Question:
Is it possible to teach yourself to sew? There is no one in my family that sews, & I want to learn. I am hours away from any of the sewing stores so can't take lessons. Surely if I read the manual, a few books or links maybe I can? Even if I just started with something that looks simple like a pillowcase to figure it out? I have never even sewn on a button.
I will need to save up to get a machine but am lost there too.... it looks from reading a bit online that I want to get one that does these things although I have no idea what they are:
1 step button holer
drop in bobbin
free arm
what else?
It appears that you can pay between $150 up to $5K! for a machine. I certainly can't afford a Bernina or anything near that. I don't want to get one that I will outgrow quickly, nor do I want one that has a lot of features I won't need/use b/c that is just more things to complicate learning, am I right?
Any tips, ideas, machine suggestions appreciated.......thanks.
Answer:
The sewing machine isn't all that important. You want a nice one, eventually, but for learning you can get one at an auction or estate sale for $20. Just make sure it works.
To teach yourself to sew, buy a basic A-line skirt pattern, or an apron, or a t-shirt. Get some inexpensive fabric, and get started. Go into it knowing that you will never be able to wear what you're making, but you will learn a lot.
Sewing is like painting or cooking. The more you do, the better you'll get at it.
Answer:
Jayne has good advice, especially if you are a learn-by-doing type of person.
If you do this, take a look at the pattern sites and pick a 'learn-to-sew" pattern - the benefit is not only that they are 'easier', but the instructions are more complete and don't ASSUME a lot of prior knowledge.
Can you borrow a machine from someone for a few weeks?
If you are a person that learns better by WATCHING someone else work, then see if there are some PBS sewing shows in your area. Sewing with Nancy is a good one. Also some of the more basic quilting shows will give you good ideas and show you close-ups of actually sewing and prepping fabric and patterns.
Books: Sewing with Nancy's Nancy Zieman has a 'Learn to Sew' type book that was technically written for preteens (for Wisconsin 4-H), but it's about as thorough and clear as you'll find. It's the first one I have students buy if they have not sewn at all before.
More questions? I'll come back later ...got to get this tax prep done. Maybe other people here have different suggestions?
Elaine
Answer:
I agree with both Jayne and Goodworks, although I DO believe that a Good basic machine is Very important. You're not likely to stick with it long enough to learn if the threads knot up and the needles break over and over again.
I think borrowing a machine from a friend or neighbor is a great idea. Surely you know someone who might even be willing to basic lessons on their machine and let you use it for a few hours. You could even use it at there house long enough to tell whether you would be interested in pursuing your sewing interest.
I wish you lived close enough to spend a day with me, we would have a great time.
Joan
Answer:
Originally Posted by Joan ...I DO believe that a Good basic machine is Very important. You're not likely to stick with it long enough to learn if the threads knot up and the needles break over and over again. Yes, I'd agree with this. That's why I wouldn't start with trying to sew a knit, unless you KNOW you've got a good enough machine to sew that kind of fabric.
I wish you lived close enough to spend a day with me, we would have a great time.
Joan Wow! Wouldn't that be a great time! I'd come too!
I too LOVE getting folks started with sewing!
That's the worst thing about the internet...all these wonderful folks and you can't get together easily to swap stuff and teach each other stuff...
Elaine
(Joan, are you far from San Antonio? My cousin lives near there, but I haven't visited her...yet.)
Answer:
Elaine, I'm not at all close to San Antonio. Probably a 7 hr. drive. Wouldn't it be great if we could all get together. I would love it.
Joan
Answer:
Wow, thanks for all of the replies! I was afraid my post wouldn't get looked at in this forum. It is more active over here than I thought it would be.
None of my friends or family members sew & have no machines except for my mil & she sews very little. She says hers is very old & has strange quirks that it takes time to figure out. I was thinking the last thing I needed was to mess with that when I am already going to have to struggle to figure out what is what. I actually have one of these in the garage I bought for resale but wouldn't it be much easier to lean on a modern machine? This thing has to be hand "cranked" (or whatever the proper word is) It of course has no instructions either. I don't want the frustrating part to be the machine itself. I wouldn't no where to begin with that thing or if you can even still get needles for it. I couldn't even identify all the parts that came with it, which is why I haven't sold it since I bought it 2 years ago lol.
Is that other stuff I mentioned important? (the drop-in bobbin etc) I keep reading online to make sure what I get has that......sorry that I am so clueless.
edited to say I just realized the one in the link is electric - mine is manual.
Answer:
Mine looks just like this one (but probably not worth as much lol) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...1135 291&rd=1
Answer:
The auction you linked to was for an electric machine. Is yours a hand-cranked one that looks sort of like the one in the auction? If so, it might be one that's been adapted from a treadle. I think the 30-TC is a black hand-cranked machine, but it was made from 1990-1996.
I wouldn't worry about the 'drop-in bobbin' thing. If you buy a decent machine it'll have a good bobbin system, whether it's drop-in or not.
I think we have some older threads here at here discussing/suggesting machines to buy, both new and used. You might try those and then come back with more questions.
Generally if I were buying new these days, I'd stay away from anything under $300. But that's not nearly enough info just by itself.... Take a look around and see if you can find those threads... I'll be back later and might have time to track them down then...
Elaine
Answer:
lol
I'm slow! You wrote again while I was composing...
I'm not sure about those 99's, whether or not they are good mechanically. The other ones (non-crank style) aren't worth a lot (according to the blue book...but this may be somewhat out of date) The owners manuals for these old machines are available for free download on the Singer site -- it's a pdf file, I think.
I think if I were you I'd list it for sale or else just keep it around for display or to try when the electricity goes out! lol I personally think it'd be a pain to only sew with one hand (especially when learning)
About the other features, a one-step buttonhole is good if it's a GOOD one, but if it's not, it's completely useless. Some of the $600 - $1000 better machines have 4 or 5 step buttonholes that really are easy enough to use.... and you can adjust things if you need to...
Back later...
Elaine