You do not need to buy fancy patterns or the most advanced computerized sewing machine to sew your own clothes or anything you want to sew. When I started, I knew nothing.
My sewing machine was old and very maddening. But after sometime I learned the basics and the magic happened – after many many trials and errors (which continues even today)
Infact, sewing as a hobby is therapeutic to me. It organises my somewhat disorganised mind. And the satisfaction of making something beautiful is beyond anything. Gifting a thing you have made yourself is also very fulfilling.
Read on to get a lot of your sewing questions answered.
Go to the articles to read more:
Practice Stitching Before You Sew a Project
Practice builds confidence.
Start by sewing straight lines on paper with pencil markings. This helps you control speed and direction. Then practice curved lines. Try both short and long stitch lengths and observe how they look and feel.
Before sewing garments, make sure you understand the stitches available on your machine. A simple refresher on common sewing machine stitches can prevent many mistakes later.
How much practise is enough? – Enough practice is when your stitches become more even, your machine feels very familiar. In my experience, practice is not measured in hours—it’s measured in familiarity.
One way to get this familiarity is by repeating a project. Repetition builds muscle memory. It improves accuracy. You will also gain confidence faster than constantly trying new patterns.
Sewing Techniques You Should Learn
Essential skills to master
- Selecting the right seam for the garment and fabric
- Choosing appropriate seam finishes
- Sewing a zipper neatly
- Stabilising correctly
- Cutting fabric
- Finding the grain on fabric
- Using the correct presser foot
- Sewing curves smoothly
- Finishing necklines cleanly
- Hemming garments by sewing machine –hand hemming
- Planning construction order before sewing
- Correctly attaching fasteners (buttons, snaps, hooks)
The inside of a garment should look as neat as the outside.
As a beginner, start with simple seam finishes such as zigzag stitching. Later, you can explore other methods.
Fasteners are also part of garment construction. Learn how to sew zippers, hooks, snaps, and buttons. Buy these notions before starting your project so you are not interrupted mid-way.
Basic Hand sewing Stitches
SEWING MACHINE BASIC Stitches
Using your sewing tools
You need only a few tools to begin sewing.
Tools needed to begin sewing
- Scissors
- Pins
- Tape measure
- Seam ripper
- A good sewing machine
The seam ripper deserves special mention. Mistakes are part of sewing. A good seam ripper makes fixing them stress-free.
Other tools, such as rotary cutters and specialty presser feet, are helpful but not essential at the start.
Body Measurements and Fit
Taking accurate body measurements is one of the most important sewing skills. Every body is unique. The main reason we sew our own clothes is to achieve a good fit.
When measuring for a close-fitting garment, wear the same undergarments you plan to wear with the finished piece. This small step makes a big difference in how the garment fits.
Choosing Fabric for Beginner Projects
Fabric choice can make or break a project.
For your first garments, choose simple, stable cotton fabrics. Avoid slippery, stretchy, or very thick materials until you . Always pair your fabric with the correct thread and needle.
Pre-Washing Fabric
Pre-washing fabric is essential.
It removes sizing used during manufacturing and reveals whether the fabric will shrink after washing. It also helps wash out excess dyes and surface chemicals. Skipping this step can lead to garments that shrink or bleed colour after all your hard work.
Simply soak the fabric in water, rinse, and dry before cutting. This step ensures your finished garment still fits after the first wash.
Interfacing
Interfacing is a stabilising layer added to fabric to prevent stretching and add structure.
These garment areas always need interfacing
- Button stands
- Buttonholes
- Collars
- Facings
- Zipper areas
Choosing the right interfacing helps garments keep their shape and last longer.
Pressing: The Hidden Skill
Pressing is as important as sewing. In fact, you may spend almost as much time pressing as stitching.
Press each seam as you sew. Pressing sets stitches, improves accuracy, and gives garments a professional finish. Skipping this step often leads to bulky or uneven results.
Cutting Fabric Correctly
Accurate cutting is the foundation of good sewing.
Learn basic cutting techniques before starting your first garment. Pay attention to grainline and fabric direction.
When you want a garment to drape beautifully, you may need to cut on the bias, which means cutting diagonally across the grain.
Start With Easy Projects
Keep your expectations realistic at the beginning.
Start with simple projects and gradually increase complexity. Move from basic tops and skirts to more structured garments like jackets later. Good beginner projects include tunic tops, kaftans, wrap skirts, kimono jackets, and elastic-waist pants.
When using a pattern for the first time, test it with inexpensive fabric or muslin. Make adjustments before cutting into your special fabric.
Learn at Your Own Pace
You can learn sewing through classes, books, online tutorials, or self-study. Choose what suits your learning style. A good class teaches in a structured way, starting from the basics.
If you are self-learning, patience and consistent practice are key. Sewing is a skill that improves with time.
By learning to sew, you gain the ability to create well-fitting, beautiful garments for yourself and your loved ones. Take small steps, stay curious, and enjoy the process.
SEAMS
EDGES & HEMS
Don’t worry, sewing is easy
Sewing allows me to be around one of my favourite things in the world – fabrics and clothes.
