When starting a new project, every needlewoman, whether professional or amateur, often has the question – how to sew faster. Of course, much depends on the level of skill, knowledge and experience. And also from the selected machine. There are many tips on how to choose a sewing machine.

Bellow, we will reveal some of the secrets of fast and easy sewing, moreover, without compromising the process and quality of the future product. You need to prepare your area just for sewing.

1. Page Contents

   • Allowance Marking
   • The Wisdom of Stitching
   • Markings of Recesses and Control Marks
   • Fastening Secrets
   • Stitch Cutting
   • Gently with the Fabric
   • While Sewing
   • Pattern Adjustment
   • Working Place
   • Clean Sewing Machine
   • Read Through the Entire Pattern Instructions before Sewing
   •     12. Make Sure your Needle is Sharp.
   • Frequently Asked Questions on sewing machines
     • Some fundamental tips to begin with
     • What are the most common FAQs on the sewing machine?
     • 1.      Why does the machine beep at times? Why isn’t it sewing? Why does the machine stop all of a sudden?
     • 2.      What type of thread is used mostly?
     • 3.      Is it possible to sew heavy fabrics and denim?
     • 4.      Why doesn’t the bobbin wind evenly?
     • 5.      What to do when the machine skips stitches?
     • 6.      Is there a reason for which the machine doesn’t pick up the bobbin thread?
     • 7.      What are your solutions when the thread looping/bunching under the fabric?
     • 8.      Why isn’t the stitch pattern fitting what’s on the machine?
     • 9.      Do all sewing machines require oiling?
     • 10.  How often should you clean and service your sewing machine?

   Allowance Marking

Instead of marking the allowances, cut out the parts of the product with the same reductions. Experienced sewists do this marking on the eye. Those who have little experience should use the ruler.

Then sweep away all the details, receding from the edge precisely by the width of the allowance. The product is ready for the first fitting.

It is better to make markings on light and transparent fabrics with soap or aquamarine marker – they can easily wash off with water.

If you sew on a proven pattern that does not require adjustment, instead of sweeping parts, cut them down with tailor pins. It will save you time on sewing.

2. The Wisdom of Stitching

To save a lot of time on connecting parts before grinding, instead of painstaking basting, connect them with tailor’s pins. The pins inserted at a certain distance from each other and, what is very important, STRIGHT PERPENDICULAR to the future seam. Only with this arrangement of nails, you can sew right on top of them with complete impunity. The needle is guaranteed to survive. By the way, the perpendicularity of the arrangement of the pins should also observe when cutting rounded parts.

3. Markings of Recesses and Control Marks

Mark the recesses in three places; at the top of the dart (the point where it converges) at the end. Therefore, the breaks where it opens. With a spotted water-soluble marker or tailor’s crayon.

When cutting out the details, mark the markings with small notches using the tailor scissors.

4. Fastening Secrets

Develop a good habit of making fasteners at the beginning and end of a straight machine stitch. At first, it seems an unnecessary waste of time. But the experience of competent tailors shows that tack is the key to the strength of the line. It is also a guarantee that the seams will not spread.

It is easy to perform pinning. All sewing machines have a reverse lever. At the same time, there is a particular category of fabrics on which such fixings are not recommended.

On thin and transparent fabrics do not do fasteners, since they are the very rough appearance of this elegant and light fabric. So what should we do? The needlewomen have invented such a tricky way. The top reel of the threads is removed. A thread pulled out of the tucked-up shuttle, which tucked in place of the extracted top coil. In this case, there is no need to do any fastener. After all, the line will perform with one thread, so it cannot spread.

5. Stitch Cutting

At a straight skirt, back seam cuts can be cut (zigzag stitching on a sewing machine or an overlock) immediately after cutting the parts. This advice is available even for beginners. Since adjustmenting volume of the skirt during fitting, a rule, are made in the recesses, and the side seams.

6. Gently with the Fabric

When working with thin fabrics, such as chiffon, you should remember that it is better to process the edges of parts overlock. And not so much because it is beautiful, but for reasons of the General appearance of the future product. The fact is that processing with a zigzag stitch on thin fabrics can cause the edge to curl and form a rough scar.

