Understand your sewing machine so you can sew in peace - Master Your Machine course - learn.prettysi... Learn to Use a Sewing Machine for absolute beginners here - learn.prettysi...
PLEASE keep making videos about basic beginner sewing stuff. I've gone through so many videos on youtube and gotten nothing out of them, and the way you explain things really clicks with me. This video JUST fixed the issue I was having tonight and couldn't figure out why. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
@prettysimplesara Oh, everything ahah. I've been trying to teach myself how to sew for years but there's so much to learn for garment construction or tailoring, my main focus, that I get overwhelmed and put it down for a year and pick it back up and get overwhelmed and put it down and... So seven years into that and I'm still trying to figure out how to sew straight, even lines and curves for basic shapes. They end up looking wiggly like your other video unless I focus super intently on the marks on the presser foot ruler and kind of strain my eyes. Do you have any sewing drills to recommend, or is it just "keep sewing and eventually it makes more sense?" Also any tips for how to cut straight lines with scissors would be *amazing* since I don't have a rotary set. Don't want to buy a bunch of fancy stuff before I know I'll stick with it this time. Thanks again, you are amazing!
@@TheRealPhantomsAria Thank you for your kind words I mainly sew quilts now, but I did sew garments more often long ago. So my advice is from long ago... 1) about the scissors - it's not quite as important to cut straight for garments as it is for quilts. I did use nice sewing scissors that have that flat bottom and the handles are raised up. Hope that makes sense? It lets you lay your fabrics and pattern out on a table and then glide the scissors along with the handles above the surface. But I do see people using rotary cutters now to cut out garments - there were no rotary cutters when I was sewing garments ;) Sharp scissors always make life easier - you can usually get them sharpened - a sewing store would have a recommendation on who to take them to. 2) Sewing straight. I always start people out sewing on paper. you can draw lines and follow them. You can sew next to the edge and use your seam guide lines just like you were sewing on fabric. Just change your needle before you start your project. I also have a video about sewing straight - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jKfSFhal-Ts.htmlsi=iCpiWk35iP4Htmr- 3) Overwhelm. I'm thinking it's because you want it to be perfect the first try. Remember that a baby is amazed at well you walk - because you've had lots of practice! I would intentionally plan that the first few projects are not going look super amazing. You can even buy cheap fabric if you want to. Or start with quilting which is easier than garment sewing (as long as you pick a SMALL SIMPLE project like a tablerunner!!). I have a pillowcase video that's a pretty simple project here - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6PXWQuRcwWk.htmlsi=eHqnIbfpSd438izp Just find some way to take the pressure off yourself and focus on enjoying learning the process. :) Easier said than done, I know. I get overwhelmed making videos. I now assume that it's going to take at least three takes of each video before I'm satisfied. Actually one I tried to film last week I just decided needs a 4th! But sometimes I get it in the first. Taking the pressure off myself makes it much less overwhelming. I don't even have a planned schedule anymore - which between that and life happening lately is why I don't publish videos very often LOL - but I'm enjoying it all much more.
I love that you explain *why* this works and don’t just share the quick fix. I find that it much easier to learn/remember things when I know the why and not just the how. Thank you, you’re a great teacher!
Exactly! That’s how I learn best too and I try to do this with every video. I believe everyone is capable of understanding why and that it will help them when they have to solve other issues.
Yes, I agree with @TheRealPhantomsArira PLEASE keep making beginner sewing tutorial videos, please.🙏 Your videos are the best videos out there. You are an amazing teacher. You explain things in a way that is very easy to understand with clear instructions. Your videos are short and to the point and that’s just perfect! Absolutely perfect. It works for me anyway and I’m sure for a lot of others too. I’m subscribing to your channel after finding you a few minutes ago. Thanks again!
Can you give me an idea of what you’re struggling with or what kinds of things might help? I have a few ideas, but hearing from someone who is just starting out would help me make more useful videos. 🙂. Thanks🙂
I'm normally frustrated by YT 'explanatory' videos for going fast too fast or way too slowly because they love the sound of their own voices. But you Sara are cut from different cloth - you're informative, you make it easy to understand the how and the why, and your easily my favourite. ❤
You are so clear with your explanations which makes everything you teach immediately make sense. Not to mention great visual instruction to complete everything! Love your videos. ❤
There are so many people who can sew really well, but not many people who can break it down to understandable pieces like this. I learned to “sew” about 20 years ago but I’m realizing how much I really didn’t know until I’m watching your videos. It’s clear to me that what I thought I was doing was… very rudimentary. Thank you so much for these videos, please keep them coming!
Wow! I have been sewing for years, and just happened upon your channel this morning. You are so informative and easy to listen to. It’s never too late to learn (or relearn) something new. Thanks you so much!
Well done explanation. Using the cereal box and shoe laces as a visual was brilliant. Now, it's etched in my mind. Not only do you know how to sew, you know how to teach. Many know how to sew on YT but some don't know how to teach. You do. Thank You!
