Sewing for Beginners Handy Pocket Guide: All the Basics; Tips & Techniques

By Annabel Wrigley

This mini pocket guide is packed with mega information curated for sewing beginners! Once you’ve found your perfect pattern, use this guide to lead you through the sewing process to answer all of your questions along the way. Best-selling author Annabel Wrigley shares the fundamental basics on how to get started sewing, as well as information on fabrics, rotary cutters, templates, fusible interfacing, and so much more. Plus, answer every query you have on sewing around corners, sewing by hand, and sewing a button and pom-pom with this guide. Get this for you and a friend to start your sewing journey together!

• Language: English
• Publisher: C&T Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781644031506

Book preview

WELCOME!

I am so glad you decided to take the plunge and start sewing with me. Sewing is so much fun! Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be amazed at the awesome things you can create all by yourself.

I wrote this book because I really want to inspire you to start sewing. I want you to get creative and not be afraid to try something new. There are no complicated instructions. And perfection is optional! Listen—none of us is perfect. We all just try to be the best we can.

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SEWING AND CRAFTING

Like most things, when it comes to sewing and crafting, it’s better to take your time and get yourself fully prepared before you embark on a new project. Jumping in without the proper preparation can sometimes lead to frustration and a tangled knotty mess!

Keep Your Cool

In all my books I talk about the importance of staying cool, calm, and collected. Sewing and crafting should be a fun and relaxing experience, but sometimes you may feel pressure to finish a project in record time, or you may feel pressure because you really want to finish first. Here is an important thing to remember: you are more likely to make mistakes if you speed. I’m sure you are not going to want to spend all your time pulling out those wonky stitches. There is no pressure to be perfect in sewing or crafting; be yourself and be an individual. There is nothing wrong with going slow and taking your time to make your project look as good as possible. If you are sewing or crafting with a friend, don’t be tempted to try to keep up; sew at your own speed and you’ll be pleased with the outcome.

There is nothing more beautiful than the pride you will feel after you finish a project of your own.

Be Creative

Don’t be afraid of making some crazy bright fabric choices or taking a project you find to make and changing it up to suit yourself. That’s what creativity is all about! This is your chance to express yourself. Imagine what a boring world we would live in if no one ever expressed their own creativity!

Practice Makes Confidence

When any new students come to my studio, I always make them start sewing with the same exercise. It may seem boring, but it’s the best way to get a feel for your sewing machine and to learn about speed control. Here is my favorite practice exercise.

1. Draw some lines on a solid-colored piece of fabric. I use FriXion erasable markers because the lines can be removed by ironing with a warm iron.

2. Thread your sewing machine with