how to ACTUALLY start sewing in 2022 | Seams Too True EP 9

Summary

This video serves as an introductory guide for absolute sewing beginners, focusing on fundamental techniques often overlooked in tutorials. It covers machine setup, threading, tension and stitch length, and basic sewing concepts like right and wrong fabric sides, seam allowances, and backstitching. Aimed at first-time sewing machine users, the content provides practical tips for setting up and starting sewing projects, ensuring a strong foundation for any sewing journey.

Takeaways

• 🧵 Start with the basics: The video is aimed at beginners who have just bought a sewing machine and need to learn fundamental sewing techniques.
• 🎥 Tutorials have limits: Tutorials can only teach so much, and this video aims to cover the basics that are often skipped over in tutorials.
• 🧵 Threading the machine: The video provides a step-by-step guide on how to thread both the top and bottom thread, including loading the bobbin.
• 📏 Tension and stitch length: The importance of understanding sewing tension and stitch length is discussed, including how to adjust them for different fabrics.
• 📐 Testing settings: Before starting a project, it's recommended to cut a test piece and adjust the tension and stitch length until the stitches are balanced.
• 👗 Fabric orientation: The difference between the right and wrong sides of fabric is explained, emphasizing the importance of sewing with right sides facing each other.
• 🔒 Backstitching: The video teaches how to lock stitches at the beginning and end of sewing to prevent unraveling.
• 🤲 Holding the fabric: Tips on how to hold the fabric while sewing to maintain control and achieve straight lines are provided.
• 📏 Seam allowance: The concept of seam allowance is explained, detailing its purpose and the common measurements used.
• 📚 Further learning: The channel offers a playlist of sewing tutorials and projects for beginners to advanced sewers, with DIY kits available for purchase.
• 📝 Subscribe for updates: Encouragement to subscribe to the channel for the latest DIY kits, free sewing patterns, and sewing advice.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to provide basic sewing techniques and concepts for beginners who have just bought a sewing machine and are unsure where to start.

What is the difference between the video titled 'Five Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Sewing' and the current video?

The 'Five Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Sewing' video is more about considerations and insights for someone starting their sewing journey, whereas the current video focuses on the fundamental basics of sewing that should be applied during the sewing process itself.

What are the two main parts of the video?

The two main parts of the video are setting up the sewing machine and sewing technique etiquette, which covers the very basics of sewing.

How should the bobbin be loaded for the first time sewing?

The bobbin should be loaded by placing the spool of thread on the spool pin with a cap to hold it in place, threading the thread through the bobbin's hole, winding it manually a few times, and then loading it onto the machine.

What is the process of threading the machine for a Singer 4423 sewing machine?

The process involves counting and following the thread through the hoops and fixtures of the Singer 4423 sewing machine, ensuring the thread is properly threaded through the needle.

What is sewing tension and how does it affect the stitches?

Sewing tension is the amount of thread that passes through the machine to create each stitch. More thread results in looser stitches, while less thread makes for tighter stitches.

What is stitch length and how does it vary with different projects?

Stitch length is the distance between two consecutive punctures of a needle. It varies depending on the project; for example, a shorter stitch length is used for lightweight materials, while a longer stitch length is used for heavier materials like denim or canvas.

How should a beginner adjust the tension and stitch length on their sewing machine?

A beginner should start with a tension of 4 and a stitch length of 2.5, then adjust based on their intuition until the stitches come out even and balanced on both the top and bottom.

What is the significance of identifying the right and wrong side of the fabric when sewing?

Identifying the right and wrong side of the fabric is important because typically, right sides are facing each other when sewing panels together, which results in a more polished finish on the outside of the project.

What is a backstitch and why is it used at the beginning and end of sewing?

A backstitch is a technique used to lock in the stitches by sewing in reverse over the previously made stitches, reducing the chance of the project unraveling.

How should one hold the fabric while sewing to maintain control and avoid uneven stitches?

The fabric should be held taut enough to control the direction for straight lines or turns, but not so tight that it fights the feed dogs, which could lead to uneven stitches.

What is a seam allowance and why is it necessary when sewing?

A seam allowance is the area between the stitch and the raw edge of the fabric. It is necessary because sewing directly on the edge would leave the thread without anything to hold onto, so the seam allowance provides a margin within the fabric for the stitches to secure.

Outlines

00:00

🧵 Introduction to Basic Sewing Techniques

This paragraph introduces the video as an essential guide for total beginners in sewing. The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning fundamental sewing techniques that are often overlooked in tutorials. The video is positioned as the ideal starting point for anyone who has just purchased a sewing machine. It covers the basics of setting up the machine and sewing etiquette, which are crucial for all sewing projects. The speaker also invites experienced sewers to share their advice in the comments section for beginners to learn from, and encourages beginners to check the comments for valuable tips.

