10 Sewing Hacks Every Beginner Should Know

New to sewing...Here are our Top 10 Sewing tips to help you begin your sewing journey.

Everyone starts somewhere — even the most experienced dressmakers once tangled their first bobbin and ran out of thread half way through a project! Whether you’re brand-new to sewing or rediscovering your machine after years away, these ten tried-and-tested hacks will make your projects smoother, faster, and a lot more fun.

1️⃣ Sew with good quality thread

Cheap thread can cause snapped stitches, lint build-up and tension nightmares. Choose a good-quality polyester or cotton-wrapped thread that matches your fabric weight. It’ll save you frustration (and broken needles). It’s worth investing in what we call “the basic colours” – Have Black, navy, white and grey in your sewing kit.

2️⃣ Use fabric clips instead of fabric pins

Clips hold layers neatly without distorting the fabric — ideal for jersey, vinyl, or thick seams. They also save your fingertips! Pins can loose their point which can damage your fabric.

3️⃣ Match your bobbins to your thread spools

We love handy bobbin holders! They attach to the top of your thread spool so that you never need to hunt around for the matching bobbin!

Also wrapping a tiny scrap of the matching fabric around each wound bobbin and securing with a small elastic band will help you know which thread belongs to which project.

4️⃣ Keep a magnet nearby to help pick up pins

Spilled pins underfoot are every sewist’s horror story. Keeping a magnetic to hand keeps your workspace safe and tidy should you drop any on the floor.

5️⃣ Press seams as you go

Press (iron flat) every seam before moving to the next. It transforms the finish of your garment from 'homemade' to 'hand-crafted.' A mini-iron or tailor’s ham helps with curves.

6️⃣ Change your needle more often than you think

A blunt needle can cause skipped stitches and pulled threads. Swap it after 6–8 hours of sewing or at the start of a new project.

7️⃣ Use masking tape as a seam guide

Stick a strip of masking tape at the correct distance from your needle for perfectly even seams — especially handy on tricky curves. Most seam allowances are 1.5cm, so measure this distance from the needle and use the tape to mark your sewing line.

8️⃣ Wind extra bobbins before you start

Few things break your rhythm like running out of bobbin thread mid-seam. Wind two or three in advance so you can switch instantly.

9️⃣ Make sure you know which needle is on your machine

Different fabrics need different needles so we suggest making labels that you can stick to your machine to make it easy to identify what needle is in your machine.

🔟 Celebrate every finish

Sewing is about joy and self-expression. Don’t rush to finish your sewing project!

Enjoy each step and celebrate when it is fully finished.

Then make sure you take a photo, and share it with our creative community.

Join our Make-it Happen FaceBook community and share your creative wins!

If you're ready to take it to the next step and develop your sewing skills further, then don't delay -

Book your sewing lesson with Jackie today!