Sewing: Anyone gone from being rubbish to fairly passable?

[HotCrossBungle]

Am just starting out really having made a few basic things in the past (coasters, napkins, drawstring bags). I would really love to eventually make my own clothes but I am so rubbish at the moment and need inspiration/personal stories.

I've looked at blogs and an following lots of people on Instagram but they're all good already! Does anyone know of any blogs/Instagram accounts that show a person's progression from absolute beginner?

in normal times there are beginners classes you can take to learn.

I think it depends on you. I reckon I'd need about 5x more hours than anyone else to reach the dizzy heights of mediocre quality at making the types of things you list. But most people aren't like me.

Watch videos on YouTube and then it's just practice, practice, practice. The more you sew the better you get. If you get a load of old sheets you can use them as material to make things from without cutting into your nice stuff.

Hmm, I think everyone I follow is already good, sorry! I second using old bedding to practice though, I made my first ever dress from an old duvet cover. All of the 'proper' sewists say you should do this for every garment you make anyway, but who has time for that?! Sorry I've not been any help! I can recommend the Tilly and the Buttons books though. Fantastic clear instructions aimed at lay people, patterns included. The most recent one 'Make it Simple' is like sewing school in a book. You pick and choose which garments you want to make and each one helps you to learn a new skill.

Thanks everyone, I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos and practising some simple (?) things like sewing different seams. I've made a couple of drawstring bags. I think I want to run before I can walk!

I've got some Calico and have my eye on a few duvet covers on eBay. I just need to crack on and learn from my mistakes.

I've got the Tilly and the Buttons Miette skirt pattern printed out. The thought of putting it together let alone sew it is daunting.

I'd suggest TATB Dominique (the anchor print style) as a first item of clothing, that's really simple.

Practice practice practice! I learnt to sew starting with tote bags, then other bags, cushions, that sort of stuff. Sewing clothes is a whole different ballgame because you need to learn to read a pattern first, think about material choices, what suits your body etc. I'm very lucky i had someone to teach me the basics. The most important thing is being able to sew a straight line imo. Sounds easy but it's harder than it sounds on all different types of fabric. You've just got to give it a go. When you make something you're proud of, it'll give you a spur to keep going.

All of the 'proper' sewists say you should do this for every garment you make anyway, but who has time for that?

That's so you can make any adjustments to the sizing etc before you go ahead and cut it out in your nice fabric.

@ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal hence me generally only making A-line skirts! I am going to tackle some tunic/pinafore type patterns next! I have a body like a king Edward and have no desire to start trying to get my head around fba's etc
OP good luck with it all. Seams are a good place to start as it's really nice to have a choice in terms of preference and style. You could take a look at bias binding if you haven't already, that's a nice skill to learn. If you were doing a course there would be sessions on zips, and darts too. If you can do a good dart you're a long way towards making something that fits your shape well.

If you have kids of the right age sewing dressing up is an excellent way to practice- loads of fun & experimentation but no pressure. Or if I want to make a new dress pattern For my daughters they get a toile of it as a nightie.

Practice making things you actually want to make - no point having hundreds of drawstring bags of what you want is a skirt.

Just sew & sew.
Everyone goes from beginner to better

Unfortunately DC are past the cute elasticated waist skirts and pillowcase dresses. Perhaps when I'm a bit more experienced I might be asked to make pjs and sweatshirts 😁. I made a fancy mask with a chin and nose dart! Feeling pretty proud of myself.

I also have a bit of a King Edward body 😂

Hehe! 🤜🥔

PJs are super easy - much less fiddly than a shaped mask. Go for it!

It's the working with knit fabrics thing - I need to work up to that - all DC must be jersey fabric apparently.

I might do some cotton Pjs for myself though if I can find an easy pattern.

Are y'all watching SewingBee? Quite heartening to see experienced sewers making mistakes. I refuse they're working under pressure to a deadline but even so - it's reassuring.

realise not refuse. The pjs need to be jersey not the DC 😁

See if you can get a pattern with an online sew-a-long. Then you can watch someone do each stage. Also second using old duvet covers, but I wear mine, I made a buzz lightyear duvet cover dress last year

Knits aren’t scary I swear people have just been making “making knits less scary” type tutorials the last few years to freak people out! Ball point needle, zigzag stitch & no fraying to worry about!

My kids have sewn woven & jersey as & when & never found one harder than the other (on sewing machine - they think the overlocker is too fast/noisy)

tinselvestsparklepants buzz lightyear dress sounds brilliant

I've ordered a cheap duvet (parrots!) from Asda. Total bargain, worked out at just over £1/m. It's only poly cotton but that'll do.

Made two more masks today, the last one took me half the time of the first so that's progress.

Put together a PDF pattern today of a wrap skirt today so going to give that a go tomorrow. It's a Tilly and the Buttons one - no zips, no buttons. Making it in Calico and if it's any good I plan to dye it at some point and wear it as a house skirt.

Where is good to order fabric from in these times?

Oh and meant to say have ordered a ball point needle. Have got a stash of outgrown t shirts that were earmarked for charity but might use them to practise on instead.b

Would love to see the Buzz Light year dress

You sound like me OP, I was halfway through a sewing class before the virus led to lockdown and I made a tote bag and a pencil case.

I'm making masks and just practising using the machine. I'm planning to make some birthday bunting and Christmas bunting soon.

I'm going to make some bunting and some zipper pouches for make up/toiletries too.

Over the last few days I've been making a 'practice' skirt from a beginner pattern, no zips, no buttons and a tie waist. Fuck me, it was a lot harder than I thought. It took me forever and I made a fair few mistakes, some I was able to rectify, some I'll live with, it's just a practice run after all BUT I learnt a lot (I think) and did enjoy it. It's very passable imo. Feel a great sense of achievement. I'm going to make a top next (no sleeves to insert).

Tutorials are much better for me as even simple instructions with pictures can leave me flummoxed as I can't visualise how things aremeant to look especially when they are inside out/back to front.

It's lovely that you're so enthusiastic! I've sewn all my life - lucky I had a clever mum to teach me, just make sure you don't do what I did (only once!). if making something with sleeves make sure you don't cut two sleeves facing the same way.

One of the men on sewing bee did that this week, whilst making a rugby shirt!

You can be tempted to flip the pattern piece over if it fits better the other way. DON'T DO IT ! But mostly just take it slowly, and don't cut anything or sew a seam until you're sure everything's in the right place - enjoy - lockdown has gone very quickly for me with my trusty sewing machines .

Thanks Fernie lucky you to have a sewing mum happy to teach you.

I've sewn nothing over the last few days because of the weather but have been scrolling instagram and listening to the 'love to sew' podcast which is just brilliant.

I was planning to make a top but am feeling adventurous and might attempt a cotton dressing gown, I've downloaded a free pattern from simply sewing magazine. Sleeves though 😬

Ooh, exciting op, really glad to hear you're getting in to it. Good luck with the sleeves!