i hav just ordered a sewing machine....im such a novice...really i dont know anything....so any tips? or advice?
read the instructions on how to thread it. then, get some cheap or old bits of cloth and practice. then make something very simple, like an simple a-line skirt...like that, just work up to more complicated things.
when we sewed in school they had us do it on a piece of paper with out thread so we could get straight lines. and then start with easy things like basic bags or skirts. check out stores too, some of them have sewing classes.
On a regular straight-stitch/zigzag machine, you probably DON'T want to put paper through it, or sew without fabric in the machine. It's not made for such things. Thrift stores are a good place to find cheap fabric to play around with. you can also get remnants or cheap yardage - whatever's on sale - at a local fabric store (joanns is good if you've got one) Just play around. If you want to do clothes, you might start with simple patterns from the "quick and easy" section of the pattern book - those are a good way to get the mechanics of how things go together. If you are thinking about patchwork, just start putting scraps together and your own style will form before you know it! Just be careful - I don't trust any machine I can afford. I usually break them and return them to the store before their 90 days is up.
Ooo, ok, I know the pedal is appealing. Once you place your foot on it, you just want to press down hard, I'm sure the temptation will be there (or am I the only one...honestly it does not reflect on my driving), but do not press down hard quite yet. Man, those machines can fly when you press down hard on the pedal! Start out pressing on the pedal lightly, or else you might find the machine trying to eat your fabric and your fingers! (I've had some close calls, haha).
I blame my highschool sewing teacher as the reason I won't go near sewing machines, she told us they would sew right through our fingers if we weren't careful. Do u know how long stuff can take to handsew??
