Sewing Machine Basics: Practicing with Your Machine
In this third and final beginner tutorial, we’ll show you some exercises that will help you practice with your sewing machine before you get started.
Video class
This video is for members
Join Lulu Ferris to watch the complete class and sew along at your own pace.
What you’ll make
Create a sewing practice sampler on fabric marked with straight lines, a rectangle, curves and circles.
These exercises help you become familiar with the pedal, presser foot and handwheel before using those skills in a sewing project.
What you’ll learn in this class
- Start and finish stitching with backstitching.
- Guide fabric without pulling or stretching it.
- Find a steady pedal speed you can control.
- Practice straight stitch and vary zigzag width and length.
- Pivot at a corner with the needle down.
- Follow curves and circles at a manageable pace.
- Use the handwheel and small pivots on difficult curves.
You will also practice keeping your fingers clear of the needle area and removing the fabric after completing a line of stitching.
What to practice on
Use a generous fabric scrap and draw several paths to follow. Include long straight lines, corners, curves and circles in different sizes.
Keep adding shapes until guiding the fabric feels natural. Small deviations provide useful feedback; the goal is control and consistency, not a perfect first sampler.
This is the final class in the introductory series. If needed, begin with Getting to Know Your Sewing Machine and Setting Up Your Sewing Machine.
Pattern & materials
Patterns are included with membership
Active members can download every available PDF and materials list.