What do all those knobs on the machine do? I've forgotten? They just look confusing and ominous and make me feel bewildered. The only knob that I am familiar with is the one trying to figure out how to sew......
Nelle, DON'T make a mans shirt as your first pattern! You may be slightly retarded like me and think 'How hard can a mans shirt be?!', but don't mistake me, they are flamin hard, and my McCalls 3 Hour Shirt has become a 4 Month Not Supposed To Close, Because That's Exactly What I Intended All Along Muscle Tee
Yeah I might have to Lu - although I do live really close to Raven and Daydream Believer who are handy with their machines, maybe we can barter, almond maracoons for help or something.
Sunflowa, thanks for the advice. I too am a fan of the motto 'what could possibly go wrong', and I think God might see it as a challenge.
Thank goodness I can sort of cook - otherwise I'd be completely without practical creative skills. I can sing, but what good is that? 'Oh no, we're naked and starving with no shelter - oh I know, Nelle, why don't you sing us a ditty?'
Oh she's prettier in person than in her av I assure you
Let me know how you go. I borrowed a friends sewing machine for a school project, never got it out of the box and ended up using hem tape LMAO! So I'm hopeless... hey I'll just stick to all things kitchen for now.
I remember at Primary school I was jealous of the kids whose mum's used hemming tape For some silly reason I thought there was something wrong with having a hand stitched hem. Now, of course, I know better and have even completely handsewn a whole dress.
There is a thread somewhere in which a member asked where to start and how to learn to sew... if I find it I'll link.
I have taught myself how to sew since I was about 14. My first projects were pencil cases. That was good for teaching you how to put in a zip. Then I made cushion covers with both zips and button holes. Button holes can be tricky to master.
If I was you I would tackle things like mending and lots of straight sewing. I can't recall whether you wear aprons but if you have a favourite you can use that (if it's a flat one) as a template and make another one. Making a flat apron can teach you how to sew curves... a nice curve is snipped in the same way as you snip baking paper to fit inside a round tin... you know those little 1cm notch snips? This is a vital skill to learn.
I would build up a repertoire of basic skills before signing up for a course... just so you can keep up.
If I was you i would focus on learning how to use your machines. Mastering tension alone can be tricky. I assume you know how to thread them properly? Do you know where and how to oil them? Do you know the difference between different types of needle eg a 'denim strength' needle and a satin needle? Knowing all these little things add up to having a good foundation and trouble-shooter skill set. I find that i am always trouble shooting. If you know what causes what then it takes a lot of the confusion out of sewing.
ETA: I'm not a brilliant sewer though mind you LOL I would struggle to follow a pattern to make a men's shirt. I would muddle through... and it would be wearable... but I'm by no means an expert.
Last edited by Bathsheba; December 10th, 2009 at 04:08 PM.
I second doing some courses, they are heaps of fun, get you started and gives you and outting to look forward to each week - can you tell I miss my weekly quilting classes :-(
I have been to some where I bought my machine which taught me all the features of my machine and another which was a beginners quilting class which was fantastic!
I started making wall hangings and things for my classroom - lots of straight sewing and lots of mistakes :-)
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I've run out of excuses! What do I do now?
What do I do!!! I could um...try to sew a tea towel? What do I dooooo? Where do I start?
But bar the first two, I have 20 winged pads ranging from one layer two 3 layers, backed with PUL, and topped with micrrofleece.
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