Absolute beginner sewing

[sandwiches77]

OK my skill level is zero and I don't own a machine. I just about know one end of a needle to the other, I think you get the picture!!

Without a machine I realise it is going to be hard to learn but I don't want to buy one with my zero skill level. What's the best way forward, can I hire a sewing machine? What can I start without a machine that is really really easy? I'm not a practical person and find crafts hard!

You could try hand stitched toys. Some come as kits, making it easier to gather everything yiu need. Luna lapin and friends are adorable www.coolcrafting.co.uk/product-category/luna-lapin-and-friends/shop-by-character/luna-lapin-and-alfie/

Could you borrow one? Do you know anyone who has a sewing machine?

Normally lots of fabric shops do sewing classes etc, but ……

Machine sewing is totally different to hand sewing. There’s loads of YouTube videos that may help.

I bought a new machine about 10 years ago as my other one is decades old and is really heavy. It’s a Brother and I bought if from one of those discount websites.

It’s light weight and very basic, but I don’t need loads of different stitches, and I suspect most sewers don’t either.

I’ve spotted loads on eBay, so would be worth considering.

I bought a fine machine for about £60 in the John Lewis sale, so you wouldn;t have to spend a lot. But probably someone would lend one to you.

A good project for just starting hand sewing could be some visible mending or sashiko, I have repaired a bag this way and it is lovely now.

Thanks for the link PickAChew

Notsoaccidentprone Tbh, I'm a bit scared of sewing machines it looks so complicated but just finished watching Sewing Bee and feeling inspired but realise I'm oceans away from their ability. I also don't really buy even a second one and find I can't get to grips with it.

I recently decided to take up sewing with 0 skill too! Mainly because I would love to be able to tailor my own clothes to fit me properly. I found a cheap £15 machine online, I figure if worst comes to the worst, £15 isn't a lot of money for me to lose. I've ordered some cheap fabrics to practice on and got some patterns ready. I'm bad at practical hand stuff, but good at following recipes/instructions so hoping for the best 😂go for it op!

My mum probably has a machine I could borrow, but she will probably laugh at me if I ask her (thanks for the confidence boost Mum), sorry really putting myself down here but I'm not the crafty type

Oooh you have given me hope Youarestillintherunning thank you

I'm so with you! For the entirety of the Sewing Bee, I've been putting the basic John Lewis machine in and out of my basket. My sewing ability until now has been either masks, or sewing in name tapes. But I'd love to learn, so may just take the plunge and hope for the best.

Think about what you want to make & then try the kind of sewing that will produce the thing you will love.

Felt is lovely to hand sew.
Simple embroidery can be lovely on a bag/pocket/whatever.
Want a special bookmark then pick up a cross stitch kit.
If you like notebooks sew a cover.
Etc

If you want to try machine sewing get a very basic machine, watch a couple of videos & just go for it. It's much much simpler than driving a car- it's not much harder than using an electric mixer to mix a cake!

BookShark I can sew in name tapes but not tried a mask

Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons what basic machine would you recommend

The basic John Lewis machines are great for beginners www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-jl110-sewing-machine-white/p317685

Agree with pickachew ⬆️
But even better would be to borrow a machine (if there is someone who is not your mother!). I have a spare machine & lots of others that sew a lot do too - I've lent it out before

Just don't get one of the "mini" machines.

I have similar to thisBrother machine

Really simple to use. And only 2 things to adjust - the stitch type/length and the tension (which is just a dial you turn till the stitches look even on both sides)

I agree , borrow a basic machine. I did most sewing by hand for years and I need to improve my electric machine use. My mother taught me to use a manual machine when I was very small and so that was all I had used until a few years ago. Manual machines are a good start really, not as scary as you control the speed all the time, and only one stitch. They appear in charity shops and on freecycle from time to time.
There are sometimes sewing machine classes, you could see if anything is happening local to you, or get a friend who uses one to show you the basics.

