How to sew in a straight line for beginners - without buying any new gadgets!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 เม.ย. 2024
- There are just three simple things you can do to start getting professionally straight seams:
Look ahead, don't oversteer and slow down.
Watch to learn exactly what this means and why it works.
You can learn more about how I can help you learn to sew and quilt here -
social.prettysimplesara.com/
or on my website at PrettySimpleSara.com - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
All great advice! When my mom taught me to sew actual finished pieces, she first gave me a piece of paper with a bunch of lines on it, and I sewed those without thread to follow the line. When I got that, she gave me paper with corners to navigate, and eventually curves. I was young and thought it was pretty cool to use one of her machines for that, and it gave me a lot of practice.
That’s exactly the method I teach in my beginner class🙂. It helps so much. Your mom was a great teacher ❤️
I also suggest practicing without paper (presser foot up) for a bit just to get used to the pedal-learning how to sew slowly!
Smart mom!
Those are the exercises we had to do at school, a million years ago 😅
That’s how I taught as well.😊
@@thecarjacfulSame here 60 years ago.😂
Omg I love this video. Thank you!! Lots of good analogies. So helpful. Love the line…. no one is going to honk at you for sewing too slow 🤣
Glad it was helpful!
Now Sara that is the sort of advice that every sewer should have been given but weren't!!! Thank you. And thanks for the chuckle at nobody will honk at you if you sew slowly. Love that.
Yes! But so many people now are learning to sew without an experienced sewer sitting beside them.
I’ve been sewing for sixty years and yet, found this “back to basics” tutorial very helpful! Thank you so much.❤
You are so welcome!
As a kid, i spent a summer working at a factory that made low end sleepwear. I was always amazed at how fast the sewists could go - like their machines were jet fueled. It always made me feel inadequate that I could never sew like that.
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Then I saw a video here on TH-cam about all the many steps and people it took to create a gorgeous bespoke Dior coatdress. And watching the sewists in that atelier sew SO SLOWLY, much slower than I did, was eye-opening and inspiring.
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* Slow and careful wins for a one-of-a-kind designer coatdress of the highest quality.
* As-fast-as-humanly-possible spurs sewists on when they do piece-work, have kids to feed, and high quality and possible injury don't matter..
Best, most concise, useful advice available online
🥰
❤❤❤❤ thank you. I am a Jane come lately to sewing I am 71 I always quit sewing because I couldn’t sew straight! Thank you.
You should definitely try again!❤️🙂
Excellent video! The analogy with a new driver is spot on.
Glad you enjoyed it
I really like the driving the car analogy!
My mom taught me to guide the fabric from the edge of the sewing machine table for long seams ... tiny adjustments keep it going straight. And she was making choir robes so I had miles of seams to do.
That certainly must have been miles of seams!!!!
@@prettysimplesara You learn to sew FAST and straight.
She was making and you were making!
@@slantdwave She was being paid to make the robes. I was making less as a subcontractor and child labor.
I just 'found' you today and don't know how I missed you before! I've been sewing for over 57 years and your tips make so much (common) sense in the sewing world. I have subscribed and know that I will be watching everything I can find with you. Thanks for posting such a wonderful video.
Thank you and welcome!
Dito for me. 👍
I’ve been a tailor for years and yes, we don’t sew super fast and we also use the tape trick. We use painters tape. Great tutorial ❤❤
Thank you :)
Thank you for these clear explanations and valuable tips! I've been sewing since I was twelve (am 76 now) and your car driving analogy is the best instruction ever. Thank you, Sara.
Thanks so much!!💗before my mama passed she had wrecked her car (ran under her a semi truck) and she tried to drive but was terrified to do so. I encouraged her to try she then had a hard time… when I asked her why she was having trouble keeping the car in the middle of the road she said “ it was harder on my car” then she explained that she was taught to center the car emblem on the hood (in the middle) was supposed to lined up with “right” side of the road!! Can’t believe I never thought of this!! Thankssssssss oh I’m only 72 learned to sew by myself over the phone with a friend lolol
Awesome way to learn to sew!!
