A friend of mine recently asked me if I had any words of advice for his daughter, who had just started using a sewing machine…..

First of all, I think the key to sewing (and many things in life) is to be patient. Rushing through things to get them done has never really served me well, and even if they turn out okay in the end, I haven’t been able to enjoy the process.

Always pay attention to what you’re doing when you’re cutting something out…. it’s just as easy to do a good job cutting as a bad job, but if you cut things out well, it will be much easier to put them together.

Make sure you have everything you need before starting on something…. it’s much easier to finish things that you don’t have to stop halfway through to go get something you forgot.

The stitch ripper is your friend, expect to use it periodically, sometimes with tears. Sewing can be frustrating, but picking something apart because you’ve made a mistake will sometimes teach you more than getting it right the first time: you will NEVER make that mistake again, because you will always remember taking it apart stitch by stitch.

Using the right kind of needles in your machine is important, and make sure they are sharp. Be sure your machine is threaded properly as well, as many problems arise from simply forgetting to thread the machine right, which leads to using the stitch ripper, which sometimes leads to tears. If you eliminate potential problems, it’s much smoother sailing, particularly when you’re just learning how to do something.

Finally, enjoy what you’re doing…. I think half the fun is the process, so try to enjoy everything as it happens. Don’t get too stressed about things, if it doesn’t work out, doesn’t fit or looks funny, the next one will be better, I promise. Learn from your mistakes, don’t be scared to ask questions along the way, and wear what you’ve made with pride. Hope that helps!! XO Janna