And makes me feel as if I have done something for the world when I alter, repair and recycle my clothes. And make things with scraps instead of dumping them into the landfill.
I learned a whole lot of sewing from the internet.Then I learned from books. Then from a teacher in a sewing class. Then I tried experimenting and learned some more. It is possible for anyone with passion to sew their own clothes with the guidance and resources available today.
I have read this guide top to bottom so many times that I almost have it all memorized. You might ask “Why?”. Well, aside from all the helpful links to point me in the right direction, so nicely put together on one page, there’s one particular reason. I tend to be kinda hard on myself, I can’t stand making mistakes or failing. So the one thing that has helped me most is knowing even someone as seasoned as yourself keeps a seam ripper handy! Thank you
Thanks for the kind words
Hi I like to say thank for this page, its helpful
Please where i can get iron on fabric per yards
I am interested to buy books on sewing published under your banner?
regards
do you provide any books to buy
Thanks for all these information,lot of things to learn here,love to go into designing,it’s so helpful.
How can I subscribe to your list
Thank you so much.This is helpful and quite explanatory and encouraging .Thanks for explaining in simple terms
Thankyou Ayomide. Glad that you found it helpful
Any free class?
HI SARINA
Hi ogochukwu
I’m glad to have found out your great work. It’s such a vast expanse of knowledge clearly outlining and discussing topics. Thank you.
Now, I’ve been saddled with getting material ready for our trainees and would humbly ask your kind permission to use information from your website to nudge them in the right direction. This will keep our Artisan Centre better positioned to deliver quality teaching aids.
Thank you again.
Hi Nelson
Thank you for the appreciative words and I am really happy that you think the information is of value. Please feel free to use the website, except to copy and publish in another website.
Best wishes
Thank you for the kind permission.
I am grateful.
This is very helpful
Thanks Abiodun
Thanks you very much
how to stich mask for coronavirus in home..this is very urgent need for the whole world.
other guides no important for this time.
Hi
Please have a look at this post on making fabric masks
hello, can you tell me which shirring or smocking machine is good for commercial purpose and which is also portable?
yes
great
Hi Sarina,
I’ve just come across your blog and love the content you are sharing to encourage people to sew.
The most recent post I could find was from January 2019 and I wondered if you are still posting regularly?
If so we are a family run sewing business and are always looking to collaborate with bloggers like yourself on sponsored posts or giveaways and I wondered if you would be interested in something along these lines?
I need to learn stitching please conduct classes in bangalore
I want to know more tips about sewing
I am serious about garment making can i learn more of this
It’s really nice and encouraging
want to learn how to make patterns
As a beginner I would like to take sewing lessons online,and this is amazing and I do have passion for it.
hi
i found your site, its awesome because i am learning lot from your site.
thanks a lot.
Wao! I love this and I have passion for it
Yea
I want to start a tailor’s shop very soon and find your data very useful . Thank you for this website.
I would love to help anyone wanting to start ant type of sewing business. 25 years experience owning my own alteration shop.
homeeconomics100@aol.com
Hi Sarina,
Just took a glimpse of your site. And its amazing, I was looking for something similar.
Grear work there!
I really desire to learn dis skill,am a total beginner from the scratch. The way u have explained in dis article gives me some hope and a clear insight to my future in dis new hobby. thanks Sarina. GOD bless u.
please suggest a good book , where we learn all that you have spoken in Sew Guide.Give us the best author to to learn all the modern types of tailoring garment with pap;er cutting, how to measure , wdhat amount of cloth we require, in E;nglish. Nirupa
Exilent
what is the width of the boxer short? only the length was stated.
Looking for some easy sewing guidelines and found this site. Your way of explaining is amazing. May be now I would be able to follow my new found hobby. Thanks!
Hi Anita
You just made my day; thanks for the appreciation
I love to venture into the fashion environment. I was searching for sewing for beginners and stumbled into you site. Good job. Time for me to get my first machine and begin. Thanks.
Hi Jubemi
Thanks ; Best wishes
Thanks for sharing from your wealth of knowledge. Thank you.I have learnt tailoring through the local apprenticeship training in my locality.I want to formalise my training,write a certifying examination,register my business and get started.Your work is really helpful.
Thanks for the encouraging comment
Thanks for all the info
Thanks for reading
I found your site searching for information on ribbon embroidery. Thank you so much for everything you do on your site. It is a plethora of information. I’ve taken a look around and I have already found so much that will help me with my sewing and embroidery skills. You are amazing.
Thank you for the sweet words ; really cherish the encouragement
Thank for all the information. I am over 70 and starting out to try and sew a capsule wardrobe and clothes for my family. One of my problems is matching material to pattern. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth
You are referring to fabric with designs that you want to align , right?. That is a problem I also have 🙂
which is why i make paper patterns and then place them on the fabric to see which suits best, whether the sleeve piece on left and right have the same design. You will have to guestimate and buy extra fabric though when you want this
For a general estimation of how much fabric is needed maybe this post would help https://sewguide.com/how-much-fabric-do-you-need/
Thanks