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10:13 am
November 9, 2010
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My mil gave me a Brother sewing machine for christmas, I have been wanting to learn how to sew for a very VERY long time….the only problem I have is that the directions on how to use the machine are in greek to me and I would love to have her show me but she lives about 11 hours north of me!
So I am coming to here to ask for help. I am needing a few ideas on what to start out to make, as a first timer it needs to be easy, haha. Any ideas?
10:22 am
October 18, 2010
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A potholder!
When I learned to sew many, many years ago (on a manual treadle Singer!), the first thing I learned was to draw lines on paper, and "sew" very slowly with the needle but without thread on the lines to learn how to maneuver the machine.
Then I learned how to thread it, and used colored thread on a piece of an old sheet to practice further.
Try to learn one step at a time so it won't seem so overwhelming. Look in a fabric store for easy beginner patterns for simple things; a pillow, potholder, curtain, apron, etc. You will love it I'm sure!
We're looking forward to seeing pics of your progress!
10:43 am
June 1, 2010
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absolutely agree with brookdale…freezer paper works well, try straight seams and use a saucer to trace circles to practice on. pillow cases, gathered skirt, Beginner patterns with no more than three pieces and no small details. I wish you leaved nearby, we could have a great time together
10:48 am
November 9, 2010
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So do I!! I will do that with the paper, that sounds like it would be good practice and when, not if I mess it up I dont have too much invested in to it. My hubby sighed when I opened it up, he said I already have too many crafts…haha!
10:57 am
February 22, 2010
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When I first started sewing I used to practice with an unthreaded needle on paper. First just straight lines and then circles and then we did squares and practiced turning corners. Then I graduated to lines drawn onto fabric with thread in the needle.
The first thing I made was a table cloth and place mats. I made that in 4-H and my mother still has the table cloth… almost 50 years later!! Next I made a drawstring apron from then on there was no limit! When I was in highschool I made a dress coat! Love to sew!
You'll do fine…when you're learning don't rush. Your first attempts may be laughable…but we all need a laugh now and then
.
Let us know how you are doing!
7:05 pm
January 9, 2011
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Wow, mamaleigh. I am so happy for you. I have a Brother now but i first learned to sew on a cabinet Singer that was gifted to my Mom from her Mom. I sold it in a garage sale 20 years ago and bought the Brother but I have always secretly regretted that decision. Not that the brother isn't any good, its the sentimentality.
I took a sewing class in Junior High and was instantly bitten. I remember sewing without thread, chalking patterns and ironing, ironing, ironing. Like others suggested, pillows, aprons and tableclothes are great to start with.
Good luck, have fun… and iron, iron, iron!! ;^)
7:16 pm
January 9, 2011
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Another thought; take a scrap of fabric and learn all the different stitches that your machine will do. Practice each one slowly, adjust tension as needed. Reverse, turn and continue. When it comes to sewing I think that patience is definately a virtue.
7:36 pm
December 14, 2010
Online
My brothers and I learned how to sew when we needed small bags for collecting our boy treasures . We lived near a golf course and were very skillful at finding lost balls. We wanted draw string bags to keep them. Mother showed us how and then we were on our own. When a pair of trousers gets worn through at the knees the lower legs make fine small tote bags. People are constantly throwing perfectly good fabric away. Sometimes it is on a sofa or an easy chair. A worn out dish towel folded into a square and stitched around will make a servicable pot holder. If it is too thick then it will make two pot holders. Practice on things that don't matter but will be useful no matter how they turn out.
I used upholstry swatches to recover the seat cushions on four kitchen chairs. That is a more advanced project but the fabric was free for the asking at a local furniture store.
10:06 pm
December 28, 2008
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If there is a fabric store in your town, you might ask them if there is someone around who could mentor you – perhaps a church group, or they might have a very basic sewing class at the shop. County Extension Service might also know of a 4-H type program for adults in the area.
You certainly can learn it on your own, but a little time with a mentor might make things go easier, and some issues with your particular machine can be pointed out. After you get familiar with how it operates, that instruction book might even make sense!
Have you looked around the Brother site? It looks like they have some instruction videos. Maybe those would help?
http://www.brother-usa.com/Hom…..fault.aspx
10:26 pm
June 26, 2011
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Is this a new machine? If so, a Brother dealer should be offering sewing lessons. Free or at a nominal cost.
12:00 am
January 2, 2011
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Congratulations on your machine! My first sewing machine was a Brother & it was a great machine. It's still hanging around here somewhere…can't quite get rid of it. I would also suggest sewing on paper or you can use scraps of striped fabric to practice lines on.
