10 Sewing Mistakes Beginners Make

[@soffialv2209]

I use to have a "teacher" (she wasn't, she barely knew a bit more than I did) that always said true seamstresses NEVER use pins, then I went visiting my grandma who has +50 years of experience as a seamstress and told me to always pin everything... I love seeing this advise other places bc validates her every time ❤️

[@beefteefz4636]

i dont know why its so frowned upon to just use pins!!! pins are not for "beginners" and they are not unprofessional, they help you immensely!! i saw a youtuber i watch make a video on how to teach yourself to never use pins but in my personal experience, not using pins has led me to many many wonky garments

[@soffialv2209]

@@beefteefz4636 idk there is a weird mindset that tools are the devil and should be avoided! Because it makes ones work easier so you're cheating or something. Is infuriating...

[@beefteefz4636]

@@soffialv2209 IT IS SO INFURIATING!!! like sure... you can choose to not use pins or anything.. but have fun with your wonky garment 😭

[@RandyCharlesGallagher]

your grandma was right- pins prevent mistakes, although there are things you don't need to pin once you've sewn them enough times to know how to hold them. i hate ppl who say 'true seamstresses' true seamstresses never say that lol

[@DeniseSkidmore]

Pinning and not Pinning each have their place. A simple seam in a stable fabric is way faster to not pin. If the pieces have different curves, gathering, or stretch, then pin or baste. Basting is better in many cases but it takes skill to baste as fast as you can pin.

[@Elkycreates]

Mistake #11: Not checking which way your one-way stretch fabric stretches before laying out and cutting your garment pieces. You want to make sure the fabric stretches around your body not the length of your body. This was a costly mistake I made once.

[@Sara-vs8bh]

I guess that's what she is saying at mistake #1

[@cupcakecrazy98]

Only once!! Your so lucky 😆😆

[@Elkycreates]

@@Sara-vs8bh not exactly. The grainline typically runs parallel with the selvage. Sometimes you have to turn the pattern pieces at 90 degrees to the selvage so the stretch is going the right way.

[@prettysloth]

Been there 😮‍💨

[@Sara-vs8bh]

@@Elkycreates "not exactly" no, but checking the grain and checking which way your fabric stretches all seem like they belong to the very same first step: studying your fabric

[@lockheart619]

If you're a beginner sewer don't be discouraged! Sewing is something you never stop learning. As someone who has been sewing for a good amount of years I still make mistakes.

[@wooogie672]

thank you for this comment :). i’ve just started sewing and i think i’ve done a too-difficult design for my first project. cutting the fabric right has been really frustrating and i’m kinda ready to give up but ik i’ll never learn if i don’t push through :)

[@emmalinalion4776]

I've been convinced my sewing machine is broken for ages because it's been skipping stitches. Now I'm going to go and double check my needle and thread sizes! This is a great video 😊

[@coolirpa]

Literally every seamstress at one point haha. Hope it solves your skipped stitches 🙏

[@MS-ne6ld]

Don't forget to check the tension, too! Heavier fabrics usually require a higher thread tension, but overall, test every fabric and adjust as needed

[@bodineeh]

If your thread sort of unravels right before the needle you might have a dent in your bobbincase. I had this problem and it took me so long to find the cause😂

[@julial3325]

The needle might be old and just need a replacement

[@Alex_Is_Not_Here]

@@coolirpa Where is your necklace from?😍

[@beltlevel]

1. Match your pattern grain line to the grain of your fabric 2. Press your seams after sewing them 3. Leave enough seam allowance 4. Use the correct needle type for each project, and the right size thread for the needle 5. Choose the right fabric for your project 6. Use stretch stitches (lightning, or a zig zag) when working with stretch fabric 7. Pin enough to keep things tidy 8. Let the machine feed dogs guide the fabric. Don't push or pull. 9. Measure twice and cut once. 10. Backstitch at the start and end of seams.

[@kathrynmarentette7120]

I’m mostly self-taught so even after years of sewing, I often find beginner-level holes in my knowledge. These videos are often so helpful. 💛 Also, I have an ironing mat similar to yours. It’s a life saver in my tiny apartment!!

