Sewing is a skill that is lacking in the modern age. Whether you’ve wanted to sew a little pink dress for your princess or take care of your own clothes, sewing can make your life a lot easier. While it may seem intimidating at first, you can master it with practice and precision. All you need is a seam ripper, pins, a needle, a bodkin, thread, a good pair of scissors, and measuring tape. You can also purchase small sewing kits at most supermarkets.
Here’s a guide to inform you about some basic sewing skills that can save a lot of cash in the future.
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Choose An Excellent Sewing Machine
Of course, this has to be the most crucial step. To succeed with your sewing mission, you need a best friend – a good sewing machine. Every model comes with different specifications to cater to various needs. You have to select one that suits you best and falls under your budget. Check out every specification and customer review if you’re buying online. After all, your sewing machine is going to be your constant companion on the journey.
Learn To Remove And Insert A Machine Needle
Getting poked by a needle is probably the last thing you want while sewing. Every sewer has had its share of accidents while changing sewing needles. To avoid this, make sure you follow the guide and learn it well.
Knot The Thread
If you’re more into hand sewing, knowing how to make a knot that lasts is a must. If you want your hand stitches to hold, you have to make dependable knots at both ends. You can tie a knot in many ways but make sure it doesn’t slip through the fabric. You can hide knots under seams or any place where the fabric overlaps.
Hand-Sewing Stitches
There are many kinds of stitches you can try, but for now, here are the main three stitches for hand sewing.
Blanket Stitches
The blanket stitch was traditionally used to stitch the edges of the blankets. You can use the blanket stitch to lessen the chances of fraying edges.
Straight Stitch
As the name suggests, a straight stitch means simply weaving the needle in and out and keeping it as even as possible. While doing the straight stitch, make sure you do not leave the thread too loose nor too tight. Also, constantly check that the fabric stays flat along the seams.
Invisible Hem
This one is the most important type of stitch as it helps to adjust or repair them. You can try several ways of sewing a hem by hand, such as catch stitching or slip stitching, but these could leave an unsightly ridge on the outside, specifically after you give a few presses. To be precise, try to make the stitch as invisible as possible.
Sewing Buttons
Whether you’re a man or a woman, dealing with a lost button while going to an important meeting could be a nightmare to anyone. To sew a button with two holes, you can follow these steps:
- to start, thread the needle double through your needle. You can also work with a single thread, but they aren’t reliable. After this, knot the ends.
- The second step is to mark the position. If you’re sewing a fallen-off button, you’ll clearly see a mark to start with.
- The next step is to stitch the button on. The button should be on the mark, and the needle backs down through the opposite hole. Now sew through the holes a few more times.
- Now, knot the thread. Bring the needle to the top but don’t do it through the button. Now wrap the thread around the stitch. To knot off, pass the needle to the side.
To Attach A Zipper
Beginners are quite afraid to work with zippers in their early days for all the correct reasons. It’s a bit tricky but manageable with the right kind of tools. If you’re stitching the zipper to any fabric, make sure you check that the zipper works properly after every stitch. Also, remember to fold the sides of the fabric to avoid any mess. If you’re doing this project for the first time, it would be great to mark the zipper’s sides and stitch it from point to point. There are many kinds of zippers available in the market, from the basic to the fancy ones, but it’s best to go with the basics in your starting days.
Learn To Understitch
Stitching attaches a line close to the edge of the facing to prevent it from rolling towards the outside. You will need to try this while working around a neckline. Let’s see how to get started with understitching:
- Start with stitching the two right side-facing pieces together, following the seam.
- Once you’ve stitched the seams together, press the seam allowance towards the lining. If you’re working on a neckline or any curved area, you can clip any curves visible.
- Now you can use an edgestitch foot to stitch ¼” away from the seam line.
- The last step would be to press the facing to the inside of the garment.
Wrapping Up
You can try the following tips while you start your sewing journey. Remember, there’s no shortcut when it comes to stitching, and it’s advisable to try your hands on an old fabric before you start your creativity with your favorite dress. Also, make sure you leave the expensive or important clothes to tailor for alteration. It’s also not a great idea to repair leather garments at home because if you mess up anyhow, you will leave permanent needle holes in your favorite jacket.