I am so pleased I have come across your channel, everything is making more sense to me. Brand new sewer, and I’m eager to learn everything there is to begin with so I can enjoy slowly learn my new hobby xxx
Wow! How come I never knew to how the tails after all these years! Thank you for taking the time to explain this basic stuff so well. This kind of information is invaluable.
Thank you so very much. Being a beginner, I have been struggling with such a problem. Your videos are invaluable for me. God bless you, all the way from Assam, India.❤
Excellent video! I was able to deduce my excess bobbin thread had somehow gotten involved. Through studying a few other diagrams and explanations, I was able to figure out how my sewing machine worked. This video offered (1) a more reliable fix than taking the bobbin thread off to the side and crossing my fingers, but also (2) put together a really great explanation for a friend of mine who has always struggled to understand how sewing machines work. The model is perfect as it doesn’t complicate the explanation with deep details of how the parts work - those can be learned after the basic idea is understood. Great stuff!
Thank you! That is so clear. I've been using starters and enders to prevent this mess, but I never knew why that worked. Well, now I see that it serves as the first few stitches, so no tangled mess.
Hi Sara - I learned to sew many years ago from my mother and I love to sew because it brings her back to me (she's been gone for nearly 30 years now). Your way of explaining is very much like Mom's way. You are wonderful at explaining things and making it ... Simple! :) Thank you so much and I have definitely subscribed to your channel.
Excellent explanation. Just this week I was going to ask how all the videos I see on RU-vid start sewing without any problem of accumulating thread at the beginning, I think they edit them and do not show reality. I am, generally, pulling the tails as you have explained, but I also learned to put a small piece of fabric at the beginning before sewing my work in such a way that the knots stay there and my work is clean. You just have to cut the piece at the end.
If holding the tails isn’t working enough that you are still needing a leader, you might want to make sure you always start your seams with the take up lever in the very top position or slightly past it.
Excellent demonstration with shoestrings 👏- wow, such ingenious idea ! Thanks so much for explaining how stitching actually happen and how to fix starting "mess". However, I have problem with ending seams and especially when I have to go back and forth 😭, I always end up with bunch of strands hanging off the final edge end, sometimes not even tangled, just MULTIPLE 😵. I joke that my machine is possessed lol . I have no idea how to fix it or what to do except stopping doing back and forth move to secure end and beginning of a seam ☹.
This might be because your machine doesn’t automatically stop in the full needle up position. If so, try just turning the hand wheel towards you until it’s all the way up and when you pull out your work there should be only two threads. Let me know if that helps 🙂
@@prettysimplesara Thanks so much for taking time to give me advice 💖. I will definitely try it. I think that you are very close to deciphering my crazy machine since yes, I forgot to say, sometimes when this happens I even have trouble rising a needle by hand completely - multiple threads pull on fabric down and needle can not move up completely even though there is no entanglement on the fabric. I have a feeling that some kind of entanglement happens in the bobbin area ?🤷♀ Sometimes it is impossible to pull fabric out of the machine and when I cut threads than some of multiple would fall off if I pull gently on them. Some of threads would stick up out of the sewing plate 🤷♀and I would be able to pull them out with ease when I finally succeed to remove fabric with surgical procedure. Also, this all happens exclusively if I go back and forth or if even one stitch goes off the fabric (in empty space) after I am done with a seam. When I open bobbin area it looks normal and no entanglement obvious there BUT I have to go through re-threading a needle and pulling new thread from bobbin up. My bobbin area is not with transparent top and it is not on top of plate, it is in front down, and hidden so I can not peek and see what is happening in real time 😫. Thanks again for trying to help, it is much appreciated 🙏. It really makes me feel panicky every time I come to the end of any seam and I now resort to turning fabric 180 to make a u-turn to stabilize a seam 😞...
@@SandyV-cg4xd I am wondering if maybe you need to make sure the needle is all the way up before you change directions (forward to reverse)? It’s hard without being there 🙂. And of course, is everything nice and clean and are you using exactly whatever bobbin the manufacturer recommends?
@@prettysimplesara Thank you very much for further suggestions 🥰. I will pay attention where the needle is in this process ! My machine is brand new and bobbin came with it (and several extra) and I am brand new to sewing 😬, so it might be that I am doing something wrong 😵💫also. BUT, when I was a teen I did some simple things on my mom's Singer machine and never had this happening, so maybe she had much, much better machine *sigh 🤷♀ Mine is Janome 2222. I will definitely try your suggestion - 1) stop, 2) rise the needle and than 3) go back. May sewing fairies be with me ☺ lol !!! Thanks again for your time and for caring💖
Thank you. Can you do a tutorial on self cutting machines that don’t leave tails, please? I have this problem on my juki, which the manufacturer says should not happen!
