Sewing can create some truly remarkable pieces, but if you’re just getting into the hobby, you’ll have to start small. Fortunately, there are plenty of projects you can sew with no experience, and they’re all practical items you’ll use all the time. Let’s see what your first sewing project could be!
Tote Bag
Tote bags are the classic beginner win for a reason. They’re basically two rectangles of fabric (usually cotton canvas) sewn together with straight lines. The whole project takes a couple of hours, and since you’re sewing a simple rectangular shape, you’ll immediately get comfortable guiding fabric through your machine without worrying about curves or corners.
Pillowcase
Pillowcase construction is a closed rectangle with a flap, and the only tricky part is pressing your seams flat, which you’ll pick up fast. They’re also an opportunity to play with fabric patterns, so if you’ve got a specific color palette in your room, you can match it exactly. Most standard pillowcases only require about a yard of fabric, which keeps the cost low.
Drawstring Bag
A drawstring bag gives you a chance to practice something slightly more involved without jumping too far ahead. You’re still working with rectangles, but you’ll learn how to create a casing, which is a folded channel at the top that holds the drawstring. Once you know how to make a casing, you can apply that technique to tons of other projects later.
Simple Headband
Fabric headbands are fast to make and require almost no material. You’ll cut a long strip, fold it in half lengthwise, stitch down the side, and then turn it right-side out. That turning step can be tricky at first, but you’ll get the hang of it quickly and use it constantly. Here’s a tip: Use a wooden chopstick or a safety pin to push the fabric through.
Zippered Pouch
This one takes things up a notch because you’re installing a zipper, and a lot of beginners avoid it out of fear. The truth is, though, that a basic zipper on a small pouch is more than manageable. You just need to learn about different sewing feet—specifically, the amazing zipper foot. This presser foot is designed to effortlessly attach zippers to your sewing projects. Once you know how to use it, you can add zippers to everything, which makes garment construction more accessible.
Build From Here
You can sew the projects we listed here without experience, and each one teaches you skills you can apply to future, more complicated projects. By the time you move on to clothes or quilts, you won’t be starting from zero.
