How did you learn to sew?

I taught myself when I was 15.  Just dig in and try something ... you will make mistakes, but that's how you learn.  Just don't buy expensive fabric for your first attempts

All of this information is great. I learned to sew when I was 9 becuase I didn't fit into the kids' clothes - too tall. I took private lessons, lessons in high school, books, The Fashion Institute, etc, etc.  The thing is, you never quit learning. If there is a junior college near you, look into classes there, it is a great source for sewing. I have taken draping and other advanced classes. Also, join the American Sewing Guild. In addition to being around other poeple that sew and are ready to help, you get some nice discounts.  Most of all have fun and experiment, that is how I learned the most and I am still learning!

A friend taught me the basics; threading a bobbin, straight stitching, top stitching, and 3 weeks later my MIL bought me a sewing machine. I signed up for summer courses at the local Jr college. I still have issues with reading patterns, cutting straight and sometimes sewing straight, but I am not bad for only having learned almost 2 years ago.

I figure by the time I am 50, I'll be pretty good. I've got 15 years to go.

I learned to sew watching my mom from the day I was born pretty much.  She learned during the depression and her aunties taught her and because money was tight, they taught her to sew on newspaper would you believe.  She would make an outfit totally out of newspaper and when they decided she had gotten it right, they would allow her to sew fabric. 

She allowed me to start by making doll clothes from her scraps probably, around age six, that I cut out free hand for Barbie and just sewed up the side seams by hand and then machine.  The sleeves were part of the whole and the hems were raw, but I remember having such a proud sense of accomplishment.  She passed when I was eleven, and I took home ec classes at school which I quite frankly hated, but learned some basics though in grades 7 and 8.  When I was about 18 I got back to wanting to sew and just started out with simple things and upgraded slowly.  I bought some books along the way and acquired good and bad advice from friends and acquaintances along the way.

Today between books, on-line and classes at sewing stores there is probably more help to learn to sew than ever before.  I know that I initially sewed for clothing needs, but find that this often costs more than buying ready made today, so most of my sewing is for special items of clothing or sewing for the home or gift items.  I love to sew for my 3 year old grand daughter as I raised three boys who were boring to sew for, but now I have my little princess to make it fun again.   

Ooooh...I love this question. I first learned to hand-sew from a woman (Sister Carmen) who babysat me, and my three siblings, while my Mom was on bedrest with our fourth sister. Then, later, my mom showed me how to use her machine, and I made an EXCEPTIONALLY ugly little t-shirt dress with a bubble skirt. *shudder*

Finally, when I was in high school, my father hooked me up with a woman in our congregation who made teddy bears....and clothes for them. She taught me how to attach eyes and noses, how to attach heads, how to stitch up faces so they had contours, and how to stitch dolls shut.

I really didn't start to sew on my -own- until I had my first baby, and I started making baby blankets by the ARMFUL. They were super simple - two squares of snuggle flannel, sewn right sides together, then turned and top-stitched. Easy, and popular. From there, I started designing my own aprons to sell...and other random little toys.

Sewing is so much FUN. It's like gluing...only faster! LOL

Very early on by my mother's side.  She let me pin out patterns and then later, cut them out as I grew.  I didn't do many projects on my own until I moved out and discovered I needed window coverings.  I later worked at a fabric store and and that really cultivated the sewer in me.  It has been 13 years since I worked there and I still have a huge stash acquired while there.  My mother also taught me knitting, embroidery, cross-stitch, crochet and oh so many things...

I am a beginner too and just found this forum.  The advice is amazing!  I have always wanted to learn but never did.  I just bought a machine two weeks ago and I've def caught the sewing bug and cannot wait to make clothes for my 20 month old.  So far I've made two pairs of yoga pants for her.  The first was quite possibly the ugliest pair of pants I have ever seen. 

