Ok, So my Mum bought me a sewing machine for my birthday!

[DuchessOfRubbish]

And I don't know what to do with it!

She has one, and I am forever asking her to do small jobs like alterations etc. I mentioned I would like one, so it was a surprise! I have got to grips with threading it and have managed to sew two pieces of scrap material together! (major achievement for me as I bummed textiles in school!)

I have grand ideas of what I would like to do, but first I need some basic and easy projects to get me started and confident. Mum also got me a basic sewing kit from the local haberdashers with pretty much all the essentials I need to get started.

Are there any good websites out there for beginners? What would be a good small project to start with? I don't want the machine to gather dust.

Thanks in advance

[MummyElk]

there are some lovely books around which can help you do some simple projects, i quite like this one

Also, bit different cos yours is new but my mum gave me an older one so i got a lovely man round to service it (no phnar phnar intended!! ) and he showed me how to use it properly.. have a look in yellow pages?

Also, lots of little courses go on in all sorts of random places like church halls and colleges... Or you could join a local sewing group, people love to help and advise..

I'd say, start simple and see how you go. I found it INCREDIBLY hard to sew a simple straight line, ridiculous i know but still. and remember practice makes perfect!

[DuchessOfRubbish]

Thanks MummyElk. I also found straight line sewing hard! I thought it was just me. I really would love to get to grips with it. Thanks for the link. Will have a look at that book. It looks Funky!

[snickersnack]

Sewing For Dummies isn't bad if you want a book - I pretty much taught myself from that. And YouTube is good for tutorials.

Are you near London? Peter Jones does great one day courses that teach you how to use a machine and make something simple.

You could start with cushion covers. Hard to go wrong with a cushion cover. I started with a dress for dd complete with interfacing and sleeves. I wouldn't recommend it, but she can (just about) go out in it, so it's amazing what you can get away with!!!

[Umlellala]

Bags are great to start with.

Tote bag (two squares and a strap) or a drawstring one.

I made dd a shift dress too (front and back sewn together), though too messy to wear out - it did actually 'work' iykwim.

Def practise, practise, practise.

[DutchOma]

If you find sewing in a straight line hard, try locating the lines to the right of your sewing foot and guide your material over that. That should give you a straight line.

[DuchessOfRubbish]

Brilliant! I am sew greatful for the replies. Snickersnack No..Nowhere near London.. I am a South Wales Valleys girl.

Umlellala Did you get a pattern for the dress, or just make it blind? I have a 9 month old DD, so my thinking is for stuff for her. A drawstring bag sounds good too! I actually cocked one of those up in school (don't ask) so it would be good to absolve myself and make one again!