Is Sewing Hard?

Question

I buy the SimpleStyle things where it gives u the cut outs of the dress/shirt/pants ect. I'm 13 and i want to start sewing and making my own clothes(buying the simplestyle format though)

is it hard by had or machine?
after doing it a few times will i get the hang of it?
how much do machines cost?

any other tips are more then welcomed!!!


I want to make gifts of sewing one day.

Answer 1

i sew clothes using machine since junior high school (may be the same age as yours) and still learning...

i want to tell you a short story about this hobby...i love sewing but my sister doesn't. She's frustated if anything do with needle...so, one day, she had school project of making skirt and she made mistake because of her own frustation...while, i am not...the more it's difficult, the more i like it...

i think, this hobby (like others) needs love and persistence to do it...so, the hard things will be challanges...you won't quit easily...you just want to sew, sew, and sew...

i prefer machine to do sew...by hand? hm...may be not...but i heard from my sewing teacher, that high fashion use this technique...may be design itself demand it...but for skirt, pants, non-high fashion-dress...i'll prefer machine...but for small craft like making fabric flower, corsage, i prefer hand...you'll find your own comfort after you gain some experience in sewing...

machine cost? well, you have to check out in amazon.com...use key word to search: sewing machine...you are lucky if you live in western because you have a lot of option of machine brands...i only have singer brand here and to find other's brand will be hardwork...

i don't know whether it's easier to make own pattern or just buy it...but i think in america, you don't have to make own pattern...you can adjust it from pattern you buy...
but in my country (indonesia), ah, i have to make my own pattern because we don't have such sewing magazines...so it's really-really custom, yet, very risky and quite frustated...
and the finishing tecnique was taught by my course teacher (she is a fashion college teacher...) and those techniques (finishing) i also read them in some english books
and that's why i can't recommend you the best book of making pattern and sewing...because mostly, i was taught...

...but currently, i'm reading sewing book from butterick: Ready set to sew...i thinks it's a good book, quite complete for beginner...but if you one day are in love with sewing, then keep learning...open the book for reference...i like doing this eventhough i was taught about this...

i think, for finishing technique, you guys are lucky because there are a lot of good english book about this...check out for simplicity's and vogue's (vogue pattern) book...they have good books with illustration, too...

fyi, i saw book of making pattern, too in amazon.com but i don't know it's good or not. it's very expensive but i think you don't need that now for a starter because you've already got the pattern...just in case one day you want to increase your knowledge of sewing

and my last suggestions are:
1.start sewing from the easiest...i prefer not clothes...may be some simple square bags with pocket...cute and creative pillow's case...you don't have to decorate it with something...just choose fabric with attractive color combination then you'll get the decoration yourself...
if you are satisfied with this (the result and you start enjoying the sewing machine, including all the troubles), then go to a simple "A-LINE SKIRT"...make it mini if you like...if it's still too hard, then make a very simple top (without sleeves) with button...give a pocket and choose some fun colors...
i think the fabric that is good for beginner is cotton. It's cheap and easy to sew. It has good colors, too...every fabric has their own difficulty. i'm also still learning about this...
if you already have a mini skirt or simple top, then start to see how the maker make it, the zipper, the button, etc...i did this too in my times of first sewing...

2. and don't be afraid to make mistake...don't hate it if you have to 'sew-off' ( i don't know what your term) and have to make adjustment and fixing...it's usual in sewing to make corrections (and any hobbies)...
if you think you need to raise your sewing level and get serious about this, if it's possible, find a good teacher. I paid my teacher quite high but i really got something...i found my sewing is getting more neat...

3. if you want to make gift, i recommend japanesse books...we might not understand the letters, but the illustration, technique (it's illustrated, too), and results are great!...but, well, you still have to have some experience, too, so you can guess well what they mean...or at least ability to guess pictures/illustration...but still, i think their books is easily understandable...the bag i made using their pattern and technique got compliments from people i met...very-very neat...

