Sewing Machine Basics
Parts of a Sewing Machine and What Each One Does
A plain-language tour of a sewing machine: the thread path, the needle area, the controls and the bobbin, with what each part does and why it matters.
Tutorials
30 tutorials published
Sewing for Beginners
Common Beginner Sewing Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Crooked seams, thread nests, skipped stitches and puckers all have simple causes. Here is how to spot each common beginner mistake and correct it.
Sewing for Beginners
Hand Sewing Basics: Threading a Needle, Knots and Three Essential Stitches
Learn to thread a needle, tie a knot and work the running stitch, backstitch and whipstitch, the three hand stitches that cover most everyday sewing jobs.
Sewing for Beginners
How to Choose Fabric for a First Sewing Project
The right fabric makes a first project far easier. Learn the difference between woven and knit, how weight and grain affect sewing, and why prewashing matters.
Sewing for Beginners
Essential Sewing Tools for Beginners: What to Buy First and What Can Wait
A first sewing kit needs fewer tools than the store shelves suggest. Here is what to buy before the first project and what can wait until later.
Sewing for Beginners
How to Start Sewing: The First Skills to Learn and in What Order
A clear order for learning to sew: set up a small corner, get to know the machine, practice straight lines, then move on to seams, hems and a first project.