Help! I'm a TOTAL novice!

Hello! I'm looking to get into sewing and quilting soon. Can anyone recommend some easy tips or projects to get me started? I crochet only slightly and I want to get to where I can make all kinds of neat projects for the house, gifts to give, and hopefully a nursery one day! Any suggestions?

You need to be able to sew a straight line. You can practice by using lined paper and no thread in the needle. After that, practice sewing seams using a quarter inch seam allowance. First, find the quarter inch line on your sewing machine plate. Cut three pieces of fabric, say six inches long and 3 inches wide. Sew them together (two seams). Press the seams by pressing, not ironing (moving the iron back and forth). Nine inches, less 1/2 inch equals 8 1/2 inches. Your three pieces should be 8 1/2 inches wide. If it isn't, your seams are off.

You can also buy a 1/4 inch foot to help you.

Take sewing lessons, often you can find a mentor who will be willing to show you the basics and beyond.
Get books from the library.
Check out your local fabric stores. They may know of a teacher that does lessons in their home or have classes for beginners.
There are tons of you-tube videos on sewing and quilting.
I learned in 4-H, started when i was 9.
Lots of very talented and experienced people on this board to answer any questions and guide you to the information you need.
Welcome!

Next, you need to learn how to but the seams together. Take your 6 x 8.5" unit. Turn the 8.5" side into four pieces. Sew two of these pieces together, matching the seams. To match the seams, you eye ball it, but when you pin it together, you make sure one seam is butted against the other. They should not be on top of each other. You sew up to the first seams, make sure they don't overlap, sew over them. Repeat on the following seam. Press the seam and have a look.

You have two more units, sew them together, making any corrections you learned from the previous seam. Press and look. You have one more seam you can make. Do so.

I should note, if your machine won't allow a 1/4" seam, your seams will be uneven. The edge of your fabric should not be over the feed dogs. If your fabric edges are over the feed dogs, your seams will tend to wobble. If you have not yet bought your machine, try machines out to make sure you can make a 1/4" seam without the edge being over the feed dogs. A special foot will not help.

Thank you all! Do you recommend a certain sewing machine I should get?

I'd recommend a place mat or pillow. I think the easiest books to follow are Eleanor Burns f/quilt in a day. I have sewed since I was big enough to sit at the machine but I really did learn lots f/a couple quilting classes I took.

the type of machine you get depends on how much you can spend.
If you have a few bucks, go to a sewing machine dealer that offers lessons, Win win.
There are used sewing machines for sale everywhere, craigslist for example, thrift stores, etc,etc.
I bought my DGD a Brother from Walmart last year for 50 dollars. I figured if she broke it or lost interest it would be no big deal If she really gets into sewing we can upgrade.

I have Singers, Janome, an Elgin, a Necchi and a Kenmore.
If it were me staring out I would buy a heavy duty vintage mechanical machine. they take abuse

I like the older vintage machines. I have a White that is an absolute workhorse and will sew thru anything. My newer computerized machine is sitting......messed up.

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Ginnie..
http://ginniequilts.blogspot.com/
You can say what you want about the South,
But you never hear of anyone retiring and moving North.

See my post about the machine I got for Kenzie. It is a mini machine and might not be good for an adult but as Jokey said, if she decides she doesn't like to sew I haven't lost anything.

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I'm so busy I don't know if I found a rope or lost my horse.
coming soon - www.MyCountryCrafts.com

If you plan on making one project, a machine from Walmart is fine. Otherwise, go to a dealer. If you have problems in the future, they will be there for you, Walmart won't. They may also have trade ins that you can buy. And don't be sidetracked by fancy embroidery stitches. For quilting, you need forward and back. Ånd the back isn't necessary. The best embroidery machines are just that, embroidery machines.

sewing clothes or quilts or both?
Seems most suggestions here are for quilts and basic seams (which is what all start with).


When you get a machine, remember to throughly read the manual and understand it.

I swear by Janome brand machines. A basic would start about $150, up to the latest oversized one that cost $3,000.

And they have the 12 lb 3/4 sized with all kinds of stitches.

It all depends on what you want to spend.

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"Live your life, and forget your age." Norman Vincent Peale

I definitely prefer the older machines! they don't break as easy and they are easier to fix.

I would recommend this book:
It's very helpful. I have had one like it for years and you can get used ones for cheap from amazon.

My very first sewing projects were when I was 8 and they were for 4H. All states have a land grant institution that offers 'extension office' services and many of them include beginner sewing lessons for free or for a very, very low cost. If they do not, then they are often aware of folks in the area who might be willing to help you. I know that while my local office does twice a year 'master gardener' programs and they've backed way off the home ec stuff, they still offer beginning sewing in the early summer (for any age person) and they still offer 'canning and preserving' skill lessons each year as well.

Look for yours and inquire... you've nothing to lose.

Also, depending on where you're located, there are various quilt guilds, sewing guilds and groups that meet. One of the machine dealers here has a monthly 'club' meeting that's always informative and would be a great place to start looking for someone to help you. Guilds offer classes and 'sit and sew' times that are usually free as well.

Good luck with your getting started. Watch Craigslist for free or low cost equipment/fabrics, etc for those first projects, as well.

dawn

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Forward and back are the essential stitches, as Maura said. I use the back stitch all the time to lock the beginning and end of my stitching. If you want to do an envelope quilt, where you put the right sides of the front and back together, then sew around, leaving a turning space, locking really helps to keep your seam from coming apart there. Believe it or not, my DD #1 told me that.

Wow, thank you all so much! This is a lot of great info to get me started! :-D