Learning to Sew

I would just type that into Google or look for a book. Sewing is incredibly easy, I learned it as a yound child and recall it being pretty intuitive.

*young, even. Confounded iPhone...

Also: http://www.instructables.com/id/Learn-to-Sew-1/

There's an amazing wealth of crafting blogs for free projects and step-by-step instructions.

I can't sew and was terrified to even touch my machine after a scary incident in which thread went everywhere, but just this past weekend, I attended a class at Hannah Johnson Fabrics where a nice woman from the community showed me how to operate my machine, how to clean it, and how to troubleshoot when things happen. We practiced getting comfortable with all the different types of stitches, and she explained how different threads and fabrics are better for certain projects. There are more sewing classes coming up at HJF, so your wife might contact them or stop by and pick up their pamphlet. I plan on being at the beginner level pillow case class April 3rd. Hope to see your wife there!

I was also going to suggest Hannah Johnson Fabrics.  I've never taken a class there, but I shop there . . . Trying things out on your own is great too, but it helps to have access to someone to walk you through those little problems with your sewing machine.  Oh, and the best sewing book in the world is your sewing machine manual.

Or tell her to come to stitch & bitch at Sir Ben's Wednesday nights from 7-10, with her machine and some practice scraps!

First of all, make sure your machine has been recently serviced. If you try to learn how to sew with a machine that needs maintenance, you will want to scream and toss it across the room. There's someone who comes up from the cities and services out of Hancock Fabrics - I'd recommend him as he's better/faster/cheaper than any other services I could find.

To get started, there are a TON of resources out there (web, books, etc.), but once you know how to thread and operate the machine properly, just start experimenting with some simple stuff (it's two squares - now it's a bag!). Once you get comfortable with that, pick up some easy patterns and try them.

You might also want to search for home-ec instruction books. I have an older model singer, so purchased the home-ec instructor's book from that era to learn some of the technical stuff.

But again, make sure you have your machine serviced! Trying to sew when struggling with thread-beasts and needles breaking is NOT conducive to learning!

Good luck!

My daughter took classes from Sandi at seamssewcool.com
She did a great job, but I think her focus is on kids.

I'd teach ya. I'm pretty good, and have loads of experience as an independent teacher. I'm mostly a piano teacher, but I've also taught millinery, and I've sewn lots of garments. 

email me at [email protected]. And if you'd like to see my work so you can see what I usually do, I'm at moesewco.com with my husband, who is an embroidery artist. We've got loads of pins and needles in this house!