Sewing 101 – Guide for beginners, like me…
Since I’m new to the whole sewing world, I put together a Sewing 101 – Guide for beginners, like me.
I included everything I believe is essential to start sewing from a sewing dictionary, threading a machine, tools, fabric and easy sewing patterns.
Sit back and enjoy all these great sewing tips and tutorials.
This post also contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Sewing 101 – Guide for beginners, like me…
Before we can actually start sewing, I believe it’s important to know all the necessary sewing terms.
Amber from Crazy Little Projects created an AMAZING Sewing Dictionary with Pictures.
Now that we have a useful dictionary to refer to, we should probably get to know our sewing machines.
Sarah from Dwell on Joy created a wonderful Sewing Machine 101.
(I’m sorry, Dwell on Joy no longer has a website. I will look for another sewing machine guide to share with you.)
This guide is very useful, full of photos and explanations. At the very end of the post she shares easy step by step sewing projects she created.
What’s really encouraging is that she was a beginner just like us when she created these posts.
We now know our sewing machines better, now it’s time to thread them. SCARY!!!
I know it seems scary, but once you know how and you have done it a few times, it’s really easy.
This video on how to thread your machine, is fabulous. YAY!
I found a great website called How To Sew from Better Homes and Gardens, they have a bunch of wonderful resources.
You might want to surf around their website, there’s lots of resources available to you.
Our sewing machines are threaded, now we need some tools to create some beautiful projects.
Pickup Some Creativity put together a Sewing 101 – Supply Must Haves.
They also have a GREAT Sewing 101 section, you should check it out.
One of the tools that I’m nervous about using is the Rotary Cutter. I actually already have one along with a self-healing cutting mat.
Purl Soho has a complete Rotary Cutting Tutorial section. It’s quite amazing.
We have our tools, we know how to use our rotary cutter… now we need some fabric.
A great place to get fabric is from Fabricworm. Not only is the selection GREAT, the staff is AMAZINGLY helpful.
You’ll want to check our their blog, they often have sales worth checking out.
Before we start to sew our new fabric, we might want to pre-wash it before we start.
Make It & Love It shows you how to pre-wash your fabric.
Make It & Love It is JAMMED PACKED full of helpful Sewing Tips.
I’m going to reference 3 more of their tutorials, but there’s a BUNCH more on their site.
Fabric is washed now perhaps we’ll need some interfacing for our project.
What is interfacing? Good question.
Our friends at Make It & Love It explain what it is, which we need and why we need it.
It’s sewing time!! But what stitch? Make It & Love It share basic stitches.
You’ll probably need a zipper… thanks Make It & Love It for the great Installing a Basic Zipper tutorial!
Craft Snob had a great Sewing 101 series, however the website is no longer updated.
She did share a wonderful sewing tutorial for beginners on my blog a few years ago: Triplet Tote Sewing Tutorial for Beginners.
It’s a fabulous tutorial!
I talk more about it towards the bottom of this post.
Now that we know all the basics, we need patterns to start sewing. A great place to start is at The Sewing Loft.
Heather has a great blog where she shares lots of tutorials. She also has a shop where you can purchase patterns.
Want more patterns? How about stopping in a Noodlehead?
She’s AMAZING!! And offers soooo many FREE Sewing Tutorials. I’m dying to try them. Really worth checking out!
Another great resources for sewing projects is Allfreesewing. So many great projects for every level. I have a few of my sewing projects there too.
Guess what? I attempted my very first sewing project!! YAHOO!
I used this fabulous step by step tutorial for beginners.
Trust me, if I was able to make a Triplet Tote (a tote with three compartments) you can too!
Tissue Cozy Sewing Tutorial for Beginners
Now that we tackled all these greats sewing tips for beginners, if you’re looking for some great sewing tutorials, you’ll want to check these out as well!
I have a collection of the best sewing projects of 2013, 2014, and 2015!
Top 35 Sewing Projects of 2015
Top 30 Sewing Projects of 2014
Top 25 Sewing Projects of 2013:
20+ Sewing Tutorials for Beginners
I hope you enjoyed this Sewing 101 Guide for Beginners (like me).
