Sew, Basically....

They're Here!!
The first few of my sewing basics tutorials are done!
Thank you to everyone for all the feedback and ideas. I can tell that we all have a little bit different ideas of what the "basics" are, so I'm going to start at the very beginning, and work my way up to ruffles, elastic, zippers, pleats, darts, patterns (yikes!), and who knows what else! There were a few tutorials requested that I have no idea how to do, so I'm sure I will be learning a lot as I go! I'm super excited!!

I'm opting to back post these tutorials, so they won't show up all at once and bore the people who aren't interested in them, but you can find them in the "Sew Basically" section.And when I add new tutorials to that section, I will let everyone know!
Starting today, with:

A list of must-have accessories for beginner sewers.
These are the things in my sewing room that I couldn't live without! Feel free to comment and add your must-haves! I'd love to know what kinds of gadgets you all use!



For all those wonderful hand-me-down machines with no manuals. Now at least you will know where to start!


The other half of that equation!



My single most-asked question other than how to make ruffles.
(It's easy!)

I realize that a lot of you are probably beyond these stages, but there are some of you who don't sew at all, and are dying to learn! So I hope these help you out a little! I'm looking forward to the next set!

God bless you guys!
-Disney

Comments

  1. I'm a self-taught seamstress myself, and have finally gotten over the fear of following (simple) patterns! Basics are important! I have a girlfriend who got a sewing machine for Christmas and was truly intimidated to turn it on!

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  2. Thank you for these amazing tutorials, Disney! The Supplies one was *so key* and there isn't another blog out there that breaks it down for us as if we were completely new to sewing, which alot of us are...I think blogs like yours inspire us to take up sewing for the first time!

    So...I'm in love with your sewing supplies/craft bag. Did you make it?? If you did, will you do a tutorial on that later on?? :-)

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  3. Thank you SO much!! I bought my 10 yr old daughter a sewing machine for Christmas. The last time I sewed anything was back in high school, which I have long forgotten. I want to get back to sewing, so these will help the both of us!

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  4. Susie: The bag is an Amy Butler craft bag that I picked up on clearance at Michaels a year or two ago. I love it too, thanks!! Of course, as soon as I brought it home, my little daring spilled grape juice inside. :o) Oh well!

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  5. It's always good to review the basics when you haven't done something in a while ~ thanks. These posts are going to be great!

    Jo

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  6. Thanks so much! It's always nice to hear the basics, being a beginner sewer!

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  7. How great of you Disney to do these tutorials! I am looking forward to your future posts! x

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  8. I just found your blog and what a blessing! I got a sewing machine for Christmas and learned how to sew on Tuesday. I love your blog and all the great sewing advice. I posted my first-ever sewing project on my blog if you want to see.
    Thanks!

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  9. I've been a lurker here for quite some time.....your blog truly inspires me :) Thank you so much for posting the basics.....I am one of those people who would like to start but just don't have the knowledge or know how. I am a crafty person by nature but have always been intimated by any sewing machine. My mom and her mother sewed but it wasn't something I was interested in...until I had a daughter. My mother and I tried once to make me a summer pregnancy dress, it was a total disaster.......I cried! My biggest regret was never spending time with my grandma when she sewed, I chose to go outside and play.....I missed out on learning all the valuable tricks and tips that are like little golden nuggets of information. So thank you for thinking of the UBER novice here.....I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart :) :) Maybe sometime soon I will go and buy a machine and feel confident enough that I could actually make something :)

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  10. oh my goodness, this makes me very happy! I am one of those who got a beautiful new machine for Christmas,and have no clue what to do with it!! thank you for putting the time into all this:)

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  11. Hey Disney! Awesome tutorials! Thank you very much for making the effort! They are very helpful!
    Carla

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  12. My mom gave me the first new sewing machine my dad bought her after they got married. It needs to be worked on a little, but I can't wait to start sewing again. I come from a long line of sewers/quilters and I too learned to sew very young but it has been years and these tutorials are a nice refresher course. Thanks Disney!! I love your blog and all your crafts and clothes! Especially for your little girl, I can't wait to make some for my little girl!

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  13. I am SO excited about this!!! Can't wait to get started! Thank you so much!

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  14. Thanks! I received a sewing machine for Christmas and unfortunately haven't touched it yet. I'm still working on gathering the "Supplies".

