How to Sew A Collar

On the Guardian website theres is a detailed tutorial on how to jazz up that T-shirt and they even linked this great tutorial from SewingRepublic.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/06/sewing-class-for-beginners

This video is from SewingRepublic

Wow Pattern Alert

Inspired by my ruunching sewing and completing darts I have realised I need to buy more simplified patterns of no more then four pieces until my sewing improves.
So I have been surfing etsy, for easy sew. I have purchased yet, one thing at a time. Favourites on etsy

Dream pattern purchase alert
image credit SewUniqueClassic

At T J Hughes

I'm getting sick of the difficulty in trying to get the sewing machine to sew straight or go round so I have brought my first sewing attachments in 9 years of getting this machine. A straight seam and a buttonhole attachment as yet I have not trailed them out.
The machine I have still functions I believe only 6 things have ever been made on it successfully, but is it time for a new one? I don't need a new sewing machine but I do need a hobby to pass the time, reduce stress levels and hopefully make some cash. As I have 30 metres of fabric in my possesion various different coloured threads, 10+ patterns and all the little sewing tools its a cheap hobby to have.

This machine looks like a less old version of my current mission, says its suitable for basic sewing, mending and construction. The Brother Sewing Machine LS2125 costs £79.99 and the reviews are mixed but what I really want to know is how is its button hole?

The only thing I know about this machine, Brother X-3 £59.00 is that it has a front loading button hole and does 19 stitches. Is it better then the other?

Sewing Trouble

I was so close to completing this dress, but it was the description of how to do the button holes which did me in.
So while visiting my local town for no particular reason, I spotted this book.

For the simple sewer this book looks well explained, but at £19.99 at the discount book store, too much for me however a search on the Internet sees it on Amazon for £14.99. I already have a book that shows me how to do button hole but its one of those Good Housekeeping Guides from the 70's that covers everything so it not explained in great detail. These is meant to be the easiest pattern to do, the one I have at the moment also is button up and has pleating on the skirt as well, perhaps I need to buy this book after all.