Naučila sam malo šivati, ali još ne znam napraviti lijep šav.

Both are possible, but naučila sam is the more neutral and common order here.

In Croatian past tense, you use:

• the l-participle: naučila
• plus the auxiliary sam = am

So literally it is something like learned am.

Croatian word order is flexible, but clitics like sam usually come in the second position of the clause. Since naučila comes first, sam follows it naturally.

Because the speaker is female.

In the past tense, Croatian shows the speaker’s gender in the participle:

• naučio sam = I learned (male speaker)
• naučila sam = I learned (female speaker)

So this sentence is being said by a woman or girl.

This is a very important aspect difference.

• učila sam = I was learning / I studied
• naučila sam = I learned / I managed to learn / I acquired the skill

So:

• Učila sam šivati means I was learning to sew
• Naučila sam šivati means I learned how to sew

In this sentence, naučila sam is used because the speaker has already gained at least some ability.

Malo means a little.

Here it modifies šivati, so the idea is:

• naučila sam malo šivati = I learned to sew a little / I learned a bit of sewing

It softens the statement. The speaker is saying they have some basic skill, but not a high level.

Šivati means to sew.

In this sentence it is used as an infinitive after naučila sam:

• naučila sam šivati = I learned to sew

Croatian often uses an infinitive after verbs like:

• naučiti = to learn
• znati = to know how
• moći = to be able

So šivati is the action that was learned.

Yes, though in many situations they are close.

• šiti is the basic verb to sew
• šivati is also imperfective, often suggesting repeated, ongoing, or practical sewing activity

In everyday speech, šivati sounds very natural when talking about learning the skill of sewing. A learner does not always need to worry too much about the difference at first, but it is good to know that Croatian sometimes has more than one related imperfective form.

Još ne znam napraviti means I still don’t know how to make.

Breakdown:

• još = still / yet
• ne znam = I do not know
• napraviti = to make, to produce, to do successfully

So the speaker is saying:

• I learned a little sewing,
• but I still don’t know how to make a nice seam.

With znati + infinitive, Croatian often means to know how to do something, not just to know in the sense of facts.

Because Croatian very often uses the infinitive after verbs like znati.

So:

• znam napraviti = I know how to make
• ne znam šivati = I don’t know how to sew

This is normal and natural Croatian.

English often uses how to:

• I know how to sew

Croatian usually just uses:

• znam šivati

No extra word for how is needed.

Napraviti is more natural here because it focuses on producing a finished result.

• napraviti = to make, to create, to complete
• raditi = to work, to do, to be doing

A šav is something you make as a finished piece of work, so napraviti lijep šav sounds right.

Also, napraviti is perfective, which fits the idea of completing one nice seam successfully.

Because the speaker is talking about achieving a completed result: a nice seam.

Croatian often uses:

• an imperfective verb for learning or general ability/process
• a perfective verb for a completed result

So here:

• šivati = sewing as a skill or ongoing activity
• napraviti = to make one complete seam

That contrast is very natural:

• I learned a bit of the activity,
• but I still cannot produce a good final result.

It is in the accusative, because it is the direct object of napraviti.

The dictionary form is:

• lijep šav = a nice seam

As a direct object, it is also:

• lijep šav

Why no change? Because šav is a masculine inanimate noun, and in Croatian the accusative singular of masculine inanimate nouns is usually the same as the nominative.

So:

• nominative: lijep šav
• accusative: lijep šav

That is completely normal.

Because it has to agree with šav.

Šav is:

• masculine
• singular
• inanimate

So the adjective must match it:

• lijep šav = a nice seam

Compare:

• lijepa haljina = a nice dress
• lijepo odijelo = a nice suit
• lijep šav = a nice seam

Croatian adjectives always agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe.

Because Croatian usually omits subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb.

Here:

• sam already tells you it is I
• naučila also agrees with the speaker

So ja is unnecessary unless you want emphasis or contrast.

For example:

• Ja sam naučila malo šivati, ali ona nije.
  = I learned a little sewing, but she didn’t.

Without emphasis, Croatian normally leaves ja out.

It can express either idea, and in English both translations may work.

• još ne znam = I still don’t know / I don’t know yet

In this sentence, the meaning is:

• the speaker expects or hopes to learn it later,
• but at the moment they cannot do it.

So still don’t know how is a very good understanding.

Yes, the English translation can vary a bit, but the main idea is the same: the speaker has acquired only a limited amount of sewing skill.

Natural English versions include:

• I learned to sew a little
• I learned a bit of sewing
• I’ve learned a little sewing

The sentence clearly suggests basic ability, not mastery.

It breaks down like this:

• Naučila sam = I learned
• malo = a little
• šivati = to sew
• ali = but
• još ne znam = I still don’t know
• napraviti = to make
• lijep šav = a nice seam

So the logic is:

I learned a little to sew, but I still don’t know how to make a nice seam.

More natural English: I learned a little sewing, but I still don’t know how to make a nice seam.