My mom told me the same thing about lining up the hood ornament with the side of the road. Where have they all gone?
I'm 65 and that's how I've learned to sew the last yr. Phone calls and alot of you tube
Fantastic! I’ve been sewing for decades, didn’t know about eyes on the hood of the car. Thx!
This was the most helpful video I've ever seen on sewing a straight stitch. Thank you so much.
@AngeliqueStevens - Here is an off-topic, but similar, technique for drawing a straight line. - - - -
* Put a light dot on your paper where you want the line to end.
* Put the pencil at the point where the line starts.
* Then draw, looking ONLY at that far dot, NOT your hand or pencil.
* This will help you improve the very first time you try.
.^_^.
Best advice I’ve heard so far. As a novice sewer, I’m gonna try it later today.
Have fun!
Well made video and great sensible tips! Thanks. We all need reminders even if we have been sewing for 50 years.
Yes, I am sometime reminding myself as well LOL!
I agree. I needed this refresher.
I ❤ your commentary. So true, nobody is going to honk at me for sewing slowly 😅 thanks for sharing these amazing, yet simple tips!
You are so welcome!
Superb video, thank you! This should be mandatory viewing for all new sewers. And some not so new ones, too… 😉
Thank you for the great and patient information. I have done some garment sewing on and off for years and commonly struggle with going straight, your insights will make a big difference.
I’m so glad to hear that 🙂
This video is a God send!!! Thank you for explaining this SO well. Using driving as the analogy for sewing was brilliant. I thank you and my future straight seams thank you, lol. 😊
Wow, impressive! You deliver the information without nonsense, clearly and in basic language and terms novices can easily understand. I have been sewing for years (my wife gave me a sewing machine for Father's day on our anniversary 50 plus years ago) and I still found your wonderful refresher very useful.
Thank you!
the washi tape extender is a great tip!
Wawwww, first time I see your channel, perfect video from beginning to the end , no BS, straight talk, I really appreciate it, thank you for sharing, and new subbie
Thanks!
I'm a new driver (I have trouble driving straight in particular) as well as a new sewist so this video is like a 2 in 1 deal! Fantastic explanation.
So glad to help! Driving will come-be patient!
you have a gift for teaching Bravo. and thank you
🥰 thank you so much 🥰. I hate to see people struggle with technical things when creating.
Thank you, this was amazing and you're an excellent teacher! I appreciate it
You're very welcome!
Im a sewer of many years and this video was so helpful as i have had a long break from sewing so just getting back to it. I think i did this naturally when i was younger but didnt understand why it worked and why when using seam guides my stitching got worse,so thank you. Have subscribed and Looking forward to checking out your other videos now ❤
So glad you are back to sewing🙂
I’m so glad this showed up in my recommended. I’ve only been sewing for two months or so and bought a seam guide to help but even using it my lines aren’t straight.
I look forward to trying these tips out tomorrow!
Thank you so much! Clear explanation, fun analogy and encouraging ❤
Glad it was helpful!
Soooo helpful!! I have a bad habit of doing all of these things, especially oversteering 😂
Happy to help!
Many machines can be set to default to needle down when stopped. Most helpful!
Great tip! My favorite tip of all is to ‘read your manual’ to find out all those fun things! So many things some machines can do, right?
I just found your channel today & subscribed 😀
I’m 62 trying to learn how to sew. My mother didn’t have the patience to teach me, my hope is to learn enough to share it with those I love . Your channel is truly a blessing.
You can do it!
Brilliant, simple instruction. Thank you, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Super!! While I have advanced skills in several crafts, sewing has always seemed impossible to me because I can't sew a straight seam to save my soul. You've given me hope!
I'm so glad I ran into this! All of this makes sense & I've been quilting for a long time now! Thank you! Such great advice!!
Yay quilters!
I'm guilty of not sewing straight seams, but now I know why and can correct it. Thank you!