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  15. That is Awesome!!! I just got a handmedown machine from a friend..with out the manual! Perfect timing :)

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  16. oh please walk us through making buttonholes! didn't see it on your list of future tutorials. this is a great resource you are sharing with beginners. thank you so much!

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  17. Great tutorials! I have recently picked up sewing (luckily my mother-in-law has been sewing all her life - she is doing less though since she suffers from arthritis) and would like to know what sewing machine you recommend? I use my mother-in-law's now (which is Brother [I think]), but would like to purchase my own. Nothing too expensive, but naturally something worth the money. Any suggestions? Thanks!
    -Stephanie

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  18. I've been stopping by your blog for several weeks now, and am SO happy to see your tutorials. I received a sewing machine last Christmas (2008) and sewed my daughter's Halloween costume. That's it. Everything seems so daunting to me; I need to have something to read/consult/research/study every step and I think these tutorials are just my style. Thank you, thank you for sharing.

    Hopefully my sewing prospects start looking up. BTW, I really enjoy your blog! I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and love all the projects you have for little girls.

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  19. Thank you thank you Disney!!!! I so excited!! Veronica

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  20. I'm sure these will help a lot of people. Your descriptions were very easy to understand.

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  21. Need lots of Basic help here lol!
    thank you!!

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  22. I am not comfortable sewing by machine (that thing seems to run, when I want that she walks) but that tip to sew a straight line is precious!
    Thank you!
    Maybe I’ll give it a try!

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  23. I'm really really excited about this. I'm not a total beginner, but I feel like one, so I'm going to love this!

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  24. Disney, you are just my favorite person that I don't actually know! You've gotten me so excited about sewing and trying new things and these new tuts really help since I'm an amateur! Also, I was just reading about the Prov. 31 wife and I think you must be that kind of wife with how productive you are!! Hope I don't sound too infatuated with you right now :) Anyways, keep the posts coming!!

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  25. Great tips! I love these tutorials Disney. Thank you so much for doing them!!!

    XOOX
    Jen

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  26. This is great. I have no idea how to sew and was looking for some basic help to get me started!! Thank you!! Keep it coming!!

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  27. Disney, this is wonderful! I used to sew a lot when I was younger but have completely forgotten the essential basics. This is JUST what I needed! You are wonderful! :)

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  28. I love this idea!

    Do you have any tips on sewing rounded corners? I never seem to be able to do those well--and am wondering if you have any secrets to share. :)

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  29. Yay! I'm so glad you're doing this! I've been following your blog for a while (love it), but I don't think I've ever commented.
    I've taught myself what I think are the basics in sewing, but I would love to learn more or at least more accurate info. Thanks!

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  30. AWESOME idea Disney! This will be a great resource for lots of people for sure!

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  31. Oh my goodness! I am so glad I found you and your blog. Your blog was mentioned on another blog, Sabbe Interior Design, and she recommended everyone to read your blog. I am signed up for a beginner's sewing class THIS Saturday so this post could not have come at a better time. I'm so excited to start sewing and I know I'll be checking out your blog often for inspiration. Thanks!

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  32. THANK YOU!!! I'm new to your blog but I can't tell you how much I appreciate these sewing basics. I hava machine but haven't used it much b/c I haven't taken the time to learn how.

    I know all these stuff is really simple but most of us don't do it b/c we are unsure of how to do it. Your little tips and how tos are such a blessing to us and I'm so thankful for them. Thank you for sharing so much!!!

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  33. You are so sweet to be taking "a step back" for those of us who have had yet to catch up but are drooling over your tutorials. Thanks so much!

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  34. I SO adore that you are doing this Disney! I got my grandmother's sewing machine when she passed away...it's a several thousand dollar embroidery machine with a couple thousand dollars worth of accessories too. I have made some really cute burp cloths with our kids & my nephew's names embroidered on them, and I have made the curtains for our entire house, but that's it! I just don't know how to do anything else! I am really looking forward to putting all that money that my grandma put into this stuff to good use! She never even got the opportunity to use it, so she would be really happy! Thank you SO much!!!

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  35. BLESS YOU! I am going to go out this weekend and buy a sewing machine and FINALLY learn.