05:01

📏 Threading the Sewing Machine and Adjusting Tension

The speaker provides a step-by-step guide on how to thread a sewing machine, including loading the bobbin and threading the top thread. They detail the process of setting the tension and stitch length, explaining the textbook definitions and the impact these settings have on the quality of the stitches. The ideal settings to start with are suggested as a tension of 4 and a stitch length of 2.5. The importance of testing these settings with a test piece of fabric to ensure balanced stitches is highlighted. The speaker also touches on adjusting these settings based on the fabric type, from lightweight to heavyweight materials.

10:03

👕 Sewing Basics: Right and Wrong Sides, Backstitching, and Seam Allowance

This paragraph delves into the basics of sewing, starting with identifying the right and wrong sides of the fabric. The speaker illustrates how to join fabric panels with right sides facing each other, ensuring a polished finish on the outside. They explain the concept of backstitching to secure the start and end of a seam, providing a practical demonstration. The paragraph also discusses the proper way to hold and control the fabric while sewing to achieve straight and even stitches. The concept of seam allowance is introduced, explaining its purpose and the common measurements used in various sewing projects. The speaker concludes by inviting viewers to subscribe for more sewing advice, insights, and updates on new DIY kits and free sewing patterns.

🛍️ Conclusion and Call to Action

The final paragraph serves as a conclusion to the video, inviting viewers to check out the channel for more sewing tutorials and projects. It highlights the availability of DIY kits on the speaker's website for those interested in sewing projects with all necessary materials included. The speaker signs off with a peaceful farewell, leaving viewers with a clear next step to further their sewing journey.

Keywords

💡Sewing Machine

A sewing machine is a device used to stitch materials together with thread. It is a fundamental tool in sewing and is essential for any sewing project. In the video, the sewing machine is the central device around which the tutorial is built, with instructions on how to set it up and use it for beginners.

💡Threading

Threading refers to the process of passing thread through the various parts of a sewing machine to prepare it for sewing. It is a basic yet crucial step in sewing. The script describes in detail how to thread both the top thread and the bottom thread, including loading the bobbin, which is a key part of the threading process.

💡Bobbin

A bobbin is a small spool or reel that holds the thread for the lower part of the stitch in a sewing machine. The script explains how to load the bobbin with thread, which is an essential step before sewing, ensuring that the thread is correctly wound and ready to create stitches.

💡Tension

Sewing tension is the amount of thread that passes through the machine to create each stitch. It affects the looseness or tightness of the stitches. The video emphasizes the importance of adjusting tension for different types of fabric to achieve balanced stitches, with examples of tension settings provided.

💡Stitch Length

Stitch length is the distance between two consecutive stitches made by the sewing machine needle. It determines the size of the stitches and is adjustable based on the project's needs. The script provides guidance on choosing stitch length, such as using shorter lengths for lightweight fabrics and longer ones for heavier fabrics.

💡Right Side

The right side of a fabric is the side that is typically more polished and intended to be seen or displayed. In sewing, understanding the difference between the right and wrong side is important for achieving a professional finish. The script illustrates how to identify the right side and emphasizes sewing with right sides facing each other.

💡Wrong Side

The wrong side of a fabric is the less polished, often rougher side that is not intended to be seen in the final product. The script explains that when sewing, the wrong sides are usually on the outside during the process, which allows for the right side to be visible once the sewing is completed and the fabric is turned right side out.

💡Backstitch

A backstitch is a sewing technique used to secure the beginning and end of a seam by sewing in reverse. It prevents the stitches from unraveling. The script demonstrates how to perform a backstitch, emphasizing its importance in locking in stitches at the start and finish of sewing a line.

💡Seam Allowance

Seam allowance is the space between the raw edge of the fabric and the stitching line. It is necessary to leave a seam allowance to ensure the fabric does not fray and to provide room for adjustments if needed. The video script explains the concept of seam allowance and provides examples of common measurements used in sewing.

💡Presser Foot

The presser foot is a part of the sewing machine that holds the fabric in place while sewing. It is essential for controlling the fabric feed and ensuring even stitching. The script mentions the presser foot in the context of holding the fabric steady and aligning it correctly for sewing.

💡DIY Kit

A DIY (Do It Yourself) kit is a collection of materials and tools provided for a specific project, allowing individuals to create something without having to source each component separately. The script mentions DIY kits available on the channel's website, which include all the necessary supplies for sewing projects, catering to both beginners and more experienced sewers.

Highlights

Introduction of a beginner-friendly sewing tutorial that covers fundamental techniques often skipped in other tutorials.

The video aims to be the first resource for anyone new to sewing, regardless of the project they are undertaking.

Explanation of the importance of understanding basic sewing concepts before starting any sewing project.

