Exercises on how to improve your sewing

Welcome to a new sewing class! In today’s class we are going to cover your first stitches (or maybe not!). These exercises are designed to help you gain confidence with your sewing machine and to practicing sewing straight or with the shape you need.

Today we are going to sew paper. These are the same exercises that I did when I was learning to sew and at first, may seem a little weird but they really do work.

Below the video of the class, you will find some PDF files so that you can download and print them.

Remember to print them in real size (100% scale) since I have designed them with certain measurements.

Class

As you have seen in today’s class, if sewing is not your strong point, I recommend that you start sewing without thread first. The good thing about sewing on paper is that we can see where the needle has passed.

It is also important that you change the length of the stitch and see the difference. Is it easier/faster to sew with a longer stitch? Play, have fun and gain confidence with your sewing machine.

With these exercises, we will also practice how to do the Turn back (Back-stitch) stitches (how to sew backwards). What this does is “seal” the stitch and does not come undone.

And that is all for today’s class. Have you ever sewn paper?

Remember that if you have any doubts or questions about today’s class, you can use the contact form on your user account to send it to me.

Submit your exercises

Print out today’s class file and sew it at least once using a thread that contrasts with the paper.

You will get extra points if you send me one exercise that you have designed (The shape is free, a star or a heart always looks good) but you have to draw it first and then sew it.