So this topic is supposed to be about advice to someone who wants to get into crafting, but I wanted to focus on getting into sewing, since that's my specialty area and it is also a topic I hope to talk about a lot to people in the future.
Sewing is the greatest passion in my life. It is the one thing that makes me happier than anything else. I can sew for what seems like a few hours, and a whole day has gone by. My mind goes to a happy place and my worries cease for just a little bit.
If you are interested in learning how to sew, there are a few tips I have.
If you don't have a machine, purchase a second hand one (craigslist, ebay, etc) something with basic features. If you find you enjoy it, and once you get comfortable, and are ready for something with better features, invest, but do your research!!
I was lucky enough to learn on my Mom's Janome. She never used it and lost the manuel. So after learning how to thread the machine and do a straight stitch, my mom found the manuel online so I was able to learn the rest of the features. I love my machine and do not plan to get a new one anytime soon but if I am to buy a new one, I would go with Janome again.
When learning to sew, I would start by using cotton. It doesn't stretch as much as other fabrics, and is very easy to sew. Stores like JoAnn's have fantastic sales so you can buy fabrics pretty cheap. I recommend getting a bunch of fat quarters to practice on.
Use patterns. It is so much fun to look through the pattern books and pick out a cute dress or skirt and think about all the possibilities you can make of it. I recommend an easy pattern to start with (most pattern companies have "easy" options) because it will teach you techniques and how to put together a garment (or handbag, etc). I had a very hard time following patterns when I first started out because I didn't know the terms and thought I was clever enough to make the pattern up as I went along, thinking that the end result would look as it should (wrong).
Invest in a sewing dictionary. Or find an excellent online resource to turn to. There are times when I do not have internet connection and need to look something up. My go-to guide is The Dressmakers Technique Bible. I love it and often turn to it for help.
The last piece of advice I'll give now is this. Don't get discouraged. For some, sewing comes naturally. Others need to really work at it (like me). I get discouraged when I see beginners cranking out these amazing designs and wonder how they do it. But I remember that it takes time and I need to put in the work to get the results. I've only been sewing for 6 years, and I can't believe how far I have come in that time. I can't wait to see where my sewing is in another 6 years. I might look back on the projects I've done now and say "How did I actually wear that?!?" But I will always be proud of what I make. Because it was made with my hands, from my heart.
