Learning to sew on a sewing machine was one of the most rewarding new skills I’ve learned this year. If you’re looking for a way to make your clothes fit better, extend the life of your clothes, or even make your own clothes, I really encourage you to try it!
While I’ve been into sustainable fashion for years, it’s taken until this year to finally try to learn to sew my own clothes, and more importantly, learn to alter my clothes. One of the most sustainable things we can do with our clothes is to wear them for longer. Did you know, by wearing a piece of clothing for just nine months longer, you can reduce its carbon footprint by 30%? I’ve been living by this principle for a while, but without having any sewing skills it’s meant that I’ve spent a lot of money on taking my clothes to be altered, which is rewarding, but can be expensive at times!
Once I found out my local sewing studio – Sew Fabulous – was just £35 for a Saturday Beginner’s Class, I jumped at the chance. That was the cost of just one small repair! And from there, I took up a longer course, and now I have the confidence to sew my own clothes. So, if you’re thinking about trying to learn to sew, let this post be the encouragement to go for it!
How To Learn To Sew: The Basics
It’s actually pretty easy to learn to sew. First, I recommend getting to grips with hand sewing. Start by purchasing a small sewing kit*. Make sure it has needles, thread, and an unpicker. Good kits will also include a thimble, snipper, and cloth patches too. My sewing kit was gifted by The Steamery and it has a great selection of sewing supplies that has helped me to repair numerous items from my wardrobe and my partner’s.
Next, try tackling a small repair, such as sewing on a button. I learned how to do this when I was small, with my mum showing me how. Whether you had this training or not, there are many great videos on YouTube that will show you how to hand sew.
Learning the basics of sewing – with hand sewing – will help you to understand how a simple needle and thread holds together our clothes. Understanding garment construction can also help you to identify well made clothes vs. not so well made ones!
Once you feel confident with a few hand sewing techniques, you’re ready to start learning to sew on a sewing machine.
How To Learn To Sew On A Sewing Machine
Now it’s time to learn how to sew on a sewing machine! While I’ve been confident with hand sewing my clothes for years now, I used to be really quite scared of using a sewing machine. I think the reason for my apprehension was learning to sew at school – and failing miserably. I remember a little Christmas project we did, and my terribly sewn red robin popped open and lost all its stuffing before I’d even got it home. From those few, fraught lessons, I believed a sewing machine was a scary, speedy, knotty experience. Spoiler: it’s not!
1. Try A Sewing Class
Sewing machines go as fast – or as slow – as you want them to. The most important part of learning to sew is doing everything in a controlled and calm way. There is a lot of measuring, cutting, and pinning that comes before you even turn the machine on!
Due to my fear, I decided to learn how to sew on a sewing machine at a beginner adult sewing class at Sew Fabulous, a long-standing sewing studio based in Brighton. Their classes are affordable, small, and friendly. You can read more about my experience in my review of Sew Fabulous.
That one session on a Saturday taught me how to thread a machine, start sewing, and even make a pin cushion for future use! So if you’re wanting to try a sewing machine, I highly recommend trying a sewing class near you.
2. Access A Sewing Machine
Next, I recommend finding yourself a sewing machine to practice on. Most sewing machines retail for £100 or more, so before you invest, it’s worth trying out your new skills on a sewing machine a few times. You can access a sewing machine for free, or very cheaply, by:
- Visiting a sewing school during drop-in sessions
- Borrowing one from a friend or family member
- Contacting a local college or university
- Renting one from a local library Library of Things
3. Practice Sewing Regularly
Using a sewing machine is a bit like riding a bike; a lot of it comes naturally after a few hours’ practice! To build up my confidence with sewing, I decided to book onto a weekly sewing course with Sew Fabulous after my first session. This took me from learning simple techniques – such as making a small zipped pouch – to altering my own clothes.
If you can’t access a sewing studio near you, the next best option is an online course. I really like Arkdefo’s sewing courses and they even have a free absolute beginners course to get you started.
If you’re more confident than I was, you may be able to go it alone. My friend Lydia Bolton, a prolific sewer and upcycler, told me the best way to learn was to follow YouTube tutorials and try easy sewing projects. She actually offers a few downloadable patterns on her website, and you can find loads of sewing patterns on Etsy*.
Sewing Resources For Beginners
Finally, if you’ve gotten this far, why not bookmark some lovely sewing resources that have helped me on my journey – and are inspiring me to go further! My aim for learning to sew was to be able to alter my clothes, and I feel like I’ve achieved that. Next, I want to try creating my own clothes!
Happy Sewing! Leave me a comment and let me know if this guide was helpful!
