Now that you have your sewing machine and all of your supplies, you’re going to need some classes to help you learn to sew. Here you will find my extensive list of completely free online sewing classes for beginners. I apologize for the length. I added as many as I found to be helpful for a newbie sewer like me. You will not need to take all the courses, but use this list as a resource to find the best classes for YOU.
If you are lucky enough to take a class on site somewhere, then, by all means, DO IT! I think the best way to learn is with real people and in real time, but if you are looking to save a little money then this list will help you get started!
Disclosure: Keep in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a small commission. I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The choice is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you. For more information please check out my privacy policy and disclosure statement here.
These 55 easy sewing projects for beginners are a great way to practice your sewing skills while making something fun! This collection of free sewing patterns is perfect for beginners and experienced sewers alike!
Start With Your Manual
First thing’s first, please read the manual that came in the box with your sewing machine. In fact, read it more than once! Your manual will have valuable information in it, and it will specifically be about your sewing machine. I also received a DVD with mine that I watched as well. If your machine comes with information, then most definitely read it!
Completely Free Online Sewing Classes
As you are probably aware, most of the sites I am going to share with you will offer a freebie in addition to courses that require a payment. Today, I am only sharing the freebies, but stay tuned because I will have a complete list of courses available for purchase coming up soon!
Craftsy
Craftsy is one of my favorite websites! Why? Because it includes lessons and materials on EVERYTHING crafty: sewing, knitting, cooking, photography, art, cooking, baking, etc.
Craftsy has a few “no strings attached” Free Classes for sewers. So DEFINITELY check those out HERE!
If you are looking to learn a specific skill, chances are Craftsy has a video for it! They have a fantastic deal called Craftsy Unlimited where you pay a fee and have the opportunity to watch any video you would like, however; I said this was a list of FREE classes, so I have a trick. There is a way to watch ANY video you want for FREE! You need to sign up for their free 7-day trial. Find a class you are interested in and then sign up for their free trial. Then, sit down, watch, and learn something new! If you aren’t ready to commit to Craftsy Unlimited, you can cancel after your seven days are up. Easy Peasy!
Tilly and the Buttons
I just purchased her first book, Love at First Stitch: Demystifying Dressmaking and I LOVE IT! I will be posting some finished products soon! You really should check out her site. The greatest thing about Tilly is that she started out as a complete novice, so she can relate to how us beginners are feeling. She explains things so well making it easy to follow along with her directions. Her free classes start at the very beginning and progress. You can find lessons on finding a machine, what tools you need, and how to troubleshoot common machine problems! She does have other courses that go into more detail. I think my next purchase will be one of those!
Here are some of her free classes I found helpful: You can see them all HERE!
CHOOSING A SEWING MACHINE
ESSENTIAL SEWING TOOLKIT
MARKING AND CUTTING FABRIC
FIVE COMMON SEWING MACHINE MISTAKES + HOW TO FIX THEM
Her site also has AMAZING beginner sewing patterns, other courses, kits, fabric, and more. So definitely check it all out!
Oliver & S
This site designs patterns with easy-to-understand instructions. They describe them as a “sewing class in an envelope.” You can check out some freebies here! This site also includes some beautiful tutorials to help you learn new skills and techniques.
You need to check this site out! It is one of my absolute favorites! Do you have a skill you need extra help learning? You should check out this: the Oliver + S Skill Index: free download.
Here are some of the free tutorials they offer:
Sew a Seam
Finish a Seam
Sew a Button
Sew Buttonholes
Sew A Zipper
Finding Your Correct Pattern Size
Creativebug is yet another fantastic site that includes a plethora of art and craft classes! By signing up for Creativebug, you’ll enjoy unlimited access to over 1000 online art and craft classes. The lessons never expire, and you can start and stop projects at your own pace.
BUT, to get you started… here are some freebies:
Sewing Machine Basics
How to Read a Sewing Pattern
Lengthen or Shorten Patterns
Machine Sewing: Needle and Thread Basics
Creativebug offers one whole month of free unlimited access, which means you should check it out.
