Start Fresh

Even before turning your sewing machine on, begin by dusting it off and cleaning it up. Use a small brush to dust the top of your machine, under the feed plate (you might need a small screwdriver) and where the bobbin goes. Use tweezers to remove any loose threads and bits of fabric that accumulate under there, and if needed, re-oil your machine as per manufacturer's instructions (you can often find pdf versions of most sewing machine manuals online). Most domestic machines come with small brushes but you can easily use a clean make-up brush or even a pipe cleaner if you have misplaced yours. Maintaining your machine makes a huge difference in how it runs.

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Prewash Everything

Don't forget to pre-wash all of your fabrics and trims before sewing. There are three main reasons for this easy but often "forgotten" step that will save you so many regrets! Firstly, fabrics and trims will often shrink one way more than another, so to avoid both overall shrinkage and warped, wobbly seams after washing your handmade piece for the first time, make sure you prewash. Secondly, many textiles bleed excess dye out during their first wash. This makes it super important if you are using multiple fabrics and contrasting colors in one project, as once sewn up and washed altogether you definitely don't want one color to bleed onto the rest and ruin your masterpiece. 

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Know Your Needles

The numbers on your sewing machine needle packet correspond to both European (70/80/90 etc) and American (10/12/14 etc) needle sizes and the higher the number the thicker the needle. For lightweight fabrics use a thin needle such as 70/10, and for mid-weight fabrics such as jersey, cotton lawn, and linen use around an 80/12 needle. A thicker needle such as 90/14 or 100/16 can be used for denim, canvas, and lightweight leather. Once you have selected the gauge, make sure to check the point of the needle is the correct one for your material type. The most common types of needles are either a Universal needle which is fine for most woven fabrics or Ball Point which works best with knit fabrics.