How to Learn Sewing

At one time, sewing was a skill necessary for most men and women to learn. Now sewing is more of a hobby to some than a necessity. Some hand sewing is still required on many projects, but a machine is the way most people do their sewing today. No matter which type of equipment you choose, the basic techniques used in sewing are the same. Read on to learn how to learn sewing.

Instructions

1. Find a mentor and learn to sew from her. This is the easiest way to get a basic understanding of sewing. A mother, aunt or grandmother usually passes the love of sewing on to the younger generation, but you may have a friend or neighbor who is willing to share a little of their sewing knowledge. Take a class if one is available in your area. Many times the sewing machine dealership offers classes in their shops to new customers. There are also many good books available such as Learn How to Sew by Reuben and Sarah Doyle.

2. Set up a neat and organized area with your sewing supplies. You need a table for your machine, an area to cut out your patterns (such as the floor or a tabletop) and good lighting. A few essential items are sharp scissors, hand-sewing needles, straight pins, thread, seam ripper, fabric marking pencil and seam gauge or small ruler. An iron is also an important tool for pressing out seams.

3. Study the assembly of garments. One of the best ways to learn the construction of something is to take it apart. A seam ripper is one of the first sewing tools with which you'll become acquainted. Everyone who has learned to sew correctly has had to rip out a few mistakes.

4. Practice what you have learned. Perfect the basic sewing techniques before you move onto something else. Learning how to sew a straight seam is the first thing you need to learn. Draw straight lines down the length of a piece of fabric and practice sewing over them without getting off the line. Also, practice sewing a specific seam size. If the pattern calls for a 5/8-inch seam, you must be able to sew it accurately for the garment to fit properly. Practice on scrap fabric, using the seam guide on your sewing machine, until you are able to sew a consistently accurate seam.

5. Take your pattern out and review all of the instructions. Most patterns have a few general guidelines, but you may need a little help laying out the pattern to utilize your fabric efficiently. Understand lengthwise and crosswise grain, selvage, when to place the pattern on the fol, and how to cut the correct size from a multiple sized pattern. Useful information, sewing terms and definitions are available online at the sewing.org website.

6. Lay out your fabric, pin your pattern in place and cut out the pieces. When you come to a notch, cut it outward because these will be important when you try to match the pieces together. Pay attention to the cutting directions and review the placement, before you begin to cut. Make sure you have placed pieces on the fold line if called for and that you have an understanding of the grain lines. Finally, cut each piece out, transferring all necessary markings to the fabric with chalk or a fabric marking pencil.

7. Sew the pieces together, following the instructions on the pattern. Pressing open seams helps produce a more professional looking result. Don't be discouraged if your first attempt doesn't turn out perfectly. Most things done well require a little practice, and sewing is no different.

Tips & Warnings

• Teach what you know. Once you've learned to sew, pass it along to the next generation.

Resources

• Information and Tips on Sewing Techniques
• Sew With Sarah for Materials