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10 Essential Sewing Tips & Techniques to Know
There are so many little sewing tips and tricks expert sewists have mastered, but no matter how good a sewist you are, there are some sewing skills you just have to know.
At Spotlight, we love helping sewists of all experiences find all the sewing supplies and tutorials they need, which is why we're highlighting ten essential sewing tips we think you should know about in this blog. Check out the video below, then read more about each tip as well as a few additional sewing skills, and you'll find yourself becoming a better sewist in no time.
Quick Links
- Know Your Skill Level
- Familiarise Yourself With Your Sewing Tools
- Organise Your Space
- How To Change The Needle In A Sewing Machine
- Sewing Straight For a Neat and Even Finish
- Learn How To Sew A Zip For Your Garments or Furnishing Projects
- How To Sew A Button and Buttonhole
- Create a Textural Charm By Gathering Fabric
- Pressing Seams In Place
- How to Follow Patterns and Projects
1. Know Your Skill Level
Before beginning any sewing project, it's important that you are aware of your own sewing capabilities. Check out the table below for an outline of the three skill levels we commonly use to categorise our sewing projects here at Spotlight.
Skill Level | Skill Overview | Suitable Projects |
Beginner | New to sewing Returning to sewing after a break Working with your first sewing machine Learning to read simple patterns Starting to learn how to work with stable woven fabrics | Easy tote bags Pillowcases Drawstring bags Elastic waist skirts Simple scrunchies Basic aprons |
Intermediate | Comfortable with sewing techniques and following commercial patterns Able to work with different fabrics Can troubleshoot mistakes and use various finishing techniques Can sew stretchy fabrics like Jersey or thicker fabrics like Fleece | Dresses with zippers Button-up shirts Lined skirts Quilts Handbags Simple home decor items like curtains or cushion covers with zippers |
Advanced | Highly skilled in garment construction and tailoring Strong knowledge of fabric types, pattern drafting, and precision techniques Can customise or create your own patterns Can sew with sequins, fur, lace, dance knits & pleather | Tailored jackets Formal dresses Jeans Corsets Tailored suits Complex quilts Costumes with intricate details |
2. Familiarise Yourself With Your Sewing Tools
Sewing is quite a technical hobby, with each project requiring a different set of supplies. Save time throughout your next sewing project by brushing up on all the different types of sewing supplies you may need and what each tool is used for. This helps you save time in hunting for a specific tool and prevents damage to your materials that may occur when using the wrong tool. Using the right tools also ensures better quality results, aiding you in perfecting your sewing creation.
Some of the common sewing tools you may need include:
- Fabric Markers: Used to mark where you'll be cutting or sewing your fabric.
- Thimbles: Protect your fingers from pricking needles,
- Measuring Tapes and Rulers: Helps you record accurate measurements to ensure perfectly sized creations.
- Fabric Glues and Adhesives: Specifically formulated glues designed for use on fabrics. These offer a quick alternative to sewing items in place.
- Dressmaking Scissors: Specifically designed to cut fabrics and threads.
- Needlework and Snips: Used to cut loose threads or remove hems, sleeves and necklines. They allow for quick, detailed cuts that make cutting difficult-to-snip threads easy.
3. Organise Your Space
A simple yet effective tip, organising your space will help keep your sewing area and your mind feeling clear. Making sure all your supplies are stored in an organised manner helps save you time with everything you need easily accessible, so you don't have to go searching for your sewing supplies. It creates an organised workflow and aids in boosting your creativity. Explore our selection of sewing storage for baskets, bags and trays that help to keep your space neat and tidy.
4. How To Change The Needle In A Sewing Machine
It's important that you change your sewing needle when needed to keep your sewing project on track, as well as for your safety. If you notice your needle is getting blunt or has bent, you should change it - otherwise, we recommend changing the needle after 8-10 hours of straight sewing.
