Continue to practice sewing on scraps of fabric. Fasten threads by reverse stitching at ends. Leave long thread pulled through toes of presser foot and to the back of the needle each time you stop and remove fabric. Don't forget to raise the needle to its highest position each time you stop. This prevents the needle from becoming unthreaded.
Most machines have markings to the right and often left of the needle to help you guide your fabric straight. If your machine does not have these marks, place a strip of tape to the right of the needle, placing tape edge 5/8 of an inch from needle hole. This is the width of most seams.
Practice sewing many times, on paper or fabric squares, until stitching is straight and even. With practice, it becomes easy and fun to sew!
Learn to do the following with the use of your owner's manual or instruction
book:
1. Learn to set up your machine, plug it in, and turn it on.
2. Find the hand wheel and learn how to raise and lower the needle.
3. Learn how to raise and lower presser foot.
4. Learn how to change the presser foot.
5. Point out the feed dogs and observe what they do as the needle goes
up and down.
6. Identify what the throat plate is and how to open and close it.
7. Identify the zipper foot and how to attach it.
8. Learn how to take the bobbin in and out of the bobbin case.
9. Learn to adjust stitch length.
10. Learn how to stitch a seam and how to backstitch.
a. insert needle into fabric or paper
b. lower presser foot
c. begin stitching
d. learn to check stitches
11. Practice changing stitch pattern.
12. Learn how to change stitch length.
13. Learn how to change stitch width for zigzag stitch.
14. Practice changing needle position.
15. Practice winding the bobbin.
16. Learn to thread the machine.
17. Learn to adjust upper tension.
18. Find seam guides on throat plate and tell what they represent.
19. Remove thread from machine (top and bottom) and practice different stitches.
a. straight lines
b. inside corner
c. outside corner
d. inside curves
e. outside curves
20. Practice removing and replacing the needle.
