Good resources for learning sewing and dressmaking?

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I’m getting quite sick of trying to find good, modest clothes and finding nothing but often quite poorly-made, expensive clothes, and especially as I’m young and so expected to be into ‘fashion’. To my mind, I put on clothes, and don’t care what is ‘in fashion’.

So, I’m wondering if anyone has got any good resources for sewing and dressmaking? I’m not a complete beginner, but decently confident but still feel there’s some skills I’m lacking. I can sew, make my own patterns, knit (badly), design to an extent.

Websites, books…anything will be a help!
 
I have no sources to recommend. But making your own clothes is a very good idea. Bravo!
 
Bartolome_Casas said:
I have no sources to recommend. But making your own clothes is a very good idea. Bravo!
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well getting hold of good, modest, suitably Islamic clothing is becoming a pain, especially as my nearest Islamic store is 50 miles away.
 
Do a search. There was a thread on that a few months ago, an on-line catalog of beautiful ready-made mail-order items. shukr.co.uk/Default.aspx?sh_nrdr=1

I don’t have any suggestions, other than a Muslim women’s club, since you don’t live in the states.
 
You should try look in your local area for craft or sewing groups where you could learn from other people. Learning online is all good and well but nothing quite beats learning from another person.
 
You might try shops that sell sewing machines, other sewing paraphernalia. Some of the shops offer inexpensive sewing classes. You don’t have to buy a sewing machine.

Or Craft stores. We have a chain of stores, Hobby Lobby, they offer classes in sewing, knitting, crocheting, painting, silk flower arranging, etc. Once again, for a reasonable fee.

I’m not sure about the UK. 🤷
 
I don’t know about the UK, but here, when you purchase a new sewing machine from a good shop, it customarily comes with so many lessons to get you started. I would start there.
 
I know that through some of the parks and recreation departments they sometimes offer classes – mine here in College Station does Sewing 101-type classes. Also as others have mentioned a store that sells machines often have classes. I think some of the larger JoAnne’s have sewing classes.

I know if you choose a simple pattern – Simplicity is great – it really walks you through step by step. Start with some very cheap fabric – like muslin – and then make a mockup. You’ll see where you messed up so you can fix it on your fashion fabric and you’re not out really any money. You can get it for about .88/yard on sale.
 
I agree with trying to learn from actual human beings as well as books and websites. I learned the most about sewing – especially making alterations on clothes I found at the local thrift store – by working with the costume designers of a couple shows I was in. The costume designers had the visions of what they wanted, and I was part of their team of seamstresses. I tore apart more dresses one summer than I ever imagined could be found at a thrift store. And by the time we were done with them, they were unrecognizable except maybe for color and fabric. And it was so much fun creating them!

The skills I learned in those two semesters were invaluable!

Working on the costume crew is not a feasible possibility for most people, I know 😊 But my point is that learning from human beings is invaluable. And if you are able to take a course at a local college/university to help on the costume crew, I would highly recommend it 😃

Gertie
 
Books are good for background reading, but I think your best bet is to see if one of your local fabric stores offer classes. Our local community college also offers sewing classes as part of their adult continuing education offerings. In your case, though, I’d go somewhere that sells the fabric typical of the type of clothing you want to make, and ask there. You’re more likely to find classmates and teachers who know what kind of clothing you’re after, and the particular techniques that make that kind of clothing turn out the best.

Definitely, though, go for hands-on training and the feedback of a trained eye. There is nothing to beat it.
 
A great book is Sew Everything Workshop. Takes you through all the basics and comes with about 10 patterns to get you started. The binding of the book makes it easy to have open right at the machine. I went from total beginner to making skirts jackets and pants that I can wear to work. The patterns that are included are modest and you will get a lot of mileage from this book. Its by Diana Rupp.
 
Hi!

If you are in the US, your county’s cooperative extension service may offer sewing classes. They also run the 4-H program, which is how I learned to sew as a kid. Even if they don’t offer classes, they may be able to hook you up with local sewers who would probably be thrilled to find someone interested in learning to sew. It’s a dying art.

Also, some community colleges have beginning sewing classes (this is how my mom learned to sew), and fabric stores like Jo-Ann Fabrics may have classes as well.

If you want to learn on your own, I would start with some very easy sewing patterns like Simplicity’s Learn to Sew series:

simplicity.com/c-386-learn-to-sew.aspx?pagesize=99999999

Or Very Easy Vogue patterns:

voguepatterns.mccall.com/very-easy-vogue-pages-856.php

Or Kwik Start patterns:

kwiksew.mccall.com/kwik-start-pages-3030.php

Be sure to start with easy-to-sew fabrics like non-stretchy woven cotten fabrics, etc. Stretchy or silky fabrics are a lot harder to work with.

I hope this helps!
 
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