Yay!!!😁
great comments-VERY practical. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your approach!❤
Thanks so much!
I just came across your video. Great advice! I have been trying to figre out how to keep my seams straight for years, I think this is going to help immensely! Thank you!!! (I am now subscribed to your channel)
Thank you and welcome!🙂
Wow- thank you! This made "sew" much sense! I wish I had known this before I made a 2.2 m wide roman blind with lots of long straight seams for rod pockets etc. Love from England.x
Oh god thank you so much for this video. Not only is it crucial & much-appreciated information, but the way you presented it is so refreshingly wonderful, simple, straight-forward, & easy to understand. Like your delivery itself has given me extra confidence. I just really appreciate it.
You're very welcome!
I've found that the biggest obstacle to sewing straight is the universal foot mechanism so many modern machines use. If it's a cheap machine the mechanism is off balance and therefore puts more pressure on the fabric on one side compared to the other, resulting in it pulling crooked no matter what you do. If you use screw on feet instead, it will pull straight every time without changing how you sew.
Thank you for this! I have a separate walking foot for my Bernina that is a genuine Bernina and I haven’t had this issue. I’m going to test my other machines walking foot (it’s just a demo machine so I hardly ever really sew on it). I will also tuck this tidbit away for the future!
This is such a great video. As a new sewist, it's just the best advice. Thank you for sharing it. Hi from Kingston, Jamaica 😊
Thanks! Someday I will get to visit beautiful Jamaica 🙂
Possibly the most useful newbie advice I have found! My future quilts and I thank you! ❤
I’m so glad it will help you create! ❤️❤️. And thank you for my very first TH-cam $ 🥰🥰
@@prettysimplesara My pleasure! You deserve more!!
This is a good video
While I can sew a straight line some months back. I was reading a sewing book that told you how to hold the material properly.
I’ve never seen that in a book before
I realise sometimes I hold material the way they said and sometimes I didn’t
Now having practising and being consistent I can truely say what a difference
So glad you are having success!
This was excellent. I haven’t used a machine in decades and inherited my grandmother’s machine. I needed a refresher. Your cues are perfect. Thank you. I’m so glad your video came up on my feed.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for these great tips! They were very informative and helpful
This sounds like great advice. I’ve been using a sewing machine occasionally for many years and always struggle to keep a straight line. I’m sure that watching your video is going to greatly help me. The driving reference made so much sense. Thank you.
👍🙂
Fabulous advice. Thank you
Thank you so much for this video. You’re a great teacher with sound advice that is both concise and memorable. You have built my confidence another step up in just 7 minutes and 12 seconds. Yep. You’re good! 🥰
Aw, Thanks! Building confidence in sewers is exactly my goal I. Making these videos 🥰🥰
New sub, I've just taken up sewing at 60, Greetings from Ireland😂😂🥰x
Welcome! I’m looking forward to seeing your beautiful country someday!
@@prettysimplesara 🥰☘☘xx
Great advice and explained to easily understand ... Thank You ! ...
Glad it was helpful!
The very best advice is to slow down. I find I need to slow down. No need to rush. I enjoy sewing so slow is good for me
It keeps me from getting uptight about 'finishing' :)
Another thing to watch is that the edges of your fabric are nice and straight (or the required curve for a sleeve etc) each piece and both together. If I’ve cut out a bit raggedy a quick haircut when the pieces are basted/pinned together can pay dividends.
Good point!
Great advice, thank you from a newbie!
Thanks! Make sure you keep it fun🙂
Wonderful explanations! Great teacher!
Thank you so much!
I drew lines with a sharpie on my machine instead of using tape. I had forgotten I'd done that until I saw this video and went and looked at my machine.
Is it permanent? If so, I’m guessing you don’t mind. 🙂. I’m a wuss 😂
You are awesome! I have quite managed to get my stitches straight but still at times veer out of course. Now i know where to adjust :)
My experience in teaching young/new sewers is this. The reason they wobble in their seams is bc they hold the fabric in front of the needle. This creates a pivot point, which makes it very easy to turn the fabric. In fact, you inadvertently demonstrated this in your video. Keeping your guide hand on the left side of the needle, as opposed to in front will solve many wobbly seam issues.
