How to Hold Your Fabric to Sew Accurate Seams

[@yarnovah]

I’m 72. The tip about folding the fabric back on itself is a new trick for this old dog. Thanks! 😂

[@twinsnneedles]

Happy to help!

[@PatPure]

Thank you, I had my third sewing class tonight. I was trying to teach myself how to guide the material gently with my left hand. Now I know how I should be holding it properly.

[@twinsnneedles]

There are opinions about this, but I’ll always try to use the technique that helps reduce stress!

[@judyyoung1343]

Been quilting for years, but really appreciate the reminder to remove my death grip. Looking forward to putting these techniques into practice

[@twinsnneedles]

Glad to hear it!

[@mca4u]

Thanks for this video I learnt useful information. "Feed it don't force it, let it happen naturally, it will surely happen, as it's meant to be..." Goodluck with the channel, will check out your other vids.

[@twinsnneedles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@christybrockett4600]

Wow. I have taken online sewing courses, watched tons of videos, practiced sewing straight seams. I have never been told these methods. Thank you so much for your help and advice. Thanks for making this video. I would be interested in more technique videos please.

[@twinsnneedles]

Thank you for the compliment! I am planning more technique videos!

[@lynetterene]

Me too

[@lynetterene]

​@twinsnneedles good to hear that 😊

[@rufferstuff9148]

Great advice. When I first started sewing the seams always came out wavy. Finally realized I was stretching the fabric.

[@twinsnneedles]

It’s so easy to accidentally stretch the fabric!

[@cassieoz1702]

​@@twinsnneedlesunless it's useful when stitching knits

[@twinsnneedles]

@@cassieoz1702 Some knits do respond well to stretching as you sew, but test to see if you like what you get!

[@cassieoz1702]

@twinsnneedles apart from my quilting, almost all my sewing (garments) for 40 years has been knits, so, since before machines had fancy 'stretch' stitches. The only way to sew was really straight stitch with ease built in (because using zig zag looks awful if you need the seam to lie flat). The issue is to choose fabrics with good elastic 'memory'

[@brettster3331]

Thank you for this great video, you have helped so many.

[@twinsnneedles]

What kind words!

[@eileenlewis303]

Great tips! Thank you!👌

[@GoingApeCostume]

OMGosh, THIS VIDEO! Yup, let the machine do the work.

[@beverleybalshaw9119]

Hello! I'm so glad I came across your channel 😊. I've had my machine only 4 days and yes, I'm guilty of the 'death grip' ! Watching this so early I can get out of the habit quicker and be kind to my machine, which has forgiven me, luckily! 😊. 'Feed, not Force' is my motto ! 😊 Thank You so much 💓 And you have a new sub.👍 Even your voice has helped relax my nerves! I will press that bell for your notifications. I'm practising with some old t-shirts and making dusters before I embark on making cozy fleece pads for my 3 guinea pigs 💓 Excellent video, no fuss, clear and informative 👍

[@twinsnneedles]

Glad to hear it!

[@energyhealer39]

Great teaching! Thank you!

[@twinsnneedles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joulsw3739]

Thanks for the thumb flip technique

[@twinsnneedles]

No problem!

[@miriamgladen9615]

Very helpful, thank you. But when mustn't I use the feeddog?

[@twinsnneedles]

The only time that I know of when feed dogs aren’t used is when doing freehand work or darning.

[@miriamgladen9615]

@@twinsnneedles thank you so much for answering

[@1953childstar]

Excellent advice !!! I cringe whenever I see someone ( on other Videos ) "demonstrating" sewing techniques and they are "pulling" on the fabric being sewn...

[@HuxleyIsland555]

Very helpful--thanks.

[@verwilliams1]

Thank you!

[@twinsnneedles]

You're welcome!

[@cocasio7190]

Thank you so much for sharing ! Can you recommend what to do when the sewing machine is on top of the table? I know that you mentioned, but I don't have any ideas. Thanks

[@twinsnneedles]

Holding the fabric this way ALSO helps when a machine is on top of a table. I would argue it’s probably extra important then. For some machines, an extension table is an option, too. They can be kind of expensive, but nice to have.

[@cocasio7190]

@@twinsnneedles thank you!

[@goopygonch]

also the cons about going from the yellow to red zone is that the sewing needle can and will go through your fingers if you are not careful 😅

[@twinsnneedles]

I would say that is the main reason to avoid the red zone!

[@dorothyyoung8231]

Great info. But if you’re holding the fabric right, and the top and bottom fabrics aren’t feeding evenly, it likely means your presser foot tension needs adjustment.

[@twinsnneedles]

That can be true! I do like to teach this technique since many of my students have machines that don’t have that adjustment as an option.

[@lynetterene]

How do I know when to fix my tension?

[@dorothyyoung8231]

@@lynetterene when the top and bottom layers of fabric don’t feed evenly even though you’re hiding your fabric correctly as Catherine describes.

[@lynetterene]

I used to hold on to the fabric for dear life 😅

[@twinsnneedles]

Understandable, but a habit worth breaking!

[@lynetterene]

I love a walking foot

[@twinsnneedles]

They are great for those long seams!

[@gwenj5419]

It always bugs me to watch people sewing on TV and see them pulling the fabric through the machine!

[@twinsnneedles]

I’m not saying there’s NEVER a reason to do it, but it should not be an everyday technique!

[@jackiesnead1]

Especially when they tell you not to pull on the fabric and they’re obviously pulling on the fabric

[@LifeHappens-xu8pg]

That sewing machine sounds like a tank! It looks even, But…. You’re Ruffling the fabric!

[@twinsnneedles]

I think I probably should have changed the needle before I started - polyester-blend fabric really shows it if your needle is a little dull.

[@dcwatashi]

I must be really spoiled because that machine she’s using is so slow. I now appreciate my Juki TL 18 even more.

[@twinsnneedles]

Sometimes the spring in my knee lever acts up, that’s why it’s running a little slow. I need to oil that!

[@dcwatashi]

@@twinsnneedles for a moment I thought I was imagining things

[@dorsetboronia6744]

Yes agreed. Mine is Juki TL 2010. Love. Love. Love it. Had it 4 years and use it every day.

[@Agatha1031]

Fast stitching can mean fast mistakes. My 301 is faster than that model Juki. Sure, it's nice when I'm doing long boring seams, but speed for a demonstration isn't necessary.

[@dcwatashi]

@@Agatha1031 yes that’s true, but this was so painfully slow, and she explained the reason. I think I will make some more pillowcases so I can go full throttle on those long, boring seams. 🤣🤣😂