sewseamless

Working with cotton or cotton/polyester fabric is
easier for beginners.

A print fabric will hide some beginner sewing
"oops!"

Buy good quality sewing scissors and only use
them for cutting fabric; paper will dull them.

Sewing machine needle sizes make a difference!

The secret to good sewing is good pressing.

Yes, you really need the seam ripper!

Learn to use your sewing machine's accessories
well. The presser feet that come with most sewing
machines on the market make the job much
easier. (Most machines come with standard
presser foot, zipper foot, edge stitch foot, and
others.)

Remember to use the correct needle size and
presser foot for the fabric you're using. Sandra
Betzina has excellent tips for this in her books,
listed here.

Tips for Buying a Sewing Machine

Most beginning seamstresses have questions about purchasing
their first sewing machine. There are a lot of good brands on the
market today, and you will have to find the one that is right for
you.

Here are some tips:

Consider your particular sewing needs. If you are only going to
mend once in a while, then a lower end, mechanical machine
might be right for you. If, however, you think you would like to
sew garments and quilts, but have no interest in machine
embroidery, then a mid-line machine might be right for you. I
would suggest buying a mid-line sewing machine for most
beginning sewers. You can always trade up to a top of the line
machine later on.

If possible, purchase a machine from a reputable dealer. Dealer
support is important if there are problems with the machine. A
good dealer will allow you to test drive the sewing machines
before you make a purchase. This helps you discover which one
is the right sewing machine for you.

There are a lot of good brands on the market. Some of those
sewing machine brands are: Janome, Husqvarna/Viking,
Babylock, Elna, Pfaff.

Features that I like in a sewing machine are:

Easy threading (most machines are easy to thread--an automatic
needle threader is a plus!); automatic buttonholer; easy bobbin
winding system; a horizontal spool holder; a drop in bobbin case,
and the ability to convert to a free arm (this helps with sewing
pants and sleeves).