So, You Want to Learn How to Sew?
I often get the question “I want to learn how to sew, where do I start?” immediately followed by “oh my god I’m so overwhelmed” as soon as I start talking that I am putting all that overwhelming information in one spot for you today! I get it, I was there once too, but seeing as it’s been three years since I made an impulse sewing machine purchase on Facebook Marketplace, I figured it’s time to put all the chaos that was learning a new skill into words and hopefully show that it’s really not that hard to get started! Let’s talk machines, supplies, and resources that will get you on your way to a me-made wardrobe in no time.
Buying a Sewing Machine
Admittedly, I am not an expert in the endless different makes and models of the sewing machine world so I don’t have any specific recommendations to make here. How my trusty Singer and I came to be is I browsed Facebook Marketplace for exactly one hour, saw a listing for a still-in-the-box brand new machine, looked up the retail price and deduced half off is a pretty great deal, and by the next morning she was mine.
That brings me to say that sewing can get to be a pretty expensive hobby, so I would strongly urge you to buy a secondhand machine if you can! Some of the higher end brands such as Juki, Bernina, and Janome make their machines to last a lifetime, so there really is no downside to consider on a perfectly functioning machine that’s been used for a few years. Other respectable brands to look out for are Brother, Baby Lock, and Singer, though these might require a bit more research on models before making a secondhand purchase. Consider taking your new-to-you machine to get serviced (many local fabric stores will offer this) and it really will feel like a brand new machine once you’re ready to sew!
Supplies, supplies, and more supplies
This is where things get a little overwhelming. There are seemingly a million sewing notions that exist when you’re a beginner, but fear not - I’ve listed out those that you absolutely must have and those that are only nice to have when you’re just starting out.
I’ve also linked exactly what I have of each item - I bought everything on Amazon, but that’s because it was peak pandemic times and because I didn’t yet know about Wawak, easily the most affordable online sewing supplies store that is a go-to amongst sewists.
Must Haves
Iron
Extra Bobbins (make sure they’re compatible with your machine)
Nice to Have
Extra Needles (for when you eventually break one)
Let’s Talk Fabric
Here is another area I encourage you to be thrifty in. Buying fabric off the bolts can rack up fast, and as a beginner nothing is more discouraging than spending your hard earned money on brand new fabric, cutting it up, and then not liking what you made out of it.
Take a stroll to your local thrift store’s linens section instead - you’d be shocked at how many bedsheets could be made into cute dresses or used as bag linings! An added tip is to check fiber content if you can. 100% organic fibers such as cotton or wool will last much longer than synthetic ones such as polyester or rayon.
I also highly recommend starting out with woven fabrics only. Stretchy or silky fabrics can be really difficult to work with, and even now I tend to shy away from them.
Alright, you have all the tools. Now what?
Before you dive in, I want to give a kind reminder that learning a new hobby of any sort is hard, especially as a fully formed adult! If you’ve made it this far, you should already be proud of yourself. My biggest piece of advice to all beginner sewists is accept that not everything you make will be very pretty or functional. You will make a ton of mistakes and create many failed projects. But that’s okay - you’re still creating! Speaking as a perfectionist, this was a difficult mindset for me to embrace (I even took a year long hiatus from sewing because of too many back to back failed makes), but once I did sewing finally became a creative outlet and an enjoyable hobby for me.
So now that you’re finally ready to plug in your sewing machine, I urge you to start small and get that instant gratification feeling of “I made that!” right off the bat! You’ll also need some time to learn and get comfortable with your machine. My first project was cutting up some old t-shirt scraps and making some scrunchies.
From there, slowly build up your confidence with larger projects. Here are some of my favorite free beginner patterns if you need some inspiration:
Helen’s Closet Costa Tote Bag: Helen is one of the best beginner-friendly designers out there. All of her steps are explained so well with detailed illustrations if you’re a visual learner like me
Glory Allen Mirage Bucket Hat: This comes with a great video tutorial, and a pretty quick make!
Made Label Frankie Wrap Skirt: This was my first garment make and I always recommend it to be everyone’s! You don’t have to worry much about sizing since it’s a wrap skirt, it comes with a video tutorial, and the finished make looks really professional despite how easy it is!
Peppermint Patterns Peplum Top: You could make this easy pattern even simpler by opting out of the peplum part and just making a crop top!
Fabrics Store Mona Trapeze Dress: A very low-fuss pattern that is also a great intro into bias binding
Sewing Resources and Community
If you’re still not quite ready to put needle to fabric just yet, that’s okay! I spent a ton of time on sewing YouTube just watching others create before finally feeling brave enough to try it myself. If you need a similar inspirational push, here are a few of my favorite channels:
With Wendy
Micarah Tewers
Kiana Bonollo
Essentials Club
And lastly, my absolute favorite thing about this hobby is the wonderful, wholesome community that comes with it. Everyone is so supportive of each other’s work and passionate about the craft, there really is no room for negativity in this space! The best thing I ever did was make a separate Instagram account solely to document my own creative journey, and after following a few like-minded accounts I’ve made a ton of friends who share this lovely hobby of mine.
Parting Words
Alright, I can admit that was a lot to digest. But I promise sewing isn’t as scary as it seems! And regardless of how your craft goes, be proud of yourself for trying something new. I’m always here as a resource and cheerleader, so leave a comment or shoot me an email with anything at all!
