SEWING! for beginners (who are mildly obsessive)
29 replies / 1328 views / last reply by Becky B. 5 months ago
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I just started sewing with an old, old White sewing machine my mother bought at a garage sale. I've been hemming and cropping and altering, but that gets boring and eventually I've run out of things to alter. I also made a skirt that someone showed how to make on the "your DIY creations" post without a pattern today, and it turned out WONDERFULLY, I was so happy.
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Sophie R.
LONDON,
United Kingdom
4384 posts
OG since: 01/21/2010
I'd like to know hot to sew full stop. Just alterations, guess I need a sewing machine though :(
post a picture of the skirt?
posted Jul 7, 2011
Cass E.
NERDFORD,
United Kingdom
733 posts
Member since: 02/19/2011
God I wish I could sew and alter and make clothes.
I'd love to see your skirt too, and how you made it.
posted Jul 7, 2011
Mandi S.
WINDSOR,
Canada
322 posts
OG since: 02/28/2010
Start with something simple like a pillow, and work your way up. Also, this simple skirt shouldn't be much trouble.
freshlypickedblog.com/2010/02/elastic-waist-skirt-tutorial-mama.html
posted Jul 7, 2011
Katherine B.
CLEVELAND,
United States
63 posts
OG since: 04/04/2010
Thanks so much! I'll definitely check it out, I'm going to the fabric store tomorrow! I'll probably start trying to use patterns soon but I really like making easy things without patterns, it's so fun!
& You guys want to see it? :) I'm in love with my skirt!
I actually used a link that another lookbooker posted in the DIY creations post, the link is here! letsputourheartstogether.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-skirt.html
Only, the instructions aren't that in depth, and I used a sewing machine! What i did, was use 2 yards of fabric like she said (mine was a sheer stretch knit. I had no idea if i would be able to work with stretch, so I asked a worker who told me what kind of needles to buy, etc, and it worked!), bought some elastic, made a casing for the elastic (by folding over one length of the fabric an inch or so, using a basic machine stitch on it, and putting the elastic through it), cutting the elastic to a little smaller than my waist size, sewing that together... then sewing the seam down one side of the skirt and then hemming it. I think it's worth it to try if you guys have a sewing machine (or can find one at a garage sale like me)! :)
posted Jul 8, 2011
Mandi S.
WINDSOR,
Canada
322 posts
OG since: 02/28/2010
Wowww, you did an awesome job! It's so pretty.
posted Jul 9, 2011
Katherine B.
CLEVELAND,
United States
63 posts
OG since: 04/04/2010
Thanks so much!! <3 it means a lot to me!
posted Jul 12, 2011
Ron M.
LONDON,
United Kingdom
236 posts
OG since: 08/13/2009
The skirt is lovely! If you know how to work with knits then basic (sleeveless) tops should be no problem. You could also make some stretch shorts, though that would be more challenging and you might want to use a pattern (burdastyle.com is quite good, they recently added a pattern for a simple playsuit). Also, for all sorts of beginner projects try threadbanger.com :)
posted Jul 22, 2011
Koe I.
SAN FRANCISCO,
United States
43 posts
Member since: 10/15/2010
It's actually fairly easy if you have a sewing machine, but it REALLY is fun! If you'd like, here are some of my designs (sewed from SCRATCH!)
This dress,
and
This skirt!
posted Jul 31, 2011
Ashley I.
OUTER AND INNER SPACE,
United States
18 posts
Member since: 10/29/2010
hey! I just started sewing too and I found this really awesome site called burdastyle.com. It has a bunch of free patterns and people post pics of the stuff they make and tips and tricks and everything. It's kind of amazing. You should check it out.
posted Jul 31, 2011
B3lur M.
THE LAND OF FASHION-GEEKNESS,
Canada
216 posts
Member since: 06/18/2011
go to youtube, it's full of video tutorials, some even of people that doesn't know how to sew. I used to go there all the time to learn things... them i started studing fashion design xd
posted Aug 8, 2011
Lilly H.
BRISTOL,
United Kingdom
26 posts
Member since: 07/18/2011
thread bangers ... google that ... they have billions of tutorials, some from pro's and some from other beginners, you will deffinatly find inspiration there, even if you don't want to copy what they make ! x best of luck ! x
posted Aug 8, 2011
Chelsea J.
NOTTINGHAM,
United Kingdom
149 posts
Member since: 03/14/2011
Love the colour of yours (thats my blog by the way) for those of you interested the tutorial is here:
apair-andaspare.blogspot.com/2011/01/diy-sheer-black-maxi-skirt.html
I have a sewing machine but currently cannot use it because I'm rubbish haha I think i may need a few lessons or something!
There is a tutorial for a DIY clutch I'm planning on following which you may be interested in :)
swellmayde.com/2011/03/diy-envelope-clutch.html
posted Aug 8, 2011
Katherine B.
CLEVELAND,
United States
63 posts
OG since: 04/04/2010
ahhh thank you so much! your tutorial for that skirt was awesome, by the way!
also, that tutorial for that clutch looks so nice! i'm not sure if i'll have to get some specific needles or anything for sewing fabric like that. but if you know anyone who sews, you should ask them to teach you, it's actually really easy, i learned at high school!
posted Aug 8, 2011
Lilly H.
