Beginner Sewing Tips: Reduce Frustration and Save Time with These Sewing Tricks

Sewing is one of those skills my mom felt obligated to teach me as a child. At that time, I wasn't interested in pursuing the craft. Flash forward a few (okay, more than a few) years later and I am hooked on sewing.

When I started sewing again it wasn't like riding a bike. I could not remember anything my mom taught me. I did some research on the Web to determine what I needed to get started. Armed with all of my sewing tools, I plunged right into sewing with a pattern that claimed to be "easy." It turned out to be quite an interesting experience. The easy shirt was not so easy to make. To make matters worse, I hated the style of the shirt. My first sewing project ended up at Goodwill and I ended up discouraged.

No, I didn't pack up my sewing machine. I kept going, learning how to sew by trial and error. Here are some beginner sewing tips that will help make your sewing more enjoyable and discouragement free.

Sew in Stages

I sew in stages. I have discovered sewing in stages minimizes mistakes and keeps me interested in my sewing project. Stage One involves washing the fabric, reading the pattern, and cutting the pattern pieces. Stage Two involves pinning the pattern pieces to the fabric, cutting the fabric, and marking the fabric. Stage Three is sewing the main body of the garment. Stage Four is for finishing hems, sewing on buttons, and adding any embellishments. Sewing in stages allows me to have several projects going at once without the risk of confusion.

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