First Time Sewing: The Absolute Beginner's Guide

first time

SEWING

THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE

by the editors of Creative Publishing international

Contents

INTRODUCTION

SEWING BASICS

THE SEWING MACHINE

MACHINE ACCESSORIES

SEWING SUPPLIES

SPECIAL PRODUCTS

FABRIC INFORMATION

SELECTING A PATTERN

ALL ABOUT PATTERNS

INSIDE THE PATTERN

PATTERN LAYOUT

CUTTING AND MARKING

GETTING READY TO SEW

SEWING A SEAM

HOW TO BALANCE TENSION

HAND STITCHES

HEMS

CUTTING DECORATOR FABRICS

PROJECTS

RECTANGULAR TABLE CLOTH

KNIFE-EDGE PILLOWS

ZIPPER CLOSURES

BABY BLANKET

ELASTIC-WAIST SKIRTS

ELASTIC-WAIST PANTS

T-SHIRTS

APRON WITH POCKETS

UNLINED JACKETS

GLOSSARY

INDEX

Introduction

WELCOME TO THE CREATIVE, REWARDING WORLD OF SEWING. FIRST TIME SEWING IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE AND TO INSTILL CONFIDENCE AS YOU TAKE ON NEW PROJECTS AND LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES. EASY-TO-FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS WITH COLORFUL PHOTOGRAPHS HELP YOU BUILD YOUR SEWING SKILLS WHILE MAKING CLOTHES, GIFTS, AND HOME DECORATING ITEMS YOU’LL BE PLEASED TO USE, SHARE, AND WEAR.

Sewing enthusiasts enjoy this time-honored art for many reasons. Sewing your own clothes still gives you the advantage of personalized fit and individual expression. Home decorating items are popular projects for beginners and advanced sewers alike, partly because of the cost savings over purchased items. By sewing these items for the home, you also get to enjoy the creative fun of choosing styles, colors, and fabrics that fit your personality and taste. But perhaps the greatest reason that sewing is so enjoyable is the mere satisfaction felt in creating something from scratch with your own two hands. Whether you are making something for yourself, your home, or to give to someone else, the ultimate reward is the intangible delight and personal fulfillment gained in the process.

The projects in this book are designed to guide you from your first nervous stitch at your sewing machine to comfortable familiarity. Each project will teach you new skills. Throughout the book you will find tips to make your sewing easier or more efficient and explanations to help you understand the reasons behind the methods.

Use the first section of the book to acquaint yourself with your sewing machine and the techniques and supplies that encompass the art of sewing. Your sewing machine owner’s manual is a necessity; refer to it first if you have questions or problems specific to your machine. The first step in any sewing project is to read through the directions from beginning to end. Refer to the Tell Me More sidebars for definitions or elaborations on bold key words or phrases used in the project. At the beginning of every project you will find a list of the necessary materials. Read through the information on fabrics before you go shopping, so the fabric store will seem a little more user-friendly when you get there. Above all, enjoy the process. Give yourself the opportunity to be creative, and express yourself through the things you sew.

SEWING BASICS

There is no better place to start than at the very beginning. If you are starting from scratch, even a trip to the fabric store can be challenging. Manufacturers can’t include all the vital information with their packaging, and there are so many tools and sewing notions to choose from. To give you a firm foundation for learning to sew, this section teaches you the essentials about your sewing machine, fabrics, patterns, and sewing supplies. If you have never taken a stitch, you will appreciate the detailed information, photos, and illustrations. Even if you have a little sewing experience, you are sure to learn some things you didn’t know. So settle back, take your time, and jump into the basics.

the sewing machine

The principle parts common to all modern sewing machines are shown in the diagram at right. The parts may look different on your model, and they may have slightly different locations, so open your owner’s manual, also. If you do not have an owner’s manual for your machine, contact a sewing machine dealer who sells your brand or search the Internet. Become familiar with the names of the parts and their functions. As you spend more time sewing, these items will become second nature to you.

If you are buying a new machine, consider how much and what kind of sewing you expect to do. Talk to friends who sew and to sales personnel. Ask for demonstrations, and sew on the machine yourself. Experiment with the various features while sewing on a variety of fabrics, including knits, wovens, lightweights, and denim. Think about the optional features of the machine and which ones you want on yours. Many dealers offer free sewing lessons with the purchase of a machine. Take advantage! These lessons will be geared to your particular brand and model of sewing machine.

These parts are common to all sewing machines, but their position and design differs. Use your manual to help you learn where these parts are, what these parts do, and how to use them:

Bobbin

Bobbin case

Bobbin winder spindle

Bobbin winder tension

Buttonhole knob

Detachable machine bed

Feed dogs

Feed dog control

General-purpose presser foot

Handwheel

Light switch

Needle clamp

Presser foot lifter

Presser foot pressure control

Seam allowance guide

Spool pins

Stitch pattern selector

Stitch length selector

Stitch width selector

Take-up lever

Top tension control

Top tension discs

Thread cutter

Thread guides

Throat plate

Variable speed switch

machine accessories

SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES

Sewing machine needles come in a variety of styles and sizes. The correct needle choice depends mostly on the fabric you have selected. Sharp points (A), used for woven fabrics, are designed to pierce the fabric. Ballpoints (B) are designed to slip between the loops of knit fabric rather than pierce and possibly damage the fabric. Universal points are designed to work on both woven and knitted fabrics. The size of the needle is designated by a number, generally given in both American (9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18) and European (60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110) numbering systems. Use size 11/70 or 12/80 needles for mediumweight fabrics. A larger number means the needle is thicker and that it is appropriate for use with heavier fabrics and heavier threads.

TIP Though needle style and size are usually indicated in some way on the needle, it is often difficult to see without a magnifying glass, and you most likely will not remember what needle is in the machine. As an easy reminder, when you finish a sewing session, leave a fabric swatch from your current project under the presser foot.

BOBBINS

Stitches are made by locking the upper thread with a lower thread, carried on a bobbin. Always use bobbins in the correct style and size for your machine. Bobbin thread tension is controlled by a spring on the bobbin case, which may be built in (C) or removable (D).

PRESSER FEET

Every sewing machine comes with accessories for specialized tasks. More can be purchased as you develop your interest and skills. Your machine manual or dealer can show you what accessories are available and will explain how to use them to get the best results.

A general-purpose foot (A), probably the one you will