That’s an interesting point! I focus more on them never holding it too tight, and yes,holding to the side leads to looser grip. I can definitely see how having your hand in the middle can lead to more dramatic movements. Thank you 🙂
Thank you for this video. Thank you for reminding us to enjoy sewing and to slow down.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent advice, thank you.
My pleasure!
Thanks for the great ideas. I know I will try them.😊
Let me know if there’s anything else you struggle with ❤️
Thank you so much for your video. l use to sew in a factory and we had to sew so many in the day. l just have to learn to slow down sewing.😊
I can definitely understand that! I bet you’re a pro!
This video is amazing! I’d love to see you talk about other presser feet and if they actually help, my recommendations are the edge joiner foot, topstitch/bi-level foot and edge binder foot (I’m considering buying them!)
What brand machine do you have? It seems feet are called different things based on brand and I want to understand which ones you’re thinking of. Also, what are you sewing-why thinking of the special feet? Lots of the edge stitch feet help with the fact that when you’re on the edge the fabric may not be over both feed dogs. They also help with sewing right on the edge, especially combined with needle position changes. Edge stitching is an application that a foot with a guide does help, though again only if you can sew pretty straight to begin with.
@@prettysimplesara I didn’t know it changed based on brand too! I have a singer but I was referring to what other people call them, for the edge joiner I saw a sewer use it to sew together foam cups as the little metal (fin?) in the middle help them not overlap and just seemed to make it easier! For the bi-level/ topstitch, I’m referring to the foot that is higher on one side than the other, for topstitching bra cups it seems to run right along the seam line and make it easier and neater, finally the edge binder, just the standard foot for attaching bias binding which again made it seem easier to apply!
@@carlruss7003 Looked them all up. First - I really mostly quilt now. Back in my days of garment making - long long ago - I didn't have the luxury of different presser feet, so I learned to do without. So I'm not sure how much help I'm going to be...
But I appreciate a well designed accessory!
When I got my current machine back in the late 1980's, it came with an edge joiner foot. I LOVE that foot! However, I don't use it for joining, I use it to stitch along the edge of fabric (like a collar edge) because it serves like a tiny little seam guide (because getting 'right on the edge' IS hard, even if you can sew straight). I don't use it for stitch-in-the-ditch on my quilts because I prefer a walking foot. However, I just went into the studio and joined two pieces of fabric together and it worked absolutely beautifully. So if you have an application (I'm thinking because you mention bra cups you might be insetting lace) I think it would be great!
I had never seen a bilevel foot. I want one now! And then I'll end up looking at all the Bernina feet and wanting everything even though I only make quilts 99% of the time. I think it would be way better for edge stitching than the edge joiner foot I'm using.
I've not used a bias binding foot either. They always look like they are working so well that I get intrigued, but since I hand bind my quilts I've never bit the bullet. I bet they are especially useful if you use packaged bias binding because it's all folded nice already? Again, you probably have a good use for it with your sewing if you're looking at it.
I hope that helps.
@@prettysimplesara I have a bias binding foot that I purchased to attach packaged bias binding onto a cross stitch quilt I stitched. It's all ready to go but I am procrastinating because I have a lot of trouble stitching a straight line and I also have trouble with stitching slowly. I can't seem to master the pedal. I start off with a jolt and then try to make it slow but I end up stitching slow/fast/slow/fast/quit. I'm really afraid to touch it now. I don't want it to look bad when I'm finished. I really appreciate the advice given in your video. Very easy to understand the principles using the analogies given with driving a car. They make perfect sense now. Thank you for making this video. I'm going to go look at your other videos now. I subscribed to your channel so I won't miss any more tips you have!
@@prettysimplesara this helped tremendously thank you so much for your reply!!!