BRISTOL,
United Kingdom
26 posts
Member since: 07/18/2011
If you go to any sewing shop, shown them a sample of the fabric and ask what needle would be suitable they will point you in the right direction. Generally speaking you need leather needles for leather and ball-point needles for georgette, silk and chiffon. However you can use a general purpose needle for most other fabrics.
posted Aug 9, 2011
Phelia V.
South Africa
11 posts
Member since: 04/05/2011
I have a few basic patterns I use and just alter it a bit. Sometimes I just copy the dresses I already have! I think the most important thing is to work very neatly, as you can instantly spot DIY projects by the bad finishing. Love the skirt you made!
posted Aug 9, 2011
Shaz O.
United Kingdom
1262 posts
Member since: 12/08/2010
the only thing i've ever made is an handbag out of old pair of jeans. Cut off the legs so i have just the bum area, sew the holes up, and make handles out of the material you cut off. And then added cool buttons/badges etc :)
posted Aug 9, 2011
Hannah B.
SUITE 404 - 999 CANADA PLACE, VANCOUVER, B.C.,
Canada
76 posts
Member since: 03/03/2011
For a beginner, pillow cases can be done without so much effort as long as you know how to runthe machine you'll do just great!
posted Aug 10, 2011
Ana M.
BRAGA, PORTUGAL,
Portugal
1 posts
Member since: 12/28/2010
I'm trying to make a shirt right now, but i'm sewing by hand so it's kind of tricky and slow x)
posted Aug 10, 2011
Rita M.
TORONTO,
Canada
81 posts
Member since: 07/21/2011
I just started actually sewing as well. fixed a zipper (which is hard apparently) and so I made a pouch for my ipod as well, just to test things out. I will be starting on some sort of skirt (that i'll never wear, cuz i dont wear skirts) tomorrow hopefully! I love the feeling of having made somethign all by myself tho. I hope to make my own dresses soon
posted Aug 17, 2011
Petra W.
Germany
73 posts
Member since: 04/07/2011
hey katherine, today maybe you're not longer a beginner but when i was starting sewing, i did simple tops, longsleeves, dresses (i extended only...) but after short time i recognized, without pattern it does not work for making skirt, pant, jacket..
i took a photo of every thing i made from the beginning, pls see my blog: upper-palatinate-rocks.blogspot.com
posted Dec 2, 2011
Petra W.
Germany
73 posts
Member since: 04/07/2011
rita, great! and i hope you did the dresses!!! i do and feel the same. my pics of my self-made i show on my blog (upper-palatinate-rocks.blogspot.com) - do you have photos of your DIY?
posted Dec 2, 2011
Rita M.
TORONTO,
Canada
81 posts
Member since: 07/21/2011
I havent had to chance to really begin creating things due to school. I'll be free soon to bring out my sewing machine again! Im going to check your blog out now love
posted Dec 3, 2011
Toni W.
FRESNO, CA,
United States
59 posts
OG since: 02/12/2009
I've made tons of things over the months!
Cosmetic bags, brush holders, wet bags for my son's cloth diapers or wet swim suits, and purses. threadbanger is a good site. your skirt looks great!
posted Dec 4, 2011
Mika P.
DOWNTOWN MANILA,
Philippines
1908 posts
OG since: 05/21/2009
caaaaant wait to finally buy my very own sewing machine this christmas. we have an antique singer from my grandma but it's broken and unwieldy :(
posted Dec 5, 2011
Zahira O.
JAKARTA,
Indonesia
420 posts
OG since: 01/30/2010
i am very bad at sewing. envy to those who can sew.
posted Dec 6, 2011
Isabel C.
NO WHERE,
United States
10 posts
Member since: 11/27/2011
I started out sewing with an old machine too! and i'm still not very advanced but
i say just design something and go for it! it also helps to look at clothe that you have to learn how things are made(for example cropped tops are very easy to copy) I currently have only one thing that I made on LB but I want to put everything Ive made up eventually. take a look!
lookbook.nu/look/2751259-Plum
posted Dec 20, 2011
Petra W.
Germany
73 posts
Member since: 04/07/2011
:) i know this :) i startet first without patterns. i lay a H+M-top on a fabric, add approx. 2cm und cut it out. it works when you sew first the shoulder seams and then the neckline!:)) then i extended this "pattern" for summer tube dresses. for elastic fabric justify a small zig-zag stitch and sew slowley. for thinner jersey fabrik it works better with a jersey-needle..
here are some pics:
upper-palatinate-rocks.blogspot.com/2011/03/blog-post.html
upper-palatinate-rocks.blogspot.com/2011/03/blog-post_29.html
upper-palatinate-rocks.blogspot.com/2011/04/top-krass-neon.html
posted Dec 20, 2011
Becky B.
2005,
United Kingdom
593 posts
Member since: 08/28/2010
I used to sew a couple of years ago, before I moved in with family (now I've moved out again but haven't got round to cracking the machine out again).
I just went straight into it and started sewing dresses from a pattern. I wasn't very good but I had been able to hand sew pillow cases etc for years and I was impatient to start making clothes. I do believe it's a matter of practice makes perfect.
I made a great suspender skirt from a vintage pattern which fit me brilliantly. It was just the bodices I struggled with.
posted Jan 8, 2012