Crazy Little Projects
Amazing information here! It includes pre-lessons that focus on the machine and how to get started as well as sewing lessons. Of course, not all of her classes are free, but here is a great one to check out!
Melly Sews
This site requires that you sign up with your email (I did!) and the seven lessons are then sent directly to your inbox every couple of days. She includes several resources within each lesson. Good things are going on here! Check it out!
National Sewing Circle
There are a lot of great videos here! Even though you would have access to even more if you became a member, there are still a significant number of freebies for newbie sewers like us! Sign up for their newsletter, and you will receive notification when a new tutorial is up!
Here are a few of their practical classes:
Different Types of Thread for Sewing
Understanding the Basic Parts of a Sewing Machine
Sewing Buttons Quickly and Easily
Finding the Straight Grain in Fabrics
Mixing and Matching Sewing Fabrics
Organizing Your Sewing Supplies
There are so many more freebies so check them out here!
All Free Sewing
This site has a lot of free resources. There is a massive collection of FREE sewing classes, tutorials, ebooks, patterns, and projects! Here are a few lessons they offer. You can check out everything here!
How to Use a Sewing Machine and Sewing Machine Maintenance
Sewing for Beginners: Learn How to Sew with 8 Sewing Tutorials
Learn to Sew: Sewing for Beginners How-Tos and Tips
Burda Style
You must check out this site! According to their webpage, BurdaStyle is a DIY fashion and sewing community. The website offers thousands of stylish handcrafted clothes, downloadable PDF sewing patterns, tutorials, project ideas and a community passionate about fashion.
Here are some of the free mini-courses they offer:
Introduction to Sewing: Pattern Basics
Pattern Grading: Using a Ruler
How to Copy the Garments That You Love: Part 1
eSewing Workshop
eSewingWorkshop.com is an online video lesson library providing lessons that teach how to make clothing and accessories. You need to purchase a membership for access to all of their workshops, however; the site includes samples and free chapters you can check out!
Metric Compared to Imperial Measuring Method – Online Videos
SewingSupport.com
This site contains a series of 11 basic sewing lessons for beginners. There are some great tips included as well.
Prepare Your Fabric
Prepare Your Pattern Piece
Lay Out Your Fabric
Mark Your Fabric Pieces
Oh You Crafty Gal Blog
This lovely blogger teaches sewing classes, has over 20 years of experience, and a degree in fashion design. She created this free online course as a way to help her students and to help inspire others on the web to start to learn to sew. She has over 20 years of experience and a degree in fashion design.
Check out these lessons and more on her site!
Thread Your Machine
Sew Straight, Curved, and Corners
Sew a Basic Seam
Trouble Shooting your Machine
Basic Sewing Terms
Fix Tension on Your Sewing Machine
Read a Sewing Pattern Envelop
Completely Free Sewing Classes on YouTube
One surprising thing I found in my research was how many YouTube videos about sewing were out there! They even had a series of videos for my actual sewing machine. I don’t know about you, but I am a visual learner. These videos were invaluable to me when I was starting out!
Here Are Some of My Favorite Sewing Channels!
These channels have an abundance of lessons, tutorials, and tips to help you get started! Do not get overwhelmed. I like to save the tutorials I find helpful and go back to them when I may need help with a particular skill.
Singer Sewing Company
Made Everyday
I love her videos! I completed a circle skirt using her tutorial! Great stuff here!
THREADS
Made to Sew
Fabric.com
Check Out These Free Classes!
Seriously, search for your sewing machine. You may be surprised at how many tutorials/classes there are out there for your machine!
SINGER Stylist 7258 Owner’s Class
Beginners Sewing Course
Learn How To Sew, Easy Sewing Class For Beginners!
Whew. There was my list of completely free online sewing classes! Do you know of any other free courses available that I missed? Please comment and tell me below. I cannot wait to create Sew Many wonderful things with you!
~ Tara
Related
Do you want to learn to sew and have no idea where to start? I have carefully collected some of The Best Online Learn to Sew Tutorials and Classes.
