Members come to the League of Dressmakers from all kinds of starting points: some of you love our community best, and want to grow your sewing with friends. Some of you are looking to learn the skills for a perfect fit in your handmade wardrobe. Some are filling in gaps in your knowledge from learning to sew here and there, without the benefit of direct instruction.
Others come to the League BRAND NEW to sewing, looking to learn to sew from the beginning. This new video series, a permanent addition to our League of Dressmakers video library, is for our newest stitchers! This is the How To Sew Video Series, and it starts at the very beginning with how to thread your sewing machine, wind a bobbin, and sew in a straight line so ANYONE can get started sewing in under an hour.
The How To Sew video series is based on my best-selling book, Stitch By Stitch. When I wrote that book, my goal was to lead you to better sewing by creating projects that work in sequence. Each project teaches a foundational sewing skill so that as you make one after another, you encounter new skills and gain confidence before moving on to the next project. Each video in the How To Sew video series follows the same idea, and even some of the same projects!
How To Sew: Quick Start Videos
We start at the very, very beginning with SEWING TOOLS, then we MEET YOUR MACHINE, and learn to THREAD YOUR MACHINE and WIND THE BOBBIN. Finally, we focus on HOW TO SEW A STRAIGHT LINE.
Those first four videos are all available for FREE on my YouTube channel as the How To Sew Quick Start Guide. Here at the League of Dressmakers, we go even further: not only is there a printable WORKBOOK that covers all the content of the How To Sew Quick Start videos, but we have another FOURTEEN videos with projects, patterns, and step-by-step instruction as you learn to sew, one project at a time!
Sewing Tools & Supplies
The first episode of this series covers tools & supplies you’ll need to get the best results from your sewing. The tools I demonstrate include:
- metal shears: right handed or left handed
- pinking shears for finishing off raw edges to prevent unraveling
- small snips for thread and trimming seams
- rotary cutters: 45mm for quilting, 28mm for garments
- seam ripper: basic or fancee
- clear acrylic ruler, especially for quilting
- flexible measuring tape, for garment sewing
- seam gauge
- needle threader
- pin cushion: classic tomato or magnetic
- pins: ball head, glass head, flower head, or ergonomic
- Wonder Clips for thicker projects like quilt binding or bag sewing
- sewing machine needles: best for beginners are either 70/10 or 80/12
- marking tool: Clover chalk marker, hera marker, or water-soluble ink pen
- turning tool: hera marker or basic knitting needle
Episodes in the How To Sew series on YouTube:
- Welcome! All the tools you need to learn to sew
- Meet your machine: learn the parts of the sewing machine & master sewing vocabulary
- How to thread your sewing machine, wind the bobbin, and take your first stitch
- How to sew in a straight line, every time!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO EPISODES FOR LEAGUE MEMBERS:
- PROJECT: sew a set of cloth napkins & master your straight stitching
- PROJECT: sew a sewing tool roll-up
- BONUS: how to make continuous bias tape
- PROJECT: sew a lined drawstring bag
- BONUS: how to make fabric ties
- PROJECT: sew a mini-quilt
- PROJECT: sew a custom sewing machine cover
- BONUS: how to take accurate measurements
- PROJECT: sew a zippered lined pencil bag
- PROJECT: sew a piped zippered pillow cover
- BONUS: how to sew an invisible zipper
- PROJECT: sew a reversible girls’ dress
- PROJECT: sew a womens’ wrap skirt with waist ties
- BONUS: how to applique with your sewing machine
New episodes publish Fridays this fall, two each week, through October!
I need to know how to applique
[…] remaining fourteen episodes are a new video series at the League of Dressmakers, where members can learn to sew from the very beginning, or can fill in gaps in their knowledge to […]
[…] time is the chance to refine skills as needed, before layering on the next level of experience. The How To Sew series does exactly that, by stacking projects one after another in a way that sequentially, logically […]
Hoe do I locate the workbook that goes along with these videos? I am a League Member, but can’t find it anywhere!
Hi, Meghan! The workbook can be found here: https://leagueofdressmakers.com/mp-files/how-to-sew-workbook-lessons-1-5.pdf/. The remainder of the files have been broken up into individual PDF downloads, each one embedded in the post or project itself. Hope that helps, and have fun! 🙂