A beginner's guide to sewing
- off to a good start

It’s wonderful to sew your own projects – and perhaps you'd like a helping hand to get off to a good start? As a beginner, there are indeed a number of things that are helpful to be familiar with both before and during the creative process.

Before you start, make sure you have all the necessary equipment. Selfmade® has everything you need:

1. Tailor’s chalk 
Use tailor’s chalk to draw up your pattern pieces before cutting — and to mark darts, notches, and other pattern markings.

2. Small needlework scissors 
Fine embroidery scissors are good to have at hand for trimming loose thread ends as you sew.

3. The right needles 
Even though you might machine-sew most things, a sharp hand-sewing needle is still a must. Not every little detail can be reached on your machine and you sometimes need to rely on manual labour.

4. Thread
Always buy premium quality thread. Trust us when we say that there are few things more annoying than thread breaking in the middle of a tricky corner. For your starter kit, all-purpose polyester thread is your go-to, does-it-all-thread.

5. Tape measure
A must-have in every sewing kit. You’ll need it for body measurements and measuring out your fabric.

6. Fabric shears
Sharp scissors are a true must-have in your sewing kit, as sharp fabric shears prevent fraying. Do not use your scissors for anything other than fabric, because this blunts the blades.

7. Seam ripper
This handy tool is another key part of your sewing starter kit. Every designer makes a mistake now and then. A good seam ripper allows you to rip up a seam and correct your mistake.

8. Tailor’s ruler
This broad ruler is much easier to use than a straight ruler you might find in your office suppliers. The broad surface keeps your fabrics straightened while you work.

9. Sewing machine needles

10. Pins
They keep your pattern in check and keep your seams in place. Glass-head pins are easy to pick off as you sew.

Your starter kit is not complete without a proper sewing machine. You won't need a hyper-advanced machine with all sorts of gadgets and gizmos - a decent beginner's machine with the most used stitches and functions will get you going.

If you can, test different models before you buy, and get the machine that fits you best. You can always upgrade to a more advanced model later.

As a sewing novice, you need to take care not to bite off more than you can chew. Start with easier projects and avoid getting frustrated and quitting halfway through.

Promise that you will take your time when you are sewing. Sewing takes time – and that’s the great thing about it.

You can immerse yourself in your thoughts, wallow in creative flow and live in the moment. A perfect moment of creative zen, if you will.

 Perfectly imperfect
Your first projects will likely be far from perfect. That is too much to expect. Be patient. Tell yourself that you will learn from your mistakes – and that you will learn something new every time you use your sewing machine.

All big ideas have humble beginnings, and practice makes perfect. It may sound cliché, but it does hold true for sewing. And for many other things, for that matter.

Keep trying, and your sewing skills will improve day by day.