Here are several such online forums compiled for people like you to access and participate actively with opinions and experiences.

The Sewing Forum – UK based international forum for crafty people.

Craftsforum.co.uk – Plenty of sewing machine help

Source for Sewing Machine manuals

Sheffield forum

BushcraftUK

London classes - Sewing FORUM about classes & courses  in London, UK

Sewing Techniques – useful sewing techniques, and a useful  Beginner’s Guide to Sewing

Dressmaking – includes a section titled Ask our Experts.

Sewing machines: Beginner’s guide to using a sewing machine

101 Essential Tips: Basic Sewing

Sew Essential – sewing machine and related supplies

Tools for Using a Sewing Machine – make sure you are able to see the complete series of video lessons.

Creative Grids – Sewing Machine Maintenance

Helen Howes’ Sewing Machine Tools

• Overlockers – These are used for edging, hemming and seaming on fabrics.
• Embroidery Software – These enable designs to be produced digitally, and to be replicated.
• Embroidery Machines – These are used to create patterns on textiles, usually for commercial production.
• Spare Parts/Accessories – The list includes bobbins, bobbin cases, presser foot, zipper foot, tweezers.
• Sewing Machine Needles – The variety is based on size, point shape, thickness and application
• Dress forms – These are three-dimensional models of the torso used for fitting clothing that is being sewed.
• Steam Presses and Irons, Lighting, Scissors, Thread, Craft Products

Embroidery software producers have come up with so many versions to cater to both professional embroidery businesses and home-based individual, small-scale users. Be sure to look up reviews of the products before you decide to get yourself one such product.

Here’s one source for you to select the right embroidery software for your need – look up Embroidery Software Products.

Sewing enthusiasts can watch out for the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexander Palace scheduled for Thursday, 6 October 2011. For a £10.00 deposit, you can secure a place at this annual event. Look up CCB Sewing to book your place.

Make It Glasgow, a unique ’sewing cafe’ meant as a ‘friendly and supportive social space for several kinds of textile craft’, has plenty of events scheduled regularly throughout the year. Here is a brief listing -

• Crochet A Granny Square – 9 August 2011
• Sew an apron – 16 August 2011
• Royal School of Needlework Certificate: Session 1 – 9 September 2011
• Royal School of Needlework Certificate: Session 2 – 23 January 2012
• Royal School of Needlework Certificate: Session 3 – 11 May 2012
• Royal School of Needlework Certificate: Session 4 – 7 September 2012

The brands and models of sewing machines are many. How will you choose the right sewing machine for your purpose and use?

Here is a home improvement group’s picks of ten of the best sewing machines. You’ll find a variety of brands and models listed. Helpfully, the approximate prices are also indicated, as well as brief descriptions as to why the make and model figure in such a top 10 list.

Look up Sewing Machines – pick of the best

2. Have enough light in and around your work area.

3. Take care to measure twice and then cut once.

4. Make sure your scissors are sharp enough, and that you have spare scissors ready.

5. It is wise to wash materials that are washable, before you apply the scissors.

6. If you press all seams from the wrong side, you will ensure a better finish.

7. Make use of the right kind of needles for the type of fabric you are working on.

8. Keep a box of well-wound bobbins ready.

9. Make use of the appropriate presser foot / pedal depending on the function (hem / applique, etc)

10. Smile the while as you sew – so shall you reap!

Look up more sewing tips from Crafts and Sewing, Sewing Tips for Beautiful Results, and download a couple of pdfs of reader-contributed sewing tips.

All you need to do is put  your creative side to work and come up with a design for a simple book bag. Then make the bag, decorate it as you would like to, and send a picture to the organizer the Little, Brown Book Group.

The contest, called Crafty Competition, is set to celebrate the June 23 release of the book Laura’s Handmade Life by Amanda Addison, author of “Lost for Words”. Of course, don’t forget to look up the small print terms and conditions when you design your bag.  The contest runs from 21 April to 21 June 2011.

The winner gets a sewing machine, a Cath Kidson sewing box, and an author-signed copy of the brand new book. So get going with your very own book bag, and make sure you have fun as you do the needlework.

The personal favourite for many a sewing machine owner is the book Complete Guide to Sewing offered by the Reader’s Digest group. The book, in its earlier and later editions has always provided delightfully simple descriptions of tried and tested sewing machine tips and tricks. Both hardcover and paperback editions are available with booksellers.

The Sewing Book by Alison Smith is a rather popular choice among aspiring seamstresses, and is highly rated and reviewed guide.

The Sewing Answer Book is a handy reference for full of exhaustive information on sewing projects, and attempts to cover every possible question faced by sewing aspirants.

The Sewing Machine Attachment Handbook presents you explanations and demonstrations about nearly 30 sewing machine attachments and their proper use and care.

Complete Photo Guide to Sewing is available in a revised and updated edition, and contains over a thousand full-colour ‘How-to’ photos.

Browse all these guides and many more such sewing companions in Amazon’s listings of sewing books.