And Sew it Begins: Learning Project Week One

Getting Started

This week, I got started on learning how to sew! It is something I have always wanted to try, but never seriously committed to learning. I have done a fair amount of hand sewing throughout my life, mending holes or fixing buttons every now and again, but I have never used an actual sewing machine to make something new. My Grandma has done a lot of sewing over the years and she taught each of her four children the basics, so this year she gifted a sewing machine to each of our families. I figured there was no better time than now to get started on this journey!

The first order of business was to actually unbox the sewing machine that I will be using for the duration of this project. Luckily, my grandma had already done some of the work of setting up the machine for me, so I didn’t have to worry about that just yet. The second thing I had to tackle, finding supplies. After a quick Facetime call and trip out to my grandparents farm, I had most of the necessary supplies to get started.

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This is where I ran into my first problem, of what is sure to be many. I had no idea where to go from here. So I took to the internet and started to create a list of resources, videos, patterns, and lessons for me to use and reference throughout this process. If you’re interested in looking at or using any of these resources, you can access the list here.

Next Time:

Over the next few days I plan on really digging in and getting started. Most of the websites and videos I have looked at so far suggest starting with something really simple so you can get a feel for your sewing machine; with that in mind, the beginning of my learning process should look something like this:

1. Practicing stitches and seams on some smaller pieces of fabric without using patterns (i.e. making pillows).
2. Using a simple pattern to make a piece of clothing (i.e. a top with only one or two pieces).
3. Using a more complex pattern (i.e. a shirt with more pieces, adding pockets or zippers).

At this moment, I am avoiding putting too many expectations on myself. I want to give myself enough time to really get good at a skill before moving on to something harder so I have held back on planning anything more than a few weeks in advance.

Some thoughts

I had a hard time figuring out where to start with this whole project. I debated whether or not I should jump right into practicing my sewing or if I should first take more time to read up and prepare. I was feeling a little overwhelmed with all of the options that I had and information that I needed to learn. I did eventually choose to take it a little slower, but I want to know:

• Did you experience any of the same doubts or cluelessness that I did when you first started your project?

And for any of you more experienced in sewing:

• Is there anything I should know or keep in mind while I am learning this skill or anything that you wish you knew before you got started?

Finally, I will be giving updates on my twitter account and through the EDTC300 hashtag, so if you haven’t you can head over there and check that out.