[@coolirpa]

Oh me too with making “beginner mistakes” bc I just never thought to figure out what’s wrong haha! Good to hear that the mat is useful to you. I’m so excited to make use of it in my videos now 😍

[@ering1107]

I iron on a towel on the tile floor, because my apartment is so tiny I can't fit a board. Lol. Works for most things.

[@davemeade4371]

I learned so many things from a jail tailor shop over 14 months. Not only to run sergers with foot to the floor with accuracy and speed attaching t-shirt arms or track pants, jumpers, "dollies".. And the staff were incredible. One of the women spent probably a month hand sewing a giant wedding dress, apparently she made alot of period costumes for those medieval cosplay events people like to put on. I soaked up everything i could from them with what limited things were made, but they were extemely supportive. One of them openly was "my jail mom".. because i never really had parenting i learned.. . But this woman showed me genuine care, maybe even love. She even made the point to give me a singer sewing machine when i got out, and tickets to the first concert i ever got to attend. As an audiophile, at 23. Got to see Heart. Thanks for refreshers and memory reminders, ive hardly touched sewing since i got out.. and past couple weeks it's been very healing for the rough last couple years its been.

[@davemeade4371]

Never forget ya Lorna and Trish and Terry, if you ever happen to stumble across this comment.

[@CPAndy-x5x]

What an interesting experience. I didn't know there were sewing facilities in jails. You should write more about this. I hope you're doing well.

[@m0rethanahandful]

i’m an somewhat experienced sewist, but it never hurts to brush up on some skills. thanks april!!

[@coolirpa]

Same here, I’m always brushing up my skills 😁 Wish I took these tips more seriously as a beginner!

[@gracie99999]

sewist😅 I sew u!! 🧵

[@zoe.r.4544]

I'm a beginner sewer and I think the most frustrating thing that happens to me is when the thread in the bobbin runs out mid sew. Then I have to unstitch and resew an often times large section

[@sannedeheer2120]

You can pick up where the threat left off, make sure to backstitch tough!

[@kaylabearclimbz5895]

YES, you can totally just start where your bobbin left off! I usually go farther back by a 1/2 in or so, backstich and then away we go with the new bobbin!

[@zoe.r.4544]

@@kaylabearclimbz5895 thank you so much

[@Ava-cq1zi]

@@kaylabearclimbz5895I do this without knowing at first that this is common 😭😂 I thought I was being lazy. I am all for that method

[@silvermeasuringspoons6462]

No need to backstitch just overlapped them about 3-4 cm (I hate inches) on the old, stable part not the dangling bits, the dangling thread gonna be trimmed afterwards. It’s gonna be just 2 smooth layers of thread not 3-4 layers and you won’t get any lumps/bulk. There’s also other easy 2 overlapping techniques. Mostly to avoid lumps. Excuse me though because I’m not a native English user. First one, when sew something that gonna be full circle like neck/hemline, don’t started with backstitch. Just sew and overlapping it at the end. Second one, for normal not full circle lines, to avoid lumps as this line are shown, delicate details like end of the dart, etc. Don’t use backstitch button, instead turn the fabric to the “wrong” way first and just sew 2-3 stitches, put the needles down and turn it back.

[@daneekaplan4284]

I see SOOOO many KZbinrs pulling the fabric through the machine. Your room looks great! watching KZbin taught me that I definilty rush through my projects. Watching people like you and Bernadette Banner and Cathy Hay take so much time- and care- to cut and sewing either by hand or by machine slowly was an eye-opening experience. I always go full throttle then get mad because it isn’t even or straight.

[@slbarbieri1725]

The same three I watch! I also watch James Kelly London for costume recreations

[@zen_ccg]

Morgan Donner and Mariah Pattie are also top tier sewing content 👌

[@melanie_meanders]

Yesss I’m glad she shows how slow she’s actually going. Some tutorials just speed it up and don’t show how slow you have to go to get nice results!

[@KelseyDrummer]

I've found my people!😅❤ I love all these youtubers!

[@barbarasagers]

@@melanie_meanders .:

[@MS-ne6ld]

I think one of the main mistakes I made was thinking that "sewing" means spending time at the sewing machine xD once you understand that making notches, pinning in place (or even basting) and pressing are all part of the process, you can realistically estimate what time each garment would take.

