what's stopping you? Doing some market research and hoping the bees can help me out 
((to give background, I'm thinking of trying to create what I would've benefited from; a straight forward, simple sewing 101 guide and 4 easy projects to give someone a start and confidence, with someone ((me)) to ask questions. It would be in an e-book form. Lots of stuff is available online but it's hard to weed through, and in person stuff can be overly complicated, IMO!))
thanks!
coconut / 8234 posts
Time. My friend is supposed to teach me but we haven't been able to schedule the time, especially with the summer and vacations.
coffee bean / 37 posts
I would *love* to learn to sew AND knit, but I feel like I'm seriously incapable of learning this kind of stuff without someone directly showing me how the heck to do it. Maybe it's because the tutorials I've seen (for knitting) are too complicated... I'd love to see something simple!
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
Having no idea where to start. Not having equipment. Being unsure whether I have the patience. The cost of fabric, etc.
papaya / 10473 posts
You and I have had this conversation before but I am rusty and lack the confidence to just bust my machine out and try a project. I need exactly what you're talking about! That would be the perfect jump off point for me.
kiwi / 578 posts
Having no idea where to begin and no one to teach me just the basics that I can learn to build on myself. I just know ZERO about it. Sadly I received a sewing machine from MIL two Christmas' ago and it is still in the box. Would love to learn!
honeydew / 7687 posts
I just want to come into everyone's house haha!! Not that I'm an expert, because I'm not, because I love it and want you all to start and love it too. @mrsjazz: that is one thing I'm not sure how to help with; although I guess the online format makes it more flexible time!
cantaloupe / 6164 posts
I have a sewing machine & I can sew basic things like a throw pillow or crib sheet, but feel like I could never do any of the things you do! I'd love to be able to make some dresses for Sadie, but I have a hard time following a pattern. I also get really frustrated when things don't look like I think they should.
coconut / 8234 posts
@scg00387: Online would be better because I could do it in my own time instead of waiting for a good time for me and my friend (especially considering we have to work around our work schedules and need some uninterrupted time from my little one).
There are things online but it's overwhelming!
And sewing machines scare.
pomelo / 5258 posts
I have a sewing machine that I pull out 3 or 4 times a year for Halloween costumes and little crafts. I only know the very basics. Thread, bobin, foot on pedal. I've purchased two basic sewing books before. Even the easy projects are pretty aspirational for me. I haven't made anything from either one. I start reading the instructions and come across something I don't know how to do and then put the book away. And that was pre-baby, sigh. I'd like an eBook with support. Maybe YouTube tutorials to demonstrate certain concepts? Video responses to questions would be awesome.
ETA: I think I may have described the Udemy model without realizing it. They have a free online sewing 'class' but it has awful reviews. Maybe you can make a pay version.
pomegranate / 3595 posts
I know how to sew fairly well. The biggest reason I don't sew more are time and not having a sewing machine. I may get one in the future but I have been saying that for a little while now. I know I am not your target audience but I wanted to add my opinion.
pomegranate / 3577 posts
Do you know what you should do? A "tension made easy" tutorial. Have them buy a few different weights of cloth, few different weights of thread, and have then sew straight lines to see what adjusting the tension does. Not everyone knows that they have to match not only the appropriate thread, but the appropriate tension as well! If you had a blog, that would get a kajillion hits.
cantaloupe / 6751 posts
@scg00387: ahh I was just thinking the other day how much I wish I could sew! I recd a sewing machine for Christmas and took a mini lesson but it wasn't very helpful at all. I tried to look at websites but it's just too overwhelming and stressful. Even the super easy 101 projects are overwhelming when I still need to learn how to properly thread my machine, make the bobbin thingy, and I have no idea what to do once I reach the end of fabric. How do you keep everything from just unravelling?!
I want to sew SO badly and if you can offer any guidance, I would be so thrilled! 
coconut / 8430 posts
I can sew basic lines but I get intimidated by patterns and more complex projects. I also don't always know what settings to use on my machine. I also lack follow through ... I think if I got through the first 3 projects, I would have so much more confidence to tackle more.
persimmon / 1328 posts
I would love to learn to sew, but time is definitely an issue! As a super beginner (no machine even), knowing what is good to have on a machine, the purposes of different types of stitches, and even things you can do by hand would help a lot!
apricot / 431 posts
What kind of equipment I'd need, where to get it and how it all works. What kinds of fabric work best for different projects. And of course, time!
blogger / nectarine / 2600 posts
I cant use a sewing machine for my life. I can hand sew but it takes a long time and doesnt look right half the time but Im awful at the machine.
nectarine / 2242 posts
I have a machine and have done some simple things but what is holding me back from buying a book / going further is that I don't have that much extra time in my life to make a project that isn't actually going to be used. I feel like a lot of beginner projects I just wouldn't want to make or use in my house, so I don't want to waste time doing them just for the sake of learning.
It would be cool if there was a way for you to offer a variety of starter projects for someone to pick from instead of just a set 4, so they could pick what they like.
Also - I get SUPER hung up on the basic things like how to cut a straight line, measure something that is square, etc, and that is never explained very well! I had a pillow I started in my closet for a year because I could NOT get it to be a perfect square!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I can sew straight lines, basically two pieces of fabric together. I would like to expand past that into tailoring clothing, like putting in a dart, shortening a skirt with a slit, taking in a pair of pants at the waist.