7. While Sewing

To avoid running from the machine to the iron after each stitch, grind all possible parts, process cuts and only then smooth the seams. For example, all tucks, vertical seams, sleeve seams.

Cover the lining and the duplicate material not by the paper patterns, but by the finished parts of the product.

8. Pattern Adjustment

Make all significant changes and corrections at once in a paper cutout. Only then do you transfer the details of the pattern to the fabric and start cutting boldly.

Slight adjustments made during the first fitting.

9. Working Place

A comfortable and spacious workspace makes sewing more accessible and faster when you have everything at hand. These are not all tricks that will help you sew faster and easier. However, observing them, the process of sewing will only bring pleasure.

10. Clean Sewing Machine

It is so easy to avoid this progression. However, an accomplished needleworker will disclose to you exactly how significant it is. There is nothing that illuminates sewing dissatisfaction very like skipped lines, packed up a string or broken needles. I have discovered one little thing I can do after every single undertaking that guarantees for going great in the ensuing venture is to wipe out my machine. The chance that you don’t have the foggiest idea on how to make this request that your nearby retailer show you! I guarantee it is in reality entirely straightforward once you get its hang. By getting out those free strings, and evacuating the material fluff that heaps up on your feed – you will discover cleaner sewn lines and smoother join each time you sew.

11. Read Through the Entire Pattern Instructions before Sewing

I find that once I have a general understanding of how a pattern works, I can sew much more quickly without reading the instructions sentence by sentence as I am working. Understand the model you are working with first, then start sewing.

    12. Make Sure your Needle is Sharp.

Try not to trust you have to change your sewing needle out for every task, even though retailers will reveal to you generally. In any case, I do believe you should check your needle before your first line. Necessarily rub the tip of your needle delicately over your finger, it will feel very sharp and pointy. Maybe attempt this with a dull needle versus.

Frequently Asked Questions on sewing machines

People like using sewing machines a lot, and you don’t need to be a professional seamstress for getting the best out of it. Selecting and buying a sewing machine is one thing, whereas knowing how to use it is another.

Anyone new to the world of the sewing machine is going to need to keep reading. It’s a great way to find out the answers to the most common inquiries that people have on sewing machines.

Some fundamental tips to begin with

It makes perfect sense that some aspects and guidance is only available for a specific type or model of the sewing machine. At the same time, some tips and information apply to all sewing machines too.

Just to give you an example, you should always have the pressure foot in the DOWN position before you go on with your sewing. Should you sew with the presser foot in the up position, you will make the thread tangle, whereas the bobbin will jam.

Don’t forget that dull/weak needles will ruin both the fabric and the sewing machine, so changing the needle every 16 hours or so is required. Typically, it would help if you used the same brand of needles as the brand of the sewing machine.

It’s also essential that you’re utilizing the proper bobbin for your sewing machine. Take a good look at your models, as many look very similar. Using the wrong bobbin class is going to damage the sewing machine most of the time.

What are the most common FAQs on the sewing machine?

Obviously, we’re not going to be able to cover all answers that cross one’s mind. However, some inquiries are more common than others:

1.      Why does the machine beep at times? Why isn’t it sewing? Why does the machine stop all of a sudden?

Maybe you lowered the buttonhole lever placed to the left of the needle bar by accident. You should put the finger under the lever and continue pushing up for taking it to the proper position. Besides, the needle has to be at the highest place. The bobbin winding spindle should be pushed to the left.

Should you push the reverse button several times, you’re going to reset the machine.

2.      What type of thread is used mostly?

Sewing machines for household use are made to be used with common all-purpose sewing thread. You can buy the thread from local sewing or fabric stores. All-purpose thread is 100% polyester,  but you can use cotton thread for quilting.

Heavy-duty thread or buttonhole twist is also available, but you don’t want to use it very often as it may ruin your machine’s tension. Always use the adequately sized needle for the heavy thread, and don’t forget to raise the stitch length too.

