Steps to starting out:

1. Buying fabric and patterns
2. Tailoring vs. sewing a new pattern
3. Setting up the sewing machine
4. Guide to stitch length & width & tension
5. Troubleshooting the sewing machine

1. Buying fabrics & patterns

Fabrics can be categorized into two main types: woven and knit. Woven fabric does not stretch across the width, but along the length. Woven uses straight lines in all directions (like jeans). Knitted fabrics stretch easily across the width and slightly lengthwise. Knit has teeny tiny loops, often looks like little “v” shapes in rows (like your t-shirt). Sewing knitted fabrics are generally more difficult due to its stretch.

Five ways that you can source fabric includes:

• Using old clothes from your closet that you no longer wear, or that you intend to donate.
• Thrifting clothes — to alter or upcycle into something you might wear.
• Thrifting fabric — The Goodwill location near Walmart (440 Gander Dr) has a fabrics, bedsheets, and blankets section near the back of the store.
• The Scrappy Elephant (1745 Allied St Suite C) offers patterns and a full bag of materials needed for your first sewing project. They also have sewing classes if interested.
• If you google “fabric stores near me,” there are many options for sourcing fabric in Charlottesville - although some might be more on the pricier side than others.

2a. Tailoring

Hemming

• Stitches to use:

  • You can use any of the hemming stitch options indicated in section 3 pictures of the dial, or you can overlock by doing a zigzag stitch with two straight stitches beside it

  • Here are some other options for overlocking your hems (so your hems don’t fray):

    https://youtu.be/7WOve8e8MSI?si=SQdSJC8na61eY8BW