[@greenstonexx6688]

so true!🪡

[@hw7003]

Yes! 20% of my time is at the machine, the rest is perusing fabrics, printing and cutting patterns, pinning, measuring, trimming, ironing, etc. Also lots of "one more trip" to the fabric store for that specific thread or elastic or other notion I forgot to get when I went last time 😂

[@evilempryss]

When I open a pack of needles that aren't just universals, I dab some nail polish across the shanks while they're in the case so it colors both, making it super easy to not only remember which one it was, but to put it back if I only use it briefly

[@carriestephenson3102]

This video is excellent!! Thank you April! Working for a fabric store, when people come back in and I ask how their last clothing project went, the most common mistake I see is not cutting with grainline and it causes SO many people to quit making clothes because of the ill-fitting nature of those clothes. The second most common is armhole and neckline fitting, which is due to not making notches or marking where the pieces are intended to come together.

[@coolirpa]

Wow! It’s such a small extra step but makes a world of difference! Thanks for sharing this 🙌

[@paulinewho5071]

I have a similar problem with princess seams. Although I do make notches and I pin before sewing but one piece always ends up longer than the other one. What could I be doing wrong here? Huhu.

[@debcobb9739]

I saw that you had your pressing mat on your cutting board. I made the mistake of doing the same thing and the heat from the iron goes through the mat and warped my cutting board...now I use a large piece of cardboard under my pressing mat to insure that I don't ruin any furniture now. Those are great tips for beginners

[@coolirpa]

Thanks for the heads up!

[@mightyfetheredone]

If you swipe a marker over the engravings of the machine needle & quickly wipe off the excess, the ink will stay in there & you can now see the size info.

[@coolirpa]

Omg I’m gonna try this!

[@x-mess]

Zoom in with camera on phone

[@stefanieflensburg8435]

the upper part of the needle package is actually a magnifying glas! just put your needle in and shut the package and it is quite easy to read whats written on the needle :-). you can see the plastic is curved and that is the magnifying part for us. have a look👁. greeting from Germany

[@xchasingthefallx]

The best way I got better at sewing is slowing down my machine so I could actually keep my stitches straight at a pace I'm comfortable with. Some machines are already set to a pretty fast speed that is more for experienced sewers. So if you search up how to slow down the speed of your specific machine (you will have to use a few tools but it's nothing too hard), it helps so much!

[@NotBukowski]

I didn’t know that. Thank you so much. May the seamstress gods shine upon you

[@ering1107]

My machine is so old that setting doesn't exist. Haha. It's all foot powered and I can choose the speed at will. Unless I'm so beginner I'm missing something.

[@mymai5859]

The foot pedal often has a fast or slow speed switch, which helps if you're trying not to be a race car driver

[@blinksbill1138]

I learned how to sew in college, spent a fortune on this new hobby. Still feel like a beginner, and all the tips were a good refresher that I luckily already knew.

[@TheJaniebabe]

Thanks April, great video. Never new that "lightning" stitch was a stretch stitch. Most informative video.

[@coolirpa]

Thanks for watching! 😁

[@spacep0d]

*lightning. "Lightening" means to make less dark.

[@SparkyOne549]

When I’m using a needle, stick the needle pack to my machine with removable tape, now I never forget. I’ve been sewing for decades, but it’s always good to see if there’s new or different ways of doing things. I don’t think i was ever a beginner, before I started sewing, I did a ton of homework first, I do that with everything I need to learn. I started off as an expert.

[@coolirpa]

Great tip!

[@dindog22]

at work to keep track of my needles I just use a tomato pincushion and I wrote the sizes on each section with a sharpie. I further divided the sections into ball point and regular. I stick a few needles of each size in the correct sections and I use a big flat flower pin in the section that has the needle in the machine. when I change needle sizes, I move the pin so I always remember which size is in the machine. the only problem arises when a co-worker decides they're going to clean things up and they go and stick a bunch of pins in my needle tracking cushion.

[@coolirpa]

Wow I hope I can figure out a system for my needles that will work for me! Thanks for sharing

[@hopegold883]

That’s brilliant! (Now you just need a hiding place for your pin cushion.)

