Would you like to start sewing and are looking for the most important tips and lovely sewing projects for beginners? In this post, I will share my personal tips with you and introduce beginner-friendly sewing tutorials. With these ideas for sewing novices, you are guaranteed to get off to a great start in your sewing journey.
The most important things at a glance
- In this post, I'll reveal ideas and tips that helped me personally when I started sewing
- I will introduce you to various, particularly beginner-friendly tutorials
- Of course, I also have a few fabric tips for you that even inexperienced sewing fans can handle well
- Choosing good materials and tools is of great importance for a relaxed and happy start to sewing
How it was for me back then
When I found my way back to sewing years ago, my first projects were very simple sewing ideas with straight seams.
To "get into it," I drew lines on paper and then stitched over them with the sewing machine. This gave me a good feel for how fast or slow I need to sew to achieve accurate seams.
Then I grabbed discarded clothing and bed linen and conjured up my first little pouches. I thought my freshly bought and lovingly hoarded fabric was far too precious for that.
Fortunately, that changed quickly... ;)
How can I start sewing as a beginner?
Would you like to start sewing and are looking for the most important tips and lovely sewing projects for beginners? And perhaps you don't know how and where to begin? When you look for sewing tutorials and patterns online, there is simply such an incredibly large offer that you can't see the wood for the trees.
And do you also sometimes have the feeling that sewing is a science in itself and you don't really know how to start, even though you really have a great desire for this new and wonderful hobby? And that is how many of us feel and felt at the beginning.
To make the start a little easier for you, I have compiled tips and sewing tutorials in this post that should take away your fear and make everything a bit clearer.
And if you still have doubts: Please don't give up; I am here for you and happy to help! It is a matter close to my heart to meet everyone exactly where they are currently standing. That's why you will find so many patterns and sewing tutorials for beginners on SewSimple. Because I also still remember exactly what it was like when I stood at the very beginning myself.
Perhaps you have already browsed through SewSimple a little and seen that there are many articles on learning to sew – with tips, information on materials, and tutorials specifically for beginners. I can highly recommend this post: Sewing Simple Things.
And if you want to avoid common mistakes, take a look at this post: 10 Mistakes Every Sewing Beginner Makes.
By the way, here you will find reasons that make you doubt and think about quitting: Stopped Sewing: 5 Typical Success Stories of Those Who Quit.
But we wouldn't be at SewSimple if this very post didn't also contain what you can do to avoid losing your enthusiasm and to make you unable to wait to finally implement your next sewing projects.
Or are you perhaps already an advanced sewing fan, have already sewn quite a bit, but are still unsure when it comes to brand new sewing projects?
For me, for example, it was the case that at the beginning I only sewed with non-elastic fabrics. That's why masses of pouches, cosmetic bags, wallets, and potholders were created back then ????. With these materials, I felt very comfortable and secure from the beginning.
Then, however, my desire grew more and more to finally sew pieces of clothing myself. And I actually had to overcome myself a bit to start with the planned sewing project and try something new. When I had finished the first piece of clothing, I realized that my fear was really unfounded and I immediately started to sew a clothing pattern.
If you are already an old hand at sewing and have a lot of experience with patterns, materials, sewing machines, and fabrics, you might still remember what it was like at the very beginning when you started sewing?
So, no matter where you currently stand in terms of sewing – just start, dare, stay curious and motivated, and feel free to read through the following tips.
My tips for a smooth sewing start
In the following, I will show you the best tips for your sewing start.
1st Tip: Familiarize yourself with your machine
Perhaps you have already bought a sewing machine or are you still considering which one might be the right one for you? If you like, take a look at our post about sewing machines for beginners. It states exactly what you should look for in your decision and what there is to consider so that you will enjoy your sewing machine for a long time.
Before you get started with sewing, you should take a quiet look at your sewing machine. Get oriented: where is everything, how does it work, what are the different levers and buttons for – and what opportunities are there for you. Familiarize yourself with it.
It helps, for example, if you practice threading the machine in peace. This provides security and self-confidence. The better you are familiar with the functions of your sewing machine, the less tense you will be out of fear of doing something wrong.
Back then, I also preferred to just "start sewing," but unfortunately, that doesn't work that way. A bit of preparation is quite sensible. Therefore, it is simply important at the beginning to read the instruction manual carefully. This is the only way to get to know your sewing machine step by step and build a bond with it :).
Often there are also videos, reports, and tests for individual sewing machines, which can help you assess and get to know them even better.
Do you already know my experience report and test of the Juki DX7?
2nd Tip: Choose suitable fabrics
Especially at the beginning, it is important to pay attention to starting with beginner-friendly materials. If you start right away with fabrics that are too demanding or difficult to sew, you can quickly lose your enthusiasm for sewing. Because you quickly reach your limits or the result is anything but satisfying. This can lead to your first encounter with the sewing blues. And we definitely want to avoid that, right? ;)
So do your research on which fabric is suitable for what, so that you get a good feel for the different materials. In addition, you should definitely occupy yourself with how best to sew cotton fabric. Because woven cotton is a very good fabric for beginners, as it is not stretchy, not too thick, and therefore super easy to work with.
