This episode is all about getting started with sewing! We recommend patterns, classes, and books for newbies, and explain lots of sewing techniques and fabric jargon. Find out what tools you need to get going and how to keep moving forward with your new sewing hobby!
- Kelly Anorak by Closet Case Patterns
- Blaire Shirt by Style Arc
- SMYLY Episode – Sewing Makes You Love Yourself
- Good beginner projects
- Tea Towel
- Pillow Cover
- Tote Bag
- Sewing techniques we covered:
- Seam allowance
- Notches
- Staystitching
- Basting (hand & machine)
- Pinning
- Clipping curves/corners
- Armscye
- Easing
- Pattern ease
- Understitching
- Pressing
- Fabric terms/jargon we covered:
- Selvage/selvedge
- Grainline
- Cross grain
- Bias
- Right/wrong side
- Interfacing
- Muslin
- Good beginner Patterns for women:
- Scout Tee by Grainline Studio
- Willow Tank by Grainline Studio
- Hollyburn Skirt by Sewaholic
- Rae Skirt by Sewaholic
- Wiksten Tank by Wiksten
- Miette Skirt by Tilly and the Buttons
- Bettine Dress by Tilly and the Buttons
- Springfield Top by Cashmerette
- Good beginner patterns for men:
- The Tee by Merchant and Mills
- Arrowsmith Shirt by Thread Theory
- Online sewing classes:
- Sewing books
- Colette’s list of 50 sewing books
- Sewing tools you need to get started:
- Measuring tape
- Shears (We recommend Gingher or Kai)
- Marking tool (We love Clover chalco liners)
- Pins (We love glass head or clover)
- Needles (machine and hand sewing)
- Iron (Caroline loves this one)
- Ironing board
- Wonder tape
Follow Helen! Blog: Helen’s Closet, Instagram: @helens__closet
Follow Caroline! Shop: Blackbird Fabrics, Instagram: @blackbirdfabrics
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At the risk of sounding like a broken comment record or a shill for ASG, I’d like to point out that the American Sewing Guild is a great resource for beginners in the US. Members get access to an amazing and expanding library of videos, including an extensive beginners series, and in-person meetings are a great place to get help from other sewists.
Hi Julia! You’re not a broken record at all! Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Hi Ladies,
Listening to this episode right now (on my day off, sewing all day!), and I just wanted to let folks know that if they’re in the Ottawa ON area, Fabrications Ottawa has tons of sewing classes for all levels from “never touched a sewing machine before” all the way up to advanced quilting, jeans making, and a swimsuit class later this spring! Our classes (I’m one of the owners) are super fun and we do our best to be inclusive of interest, gender, and size when we’re picking patterns and projects. Our website is: http://www.fabricationsottawa.com
Secondly, also for people in the Ottawa area, there is a brand new group called the Ottawa Garment Guild. The OGG is a supportive community of sewists, where the primary topic is anything to do with sewing garments. It’s like a quilt guild, but for garment sewists! The first meeting was just a couple of weeks ago and there were more than 40 attendees. People who are interested can see more info here: http://www.ottawagarmentguild.ca/
Thank you for those awesome resources! The OGG sounds really cool, we are jelly 🙂
Thank you for this! I have sewn a few items and I love having all of this information in one place to reference!
Our pleasure! So glad you find the shownotes useful. Thanks for listening! 🙂
Good morning, First I must say this is the first time I have left a comment for a podcast. And when I found your podcast (at the beginning of the year) I binge listened until I was caught up. I listen to a lot of audio books while doing all sorts of things (sewing, cooking, cleaning, etc) so I might get behind an episode or two while in the middle of a book or series but I always come back to hear your energetic voices.
While I am only part way through the episode (listening on my way to work this morning), I wanted to give another tips about pinning. I have sewn for 40 years or so (at least I started as a child so I am not dating myself too much) and I have pinned perpendicular and parallel. Honestly, it just depends on my mood. However, there is one instance that I will always pin parallel. This is when you are putting two pieces of fabric together that have opposite curves, convex to concave. This occurs on a princess seams a lot and to a smaller degree on the armscye (had to look up the spelling) when putting the sleeve and body together. The issue is that the edge of the two pieces of fabric that are to join are not the same length but if the pattern is designed well then the seam line lengths will be the same (unless there is a need to ease). So if you pin parallel right along the seam line taking only a small bite out of the fabric at each pin you can, potentially, have more success lining up the pieces. (Maybe this is more advanced than beginner tips but it is one of the reasons I would pin parallel over perpendicular.)
Thanks for the enjoyable podcast!
Hi Robyn. You’re right, this is an excellent instance to pin parallel. Thanks for your insight! Happy sewing 🙂
at first the users should know the basics of a sewing machines and the basic stitches. thanks for the lesson and the tips. very much helpful post. keep writing
Hello! I’m late to this party but absolutely loving the podcast and making my way through the oldies. Here’s my question: if a pattern doesn’t prompt you to do stay stitching at any point, is it still always necessary? Your mention of it in this episode was the first I had ever heard of it – I’ve made a couple of things already but haven’t seen anything telling me to do this stitch!
Amy, you should be safe to follow the pattern instructions! Some patterns clearly indicate to stay stitch. Otherwise, you should be fine to follow the instructions as-is. Thanks so much for listening and for supporting the podcast! 🙂