When you first start learning the basics of sewing and quilting, attempting to find tutorials or info online can feel a bit overwhelming.
I’ve been there.
Sometimes you just want a physical copy of a book with all the necessary information.
In this post, we will take a look at some of the best sewing books for beginners and talk about what they offer and what makes them unique.
What Should I Learn First When Sewing?
Contrary to what you may think, you do NOT have to know “everything” before you start sewing. Yes, it is good to know the basic terms and how to use your sewing machine, but you don’t have to know all the terms and spend hours watching tutorials or reading information.
I have found the best way to learn about sewing is to sew. It is good to do research and to understand the basics, just don’t get lost in the information and let the excitement of actually sewing fade away.
Here are some basics terms to know for sewing for beginners:
- Seam allowance: The fabric to the right of the stitch that goes on the inside of the quilt or garment. The seam allowance will depend on the project you are working on. Generally, for a quilt, the seam allowance is always ¼”.
- Selvage: The side edges of the fabric are tightly woven so that the fabric won’t unravel.
- Feed dogs: The mechanism in the body of the sewing machine that feeds the fabric under the needle.
- Topstitch: A straight line sewn over a seam to keep the seam in place and to give the item a more finished look.
- Backstitch: To hold the beginning and ending stitches in place, you will reverse stitch 3-4 stitches. There is usually a backstitch button or lever on the sewing machine.
- Basting: A temporary way to hold the fabric together. You can do so with glue, pins, or wide stitches.
- Finger press: If you need a temporary crease in the fabric, you can simply fold the fabric and press with your fingers to give a temporary mark.
- Notions: This describes accessories and “doo-dads” used in sewing, such as buttons, zippers, scissors, seam rippers, etc.
- Stitch length: Refers to the length of the stitches. There will be a knob on your sewing machine where you can adjust the length of your stitches depending on what you are sewing.
- Thread tension: In many sewing machines, you can adjust the thread tension of the top thread and bobbin thread. Check the manual from your sewing machine to troubleshoot any thread tension issues.
- Bobbin: The small spool that holds the bottom thread.
- Right side/ wrong side of the fabric: The “right side” of the fabric refers to the side that has the pattern on it. The “wrong side” refers to the back of the fabric that will not be visible when the piece is finished.
This is an extremely short list, but all these terms are necessary to understand for beginner sewists and quilters to know before they dive into patterns or sewing books.
13 Best Sewing Books for Beginners
Now let’s take a look at this compilation of excellent beginner sewing books and see what they have to offer. Don’t be intimidated by projects that you may see in these books. They all offer well-written instructions for each project.
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If you are looking for a book full of fun, beginner-friendly home decor projects, this book can help you. Packed with 21 quick projects you can make over the weekend (or quicker), Sew-It-Yourself has step-by-step instructions to create items such as aprons, oven mitts, and a laptop case.
This book has over 200 photos showing you detailed steps to make the projects included in its 104 pages. The beginning of the book offers you the tools and techniques you will need to make these cute and practical projects.
I hope this collection of books has helped you figure out what you need to join the exciting sewing community. Whether you are starting regular sewing or quilting, these books should help you learn the basics to start creating works of art in no time.
