Is there an equivalent of Ravelry but for sewing? Or if not... what?

[mabelbabel]

Yes, I've been watching the Sewing Bee. And I have a sewing machine but I don't really know where to start. I'm more of a knitter, and I really found Ravelry to be a great help when getting started with knitting - it's a great help to see what other people have achieved with patterns, and to get some new ideas.
Is there an equivalent place for sewing? Or is it mostly based around blogs/magazines? Where should I look?

Also, is there an idiot-proof place to start (pattern suggestions please!) - either for clothes for me or for DD's (5 & 8 and probably willing to put up with anything vaguely wearable!).

This is a good blog. She (Tilly) was on the Sewing Bee.

sewing.patternreview.com
thesewingforum.co.uk
Both great!

The Sewing Forum - great place, lots of experts, really helpful people.

Oh - thank you! Will have a look around.

I like sewing pattern review to check out a pattern
The other thing I do is to Google the pattern then click on images (sometimes I add the word blog) and what comes up is people posing in the dress they have made often linking to blogs or patternreview.com
Some companies like O+S and Collette have links to instagram/Pinterest accounts for people who have made the pattern to post
So for instance the GBSB made the Walkaway Dress last week
www.google.co.uk/search?q=The+walkaway+dress+Butterick&espv=2&biw=1680&bih=949&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=9M_tVKqvKKiv7AbU5ICICw&ved=0CCAQsAQ

www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Walkaway%20Dress Pinterest

Sewing Pattern Review will have it as well

As for what to start making, it will depend on what you like to wear, are you a skirts and tops lady or a dresses or trousers one?

Take a look at Pinterest lots of links to free patterns and maybe start with something like a pillow case dress for the girls

I second the sewing forum. Really knowledgable people who seem to answer super fast.

Craftsy is good for free patterns.

There are some free sewing classes on there too

Tangerine I usually wear skirts and tops to work, but would be delighted if I could make myself some dresses one day. And PJ bottoms would be nice. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and try some pillowcase dresses for the girls, then at least I've got started.

Starting is always the hardest part.
Look for Quick and Easy or Beginner dress patterns to get started, most manufacturers will rate their difficulty
Have a think about what styles you like.
Boden often have dresses that seem to be cut from Simplicity patterns, Toast is similar to the Japanese style patterns
Just go slowly to start with and hopefully you will find your way quickly.

Mabel, shift dresses are easy, this has been my favourite pattern since Autumn, I have made several:

www.simplicitynewlook.com/1252/#.VO-ACkL695k

Having made it a few times I reckon that you could make it in something like a ponte roma stretch and avoid the zip as it isn't terribly fitted. I have altered it to avoid the centre front dart and have added short darts at the waist on the last two I have made which I prefer. You could just do the back darts to begin with and then add the front ones if you want to make it a bit more fitted once you have tried it on.

Also, make it easier by using bias binding if your fabric suits binding (cord etc.) instead of adding facings.

Most things can be simplified - this sort of dress is probably easier than making a fitted skirt as it skims the body. I made a shorter version recently which looks great with skinny jeans and a card.

Cardi

Looks like a nice pattern. Thanks. I just have to get some knitting off my needles and then I'll take a trip to JL.