# Info on sewing for someone who's never done it before? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2001, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999 "2001-08-19T10:15:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c67d28/32.png) [@Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_AL_Einstein)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/1 "2001-08-19T10:15:33Z")
I have searched for it, no luck. Is there a website out there with info on how to sew for someone who’s never done it before? ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/2 "2001-08-19T10:37:43Z")
If there is, I’ve never found it either. There seem to be two ways to learn to sew. The easier way is to find a sewing class (ask at any local fabric or sewing machine store; if there are any classes in your area, chances are they’ll know about it) or, if that’s out, track down a real-life friend who can show you enough basics to get you started. If classes are out of the question and none of your friends have the skills and/or patience to teach you, then you have to move to Plan B, which is learning from a book and/or pattern. It would help to know what you’re interested in sewing so that we can give you recommendations, though - Clothes? If so for what sort of person? Or are you thinking curtains, pillow covers, that sort of thing? ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/3 "2001-08-19T14:48:42Z")
Sew what? ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/4 "2001-08-19T15:44:56Z")
it’s not that hard. honest. i’ve made 4 dresses. you just follow the instructions on the pattern. just iron all the seams flat, and go slow, and you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/5 "2001-08-19T16:42:29Z")
Sewing isn’t that hard to do, but learning from books or webpages is VERY tricky. I’d suggest that your best bet is to find someone who knows how- know any old ladies?- and ask them to teach you. It’s much easier to learn when someone’s there showing you how it works and correcting you when you tangle yourself up. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/6 "2001-08-19T21:46:51Z")
Hand sewing? Machine sewing? Serging? Just sewing on a button or two? I’d have to go with the flow here and say that you need a person to help you learn the basics at least. If you want to learn machine sewing, our community college has classes just about every semester, even during the summer. So that might be your first inquiry. I learned how to sew both from my mother and more formally in home ec in high school. Check your local high schools, see if they’ve got night classes in such things. You might also check at your local “assisted living” complexes, see if you can put up a note on a bulletin board for a teacher. Most of the folks in these complexes are still moderately active and alert, and one might be very eager to pass on his/her knowledge to you, in exchange for the company. I used to spend a lot of time with an elderly neighbor, not because of any duty, but because she was an interesting person who had a lot to share. I learned a lot of stuff from her, and I miss her. ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c67d28/32.png) [@Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_AL_Einstein)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/7 "2001-08-19T22:21:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni \* > \*\*Hand sewing? Machine sewing? Serging? Just sewing on a button or two? \*\* I want to sew up some tears in the seams of some clothes, instead of just trashing them and getting new stuff, which strikes me as wasteful. Also, I want to sew up an old stuffed animal, for sentimental reason. ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c67d28/32.png) [@Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_AL_Einstein)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/8 "2001-08-19T22:33:46Z")
Whups, I also should have specified, strictly hand sewing, I have no access to a machine. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/9 "2001-08-19T23:47:05Z")
Hand sewing is pretty straightforward… Just in and out, in and out, for the length of the seam. The only thing you really need to know is to make sure to make things big enough. Three-dimensional objects like a stuffed animal or clothes with a person in them are often bigger than they seem (because you’ve got to wrap around a shape, not just cover it), and you’ve also got to make sure to leave enough space for the seams. You’ll get better and quicker at it with practice, of course, but that’s not really something that can be taught. ---
**Author:** ![gorewonfla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/da6949/32.png) [@gorewonfla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gorewonfla)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/10 "2001-08-20T01:19:38Z")
[http://www.ehow.com](http://www.ehow.com) has tutorials on: Casting on in knitting Choosing a fabric for sewing Crocheting a chain stitch Crocheting a dog chew Finishing seams Heming pants Making a computer cover, bedcover, beanbag, catnip toy, duvet cover, slip cover or throw pillow Purling continental style Sewing basic seams Repairing a ripped seam Sewing a ripped seam Sewing darts on clothing Sewing on buttons Stitching a sewing pattern Threading an embroidery needle I’m not sure how basic these are, but I’m pretty sure that at least a few should help ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/11 "2001-08-20T14:02:54Z")
Sheesh. :rolleyes: Ducky’s Sewing Class is now in session. Get a needle and some thread and something to cut the thread with (nail clippers will do). Cut off a piece of thread between 12 and 18 inches long. Take one end of the thread and wind it around one of your fingers about three times, then rub it and roll it down off your finger. It should roll itself up into a lovely wad. This is known as (technical term) the “knot”. Stick the end of the thread without the knot (duh) through the needle’s eye (that’s the _opening_, Al. 😃 ) Slide the thread back and forth through the needle’s “eye” until you have the “knot” end dangling down about twice as long as the unknotted end. Now pinch the cloth together that you want to sew and stick the needle in there. Pull the thread up tight so the “knot” catches in the cloth. Go back and forth all along the line of the seam (are these jeans?) Follow the line of where the Taiwanese factory operators sewed the jeans together originally. BTW, this is called “stitching”, what you’re doing. When you’re done “stitching”, you make sure the thread won’t just fall out of the cloth by making another kind of “knot”, this time by taking three “stitches” all directly on top of each other. It makes a teeny little “knotty” lump. Then snip off any excess thread and put the needle away somewhere sensible, somewhere that you won’t lose track of it (do not lay it down on the couch, where you will lose it and then sit on it later. 😃 ). They make an item of specialized seamstress’s equipment called a “pincushion” that is especially helpful for needle storage. 😃 And that’s all. It’s not rocket science. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/12 "2001-08-20T14:25:04Z")
And it helps if the garment in question is inside out when you try to sew it. That way you can see the Taiwanese factory seam. For the stuffed animal, however, just sew it up on the outside. The important thing is to keep the white fuzzy stuff from leaking all over the house. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/13 "2001-08-20T15:14:50Z")
What you’re after, **Weird Al** , is _mending_ rather than sewing. I did a Google search on sewing and mending and found quite a few sites. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/info-on-sewing-for-someone-whos-never-done-it-before/76999/14 "2001-08-20T15:15:24Z")
if you are repairing jeans seams, I **highly** recommend the purchase of a thimble. Denim is a very heavy fabric and it takes quite a bit of force to get through 2 layers (sometimes three, depending on the type of seam it had to begin with). Available at any fabric or crafts store, it will save you many a sore index finger. Place thimble on index finger of sewing hand (ie right if you’re right handed). Use armored finger to push needle through fabric (the back of the needle will settle into the dimpled surface of the thimble).