Hello! I'm new to this sub and new to sewing…ver Sewing Machines Parts and Sales in Los Angeles

Thank you for allowing this post here, it’s not the norm for the sub.

I’ve only used a sewing machine for a few projects, nearly 20 years ago, and I don’t remember even the basics of using the machine let alone everything else. I am newly engaged (yay!) and have been thinking about a unique gift for my fiancé. I’ve come up with one, but it’s not something I can just go buy at the mall. I embrace the challenge, but I don’t know where to start and I hope you all can help.

So here is what I’d like to make. When my fiancé and I have a few adult beverages, his preference is Crown Royal (for those not familiar with it, Crown is a Canadian whiskey). He doesn’t drink heavily, but he is a creature of habit and this is his preference.

Every bottle of Crown Royal is sold in a pretty fabric pouch (I think just a basic but soft cotton fabric). So over our time together, we have saved all of the pouches. There is a niche segment of craft/sewing where people specifically make things out of these pouches. If you Google images of “things mad from crown royal bags”, you will see the results. Some are very cool and unique.

Well, his birthday is coming in the fall and I’d love to present him with a “smoking jacket” or robe that I personally made with our Crown bags. Which is a great idea, except that I can’t sew. But I figure that six months might be enough time for me to gain the skills and execute the project.

Now that I’ve shared the backstory, here are my questions.

How can I find a class that teaches basic sewing? I thought my local community college would have one but I haven’t found it on the schedule yet.

Do fabric stores offer such classes or are they more advanced?

Is there a resource you know of where I can find info about opportunities in my area?

If not, is there a way to find local skilled sewing folks that might be willing to offer private lessons? Such as sewing-specific sites, blogs, etc.

Are the online sewing courses useful and helpful for a beginner, and if so do you recommend a particular site?

Do Mage to seek out a class or site that teaches using my type of machine specifically? It is an older machine that was a gift from a family friend.

And finally, if none of the above are viable options for me, can I commission someone to make this item, and if so how should I go about finding them?

Thank you for reading through this and helping me out.