Video: My top five sewing tips for beginners

Measuring is probably the most important. You need to measure again and again to ensure that what you make will fit you. Most people who start sewing are shocked when they find out exactly what size they are in the pattern world. For beginners it is difficult to do pattern adjustments. It is something that comes with experience. For beginners it is important that you start with easy to sew projects . Fitted clothing is too tough for a beginner. It would be like having a beginner make the burdastyle tailored jacket you just did. Not impossible, but extremely difficult. This is where taking some classes can be helpful.

The next most important thing for a beginner, is get to know your sewing machine. Read the manual, understand all the stitches and what they are used for, same goes for using a serger. Nothing looks more hideous then seams finished with a zigzag and not a serger. Take classes from your sewing machine dealer to learn the ins and outs of your machine, what it can do and not do. Practice each one of the stitches and take time for each project to test on your fabric before you start the actual construction.

For beginners, know how to use the right presser foot for each job. This improves your sewing results greatly. I learned this the hard way. I use to use on 2 feet for everything – zigzag and buttonhole foot. Now I use multiple feet for each project depending on what I am doing. As an example, when I do top stitching, i use both a edge stitch foot and a blind hem foot so that my parallel stitching is perfect.

Obviously there are more things but i think picking projects where fitting is not a big issue, easy to work with fabrics, all will go a far way for success and give your confidence a boost that “you made that” The biggest complement for any home sewer is when others ask you where you bought that instead of did you make that.