Learning to sew!

[User7369]

Hi! I’ve been lurking a while and haven’t posted in this forum;

I’ve recently taken a notion that I’d like to learn to sew- I envisage myself mending and altering my own clothes, making fleece liners for my guinea pig cages and maybe the odd cushion or even a pair of curtains. I’ve been looking at the Brother Ls14s and the John Lewis JL110. I suppose I have two main questions; are those projects ludicrous for a complete beginner? And does anyone have any further recommendations for machines or any experiences of the ones I’ve mentioned? I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts, I don’t know anyone in real life who knows about this kind of stuff!

Thanks :)

[ForTheTimeBeing]

Go for it! Both machines have excellent reviews and will be suited for any sewing project.
There are excellent tutorials on youtube, Pinterest, Instagram and elsewhere on the internet. You might want to join the "Sewing Projects for Beginners" group on FB (I'm not a member myself, but is looks like it might be helpful).
Mending and altering clothes can be more difficult than sewing from scratch depending on what it is you want to do. Taking in or shortening trouser legs or skirts for example is easy, but other alterations can be a pain. Making curtains and cushions is easy, even for beginners.
Have fun!

[Gertrudesgarden]

Can I suggest a Youtube channel, called Inside The Hem? She has a playlist called "Just For Beginners" that covers a LOT of ground, and hosts Sewalongs where she explains the entire process, from choosing pattern and fabric, making adjustments, right to the finishing touches. Well worth a look at.

[Missushb]

Recommend Made Every day on YouTube. Also would be really beneficial to go on a short course; local colleges usually run them in the evening or weekend. It's a fab hobby I love it! Good luck

[Missushb]

Basic sewing class I meant.

[User7369]

Thanks so much for your feedback! I’ve booked on to a full day sewing machine basics course and if I enjoy it will probably take some courses in dressmaking etc! Am excited :)

[piraterach12]

Good luck. I have the brother ls14 and decided I wanted to make my daughter clothes after not sewing since I was a child. Steep learning curve but it's going great and now I've got the bug (and an overlocker too!)

[Itsigginingtolookalotlikexmas]

@User7369 I've just bought my first sewing machine and coincidentally want to make stuff for the guinea pigs too! I thought I'd start by recycling some of their fleecy onesies into nice cushions! (Well I will do once I get it out of the box). How are you getting on with your projects!

[HedgehogTales]

Jl110 is a very good machine. I've had mine for 10+ years and I'm now an intermediate level sewist

[VanillaSpiceCandle]

I’m also a lurker and also want to learn to sew. I’m looking into some classes as I’ve never even touched a sewing machine so am not confident in following YouTube tutorials!

Have you bought a machine yet?