[Kaderin Triste]

Moon: I'm too lazy to back-track...but I assume based on context clues that it's sewing?

[Moonshadow]

I guess hand sewing I could do, but a sewing machine? well I'm intimidated by the bobbin thingy. I guess I just need to put my mind to it.

[Moonshadow]

@Kad yes its using a sewing machine. Just for simple stuff, but just to know how to use it.

[Lee]

The trick is, as always, your tension. It's when it's too loose that it gets snared up in the foot.

[Moonshadow]

@ Lee, yeah it seems simple, but it really isn't too much especially if you want it to look good.

[Lee]

You can always add a bobble clamp.

[Potironette]

What about when it gets snared up in the part where the bottom string is spinning out of? That's what always happens to me when I use the sewing machine--so I stopped :x

[Kaderin Triste]

Surprisingly, I haven't really had much trouble with using a sewing marchine. I just have never had the time (or the machine) to learn to sew very well.

[Moonshadow]

I already feel discouraged on learning, I know its not easy because I'm sure I have tried before. I will give it a whirl eventually.

[Lee]

Get a better bobbin. A good bobbin has a nice beveled edge to guide the thread better without snagging it.

[Moonshadow]

Once I get started Lee, I will pick your brain! You seem to know what you are doing.

[Kaderin Triste]

Don't let it discourage you! You just have to practice to figure things out!

[Death by Mirrors]

Originally Posted by Lee

O vO You have shown me a new toy.

Always happy to get others addicted

Originally Posted by Moonshadow

What? what? I can't figure out what that thing is Death.

It's a pen holder I made out of plywood, to illustrate the concept of living hinges, also known as how you can bend wood easily by cutting straight lines (or a pattern) into it. Then the whole thing becomes somewhat flexible and a little elastic. The photo doesn't show the pen holder's rounded corners as well as I hoped, so I added a video to explain it properly.

If you can hem and sew straight lines, you're already off to a good start. Curved lines take some practice, but I've found there's a way to cheat if you sew slowly. Start straight, then make sure the needle is down in the fabric. Lift the presser foot, turn your fabric a certain angle (since it's still stuck in the machine, you can rotate it around the needle after all) and then put the foot down again. Sew some more, then repeat the whole lifting and turning.

Some other tips I didn't knew when I started:

There's a particular presser foot for sewing zips. If your machine already came with such a zipper foot as a spare part, it makes that dreaded task easier.

If you pin needles not along the line you plan to sew but at a 90° angle to the line, you can leave them in while sewing. The machine will sew over them without any problem and you can pull them out afterwards instead of always having to stop every few inches to remove pins.

Some fabrics are just a pain in the butt to work with. As are low quality supplies. You don't need to invest lots of money when you don't even know if sewing is for you, but as Lee says, a quality bobbin definitely pays off. Avoid stuff like satin, chiffon or silk velvet if you're just starting out, or you end up discouraged too soon. Cotton or velveteen makes for better beginner fabric.

By the way, don't be afraid of mistakes. They happen to everyone. Even people who compete in The Great British Sewing Bee and similar shows have to unstitch every now and then.

Originally Posted by Potironette

What about when it gets snared up in the part where the bottom string is spinning out of? That's what always happens to me when I use the sewing machine--so I stopped :x

That happened to me a lot in the beginning. I found that usually I pedaled with too much force at the start (similar to when you learn to drive a car - if you want to avoid stalling the engine, you need to practice and get a feel for the pedals). If I pulled the fabric out before the last stitch was actually finished, it sometimes also snared up my bottom string, especially when working with difficult fabrics. Thirdly you might want to check tension, if it's too low you also won't be able to get a proper seam. If the bottom thread is spooled unsteady, discard and wind it again. Also make sure the thread bobbin and needle plate are free of fluffs (when I started sewing I sometimes had bits and pieces of snared up thread in there, which then would inevitably lead to even more snared up thread).

[Moonshadow]

@Death: thanks so much those are all very good points and of course I did not think of any of them, because I have no idea what I am doing. I hope that this winter instead of sitting on my ass and reading and watching TV I get inspired to do stuff. I always have a bunch of crafty plans for the winter and end up doing nothing.

That is a pretty interesting pencil holder.

[Lee]

I'm going to to see if I can get something 3D printed in this same vein; if it works out well, you could probably do it with candy, too. Actually candy boxes made of candy with candy in them, imagine!

[Death by Mirrors]

Holy macaroni, I NEED a candy box made of candy stuffed with candy!