I very much LOVED putting it together.
Do you have some sewing sites to recommend to me?
P.S. If you are looking for more sewing projects, check out my sewing section.
What a great collection of resources!
Love it! One of my goals for the year is to learn to sew, so this post will definitely be in my favorites as I attempt not to screw up too much! Thanks!!
Bookmarked this page. I’m going to attempt sewing drapes for my kid’s basement playroom…haven’t touched a machine since middle school–yikes. Thanks so much for putting this list together!
ok so maybe i will attempt to sew this year? one thing i know for certain is that this post is a WONDERFUL resource! thanks so much Christine :) !!!
Yea! This world needs more SEWers! I love to sew!
FAB-U-LOUS
Learning to sew is on my 2013 To Do List and this post is awesome! I pinned it and shared on my FB page! Thanks so much:)
Christine! HUGE hugs to you! It’s quite an honor to be included in this post! It was a labor of love, and every so often, I get a comment from someone who learned from my very own tutorial – makes my day!!! Thanks for spreading the word and also for all of the other useful information in this post for a still-beginner like me! Pinned!
Hi Christine, I do know how to sew but I stick to crafts, not clothes to wear – maybe that might change this year ;-) Happy New Year!
This is just what I have been looking for, I brought a new machine in August and have yet to start using it!! Thanks for this post.
great resources! thanks
This is such a great collection! Thanks so much for linking up to Handmade Tuesdays @ Ladybug Blessings.
these are great! I know lots of people who will love this totally pinning
This is such an informative post, especially for someone like me, lol. I’m featuring it today and appreciate you sharing at Mix it up Monday :)
So needed this post !!
This is an amazing resource page you’ve put together. Thank you!
Lindsey @ http://the-dailyme.blogspot.com
Oh this is the best! You know I hate sewing and call my machine “Damien” because I think it’s possessed. I’ll be following along and hoping to learn more and like sewing someday!! Thank you!
I just started sewing too, so this is great for me! Thank you!
Thank you SO much for this! One of my goals this year is to learn to sew, and I can see this helping me out a lot! Bookmarked. :)
This is such a good post. I sew, but know of others who don’t. They would love this. I have shared it on my facebook and will pin it too!
I made drapes and then gave up sewing. Too much WORK! sigh… Pinned!
Such great information thank you so much for sharing this week at Pretty Things !!!
xoxo, Tanya
Vising from Classy clutter…what a great round-up of links you have! I’ve been sewing for years (and actually have my own small sewing business) but I’ll be pinning this for later. I am sure there are things I still need to learn or brush up on! Thanks!
What an awesome list of resources! I’m a total beginner at sewing, all I can do is replace a button or stitch a small hole. I’ve been wanting to learn more about sewing, though, so I’m definitely going to pin this!
This is so great! I’m going to learn to sew this year. Thanks for such a helpful roundup!
Pinned! Thank you for sharing.
Wow, I am SO flattered to be included on this amazing list! I can not wait to see what you stitch together this year!
~Heather
I love this…pinning and sharing! Sewing has become one of my favorite things…it opens up a whole new world for decorating :)
You are going to love sewing!!! It’s pretty addicting! I’m excited to see what you make. ;)
Found your blog from the Keep Calm and Link Up party, and as a brand new baby-sewer I LOVED this post! I’m starting the Learn to Sew Series with Crazy Little Projects and look forward to checking out all these other resources as well. Thanks for compiling so many great resources in one place!
The dictionary is so great. I have mostly taught myself from online tutorials from blogs and have even blogged about sewing myself but this helps! I will be referring back to this post quite often
I have been a sewer since I was very young. I am always happy to see someone else “get the bug”. Can’t wait to see your sewing projects! Please come check me out and hopefully I may be able to inspire you :)
Bookmarked this page to help refresh my memory on all of my sewing skills. It does come back though! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks you SO much for including me in this list. What a great roundup!
Christine,
Love this sewing section! Stumbled across your blog through the Frugal Crafty Blog Hop and wandered on to this page because I’ve been re-learning how to sew. Thanks for gathering all of these great beginner’s resources!