Learn to Sew for very little $$

Older sewing machines are wonderful to learn on because they are solid metal and don't break easily. They are basic machines and that's all you need to learn on. When you have learned to master one of these machines you will know if you want to invest more in a newer or more expensive machine.

Here's a great tip about these older machines: many came in custom cabinets that are very badly designed. Because of that the machines are hardly used. You can often find pristine machines if you look for these old wooden sewing cabinets.

This is important and can save you money: take the machine out of the cabinet and sell the cabinet! Now you have recouped some of the money you spent. It is possible to buy a machine in a cabinet for about $75 and then sell the cabinet for $40, then you have only really spent $35!

If you want to learn more about the different parts of a sewing machine, what their names are and how they work BEFORE you go shopping, check out this series of videos.

Craigslist.org is a great place to find sewing machines. So are second hand shops like Goodwill and Salvation Army. Garage sales are a *great* way to find these old machines and sometimes if you are really lucky you might have a relative with one of these old machines who might give it to you!

When you start your shopping, look for little wear and tear and make sure you get the foot pedal and electric cord. A big bonus is the owner's manual and any extra bobbins, feet or accessories are great.

If you have never used a sewing machine before it is really important to read the owner's manual for the machine you learn on. If you didn't get the manual for your machine, try here where they sell manuals for just a few dollars: Sewing Machine Manuals.com

Before you ever take your first stitch it's really important to clean out any caked on oil or grease and remove all lint from the machine parts. Chances are your machine has sat around for many years and a good cleaning will keep it operational for many more years.

Follow the instructions in your owner's manual and only use sewing machine oil - not any other kind. Use tweezers, Q-Tips, bits of cloth and get all the places cleaned and lubricated according to your manual.

Remember that if you need to turn the flywheel to move the parts as you clean and oil, turn the wheel counter clockwise (toward you).

Here's a great set of videos about sewing machine maintenance.

If you are afraid to take the machine apart or if you think the timing might be off, then it is best to take the machine to a professional repair shop for cleaning and timing. Look under "Sew", "Sewing", "Sewing Repair", or "Sew and Vac" for a shop near you.

Machines are all different even if they are from the same manufacturer. It's very important to use the right size bobbin, needles and feet for your machine. If you need help, look for a sewing machine dealer near you and if you need new parts try to take the old parts and your machine make and model number with you so that you are sure to get the right ones for you.

The cheapest way is to check out books from your library about basic sewing. Don't worry if the book is old - not much changes in the *how to* ----- just the fashion and fabrics change over the years.

If you have access to video on the internet there are a lot of great videos on how to sew (and a few not so great ones - don't believe everything you see on video!) on YouTube.

If you have money to spend on a membership site, I highly recommend Sandra Betzina's site called "Power Sewing".

If you would rather learn in person, look for classes from your local sewing machine dealer, quilt shop or community schools.

Your town might have local sewing groups or you might even start one and everyone can share their knowledge and inspire each other :) If you do this, often your local library will have a meeting room that you can use inexpensively for monthly get-togethers.

If you like to learn online, Sewing.org is a great site with lots of free tutorials!