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Seam Allowances
                                                                                   

    The seam allowance is the distance you sew your seam from the raw edge of your fabric. Most
    patterns are designed with a 5/8” seam allowance (check your pattern instructions to be sure).
    Therefore, you’ll be stitching 5/8” from the raw edge of your fabric unless otherwise instructed.

    Most machines have seam guides – lines etched into the throat plate (the metal part that sits
    beneath your presser foot) to help you sew straight seams. As you sew, just place the raw
    edge of your fabric against the appropriate seam guide.

    If your machine doesn’t have seam guides, you can make your own by sticking a piece of tape
    onto your throat plate, with the edge of the tape 5/8” from the needle.




















Straight Stitching
                                                                                   

    This is just sewing in a straight line.

    One way to practice stitching straight is to sew along the printed lines of a piece of notebook
    paper with an unthreaded needle.

    Practice stitching before making your first project. Take a good-sized square of cheap fabric,
    fold it in half, and just sew. Experiment with all the different types of stitches your sewing
    machine can make, adjusting both length and width.

    And as you start to sew a new seam, pull the two thread tails away from you for your first
    couple of stitches. This helps keep the front edge of your fabric from getting pushed down into
    the throat plate by the needle and possibly jamming the machine.


Basting
                                                                                   

    Sometimes you’ll need to stitch fabric sections together temporarily. You can do this with a
    basting stitch - a straight stitch that has a very long stitch length. The longer length of these
    stitches makes them easy to remove. Try the longest stitch setting on your machine for basting.


Ending a Row of Stitching
                                                                                   

    At the end of a row of stitching, you’ll usually want to anchor your seam to keep it from coming
    loose. The most common way to do this is to backstitch. After making your last stitch, stop,
    leave your presser foot down and put your machine into reverse. Sew two to four stitches in
    the opposite direction.



















Stitching Around Curves
                                                                                   

    Curves can be a bit tricky to navigate. When you stitch a curved edge, it’s important to make
    sure the raw edge of your fabric stays at the seam guide. Take your time around curves until
    your skill develops. And although it can be tempting, don’t stretch an inner curved piece of
    fabric into a straight edge to make it easier to sew. You’ll end up stretching your fabric out of
    shape.


Stitching Corners
                                                                                   

    To stitch a corner, as you come to it, slow down and stop 5/8” (or whatever your seam
    allowance is) from the edge of your fabric. Leave your machine needle down in your fabric, lift
    your presser foot, and pivot (turn) your fabric until the next fabric edge is against your seam
    guide. Place your presser foot back down and continue sewing.

    For stitching a very deep angle that will be turned, such as in a shirt collar, stop stitching
    slightly more than 5/8” (or whatever your seam allowance is) from the edge of your fabric.
    Leave your needle down in the fabric, lift your presser foot, and pivot your fabric about forty
    five degrees. Put your presser foot down and make one to two stitches. Leave your needle
    down in your fabric, lift your presser foot again, and pivot your fabric until the next fabric edge
    is against your seam guide. Put your presser foot down and continue sewing. The stitching will
    be squared off at the tip of the corner instead of coming to a sharp point. This actually helps
    create a sharper point once your item is turned right side out.


Zigzag Stitching
                                                                                   

    A zigzag stitch is created when your machine needle makes a side-to-side motion while your
    fabric moves forward. It can be used for decorative topstitching, to finish a raw edge, or as a
    stretch stitch when sewing knits. You can use a fine, dense zigzag stitch to make buttonholes if
    your sewing machine doesn’t have a buttonhole stitch. Both the length and the width of a
    zigzag stitch are usually adjustable.
Sewing Information, Advice, How-to
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Learn to Sew Lesson #10:
Learn to Stitch
How to pin
                                                                           

    Usually you’ll be pinning two pieces of fabric
    right sides together. Place your pins about a
    half an inch away from the edge of your
    fabric. And you can place pins into your fabric
    either parallel to the edge or perpendicular
    to it.

    Be sure to remove each pin before it reaches
    your machine needle. Sewing over a pin
    could damage your machine or break the
    needle, which could be dangerous.
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