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Posted on: 1/29/19 6:25 PM ET
Hi there, my name is Megan, I'm 26 and I have been taking a private sewing lesson once a week for a while now.
My teacher is a dress maker, does professional alterations for weddings, custom gowns etc. She does private and group lessons and used to work for a college.
She is a great teacher however I feel like I can't do anything without her.
I am very slow to understand things (turns out I might have a learning difficulty). Because of this I haven't done much. There's also been complications in general for both of us like hospital trips etc so the consistency hasn't quite been there for a while. I am not complaining, but I can't really even begin to do anything at home confidently yet.
I bought tons of patterns for the future, many Vogue "Very Easy" ones however I can't even slightly understand them.
The patterns I have tried to read have been so..so confusing. We're currently making a designer Vogue "Easy" dress in my lessons and my teacher took one look at the pattern and said if she can't decipher it, then I surely couldn't as a beginner. She has simplified instructions as much as possible for me. She also said some of the pattern pieces were printed backwards too! I'd never have known that if I tried this on my own.
I'd like to attempt things at home both for practice and confidence.
Could anyone recommend absolute beginners ones? Preferably fellow beginners? I find people on here rate many things as suitable for all but they themselves are advanced or intermediate and perhaps their definition of easy has changed over time.
Thank you!
My teacher is a dress maker, does professional alterations for weddings, custom gowns etc. She does private and group lessons and used to work for a college.
She is a great teacher however I feel like I can't do anything without her.
I am very slow to understand things (turns out I might have a learning difficulty). Because of this I haven't done much. There's also been complications in general for both of us like hospital trips etc so the consistency hasn't quite been there for a while. I am not complaining, but I can't really even begin to do anything at home confidently yet.
I bought tons of patterns for the future, many Vogue "Very Easy" ones however I can't even slightly understand them.
The patterns I have tried to read have been so..so confusing. We're currently making a designer Vogue "Easy" dress in my lessons and my teacher took one look at the pattern and said if she can't decipher it, then I surely couldn't as a beginner. She has simplified instructions as much as possible for me. She also said some of the pattern pieces were printed backwards too! I'd never have known that if I tried this on my own.
I'd like to attempt things at home both for practice and confidence.
Could anyone recommend absolute beginners ones? Preferably fellow beginners? I find people on here rate many things as suitable for all but they themselves are advanced or intermediate and perhaps their definition of easy has changed over time.
Thank you!
Posted on: 1/29/19 6:53 PM ET
You will find plenty of help here! And I don’t mean any disrespect to your teacher, but sometimes it’s difficult for those of us with some experience to step back and remember what it was like to be new to sewing. Things that seem natural to us are completely baffling to beginners.
When I returned to sewing after many years I took a beginners class at a local sewing machine store. We made a very simple pair of pyjama pants with elastic waist. This taught laying out a pattern, cutting the fabric, marking the fabric, stitching straight seams, basting, inserting elastic and pressing for sewing (not ironing!). This was a great way to start, no fitting or complications. Maybe look for a Simplicity or Butterick pattern for Pj pants. Nothing fancy like a fly front, but simple and straightforward.
Don’t be discouraged!
When I returned to sewing after many years I took a beginners class at a local sewing machine store. We made a very simple pair of pyjama pants with elastic waist. This taught laying out a pattern, cutting the fabric, marking the fabric, stitching straight seams, basting, inserting elastic and pressing for sewing (not ironing!). This was a great way to start, no fitting or complications. Maybe look for a Simplicity or Butterick pattern for Pj pants. Nothing fancy like a fly front, but simple and straightforward.
Don’t be discouraged!
Posted on: 1/29/19 6:59 PM ET
Vogue are cute but many of them, at least the ones I have used over the years, have had bad directions. Have you tried any Kwiksew Sew? The original Kwiksew patterns have very good directions for beginners. We could come up with some patterns if you have an idea of what you would like to try. Sewing has a language and a skill set that takes getting used to. Simplicity and New Look are also good. I agree with Janine and start with something simple.