The following fabrics are particularly well-suited for sewing beginners:
If you want to venture into your first clothing items and therefore need stretchy fabric, you can wonderfully grab the following fabrics:
3rd Tip: Watch sewing videos
At the beginning, it helped me especially well to watch various sewing videos. For this, I chose simple sewing projects with video instructions at the start. Personally, I did it back then by having a video playing next to the sewing machine. I quickly realized that the videos are usually not at my own sewing pace. So I did it by alternating between sewing and pausing the videos in between.
So I sewed, paused the video, sewed on, paused the video again..., and kept doing so until my sewn piece was finished. And if I didn't understand something the first time watching the video, I simply rewound as often as I needed to until I had internalized it – a bit cumbersome at first, but it works guaranteed!
And by the way, I still do it that way today when I sew according to a new tutorial or haven't sewn something for a longer time. Fortunately, there are always new tutorials and patterns where every sewing fan, regardless of level, can always learn new sewing techniques.
As you probably already know, there are now several sewing videos from SewSimple that are also always very suitable for beginners. Particularly popular, for example, is this beautiful (perfectly suited for beginners) round bag:
4th Tip: Rely on high-quality materials
Sewing beginners often think that it would be good to start with cheap materials at first. They want to try out whether they enjoy sewing and test it cautiously. I have to admit, I also started with a cheap sewing machine. My sewing machine dealer told me back then that I wouldn't be happy with it in the long run and would soon get a better machine.
Well, what can I say: He was right. At the latest when I was allowed to sit at a high-class machine for the first time and try it out, I knew that there was still a lot of room for improvement – that it could be even more fun. It didn't take long after that until a Brother Innovis* was allowed to move in with me. And then things really got going in my little sewing room.
The same applies, of course, to other utensils and other sewing accessories for beginners. It pays off to pay attention to good quality there. At the beginning, I acquired basic equipment consisting of the following things:
- Patchwork ruler*
- Fabric marker*
- Pins*
- Rotary cutter*
- Cutting mat*
- Sewing machine
- Fabric scissors*
- Thread snips*
- Sewing machine* (read more about my Juki DX7)
And if you are not yet provided with the basic equipment: Discover my shopping list for sewing beginners here.
5th Tip: Just go for it
I have often heard from beginners that they don't know how to start. They are afraid of doing something wrong and are somewhat insecure and inhibited because they are not yet so experienced.
Yet it is super important to make one thing clear: You can't do anything wrong.
What could possibly go wrong? If you ever have a mishap or make a mistake: Try to see it as an opportunity to develop yourself further, which you will. Next time you will know better and learn from it.
That helps me every time, and then I just imagine that it can also be very relaxing and meditative to rip out a seam (or even several seams...).
Do you actually already know my post about seam rippers in a test? There, I introduce the most popular seam rippers and also give a few tips on using this (unfairly!) not very popular sewing utensil.
To avoid great frustration, at the beginning, prefer not to use your most expensive and favorite fabric. For practicing, you can, for example, wonderfully use sorted-out tablecloths, bed linen, or clothing. There are also cheap or free fabric sources; where you can find these, you can read in this post: Eight secret sources for fabrics.
I know from Sabine that she always orders muslin fabric* (i.e., raw cotton) by the meter to try out her sewing ideas. If a project turns out particularly well, she dyes it in her favorite color. If the cotton sewing thread* is made of cotton, it will take the color too. Nice, right?
Fabric scrap packs are also fantastic for practicing; you can get them here at Stoffe Hemmers* in 1.5 kg or 3 kg bags. Or perhaps you know someone who sews and might be willing to give you a few fabric scraps?
And then I would say, let's get going and head to the machine!
Sewing ideas specifically for beginners
I remember exactly what it was like when I decided to start sewing. The machine was ready, and I had already purchased a basic set of equipment. But I lacked an overview of which sewing projects are particularly suitable for beginners.
So that you don't have to wade through the huge range of instructions and patterns, I have put together a manageable list for you. Maybe there is a nice project here to your taste; that would make me very happy.
1. Idea: Utensilo (Storage Basket)
One of my very first sewing projects was a storage basket.
Back then, of course, my detailed sewing tutorial for a storage basket didn't exist, not to mention the pattern for it!
I remember that I didn't have much of an understanding of why I should do what, I took a long time for the individual steps – and was quite confused while sewing. I somehow muddled my way through the instructions.