3.      Is it possible to sew heavy fabrics and denim?

There are special needles to use for sewing denim (it depends on the brand). You don’t want to use another kind of needle, as you’re going to cause tension. Setting the length between 4 and 5 is necessary for a straight stitch, as it’s going to make the thread wrap around the thickness of the fabric.

Using the all-purpose metal foot may also help you get better results. When you plan to sew heavy fabrics, you may set the length between 3 and 4, using the all-purpose metal foot once again.

4.      Why doesn’t the bobbin wind evenly?

When the bobbin isn’t winding evenly, you may not have put the thread properly around the bobbin winding tension spring. If that’s not the case, you should wrap the yarn around the tension spring once more- it’s a tip that many experienced sewers do.

5.      What to do when the machine skips stitches?

The most common cause is a dull or damaged needle, and replacing it is the easiest thing to do. Always check the needle to see if it’s the right one for the fabric you’re using. Don’t forget to insert it correctly, pushing it as far up the shaft allows. Most of the time, the flat part should be placed toward the back. If the needle isn’t placed right, it won’t be able to pull up the bobbin thread, which gives the skipped stitches.

6.      Is there a reason for which the machine doesn’t pick up the bobbin thread?

It’s a common problem, and the fix is straightforward. You need to see if the bobbin-winding spindle (it’s on the top of the machine) is pushed back to the left when sewing. When it’s not placed accordingly, the needle won’t go down for picking the bobbin thread.

The needle should also be appropriately placed, as far as possible. Check to see if the bobbin is in the proper position, whereas the upper tension disks are threaded well too.  Is the pressure foot up?

Turning the handwheel (toward you), grabbing the needle thread smoothly. You need to tug on it when the needle goes down and comes up afterward. You will notice the small loop through the needle plate. It would help if you used a sharp tip of a pencil for pulling the loop up and pulling both threads right under the foot. It has to be toward the back of your machine.

7.      What are your solutions when the thread looping/bunching under the fabric?

It will help if you start by making sure that you’re using the right brand needle and the bobbins for the machine. Nine times out of ten, not threading the upper tension correctly is what causes the thread looping under the fabric.

Before threading the needle, you should run a little test to see if the upper thread is threaded accordingly. You may pull the thread when the pressure is raised. If it’s pulling quickly, there are no issues. As you’re lowing the presser foot, the thread should put some resistance as you’re pulling it. Now you should feel some tension of the thread. When there is no increased tension, the chances are that the machine isn’t threaded correctly.

8.      Why isn’t the stitch pattern fitting what’s on the machine?

To sew correctly, the stitch pattern needs a particular stitch length. It depends on the machine model, as decorative stitches will demand the Stitch Length dial to be adjusted to a small number. It would be best if you lowered the stitch length until you get the planned effect.

The width setting may also impact the appearance of the stitch. Setting the Stitch width dial to the highest numbers will give you the best results.

9.      Do all sewing machines require oiling?

It’s widespread for users to wonder if they need to oil the machine or not. When there are no instructions on oiling in the user manual, it means that it comes pre-lubricated so you don’t have to worry about oiling it any time soon. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t put a couple of small drops of sewing machine oil in the bobbin case region and on the needle bar. It’s not going to damage them in any way. Don’t skip the handwheel- a couple of drops are needed, just where it touches the side of your machine.

Should the manual give you instructions on oiling the machine, or if you use it every single day, it’s better that you do it once a week. Oil the machine once a month when you only use the machine once a week. Using it once a month requires you to oil the machine every three months.

For best performance and longer lifespan, you should also tune up the machine by a qualified technician every 3-4 years.

When you haven’t been using the machine for several years, you should tune it up. Lack of movement or activity will dry out the lubricant, damaging the machine.

10.  How often should you clean and service your sewing machine?

It depends a lot on how often you’re using the sewing machine, but also on the type of work you’re doing with it. Cotton fabrics and the thread will cause more lint buildup on the machine. You need to service and clean the machine so that it operates smoothly and lasts longer. Don’t forget to maintain a machine when you haven’t been using it for a couple of years.