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  36. Disney jesteś niesamowita, uwielbiam Twój blog. Cieszę się, że dzielisz się swoimi pomysłami ze wszystkimi. Trzymaj tak dalej! Pozdrawiam z Polski ;)
    I say, You are EXCELLENT, I love Your blog and I am greeting from Poland

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  37. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm excited by this series. I've fallen in love with sewing over this past year and am trying to teach myself, I can tell this series is really going to help me! Thank you!

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  38. Thanks for doing these Disney, I don't know how many times I thought I knew how to do some sewing skill and then I read on someone's blog the correct way & I was like, "oh, wow, well that makes a lot more sense!"

    So here's where I get stumped & I hope you'll add it in somewhere down the line. What is interfacing and what the heck do I do with it?? I hear people talking all the time about using it when making totes & stuff but I just don't get it.

    Thanks!

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  39. Thank You!!!! I love seeing all the craft projects and never know where to start. I got a sewing machine almost 3 years ago and I have only sewed 2 things on it because I don't understand it. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

    Tasha

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  40. Hola Disney !

    My daugther and i (13 yr old) Follow your blog, we are adicted to all you post , you are giving a great gift and for that we THANK YOU ....

    Rocio

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  41. I finally made ruffles yesterday! I thought for sure it would be as easy as you always say it is but it WAS! Thanks :) I LOVE your blog...your ideas are fun and you're such a positive voice and I love when you share about your faith a bit too. Thanks for brightening this stay at home mom's days :)

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  42. Thank you for this tutorial!

    I am emailing this link straight to my mom. For years, she has been asking me to teach her how to use "her" machine. She bought a sewing machine for me to use when I was in high school (what a fantastic mom, right?), and never learned to use it herself. Thanks Disney!

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  43. I´m very glad you tu teach us. I thank you all. I´ll try very soon.
    Thank you so much

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  44. Disney, these are AWESOME! I'm a sewing novice, and I'm totally addicted to your blog. Thanks for the tips!

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  45. Thank you for these tutorials Disney! I am a fairly new seamstress and these are so helpful=) I was wondering if you can do one on the blind stitch (I think it's called), you know? The one that you do at the end of a pillow project to close the bottom by hand...Thanks so much in advance and I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER TODAY! I hated to see that you had a headache yesterday...I suffer from migraines, so I know how you feel....Melissa=)

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  46. Oh Thank you for these! I received a sewing machine for Christmas and I'm petrified to take it out of the box. I think I will face my fear now - thank you!

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  47. i just found your blog via happy together. Thank you for these tutorials!! I have had a sewing machine for a few years now and the one thing, it might seam so simple and silly, i always have a problem with is threading the bobbin! i can never get that dang thread to catch! My grandmother who has been sewing for years always tries to show me but she is an old pro and just says " see as simple as that!" ah! it makes me shy away from sewing that I always have such an issue with this. But your tutorial absolutely makes sense!! i cannot wait to get home to attempt the bobbin once more and i cannot wait for more in your series!! thanks so much for taking the time do this for newbies like me!

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  48. Thanks so much for the tutorials. I'm looking into buying a machine for while I'm away at school..do you have any suggestions?? :) Thank you!

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  49. I did this (the sleeve part) today! Thanks again for sharing! I love my "new" sweater!

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  50. This is perfect! I just asked all of my facebook friends if they would want to teach me to thread my bobbin and sewing machine that was given to me. And here I find that you've made all these tutorials! What perfect timing. Thank you!

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  51. This is so great - Thank you! Now I can finally use the sewing machine that's been standing in my home like a white elephant for about 3 years now. :-)

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  52. I really cannot thank you enough for taking the time to post these thorough explanations. I haven't sewn since 7th grade home-ec when I learned to make a bag. I bought a sewing machine when I had 1 kid to make curtains, etc. 4 kids total later and my youngests in 3rd grade, I am finally finding some time to pull it back out and get creative. Your tutorials have fed my creative energy and filled in much-needed missing information. Thank you so much!

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  53. Lovely tutorials thankyou!!!
    Can I ask if you made the sewing bag yourself & do you have a tutorial to make it please?
    I love it.

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    1. Oh sorry, unfortunately it was just something cute I picked up at a craft store a few years back. I always meant to figure out a tutorial for something like it, but time has just gotten away from me! :o)

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  54. this machine and i just may develop a better friendship now that i understand some of the verb-age.

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