This is the thread on which you girls (and boys?) teach me to sew properly. As I mentioned on the knitting thread, I bought a second hand sewing machine. Nothing fancy. But now I really need to SIT behind the machine and tackle it (and my fears). How do I start? I don't even know how to thread it or put a needle in!
But seriously should I start with just trying out a few things? Maybe start a simple baby blanket? I now kick myself for not having bought Hello Kitty fabric in Okadoya (?) in Tokyo. Maybe I should beg my parents to buy some?
I have one book - forgot the title, that you girls recommended - but are there any sites that contain step by step instructions? PLEASE HELP.
― nathalie, Saturday, 16 June 2007 15:10 (eighteen years ago)
http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=GEUA,GEUA:2006-05,GEUA:en&q=learning+to+sew+online
I really miss having access to a sewing machine and might well pick one up. I can't be doing with knitting at all, but sewing is a totally different matter.
The word "sewing" looks really stupid written down, btw.
― ailsa, Saturday, 16 June 2007 15:14 (eighteen years ago)
Why don't you like knitting? Even though I'm still crap at knitting - I managed to make a gown 5 cm too long again - I think I'll probably like it more than sewing. The latter seems so daunting: so much more you have to do to achieve the same result (a garment).
― nathalie, Sunday, 17 June 2007 08:28 (eighteen years ago)
Because I don't like knitted things much, so it seems a bit pointless. My mum's forever knitting me jumpers that I don't like. Sewing is a much more useful and versatile skill.
YMMV, obviously.
― ailsa, Sunday, 17 June 2007 09:51 (eighteen years ago)
It took me a half hour to figure out how to lift the handle (that holds the fabric) and also turn on the light and shit. Then I proceeded to sew and the fabric went all over the place. Tell me it gets easier. ;-) I think I'll get me some cheapo fabric and try out some different stitches and how to turn. My goal now is to be able to make sheets and/or baby blankets. Then maybe - that's my highest goal for now - I would like to make t-shirts. That doesn'tr seem to hard, or is it? :-(
I find it all so overwhelming. With knitting a lot can go wrong - heck, I'm the living proof of that - but there's less prep whereas with sewing the preparation seems to account for half of the work. I mean, shit, I didn't even realize the difference between grain and stretch of a fabric (???).
Would I need to press when making a thick blanket? *sigh*
― nathalie, Monday, 18 June 2007 07:26 (eighteen years ago)
I've enjoyed sewing more than knitting since I got my machine just b/c it seems quicker. Was the manual still with the machine? I needed this learn how to thread it and everything. If not try to get this book: I have a version from 1978 but I'm sure the modern one's just as good. Excellent how-to for the basics.
Once you figure out how to use the machine just practice basic seaming and such on scrap fabric. Learn how to adjust your tension, etc. I would definitely start with simple things such as blankets, sheet, pillows on woven fabric (as opposed to stretchy knits or slick things like satin) until you get more comfortable.
― Ms Misery, Monday, 18 June 2007 13:35 (eighteen years ago)
There's a fairly extensive sewing thread already; is search not working again?
― Laurel, Monday, 18 June 2007 13:39 (eighteen years ago)
I do not mind repeating myself Nath if you have any beginning questions. I'm still a young sewer myself so remember those initial pains.
― Ms Misery, Monday, 18 June 2007 13:57 (eighteen years ago)
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1861/july/sowing.jpg
― Oilyrags, Monday, 18 June 2007 14:01 (eighteen years ago)
Laurel, I searched for it. I'm as crap at it as I am with sewing, I guess. :-(
Sam, I got that book. It's GREBT. Paged through it again. It is so daunting but I just take it one step at a time. I'll buy some scrap fabric tomorrow. I really want to do some blankets. Easy stuff. :-)
― nathalie, Monday, 18 June 2007 15:51 (eighteen years ago)
ILX Sewing!
― ailsa, Monday, 18 June 2007 17:12 (eighteen years ago)