Everything has a beginning. Even as a seamstress with many years of experience, I once sat in front of a freshly unpacked sewing machine and didn’t know where to start.

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All I had was the sewing machine manual, and somehow I learned to sew. But could I have saved time by taking lessons? Absolutely. We all prefer to learn from others' mistakes rather than our own. Below is a brief summary of my experiences to help you start sewing with joy and avoid discouragement due to difficulties. Challenges are always present when you start something new.

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So, let’s begin. Here are my personal tips to help you stay on track when facing initial obstacles:

  1. Find a project.
  2. Purchase materials.
  3. Buy sewing equipment.
  4. Print or learn basic terms.
  5. Familiarize yourself with basic types of seams.
  6. Move gradually and take breaks.
  7. Praise yourself for the result.

Now, let's go into detail about each point.

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1. Find a Project I recommend choosing simple projects to start with. These can include a pillow, cosmetic bags/pouches, scrunchies, coasters, book bookmarks, sleep masks, etc. Complex projects can easily discourage you from sewing altogether. Therefore, it’s beneficial to have a short video or file with step-by-step instructions.

2. Purchase Materials Once you’ve chosen a project, you can go to the store and buy all the necessary materials. But don’t treat this too seriously. Knowledge of materials will come with time (or with my checklist "Fabrics and How to Work with Them"). For now, enjoy the process. Explore everything with your hands and eyes, assess not only the color and design but also the flexibility, density, and composition of the material. You have the following options:

  1. Trust your feelings if you fall in love with a material at first sight. No one said you can’t make a scrunchie from oilcloth. Don’t limit yourself. Sewing is about creativity, and creativity is about self-expression.
  2. Ask the store consultant.
  3. Read the sewing instructions for recommendations on material selection.

3. Buy Sewing Equipment Materials chosen, now it’s time to start sewing. Not quite. You still need to buy various sewing notions that can quietly zero your card balance. To avoid this, I’ve created “Sewing equipment checklist” with descriptions and recommendations. This aligns with my principles of business sustainability, so I recommend it to you.