So you want to learn how to sew? Congrats on your decision to enter the art world of fashion as well as learning a lifelong skill. When I first wanted to learn how to sew I had two problems: I didn’t have a lot of money to invest in what began as a hobby, and there were no local classes for me to learn from an expert as well as get hands on experience. Therefore, I did the only thing I knew how to do'”I made the decision to teach myself to sew.
Teaching myself to sew was not an ideal situation because I knew I would not gain as much hands on experience and learn from in-class demonstrations. However, I was determined to become a well-taught sewer because sewing and fashion design are my passions. Here are a few ways you can be a well-taught sewer, and be well on your way to creating and sewing masterpieces.
The first thing you need to do in order to teach yourself to sew is submerge yourself in reading. If you are like me when I first started sewing'”low on funds'”then I would suggest investing in a library card and using all their resources available to help you sew. For instance, most libraries have a decent supply of sewing books'”some you can checkout and some you can’t; therefore, I would locate the sewing area and checkout as many books available to you as possible.
In the beginning I didn’t have a sewing machine let alone thread and a hand needle; however, I found a roaming librarian and asked her where their sewing area was and checked out all the books I could manage to carry to the counter. Because there are roughly twenty libraries in my district, I knew there would be more sewing books in other libraries so I went on the library’s website and placed holds on other sewing books. You want to read as many sewing books as you can to get basic knowledge and skills before you actually begin sewing. It really helped me a lot and I found myself understanding the techniques better when I began to implement them in garments.
Second, if you don’t have a Youtube account I would suggest getting one immediately. In my early days of sewing, I wanted to learn from demonstrations but because there were no local classes I had to improvise. Therefore, I took to Youtube which is where I found an abundance of sewing demonstrations and how-to videos for sewing techniques. For example, I was so perplexed when I started learning how to read sewing patterns and I knew it was going to get even more difficult if I didn’t get outside help. One day I went on Youtube and typed how to read and cut a sewing pattern, and hundreds of results appeared. Although most people see Youtube as more of an entertainment outlet, I have found it to be an educational one especially when it came to my hand sewing skills. Just take your time and search for sewing skills you want to learn and you will be amazed at what you will find.
Next, invest in a good sewing magazine. It wasn’t until I was browsing around Joann Fabrics when I discovered sewing magazines. There are many to choose from ranging from fashion sewing to knitting and crochet. You have to search around for the one that will suit you best and one you feel you can always expand your sewing knowledge with. My choice of magazine is Threads Magazine. Not only do they have great articles about sewing (which I always learn something new) they also have a website with those same articles, an online community for you to interact with, and they have a collection of dvds for learning how to sew. Threads Magazine is what I call a one-stop shop because it has everything s novice sewer could possible want and need. You may not be able to learn from a sewing teacher, but you will be receiving expert knowledge and advice from the articles in the magazines.
Third, although blogs are a great source of entertainment and time wasting, searching the internet for sewing blogs can help in teaching yourself to sew. When I was searching for sewing blogs, I would come across all types of sewing levels'”from novice to experts to actual fashion designers giving away their secrets and knowledge for free. It takes time to sift through all the sewing blogs to find ones in which you can learn from, but it is not impossible. From reading sewing blogs, I have learned various techniques and shortcuts for sewing, I have learned from other sewer’s mistakes, I have learned to work with fabrics and how they can and can’t be manipulated, and I have learned which sewing tools are the best and which ones to stay away from. You can find a lot of valuable information from sewing blogs if you’re open to investing that much time on the computer.
Finally, create a sewing budget (the limit is up to you) and begin putting what you have learned to practice. In the beginning I could not afford a sewing machine, so I would purchase thread, sewing patterns, scissors, hand needles, and muslin fabric. All the techniques I had learned were implemented into that muslin fabric. I practiced my hand sewing, my pleating, and cutting out sewing patterns. I practiced, practiced, practiced, and practiced some more. I was determined to perfect my skills as a seamstress and tailor. You know what they say: Practice makes perfect.
Even though I didn’t have the regular resources to learn how to sew such as classes, I did, however, put the available resources I had to use in order to teach myself to sew. Thinking outside the box of “normal” learning is what allowed me to learn how to sew in the first place. I think if you follow the same route I did for teaching myself to sew, you will be bringing your creations to life in no time.