Thank you for this video, because I have been having a lot of problems with the 1/4" seams. I have resewn Many seams to get them straight.
Great analogy. I needed that!
Amazing tips! I don't even own a sewing machine, but I feel much better prepared should I ever decide to get one 😂 Also the Feed Dogs would be a great name for a band
You should! And yes, about the band name 🙂
Sara, you made a great point about the sewing we see in tutorials; the actual operation speed of the machine in the demonstration is not the point of the video. The demonstrator is focused on what they are demonstrating, putting in a zipper, a collar, or a French seam. They go fast for the sake of the video, because editing is time consuming. They may not want or need the finished product, or they may take out the resulting sloppy stitches. To many beginners in any craft learn bad habits when their instructors are in a hurry. If you want lovely results, it’s worth the time. TFS!
We also lose people nowadays if we don’t speed some things up!
Great tips and presentation!
Thanks so much!
Excellent advice! Thank you ❤🎉😊
Great advice for this novice, thanks!
Thank you so much! Very informative, and useful.
Yes. It's ok to take your time. Good advice. 👍🏻
Yes! Thank you!
WOW! So glad I found your channel! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
You are so welcome!
This makes perfect sense, thank you
you are the best... i am subscribing right away
Thank you. 😊
This tutorial was so helpful and explained I subscribed to your channel. Thank you; I have been so so frustrated with straight lines. TY
Thank you!!
Sara, this is so practical! Well done! I use the same “hood of the car” analogy teaching longarm quilting😂 it’s such a perfect parallel.
Thank you!
I had a long arm over 20 years ago and did quilting for customers until we moved and I needed to sell it (space & time). I just ordered one to quilt for myself last week - can't wait for it to come! This new one will have computerization and a much better stitch regulation system (20 years of technology changes). I just signed up for your mailing list so I can refresh my skills at freehand so I don't become dependent on the computer :)
I'm going to be bingewatching your videos :)
Great sensible advice!!!!
Thank you! I have such a hard time sewing straight lines.
I’m glad to help!!
New subscriber here and just want to say thank you Sara for this great tutorial on sewing straight lines which I so desperately needed lol. Can't wait to check out your other videos!
Thank you😊
This is great - thanks! ❤️
Great tips. I find looking at the distance between the presser foot and fabric edge or a parallel line helps a great deal. I try very hard not to look at the needle!
Yes. Definitely if you are more experienced you can do that, you've probably already mastered the light touch :)
What a brilliant idea. Will be using this myself.😊
Have fun!
This was great advice! Thank you!
You are so welcome!
Thank you for the great advice!
You are so welcome!
Thank you. I am guilty of all 3 from time to time.
Thank you thank you THANK YOU❤
You are so so welcome!🙂
Great tutorial. Thank you! Greetings from Melbourne, Australia.
Thanks for watching!
That’s brilliant!! Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Great tutorial thank you.
Excellent advice!
Excellent, informative and concise instructions. This is possibly the best sewing video I have encountered. Thank you. I’ve subscribed. Looking forward to more beginner sewing videos. Regards, M
🥰
Its like TH-cam read my mind. And then this video appeared. Amazing!
Can you do one on how to use the seam allowance guides? I know it seems simple, but i never know where the needle is going to move or be placed once it comes down, and feel sometimes im far off what i aim for
I will add that to the list! Thank you for the idea🥰. In the meantime if you measure out your seam allowance at the edge of a piece of paper (draw a line like a seam), then you can put the paper under the foot and use the hand wheel to bring the needle down, moving the paper until the needle hits the line. The edge of the paper will be where the seam guide/line should be. Hope that makes sense?
Great advice. Thanks.
I’ve been sewing for years and been frustrated that I can’t consistently achieve a straight line. I’ve been looking at the hood instead of the road🙄. Thanks so much!
Great video!! Thanks!
That's how I sew, like a drunken sailor Thanks for the tips I will try and incorporate them!
Have fun!
Great recommendations! Thanks.
Thanks for watching!