I want to start to take up sewing.. any advice/tips?

I have a whole sketchbook filled with models wearing clothes i had designed. I only thought of it as drawing a picture until my friend came over today and looked at it saying that they are really good and i should actually make them. I thought to myself how awesome would it be to actually make the beautiful clothes i had designed.


So i now want to take up sewing so i can make my garments. Any advice on how to sew what sewing machines to buy and how to design good clothes. Please help me as I'm new to this and I'm only 14 and i think if I'm any good , this could be an early start to my future career.


P.S I'm getting a sewing machine for Christmas so if any of you out their know of any good ones .. let me know.I want to start to take up sewing.. any advice/tips?
For your first machine I would make it a pretty basic one. They can get very pricey. I have a simple Singer that I got at Target. JoAnn's might offer classes or know someone who teaches sewing. They also have a sewing machine area in the back of their store. If you buy a machine from a dealer, a store that deals only in sewing machines, they will train you on your machine. Look in the yellow pages under ';sewing machines'; to find a dealer in your area. Good brands are Viking, Singer, Brother. Ask if the parts are metal or plastic, you want metal. Do some investigating before you purchase, shop around and see what will fit your needs. Let the clerks know what you are doing and what you are using it for. I hate to say it, but make sure you have a parent with you, they might not be so helpful if you don't. I took home ec when I was in 8th grade, stopped sewing for years and am now doing it again. Be patient, it is a skill that requires patience. Good Luck to you . I get so excited when young people want to start sewing, I feel like it's a lost trade.





PS. A really good place for cute fabric your age www.fabrikfreak.etsy.comI want to start to take up sewing.. any advice/tips?
Honestly I would not recommend a Brother or a Singer. Take that $450 and go to a sewing machine dealer and see what used machines they have. Pfaff, Viking and Bernina are your top 3 brands. A used machine from one of these brands is going to be better than a new Brother. You can demo the machines at the dealer and you should get free lessons on how to use the machine you do buy. My Viking is 17 years old and sews like a dream. They will always be there for any future questions or problems. And when you are ready you can trade up to a better machine. Just learning how to thread the machine and wind the bobbin can be over whelming to a beginner. It is good to have some support


Be able to draft a pattern for you own design and drape fabric is for an very experience sewer. And requires classes. Start by learning how to use a sewing machine and how to read a pattern and how to lay out the pattern correctly to cut it out of the fabric. See if there is any beginning sewing lessons in your area.
Good for you!





Brothers are good machines. I'd stay away from any newer Singers, as they're not made like they used to be. Old ones are great though (i.e. before 1970), they last forever.





I taught myself how to sew, which isn't terribly hard to do, especially if you're good at following diagrams. Go to your fabric store and pick up some easy patterns. Sewing is something you have to learn by doing and practicing a lot. Burdastyle is a great website that has a lot of user tutorials with everything from basic sewing and cutting techniques to more advanced things. Even better is that it also focuses on independent design and making your own patterns from designs, too!
Very interesting career move,but sewing takes years of practice,my mom been a seemstress for almost 40 years and shes a pro,not everyones cut out for it,but if thats what you really wanna do then do it,but i wouldnt,my mom uses a SINGER model sewing machine, shes had it for years and its a very reliable machine,i would recommend one of these,i watched my mom make alot of dresses in my lifetime and dont know jack about sewing,you need to be very motivated,im hispanic and my mom was sewing since about ur age or maybe younger,so maybe you could be as good as her with alot of practice,good luck to you