There are so many different options for anyone who wants to Learn to Sew. With so many tutorials and online classes, choosing the right one can be a challenge. Below is a collection of several Learn to Sew Tutorials and Classes that I think will help novice sewists systematically learn how to sew.
I’ve broken everything down into four separate categories: Free, Not Free-but Excellent, Kids, and Quilting. Each class offers a different perspective which will make choosing the right one for you a snap.
1. Tilly and the Buttons Learn to Sew
This is a series of tutorials that starts with the absolute basics. It begins with Choosing a Sewing Machine and just keeps going. As Tilly learns new things, she adds more tutorials. Tilly started out as an absolute novice and began sharing things as she learned them. If you are a complete novice, this is a great place to start. The majority of sewing is focused on garments.
2. Learn to Sew with Crazy Little Projects
This course is full of great information and divides the tutorials into Pre-Lessons and Learn to Sew Lessons. The Pre-Lessons include information on purchasing fabric, a picture guide for sewing terms, and even a sewing pledge where you promise not to give up or be over critical of your first few attempts at sewing. After mastering all of the basics, Amber offers an eBook for purchase that will take you even further with sewing.
3. Learn to Sew Course by Melly Sews
This course includes video but requires that you sign up with your email {which I did}. It offers seven lessons that are emailed to you every couple of days. Each lesson includes links to resources. I also like the video element of this course and how it’s paced. Melly even includes Homework!
4. Sewing Tutorials by Newton Custom Interiors
These tutorials are ideal for taking it up a notch. There are so many excellent tutorials included on how to make different types of pillows, matching fabrics, inserting zippers, and a ton more information. Many tutorials include video as well.
Y’all know I love Craftsy classes and feel like I must add in a few for those of you who learn best by seeing. These courses cost around $40; however, if you subscribe to Craftsy, they offer all sorts of deals and discounts.
1. Sewing Studio with Diana Rupp*
I love this beginner’s course. It includes 16 lessons and by the time you have taken them all, you will be a sewist. The course goes into details about pinning, stitching, pressing, and finishing projects. There is a companion book called Sew Everything Workshop* which I highly recommend along with this course. It includes all of the patterns for the course and can also work as a reference when you’re not watching the video. (*affiliate)
2. Sew Confident: Essential Techniques for Beginners*
This course includes eight video lessons and is taught my master sewist Angela Wolf. I’ve taken several of her video classes and she is an excellent instructor. This course focuses on garment sewing techniques. I would recommend that you take one of the absolute beginner courses above before diving into this class. However, you will definitely be able to sew a garment well once you’ve taken this course. (*affiliate)
3. 40 Techniques Every Sewer Should Know*
This course will teach you what’s not written on sewing patterns. Learn finishing touches that will help you create beautiful garments. While this course is for beginners, it pre-supposes that you know some basics and have a little sewing experience. (*affiliate)
There is only one online course that I recommend for kids. It’s called Tiny Sewists by A Jennuine Life. There are twelve classes designed to teach a child to sew ~ with the first focusing on safety. I love how she shows a first-time child sewist sewing without a needle. It’s apparent that Jenn understands that teaching children requires going slowly.
I hear this all the time: She’s a quilter, but does’t know how to sew. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. You can be an excellent quilter but not really know much about sewing ~ as in garments, bags, or pillows. If you are more interested in learning about quilting and not really interested in the details of sewing, then these courses will be better suited to you.
1. How to Make a Quilt for Beginners
This course is focused on learning how to make a quilt. Since I am new to quilting (but not sewing), I found this course to be very helpful. It assumes you know how to use your sewing machine. It takes you through the steps of making a simple quilt. From choosing the right fabric through binding the quilt.
2. Beginning Quilting Series by Amy Smart (Diary of a Quilter)
I’ve been following Diary of a Quilter since I started learning to quilt. As a matter of fact, you could say much of what I know I learned here. I still refer to the section on binding since I’m still new to quilting.
While many of my own tutorials are not how to sew courses, I’ve included a link to my Sewing Tips for Beginners. Each one shows a different skill, simple project, or technique.