Demonstration of setting up a sewing machine, including threading the machine and understanding sewing technique etiquette.

Tutorial on threading the bottom thread and loading the bobbin correctly for the first time.

Guidance on how to thread a Singer 4423 sewing machine and the general process for different machines.

Clarification on the concept of sewing tension and its impact on the looseness or tightness of the stitches.

Importance of stitch length and its effect on the size of the stitches produced.

Advice on starting with a tension of four and a stitch length of 2.5 for most sewing projects.

Method for adjusting tension and stitch length based on the fabric type and project requirements.

Discussion on the difference between the right and wrong side of fabric and its relevance to sewing.

Technique for sewing panels together with right sides facing and wrong sides outward.

Explanation of the backstitch method for securing the beginning and end of sewing lines.

Tips on how to hold the fabric while sewing to maintain control and achieve straight lines.

Introduction to the concept of seam allowance and its significance in sewing.

Variation in seam allowance depending on the fabric and the specific sewing project.

Invitation to subscribe for more sewing advice, DIY kits, and free sewing patterns.

Recommendation of beginner sewing projects such as tote bags and sun hats, with step-by-step tutorials.

Mention of DIY kits available on the creator's website for those interested in sewing projects.

Transcripts

[Music]

if someone had asked me what video do I

start with as a total

beginner I guess I would say a tutorial

but there's only so much you can learn

from a tutorial and they skip over some

of the more basic fundamental sewing

techniques so I wanted to take it a step

back and create something for that

person if someone buys a sewing machine

for the first time and they're wondering

what video do they start with this is

the one that's what this video is all

[Music]

