The first thing you want to do is get your machine serviced. The person who does this will clean and lubricate the machine and check the timing and tension and do all sorts of things. That machine has probably been collecting dust for a few years.
Now, check the machine make and model. Go to this site and order a manual. Or Google the make and model and “manual” to see if someone else is selling it. As a beginner, you absolutely need that manual. Your machine will probably be in the shop for a few days, so you can order the manual while it’s there.
There are a gazillion sewing sites out there. I know that my local community college sometimes offers sewing and quilting classes of various levels of difficulty.
I would advise sewing things that aren’t critically fitted at first. For instance, pillowcases are fairly easy to sew, and will give you practice in cutting out fabric and then sewing long, straight seams. And you do need practice. Similarly, napkins can be good practice.
A word as to sewing notions: you will see a lot of thread out there that is incredibly cheap. DO NOT BUY IT, unless it is discontinued. The cheap thread will make you cry if you try to sew with it. It will shed tiny bits of fibers, and it will break, and it will snarl. It might be cheap, but it is no bargain.
I don’t know where you live or what’s available to you, but I’ve noticed that big fabric stores near me often have areas with sewing machines set up in a classroom-like arrangement, and offer classes in several skill ranges, from beginners to advanced tailoring. I’m sorry I’ve never paid much attention to what they cost, but it might be worth checking out.
The needle might even just be loose. After a while, the motion of the machine can work the screw that holds the needle in place loose, which makes your needle slant instead of going straight up and down. Once this slant gets bad enough, the needle starts to hit the presser foot or throat plate.
Big fabric storeS? As in more than one? Round here we’re lucky if there’s one within 15 miles! (Of course, I prefer stores with the merchandise “displayed” like Mood on “Project Runway”. Apparently, not many agree with me.)
I agree with looking for classes at a fabric or craft store. But, personally, I learn better if someone shows me. My mother was self-taught and I think she felt I should be able to do the same so she only showed me the basics. I’d like to learn about everything my machine can do and when to use different techniques.
I need to get all my machines serviced. I got my mother’s machines when she went into a nursing home and they had been stored awhile and my machine has something wrong with it (won’t turn). One of her machines is a serger and I haven’t the first clue on how to use it. But once I get all that done I might take some classes myself.
By the way, about the pins, if you don’t go too fast you can try pulling them out just before they go under the foot. This way you don’t need to worry about breaking tge needle. Keep something handy to drop the pins in as you go.
After my needle snapped while sewing over a pin and the broken half pinged off the glasses I so luckily happened to be wearing, I now pull each pin out before sewing past it.
I use a magnetized parts dish I bought at a hardware store to toss the pins into while sewing. Cheap magnetic parts dish at Harbor Freight.
I would also like to suggest thrift stores for cheap fabric to practice simple projects like pillows or reusable shopping bags. You can utilize the fabric from items like bed sheets, curtains, or even big caftan dresses for much less than buying new fabric. I have also used old canvas paint drop cloths for making shopping bags, and bed sheets to make patterns
Look at your own clothes to see how they are constructed; look at the separate pieces of fabric, how they are joined, where darts are used, ect.
Altering existing garments is good practice as well, you can start with hemming and move on to things like making a skirt from the bottom of a dress or a shirt from the top. You may even want to deconstruct a simple garment and use the pieces as a pattern to make another one (again, thrift store clothes are great for this purpose).
There are a couple of JoAnn Fabric stores located within 10 miles of me. Huge, big box places. I don’t know if this is a national chain, but if the OP is near one, they do offer classes.
Some good advice in this thread already. If you like to learn from books, or have them to keep as a reference, I recommend the Singer Reference Library ones, like this:
Clear explanations, great pictures, easy to follow. THere are several of them, from beginning to advanced topics, tips and tricks, etc.
JoAnn’s is a discount fabric and craft store. You really have to be careful about choosing fabric in those stores, because a lot of it is of very poor quality.
You should tell us the make of the machine first. (:
I’d go online and find easy crafts. There’s a book for beginners on Amazon about what you can do with a yard…I think it’s a good start. My first thing I made was a Kindle cover. That was 5 months ago and now I’m making kids clothes and stuffed animals.
I also have a cheap Brother computerized. It does help. I won’t lie. Being able to switch stitches with a few jabs of a button is great.
Threading the needle (for me) is always the hardest part of a new machine. I had problems with my mom’s and with my home ec one. But once you get used to your machine, you should be able to do it in no time.
Yes, but it is good for crafts…there are mom and pop type shops (unless you live in a fashion district and have a good budget) you can try, but for beginning sewing, go for JoAnn’s. At least for now. (:
edit: ebay can be great. for embellishments and some of my son’s things, I’ve done Robert Kaufmann - so far, so good in the wash.
