Welcome back to Sewing 101! You've found, borrowed or bought a sewing machine and the other basic equipment listed in last week's post. What now?
First: set up your machine on a table at which you can sit comfortably in an upright chair. Turn on a bright light so you can see what you're doing. Second: read the manual for your sewing machine. Seriously, read the whole thing. It should provide instructions on threading the machine. The exact details vary among machines so I won't give specific directions here, but in general terms, you will be threading the upper part of machine from a spool of thread that sits on the top, and then you'll be threading the lower part from a smaller spool called a bobbin that sits inside the machine below the needle. If you don't have a bobbin already wound with thread, follow your machine's instructions for doing so.
You should be using a standard sharp or universal needle: that's the kind that will come with a new machine. They're easily found at sewing and craft shops, and at many dollar stores and drugstores. If you're having trouble threading the needle, resist the temptation to lick or wet the end of the thread. Instead, snip it at an angle (rather than straight across) with a sharp scissors and try again. Hold the thread very close to the end so its direction is easier to manipulate.
The ideal practice fabric is a smooth, woven, non-stretchy cotton or polyester-cotton blend: an old pillow case or bed sheet is ideal. (If you choose a bed sheet, perhaps first cut or tear it into a few pieces so that it is a more manageable size for handling.) Before you start to sew, set up your ironing board and iron. Yes, it's time to iron that shabby old sheet. It doesn't matter that it's only for practice: ironing fabric makes it much easier to sew.
New to ironing? Never fear. Here are a few basic guidelines. Set up your iron and ironing board where they can't tip or be tripped over by children and pets. Never leave the iron plugged in and unattended. When you're waiting for it to heat, set the iron on its end, not flat on the board. While irons vary -- yes, read this manual too! -- they generally have several settings of increasing temperature. Some use numbers, while others list fabrics (wool, cotton, linen). A good rule for any unknown fabric: start with a cooler setting and see if the iron has any effect on the fabric. Does it smooth wrinkles? If not, move up to the next setting. In time, with experience, you'll be able to recognize fabric by appearance and feel, and more accurately anticipate how it will respond to heat.
Lay out the fabric across the ironing board and concentrate on one small area at a time. Press the iron firmly to the fabric, and keep it moving at a slow to moderate pace. Watch your fingers so you don't get burned. Take your time, and don't worry about perfection. If you've never ironed before, remember that, like sewing, it's a skill that will come with practice.
Iron your practice fabric so it's smooth and reasonably free of wrinkles. Now you're ready to sew! Next week, I'll return to talk about sewing straight lines through single and double layers of fabric, and more.
