One of the most rewarding aspects of sewing is interacting with others who love to sew. Through them, you can pick up valuable tips and learn about new techniques. You can plan sewing projects with your circle of sewing friends, and have a blast working on them together. And nothing beats talking about sewing with someone who enjoys it as much as you do.
Never fear. There’s Sewing Machine a way for you to meet others who are as enthusiastic about sewing as you are. All you have to do is join a sewing organization. Through a sewing organization, you can meet plenty of other sewers in your area. Many organizations also hold sewing events, like conferences, seminars and workshops.
The American Sewing Guild is a national organization dedicated to spreading the word about sewing. Anyone with an interest in sewing can join, no matter what their skill level. There’s a good chance there is a local ASG chapter in your city and, as a member, you would regularly meet with other sewing enthusiasts in your area.
Members of the American Sewing Guild can take online sewing classes, enter sewing contests, participate in sewing workshops and local community service sewing projects, and attend annual conferences. Members can also look forward to receiving a magazine available only to ASG members, and special discounts courtesy of various retailers in the sewing industry.
Despite the name, the Smocking Arts Guild of America (or SAGA) is an international organization open to sewing enthusiasts of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. If you’re interested in “needle arts” like smocking and heirloom sewing, SAGA might be the sewing organization for you.
There are many benefits to joining SAGA, including access to expert instruction. Members can make contact with others who share their interest, attend conventions, and learn new smocking techniques. They also receive a quarterly magazine called the SAGANews, which is filled with tips, patterns, and new ideas.
If you aren’t interested in joining a sewing organization like the American Sewing Guild or the Smocking Arts Guild of America just yet, the SCA might be perfect for you. You don’t have to join the SCA, or pay a membership fee. Instead, you simply sign up for their monthly newsletter, called SEWlutions. It is filled with articles written by expert sewers, designed to teach you the ins-and-outs of the sewing arts.
There are many free sewing resources to be found at the various SCA websites. The SCA can also help you find an expert sewing instructor via their sewing instructor database. So while not the same as a true sewing membership organization, the SCA can help you find a sewing mentor who will help you to improve your sewing skills.
There are so many advantages to learning how to sew. It’s relaxing, creative and fun. Being able to mend ripped and torn clothing will save you money. And once you develop your sewing skills, you can make a little extra on the side doing sewing projects for other people.
Taking a class is a quick way to learn about the art and craft of sewing. There is probably a local community college or community center in your area that offers sewing courses. Classes for beginners usually meet once a week for up to six weeks, and focus on teaching basic terms and techniques, giving you a solid foundation to build on. If you’re lucky, you can take one of these classes for free. But even if you have to pay a small fee, what you learn will make the cost worthwhile.
Books can also help you develop your sewing knowledge. If you’ve never really sewn before, learning specific techniques from a book can be a challenge. But books can teach you about different techniques, important definitions, different types of sewing, the wide array of fabrics there are to choose from, and so on.