Welcome back to Sewing 101! If you're new to this series, you can visit the earlier posts here and over here.
Okay, your machine is threaded according to the diagram in your manual. The thread ends from both the top and the bottom should be be away from you, trailing off the back of the machine. Leave a good 20-30 cms (8-12") of thread to be sure it doesn't get caught in the machine when you start to sew. Grab a piece of your ironed practice fabric - remember, a woven cotton or cotton blend, such as an old sheet, is ideal - and get ready to sew.
For your first attempts at sewing, use a standard presser foot on the machine (this is the metal piece under the needle that holds the fabric down which it's being stitched) and choose a medium tension and stitch length. Tension is usually chosen via a numbered dial near the top of the machine; pick a number somewhere in the middle. Even the most basic machines offer a few choices of stitch style and size. To begin, choose a straight stitch, one that gives you a line of stitches like this: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Make sure your sewing machine is plugged in and the power switched on. You'll operate the machine by pressing on a pedal that sits under one of your feet. At first, it may feel very strange to use your foot this way, but it will become easier with practice. How firmly you step on the pedal correlates to how fast it will sew. Resist the urge to stomp on the pedal: you'll get the best results by keeping a steady, moderate speed. Initially, concentrate on keeping an even speed. I tended to start and stop abruptly at first, but in time got the hang of it.
Take your fabric and set it under the presser foot. There will be a little lever that you flip to raise and lower this foot. You must raise it, set the fabric underneath, and then lower the foot to hold the fabric in place so that the needle can move evenly through the fabric. Make sure the needle is raised up too, so that you can easily put your fabric in place. Keep your fingers out of the way of the needle! As you press the pedal, the needle will move in and out of the fabric, and the feed dogs below will help move the fabric away from you. Also use your hand just in front of the presser foot to guide the fabric. If you're having trouble controlling it, use your other hand to hold the material behind the presser foot as well.
Try to sew in a relatively straight line, and get the feel for how your machine works. To keep the line of stitches from unravelling, after you've sewn an inch or two, reverse the machine and backstitch over your first stitches, then continue forward. (Most machines reverse via a lever, but see your manual for specific directions.) Later, with finished seams, you can tie your thread ends together and trim them neatly.
When you reach the end of a line of stitches, use the wheel on the side of the machine to raise the needle out of the fabric, and then lift the presser foot. Then you can move the material away. Don't pull at the fabric while the needle is still through it, or you will tear it (and possibly break the needle).
When you've gained some confidence with sewing through one layer of fabric, get ready to try two layers. Fold your fabric over and use the iron to make a nice crease in it. Now return to the sewing machine and sew perhaps a couple of centimetres (an inch) from the folded edge. Keep the folded edge to the right, and see if you can keep it aligned with the seam guide (the metal throat plate with lines running front to back).
For another approach to practicing straight lines, you can dispense with the fabric and thread. Instead, take a piece of lined paper, and "sew" along it, trying to keep the needle holes directly on the printed lines.
Are you having fun? Remember: as with any new skill, learning to sew a straight line takes practice. Some people have a knack for it and will pick it up quickly; others, like me, will take repeated application (and possibly much confusion, torn thread and a few tears!) Be patient with yourself. If you get frustrated, stop and come back at another time. Sewing is a practical skill, certainly, but ideally it will be enjoyable too.
