Sewing resources for beginners

Where to go to sew

Whether you're a novice or an old pro, the following places offer classes to help you hone your craft.

Bits of Thread Sewing Studio 1794 Columbia Rd. NW, Suite 6. 202-236-9460. www.bitsofthread.com (See the Toolkit section of this site for a list of helpful resources.)

DC Threads Sewing Lounge North Michigan Park Recreation Center, 1333 Emerson St. NE. www.dcthreads.org

G Street Fabrics Locations in Maryland and Virginia. www.gstreetfabrics.com

Hancock Fabrics Locations in Maryland and Virginia. www.hancockfabrics.com

Singa 608 Rhode Island Ave. NE. 202-526-6940. www.singainc.org

The Fabric Peddler 8505 Edgeworth Dr., Capitol Heights. 301-336-3646. www.thefabricpeddler.com

Books for beginners

"Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts" ($35, Potter Craft)

"Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew, One Project at a Time" by Deborah Moebes ($28, Krause Publications)

"Simple Sewing for Baby: 24 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers" by Lotta Jansdotter ($25, Chronicle Books)