How to Use a Sewing Machine

Home
Hobbies & Crafts
Needlework
How to Use a Sewing Machine

To properly view this site, javascript must be enabled and Flash version 9 or higher must be installed.
Get the latest Flash player

All videos in this series
Videos by this expert
All Needlework videos

Expert
Video details
Transcript
Comments
Learn more

Beth Bates

Creative Director of The Sew Teacher, The Sew Teacher

Sewteacher.com

rbbates4@aol.com

Sewteacher.com is a grassroots business created by and designed for working professionals, stay at home moms, amateur decorators, and anyone who is interested in creating original decorative and functional products for their home.

The Sewteacher philosophy is based on the idea that quality home decorative goods and professional sewing products aren't only for those who can afford to hire high-priced decorators and seamstresses. The DIY or do-it-yourself movement is growing as quality goods become more expensive to buy, and more consumers across the nation are seeking ways to make their own products in a more cost effective manner. The added benefit of the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that comes from designing and making your own home goods only adds to this growing phenomena. We here at Sewteacher firmly believe in the do-it-yourself attitude, and our goal is to help you design and produce your own home decorative products such as pillows, window treatments, bedding, using the same methods and tools the professionals use, at a fraction of the cost!

Sewteacher instructional videos feature our Creative Director, Beth Bates, a professional seamstress with many years experience making window treatments, bedding and pillows. Beth will walk you through the steps in a calm, relaxed manner, using easy to understand instructions and examples, all the while giving you special insider seamstress tips and suggestions. Beth will show you how the professionals do it, so you don't have to hire them to do it for you!

How to Use a Sewing Machine

Seamstress Beth Bates demonstrates how to use a sewing machine.

This expert: 1,040,216 views
This series: 617,913 views

Tags:

/tags/337

/tags/4074

/tags/4075

Sewing

Sew

Fabric

Sewing machine

Thread

/tags/5996

/tags/5519

Transcripts

Beth Bates: Hi, I am Beth Bates with the company SewTeacher at sewteacher.com. Today, we are going to be learning how to use your sewing machine. The first thing we will learn to do is how to wind your bobbin, then how to thread your sewing machine. We will change out the feet on your sewing machine and do some basic stitching. After that, the last clip will be some troubleshooting if your machine is giving you some problems.

The tools you will need of course, is a sewing machine, a screwdriver, a pair of scissors or snips, the different feet that come with your sewing machine, a bobbin and some thread. You will also find it helpful to have a piece of scrap cloth that you can practice your stitching on.

Before we begin, I like to go over some basic safely issues. Please be very careful when using such sharp objects such as scissors and pins and needles. Also, small children should always be supervised around a sewing machine.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am a former Elementary School teacher as well as a professional seamstress. I have combined these two talents and have created instructional DVDs teaching people like yourself how to sew quality, professional items for your home. What separates my DVDs from the others is that there is no confusing verbiage, no patterns, just simple, easy to follow, manageable steps. Let's go ahead and get started using a sewing machine.

Sewing Curtains by touchofclass at 05/28/11 05:30PM Flag

Can you advice me on how to sew lace curtains with my sewing machine. Do I need a different needle than the one you would use in everyday sewing, and what tension would you recommend for the stitch and bobbin, thanks

question by graciemorella at 12/20/10 06:22PM Flag

I have almost the exact same machine, and have found all your tips super helpful! I was wondering if you could tell me what the number dial means? I'm sewing fleece and wasn't sure if I want the dial on 0 or 9 or anywhere in between. Does it matter?

Good website! by amyliz77 at 12/14/10 02:53AM Flag

Thank you Beth for the great and I mean great instructional video on sewing machines! I played with my mother's growing up, it was a great car. I saw her get aggravated with it from time to time and didn't know why. Then I had to get one to help a friend out and sew some clothes for her sick son. I had a little clue what I was doing till I had to thread the bobbin. I about had the new machine apart because I couldn't figure it out with Singers little instruction guide. Well you saved my sanity w

Thank you so much! by Ostrich at 11/23/10 07:03PM Flag

I have never used a sewing machine in my life. I've played with them, pretending it's a car when I was a kid, that was it. When my grandmother brought me her machine, broken, asking if I could attempt to fix it, I said yes. It was jammed. Determined that the alignment got knocked off for the mechanism that spins the Bobbin (At the time, I had no idea what that was) As a repairman, I will always test everything I fix. So I followed the instructions on my machine... Loop the thread, okay, okay.

gdd webiisitee by MonkeyGirl101 at 03/16/10 04:07PM Flag

Heyy!! This is a really gdd website on how 2 thread the sewing machine.. its got good pictures and videos but what you could improve on is that if the videos actually play Okaaii Thankss!!!! Byyee From MonkeyGirl101 xxxxx

(Add Comment)