Tangled Thread - Tips, Trick and Tutorials in Sewing & Stitching

Learning How To Sew In 5 Easy Steps

by Cathy on February 5th, 2007

Susan McKenzie of the Sewing Garden talks to us today about getting started with sewing. If you’ve done some hand sewing, even a little, just follow these simple steps and you’ll be sewing in no time.

Ever see a perfect article of clothing or home accessory but it’s in the wrong colour or size? Or perhaps you don’t have enough money to buy a designer dress or pillow cover. Learning how to sew is probably one of the easiest ways to personalize your wardrobe and home décor. Often sewing your own clothing and household items can be less expensive than buying them from a store.

Below are five easy steps to learn how to sew. (All steps below assume that you’ve done a small amount of hand sewing.)

1. Master the first step – familiarize yourself with your sewing tools. Borrowing a friend’s or buying a second-hand machine is probably the most economical way to learn the ins and outs of a sewing machine. Make sure to read the instruction manual cover to cover. Why not buy the top model? Because, like learning how to drive, you want to road test this new skill to make sure it’s the right fit.

2. Sign up for a sewing class – most community centres, sewing stores or even school boards offer sewing courses for beginners.

3. Find easy sewing patterns – start of with a simple piece of clothing like a skirt. Most patterns are marked according to difficulty. Don’t set yourself up for failure by trying to sew say a prom dress for your first project. Keep it simple with say, a pillow sewing pattern. If you don’t have time to shop, many stores sell patterns online, making it easy to chose your project from the comfort and convenience of home.

4. Be precise and be patient – sewing is an art of finite measures. Follow your instructor’s lead. Make sure you measure twice always before cutting. Pay attention to variances of millimetres or quarter inches. Learning how to sew can be frustrating – seams may be crooked or clothes too small. Remember, sewing is reversible in many instances so be patient when learning new aspects of the craft.

5. Repeat, repeat – practice makes perfect. After completing your first project, do another one right away. Repeating new sewing skills right after you’ve learned them will ensure you don’t forget them when starting subsequent projects.

Follow these basic guidelines on learning how to sew and there will be nothing to stop you from decorating your body and home with your very own creations!

This article is courtesy of Sewing Garden, where you can find sewing patterns online including home decor sewing patterns

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_McKenzie

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