Beginner Tips from a Beginner

Starting to sew from scratch can be a complete mindfield (I know it was for me... ) so I thought I would share with you some top tips that I have found to be really useful as I get to know my machine and learn how to make stuff... so here goes (in no particular order... )

• Invest in Tailors Chalk. When I started I bought the recommended air-soluble and water soluble pens and while these do the job they intended, I prefer chalk because it comes off so much easier. It makes me feel more confident in marking the right side of material if I need to. Personal choice but I am so glad I made the step towards chalk.
• Learn to sew zips early on. Everything I have read about zippers made them sound difficult to use and I have spoken to people who have been sewing for years who have always avoided making anything with a zipper (?!). My advice is to learn this very early on when you know nothing about anything, that way when you get good at sewing you'll have this skill ready to go. My first zipper was scarily wonky but just a couple of weeks in I am really proud of what I can produce. It is easier than you might think!
• Watch some tutorials. When I started to read about how to sew I got very confused very quickly so I started to watch some tutorials. This made each stage much easier to understand because I could see someone doing them. There are a lot of bad tutorials on Youtube so be careful but a couple of good ones to look out for are Whitney Sews and Craftygemini. They both offer lots of tutorials that are simple clear and easy to do. I also really recommend Craftsy. This is an american site that offers tutorials for all crafty things (not just sewing) and sells patterns etc. For beginning to sew I really recommend Sewing Studio by Diana Rupp (I wish she'd do more tutorials), although this is a paid tutorial it is really worth the fee. They also have some free tutorials, definitely check out Kirsten Link's Bag making basics.
• Don't buy the cheapest machine you can find. I did this as you can see in my previous post and I very quickly ended up buying an upgrade. I am afraid with sewing machines you really do get what you pay for. Buying a machine is a mindfield but some things to bear in mind are - get a well known make so when you need it repaired or bits replaced it can happen, get an automatic button hole, and as many stitches as you can afford. Also worth testing the machine out so always go to a dealer, not a big chain store.
• Start with something relatively easy, like curtains, or a pillow case.
  
  I find it best to develop skills as I go, on the job so to speak, rather than learn everything then try and remember it all. A-line skirts are also fairly straight-forward (I have just completed my first one).
• Attach yourself to some sewing groups on Facebook (or where-ever). When you run into problems, the people on there have been sewing for years so will be a wealth of information and help. They can also give constructive feedback on what you produce.
• When buying fabric online buy a fat quarter. You never quite know what you are getting for your money when you buy fabric on the internet so I have found it a good idea to just buy a fat quarter (a quarter of a metre in a square). This is much cheaper, you get to see and feel the material and there are plenty of things you can make with a FQ. I have decided to sometimes buy more, and sometimes not, but at least you get a tester first.
• Tell people you are learning to sew. Others love to give advice and lets face it when starting out we want to absorb all the knowledge we can. Its great to find out lessons learned by others and also it can be re-assuring to know that we are sewed darts on the wrong side...
• Search out other sewing blogs (like this one, well done :-)). There are so many out there, it is great to connect with other sewing enthusiasts and build your community.
• Trial and error is the best way to learn. It's all good and well watching tutorials, reading books and listening to others (all great things that will definitely help you) but sometimes you have to dive in head first. Great sewing can only come from practice. Don't be afraid to try something new; it doesnt matter if you balls it up (just don't use your beloved material on the first go!) because the more you try something the better you'll get and the more confident you'll grow.

Upgrade Fun!

I have been sewing less than six months (actually I only really got into it in the last month or so) but already I have upgraded my machine.

When I decided to get into sewing I bought an Ikea sewing machine. I thought for £45 I couldn't go wrong. It looked pretty (my boyfriend said it is like a "fisher-price toy") and I am afraid that is as good as it gets. It is a nice machine to learn on when you literally know nothing about sewing and you want to learn to sew in a straight line, but pretty much as soon as you find your way around the major components of it, it is time to upgrade.

I was browsing online for a few weeks before I decided which machine to buy. I have a little knowledge on the subject but, really, I don't know much at all - so it has been a learning curve. 

I knew I had a certain amount to spend, which wasnt a great deal but enough to get a better machine. I didn't know which brand to go for though. I have heard pretty bad things about the contemporary Singer machines so that was out of the question. Doing my research I found other options to be Bernina, Brother and Janome. There was another brand recommended to me called Babylock and I did like the look of the machine (you got a lot of bang for your buck) but they were only selling through registered dealers (not online), and even then the dealers were few and far between.

Babylock Sewing Machine

I did however find a dealer a short train ride from me so I was in luck. Armed with my delivery man (aka the boyfriend) we went to the shop. They didn't seem to have any Babylocks on display so I was considering other options. It is a family run business and I got chatting to the mum who was a wealth of information. I explained I am fairly new to sewing and need a machine that will help me to develop my skill. We went through the machines in my price range and whittled it down to the Brother XR37NT.

It is a modest machine but compared to the Ikea machine it is a godsend. The lady in the shop let me have a go in the shop and showed me the different functions and explained how everything works. I liked how it had special stitches for sewing on elasticated material and it also came with a hard cover.

The first thing I noticed when using it is how much easier material glides through the feed dogs and it is so much easier to keep the lines straight. The machine threads easily and has an automatic feeder for the needle which I LOVE. It took a little while to work out how the automatic feeder works (despite being shown in the shop) but I wouldn't be without that little feature now.

The woman in the shop said if I want a lesson any time then I should ring up and come in and she will do that, and if I get any problems I can also contact them. I have heard a lot about after sales care when you buy from a dealer, and this company are very good. (The website is not up to much but the shop is lovely)

So now I have my lovely machine, I am going to have to make lots of lovely things, so please keep your eyes peeled on this blog for more posts very soon.

Why don't you comment and tell me about your experience of buying a machine. I am really interested to know what you bought and where you bought it from and whether you are happy with it. 

There is also a poll on the right-hand column in my blog so please take part.