10 Sewing Mistakes Beginners Make

[@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

[@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.

[@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 :)

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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?😍

[@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 .:

[@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!

[@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.

[@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 😂

[@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!

[@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!! 🧵

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 !

[@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.

[@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! ❤️❤️❤️

[@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!

[@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.

[@jmalaysia]

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

[@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

[@KnitLoveHK]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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)

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@Annalorraine67]

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

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@smallfootprint2961]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@oliquin-roo3420]

Can you please make a video on machine feet, like which foot works best for any given project, for example walking foot, zipper foot and etc. Thanks!

[@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.

[@hopegold883]

What an awesome video! (As usual) Perfect balance of detailed and beginner-friendly but still keeping a good pace. Idk how you do it.

[@coolirpa]

Ahh thank you so much!

[@auomauom]

Show us the chickens! And the sewing space looks.awesome!

[@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!

[@ericapelz260]

To read that needle engraving take a picture with your phone then zoom in. Also, for iPhone users, triple tapping the home butting brings up the magnifier mode.

[@lucilledaub5991]

Thanks for the sewing tips.

[@gracie99999]

actually i don’t iron i just put it in dryerr when iwdonits always in the iflip

[@gtsteel]

The needle size and type are also indicated by the colored bands near the top, which are a lot easier to see than the stamped numbers.

[@JaNickFashions]

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

[@dawnmason9558]

If you spray Fabiosa fabric spray to the wool ironing mat then let it dry before using then every time you use it it releases the smell into the air plus into the fabric.

[@coolirpa]

I’m gonna try that! Thanks

[@TawdryTempest]

Just put a drop of lavender oil in a spray bottle, shake, and mist lightly. Smells wonderful.

[@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

[@kayv5840]

I’m very new to sewing. This is SO helpful! Thank you!!

[@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 🤣

[@Inversion_wrld]

Thanks a lot for making these videos. I’m just starting to learn to sew because I wanna make 🧢 caps. And all this info is helpful when I go to the store

[@katdobay]

thought I was doing a good job until I watched this. it was super helpful :)

[@gracie99999]

see the good job unlearned is harder then learning how to learn

[@DR-ee5ul]

Great tips. I would love to see a video about how to address when your fabric is not moving freely when sewing.

[@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

[@ering1107]

You mean #1- forgetting to put the foot down. The mistake you only make once.

[@tondumrongsak]

Thank you. I am very new to sewing.

[@shelleymcnichols1791]

I always forget #10-thank you for reminding me!

[@SunnyOnTheInside]

Omg ironing mat! Game changer!

[@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.

[@Haimy]

I'm glad I watched this! Thanks!

[@sherievans2617]

To read small writing, use the magnifying feature on your mobile ph camera, or take a photo and the open it, enlarge the picture to x2 or higher… & click

[@malibu405]

I would definitely be surprised to hear a chicken 🐔 crow!😉 🐓 ..... was what I was going to say, till 8 double checked myself on google. Chickens can indeed crow. You've taught me something, before I even enjoyed your video tutorial. 😁 Thank you 🧡

[@angelinadubois4842]

Thank you April! I love your shirt btw❤

[@sophielamarche7277]

I'd also add "washing your fabric before doing anything else with it (cutting pieces, etc.).

[@ricardowong1813]

Thanks❤for the tips! I didn’t realize

[@ricardowong1813]

That the needle was very important

[@LaurenLucia]

The vertical weave (on grain) is called the 'warp' :)

[@cziegle3794]

Yay top 182 comments. Love your channel. Best to all.

[@spacep0d]

Great tips for beginners like me. The stretch stitch is a big one because I may use stretch fabric for some shorts I want to make, and I wouldn't have known to do this. Love your style and your sewing room. STRETCH STITCH, lol. :D That's not easy to say! I kinda knew about needles sizes for different cloth but not different thread. I also agree that preparation (pinning and the marks you made) are a good idea, though I don't know what the marks are for exactly....are these just reference points to match up on curves?

[@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!

[@MaryDeanDotCom]

Mistake #1 is going to your local fabric store in a small or medium sized town and buying pretty QUILTING fabric to sew a garment with. It is almost impossible to buy garment fabric locally if you don’t live in a large city. Quilting fabric might do for a little girl’s sundress, but for an adult, it is going to look frumpy and be fraying at the seams after the first wash. (Oh, and #2 is not pre-washing your fabric)

[@claudiakneutgen4485]

You can totally sew garments with quilting fabric. If it frays you have not finished your seem allowance. And then every kind of fabric would fray.