[@CatherineSews]

That's probably the best tip I've ever heard for keeping track of needles!

[@zen_ccg]

Oh I have one that looks like a pumpkin (with sewn lines segmenting it) that I should totally use this idea for!

[@TawdryTempest]

Fabulous tip!

[@Goukanohime]

I've been sewing for many years now, but I'm mostly self / youtube taught lol. Two things I've really struggled with are the grain lines bias and all that, and all the different needles for the sewing machine! I end up hand stitching a lot because I get frustrated with the machine.

[@swvsnick]

oh me too, I've been convinced the machine is evil but I think I shall attempt to learn how to use one.

[@nanar.1528]

I am a mom of 3 toddlers and i started sewing but man its more difficult that I thought to find enough time to practice 😢 but I'm setting a goal to keep going, thanks for the tips !

[@WomanUnfiltered]

I just came across your page. I'm 64 and although my mother was quite the sewist, she didn't have patience to teach me when I was young. So I started trying to teach myself to sew about a year ago, and these tips are really great. Thanks for sharing.

[@mariemacko7052]

I’m 62, took sewing for a semester in high school, but don’t remember all that much, stretchy fabric is my enemy- but I want to befriend it 😊. I enjoyed her video.

[@saraaronzon4562]

Me too!

[@anne-mareesleigh8667]

This is incredibly useful. Even though i learnt to sew years and years ago, (possibly before you were even born, wow i feel old!) i don’t have much confidence and these tips gathered together will help. Thank you. They are things that i’ve been told, but not all at once, so it’s a great refresher. I can’t overstate how helpful it is to have all this gathered together like this. Enjoy your new space.

[@coolirpa]

Yay! Glad to hear that. I was hoping it would be helpful all in one video!

[@ravinj8625]

I've been sewing for a week almost 2 now and I started with zipper pouches/bags. I love it 😆. My friend who encouraged me to learn to sew forever ago, said she hates zippers. I love my bags and my family loved them also. I want to do more zipper projects. My sewing definitely needs work but it's so much fun 😊.

[@phyllismay4384]

Tip #12 always wash and dry your fabric before cutting and sewing. If not...your garment could shrink after it is made. Not good at all. I've been sewing for 46 years and I have always washed my fabric in the manner that I will be washing my finished garment.

[@Carla-ns8rx]

April, when you first get your needles you can color code them with some nail polish in the middle (not where the eye is or where you insert it in your sewing machine) and a little dot also on the box.( different colours for different sizes obviously). So at any time, you can put it back in the proper box or just check the size befor using it..

[@juliettelynne5861]

I disagree…that can affect your stitches.

[@katfox678]

I literally just bought that shirt for my daughter yesterday lol. I love this video, my stitches sometimes tend to skip. I remember years ago when you made a peplum shirt out of a t shirt. You sparked that itch for me to sew my own clothes since then. I’m proud of how far you’ve come!

[@coolirpa]

Lol! Ooo it’s still there? My sister wants the shirt too 😂 I’ll let her know

[@katfox678]

@@coolirpa yes still there! You can buy online too lol

[@Duagamingg]

thank you sooo much!!!! i recently have been doing these mistakes cuz i am still a beginner but after watching this i knew that the things i have been doing are wrong and some things i dont even know about {like the numbers on the needles}

[@ChestersonJack]

I’ve been hand-sewing for a few years, mostly just repairing and sometimes altering my clothes. As I have projects in the works of making some costumes, I know I’m gonna have to start using a sewing machine for a lot of the work. This is very helpful!

[@kahliainglis71]

I'm not a beginner sewist (probably intermediate) but I clicked on this video for exactly the reason you said at the beginning 😂 I looked at it and thought "I'm not a beginner, but I could be making these mistakes as well, better to watch it and go "oh no I'm not doing any of those" than not watch it and be making a whole lot of mistake"

[@Heathers_Handbags]

Love the light!!! Great video. I love that you said even people who know how to sew make these mistakes. I have been sewing for 15 years and still pick the wrong needle. Lol

[@emmakovacs7757]

I have been watching you for years, but I only just began sewing this year. I am enjoying it so much, and your videos have been a great help!

