How To Start Sewing Clothes For Beginners

Interested in how to start sewing clothes for yourself? Here are some of the main things I have learnt in the past 7 years of learning how to make clothes. Discovering how to sew clothes and learning how to make your own clothes can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started making clothes:

*This is a collaborative post.

Starting To Learn How To Sew Clothes

this Idea!

Do you want to learn to sew clothing but don’t know where to start? Well you are in the right place. Around 7 years ago I decided I wanted to take up a new crafting hobby, and mainly wanted to learn to sew clothes for my daughter, who was a toddler at the time.

A year later, I started this website to talk about how I was learning to sew clothing and giving ideas for some of the best tips for learning how to sew clothes for beginners. To me, the best tip I will give you is to just start to sew your own clothes! Beginning my sewing journey has probably been one of the best decisions I ever made, as it is a hobby I love that brings me lots of joy. 

However, one of the worst things I did was go out and spend a load of money on things I didn’t need.. So, if you too wish to start learning how to sew clothing I am going to share with you what I think are the essentials.

First Gather Basic Supplies

You really do not need a lot of things to start to sew. Here are the bare basics that I think you cannot really be without. Also see my post on essential beginner sewing tools.

A Sewing Machine:

A basic model is sufficient for beginners. I still have my very basic first machine 7 years on, I talk about this in this post on how to choose the best sewing machine. Always read the manual and get to know how to thread your machine correctly.

Using reliable tools and quality JUKI accessories can also make sewing easier and help improve your overall sewing experience.

I will always advise that you ask around before you buy one. Does anyone have a machine they don’t use that you can try?

Fabric:

Yes, you will need some fabric to sew clothes. Cotton is a good choice for beginners as it’s easy to work with, easy to sew and easy to press. I always suggest when you are a beginner sewing clothes that you make a toile. This is a practice garment made out of cheap fabric to ensure your pattern fits and looks right before making it in more expensive fabric.

Fabric can be expensive! So I also suggest you use old duvet sets, or buy discounted or thrifted bedding as practice fabric.

Thread:

Get a good quality all-purpose thread. I love Guttermann, but Coats Moon is also a popular brand. DO NOT buy the cheap sets as these are usually very poor quality.

Needles and Pins:

You are going to need a selection of machine needles,  hand sewing needles and pins. I personally love the glass headed pins as you can iron over these. I also love a magnetic pincushion. For machine needles, a pack of universal machine needles so you have a variety of thicknesses is best.

Scissors:

When you start sewing clothing for beginners then you are going to need several pairs of scissors. Fabric scissors to cut your cloth – do not use them for anything but fabric! Small trimming scissors or snips to trim threads. A pair of scissors for cutting paper which you will use to cut out your sewing patterns. And finally a pair of pinking shears which you can use to trim your seam allowances.

Measuring Tape:

If you are sewing clothes you will need to measure yourself or the recipeint of the clothing you are making, so you will need a tape measure for accurate measurements. I always have one in my bag.

Seam Ripper:  You will need a simple Stitch unpicker or seam ripper, because it is going to be lioklely that you are going to need to unpick or remove mistakes.

Iron and Ironing Board:

Finally, an ironing board and iron is essential for pressing oyur fabric before you begin, and pressing your seams as you go. I just use my regular home iron, so nothing fancy. 

Next Learn the Basics Of Sewing Clothes For Beginners

What do I mean by learn the basics? Well, learn how to use your machine to do basic things. You do need to practice a little before making bigger items. So understand your sewing machine, read the manual, learn how to thread it, and practice sewing straight lines. I like to draw these on paper or scrap fabric with a heat erase pen. 

Then learn some basic stitches, such as straight stitch, zigzag stitch, and backstitch. Again, check your sewing machine manual if you need to find out where these can be changed. 

Make sure that you are happy sewing at the seam allowance. Usually, a sewing machine has a guide plate to tell you how far away from the edge of the fabric you are sewing, but there are other ways of guiding your stitching to ensure you are sewing straight.

Next, it is time to learn about some of the different fabrics that you can try, and their properties. As I said before, when learning how to sew clothing for beginners I would start with cotton or linen fabric, as these are the easiest to sew. 

And so it is time to get sewing for real!

Clothes Sewing For Beginners – Start with Simple Projects

You can start with some practice pieces, small items like pillowcases, tote bags, or simple skirts. One of my first projects was a simple skirt for my daughter.

See some other easy sewing project ideas.

But then it is time to start looking at simple sewing patterns. Look for beginner-friendly patterns which usually have detailed instructions. I normally would recommend an independent sewing pattern designer such as 

• Tilly And The Buttons – I have made lots of her patterns, like this Bettine dress.
• Friday Pattern Company – I made their Wilder Gown
• Cashmerette

I find that independent patterns are so much easier to get on with, and you often find that their website is full of other hints and even perhaps a sew along of the pattern you wish to make.

Cutting and Preparing Fabric

Always wash and dry your fabric you are going to be using to make clothes. This is to prevent shrinkage later.

Lay your fabric flat, place the pattern pieces, and pin them or use fabric weights before cutting. Use fabric scissors or a rotary cutter to cut along the pattern lines. I would always suggest starting with scissors and try a rotary cutter later. I make no apology saying I don’t like rotary cutters and always use scissors.

Carefully read and follow the instructions. Sew the pieces together, usually starting with the main body parts and then adding sleeves, collars, etc. Make sure to iron well as you go along. Iron your seams open or to one side as instructed.

Lastly add hems, buttons, or zippers as needed. These stages may need a little more practice. I am still not the best with zips, and 

My Last Tip – Practice and Have Patience

Take your time. Sewing should be a slow and mindful process, and that is part of the fun. Sewing can also be detailed work, and so patience is key.

Do remember – Mistakes are a part of the learning process. You WILL need to unpick work. You WILL make mistakes, but just try again. Sometimes it is best to walk away and come back later to finish your project.

Then, as you gain confidence, try more complex projects and different fabrics. You can also try other resources for learning such as books, guides, online sewing tutorials (Like the ones I post all the time, hint :)) or even consider joining a local sewing class.

Have You Enjoyed This Post About Learning How To Make Your Own Clothes? Why Not Read Some Of My Other Sewing And Craft Posts?

I hope this has helped you start to sew clothing. I love to show you free easy sewing projects ideas that you can make. Some of these also include free sewing patterns. So why not read these other posts I have written?

• Easy Beginner Sewing Projects
• Zero Waste Project Ideas For Your Home
• Fabric Scraps – How To use Every Last Piece
• Sewing Projects That You Can Sell

I would love to hear how you get on! Let me know in the comments, or find me on social media

Instagram: @ARoseTinted

Facebook: A Rose Tinted World

Twitter: @ARoseTintdWorld

TikTok: @arosetintedworld

With these steps, you’ll be well on your way to sewing your own clothes. Happy sewing!

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