How to Start Sewing
Do you want to start sewing but don't know where to start? Well, I have compiled a list of things that you need to learn to do prior to making any garment. Now...I know that you are anxious to start sewing the dress of your dreams, but to eliminate any unforeseen stressors that you may have when you press that sewing pedal, these tips will really help you become successful in garment making.
Get a basic machine
Extra fancy stitches are unnecessary and are just a marketing tactic to get you to purchase the machine. All you need is a straight stitch and a zig zag stitch.
Be familiar with your machine
Know the job functions of each part of your machine. This is going to be extremely helpful for you when you come across an issue and you need to troubleshoot.
Learn how to thread your machine
This is a no-brainer. When I'm teaching someone how to sew, I have them do it several times over the course of our lesson because this is something you'll be doing over the entire course of your sewing journey and is a great troubleshooting method if you find your thread is having issues as you are sewing.
Learn how to put in the bobin
You can just put the bobbin into your machine any old way. If you put it in the wrong way, you will have so many issues while sewing. Always make sure you put it into your machine correctly with the thread going the proper direction.
Learn how to change the needle
There are a few instances where you will always need to change your needle. Your needle may break, your needle may be dull or you'll have to change it depending on the type of fabric you are sewing. Learn how to put it in correctly and it will make your life so much easier.
Learn how to sew straight
This goes without saying. There are marks on the base plate of your sewing machine that helps with this but you can also use the masking tape method or use a seam guide.
There are so many cool methods on Pinterest that will guide and help you sew a straight line. I would highly recommend that you find them and
Be familiar with fabric tension
This goes in line with being familiar with your machine. Different fabrics require you to change the tension in your machine. Where do change your tension. You need to be familiar with where to do this and more importantly when to do it.
Be familiar with different stitch lengths
When you are beginning, you don't necessarily need to change your stitch length, however, you should be familiar with where you can do this. As you gain more experience in sewing, you will need to change your stitch length depending in the fabric that you will be sewing, but for now, just know where on your machine changes the stitch length.
Be familiar with seam allowance
Know what it is where on your machine you can find this. On most patterns, you'll notice that you will use a 5/8 seam allowance. For my YouTube tutorials, I'll require a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
Learn to walk away
This is probably the most important tip of them all. Sewing requires an extreme amount of patience. It doesn't matter how long you've been sewing, you'll find yourself in a frustrating situation and you'll want to throw in the towel. I make mistakes all the time and it may be safe to say, that I make a mistake with just about every single garment I create. With that said, don't quit. Just walk away from the machine and come back to it a few hours later or maybe even the next day, but whatever you do, don't quit. Coming back to your machine with a clear mindset will help you become more successful in the long run.