Recommendations for complete beginners:

If you have a local fabric/sewing shop, and are completely new to sewing, please consider in-person classes! Beyond that, you may want to look for resources on learning about the following, which will not be fully explained in pattern instructions. This list is roughly in the order needed to make a garment from start to finish:

• Fabric
  • Woven and knit fabric construction and behavior
  • Natural and synthetic materials
  • Weight and drape: choosing the right fabric for a pattern
  • Grain line and bias
  • Pre-washing and ironing/pressing
• Measurements & sizing
  • Taking accurate body measurements
  • Wearing ease and design ease
  • Blending/grading between sizes
• Patterns & cutting
  • Digital patterns: PDF layers, and printing/projecting
  • Pattern notation (notches, "cut on fold" line, grain line, etc.)
  • Transferring pattern markings to fabric
• Garment construction
  • Seam and hem allowances
  • Matching notches and stitching lines
  • Trimming, clipping, and grading seam allowances
  • Finishing seams
  • Using ironing/pressing equipment: using correct temperatures, and where needed, steam, press cloths, tailor's hams, clappers, etc.
• Basic sewing machine skills
  • Typical stitch lengths for different use cases
  • Typical needle sizes and types for different use cases
  • Types, and quality, of thread
  • Types of machine feet
  • Backstitching to secure thread ends
  • Stitching a corner
  • Stay stitching, basting stitches, and gathering stitches
  • Cleaning your sewing machine (and oiling, for vintage machines)
• Basic hand sewing skills (not needed for all patterns!)
  • Running stitch, slip stitch, and whip stitch
  • Basting
  • Tying knots and tying off thread ends