Maybe you've just come up with this crazy idea
that you're going to start sewing your own clothes.
Or possibly it's been in the back of your mind for a long time in that
you just want to learn to sew your own clothes.
Congratulations.
Because sewing is a very, very rewarding hobby.
And sewing your own clothes is it brings a lot, a lot of joy to your life.
I know it will, but there is so much to learn and to take in.
And I know the most complex questions are always
at the start in that where do you start?
When you want to sew your own clothes?
We are going to talk about through all that in this video to really
I want to help demystify the process in just how you get started
from the very beginning with the first thoughts of
I want to sew my own clothes. Where do we go from here?
So you can have the most sewing success ahead of you?
My dear sewing friends.
Welcome. Welcome.
My name is Evelyn Wood, the creator of VintageSewingSchool.com.
And there it's my online sewing school where I've helped thousands of people
on their sewing journey.
And here on this YouTube channel, we talk everything about sewing your own clothes.
I mean, quality clothes that you fit, that fit and you just love.
So we are on a series because this is start of a new year
and I know so many people start with this idea that it's the year right
start of a new year.
You think this is the time I'm going.
I want to start learning to sew my own clothes.
And so we're going to go through a series over the next month or two on real like
step by step,
all the sort of steps that you go through in the process of doing this.
Because there is a lot to take in.
It's not as easy as just picking up a pattern and like you learn to
sew. There's a lot of other stuff that goes on and that's where we'll go.
But we're going to take it back from the very, very first steps.
So if you want to follow the series, though, make sure you subscribe.
So hit the little subscribe button down below
because it tells YouTube that you want to see these videos
and even click the little bell to be notified.
So you know when all of the next come out, because I know you're going
to really love these videos.
So let's go through step by step, really practical guide on getting started.
Of course, the first one is getting your sewing machine.
So I have made some other videos here on how to choose a sewing machine
that you might find helpful.
And I'm going to link up all these videos that I talk about all down
below in the description box.
So go there for more details on all of those videos.
But the first step
is to get a sewing machine and maybe you already have the sewing machine,
but you need to learn it.
So the first steps are really just getting to know your sewing machine,
sewing straight line sewing curves, back stitching
seam finishes even, and just getting used to sewing
things together and figuring out all the buttons and dials on your machine
and getting used to that.
That is really the first step and you just kind of practice that
and don't worry, don't need to know what all of those things do at this point.
You probably have a need to a regular one and maybe,
you know, a zipper foot, but that's later on.
So don't worry about all those fancy things.
Just get used to stitching and back stitching
and all the all the different functions the zigzag stitches
and figuring out maybe what seam finishes that you want to do for garments.
If you have just your straight sewing machine,
you can do your zigzag stitch or an overcast stitch on your regular
sewing machine.
So just practicing those is definitely step number one.
Then of course, the second thing that you want to do is get all of the fun
and fabulous tools and equipment that you need to get sewing with.
And again, I have a major playlist of different sewing tools,
but really there are so many fancy tools and like they're,
they're really fun and they really help in your sewing.
But honestly, you don't need a lot to just get started sewing.
I cannot emphasize this enough
that you only really need a few basic things to just get started with.
You probably already have some things at home around
and it might only take a couple of like one trip to the store
to get a couple of things just to get yourself started.
You don't need much and then you'll just work on,
you know, you add more things to your sewing kit
after that as you upgrade to a nice new pair of fabric
shears, an upgrade to nice, you know, other different types of pins.
And I mean, the list is endless on the sewing tools and equipment, but
remember, you don't need much to get started.
And when you're beginning
all the fancy stuff you don't you don't know how to use and do with anyway.
So you don't need all that to get started and don't let that stop you either.
Next is choosing fabric and this is a big one.
Please pay particular attention
in that you want to start with a plain woven fabric.
So plain woven fabric is something like quilting
cotton or bed sheet material, right?
Do not pick some stretchy
T-shirt fabric or that lovely sequined number or even, you know, that
beautiful, silky, soft drapey fabric can be really hard to sew with.
And I have some videos coming up in the future on what
fabrics to pick as a beginner, so stay tuned for those.
They'll be coming up in more in-depth detail.
But you want to really stick with plain woven cotton.
Like I call this your you like your point, your zero, right?
Your starting point for fabric because you can focus on all of the other things.
Focus on your stitching like a straight line, getting it straight,
focus on the seam finishes, focus on cutting out your pattern
and learning a pattern and notches and all that stuff.
Learn on to sewing things together and just being at the machine and feeding
fabric through.
Get used to all that stuff before you add a really difficult fabric on top of that.
So it always really does pay to just start with a really easy, sensible fabric.
I know it might not be the most glamorous to start with,
but trust me, it'll help you learn faster because you will actually learn it
and see what happens.