about I have another video It's called

five things I wish I knew before I

started sewing but that one's more like

when you start your sewing Journey stuff

you should consider or like as you take

on projects whereas this video that I'm

doing right now is more like the prequel

to that it's like anytime you're SE

sewing you're in the act of sewing you

should apply these Concepts these rules

to anything you're doing so I think this

is like the very very first video you

should watch as a beginner doesn't

matter what project you're doing this is

something that everyone should start

with because this video teaches the

basics of sewing which makes it a great

resource to learn online there'll be two

parts of this video setting up your

machine and sewing technique SL

etiquette this is the very very basics

of selling so if you're experienced or

an expert it might not be relevant to

you but if you have some words of wisdom

drop them in the comment section below

so you can share your advice and

insights on what a beginner should look

out for and then if you're a beginner

check out the comment section cuz there

might be some very nice tidbits of

advice down there all right let's talk

about the threading the machine there's

a top thread and a bottom thread the

bottom thread is wound around the bobin

which you should load up before your

first time sewing I start by putting my

spool of thread on the spool pin and

with the cap to hold it in place

remember the big set out of the cone

closest to the spool then I find the

fixtures to thread my machine

specifically for loading the bobin the

bobin is this clear looking wheel and it

typically has a hole on the wall to feed

the thread through once you have a bit

in it use your thumb to hold the thread

as you manually wind five or six times

to get the thread to hold onto the bobin

then you load onto your machine for mine

you push it to the right and now when

you put that pedal to the metal it loads

it up

when it starts to slow down you know to

cut the thread and remove the bobin

there's a little cover for the bobin's

home so you're just got to unlock that

drop the bobin in and there's some

visuals on that covering as well so use

that visual as a guide for how to load

the bobin thread and I usually leave the

cover slightly cracked just for now to

load the top thread these own companies

made it real easy so all you got to do

as long as you can count is use your

hand and as you're counting follow the

thread through the hoops and fixtures so

that you can properly thread your

machine this is how I thread the singer

4423 and I think if you have a different

machine it's going to be slightly

different but generally they fall

somewhat of a similar path once it's in

the needle use your left hand to hold

the thread and use your right to pull

the wheel towards you which is

counterclockwise so that the needle goes

through the motions you can see through

the clear cover that the thread will

will wind underneath and catch the

bottom thread and bring it up to the

surface when it does you let it pull the

Bob and thread up and once you see it

pull it through and place both threads

underneath the presser foot sometimes

when the bobbin lid is closed the bottom

thread is locked into place so it can't

be pulled that's why I like to leave it

a little bit cracked so that it's free

to move around make sure you have at

least 3 or four in and when you pull the

wheel towards you the bottom third will

go underneath scoop it up up and pull it

to the surface and then now that it's

all threaded you can pop that cover back

down now let's talk about the tension

and the Stitch length textbook

definition sewing tension is the amount

of thread that passes through the

machine to create each Stitch so the

more thread that passes through the

looser the Stitch is going to be and the

less thread that passes through the

tighter the Stitch is going to be and

then Stitch length is the distance

between two consecutive punches of a

needle the bigger the number the bigger

the stitches are going to be if you go

into the lower numbers I think below one

is where you start getting like really

tight for button holes so usually just

go between 1 and four and then for

buttons less than one on average you're

looking at a tension of four and a

stitch length of 2.5 before starting any

project take that material cut a test

piece out um put two layers underneath

here because typically you're sewing two

layers at a time so you want to mimic

the same thing you would do in the real

project project what I'd suggest is

start at 2.5 and 4 and you're just going

to adjust the tension and Stitch length

based on your intuition until the

stitches come out even meaning the

bottom Stitch and the top Stitch look

very balanced that's when you got to

know you have it right these settings

will vary depending on what fabric

you're using whether it's lightweight

midweight heavyweight generally you want

to use a shorter Stitch length for the

lightweight material and then when you

work with heavier weight materials like

denim or canvas that's when you want to

go into a bit lengthier of a stitch

length the bobin tension is already

factory set so just worry about the top

dials now that the machine set up it's

time to learn the sewing Basics which is

the exciting part most Fabrics not all

Fabrics but most have a right and a

wrong side the right side is usually a

bit better looking the wrong side being

more rough if you look at this this is

cotton twill and if you look up close on

the left side you have these diagonal

woven lines and then on the right side

it's just very rough

if you have your material in front of

you examine it you could see the

difference you could tell based on shine

sometimes you could tell based on feel

on looks use your intuition and try to

figure out which is the right and wrong

side now when you're sewing these panels

together you typically want right sides

facing each other and then that means

wrong sides are on the outside so I'm

going to illustrate this by putting a

chalk X on the wrong side of both these

fabrics and if I want to sew them

together I want the is on the outside

meaning right sides are facing each

other so that once I'm done sewing and I

pull that inside out now I have the

shape of the the project that I'm

working on and I have the right side

which is the more polished finish side

on the

outside side note if you want more

advice and insights on sewing or you

want to stay updated on the latest DIY

kit free sewing pattern that I drop on

my channel subscribe so you can stay

tuned to the latest and then you have

what they call a back stitch and back

back stitch is how you lock in the

stitches and it's usually what you do at

the beginning and the end of every

Stitch let's say we're going to sew

along this blue line you want to put

your fabric underneath the press your

foot and you want to line up the fabric

so that the blue line which is the line

you want to sew is lined up with the

needle not too far to the left not too

far to the right and if you imagine the

needle coming down you want to make sure

that the fabric is in enough that the

needle will be past the edge of the

fabric put the Press foot down so that

it holds the fa fabric I usually do

three stitches forward and then three

stitches back for my machine there's a

lever that you pull down and when you

pull down you hold it and then use your

foot on the petal and that'll bring the

stitches in Reverse what this does is it

allows you to go back over stitches you

previously made so that it locks it in

and there's less chance of your project

unraveling you'll run the same exercise

when you get to the end sew near the

edge go backwards three stitches forward

three and you're

done now now let's talk about how you

hold the fabric as you're sewing I feel

like there's not enough videos with

advice on like how to hold the fabric as

it's getting fed in so let's talk about

it hold the fabric taut enough that you

can control the direction that way you

could sew in a straight line or pull it

and turn it the way you want but don't

pull too much that you're fighting the

feed dogs cuz then you'll probably get

uneven stitches I feel like everyone has

their own way of holding the material

sometimes you want to like grip it from

the sides and pull sometimes you just

want to be on top and apply pressure and

pull a little bit but I think generally

a little bit of pull however you hold it

is going to give you the control of the

fabric now for the seam allowance this

is like that mysterious thing you hear

about it and you don't really know what

it is until it's time to learn about it

it is the area between the Stitch and

the raw edge of the

fabric basically if you're sewing you

can't sew right on the edge because then

the thread will have nothing to hold on

to so you you have to go into the edge

of the fabric a little bit and so

generally you don't see an eighth of an

inch or 1/4 in seam allowance but I did

it here just to illustrate the

difference as you increase the seam

allowance you increase the distance from

the edge of the stitch for the most part

you'll see 3/8 of an inch seam allowance

a/ an inch or 5/8 of an inch depends on

what you're working with depends on

fabric depends on the project sometimes

for trousers or pants they'll have a

very very large seam allowance and that

allows tailor to take it apart and have

a little bit more room to expand the

fabric if you need expanding once you

understand the basics there's a playlist

of sewing tutorials and projects on my

channel that you can check out there's

beginner ones I usually recommend the

tote bag or the sun bag but there's also

some challenging ones for a little bit

more experience SE and all the projects

come with a DIY kit which is like a

sewing kit that comes with all the

fabric supplies materials that you need

for that sewing project the tutorials

are made for beginners so even if you're

brand new to sewing I go step by step

explain everything so it's very simple

so if you feel like sewing check out the

channel if you feel like you want a DIY

kit check on my website and until next

time peace