[@coolirpa]

Aww that’s so nice to hear! ❤️❤️❤️

[@lilacsrain6004]

I can't believe I haven't been backstitching!! this video has been immensely helpful - I only very recently got myself a sewing machine, i'd been hand sewing for about a year up until then

[@jmalaysia]

This has helped me so much, understanding needles and skip stitches in relation to each other is priceless

[@KreizzlerKei]

Thanks april for the video. Just wanted to share that i have upgraded my machine to a industrial juki machine ❤️ from second hand portable. You are one of the influencers who sparked my passion in sewing... Love yah.

[@coolirpa]

This is so sweet! Thank you for the kind words. How do you like the industrial??

[@KreizzlerKei]

@@coolirpa so far so good. Its two-three times the speed of the portable so i finish a project faster. For the noise it is minimal but the downside is the space it took up my room. I had to ditch my table for cutting. Back to the floor again.

[@KreizzlerKei]

Just scary at first because of the speed.

[@啊解决]

i'm an somewhat experienced sewist, but it never hurts to brush up on some skills. thanks april!!

[@the-colorowdy]

I was gifted a machine in great condition, portable and perfect for what I need. It has been 50 years since I sat at a machine. Some things come back but this video was a great refresher, thank you.

[@tammyjohnson8150]

I’m a new sewist and I can’t tell how much I have learned from watching videos. Your video has been quite comprehensive. One of the first things I learned was before you make your first cut, wash and dry the fabric. Then square it. So far I’ve only used McCalls patterns, and they tell you to pin the grain line first. I found that to be very helpful. Instinctively I measured and remeasured before making the first cut. And many times I would find that I was indeed “off” a bit. Good thing I found out before cutting. I saw a video that talked about pressing the seams and using a clapper and other tools. I bought the clapper as my first extra tool and I can’t believe what a difference they make! WOW! The seams look so nice after pressing, they make me feel like a real professional lol! Thanks so much for the tips. Videos like these make me excited to learn more. ❤

[@zevrxn]

pinning is something i went full circle on, i started not pinning stuff for not understanding the importance of it, then i started pinning things, and then i went back to not pinning things as much once i learned how to actually control the fabric i'm feeding through the machine, because now i value the control i have over the safety of pinning (because some things just will not go where i want them to unless i reposition the fabric repeatedly)

[@samanthaanngraham3130]

excellent points! I knew about using different machine needles for different fabrics and about backstitching (I don't remember if my mom taught me those or if I learned them in home ec class😅 I definitely remember learning about notching and pinning in class), and while I knew that you a zigzag stitch should be used for stretchy fabrics, I didn't know why! your explanation made total sense! 😸 thank you so much for this useful video, definitely saving for a quick reminder.

[@luciatat4084]

I think as a begginer I’ve made all the mistakes possible 😅 and learned the hard way. Now I just skip the notches but I will also stop doing this. I want beautifully sewn and functional garments so I will take all the steps required. :)

[@silvermeasuringspoons6462]

Notches aren’t everything. It’s kind of like check points. Don’t get used to those “spoon fed” pre-made patterns. (I don’t mean to completely skip it. But I have seen people literally cling on to it for dear life, and that insane) Surely it’s foolproof but then you won’t actually know why or how. Don’t forget professionals definitely don’t have notches to follow. There’s only “the middle point”, “the shoulder/chest/hips…etc. line”

[@luciatat4084]

@@silvermeasuringspoons6462 thank you for your advice. :) I didn’t have issues by skipping them but thought that maybe they are there for a good reason, maybe they would make things easier to sew but honestly it is complicated enough to cut them when you cut the pattern pieces, hence why I never used them.

[@ShaCurington]

I feel like this is the most awesome sewing video I've ever seen. Absolutely everything was useful, nothing was redundant, no time was wasted. I just smashed the subscribe button. Thank you so much for your content!!

[@theredheadwiththread1275]

I've got online friends I'm sending this to. They want me to help them learn sewing but I haven't got a setup to record videos to help them so this video is greatly appreciated.

