4 Important Things to Remember When You're Learning to Sew

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Sewing is a useful skill and lots of fun, but there is a lot to learn!

Whenever you’re learning something new, your mindset is an important factor in your success. This is no different with sewing… So, let’s discuss a few things you need to remember when you’re learning to sew to keep it fun and not overwhelming.

1. There’s No One-Right-Way to Learn How to Sew

If you want to learn how to sew, this is totally something you can teach yourself with a little determination. I think taking an in-person class is the best route, but videos will work.

Read: The Pros and Cons of Learning to Sew Online

People always say that YouTube is your best friend when learning to sew. I’m sure you can find useful videos on there, but sometimes you don’t know what to search for.

It’s hard to know what you need to learn…

I suggest you take a beginner sewing class if you’ve never sewn before. There are a couple of good options on Craftsy.

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Once you have a good handle on setting up your sewing machine, sewing straight, and using basic stitches, you can branch out on your own and follow sewing patterns. There’s no one-right-way to learn how to sew.

You can do this!

Here are Some Helpful Articles for Beginners

2. There’s Always Something New to Learn

I’ve been sewing for 20+ years and I am still learning new things. I feel confident sewing with knit fabric and following practically any sewing pattern, but I still have difficulty adjusting patterns for the perfect fit and choosing coordinated fabric for color blocking. I also have a gazillion projects on my mind that I want to try!

I often hear people say they are beginners even though they have been sewing for years. I think it’s important to realize there is always something new to learn. You really need to keep a growth mindset when learning to sew.

I’d love for you to Join Sewing Society’s Facebook Group. I want to see what you’re making! We can learn new sewing skills together and help each other when we run into problems.

3. You Will Make Mistakes

Sewing is not a difficult hobby to learn, but you will make mistakes. That’s just part of the learning process. I hope you won’t give up because mistakes help you grow.

I don’t know if I’ve ever sewn something without encountering a problem or learning something new. I recently made a bubble quilt for my son out of some super-soft minky fabric. Everything seemed to go well on that sewing project until it came time to create the binding. If you’ve ever sewn with minky, you know how difficult it is to sew multiple layers together without everything shifting. I practically ruined my quilt trying to remove stitches, and I had to come up with a different method to bind it. I’m still not 100% happy with the result, but I learned something new…

It’s also important to remember that nobody will notice the little mistakes you make! Don’t get in the habit of saying things like, “Don’t look to closely at the stitches,” or, “It isn’t perfect.” Most people will be impressed that you’re able to sew anything at all.

Sewing machine problems are going to happen — it’s inevitable. That’s why I created a sewing machine troubleshooting book. It’s a nice resource book to keep with your sewing machine.

4. Sewing Is Not a Race

One of the biggest reasons why I like to sew is that I can create unique items that you can’t buy anywhere. Just check out this fun bomber jacket I made from Sew a Little Seam!

Sewing takes time…

You’re more likely to make mistakes when you’re trying to rush and get a sewing project finished fast. Instead of speeding through your sewing projects, slow down and enjoy the experience!

I try never to set sewing deadlines for myself because it takes the joy out of sewing and leads to burnout and resentment. Has this ever happened to you?

Read: How to Get Your Sew-Jo Back

You need to keep sewing fun!

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