How to Sew With a Machine

Study the operator's manual that came with your sewing machine. It's the best place to start learning the basics. You can quickly discover what your machine can and cannot do.

Wind the bobbin. Remove the bobbin case from the machine. Set it on the bobbin winder. Put thread on the spindle. Wrap it around the bobbin tension winder and through the small hole in the bobbin. Release the motor gear and wind the bobbin until it is full. Cut the thread and put the motor back in gear. Put the bobbin back in its case.

Thread the machine. Most sewing machines have a thread guide built into them. When you get the needle threaded, lower the needle by hand to pull up the bobbin thread from its case. Pull the threads to the back of the presser foot.

Set your stitch length and width. For a normal seam, you want a straight stitch set at 10 to 12 stitches per inch. You can also experiment with the various stitches that come on your machine.

Create a practice swatch of fabric. Take some scrap fabric and double it. Place it under the presser foot. Lower the presser foot. Start stitching. Also learn how to do reverse stitches.

Practice stitching straight lines and curves. Keep practicing until the basics seem natural to you. Then you can start doing any other stitches that your machine is designed to do.