A Guide to Sewing for the Very First Time

The best project to take on if you've never sewn before, is a dress. If you're a guy, then make a dress for someone else! Summer dresses are easy, useful and give a great sense of accomplishment for beginners. The following steps are extreme basics for those who have never sat in front of a machine, or for those who did but never got it.

Since this article is about sewing, let's assume you have the sewing machine threaded as they are all different and one explanation couldn't cover each model. Many machines come with a mini-schematic drawing with arrows showing the path of the thread.

What You'll Need

A pattern
Fabric
An iron
Matching Thread
Fusible Interfacing
Scissors

The Pattern
The back of a pattern envelope has tons of information. Keep in mind that your "store size" may not be the same as your pattern size. Also, patterns come in metric and English measurements.

Patterns usually show a few different views available to make from one pattern. (Example: a dress with sleeves, a dress without sleeves, shorter, longer, etc.) The views are labeled by letter. Choose your view, and go again to the back of the envelope. The chart on the back will tell you everything you need for the view you will be working on.

If you're not sure about anything, ask a sales associate; they love to help!

Fabric
Try to choose a fabric that is lightweight, but not see-through (unless that's you're goal.) Lightweight fabric is easier to work with and hangs nicely. Also, for your first attempt, stay away from stripes and serious designs. A fabric with a print on it, or pictures of some kind is fine, just make sure that they're repetitive.

Wash all of your fabric in warm or hot water and throw it in the dryer. If its' going to shrink at all, you want it to do so before you make the garment. Also, ironing the fabric can be a pain, but it really makes for better measurements and a better look overall to the completed project.

NOTE: Fabrics usually come in 45" and 60". Make sure you are measuring the amount of fabric you need for the proper width of your fabric.

Thread
Buy good thread (middle-of-the-road). Don't buy the 3/1.00 kind, but don't be duped in to buying specialty thread from Sweden at six bucks a spool unless you're sewing a suit or something. Just do your best to match the color. Again, if you're not sure, just ask anyone walking by, "What do you think?" Fabric stores are pretty friendly places!

Fusible Interfacing
I know it sounds like something from Star Trek, but it's merely thin tissue-like fabric sewn in, or ironed on to support certain pieces of the fabric. Look inside the row of buttons on the shirt you are wearing; inside, there should be some interfacing. The iron-on kind (fusible) is easier to work with as once it's ironed on it becomes part of the fabric. Interfacing is used in collars, lapels, and armhole openings for sleeveless garments, etc. It's used so the fabric doesn't 'flop' when you're wearing it.

Cutting the Pattern
This is the most tedious and sometimes aggravating step of sewing. Inside the pattern are sheets of (usually) brown paper with what seems like hundreds of puzzle pieces that need to be cut out one by one. Only cut the ones you need. However, since you've got the whole thing out on the table, it doesn't hurt to cut each piece.

Keep the iron set on low and lightly press each piece after it's cut so that it's not only easier to read and to work with, but to pack back in the envelope. This entire process will take at least an hour.

Cutting the Fabric
Inside the envelope is a newspaper-like instruction page or pages. Find the view you want for the dress. For example, if you want to make "View A" dress, the instruction page will list each piece that you need. The name of each piece is on the pattern, as well as a number and size. There are other markings, too.

If you have time, read the instruction page. There's a lot of good information on it.

Pin each need piece to the fabric. START with those requiring that the piece be placed on the fold. When cutting the fabric for the front of a dress, no one wants a seam down the front of the dress. This is what is usually placed on the fold. Read your pattern pieces carefully; those needed to be placed on the fold say so - right on the pattern piece.

For your convenience, a map is included on the instruction page so you know how to lay out the pattern pieces on top of the fabric. Once they're in place, pin them down. Not excessively, just make sure they're secure enough to cut the fabric without loosing the pattern tissue.

Sewing
Sometimes, the instruction pages have to be read, and read again. Be patient. Don't hurry through. If you don't understand something, or if you are frustrated, put it down and come back to it later. You can always call the fabric store - they'll help you over the phone if you don't know what a mitered edge or an overlock stitch is.

Follow the instructions one by one. When two pieces of fabric are sewn together, it's wise to iron them. Most people don't do this, but, if you do, you'll notice a difference in the finished product.