Sewing Machine Techniques: Video Series

Sewing tables should be sturdy pieces of furniture to support the motion of a sewing machine, and there should be ample work space and plenty of lighting. Set up a sewing area to house a sewing machine, supplies, fabrics and work space with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Basic sewing tips for any project include reading the instruction manual carefully, pinning and basting the seams to prevent the fabric from sliding, and using a French seam technique for a clean seam on the inside and outside. Practice a few basic sewing preparation techniques for better results with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Hemming t-shirts is best done by keeping the original bottom hem, using fairly loose tension on the sewing machine and avoiding to pull the fabric as it feeds through the machine. Hem a t-shirt in a way that looks professional with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Learning to use a sewing machine can be done with a few simple exercises, such as drawing a curve on scrap fabric, following the line, stitching perfectly straight lines and stitching perfectly parallel lines. Practice sewing a variety of stitches on a sewing machine with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Hemming blue jeans is best done by using a seam ripper to take apart the bottom hem, refolding the hem to the correct length and doing a double fold over for a sturdy hem. Hem a pair of blue jeans after pressing the seam using an iron with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Learning how to read a sewing pattern involves recognizing the various symbols that are used, as a solid black line represents a cut line, a dotted line indicates a sewing line and a V-shaped notch illustrates where two pieces of a pattern match up. Read sewing patterns correctly for the best finished result with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Corset boning is designed to keep a corset rigid without bunching the fabric, and it can be made from a variety of materials, including whale bone, plastic or steel. Learn about boning for corsets with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

To use a sewing machine, first pin the two pieces of fabric together along the seam, drop the presser foot over the fabric, reverse stitch to secure the seam, and continue sewing slowly in a straight line. Begin using a sewing machine using scrap pieces of fabric to practice with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Preparing to sew with leather involves cutting the leather with a utility knife or leather shears, placing two pieces of leather good sides together and using a leather needle in the sewing machine. Use specialty tools when sewing leather with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Sewing leather using a sewing machine can be done by using a chisel-tip leather needle, by loading heavy duty nylon upholstery thread into the machine and by moving the heavy fabric slowly through the machine. Sew leather using special tools and techniques with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

When sewing leather, always use a chisel-tip leather needle, which cuts the material instead of separating the weave, and use a heavy-weight upholstery thread. Gather the right materials for sewing leather with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Sewing curtains is one of the easiest projects to do on a sewing machine, as it only requires sewing straight French seams around all four sides of the fabric. Sew a wider hem at the bottom of a set of curtains with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Sewing a zipper in a pillow can easily be done by pinning the zipper with right sides together to the pillowcase or fabric, sewing right along the zipper, repeating the step on the oppose side and hand stitching the corners to close the zipper. Sew a zipper into a pillowcase with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

To sew patches on a pair of jeans, first flip the pants inside out, trim the excess threads from the torn hole, lay the patch fabric over the hole, and stitch it carefully to the jeans, making sure the patch overlaps the entire torn area. Sew patches on a pair of jeans with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Beginners sewing baskets should include a pair of fabric shears, a pair of thread-snipping shears, a pack of needles, thread, a pin cushion, a measuring tape, a seam ripper and straight pins. Collect the necessary supplies to put together a sewing basket with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

A sewing machine works by weaving thread through fabric from the needle above and from the bobbin below, creating very quick, very small stitches through the fabric. Understand the tension and the bobbin of a sewing machine with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Using a sewing machine requires preparation, such as winding the bobbin, loading the bobbin, loading the spool of thread at the top, threading the machine and setting the right tension for the fabric. Understand a few basics of using a sewing machine with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Hand sewing techniques are important to learn for detail work, and basting, a very loose running stitch, and the back stitch are the two most useful stitches to learn. Practice hand stitching for a variety of projects with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

A beginners hand sewing technique is the basting stitch, which consists of quarter-inch long stitches created by running the needle in and out of the fabric. Learn the basting stitch, which is helpful in piecing together a project before sewing the final seams, with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Hemming dress pants requires taking apart the existing hem, pinning it at the proper length, stitching a single fold, folding the hem one more time and stitching the second fold. Hem dress pants in a French seam to conceal all raw edges with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.

Hemming knit pants differs from hemming other types of pants because the fabric is stretchy, so an initial zigzag stitch is required to stabilize the fabric. Hem a pair of knit pants with instructions from a sewing craftsman in this free video on sewing.