Starting out with a sewing machine - first projects?

[NellyE]

I've just inherited a sewing machine from my grandmother. Not had much experience (one lesson at the start of the year) so was wondering if anyone could recommend good books to get me started, easy first projects, and any good websites that might be useful.
Thank you!

What machine have you got? What kind of thing are you hoping create?

When you say your experience is one lesson earlier this year, is that your only recent experience or your only life experience? How confident are you in using the machine?

Sorry - lots of questions, but its such an open ended question. I know when I started doing a little bit of sewing again (having not done any since HomeEc classes >20 yrs previous) my mother suggested starting with pillowcases and working up. Figured I was going to struggle to find the time to do that, so went for the the "find an easy pattern and give it a try" approach. And it actually worked out OK, although I no doubt created myself problems by having weaker-than-ideal basic skills (but then learnt by having to solve them).

Easy projects:
Pinny, mostly nice straight lines. You can use tape for the straps if you want to make it easier.
Shopping bag, like the ones that you buy from shops to re-use, very simple and more straight lines.
Tube with elastic at each ends for keeping plastic bags in so that they can be used as bin liners.
When you move onto clothes you could try basic pyjama bottoms, either for you or your DC's. Simplicity do really basic patterns.
Or you could get a craft book that shows you how to make table mats and cushions.

I get most of my ideas from websites or draw my own pattern onto the fabric or onto pattern paper (or newspaper/whatever is available). There are some good blog sites with patterns for things too.

From memory I think simplicity patterns do craft/home patterns too.

pinnys

Another tip I saw was that you can often get cheap "fabric" in charity shops - there can be m's of material in curtains and big skirts, for example, for a couple of £. Which can save you a fortune when you're really not sure how well a project is going to turn out.

(Not that I'm suggesting you start making clothes out of old curtains, but it might work for aprons and the like to get you up and running :o)

Thank you for your suggestions.
The machine is a Bernina. I just want some ideas for simple things to get started, was wondering about cushion covers, but doing a pinny is a great idea too. The one lesson is my ONLY experience, I did a class in making cushion covers, but my confidence isn't great at all. I'd quite like - eventually - to start making some clothes for little un, as well as cushion covers and applique - but yes, have very little time so it's a real 'sewing for idiots' project I'm looking for.

Cushion covers would be good - especially if you choose pillow-case style ones so you don't' have to worry about zips

For the moment I'd suggest you try and stick with things that have nice straight seams, or very open curves - they're much easier to manage. Another classic is something like a needle case or small sewing bag - nice straight seams, and you can use the front/back to practice different stitches on.

I think you can probably approach this in a couple of ways

• sign up for beginner sewing courses (if you have the time and would like some instant support - adult education centres run them, or look for adverts in sewing shops)
• find a sewing instructor who'd do you a couple of one-off lessons at your home to help you gain a bit of confidence with the machine (probably also from adverts in sewing shops)
• get a "teach yourself to sew" style book out of the library/from amazon
• google "beginner sewing projects", pick something you like and jump in.

Whichever approach you take, the aim is to get doing as the more you do with the machine the more confident you'll become. If you don't want to worry about threading it just yet, you can always get some tracing paper (or greaseproof, but you might want to iron it flat!) and draw a straight line up the middle. Try and "sew" along it (you'll see how accurate you are by the needle holes). Start to introduce gentle curves and corners. Just get used to how the "material" moves through the machine as you use the pedal.

One of my first recent projects was to make DD a fleece coat (I used this pattern. For the most part I found the fleece very forgiving to work with and whilst a few bits were slightly fiddly in general it all went together remarkably well (most of the seams are straight - IIRC it was only putting the sleeves in and hemming the cuffs that was tricky). I still don't do much, but every bit I do is giving me more confidence to try something a bit more challenging :)

There are lots of lovely books on the market at the moment and some teach yourself to sew magazines try some out and look at the magazines for ideas.

DVDs also available

This site has lots of helpful hints forums ect and might interest you sewing.patternreview.com/

If you want to start with something super easy but useful then morsbags are brilliant.

I just made my first project - very very simple, just to get my confidence up! It was a pump bag for my ds to take to nursery. No pattern really, just a long piece of fabric, folded in half (right sides together obv), hem up the sides, then hem the top sides, leaving a bit of space for the drawstring. That's it pretty much! Although I did do his name in applique, which was suprisingly easy as well!