Beautiful things come together one stitch at a time. Proverb
You too will be able to create the most beautiful garments if you take your sewing journey one stitch at a time.
If you are considering starting tailoring and dressmaking courses, you need to consider what baby steps you should be taking to begin learning to sew.
You may want to start your dressmaking journey by reading on.
Sometimes it is not all that easy to get the thread into the eye of the needle on your own so help when it comes to the finer details is always great.
Pursuing Your Passion for Sewing
Do you identify as a sewist?
Sewist (n): a person who sews, especially as a hobby. Collins English Dictionary
The word sewist developed as a combination of the words ‘sewer’ and ‘artist’, and has been around since 1964.
It gained popularity because the word sewer is a heteronym which can also refer to a waste disposal conduit. We’re sure you can agree that this is a less than complimentary way to refer to someone who loves to sew!
If you’re ready to start putting your passion into practice, here are the key tips to get you on the right path:
- Start off with simple projects: We cannot overemphasise the importance of choosing projects that match your current skill level. Simple projects will help you to improve your technique and build your confidence when you accomplish them.
- Invest in the best and most suitable materials: Using the right materials, and of good quality, will have an enormous impact on the outcome of your projects.
- Use online resources: There are many online tutorials and videos that you can use to learn new techniques at your own pace.
- Learn the basics: Before you attempt a new project, make sure that you understand what will be required of you – both in terms of skills and materials. This will set you up for success.
- Practise as often as possible:In order to improve at sewing, you will need to practise. Don’t be discouraged if projects don’t turn out as planned, as you learn from every misstich!
- Get the right tools: You need to invest in the right equipment if you want your sewing projects to be a success. So, make sure you have access to a sewing machine, and that you have plenty of fabric, thread, needles, pins, and other sewing supplies at hand.
- Find a community: As with most activities, sewing can be even more rewading if you enjoy it as part of a community of like-minded individuals. Joining a club or online community can be a great way to stay motivated and learn from more experienced sewists.
A Guide to Sewing Lessons for Beginners
The ability to sew does not always come naturally and it may not be easy to learn how to sew. However, it is not impossible to learn how to sew well. Especially if you learn under the watchful eyes of sewing experts.
The best of the best in the field know all about how to draft patterns and transform a pattern into something beautifully sewn together using various different fabrics.
Sewing can be a piece of cake if you start sewing one step at a time.
If watching Emily in Paris waltz around Paris in fashionable clothes makes you wish you could make a bigger fashion statement with your own clothes, why not consider sewing your own garments? You could also invest in a dressmaking and tailoring course so that you can make a living from sewing fashionable pieces for other people.
Where Do I Start if I Want to Learn to Sew?
Like when it comes to learning all new skills, the more you practise the better you will get at it. The best way to practise sewing is by having a sewing machine that you can use whenever you need it.
While you may need to budget wisely for a few months so that you get your hands on a good-quality sewing machine, it will be well worth the investment. Quality is everything when it comes to finding the right machine for you.
If you have a simple sewing machine that was passed down to you from your mom, that will do the trick as well. A manual sewing machine works just as well, especially if you are learning to use the sewing machine for the first time. The user manual that comes with the machine assists with getting you to understand your sewing machine better. However, you can also rely on the retail expert whom you are buying your sewing machine from to guide you on how to use your machine perfectly.
Creativity takes courage. Henri Matisse
The best way to learn how to sew is by watching someone else sew. Watching a professional sew is where you will really begin to learn.
Taking a Sewing Class
The best way to advance your skills as a dressmaker or tailor is to attend a fashion or dressmaking school. Dressmaking schools are usually small and allow students to get personal attention. Some schools offer formalised accreditations. However, most sewing classes are very relaxed and allow you to take as many lessons as you wish.
There is certainly great value in taking sewing lessons. Being more structured in your dressmaking learning approach can prove to be highly fruitful to further assist you in your journey to becoming a better dressmaker. Further in this article, we will look at more formalised sewing classes.
Ways to Learn to Sew
While you may be keen on learning how to sew, sewing is not the only task you need to master when you are a dressmaker. The other 80% of your time as a dressmaker entails sketching patterns and deciding how you would like to design your garments.
Part and parcel of learning how to sew is using existing patterns. Before you take a leap of faith and start drafting your own pattern, copy an existing pattern. Cutting the pattern correctly is equally as important. Once the pattern has been cut to size, you need to draw the same pattern on the fabric. Thereafter you cut the fabric in the same way as the pattern.
While the steps seem relatively easy to follow, they are not necessarily that straightforward.
So, what is the first thing a beginner should sew?
You should start with an extremely simple pattern. Straight-cut dress patterns are possibly the best to follow through with.
One of the best places to start looking for patterns is McCall Patterns. Using seasonal patterns is best. However, you can start all the more easily by drafting a pattern for a simple shawl and stitching it.
