So you've been watching HGTV for weeks now, maybe months or years. You're fascinated with Changing Rooms and Trading Spaces and would love to make throw pillows for your friends, a summer skirt for yourself or maybe small quilt for your kid. Small problem, you've never been to a fabric store and online stores seem complicated and confusing.

Lesson 1

CHOOSING A PATTERN

Before you head out to the fabric store or before you start filling online shopping carts and spend gobs on money on unnecessary items:

1- Begin with the end in mind (interestingly enough, this is one of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, hummm)... meaning, decide on a specific project. Patterns are fairly easy to purchase online. You can pretty much tell by the detailed picture (photo or drawing) on the front of the pattern jacket if the project looks like something you'd like to pursue.

2-Visit a pattern website such as mccallpattern.com, simplicity.com. Pick a pattern that best meets your creative interests and write down the pattern number. Most patterns have a four digit catalog number. As a beginner, the best patterns are those that clearly indicate that they are EASY, as in, the package should say something like "easy" (stay away from Vogue, Kwik Sew, Butterick). I highly recommend McCalls patterns for beginners. I also recommend starting with throw pillows, placemats and small table runners, and skirts for those who want to start with garments.

3- Read the pattern details posted on the website. Each pattern has a list of required items, fabric amounts to buy and a list of notions (needles, thread, buttons, snaps, pins etc.)

4-The EBAY SLANT- once you've read the pattern and decided to buy it, search for it from your friendly Ebay retailers using the pattern brand name and the catalog number you wrote down. Your Ebay retailers and sellers will most likely have the best prices.

Tip for success! Wait until you receive the pattern before you buy any of the fabric and notions. When you receive the pattern (assuming you ordered it online), read the pattern directions again. Pull out the pieces and read the guide sheets (the instructions). Start buying fabric and notions for your project after you're comfortable that you can start and most importanly finish your project.

IRRITATING SEWING VOCAB

NOTIONS: the stuff you use to sew with that's not fabric.

Next time... see How to buy fabric and sewing notions on Ebay 102.

LOVETHEARTIST has 20 years sewing and crafting experience and has five years of retail fabric store experience. If anyone knows sewing, she knows it. Thanks for reading. Please vote if you found this guide helpful.