-- Edited on 1/29/19 at 7:02 PM --
-- Edited on 1/29/19 at 7:02 PM --
Posted on: 1/29/19 7:02 PM ET
My own very first garment was a half circle wrap skirt, almost a non-pattern.
It is easy and satisfying, and can be styled in the way you like.
It is easy and satisfying, and can be styled in the way you like.
Posted on: 1/29/19 7:03 PM ET
Even if you want to sew garments, I believe beginners should start sewing on projects like pillow cases or bags, unlined and lined. These are simple enough to sew but you can still learn to use your SM, sew different types of seams, how to pick and sew different fabrics, use interfacing, even sew button holes or zippers. You don't have to worry about things like fit and can give your projects to others as gifts. As you build confidence and knowledge you move can on to simple garments. Main thing is enjoy sewing.
-- Edited on 1/29/19 at 7:04 PM --
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-- Edited on 1/29/19 at 7:04 PM --
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Posted on: 1/29/19 7:03 PM ET
In reply to SewingVamp
I'm not sure how much help I'll be to you, but I am not a beginner, and I also rarely sew using commercial patterns -- I make my own. I am also an old science teacher with my own learning disability -- an inability to tell right from left -- and I've worked with a lot of students with diagnosed and undiagnosed disabilities over the years. I think you may well have found a spot where we can help you learn.
Let me tell you a couple of things that may help you about commercial patterns:
1. The "easy" patterns are rated that way because of the number of pattern pieces, not necessarily because the methods used in construction are easy or the results are particularly good.
2. Pattern instructions are done by picking pre-made illustrations and wording off a menu of them. Sometimes the drawings are not as relevant to your project as you'd like.
3. Some pattern companies offer real beginner patterns, with the instructions written in pretty plain English, instead of Pattern-Speak, which is its own language. Kwik-sew is one that offered a number of good patterns for beginners.
What seems to be the nature of your learning difference? Do you need to learn from photos rather than drawings? Or do you need to manipulate the pieces to see how it all works? Or is a reading issue?
If you can learn with drawings instead of photos, I like a book my patternmaking teacher wrote for her first year students at FIDM, many of whom were astounded to find they needed to learn to sew. So this book goes through all of the common processes used in sewing, step by step, a drawing and a few sentences, another drawing and a few sentences, till you've gotten through whatever "sewing subunit" you're working on, like installing a zipper, or sewing a welt pocket, or doing a neck or arm facing. It's a textbook, so it's expensive new, but there are lots of used copies available at places like abe.com or books.amazon.com for under $10. It is Connie Crawford's Guide to Fashion Sewing : https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&cm_sp=SearchF-_-home-_-Results&an=crawford&tn=guide+to+fashion+sewing&kn=&isbn=
If you learn better with video, she also did a DVD that covers pretty much of the same material, called "Studio Sewing Skills". It is also pretty slowly paced, and indexed so you can find what you're looking for instead of having to watch a bunch of irrelevant stuff. Here's a clip, to see if you might think it useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZBdcY1H9aA
Although it's boring as heck to do, I found that when I was learning to sew half a million years ago, it helped if I stuck with one pattern and sewed it several times in a row -- I think my first garments were shorts -- and by the time I'd made the same pattern several times, the underlying logic to sewing had started to gel for me. There actually is a set of "rules" of how garments are constructed most of the time, an order of sewing.
I'll write more later... gotta run some errands, now. But let's see what we can do to get up your confidence in your abilities!
Let me tell you a couple of things that may help you about commercial patterns:
1. The "easy" patterns are rated that way because of the number of pattern pieces, not necessarily because the methods used in construction are easy or the results are particularly good.
2. Pattern instructions are done by picking pre-made illustrations and wording off a menu of them. Sometimes the drawings are not as relevant to your project as you'd like.