Lidl and Aldi sometimes have entry level machines, keep an eye out. Craft shops run lessons in normal times, look for a Saturday workshop

When I wanted to have a go ay sawing as a teenager I borrowed my mums dusty ancient machine that hadn't seen the light of day for years! Mum bought me a DK learn to sew book, some 1.99 a yard polycotten and a pattern to make pyjamas and I ended up with a half decent if very low quality fabric set of PJs I then trued simple dresses etc. But learnt most when I did a corset making class at the local collage which was great fun. Really it was a bunch of people sitting g around chatting while they worked with an expert to help out when needed.

My advice is ask your mum. Find a really simple pattern and some basic cotton fabric (not shiny, slippery, stretch) and have fun. I used simplicity, New look and burda patterns when I started. Now I like the look of some I dependent like tilly and the buttons (who i think does some online courses as well). Haven't sewn anything g except for alternations for years though. Kids. Sewing bee has inspired me to get theachine out again. I'll be seeing to ight while dh watches the football!

Glad you mentioned the mini machines Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons I was looking at those at Hobbycraft online

I'll have a look in the charity shops and ask my mum (I think hers will be ancient)

Perhaps I'm being too ambitious to go from zero to sewing something!!

Sewing machines are essentially a very simple mechanism so your mum's one may be absolutely fine - possibly better as older models often have less extra elements to bother about.

You are not being too ambitious! my kids all made skirts/cushion covers/bags from about age 5 - it's like computers kids find their way because they don't worry about doing it wrongly!

A shoulder/tote bag is an easy thing to start with - straight lines & no fiddly bits.

If you want to do it you can & will!

Never hide from ambition. The worst that can happen is your mum laughs at you for wanting to try, or you 'waste' a bit of fabric in practice. In the flip side you could learn a new skill and hobby and get a load of enjoyment from it. I've taken up a skirt and some trousers this evening rather than watching the football. It's not sewing bee but very useful.

Little girls are lovely to sew things for.
A tube skirt with an elastic waist, a pillowcase dress with bows at the shoulders, a sun hat or a pump bag.
You can find free easy patterns online and your finishing doesn’t have to be perfect. Just simple straight sewing on a basic machine.

The book Sew Fabulous by a Sewing Bee runner up Stewart Hillard has some good beginner ideas for home decor. I got it for about £3 on Kindle.

www.amazon.co.uk/Sew-Fabulous-Inspiring-Ideas-Sewing/dp/0297871323?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Thanks for the link Sgtmajormummy I'll have a look.

Sewing machines can be pretty cheap, or ask around your friends/family to see if you could possibly borrow one.

I watched YouTube tutorials to learn how to set it up. There are loads of step by step videos, that take you from unboxing it to plugging in the foot pedal, feeding the thread to the needle, getting thread onto the bobbin, etc. Just search for videos which have the same brand & make as the machine you have.

Then practice just sewing bits of fabric together in a straight line to get a feel for it. Once you're OK with that choose a very simple project. Last year my 10 year old dd was bored during lockdown so we started making facemasks to give to her friends, hair scrunchies, and sewed lots of bunting using old duvet covers.

I'm by no means great at sewing, I still wouldn't attempt doing zips or anything like that. But once I was confident enough that I could sew a straight line I cut up my dcs baby clothes and made a quilt out of them. There are bits that aren't perfect, but I think that just adds to the charm.

I would recommend getting good fabric scizors too.

Sewing is such a fabulous hobby - can't recommend it enough. I started randomly about 7 years ago when I saw a John Lewis sewing machine in the sale for £40 when I had some vouchers. The rest is history.

I'd recommend the JL basic machines or eBay and get started. The Tilly and the Buttons book Love At First Stitch is a really good starting place. I wish I'd found that before working my way through a complicated pattern and tricky fabric, because I had no clue! Good luck and I hope you enjoy it.