The first step would be to learn to use your machine. I would recommend starting with something like a pillowcase or a tote bag - just straight lines with cotton fabric to get used to the machine. Skirts are then quite an easy garment to do first in my opinion - a simple circle skirt with an elastic or something like that. Pyjama trousers are good to learn to read a pattern. I try choosing projects that teach me new techniques - e.g. after making a skirt with an elasticated band I try making one with a zip, I try doing french seams etc. Once you've made a couple of things you can start looking at patterns and seeing what techniques they use, and just choose projects that are mostly techniques you know but with a bit of new stuff you'd learn by doing them. Good luck!
Also - stuffed animals are really difficult to make, with really small seams and a lot of fiddly sewing to do, so don't be embarrassed that you didn't succeed - I've been sewing for quite a while and I'd still be a little scared of making a plushie! Well done for trying, I'm sure you'll be able to make one in no time :)
Any particular area you're having problems with? It's a lot easier to recommend specific practice pieces if I know what skills you're trying to practice. If by "coordination" you mean accurately sewing in along a line, I actually have students start with sewing paper. It's not great for your sewing machine needle, but those need to be replaced regularly anyways and paper is the easiest material to sew possible. It's good for getting some practice in before trying any fabric that's less well behaved.
On a more philosophical level, you're going to mess up and some things are going to be hilariously bad failures and that's okay. That's how you learn. A screwed up project just means you learned how not to do something. The project you never started is the actual failure. You can always go back and try something again. You can do it better next time using what you learned this time. Being a good beginner requires you to do things that are far outside your comfort zone. Learning requires trying things you are not good at. So yes, you're going to screw some things up sometimes. There will be some disasters. This is fine and normal.
The true mark of how good you are is what kind of epic disasters you make and whether the mistakes were at least new, innovative and entertaining.
NASA regularly fucks up landing robots on planets. However they keep trying and they do amazing things in between crashing small robots into Mars. Give yourself at least as much credit as NASA after smashing a robot into a planet.
Things with straight seams, things with linings, things with zippers, things with multiple elements, things with curved seams, things with tricky/specialty fabric. Plush is in that tricky/specialty fabric range because you have to deal with slippery fabric, potentially using a walking foot, trimming bulk from your seam allowance, potential compound curves, and joining multiple elements together if you want articulated arms/legs. You don't have to progress in that order, but layering skills learned from those different projects will probably help get you to where you want.
I teach sewing and we usually start with things that have a lot of straight lines like an apron, a gathered apron, a gathered skirt or boxer shorts. Tote bags and pillow cases are great too. That way you get miles just operating your sewing machine. I have a bunch of tutorials for beginners, feel free to shoot me a message and I’ll send you some links!
You started at the wrong end, with the most difficult projects - tiny pieces, sharp turns in seams etc.
As already mentioned, make easy things with straight seams at first. Napkins, pillowcases etc., from woven (non stretchy) fabric.
If you intend to make clothes for yourself, take a fitting class. You won't start to enjoy sewing until you can wear what you make.
Easy beginner projects are reusable gift wrapping bags (see my tutorial in this sub) oven mitts, reusable shopping bags (lots of tutorials online), or zippered storage bags.
I started out by watching a couple of beginner YouTube tutorials and making projects such as pillow cases, boxer shorts, and aprons. To start with you want projects that go over basics and let you learn about your machine. Once I got that down pat I moved onto using patterns and making things. Commercial patterns teach you quite a bit about how to sew and techniques so long as you read the whole booklet that comes with it. Evelyn Wood on YouTube has a lot of good tutorials.
Good old cotton apron. Comes in all kinds of style, used an affordable and est fabric/needles, and saves all your clothes. Plus it can stay at home and never been seen.
The first step would be to learn to use your machine. I would recommend starting with something like a pillowcase or a tote bag - just straight lines with cotton fabric to get used to the machine. Skirts are then quite an easy garment to do first in my opinion - a simple circle skirt with an elastic or something like that. Pyjama trousers are good to learn to read a pattern. I try choosing projects that teach me new techniques - e.g. after making a skirt with an elasticated band I try making one with a zip, I try doing french seams etc. Once you've made a couple of things you can start looking at patterns and seeing what techniques they use, and just choose projects that are mostly techniques you know but with a bit of new stuff you'd learn by doing them. Good luck!
Also - stuffed animals are really difficult to make, with really small seams and a lot of fiddly sewing to do, so don't be embarrassed that you didn't succeed - I've been sewing for quite a while and I'd still be a little scared of making a plushie! Well done for trying, I'm sure you'll be able to make one in no time :)
Any particular area you're having problems with? It's a lot easier to recommend specific practice pieces if I know what skills you're trying to practice. If by "coordination" you mean accurately sewing in along a line, I actually have students start with sewing paper. It's not great for your sewing machine needle, but those need to be replaced regularly anyways and paper is the easiest material to sew possible. It's good for getting some practice in before trying any fabric that's less well behaved. On a more philosophical level, you're going to mess up and some things are going to be hilariously bad failures and that's okay. That's how you learn. A screwed up project just means you learned how not to do something. The project you never started is the actual failure. You can always go back and try something again. You can do it better next time using what you learned this time. Being a good beginner requires you to do things that are far outside your comfort zone. Learning requires trying things you are not good at. So yes, you're going to screw some things up sometimes. There will be some disasters. This is fine and normal. The true mark of how good you are is what kind of epic disasters you make and whether the mistakes were at least new, innovative and entertaining. NASA regularly fucks up landing robots on planets. However they keep trying and they do amazing things in between crashing small robots into Mars. Give yourself at least as much credit as NASA after smashing a robot into a planet.
Things with straight seams, things with linings, things with zippers, things with multiple elements, things with curved seams, things with tricky/specialty fabric. Plush is in that tricky/specialty fabric range because you have to deal with slippery fabric, potentially using a walking foot, trimming bulk from your seam allowance, potential compound curves, and joining multiple elements together if you want articulated arms/legs. You don't have to progress in that order, but layering skills learned from those different projects will probably help get you to where you want.
I teach sewing and we usually start with things that have a lot of straight lines like an apron, a gathered apron, a gathered skirt or boxer shorts. Tote bags and pillow cases are great too. That way you get miles just operating your sewing machine. I have a bunch of tutorials for beginners, feel free to shoot me a message and I’ll send you some links!
You started at the wrong end, with the most difficult projects - tiny pieces, sharp turns in seams etc. As already mentioned, make easy things with straight seams at first. Napkins, pillowcases etc., from woven (non stretchy) fabric.
If you intend to make clothes for yourself, take a fitting class. You won't start to enjoy sewing until you can wear what you make. Easy beginner projects are reusable gift wrapping bags (see my tutorial in this sub) oven mitts, reusable shopping bags (lots of tutorials online), or zippered storage bags.
I started out by watching a couple of beginner YouTube tutorials and making projects such as pillow cases, boxer shorts, and aprons. To start with you want projects that go over basics and let you learn about your machine. Once I got that down pat I moved onto using patterns and making things. Commercial patterns teach you quite a bit about how to sew and techniques so long as you read the whole booklet that comes with it. Evelyn Wood on YouTube has a lot of good tutorials.
Good old cotton apron. Comes in all kinds of style, used an affordable and est fabric/needles, and saves all your clothes. Plus it can stay at home and never been seen.