Have you recently got a sewing machine but aren’t sure how to use it? You might be surprised to know that you’re not alone. many people have started buying a sewing machine for the first time recently. You might think it’s something people only do if they’ve been doing it for decades, but that simply isn’t the case. You have to start somewhere, right?
So if you’ve just got yourself your first sewing machine, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’re going to look at everything you need to know with regards to setting up, threading and using a sewing machine. Soon you’ll be able to do all the sewing you want from the comfort of your own home. Just check out this article first. So how do you use a sewing machine?
How to use a sewing machine
Before you actually start sewing, you’ll need to set your sewing machine up. This will include setting up the sewing machine so it’s ready to use, and then learning how to thread a sewing machine. After that, you can actually start sewing. So how do you set up a sewing machine? Let’s have a look:
How to set up a sewing machine
When you first purchase your new sewing machine, unbox everything and evaluate the parts. You should have instructions on how to put everything together for the first time. Your sewing machine shouldn’t need much assembly, but you might want to locate the power cord and make sure you’re sitting near a power-point, and locating the power switch. Then you can start setting up and threading your sewing machine. It’s a good idea to do the initial setup before plugging in the unit, and make sure it’s never switched on.
It’s a good idea to study your sewing machine before you first start using your sewing machine for the first time. After locating the power switch, have a look for the spool pin, which sticks out of the top of most units and holds the spool of thread in place. From the spool pin will be a thread guide which is for the thread to run to the bobbin winder. The bobbin winder itself should be near the spool pin on the right, and sits next to a horizontal wheel. This bobbin winder and stopper works to help wind the thread onto the bobbin before sewing.
There should then be some buttons and dials to adjust the stitch length and direction. The location of the adjustment dial can vary from sewing machine to sewing machine. You might have to check your manual if you can’t find it yourself. From this point, you should then locate the take-up lever which helps guide the thread as well as the tension dial which does as you’d expect. The sewing takes place with the aid of the needle clamp screw, presser foot, needle plate and screw dog.
To start setting up your sewing machine, put it somewhere sturdy and secure. A table is fine as long as it’s strong enough, you could try the floor if you can get comfortable enough, but this isn’t recommended. Sit in a position so the needle of the machine is on your left. Start by installing the needle with the single flat side of the needle pointing towards the back of where you’re sitting. The groove should be towards the direction the needle is threaded from. Tighten the needle in place with the thumbscrew.
After this, you can insert the bobbin spool on the bobbin winder, wrapping the thread from the spool, along with the guides and into the bobbin. You can then switch the bobbin winder on and it should fill automatically until it is full of thread.
Then take the spool of thread at the top and thread the machine itself. Pull the thread through the guide at the top and around the takeup lever. There might be guides or numbers printed on the machine to help you do this. Machines can vary a bit here, so it’s a good idea to take a look at the manual that came with your specific model for a bit more help.
Now you need to pull both threads out, so that you have the end of two threads, one from the bobbin and one from the needle. At this point, you can plug your machine in and turn it on. Then you can get ready to start sewing!
Start with a straight stitch as it’s more easy to learn at the start, you can also use a medium stitch length. Try practicing your first few sews with scrap material. Don’t jump straight into trying to alter your bedsheets before you know what you’re doing and are sure you can create the best results.
Line the material up under the needle then lower the presser foot into place. There should normally be a lever to do this. Make sure you hold the loose ends of the thread as you move the material along for the first few stitches. You can use the foot pedal to speed up or slow down the machine. This is something you need to get used to. Some machines have kneebars instead, or you may be able to adjust the spinning by hand. Get used to steering the machine as the material is advanced away from you. At corners, stop the machine from moving the material and turn the material at a right angle.
Have a try with the reverse button. Try some reverse stitches back into the material. You should experiment with lots of different types of stitches and processes until you’ve got the hang of everything. Try adjusting needle heights and using other dials and adjustments that can affect what sort of results you get. Hopefully, you’ll slowly start getting the hang of things so you can move on to more sophisticated and consistent results.
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