Sewing machines can speed up the process of sewing and make it so much more efficient to sew and be creative. However, if you’ve never used one before, they can seem a little daunting, but you needn’t worry about getting started. With our handy guide, we can help you understand sewing machines better and direct you to tools that will help you learn more about sewing and sewing machines, and discover which is the right one for you.
Can I Teach Myself to Use a Sewing Machine?
Despite what you may think, learning to sew on a sewing machine isn’t that difficult. Of course, there is going to be some sort of learning curve, but the truth is, you just need not be intimidated. As with most things, it’s simply a case of practice makes perfect, and you can learn to sew and use a sewing machine with trial and error.
But, where others have trodden before, you needn’t suffer the same struggles that they did. It is, after all, the internet age and you can find information everywhere. For example, we have a handy ‘Guides’ section that can be found at the top of the page via the navigation bar. Here you’ll find illustrated tips and advice, with photos and videos, on things such as:
- Threading Your Machine
- Automatic Needle Threader
- Bobbins (General)
- Bobbin Loading (Front)
- Bobbin Loading (Top Drop-in)
- Raising Bobbin Thread
- Needle Guide
- Buttonholes (1-step)
- Buttonholes (4-step)
These will all help you on your sewing journey, with things such as how to thread a Singer sewing machine(as well as others) and how to use an automatic needle threader if you find threading a little too fiddly. However, if you are completely new to all of this, the first things you will want to focus on are the basics such as what different needles can do and how to complete basic stitches. This is probably going to be the most difficult part of the learning process as you come at it from scratch, but once you have some starter knowledge, you’ll be surprised at how easily you pick it up from there.
What Should I Learn First When Sewing?
There are going to be times when you read or hear certain words or phrases that you may have never come across before, and search engines will be your friend here. You’re also going to ask yourself why you want to start sewing on a machine, is it for making clothes for a new family member, or just to be more frugal in repairing and remaking what you already have? Once you know why you want to be sewing, you can focus on understanding the most common complexities of those specific areas.
When you do feel comfortable enough to start your first project, make sure you pick something within your skill level. Anyone can sew an amazing, full flowing party gown but you definitely have to build up to that point. Start small and be aware you may come across some frustrations; it happens but you need to encounter them to learn how to improve.
How Do I Learn to Start Sewing Clothes?
One of the most common things people want to undertake when they start sewing, is learning how to make clothes. It’s a learned skillset that can be acquired with time, patience, and determination but there are some areas you are going to want to work on beforehand. Begin with more basic sewing skills, repairing seams and understanding what you can do with your specific sewing machine. Once you know that, you can move onto bigger and bolder things.
You’ll also want to work on your drawing skills. You don’t have to be a professional artist but getting human figures and proportions down will assist you immensely in making sure you can piece together things of the right size. From here you can begin to work on pattern making too, which is a guide to the different parts of the garment and how they’ll be sewn together. If you want to make clothes for yourself, you can use your own measurements, but if making clothes for others to wear, a mannequin may well be a good investment.
What is the Easiest Sewing Machine to Use for Beginners?
There are absolutely loads of beginners sewing machines out there all designed to provide ease and simplicity when it comes to starting to sew. There is a school of thought that might recommend a more complex machine that has a greater number of features to assist you, however, generally speaking, we’d recommend going for a more basic machine and learning all of the features on that before expanding out into more complex equipment.
For example, a Singer M21 Sewing Machine would be a good place to start with its simple twist-dial stitch selection, compact yet ergonomic design, and lightweight portability. Of course, this is not the only beginner machine and there are plenty of others out there that offer different features. You can discover more in our Beginner Sewing Machines section of the website.
How Do I Choose a Beginner Sewing Machine?
Finding the best beginner sewing machine for you is not something to rush into and you need to consider what you want from a machine and how you are going to use it. Fortunately, we’ve created a guide on ‘The Best Sewing Machines for Beginners’ in our blog already, that covers the different types of machines you can find and the price you’d expect to pay for each type.
However, if you want direct advice on your wants and needs, our personable Live Chat operators are more than happy to help you identify the right sewing machine for your specific requirements. You can also call us on 0207 123 4521 or 0800 050 2232 and we’ll be happy to assist you in any way we can, from sewing tips to being your first point of call as a sewing supplier.