[@danielleparker3731]

I just discovered your channel and I’m so grateful!!! I’ve always wanted to learn how to sew, and I’ve decided this is the summer I actually do it! Honestly the scariest thing for me is the sewing machine because I’m not tech savvy even remotely 😅

[@saraaronzon4562]

Me too!

[@RandyCharlesGallagher]

love that you addressed straightening the grain line. i find when most people are asking me questions their eyes glaze over when i ask them about grain

[@catherinealekseyenko9317]

The needle info was super helpful, definitely need to get more different needles! My biggest mistakes have been not making a mockup and not trying the thing on enough times. I would just get carried away and trust my original measurements, and then see that things are not right when I am too far along, and taking it all apart feels terrible

[@Sew_Learning]

Thanks April! Very helpful tips. Little note: be careful your cutting mat isn’t affected by the steam coming through your wool mat. Ask me how I know…. Sending best wishes from Down Under ❤️💐🇦🇺😎

[@merlinthewizard2399]

Yeah my cutting mat got a warp now😢

[@gracie99999]

you never know what skill you might need the things people mocked at right fully so I’m a sense became of use to me later probably not them

[@BarnoSarco]

IM ON A SEWING JOURNEY NOW. IVE STARTED WITH NO KNOWLEDGE. Your videos are amazing.

[@Annalorraine2x]

Glad to see you been missing your notifications use to always watch u in the beginning.

[@KnitLoveHK]

The video is so detail and clear. It's useful and helpful when sewing Really like it and thanks for sharing

[@Ehreads]

I knew most of this and have been seeing for a few years. But the lightning stitch for stretchy fabrics just rocked my world. I haven’t worked with any knits in a while because last time my seams kept popping and now it all makes sense 🤣😭

[@ToshiPrakash-s3f]

To read the engraving on needle, use your phone camera. Take a pic and zoom in. Mostly works with just focus itself. Great video by the way. Learnt a lot of new things.

[@jillbuehler7154]

👏 I love this video. I both cringed and lol'd throughout your tips. I am an experienced home sewist, but listening to these tips called me out for all my crappy time-saving (that doesn't actually save time AT ALL, but instead makes my projects take WAY longer) bad habits.😅😅 lol. I am surely guilty of too many of these mistakes....even decades into sewing. I think as sewists (new or even experienced), we tend to get SO excited over a new project that we just want to do it!!! *And damn the small important details and double-checking that takes time.* Unfortunately, in our haste, we can make these 10 mistakes you pointed out. Even more unfortunately, those mistakes can prevent our amazing project that we are so excited about from turning out well. The poor results, wasted fabric, (and inevitable seem ripping) are hard lessons we all wish we didn't have to learn -or keep learning. If followed, your lessons here can help save time and mistakes from happening to many sewists and creators. 😍 Thanks for the information about the needle sizes being two numbers (one European and one North American) was new to me. I knew what larger vs smaller numbers ment, but I was always confused about why they included a "/" and had 2 different sets of increasing digits. It all makes so much more sense now. Thank you. Thanks for making this and other videos April! Your content has inspired me over the last decade to create more, sew more, thrift more, thrift-flip more, and try things that scared me. I have become a better sewist and made some amazing projects for my wardrobe, cosplay, and commissions for others. I gratefully credit my favorite KZbin creators -including you- for giving me new ideas and helpful tips. Thank you for growing my confidence to try and empowering me to feel that even if I strugglebus or screw it up, everything can be saved or fixed with a bit of tenacity and creative embellishment. ❤🧡💛

[@RebelAlliance42]

I have just finished sewing some outdoor chair squab covers for my father in law, and I can confirm, notches and pinning are very important! I've made some beautiful baby blankets using cuddle fabric, and that stuff requires A LOT of pinning!! And a walking foot! I'm so glad I invested in my walking foot!

[@haleykirkseygraham]

Yes! These are some great tips! My mom always says, "Remember that the iron is your friend!"

