Beginner sewing – First projects

I started sewing last year. An odd hobby for a 62 year old man to take up.

My interest in sewing was spurred by my interest in examining the mechanical synchronies of a sewing machine, and an interest in producing outdoor gear products for myself. I found a Montgomery Ward Model URR 787 – 21 Jewel Supreme Automatic sewing machine at my local Goodwill store, that seemed to be fairly complex enough to satisfy my inquisitive objective.

After watching YouTube videos, I learned a few sewing techniques, practiced using scrap materials, and explored a variety of threads to learn their application, capacity, and limitation attributes. An essential knowledge base to procure prior to undertaking a project.

My first project was a winter shirt for myself, made from a wool blanket. Even though I didn’t have a pattern, my guesstimates were fairly accurate.

For my second project, I purchased a White overlock machine, a pattern, and made a fleece jacket for my “girlfriend”, Sheila (we’ve lived together for more than 25 years, I still refer to her as my girlfriend). This project was educational in respect to working with patterns, so felt I was ready to make something more elaborate. Sheila’s birthday was coming, so decided on a pattern and chose fabrics that I thought that she would like. I also found a 1952 Singer 201-2 that I liked.

Here is the product of my second time working with a pattern, and first project on the Singer

The decorative stitch on the yoke was applied with a Singer 401-A.

Considering that I was a beginner, I was pleased with my work, and so was Sheila.

I remember my mother making her own clothing to save money. Not these days.