Start by holding your new needle in your hand - the flat space on your new needle should be facing the back of your sewing machine when inserted. Loosen the needle set screw and pull the old needle out of the needle bar, then insert the new needle until it hits the stop at the top. Tighten the screw to finish!
One of the easiest ways to create professional-looking sewing projects is to ensure you know how to sew straight - and the key to sewing straight is to use a seam guide! These handy tools sit next to your fabric as you sew - as long as the edge of your fabric is running straight next to the guide, then your stitches will be straight. We love using a magnetic seam guide that sticks directly onto the stitch plate, and you can easily reposition it as needed.
If you don't have a seam guide, you can use Washi tape for a similar effect. Stick the tape vertically across your stitch plate according to your seam allowance, and then run the edge of your fabric along the tape as your guide. Washi tape can be removed without leaving a gummy residue, too!
Sewing zips can seem intimidating, but the process isn't as scary as you might think! Take the two pieces of fabric you will be joining and place them on top of each other, aligning the edges that will hold the zip. Pin them together and then sew a basting stitch down the length, then open the fabric pieces and then open the seam and press flat with your fingers.
Lay the zipper down your open seam with the zip facing away from you and pin it into position. Sew around the perimeter of the zipper in one consistent stitch - pivot the material as you work to achieve this. Then use an unpicker or a seam ripper to remove the original baste stitch you created at the start!
You can't just rip a hole in your fabric to use as a buttonhole - making a strong and durable buttonhole will ensure your clothing or accessory stays closed when it needs to! Start by attaching a buttonhole foot to your machine, then adjust your machine so you can create a satin stitch. Satin stitch down the length of the buttonhole, set the stitch width to double the previous width and then sew the bottom of the buttonhole. Reset the length back to the first stitch and stitch up parallel to the first stitch, then double the length again to stitch the top of the buttonhole.
Finish by opening the area between your satin stitches (the middle of the buttonhole) using dressmaking scissors or an unpicker. Be careful not to damage the top or bottom of your new buttonhole when doing this!
Gathered fabric is great for use as a pretty accent to so many pieces of clothing, and gathering fabric is an easy skill to master. Begin by sewing a straight stitch all the way along the fabric you want to gather. Use a wider stitch length, as this will make the 'gathering' process at the end much easier, and leave a long tail at the end. Then sew another straight stitch parallel to the first, again leaving a long tail.
Grab and pull at the front threads you left long, keeping a hand on the fabric as you do so. Continue to pull the thread and work the fabric with your hand as it starts to gather. Pulling the fabric in the opposite direction of your pulling will help the process.
9. Pressing Seams in Place
When sewing clothing garments, you should take care in pressing seams. This refers to flattening your seam by applying heat, steam and pressure, often with an iron, making the seam look flatter, smoother and less visible. Pressing a seam also helps it to maintain a specific shape, perfect for pleats, tucks and bindings.
To press a piece of fabric, you'll need an iron, pressing mat or ironing board and water as needed. Instead of moving your iron back and forth as you would when regularly ironing your clothes, you will instead simply press your iron onto your fabric to flatten the stitches.
10. How to Follow Patterns and Projects
Often when sewing, you'll be following along a sewing pattern or a sewing project with a helpful step-by-step guide. It's important that you know how to read these instructions carefully to achieve your desired results. When first starting out, it's best to follow beginner sewing patterns and projects. These are easy to recreate projects that won't involve too many technical skills. A good tip is to look for patterns with a smaller number of pattern pieces, as this means the garment is generally easier to sew. Make sure to follow the provided instructions, remembering to choose the right fabric for your project, as this can significantly impact how your creation holds up.
Master The Basics Of Sewing With Spotlight
Ready to start a new hobby or pick up an old favourite activity? These sewing skills will have you ready to conquer your next sewing project. At Spotlight, you can find everything you need for your sewing endeavours, from sewing fabrics and sewing supplies to inspiring sewing patterns, and even free sewing projects for more sewing ideas. Explore our full sewing range online or at a Spotlight store near you and bring your sewing visions to life.