[@YokoshimaSTAR]

A peaceful vibe in the studio and a peaceful vibe outside (the chickens), a great environment for cretaivity. Thanks for the video! I'm subbing for more. I'm self-taught and trying not to lose my marbles

[@AthenaSchroedinger]

I viewed this on a whim. As it turns out I think that I have at least done 9 out of the 10 mistakes! Very informative video and you've got a new subscriber. :)

[@Donteatacowman]

Going into this, I thought, "Oh, this is going to be all about calibrating your sewing machine..." But no, lots of this is helpful for us hand-sewers who can't afford machines! I know I've seen that arrow on patterns and didn't understand it. Some of this I've learned but only over time. Some of it I refuse to learn from and wind up undoing hours of work... multiple times.

[@Donteatacowman]

I'm back and I have a sewing machine!!!

[@saraaronzon4562]

@@Donteatacowmanawesomeness!

[@emilyackertrutten268]

Great refresher - just getting back into sewing after a very long time away, and this was a good reminder of all the things I learned (and forgot) the first time around.

[@izzycurer1260]

I do most of these, but I didn't know why my stitches were sometimes skipping. Thanks. I like your ironing mat.

[@nat6098]

If you're having problems ironing something because it shifts under the iron try lass head pins! They can be ironed so you can pin finicky seams and press them much easer. Also if you tend to drop pins look into magnetic pin bowls because you can hold them over the area where you dropped a pin and find it Both of those things in addition to all the tips in the video have really helped me in my clothes making.

[@NatalineDaycreator1]

Is that glass head pins? Thanks

[@msmw6159]

This was very helpful! I hope you'll have more thrifted flips or new sewing creations soon. I love watching you sew!

[@love0818able]

Yup, I am making all of these mistakes. Thank you kindly

[@smallfootprint2961]

So glad you gave a review if the wool ironing pad. I am smell sensitive. All very helpful.

[@dahliahaase9664]

This video was so helpful!! I started sewing a few weeks ago and now I'm more aware of these things so hopefully I'll make less mistakes in the future!

[@coolirpa]

This video was made for you 🥰

[@amybrown6067]

I've been sewing for a long time (not much apparel though) and I learned good stuff here! I think I'm a little less intimidated by apparel sewing now. I learned the HARD WAY about zigzag stitching.

[@VickyLatorreArt]

Thank you so much for this video. The hardest thing for me if to find the grain or cutting the fabric the right way. I don't know what is with my brain that I have able to understand everything related to sewing but this is giving me a hard time.

[@gabrielayumi9879]

First time here! 🇧🇷 Love the vídeo and the tips!! Please keep going!! You're awesome!!! Will definetely watch all your videos!!

[@kumada84]

Thank you so much for making grain the first tip, and for showing how to straighten fabric. 👍👍👍

[@shengxyoojblue]

Hi April, thanks for this video!

[@coolirpa]

Aww yay! Happy and excited for you :)

[@crys_cornflakez]

watching this made me realize i know next to nothing about sewing! i have a lot to learn!!!

[@saraaronzon4562]

Me too!

[@DIYFashionRebel]

These tips are so good! I wish I had seen your video when I first started sewing! It took me years of failed projects that never draped correctly before I realized what grainline was and how to check if the grainline in my fabrics was aligned before I got started. I'm sure this video will help lots of people :)

[@user00616]

OH MY GOSH!!!! This may be the best video you’ve ever done??? Wow!! Thank you!!!!! 🤍

[@coolirpa]

Awww so happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching

[@ThreadheadTV]

There's now thread that is stretchy if you want to straight stitch as well. I haven't tried it yet but I'm going to order and try! I'll keep you posted!

[@sierranicholes6712]

i kept having the problem of skipping with some fabrics and i could NOT figure out what setting it was...i had NO idea that it was just the needle size! 😭 this saved my life lol!

[@Enniz]

I’ve been self taught sewing for years and genuinely only just found out the different needles. I just grabbed a universal on jersey knit and denim and hoped for the best 💀 Now i don’t have to be afraid of my needles breaking on me anymore!

[@crazyinkbooktrailers1373]

Your number one mistake was just what I was looking for. All the rest were helpful too. Thank you.

[@craftedbyalison6592]

I know this is an older video but I am honestly learning so much! I am so happy to learn how to use a mahcine and sew more with it

[@Cehlec]

Thank you! the different needles for different fabrics explained a lot!