This is a link to a beginner's sewing practice. This website has a lot of different (free!) tutorials on sewing as well.
http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2…..tch.html
Most importantly…enjoy your machine! Don't be afraid to try different projects.
6:40 am
January 5, 2012
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Brother used to give lessons for free when you bought a new machine. Don't know if they still do. The first thing I made was an apron when I was seven. I recently dusted off the old Singer and went looking for a source of American made fabric to make some aprons. (Buying US made whenever possible is my New Years resolution.) Have not had any success. Any suggestions? I already e-mailed a lot of online sources without results and some are the same as local fabric stores.
9:25 am
November 9, 2010
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Thank you all for all the suggestions! I still have yet to put it out of the box, I have only gotten as far as reading the paper work that goes with it. Some of the warning info made me chuckle like, Dont put your finger near the operating needle…somethings I hope would be self explanitory..haha.
I think that my mil got this from walmart so I know that there is no way of going there and asking for instructions, I would just get a glazed over stare (at least at mine) I called my mil and was asking her a bunch of questions yesterday. She let me in on a little secret that I didnt know, MY DH knows how to sew!!! I was shocked, not that he is a man but MY dh knows…so I dont have to go too far and I am not sure how much or what it is going to cost to get him to teach me…haha
9:35 am
April 3, 2011
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9:57 am
December 14, 2010
Online
Mamaleigh, My sisters can drive nails, saw lumber, drive tractors and shoot shotguns and rifles just as well as my brother do. My brother can cook, sew, clean house, do laundry just as well as my sisters can.
I insist that Nancy know how to do everything that I do, not because I expect her to do it but because there may be a time when I am not available and it needs doing.
10:15 am
November 9, 2010
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Oh no Ross, dont take me the wrong way!! I expect that I can do anything that my DH can (well almost anything) and vise-a-versa. But I guess since I didnt know how to sew I didnt think he could either! It was just a little secret that he didnt let me in on..thats all. I think it was the fact that he watched me read the book and get frusterated with it and he didnt say a word that got me…
Actually I can say it here but if I told him his head would get too big…hes a much better cook than what I am!!
The other night we were cooking dinner together, and playing with our daughter. Well she was jumping on our bed and my dh got a little too rough with playing and broke our bed…Not the slats, but the rail! It was a simple fix but he is a better cook and I am better at fixing things so I fixed the bed and he finished dinner. I know all too well (working in constuction before kids) what happens when you are a little woman out on a job site, that just made me more determined to do what I could whenever I could.
The way that I was raised, and raising my daughters, is that if there was no man around can I do it by myself? Now there are a lot of things that I can do but dont want too.
I never meant any offence to what I had said it was that I was only very surprised that he could.
10:20 am
February 10, 2009
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Yep! When my brother and I were kids, I had to help with yard work, mow lawn, learn to change the oil in the car, as well as change my own tire before I could take the car out on my own! I learned how to use tools and drove tractor and knew how to hook up machinery too, and I was born in the 50's.
My brother had to help with housework, learned to use the sewing machine (though not very well) had to take his turn at washing dishes and pealing potatoes etc etc. I won't say he'll ever be a good cook, but he won't die. His wife says he's conveniently "forgotten" a lot, but I assure her that he's not as helpless as he tries to appear. He even learned to crochet a bit because he was fascinated by the way it formed the chain and then grew from there! Once he learned though he wasn't interested anymore.
I can't say I change my own oil anymore, but I could if I had to and since I also learned that it's important, and how to use tools and for the most part what goes on with machinery, I won't ever be one of those women who 'forgets' about such things.
I like to think I won't be taken advantage of by mechanics and such, but that can happen to anyone.
10:22 am
December 14, 2010
Online
Time to put him to work. ask him to become teacher for a while.
7:34 pm
February 15, 2011
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Great thread! One thing… don't be embarrassed to keep pulling the book out. I have had my slant needle Singer since about 1970, and i still can't remember which b uttons to push to make it automatically wind the bobbin! That page is permanently marked. One thing I made a lot of was doll dresses and doll blankets, and that is really good practice and takes only scraps. As a big thing to tackle, drapes or curtains are really really easy, too.
10:15 pm
April 3, 2011
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I've had my new Brother for about a year and still have problems with the needle threader. I pull out the book as needed. I also still can't get used to pushing a button on the front to do reverse.
Congratulations on your new machine!!!!
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