Hi Renee! I sewed for my children when they were little, and yes it is great fun!

Do you have a friend or family member that would be willing to help you start out? If not, perhaps you could post a note at the local fabric store, asking for someone to give you a hand. Maybe another mother who sews for her children would be willing to have a couple of get togethers with you...help you out, have lunch, play time for the kids...

It's not impossible to learn from a book, but so much easier learning from a live person.

The first two things you will need to do is:
1. learn how to operate and use the machine you are going to purchase. You need to know how to thread the needle and the bobbin, know where the seam guide lines are marked on it, what the stitches do..many dealers will include free classes with your machine..so be sure to ask and see if they offer this service when you are looking for a machine.

2. the second is learning how to read a pattern. You need to know the terminology of the pattern (you can find this information online, too). They include pictures of the pattern layouts that will help you too. Each pattern piece tells you how to cut it (on the fold or not, how many to cut out, etc.)

When you understand these two things, you can move on to actually sewing...and the fun stuff!

When you have any questions at all...don't hesitate to ask! Someone here will be able to offer advice/assistance in most sewing situations.

Sewing is worth the effort to learn..it is a skill you can use for the rest of your life...and the rewards are endless!

Good luck to you!
Lynn

Welcome Renee! I love your energy. You are ready to begin a wonderful adventure. First you must decide what machine you need and if you plan on sewing for your family you will need your own machine. By machine I do not mean a plastic overpriced object that will be a source of major frustration. Your first step will be to find a machine which will fit you and your needs. Read back on some of the posting on this forum. People have shared some excellent information. Make notes of any machines mentioned in your price range. Go to a reputable dealer.......which means not a box store which seems not to give service once the machine is purchased. Do your homework, look, read, ask.......if you have sewer friends or family ask their opinions on machines (makers, models, etc.) Go and "test drive" ALOT at various stores...take time to sit down and take demonstrations.....hands on, that means YOU sewing and not the person selling. Look and look and look somemore. It costs nothing but time and energy. If you have a friend, cousin, mother, aunt whatever who sew ask them about their machine, you might luck in and get a machine someone isn't using anymore. Begin by asking someone who sews and lives close by if they are willing to help you. Read....and I mean read, so terms that are thrown out to you aren't going to be foreign. Ask about classes where machines are sold so a sewer learns her machine. You should get a class or classes....and if they are open to helping you with any machine problems you run into. Check out classes for begining sewers.......get a pattern (in the sizes you need) in the "Sewing for Dummies" (I hate the word Dummies...beginners is more to my taste..a dummy is one who doesn't try in my words). Or if you ask a clerk they can say if something you like is really too challenging. Ask, ask, ask. Buy yourself some good quality sewing items. Ask your sewing friends or relatives what tools they NEED. Pins, a seam ripper, scissors and good thread spring to mind. When you first begin, get some inexpensive fabric (why ruin good stuff) and don't expect to have perfect results......give yourself time and enjoy the journey. Garage sales are sometimes good places to find a machine, but would suggest having someone with you who sews to check out a machine before purchasing that way. Enjoy yourself, you have begun a journey that is both exciting and challenging. People on this site are most helpful and will try to help. We have people at all levels of skill and they are most forthcoming with help. So you are in the right place, enjoy the journey and Happy Easter to you and yours. Budster

Renee,
I have a friend that has no interest in sewing what-so-ever, but here's a deal she worked out with another friend. Karen bought enough material to make her daughter and the friend's daughter an outfit and the pattern. She would cut both outfits out (Most people who sew hate the cutting out part)and her friend would sew both of them and Karen got "free" labor on the sewing.

YOu might find a friend who sews that's willing to teach you if you are providing fabric and patterns that she could do her child an outfit also. Like I said on the cutting out, it takes me as long if not longer to cut something out than it does to sew it.

ALso a local college here teaches sewing in the continuing ed classes it offers. Good Luck to you,
Susan

Renee
You might want to start with something simple like pillow cases for the boys There are lots of character prints in the material departments, like Spong Bob or Spiderman etc.

You could take a regular pillowcase and measure it to see how much material you need to buy.
It would probably be just one or two seams to worry about.
Try to sew them by hand and get used to hemming with a needle and thread. I think the boys would love a pillowcase.

I didn't have a sewing machine in the begining when I had my first baby - (I did know how to sew) so I sewed all the seames by hand.

Turn a regular pillowcase inside out and look how it is sewn. You could do it with material just remember to keep the pretty part of the materil folded so the good sides are together. then sew your seams and then turn it out and you have a nice pillow case. You might have to sew your seams twice to strengthen them since you will be doing them by hand. Remember in covered wagon days everyone sewed by hand!!

Also check into your community college or adult ed if you have them near you.Both of those in my area and many areas i've lived in,have those.

Check in fabric stores and talk to some of the clerks,some of them may be willing to teach you for a few dollars on their day off.

Go to the library and get Singers Sewing for children books,those have a wealth of information.

Just remember don't try anything to difficult to start out with,do things like shorts,pajamas easy stuff.

Also follow the ideas the others have given about a sewing machine.

If you lived near me i'd teach you!! LOL

I also sewed for all my kids,3 boys and a girl until high school,and even made them stuff occassionaly after that if they needed it.I now sew for the GGK's.
Kathi

Renee,
I'm teaching myself how to sew. I started a year ago. Read everything that you can get your hands on, and start simple. I read every book in the library about sewing. They make it sound so easy, but it isn't quite that simple. The pillowcases are a great idea, as well as pull on shorts and pj bottoms. It would have been so much easier if I had someone to teach me, but I didn't.