And then you upgrade to different fabrics as you go along.
It's what I find is that the most success in my students as well.
And if you are at this point, I would really love to help
you get your machine started, set up and started sewing fabric.
This is what I do and I really want to help you on your sewing journey
at Vintage Sewing School.
I have a free class that actually is this whole part,
these whole three steps that we've just talked about already,
setting up your machine, how to use it properly, fabric tools and equipment
that you might use and just get used to starting
and all the different functions that you might need to do.
I always think that everyone should have access to being able
to get started on your machine. That's why it is free.
So I'm going to leave a link to that down below in the description box.
Just click the little tab and it will drop down
and you'll see the link to Vintage Sewing School.
And of course if you do decide to join as a full member,
we have everything beyond what you need to learn your own clothes from beginner to
advanced at the end.
So hopefully that is something that you're looking for as well.
But free class is always free and it will help you get all of those parts started.
So next up of course, is picking your first projects.
Well, where do we start here?
So I think that your first projects should always be something non-garment,
even though I know you're here because you want to save our own clothes.
I know, I know. I get it.
But starting with, say, a simple bag is an easy one, right?
It just lets you practice sewing pattern pieces together, cutting things out,
and just constructing something that's not very full on, so to say.
And you don't have fit and you don't have to put it
on your body often and then think, Oh, that didn't really fit.
Well, that doesn't look like something I want to wear.
You can just learn, get started sewing, get used to a pattern, get used to
all those things first on a nice simple bag project, non-garment project.
And then when you're ready to start your first garment,
obviously try and pick something easy.
And again, I have some videos coming up on exactly
how you would actually choose easy pattern projects
because even though it might say easy on the packet, not so easy.
So stay tuned for more videos on how to do that.
But start with something with not too many things going on in the pattern.
Quite simple and definitely not very fitted to something loose fitting design.
And you'll again, it might not be as glamorous
and you don't start with a beautiful, I don't know, 1950s dress, but you have
your eye on that coat with, you know, whatever it is that's that comes later.
Start with simple
and you just build and build and build your skills and picking projects that are
not that you don't want to pick something too hard.
It's that you don't want to accidentally pick something too hard.
And then you get totally disheartened because you're so overwhelmed
and you just thinking this, I can't do this.
This is not for me.
So it really does pay to just pick some,
you know, ones that are within your skill level
or just a step or two up so you can keep building and keep building
and see more success because sewing really is about building the skills.
And my big focus on when we're learning to sew is to focus on the skills.
So like zips are a certain skill, hemming is a certain skill, using facings
is a certain skill, under stitching is a little skill
and don't don't get too overwhelmed by all that.
But think about it as a bunch of tiny little skills.
All of these skills are all combined together to create an outfit
and a garment.
That's how I like to look at it.
So I hope that perspective helps with you picking some patterns and start
with those non
garment ones and move to easy garments and more complicated garments.
And a good ways to look at it is to just work on one little skillset
or thing at a time on each pattern.
And finally it just takes practice and have patience.
So sewing is a skill, it's a learned skill and it just takes practice.
The first time I did a zip
I can't even tell you how many times I must have unpicked that thing, and I'm
pretty sure I ended up throwing it out because it was so awful.
But now I can
sew a zip, you know, with only a couple of pins
and you know, it turns out lovely, something I'm really happy with.
But that's because I've made literally probably thousands
over 20 years of sewing.
So it is all about practice and that's only up to you
to just put in the work and please give yourself some patience with it.
It does require this and persistence, what I call the three P's in learning
to sew, patience, practice, and persistence know that you will make mistakes.
It is part of the process.
I still make mistakes now.
You'll still make mistakes in a year's time.
In two years time. In ten years time.
It's just so whenever you need to use your unpick for something,
just don't even give it a second thought.
Just unpick and like use your seam ripper, but just carry on, move on.
It happens to all of us and it is part of the process.
Don't be too hard on yourself.
I would love to hear from you down below in the comments section.
Where are you in your sewing journey?
I would love to hear what you dream of being able to sew because you know what?
I do read all those comments and I might just make a video
to help you out, whatever it is you put down there.
And if you are brand new here,
well, if you don't know yet, we are a community here.
And I can't even tell you
the amount of times of comments of people that have said they found the comments
section below this video, in the comment section from you
so helpful and it is a further resource for you.
So I encourage you
to leave your own helpful comments for others and read through them and like
and let them know that it was a helpful comment too, because we're all here
to just help each other out, learn to sew our own clothes better.
So please use that function and I cannot wait to hear from you down below.
So remember do click the after you've left your comment, do
click the link in the description box to go there because I have that free class
at Vintage Sewing School
I would really love to be able to help you further on your sewing journey as well.
So until next time my sewing friends.
Happy sewing, bye.