I do not have a self cutting machine to test on....but my guess is that it might have something to do with where the take up lever is when you start sewing again. Have you read whatever manual they have about the machine that might give details about if having needle up or down will affect the thread cutter? Are there adjustments for how long the thread tails are? Maybe longer tails would help?? These are my guesses, I don't have experience with thread cutters :) Also, did it work when you first got it and have you cleaned it recently? I hope something in there helps.
Brilliant explanation and illustration with the cereal box. I have been sewing for years and had no idea how the two threads interlock. Now if possible could you explain why the tangled mess sometimes happens in the middle of a seam please. It’s so frustrating when you hear that bobbin chatter and have to break off to clear the mess. The threads can really get jammed in to the bobbin race too!
@louisemorris1581 This is one of those I wish I could be there and see. I know what you are talking about looks like. I'm thinking that the needle thread is getting caught up somehow intermittently. If it stretches and then is released you could have some extra needle thread. This could be the way that your spool is installed on the spool holder combined with what kind of wind the thread has. I have a TikTok on this - www.tiktok.com/@prettysimplesara/video/7019314646716779781?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7257899859051021826 (I don't think you need to download the app to watch it - email me if you do need to download and you don't want to, I can forward it to you.) Because I sew off a cone I have a separate thread stand, the stand inevitably gets moved around and sometimes the needle thread ends up going around weird things LOL Usually this causes a thread break, not a snarl though. If it's not that, it can also be because your bobbin isn't wound nice and neat, your bobbin isn't the right one for your machine, your bobbin isn't threaded just right, your machine needs to be cleaned or that your thread isn't really seated in between the tension discs (thread with your presser foot up), or the takeup lever not being threaded (it hops out on some machines). If you're still stymied, my next step would be to thread the bobbin and needle with two different colors of the same thread and see if that helps in figuring out which is going nuts. It's often the needle thread making all the extra on the bottom. I hope that helps. Please let me know how it goes!
I have a Singer 4423 that I bought to be a demo of a bottom loading bobbin machine for the videos in my Master Your Machine course. It has all the basics. It’s definitely not as nice as my old Bernina-BUT it didn’t cost anything near what it would cost to replace my Bernina. So with the Singer you will be able to do ‘all the things’, especially as Singer has lots of inexpensive feet, but some day way down the road, after you know exactly what you want, you might want to invest in another machine. Or maybe not 🙂 Beyond that, I haven’t gone around looking at all the different machines. I picked the Singer because it was popular and well liked on Amazon, I think it’s a good bet :). You don’t need any other bells or whistles or electronics🙂
My most common problem is the fabric jams in one spot and stops feeding through, and the needle makes several stitches right there, creating a huge lump which is jammed under the surface, and I have to take the machine partway apart and try to forcibly push the lumped fabric back up out of the hole on the metal surface . Often I can’t, and I have to cut the fabric, and it makes a hole in the fabric.
@@prettysimplesara It happens in the middle of a seam occasionally but most often at the beginning of the the piece of fabric. I don’t know how to know if changing the needle is necessary. My mother only changed her needles when they broke, but she had a commercial machine. Mine is a home sewing machine.
@@heard3879 Changing your needle is definitely necessary. :) A needle has a very fine point, it gets worn out and doesn't pierce the fabric as well - which makes it more likely that it will push the fabric down into the machine instead of sliding through it. You also want to use the right needle for the project - needles are designed to work with specific fabrics. Machine manufacturers and needle manufacturers recommend that you change them every 6-8 hours of sewing, which is about every project. It's kind like the tires on your car, they just wear out and don't work as well and we expect to have to replace them. I have some TikToks about needles but I don't have a blog post or video here yet. Try changing your needle - make sure it's the right size and type for your project - and let me know if that helps?
@@prettysimplesara I went and got a brand new needle and followed the instructions in my manual to change out the needle. And tried sewing some lace together. I only sewed about half an inch and it happened again. I try to sew a lot of very fine materials like lace ... maybe Brother is just not a good brand of sewing machine for lace and thin materials. The material that is thinnest is the most likely to get destroyed.
@heard3879 ah! I didn’t realize you were doing fine fabrics. Try using some thin paper or stabilizer underneath and a fine sharp needle. You may be able to get a special throat plate that only has a small hole instead of the slot you need for zig zag. There are also special feet with small holes. The small holes help stabilize the fabric so it doesn’t get pushed through. I’ll link a video about stabilizing starting at points with paper to give you the just of that. I’ll try to reply more tomorrow -I’m out and about but I can tell you are frustrated. Hugs.
@@prettysimplesara thanks for your reply 😃 it is an old Hugin 3200 (swedish brand i think). since i am a beginner, it is probably something i am doing wrong. but in my defense, i barrowed another singer and i seem to be able to solve the same issue by adjusting the tension there. but the same dont go with my hugen.
@@nh6162 so it’s like it’s inconsistent tension? If so, you can try cleaning out the tension discs, and also making sure that the spool is unwinding smoothly. If it’s old it might just need some TLC service.
