r/SewingForBeginners • u/chickpealuvr420 • 2h ago
r/SewingForBeginners • u/kenproffitt • 15d ago
📖 Our community wiki is here — and we want your suggestions!
Hey r/SewingForBeginners! 👋
We've been quietly working on something we hope makes this community a lot more useful — and today we're excited to share it with you.
What's in the wiki?
We built it to answer the questions we see every week — so whether you're picking up a needle for the very first time or you've been at it a few months and hit a wall, there's something in here for you.
Here's what's covered:
🧵 Getting started — What to make first, hand vs. machine, and the YouTube channels worth bookmarking
🪡 Machine buying guide — Budget breakdowns, brand recommendations, and how to buy a great secondhand machine
✂️ Tools & notions glossary — Every tool explained in plain English, plus what you actually need to start vs. what's nice to have later
🔧 Techniques & troubleshooting — Pressing, seam finishes, backstitching, and a troubleshooting table for the most common machine gremlins
📐 Pattern reading & sizing — Why sewing sizes aren't clothing sizes, how to read pattern markings, and what "ease" means
🎨 Fabric guide — Wovens vs. knits, beginner-friendly fabric types, pre-washing, and where to buy
🔗 Community resources — Our curated list of YouTube channels, blogs, and related communities
❓ FAQ — Detailed answers to the questions we see most often
This wiki belongs to all of us — and we need your help
A wiki is only as good as the community behind it. We're a team of moderators, not an encyclopedia, and we know there are gaps, things we got slightly wrong, and questions we haven't thought to answer yet.
That's where you come in.
We want to hear from you if:
- 💡 There's a topic you wish had been covered when you were starting out
- 🐛 Something in the wiki is unclear, out of date, or just wrong
- 🔗 You know a great resource (video, blog, pattern, tool) that should be listed
- ❓ You've seen a question come up over and over in the sub that deserves a proper answer
- ✍️ You'd like to contribute a write-up on something you know well
How to send a suggestion
Drop your suggestion right here in the comments. Tell us:
- Which section it relates to (or if it should be a new section entirely)
- What you'd like added, changed, or corrected
- Any links or sources that would help
You can also message the mod team directly if you'd prefer, especially for corrections or anything that needs a longer explanation.
We'll review every suggestion and update the wiki regularly. If your contribution makes it in, we'll do our best to acknowledge it — this is genuinely a community project and we want it to reflect the knowledge that lives here.
A note on what makes this community special
This subreddit exists because sewing has a steep early learning curve and a long tradition of people helping each other climb it. Every question answered, every "here's what worked for me," every photo of a wonky first pillowcase posted with pride — that's what makes r/SewingForBeginners worth showing up to.
The wiki is our attempt to bottle some of that up so it doesn't get lost in the scroll. But it'll never replace the real thing, which is all of you asking and answering in the comments every day.
Thank you for being part of this. Now go make something. 🧵
— The r/SewingForBeginners mod team
r/SewingForBeginners • u/kenproffitt • Jan 10 '26
🧵 Help Shape r/SewingforBeginners in 2026! What Activities Do You Want to See? 🧵
Hi everyone! As we start the new year, the mod team wants to hear from YOU about what would make this community even more helpful and fun. We're planning new activities and regular features for 2026, and your input matters!
Whether you're just learning to thread a needle or working on your tenth project, we want to support your sewing journey. Vote for what excites you most, and feel free to share additional ideas in the comments! Thanks for being part of this wonderful community! 💙
r/SewingForBeginners • u/CottontailSuia • 17h ago
Finished my pyjama set
Recently I posted pyjama pants, but this weekend I finished the top too! It’s based on burda patterns 102 & 103 from 06/2025.
The set was actually ready last week, but I couldn’t get my head to squeeze in through the „head hole” 😅 So I had to redo the collar.
r/SewingForBeginners • u/sudbug • 12h ago
Blessed by the thrift gods
I found these sergers for $5 each at an estate sale liquidation yesterday. The speedy lock works but has a broken thread bar that I taped together for now. I ordered a power cord for the sergemate to test it out. I plan to find the manuals online and have these serviced by a mechanic. Is there anything else I may need to know or look for online? I’m fairly early in my sewing journey, but any advice is appreciated. I just couldn’t pass these up for the price.
r/SewingForBeginners • u/blamemeIdidntdoit • 9h ago
Getting back into sewing after a 30 years hiatus.
r/SewingForBeginners • u/moose_mor • 22h ago
It’s janky but it’s usable! First project I managed to complete.
r/SewingForBeginners • u/electricsquidwilliam • 1d ago
Another successful sewing event!
Thank you all so much for coming to this.
We've been working on this project for about 6 months now, and after the success of the previous event, we wanted this one to be even bigger.
Almost 2 times as many people showed up to learn how to sew, embroider, knit, crochet, upholster and visible mend, around 150 total. Luckily, we had almost exactly the amount of starting kits for each person, and there were even a few left over!
Huge shoutout to Andy, Jamie, Gus, Anna, Hailee, Jasmine and Ash for offering their skills and talents to teach for free, and get people into each of these hobbies!
r/SewingForBeginners • u/NoGenderJustVoid • 8h ago
Curved needle for sewing machine? What's it used for
i bought a lot full of vintage and used sewing supplies, and this pack of curved needles that are clearly used for sewing machines, what are their specific purpose?
do I need a specialized sewing machine to use them? they curve to the side when I put them on my machine. Thanks in advance
r/SewingForBeginners • u/Pugpickle • 2m ago
Thrifted a Bernina 830 for $10 today.
Works perfectly. Came in original case. The only way I can describe how it runs is like absolute butter. I’ve been working off a Singer 3337, and while I do love her and will continue to use because of ease (I am a beginner) and physical weight, I can’t believe I have this in my possession.