[@curtriceennis2924]

TYSM for sharing this video with us. So many of the mistakes you mentioned, I have made. I was wanting to cut all my patterns on the bias (to keep it from fraying) until I saw this video. After seeing this, I realized how doing that would probably put too much "stretch" in the fabric, making it difficult to properly sew. I was also contemplating getting a woolen ironing pad. Since I'm a bit sensitive to smells/odors, I'm not too sure I want to get one, now. TY for bringing the qualities of such a pad to our attention. BTW, laughed a good bit at your "needle" and "shtraight - shtitch" humor. LOL 😻 Glad I found your channel - love it.

[@juliawei2537]

When wanting to check the purpose and size of the needle (at least with "Schmetz" needles) you can check the colored rings around the shaft of the needle. These will tell you what they are used for and which size they are. You can look it up online if you cant remember which color means what :)

[@leandra4268]

Thank you for this video! I would like to add that you shouldn't go for the cheap needles and jarns for they will definitely break so much easier. And that you don't have to backstich very much because then undoing becomes almost impossible 🙈

[@crickis]

omg my machine skips stitches on stretch stitches all the time!! thank you so much for posting this holy moly

[@coolirpa]

Hope it solves your problem!

[@coreychatman6332]

Love your outfit and your studio. At least you are honest about it. Thanks for sharing this sweetie.

[@coolirpa]

Thanks!

[@Ansa42]

As someone who wants to make all my clothes for me and my friends one day, I learned so much today

[@Bexinmo]

Tip for reading the needle, take a photo with your phone and zoom in on the picture! I'm not sure if it would affect the performance of the needle but maybe adding specific color of paint to the shank of each size needle would help identify.

[@Bexinmo]

Oh, and if you forget to backstitch, you can throw it back on the machine and stitch over your stitches to lock them in, or get out a handy regular needle and sew your tails in and knot as you would if you were hand sewing.

[@susan7775]

I learned to sew on my mother’s Singer featherweight more than six decades ago. My first projects were doll clothes. That was also when Home Ec was taught in junior high and high school. Schmetz has started putting colored bands on their needles

[@niyaburke1352]

As a beginner this was super helpful! Thank you 🫶🏽

[@Sera_Vaz]

April, please make a video on basic essential tools needed for sewing.

[@Doublev2103]

I’ve never seen anyone pulling their fabric diagonally! Maybe they do it off camera. Wild.

[@gayemarianesfox2405]

I just love these types of videos! Please keep them coming. I have basic sewing skills but need improvement.

[@tayash-jz2yq]

I made handmade bags before I started making my own clothes so I already knew the best way to sew zippers I do love stretch fabrics though, they are just fun and more forgiving if you sew to small

[@briarwoodimp]

The needle size for the fabric making a difference in stitch quality was a new one to me...well, not the problem, but that as the solution. I'll quit blaming it on my machine having a bad day. Thanks!

[@JaNickFashions]

Great tips! I still struggle with picking the right needles!

[@malinasantiago]

Mistake #8! YES I was given a sewing machine recently by my bff (they're surprisingly intimidating lol) and tried it for the first time. Forced the fabric through and broke my needle lmao. I was horrified. I wish I saw this video before I tried to use it 🤣

[@Angela-jy8um]

Great video. Thanks! I need to KZbin more of these beginner mistakes videos! It helps because you tell what we should do as well as what we should not.

[@BCToby]

Great tips! Just starting out with no experience and these tips were very helpful!

[@thecarjacful]

Preparation is so important 👍🏻

[@lukepippin4781]

I did my first sewing project today. I repaired my mom’s old sewing machine (Singer 5107) over the last couple weeks, and while I was waiting on the drive belt to arrive, I watched a bunch of videos, so I was aware of a lot of these. However there’s one in particular I still managed to miss, and that’s seam allowance. I thought I picked something simple; pair of mittens cut from a sweater I found at goodwill. I made my own pattern, doing a wide trace of my hand. My first mitten was perfectly sized, but had pretty much no seam allowance… and the machine HATED the thick fleece 😂 Especially with no allowance. I traced my pattern and then added 5/8” on all sides and they worked out beautifully 😁 My fiancé wants a pair. My number one problem so far has been forgetting to put the presser foot down 😆