3. Some pattern companies offer real beginner patterns, with the instructions written in pretty plain English, instead of Pattern-Speak, which is its own language. Kwik-sew is one that offered a number of good patterns for beginners.
What seems to be the nature of your learning difference? Do you need to learn from photos rather than drawings? Or do you need to manipulate the pieces to see how it all works? Or is a reading issue?
If you can learn with drawings instead of photos, I like a book my patternmaking teacher wrote for her first year students at FIDM, many of whom were astounded to find they needed to learn to sew. So this book goes through all of the common processes used in sewing, step by step, a drawing and a few sentences, another drawing and a few sentences, till you've gotten through whatever "sewing subunit" you're working on, like installing a zipper, or sewing a welt pocket, or doing a neck or arm facing. It's a textbook, so it's expensive new, but there are lots of used copies available at places like abe.com or books.amazon.com for under $10. It is Connie Crawford's Guide to Fashion Sewing : https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&cm_sp=SearchF-_-home-_-Results&an=crawford&tn=guide+to+fashion+sewing&kn=&isbn=
If you learn better with video, she also did a DVD that covers pretty much of the same material, called "Studio Sewing Skills". It is also pretty slowly paced, and indexed so you can find what you're looking for instead of having to watch a bunch of irrelevant stuff. Here's a clip, to see if you might think it useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZBdcY1H9aA
Although it's boring as heck to do, I found that when I was learning to sew half a million years ago, it helped if I stuck with one pattern and sewed it several times in a row -- I think my first garments were shorts -- and by the time I'd made the same pattern several times, the underlying logic to sewing had started to gel for me. There actually is a set of "rules" of how garments are constructed most of the time, an order of sewing.
I'll write more later... gotta run some errands, now. But let's see what we can do to get up your confidence in your abilities!
Posted on: 1/29/19 7:58 PM ET
In reply to SewingVamp
Megan, I just noticed that you’re in the UK. Several of the UK based independent pattern companies have very good pattern instructions, and some have sewalongs online (step by step written or video classes) If you want to make a dress, maybe consider the Sew Over It shift dress. It’s only a couple of pieces with a simple back opening.
Www.sewoverit.co.uk
Tilley & the Buttons also has some simple patterns.
Depending on where you live, you may find a local sewing shop where you could get some more ideas (Sewisfaction, Guthrie & Ghani are a couple). And plan to watch the Great British Sewing Bee when the next series starts in March! Most of the sewists have experience but you may enjoy seeing some of their tricks and how we ALL struggle!
Www.sewoverit.co.uk
Tilley & the Buttons also has some simple patterns.
Depending on where you live, you may find a local sewing shop where you could get some more ideas (Sewisfaction, Guthrie & Ghani are a couple). And plan to watch the Great British Sewing Bee when the next series starts in March! Most of the sewists have experience but you may enjoy seeing some of their tricks and how we ALL struggle!
Posted on: 1/29/19 8:29 PM ET
I agree, a simple pattern with video as long as it might be what you need. But I want to suggest having your teacher help you fit the pattern first. It really stinks to go through all that work just to find out the pattern doesn’t fit you. Choose a pattern that you’ll be happy to make over and over again, as Kayl says. It’s a very useful exercise. Plus it will fill your closet!
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Little strokes fell great oaks. On the other hand, go big or go home!
Projects completed in 2024: 3 pairs gloves. Four pairs of jeans. Five custom tarps. A dozen linen hankies. A wool wrap for a friend. Four linen bath towels and 24 washcloths. Two bed pillows.
38.5 yards of fabric out.
Projects completed in 2024: 3 pairs gloves. Four pairs of jeans. Five custom tarps. A dozen linen hankies. A wool wrap for a friend. Four linen bath towels and 24 washcloths. Two bed pillows.
38.5 yards of fabric out.
