beginner - any good tutorials or books?

Whoo Hoo! Way to go! :) What a great start to get off with. And I love pre-loved sewing machines. I have several...

All good ambitions! :)

There's some stuff for total beginners on my web site. Hit the URL in my sig and look in The Learning Zone. It's a safe site - nothing for sale! You'll find some basic stuff on different seam types, hem types, and finishes, and a page on reading a commercial pattern.

For books I like the Reader's Digest Complete Book of Sewing (pretty comprehensive, and older copies can be found in used book places), and Sewing For Dummies (available through Amazon and other places).

Should be possible with care: you might want to invest in a twin needle for that. This is a single needle shaft with two needles in it. You use two threads on top, and one on the bottom, and it looks like a regular T shirt finish. :)

It'll go super fast and super strong done by machine! Looks like you will have a range of utility stitches with that one, and one of them will make short work of some nice decorative appliqué. :)

Jeans are reasonably easy. My dad learned to hem up his own! (He had very short legs.)

Oooh, I LOVE doing those! I'm teaching a bunch of Year Six students (10-11 YO here in the UK) basic sewing skills this Christmas, and we'll be doing stockings. Last year my son was in that group, and we had a hoot! Well, we did after he calmed down and I threatened to staple him to the ceiling if he got in the way again! ;) If you look on my Bag Lady page you can see a couple I did as samples.

Hit the URL below and have fun - then anything more you want to know, just ask. :) And just Google for free Christmas stocking patterns - there are a lot out there!

I was really lucky. I had been watching ads on craigslist. Saw one for free listed just after midnight. I replied within an hour and thought I had a good shot of being first but never heard back. I then posted an ad in the barter category since I really can't afford to spend a lot on a machine. I had two replies asking to trade for photos of their children. I had listed pet photography, but honestly, I have no experience photographing kids. Then I got an email with an offer for a free one, out of the blue. And it comes with the table, manual, extra bobbins, tool kit, etc. I am really excited and can't wait to pick it up Friday night.

Awesome! Thanks!

I'm going to check the local used book store on Friday. Hopefully, they will have these.

Thanks. I will get that if it doesn't already come with one. I figure I can practice by hemming it up at the bottom where I will be cutting it off anyway. So, I can have a ocuple practice tries before I try the real thing. This will also be great since I sometimes find shirts that are too long for me. I am short waisted, so I a long shirt will bunch up at my waist. I would have more flexibility in purchases if I can make adjustments.

Yes, I have been looking at the photos that show the the dials. Looks like I will have some nice options. I was thinking tonight I could buy some plain denim shirts and add some nice appliques and give them to my mom for Christmas. She loved the one I bought her years ago, but it was really expensive.

Yes, and he will be really happy when I can do this. I could see his face light up when he learned I was getting a sewing machine. I can also fix another pair of work pants I bought at a thrift store. They are too long when I am not wearing shoes. I have to fold them up to keep from stepping on them, so I avoid wearing them.

Cool! I will check those out.

Thanks again.

Meghan

I've beenchecking uout your website. I love the blue elf stocking.

Your cats are wonderful. I actually do pet photography, so I really enjoyed those. Especially the copycat photo and the typing :) And I'm thinking about making some custumes once i get good at this.

I made some wicked Santa footwear that year! ;) Gave a pile to friends and family, filled with goodies like Lush bath ballistics, a bottle of port, and other things that needed a posher than average wrapping! ;)

Son James has a red velvet one he's put up for a couple of years. It has long points round the top and looks like a jester's boot!

The mogs are fun, and real characters. Sugar Puff is a real little madam, and a proper flirt with the male members of the household. Her bigger bro is just a total softie. And thick. Adorable, but makes porridge look intelligent. DH and I have been keen amateur photogrphers for many years, and we usually manage to catch the kitties looking cute or totally daft!

Oh, good! I make two sorts: historic stuff for re-enactment folk, and stage stuff for pop gals and school plays. It's a lot of fun. :) Just shout when you need to know anything.

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you should check your local library, many have a good range of books and magazines or can order them from other libraries.

and online, (just off the top of my head) you could try

not sure if hobbyU has a specific sewing page, but has lots of other fun stuff.and, of course, come back here with your questions. We have lots of experienced sewists to help you. chris :-)

I was at the pet store yesterday and saw a jesters outfit for a dog. It was really cute but spendy. But I could see it on my cat for photos. I could have a lot of fun making my own costumes for them. I like to do fun theme type photos. I did cats in hula skirts last summer. That was hilarious.

You could do great Christmas cards with that! :)

That's actually how I started doing the themes. I got a cute photo of my nephew's cat panting, and he looked like he was singing at the top of his lungs, so I did a group photo (one at a time and then edited together) of the dogs and cats singing.

One year, I did the various holidays. I had the turtles in the front row with some construction paper outfits. The large one had a turkey tail, and the others were pilgrims. The cats did Christmas and Hannukah. And the dogs did New Years. One of them truly looked drunk.

Here's a couple I did last year. The setup next to the Nativity scene was the card my parents sent out to all their friends. The "tree" photo is the one I sent out with my advertising.

year, I am doing my imitation of Santa and the sleigh. The dogswill be wearing reindeer antlers. I will use the silver tinsel to maketheir "harnesses". They will look like they are hitched up to my jumbored flyer wagon.

On the wagon, will be some wrapped presents, a bag, and my cats. I think Jay Jay will be Santa since he is huge and fluffy. Not sure who will be sticking out of the bag. I have a few outfits that I bought last year after Christmas when they were on sale. I have to get it done soon since I send out ads for Christmas sales. But my dog needs some serious grooming. She was abused before I got her, so she bites when groomed. I pay a place to do it. She's scared stiff when they do it, so she doesn't move or bite, and they can do it much faster than I can.

Once I learn to sew and can do my own outfits, I will be able to do so much more and really have a blast with it.

The more I think about the possibilities, the more ideas I get, and I am just really excited. I get to pick it up tonight (Friday). I'm going to the used book store this afternoon.

Snipped fun details - and the pet pix are lovely!

just be careful: Some of the most effectine fabrics are a bugger to sew! Like shiny poly satin, and the feabric From Hell - the knitted Lurex evil with sequins bonded on... if you want to be a bit unusual, try christmas patchwork cottons, as cotton is much easier to handle. :)

Have a blast - and we'll be here all weekend!