When talking about sewing, I always tell people how relaxing and fun a hobby it is, and it definitely can be, but the truth is, it can also be stressful, overwhelming, and intimidating. Especially as a beginner.
Sewing is one of those skills that can have a steep learning curve when first starting out. It’s scary to cut into your fabric for the first time; the sewing machine is really intimidating; and sewing patterns can look like hieroglyphics to a new sewer.
But don’t give up hope just yet! Sewing isn’t as complicated as it looks once you get started, especially after the first few completed projects. But to make it easier, here are some tips to get you started in the right direction.
Tip 1: Don’t buy a bunch of fancy new fabric.
I know it’s tempting, especially if you watch youtubers that have fabric sashes of all the cutest fabric around and you just want to make that dress that’s been on your mind for years, but your first two or five projects are not going to turn out perfect. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to start with the most basic of projects, either. They can definitely be helpful! But as someone who jumped into corset making as their third project, sometimes you just want to dive right into the projects you want to make. So, ask around if anyone has fabric they don’t need anymore; check out thrift stores in your area for bed sheets, curtains, or cheap fabric; and, as a last resort, buy cheaper fabric that will still make a cute project without breaking the bank. Anything worth making once will be worth making again, and every good seamstress knows the importance of a good mockup. The first few attempts are for learning, making mistakes, and getting used to your machine. So, make the dress. Maybe make it a few times. And when it finally starts turning out how you want it, then go buy the pretty fabric and make something incredible.
Tip 2: Every mistake can be fixed.
It might seem counterintuitive, but even the worst sewing mistakes can be fixed, so don’t be afraid of making them. Even the most experienced of us make mistakes sometimes; it’s a part of being human. To make the mistakes easier to handle, though, do some research into tailoring and clothing alterations. These are the skills that will not only help you adjust a pattern to your measurements, but they can also help you fix any mistakes that might happen along the way, such as cutting the pattern too large or forgetting to add seam allowance. It’s also just a good skill to learn because clothes from big box stores very rarely fit how we want them because everybody is different, and it’s impossible to adjust for every body type when making clothes for such a huge range, but it’s easy to adjust your clothes for your own body type. We can save ourselves from an ill fit with one or two adjustments most of the time. And if the mistake is “unfixable,” the fabric you used can always be repurposed into a new project. Nothing is ever wasted when you know how to adapt. I even keep all of my fabric scraps to be used as stuffing for pillows, tailor’s hams, and stuffed animals. Mistakes are just an opportunity to attempt something new.
Tip 3: When things go wrong, take a break.
This tip applies to everyone; whether you’re just starting out or are years along your journey, taking breaks is necessary. Mistakes happen, but they can get very frustrating very quickly when the mistakes start piling up. And we all know that the more frustrated we get, the more mistakes will happen. It’s a vicious cycle that’s better to break sooner rather than later. Sewing can be physically and mentally taxing, depending on the project (especially when first getting started and learning so many new and confusing things at once), and everyone’s threshold for the work is different. I normally sew for a little over an hour before I have to take a quick break before I can get back into it. It’s also worth noting that the brain is a powerful tool that almost always works better when you’re not forcing it. I’ve figured out so many sewing problems by putting them away for the night and going to do something else for a while. When you’re too close to the thing that you’re trying to understand and it’s not making any sense, take a break. When you’re making dumb mistakes that shouldn’t be happening, take a break. When you’ve been at it for hours, take a break, even when you’re so close to being finished and you just want to power through. I promise that last seam will go so much smoother after a break.
Tip 4: Read the instruction manual.
I know everyone hates this part, but it’s so important when learning how your sewing machine works. Watching YouTube videos on your machine is very helpful too (especially when the manual gets confusing), but not every machine will have a video on it, or the only videos available aren’t of the highest quality, or the video left out some key details. However it works out, reading the manual before you start sewing is a very important step. The manual will give you information like how the machine works, how to and how often to clean the machine, and if and how often your machine needs oiling and maintenance. Sewing machines can be expensive, so it’s important to take care of the one you have. Not to mention, if things start going wrong, you can save yourself a hefty servicing fee if all your machine needs is a good cleaning. If you received your machine used or are borrowing from a friend and you don’t have the instruction manual on hand, Google will become your best friend. The name and type of the machine should be labeled somewhere on the sewing machine. Type that into the Google search bar with ‘manual’ behind it, and it should pop up within the first few results. I was even able to find the manual for my grandma’s old 1969 Singer sewing machine when it was passed on to me a few years ago, so there’s no excuse for skipping this step.
Tip 5: Keep going.
It can be disheartening when first starting out and your project doesn’t look exactly like the reference image; whether it’s a YouTube tutorial, a sewing pattern, or even just an image on Pinterest, it still hurts when it doesn’t turn out like you thought it would. But it’s really important to shift your focus. The thing about sewing is that there is always something new to learn. It just happens that when you first start out, there’s more that you don’t know yet. With every project completed, you’ll get better because you’ll learn about sewing techniques, textiles, fit, drape, zippers, buttons, design, drafting, and so much more. Even after five years, I’m still learning new things every day, and every day my sewing gets a little bit better. Focus on learning. Focus on asking questions, researching, and building the skills that will fix the issues you don’t want to see in your sewing, and I promise you’ll see progress exponentially as you keep going. I love sewing all the more because I’ll never run out of things to learn. I’ll never get bored sewing because there is something new to make. And I’ll never give up the creative freedom that grows with every new skill I learn to make my ideas a reality. So don’t give up if your first few projects aren’t perfect. Art is about the process, and it’s the same with sewing.
Happy Sewing!