Posted on: 1/29/19 9:34 PM ET
Hi Megan! I consider myself an advanced beginner; my mom initially taught me to sew when I was a teenager and we used Big 4 patterns. Fast forward a few decades and I’ve taken up sewing again. From my experience, I much prefer learning to sew with some of the indie patterns versus the Big 4 as some of the indies (although not all) are geared for novice sewers. I find the Big 4 often assume you know the basics of sewing and I’ve found myself calling my mom on more than one occasion and asking her to “translate” instructions from “sewing speak” to language I can understand. In addition to more detailed instructions, some indies also include sewalongs and videos as well, if that is your preferred learning style.
I second some of the other comments about starting with some more simple items like a pillowcase, apron, pajama pants etc. to gain confidence in how to figure out grainlines, cutting out fabric, sewing straight seams, etc.
Some of the easier patterns I used to learn to sew are the Grainline “Lark” (t shirt pattern) and the Made By Rae “Cleo” gathered skirt.
Hope this helps!
I second some of the other comments about starting with some more simple items like a pillowcase, apron, pajama pants etc. to gain confidence in how to figure out grainlines, cutting out fabric, sewing straight seams, etc.
Some of the easier patterns I used to learn to sew are the Grainline “Lark” (t shirt pattern) and the Made By Rae “Cleo” gathered skirt.
Hope this helps!
Posted on: 1/29/19 11:03 PM ET
It's wonderful that you're having private lessons. Although in terms of standard academic learning I'm strong, I did not find sewing easy in the large classes I took. There's a lot to absorb, my visual memory isn't great, my sketching skills are terrible, and often I would run into problems that didn't come up during the teacher's demonstration. I was told on occasion to trust my intuition, but my instincts were often poor. I suggest that you have your teacher show you how to make a simple skirt pattern or help you alter one. It's silly to sew a garment that doesn't fit you if you have a private teacher who can customize it for you.
Take photos or make sketches of any key point, create samples at various stages of construction to serve as memory aids, record her doing a technique, or record the whole session if that is feasible. After the session, rewrite or type your notes to consolidate the information and to create a record you can use. Create checklists of the steps you need to follow. Once you have a pattern that fits well, you can practice many techniques while making a number of skirts, some of which will be wearable. Practice different seam and hem finishes. Learn how to install invisible and regular zippers. Try different waistband treatments. Add a lining. You'd be amazed by what you can do with just one pattern.
If a skirt doesn't interest you, try something like a woven tank top. Pajama bottoms are another popular choice for beginners.
To get any benefit, you must practice diligently between the lessons.
I've looked online at a book by a UK company called Assembil titled "How to Start Sewing." It has small patterns on which you can practice techniques. I own a pattern making book by the same company and it was very clear.
You may want to supplement your lessons with videos from a service like Bluprint. There are free videos on YouTube but they're hit or miss in terms of quality. If you buy only a subscription to Bluprint without buying the class the teachers will not respond to your questions, so be aware of that.
-- Edited on 1/29/19 at 11:10 PM --
Take photos or make sketches of any key point, create samples at various stages of construction to serve as memory aids, record her doing a technique, or record the whole session if that is feasible. After the session, rewrite or type your notes to consolidate the information and to create a record you can use. Create checklists of the steps you need to follow. Once you have a pattern that fits well, you can practice many techniques while making a number of skirts, some of which will be wearable. Practice different seam and hem finishes. Learn how to install invisible and regular zippers. Try different waistband treatments. Add a lining. You'd be amazed by what you can do with just one pattern.
If a skirt doesn't interest you, try something like a woven tank top. Pajama bottoms are another popular choice for beginners.
To get any benefit, you must practice diligently between the lessons.
I've looked online at a book by a UK company called Assembil titled "How to Start Sewing." It has small patterns on which you can practice techniques. I own a pattern making book by the same company and it was very clear.
You may want to supplement your lessons with videos from a service like Bluprint. There are free videos on YouTube but they're hit or miss in terms of quality. If you buy only a subscription to Bluprint without buying the class the teachers will not respond to your questions, so be aware of that.
-- Edited on 1/29/19 at 11:10 PM --
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