I had my grandmother's sewing machine before she died, but the machine never came out of the closet.  After she died, I felt the desire to begin to sew.  First, I started with a simple gathered skirt for my daughter, a pillowcase dress, etc....
My saving grace was I had the original manual to the machine.  I would have been stuck without it!
This summer I bought a new machine and I just love sewing now! I feel the internet is an invaluable too.  I visit this site almost everyday.  Plus, Youtube is great if you need a visual.
My daughter is only 3, but one day I hope she'll learn to sew on my grandmother's vintage Singer.

I learned a little in middle school home ec, a little from my mom, and a little on my own in high school.  I spent a summer with my grandma while in college and that was when I really learned to sew.  She helped me make pjs, shorts, and a dress, but most importantly how to read a pattern.

From there I didn't know I was supposed to be scared, I'd just buy a pattern I liked and make it.  I've sewn a little of everything: purses, dresses, quilts, tote bags, crib bedding, etc.

I learned how to do basic hand sewing when I was about 9 or 10 years old from my grandmother (although I had always played around with needle and thread when I was younger than that...) but I learned how to work a sewing machine in Home Ec in high school.  Then I really went to town when I got a sewing machine for Christmas when I was a senior in high school.

Past that I was pretty much self taught, although I did take a class in  French Heirloom Sewing (think Martha Pullem) in the late 80's.

I use to sew all.the.time...but as I am still trying to get my house in order after moving home from Europe 2 years ago, it seems that if I use my machine, it's to do mending or relatively simple sewing (like simple curtains for example...)

I love to make wearables for myself, and stuffed animals the best...and then anything having to do with home decorating...

When I was very young, before age 5 my Mom taught me to sew.  Well she caught me sewing a selection of items through her machine.  She gave me notebook paper to sew together to practice straight lines, and curves.  We did that for weeks, just paper.  I thought it was great. 

She was nice enough to try and teach me how to sew through my life.  Providing advice, I always refused her formal training.  I would spend days cutting something up, and putting it back together.  I didn't always rely on sewing, I was not good at it.  I glued, tied, and stapled things together and set up photo shoots for my friends.  My Mom still has the photos, very funny to look back on. 

Well, somehow Mom managed to teach me to sew using patterns by the time I moved out.  I went to college and focused on Studio Art, and Theatre. I worked in the costume department, and put on a fashion show for my final art project. 

I wasn't done there, I worked in home interiors until I figured that I can do that.  I opened a drapery company and my first professional sewing job was born. 

I'm very new and very self-taught.  My mother enjoyed sewing in her teens and early twenties but when it became less expensive to buy ready-made, that was a consideration for her.  Last winter, I needed a period costume for my daughter's Colonial Days at school and making it was the best way to go.  Mom helped me lay out the pattern, cut everything out and got me started.  Then some nasty snow storms got in the way which necessitated my figuring things out on my own.  I did a pretty good job, altering the pattern when the sizing was off and even putting in a zipper with the help of an online tutorial.  In the process, I found a hobby I really enjoy.  I'm a work in progress and enjoy learning everything I can about the craft.

This is one of the BEST threads!(no pun intended!)

My mom taught me how to sew by hand and-like learning how to sew on a button and then bought me simple embroidery kits, because I loved sewing things by hand!

I then wanted to learn how to do more sewing besides sewing Barbie clothes by hand so my mom let me learn how to use my grandmother's Treadle Sewing Machine.

After that I took a few sewing classes at a Singer sewing machine store. The main thing I learned from that class is you can teach yourself to sew. Then my parents bought an electric sewing machine-which was so wonderful and we all had to learn how to use it!

I have learned so much just by doing, but it is SO helpful to have others to help you -like this forum! I don't care how much you know-there is always something new to learn and that is why this blog is so important!

Happy Sewing!!

No,its not dumb.i have the same question.

My first experience of sewing were not on machine. It was by hand during my childhood days. My aunt allowed me to use the machine when I'm about 16 yrs old. Where she thinks that I'm capable enough to work on the machine. It was really scary I was afraid that my hands might be caught by the machine so I slowly until I learn to make it fast. My first creation was an Apron.