Five Steps To Learn How To Sew

Five steps to learn how to sew:

To start, when I was a mere nine years old, I began my sewing career.  It was a program through our local 4-H Club.  I was in the fourth grade and my fabulous mother was the teacher.  I want to share these five steps to learn how to sew. 

She was a great teacher.  She wanted to make sure that we learned it right.  There were lots of times at home, she made me rip the seams out and do it more precise.  

Although begrudgingly at the time, I’m so glad that she made me do it correctly.  My garments now don’t look homemade.  They look professional.

Next, I want to teach you how to do it correctly!  I promise if you go through all the steps, in no time you will be sewing professionally.  Just go step by step.  This would be excellent for any age.  Remember this is for a beginner, whether you are nine or eighty-nine, male or female.

Watch on YouTube:

Step One

You need a sewing machine.  They come in all price ranges.  Read this post about “Your first sewing machine needs these functions.”  If you are shopping for a machine, this may help you.  Unpack, unbox, or get out that machine that someone gave to you.  Plug the cord into the machine and the other end into the outlet.  Take the foot pedal and plug it into the machine.  Turn the machine on.  Don’t panic, you’ve got this.  Let’s go…

Step Two

Before I even teach you about threading the machine, I want you to practice.  That’s right, first, we are going to practice sewing a straight line.  Put your paper down on your machine and lower the presser foot. 

The needle will pierce the paper and you will be able to see if you stayed in a straight line and/or curved lines.  You can draw your own lines or download my “practice sewing practice sheets” from my free resource library.  Repeat with the other lines on the additional sheets.  (get the password to the library in the form at the borrow of this post) or download here.

To continue, we are going to stay on the lines and practice in a zig-zag pattern.  For this step, punch the needle-down position button.  (When you stop sewing, the needle will stay in the paper.)  You will raise the presser foot lever while your needle is still down and turn the paper and sew until you come to a turn.  Repeat with the other lines.

This time, you will start on one end of the straight lines and punch the needle-down position button and continue the maze until you end up in the middle.  You will lift the pressure foot at each turn.  Congratulations!!!  You have completed the straight line segment. 

After the straight lines, we are going to continue and make some curved lines.  You will sew curved lines when attaching a sleeve on an armhole, putting in a neckline, or any curved line in garment construction or home decor projects.  

As you will see, the curves will never be too sharp, so practice on the downloaded sheets as they only have slight curves.

To conclude, you have learned to sew a straight line and a curved line.  Way to go!!!  Now you are ready to learn how to wind a bobbin and thread your sewing machine.  You have completed Step One in Sewing with Crystal. 

Step Three

There are several supplies you will need to continue your journey.  Thread is one of the main things, after the sewing machine of course.  I have a comprehensive sewing supplies checklist if you want to download it:

The first thing we are going to do is wind the bobbin.  A bobbin is made out of metal, wood, or plastic, and is the device like a wheel that is used to hold the thread in a sewing machine.  The thread is typically wrapped around a mini cylinder which is attached to the wheels at either end.  Bobbins are considered one of the most imperative parts of the sewing machine.  

Each machine will be different, but there is a place to put the bobbin to wind it.  Your owners manual will show the proper way to wind it.  The thread will come off your spool and wind onto the bobbin.  Turn the hand wheel toward you to get the needle in the highest position.  Place the thread on the spool holder and wrap around the correct spot and into the bobbin.  Thread the thread into a hole in the bobbin and hold the thread up about 2-3 inches.  Then press on the gas.  hahaha – aka the foot pedal.  You generally slide it over to touch the wheel.

On this machine, here is the path.  Then you slide it over and the wheels go around but the needle doesn’t move.  

Each machine has a different way to put the bobbin in.

On my Pfaff, you put the bobbin in a case and load it underneath.  The thread has to wind off the bobbin in a certain direction, so read in your manual to see which way it goes.

On this Brother machine, you follow the path, wind it around the bobbin 5-6 times and it has a cutter.  Then you slide the knob into the bobbin to engage it.

Press the button and wind away.

Each machine has a different way to put the bobbin in.

My Brother has a top loading bobbin holder.  It has a little area to tell you which way the thread needs to come off the bobbin.  Place it in the right direction and slide the top cover over it.  It has a thread cutter at the end of the channel.

Step Four

Thread your sewing machine.  Don’t be intimidated by this.  All you have to do is follow the numbers on most newer machines  Remember to always turn the hand wheel towards you.  Put your thread on the spindle.  Generally, the thread needs to come over the top.  Put a stopper on it depending on what size thread you use.  Then, just follow the path or the numbers.  The thread will go around or through each spot and end up at the needle.  It helps tremendously if you got a machine that has an automatic needle threader.

It helps tremendously if you have a machine that has an automatic needle threader.  My Pfaff has a manual one. 

This is the path to thread the Brother machine.

My Brother has an automatic needle threader.  You just punch a button and it threads it for you.  Amazing, right?

Step Five

Finally, you are ready to sew something.  It depends on what you want to start sewing on, but you basically put your material right sides together, raw edges even, lower your presser foot, and press the foot pedal.  There are guides to go along for 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, etc.  You need a quarter inch foot to be exact about 1/4” seam which is used in quilting.

Celebrate ~ You earned it!

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”  Proverbs 16:3 ESV

Some machines have specialty stitches like this:

Check out my Sewing Blog Page for some easy beginner projects like a pillowcase, a crib sheet, a baby bib, a receiving blanket, a swaddle blanket, and more.  New projects will be added every week or so.

DOWNLOAD THE EXCLUSIVE SEWING SHEETS FROM MY RESOURCE LIBRARY. (GET THE PASSWORD FOR THE LIBRARY BY FILLING OUT THIS FORM)

Thank you for visiting.  Be sure and pin for later!