4. eventhough you only want to make simple cloth, you'll need this things:
1. measuring tape (you'll need it to decide your size).
2. thread (ofcourse).
3. tool to sew off (if you make mistake).
4. scissor (ask for sewing scissor. the shape is different from paper scissor. sewing scissor has spesific shape so it wont harm your fabric when you cut it and the it's shape so that you don't have to raise your fabric when you cut it. Don't raise the fabric when you cut it, keep it flat and this scissor is help).
5. needles (not sewing needles), may be you call it pin (?) to keep your pattern unmoving on the fabric.
6. sewing chalks.
7. sewing toolbox...
i guess there's some other tools to buy also, check out in those sewing books...

yup i guess that's all...believe me, sewing is not that complicated and crazy, unless you start your sew as an intermediate, that will be frustated you...i think the key is start from the simplest thing. you'll encourage yourself when seeing the result (it's usually worked because the risk of failure is still low). my first project is a simple a line skirt (that time, my mom still sew the zipper...haha) and a pillow case... but i love them, so then i learn more, and more, and more...and more...

Answer 2

You are at the perfect age to start sewing. It's not hard you just have to keep trying new and different things. There are several good sewing programs on most PBS stations, Sewing with Nancy, Martha's Sewing Room, Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting (although a quilting show they have lots of great hints and tips). Making things by hand sewing may take a bit longer but you can develop some good stitching skills by doing it. Wal-Mart does carry Brother and Singer sewing machines for around $100. Both would be good starter machines.

Look to your public library for books on sewing. They should have lots.

Good luck with your venture.

Answer 3

If you intend to enroll in a sewing class at your junior high or middle school, it will be the most fun, best skill you will ever learn in school. After a few mishaps you will get the hang of sewing. Hand sewing takes longer than machine sewing, but for some things like shank buttons you have no choice but to hand-sew them on a garment. A sewn gift of an apron or an outfit similar to the one you saw in your favorite fashion magazine is a most wonderful gift for yourself and for others. New sewing machines can be had starting at $100, but you also can get a pre-owned machine in decent condition at a garage sale, especially if the seller has upgraded to a more expensive machine. If your mom, dad, grandma, or granddad has a sewing machine you can use his/her machine until you have enough money saved for a new one.

Answer 4

Sewing Is Hard

Answer 5

It really depends on how much you practice, and how much natural talent you have. If you start now, though, while you're young, it will be so much easier to pick it up later.
I, personally, believe that it is much harder to sew by hand. Why do you think people made machines. But, a machine may be harder if you do not understand how to work it. Study the instructions carefully.
Yes, you will get the hang of it. Especially if you do the same thing over and over.
Machines range anywhere from approx. $150-$400 dollars.
Just practice. If you buy cheap material to practice with at first, you won't spend as much money.

Answer 6

Sewing can be hard depending on what your making, I find it easy to hand sew toys and things like that, but sewing machines are better for clothes

Answer 7

Machine sewing, once you get to know your machine, is much faster and easier than hand sewing. The best way to get the hang of it is to make simple things like pillow covers that just have straight seams. Make a couple of those to get the feel for your machine. Use scrap fabrics in different types & weights to see how your machine responds. Try all the different stitches on scraps.

How much the machine costs is variable. You can get a basic machine (good for a beginner) for around $100 at WalMart, and they can go up to several thousand dollars for one with more functions than I can count. Check some of your local sewing centers, where I bought my embroidery machine they give you free lessons with the purchase of the machine and they have some very reasonbly priced models.

Check out the Sewing for Dummies line of patterns for very simple projects with very detailed instructions.

http://www.simplicity.com/

Answer 8

Life can be hard and life can be unenjoyable. Having a "hard life" doesn't have to be a bad thing, maybe you have a hard life because you have an intention of earning a lot of money and getting a lot of friends. But if don't wan't to have a hard life then you have to sacrifice some of your "wealth". To achive an enjoyable life, you must choose between "wealth" and an "easy life" - Don't know how well this theory works in reality. But my point is: Don't complain about having a "hard life"??? - you can complain when you have an "unenjoyable life"

Answer 9

by hand will take ages, some things are really quite easy to make, you can get a machine for less than 80 dollars at walmart, a brother machine, which will do straight and zig zag stitches, if you want to make buttonholes you want one at about the 200 dollar range that makes a one step buttonhole.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

I like females in jeans. It makes them look more home town like and it doesn't appear to be they try too much but if you are looking to get this guys attention, this might not be what you would like