But when (a perceived eternity later) the basket was finished, I was totally happy. I proudly showed my husband my first sewing project and I still remember his reaction exactly: "Oh, a storage basket!". Well, that could have meant anything, but I politely ignored that. :-)
In retrospect, the fabric combination was pretty daring (it actually didn't go together at all), but I could live with that. I was just glad that it was recognizable as what it was supposed to be: A storage basket. :)
To get you started right away with a nice pattern and a clear, beginner-friendly guide with an additional video tutorial for each of the three storage basket variants, you can find the instructions here:
Sew a storage basket, 3 tutorials with pattern (incl. tips and tricks)
2. Idea: Cosmetic bag
As I mentioned before, I sewed countless bags, pouches, and cosmetic bags at the beginning. That was great for practicing, as every bag involves its own sewing technique, allowing you to gain a lot of experience.
In the time that followed, I always had great little gifts for friends and family, which everyone was always very happy about. When sewing pouches and toiletry bags, you can't avoid sewing in zippers for long (the linked post shows two methods for inserting and sewing zippers in great detail).
That completely took away my fear of it, because I quickly realized it wasn't as difficult as I had always thought.
Here you will find over 30 beautiful tutorials for cosmetic bags: Sew a cosmetic bag: +30 toiletry bag tutorials
By the way, one of my absolute favorite little bags is the Malva; I just find it so beautiful. It is simple and clean, yet totally chic and cute.
It's just fun to sew this toiletry bag! The sewing instructions are very detailed and the pattern is so beautifully simple. This practical cosmetic bag is particularly suitable for sewing beginners.
Click here for the free pattern: Sew toiletry bag Malva (in 2 sizes)
3. Idea: Sew a dress
I always wanted a cute, practical dress that even beginners can sew in no time. So I sat down and developed my personal dream dress for children.
And the result was the beautiful children's dress Robin from size 80 to 164. This pattern is really well-received on our blog and I get a lot of feedback that even sewing beginners get along great with the pattern and the instructions.
I've already seen a huge number of beautiful Robins in so many sizes, versions, and styles. It makes me so happy that the dress is liked by other sewing fans as much as it is by me.
If you feel like sewing a children's dress too, take a look here:
We also have a dress for adults, of course:
4. Idea: Pillowcase with zipper
I think pillowcases are a really great idea for sewing newcomers.
It starts with the materials, because the fabric for the pillowcase is non-elastic, easy to cut, there are only straight seams, and the sense of achievement doesn't take long to arrive.
In the instructions, pillowcases in the size of 50x50 cm are sewn. You can, of course, sew them according to your own taste (and the size of your pillows). The recommended seam allowance always remains the same.
I also find it wonderful to decorate my home with new, self-sewn pillows. It's such a lovely feeling – because you can sew it exactly how you want it and how it fits into your home. Our living room is decorated with these pillowcases in various versions and colors, which I really like. And fortunately, the rest of the family likes them too. :)
Click here for my personal favorite pillow instructions: Sew a pillowcase with a zipper
5. Idea: Layer Shirt Aenni
If you feel like sewing a comfortable and stylish piece of clothing for yourself, but you have little or no experience with sewing clothes, the Layer Shirt Aenni is definitely the right thing for you. The great thing about it is that it is sewn with straight seams and the sewing tutorial and the pattern are designed and structured to be particularly beginner-friendly.
This pattern includes two beautiful designs. A boxy, oversized boxy shirt and a longer, slim-fitting top with side slits. You can wear the two individually and as a team in a layered look, just as you like.
The Layer Shirt Aenni is not only uncomplicated to wear: It is also very easy to sew. The perfect pattern for quick sewing successes. And not just beginners are happy about that, want to bet?
Head this way: Pattern for the Layer Shirt Aenni
6. Idea: Placemat in retro look
A super popular pattern on my blog is the placemat in retro look.
The sets make your dining table even more beautiful, Sunday breakfast even cozier, and they are sewn so quickly. Furthermore, the placemat is a great and individual gift for your loved ones.
What I think is particularly great is that there is a free pattern in 2 versions with matching mug rugs, so there are no limits to your own imagination.
The sets are sewn from woven fabric, i.e., cotton, linen, canvas, etc. These fabrics are particularly easy to work with and are therefore great for beginners.
Take a look here: Sew a placemat (with instructions and free pattern)
My conclusion
Maybe you now have a little idea of what the wonderful world of sewing can have in store for you. There is simply an incredible amount to discover and learn. And for every conceivable sewing level, there is always something new.
And this mass of possibilities can of course also seem intimidating and overwhelm sewing newcomers.
I really hope that I was able to take away some of your fear with this post. Maybe you could try to push this oversupply from the internet aside for now and concentrate on a few first, smaller sewing projects. You can still broaden your horizons afterwards, but at your own pace and in peace.
The ideas I suggested are of course only a fraction of what sewing beginners can sew at the start. On our blog alone, there are countless ideas for beginners. In this post, you will find many more sewing ideas for beginners: Sew simple things: Instructions for beginners.
If you are still unsure about sewing clothes because you are not yet familiar with the patterns, take a look at this post: Common pattern problems: Help, tips, and solutions.
The most important thing is that you have the courage to just start and don't lose the joy.
I wish you a wonderful start to your personal sewing happiness!
Is the right project here for you? If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a comment!
Happy simple sewing,
your Sabine
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