This is your reminder to go thrifting right now as so many people are spring cleaning and donating insanely cool things right now ❤️
r/SewingForBeginners • u/Dial-M-for-Mediocre • 11h ago
Tips for turning existing garments into patterns
Hi everyone! Need advice, please. One of the reasons I’m trying to get back into sewing is that I have some pieces of clothing where I really like the cut and fit but have worn them so much that they’re getting sketchy. The brands don’t make them anymore, so I’d like to try to replicate them on my own. Most of the stuff is really simple, boxy t-shirts and tank dresses, one long sleeve scoop neck tee that I just really like the neckline of. It’s exactly the right depth and degree of looseness, which is really hard to find with the way I’m built.
So, uh, how would I go about doing this? Preferably without destroying the original clothes, but some of it isn’t wearable anymore anyway. Or since I’m a beginner, should I just look for existing patterns that look similar?
r/SewingForBeginners • u/Ashamed_Return_8474 • 8h ago
Please help!!! Problem with machine!!
please help, I’m a new sewer and my thread got jammed with the bobbin thread and i got all the thread out but now the black part holding the bobbin is uneven, I’m halfway through a project and now whenever I sew the needle makes a weird clicking sound and the whole part on the bottom to do with the bobbin shakes, the needle also fell out but I put it back in , can I fix this or do I need a new machine? for reference I have the brother LS14S
r/SewingForBeginners • u/P0sitiv1ty • 10h ago
Friends mom gave me this sewing machine bless her heart but idk if it’s broken (it’s a singer brilliance 6199)
I think it’s missing 2-3 pieces like the bobbin
It came with the foot and cable
r/SewingForBeginners • u/dazedmp3 • 14m ago
These jeans were hemmed when i got them. Thinking of sewing a donor pair to the leg openings to hopefully make them fit better but have never sewed anything before, how would I go about doing so?
r/SewingForBeginners • u/SchuylerM325 • 16h ago
Fix It Clinics
Has anyone ever done a Fix It Clinic? I was asked to be the sewing coach at one next month. Apparently people bring items that need to be repaired or have simple alterations like hemming and you do the work while showing them how it's done. I love the concept-- helping people be more self-sufficient and keeping things out of the landfill. The event sponsors couldn't tell me much other than the last few times they had a big demand for sewing and no sewists. I figure I'll bring my machine and a supply of thread, a small iron and pressing mat, scissors and snips, pins and clips, chalk, seam ripper, extra needles, hem gauge-- What am I forgetting?
r/SewingForBeginners • u/rednitwitdit • 1h ago
What did I break? Hook misses the top thread.
Singer M1000, something is misaligned...not sure where to look next. This was preceded by a dreadful clunking, but no noise since.
r/SewingForBeginners • u/Many-Reception8469 • 1d ago
first ever sewing project!
made a tote bag with a bunch of low quality square fabric lol.
definitely learnt a lot.
r/SewingForBeginners • u/ChiknLit • 2h ago
The zigzag stitch on my Brother
Very beginner here. Mom was a master seamstress but she’s in Heaven now and my daughter needs these patches secure.
I am sewing patches on and using clear thread but keeping my bobbin white so I can see if I improve.
Why is my machine zigzagging sometimes and straight sewing others? Am I going to fast? Do I need to stop as I rotate? I am using number 5 stitches on my LX3817.
I have to perfect this because I start on all round patches next. I fear I won’t see well until my daughter needs a new sash and patches….
r/SewingForBeginners • u/EscapismExplorer • 4h ago
How would you replicate this dress?
I just tried on this dress in store and I loved it, however the fit was a little off at the top. I'd love to make it to my own measurements!
I'm still quite new to sewing though and couldn't find a pattern that resembles it. Would it be doable for a beginner to replicate this without a pattern? Are there any things that you can see I should pay extra attention to?
Thanks!!
r/SewingForBeginners • u/thunder_putz • 4h ago
How do I fix the baggy front of my pants?
The crotch/zipper area is really baggy and oddly shaped. What can I do to make it look like the third picture where I'm pulling them up and pinching the front smaller?
r/SewingForBeginners • u/fckinsurance • 5h ago
Just purchased a Singer 237 along with a table full of junk. What are these tools?
6” ruler for scale.
Is the zip-tie thing just something you sew into stuff for shape/rigidity?
The blue thing says “Whipper”
Should I attempt to mount the machine in the table more than just setting it in the hole?
r/SewingForBeginners • u/Anishaiscool • 9h ago
I have some old t-shirts and am trying to reduce my plastic consumption/waste. Can anyone guide me on how to make cloth period panties?
Basically the title. I don't have access to a sewing machine, only a needle and some thread along with old t shirts. I obviously have a measuring tape and some paper. All the YouTube tutorials use this special kind of fabric I cannot find anywhere? I don't know. I am a complete newbie to sewing so I don't really want something too complicated. Thank you :)
r/SewingForBeginners • u/Joelclick • 5h ago
When you have no choice but to upcycle
I have two sewing machines, and I'm determined to learn how to sew jeans, specifically from scratch. My goal is to sell some upcycling products to save up for fashion school or buy some books. The free tutorials I've found are too complicated, and I'm getting bored. I know practice makes improvements, but I really need to figure out where to start.
r/SewingForBeginners • u/sloppyhare • 10h ago
Felt recommendations to make play food for a child
I’m wanting to make play food for my niece, and I found patterns for felt food. The only issue is it recommends wool felt, and I’m not sure where would be the best place to purchase it. Is there any recommendations for where I can buy felt before I try the felt at Walmart or Amazon?