For me it's not the actual sewing that causes me not to do projects, it's the prep work, especially on larger pieces. The measuring, folding/ironing, pinning, basting, etc. Once I get past that, sewing is fine.
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
A newer sewing machine! My mom gave me her 70s era sewing machine, and it's a work horse, but it also weighs 30lbs and is a huge PITA to set up. I'd love to get a more portable machine and start *really* learning how to sew!
papaya / 10560 posts
My mom didn't know how to sew, so I never learned. I don't even know how to put a button back on. Would love to learn, but no idea where to start!
watermelon / 14467 posts
@photojane: If you want to make a dress, I highly recommend Oliver and S patterns. They are so well written and I always learn something from them!
honeydew / 7091 posts
I need to know WTF to do when my stupid thread gets all knotted up with the bobbin thread. It ALWAYS happens and then I just want to push my machine on the ground and kick it. I only refrain because I don't want to have to buy another one... haha
I'm pretty sure it has to do with tension? I play around with tension, think I find the perfect setting, and then it happens when I go back to use the machine again. 
honeydew / 7091 posts
Oh, and finish work - I hate that last final step. Tying off your thread, closing a seam when you're stitching two pieces of fabric together, etc
squash / 13208 posts
I bought a sewing machine a year ago and made 2 skirts and sewed a curtain.
I only do straight lines.
I see tutorials online all the time but honestly I think I need to hire someone to come to my home and visually show me what to do!
grapefruit / 4988 posts
@matador84: Me too! I had to learn how to sew a button from a youtube video.
Starting from literally no knowledge at all, I am intimidated by it all: sewing machines, threads and fabrics, patterns, needles. I have looked into it in the past and there is just way too much out there.
pear / 1556 posts
I would LOVE to sew. This sounds weird but I am intimidated to learn how. It looks so complicated to me. I have tried sewing on a machine a couple times (many years ago) and I was never very good. I am thinking about trying again though.
cherry / 224 posts
agreed with @beachmama that i don't have a sewing machine. i would love to learn though. I've really enjoyed knitting and would like to learn how to make simple patterns (little girl dress, tote bag, curtains, etc.)
coconut / 8854 posts
One thing I have always been struggling with is the difference between fabrics. I know there are normally guidelines in the pattern, but I just wish I could find a good article or something explaining the different uses of fabrics, and what would work best for each project!
honeydew / 7811 posts
@scg00387: Time! I even have a sewing machine that I got 2 Christmas's ago that has never left the box Also, lack of space to set up a dedicated sewing area!
honeydew / 7687 posts
@photojane: let me know if you want help finding a (free) dress pattern? there are so many out there, but I can poke around and make sure they don't suck, if you want! I'm always happy to try and troubleshoot too. Have you ever tried an online tutorial/pattern? i find them much much easier than Simplicity, etc.
@Corduroy: I've never heard of Udemy! Craftsy has the same model but their lessons are often more specialized (which is good & bad)
@pinkcupcake: this project is a long-term idea, but I'm always happy to help if you wall me (and that offer extends to anyone!). The trick to preventing unraveling is to do a few back-stitches at the beginning and end of each stitching line. so you're almost to the end, stop, reverse, forward, reverse, forward, reverse then trim
@looch: yeah I will definitely not be tackling garment anything because that is all stuff I'm working on too. you might also check out Craftsy too though; they have lots of freebie videos. But, I agree, prep work is no fun. and its a lot easier if you have a big table/cutting mat/rotary but those are all expensive if you're starting out and unsure of commitment.
@swurlygurl: hmm. if it happens once I usually say to check the needle/replace the needle, rethread, and try again. honestly if it's happening all the time, something's wrong with your machine!! a tension problem is wrong the whole time you're sewing - it wouldn't all of a sudden go out of whack like I think you're saying. But, a tension disc can be broken which would mimic that. If you have a cheapie, it's better to just replace because cleanings/repairs are at a minimum $100 (in my experience, and specifically in KC).
@MrsBrewer: this is an extremely intense, detailed book if your library has it: http://www.danamadeit.com/2012/04/my-other-baby-just-came-out.html do you mean just in general? I'm trying to dig around for a good resource to link ya to.
honeydew / 7687 posts
@cmomma17: that is so tricky. our first apartment i had to sew on our 2 person kitchen table and it sucked!
persimmon / 1479 posts
This might sound weird, but if you know of any older relatives, friends, acquaintances that sew you could ask them for a tutorial. I felt like having the one-on-one help was super helpful when I started. If I hadn't had my grandma to teach me, I was seriously considering asking an older woman at church who I heard knew! I'd also say an easy project to start with would be making a pillow cover, it's pretty fast and rewarding to see your finished project! Then, you can move on to more complicated items.
There are also sometimes sewing classes offered by sewing or craft stores, but they might be a bit expensive.
In terms of knitting, I've found YouTube clips to be super helpful (that's how I taught myself). It was really nice for me to pause the clip while I was working with my yarn. Also, I would say buy some wooden needles to start, the other ones were too slippery when I started (i.e., the yarn would slip off...ugh)!
honeydew / 7295 posts
In my case it's pure laziness and lack of patience. I love the idea of sewing and have made fun things but in general I can't hack it when I screw something up which is inevitable!
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