[@jenipherdove763]

Very helpful video. Thank you so much

[@shengxyoojblue]

Hi April, thanks for this video!

[@coolirpa]

Aww yay! Happy and excited for you :)

[@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. ❤🧡💛

[@DougSousa]

Great video!

[@justinedraper]

Wow! This is so helpful thank you so much for sharing!

[@t_n_rasberry8387]

You can use your phone as a magnifying glass. There are two options, one as a camera mode and the other actually as a magnifying glass mode if you have an iPhone.

[@Jin04115]

First time understanding grain line.

[@yvonnemcnaughton455]

I always pin. I also press seams as I work on a project.

[@fliegendeeule4029]

Great video! Really helpful, thanks a lot :)

[@RojinAvarzaman]

It helped so much thankssss and looove❤

[@hannahsocolofsky5083]

This was SO helpful!! Thank you!

[@Thomlinsonr]

if you put a little bit of essential oil in a bath, plus warm water, GENTLY soak your wool mat. Let the water out aftern may 30 mins, and hang up to drip dry - your mat should now smell lovely - also just pegging the mat out in the sun on a sunny day will over a few days get the smell to gradualy fade away

[@chantemichelle888]

Love the intro!! 💕😁 Thank you for the video tips!

[@starlite156]

I never knew the number of the needles was engraved on it! I always just go by the different color stripes

[@coolirpa]

I just saw it recently when trying to figure out what needle it was haha!

[@ted_van_loon]

you forgot to mention one very important mistake: using a broken or really bad/unrelyable sewing device. this really caused me trouble, since when I started we had 2 sewing mashines, both quite old, but one even older. however my mom said we where only allowed to use that oldest one. when I used it however nothing would make it work properly and when it did it would fail shortly after, just suddenly stopping stiching the threads breaking, trying other needles and other tension settings didn't help, then I noticed I was actually lucky that it caught the bottom rope the first time since trying to make it do that proved near impossible, and that also was part of the cause why it probably suddenly stopped working. the cable breaking probably was due to the tensioners, since I noticed that they wouldn't keep the same tension and would just give random tension so when on the same setting it would firs almost give no tension at all then it suddenly would almost block a few seconds later by just giving insane tension. Luckily I decided to secretly try try the newer one to see if I really did it wrong or if that mashine indeed was just largely broken. and I was right luckily. when I tried that other mashine everything suddenly went perfecly and easy, so now I know that using a broken mashine also is a beginner mistake. actually my brother once tried to learn to sew with that same older broken mashine, he eventually just gave up after a few hours, so again really a beginner mistake, in his case he actually stopped with it because of it, while actually when you use a device that is not broken it is super easy/simple.

[@alaskacosplay]

I sew stretchy fabrics with a straight stitch since its quicker and a zigzag stitch would ruin the fabric and create unecessary bulk and I use a rather small stitch length and medium tension and they hold really well and even better than the zigzag stitch. Not to mention that its easier to blend the stitches with them being straight than zigzag. I wouldnt say its wrong but its just people cant do it right if they arent used to 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 :)

[@lili-oj8rx]

I laughed SO HARD when she said "I think it's because we don't want to... sew zippers" you could not be more right

[@karissamarietv]

Helpful! Thank you ❤

[@jessicasobalvarro4891]

This helped me so much thank you

[@kayingthao5072]

Great tips!

[@gardengate1339]

These are all things that everyone who sews should be doing, especially pinning. The only thing I would add that a lot of people skip is ironing your fabric and pattern before cutting. You can ruin a project by not taking the time to make sure all pieces are flat and straight.

[@Sewcialitecrew]

Thank you this was helpful

[@mariogansbeke]

Aren't all needles color coded? I'm a newbie at sewing, single male with a bit of sewing work to do. Buying trousers online to find out they are not hemmed. A pocket in a trouser with some holes due to keys, an elastic at the waist line of tracksuite pants that came loose. So I bought a very simple sewing machine, a Brother JX17FE, and now I'm watching many YT videos, experimenting and building up confidence to start. Wish me luck, haha...

[@ACV-1]

Thank you

[@randykoger4646]

Great video!

[@marykestrydom8358]

I downloaded the schmetz needle app. They explain te color codes on the needles and what needle ro use for what fabric. No môre trying to se the number on the needle just look at the color in the needle

[@coolirpa]

I had no idea they had an app!

[@marykestrydom8358]

@@coolirpa only learned about it a couple of months ago made my life so much easier

[@vietmochi]

Aah thank you so much !