“Often these students feel like they need to start from scratch because they haven't touched a machine in years,” Jennifer Serr said in an email interview.
At The Sewing Room in Alameda, her Machine Basics class begins with threading, making bobbins and basic stitching. “Most people get stuck on threading but with a few simple tips they can get it right in no time,” Serr said.
“We provide our students with a booklet containing practice sheets for straight and curved stitching along with troubleshooting information, so they feel they have a resource to fall back on after the class,” she said. Serr also pointed to the videos on the shop's website as another resource.
A tote bag can be a first project, but the explanation needs to fit both its complexity and the student's experience. “Some students require visual explanation every step of the way, while others learn audibly, and still others learn by doing,” Serr said.
Instructions introduce another hurdle- the vocabulary of a sewing pattern. “In the beginning it helps to have someone to turn to,” said Serr, who suggested a class or a sewing mentor such as a neighbor or friend.
“Usually, once students get past the machine threading hurdle, their muscle memory returns,” she said. “Reading patterns and understanding the vocabulary are usually the next challenge and knowing these things comes with practice and repetition.”
“My advice is to keep on trying and allow yourself to be bad or mediocre when starting to sew again after a long absence,” Serr said. “Give yourself the grace to adopt a beginner's mind.”