STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I haven't tried any videos, but I do have a book called Sewing 101.  I would not really recommend it to learn from per se, but it's a decent reference.  I tried using it to re-teach myself to sew (I used to sew a lot, though nothing complicated, when I was in middle school) and it wasn't the best.  There might be a better book out there, but I felt like this book started you off a little too complicated at first.  I've looked at a book called Sew Basic that looks a little bit better, but I'm sure there are lots of others out there.  There are also Idiot's Guide/Dummies books, but those don't have as many actual photos which I find most useful.

However, I firmly believe that practice makes perfect.  As of now, I have made three garments: first, a t-shirt (horrendous, prob will never even wear it around the house), then an a-line skirt (somewhat wearable, but slightly ill-fitting and poorly sewn), and a bubble skirt which I am actually wearing today.  The seams aren't perfect, but this pattern is actually ideal because none of the seams are visible.  And I really think my sewing has improved a LOT in just these three projects.

A couple bits of advice, if you think you're up for just diving in and learning as you go...
- look for clearance fabric when you're starting out, that way when you make something completely hideous, you haven't wasted much money on the fabric
- use your measurements and make your garments whatever size you need regardless of how scary the number is (my size on most patterns is literally 5 sizes larger than what I wear from most stores...i tried sizing down just one size on that first skirt to make myself feel better and it's really pretty snug)

Finally...a lot of fabric stores offer lessons or have little bulletin boards up near the doors where local people can put up flyers about sewing lessons...I keep meaning to try this myself.