Sewing Qualifications to Consider
While you can take a few sewing lessons to help you get started, you can even consider going down a more professional route. Milner's Fashion House in Pretoria offers formalised lessons with a qualified lecturer. At this fashion house, you can take an introduction to fashion design course where you will learn the basics of fashion design, including how to find research, how to create mood boards, and even how to go about considering textiles.
Thereafter, you can choose to pursue another day course such as pattern grading for womenswear. During this course, you will advance your basic fashion design skills by learning how to grade patterns. An added advantage of this particular course is that you can take the pattern grading for womenswear course even if you are a mere beginner with a natural curiosity for learning something new.
Stadio School of Fashion, which was previously called LISOF, is one of the most well-known internationally accredited fashion schools known for being accredited by the British Accreditation Council. With practical and theoretical lessons being offered, you will be pursuing a highly formal qualification should you choose to complete either a diploma in clothing production or a BA in fashion.
An Alternative Way to Taking Sewing Classes
If you are interested in investing more money into your learning journey, the quickest possible way to advance your sewing skills is by taking sewing lessons with a private teacher.
The Superprof website allows you take private one-on-one sewing lessons either online or face-to-face. At a reasonable price, you can always further your pattern making skills and sewing skills by practising the art of sewing under the watchful eye of a qualified sewing instructor. Having someone rectify any sewing errors that you make the minute you make it is the greatest possible learning tool to have.
Sewing College Courses
If you are in search of a college in South Africa where you can take these sewing lessons, you could consider applying to an accredited tertiary institution like the Villioti Fashion Institute.
For a beginner, online fashion designer courses will work well as well to assist you to decide whether you want to further your fashion skills by pursuing a diploma in fashion or even going further to pursue a bachelor's in fashion degree. From the zigzag stitch to the elastic stitch, you can learn it all should you choose to continue taking a professional course,
With your bobbin in hand and your mind made up, you can surely learn how to become a better seamstress.
At the Villioti Fashion Institute, you will start to explore more about the make-up of a sewing machine and the essential features of the machine. However, before you even enrol at the Villioti Fashion Institute, consider watching some sewing-related YouTube videos which speak about sewing a broken line, running a stitch and much more. While the internet itself is a great learning tool, you may feel that online instructions and tutorials lack in terms of providing all that you need to know about how to sew well.
The more experts you opt to learn sewing from, the more variety you will display in your own sewing technique once you become more professional. With Superprof, it is easier to find tutors in your area, by simply typing in sewing classes Cape Town, you will be able to find many tutors available to help you.
Truth be told, finding a way to try out sewing techniques from different lecturers is not at all like finding a needle in the haystack. You can always reach out to our various Superprof tutors, who usually offer the first lesson for free. You can even look for something more specific, such as a dressmaking course.
One free sewing lesson well that will surely be welcomed with no further questions asked.
To summarise, learning how to sew is not at all difficult if you keep at it. With a fair amount of patience and consistency in your learning journey, you can master the basics of sewing. You shouldn't be afraid of putting in the hard work at all.
While hard work is important, you must know how to use the sewing machine well. Thus a great suggestion is to start by sewing the most basic garments. Frills and ruffles can soon follow but at first basic sewing is best.
Eventually, you too will be saying:
I cannot count my day complete 'til needle, thread and fabric meet. Anonymous
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please send course information fees and other as well as the physical address
Hello Ntombiyosizi
The cost of lessons and course outline will depend on which tutor, school or training centre you choose to use. You can see the rates charged by Superprof tutors directly on our website, http://www.superprof.co.za, and you can send tutors a lesson request to find out more about what they have to offer.
Nice one. I have just fallen in love with sewing. But I don’t know where to start as the courses are way too expensive
Hello Itu
It’s great that you’ve discovered a love for sewing!
Most of the sewing tutors registered on Superprof will give you a free introductory session, so you can check whether or not they are the right teacher for you. You can see our tutors’ locations and prices, as well as learn more about their lesson structures, directly on our website http://www.superprof.co.za.
We hope that you find a teacher that meets your needs.
Hi I wanna learn on how to sew clothes
Hello Ntombi
Please take a look at the sewing tutors registered on our platform to see whose profile will match your needs. You can see their locations and prices, as well as learn more about their lesson structures directly on our website http://www.superprof.co.za. Most of our tutors will give you a free introductory session, so you can check whether or not they are a good fit.
Hi!How much are your courses for beginners?
Hello Thembekile
Each tutor sets their own rates based on their experience, and you can see and compare all the prices directly on our website http://www.superprof.co.za.
Most of the sewing teachers registered on Superprof will give you a free introductory session, so you can check whether or not they are the right teacher for you.
Please how to I learn and where are you situated
Hello Elaine,
We’re pleased that you’re interested in finding a private sewing tutor. Our tutors are based across South Africa and around the world. You can search for tutors directly on our website http://www.superprof.co.za. The site allows you to filter the results according to your unique requirements, such as face-to-face or online lessons, level, price, etc. You’ll also be able to specify your preferred days and times for lessons and share other important information in the lesson request message you send any of our tutors. If you need any help during the process or have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact our customer support team at hellozar@superprof.com.