I'm scared of my sewing machine & need to get over it

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Please tell me you learnt how to use your sewing machine. What I specifically am hoping for is reassurance that just because I appear completely crap at using it now, I can improve. Seriously, I'm terrible, can't thread the needle, get flustered as soon as it starts, can't keep a proper place, everything looks rubbish, etc. I thought it would be easy but I find it's not.

I am willing. Should I pursue this or am I going to just need to find a good cheap seamstress?

It gets better the more you use it. Mine used to terrify me just because it sucks the fabric through so fast and it feels easy to make mistakes but hard to pull something apart and start again!
Start with easy projects and crappy cheap fabric that you're not scared of trashing. Old pillowcases and sheets were my first fabrics!

There are lots of great blogs - Tilly and the Buttons has a beginner's guide on her blog that was invaluable to me as a beginner - www.tillyandthebuttons.com/p/learn-to-sew.html

I've also sewn a couple of dresses from the Colette book which is aimed at beginners but TBH I couldn't have started from scratch with it. Better for once you've made basics www.colettepatterns.com/books/colette-sewing-handbook

SMK, Yes - it's so fast! I'm releived to hear you felt like that. I have been feeling a bit downcast about it That blog looks perfect tho - I shall have a proper sit down with it.

All and any similar suggestions very gratefully received.

Take your shoes off. Foot controllers are far easier in just socks.

Buy a big roll of Gütermann sew all polyester cotton thread and practice, practice practice on doubled over cotton fabric.

Do not be tempted to practice, or do any real project with cheap thread or even 100% cotton thread until you have done lots of practice.

Is it a new macihne? If not it may be worth asking someone to have a look at the foot pedal. My machine had a spell of running away with me until I discovered that the foot pedal was no longer functioning correctly. For threading the needle make sure the needle is at its highest position and that you can see quite clearly where the thread needs to go.

I begged my parents to buy me one for Christmas... then it took a whole ten months before I plucked up the courage to turn it on

If I had the time, I'd make clothes, but as it is I just make simple things as gifts: drawstring bags, embellished t-shirts etc. Very simple, but very rewarding; I feel like I'm not wasting my amazing machine.

I started out making lots of things with straight lines: cushion covers etc. I made a wonderful paintbrush holder for a friend, then another for my DF: lots of uncomplicated straight lines

Practise, practise, practise.

Use a piece of gingham fabric or stripey fabric to practise sewing in a straight line.

Another vote for using the foot pedal in bare feet.

Set it on the lowest speed if you can. It is a bit like learning to drive - pootle about in first and second before you get out onto the main road!

If you haven't already got a seam ripper, do buy one. It makes it much easier to undo your mistakes.

I learned by simply jumping in the deep end...I volunteered to help ake a costume for a local theatre group....two weeks in and I was almost a pro....in a very amateur way .

And the costume got rave reviews.....it was for a troll character so not a standard costume...but I enjoyed helping make it.

...and another vote for Tilly and the Buttons blog...it's brilliant.

Thanks for the support!

I sat down with the Tilly and Buttons blog last night feeling all positive. And then the machine ate all my stitches! every single stitch seems to be collecting underneath the fabric and when I got to the end of the row instead of cutting two threads I was cutting 40. Is this a common problem?! Is it my machine (Toyota)? It's me isn't it?!

Yes, it is a very common problem and it is to do with the tension. And yes, it is you and you need just a little bit of help from someone who knows about machines. Any chance of going back to where you bought it? It is common, it is easy to rectify, but I doubt any of us can help you over the internet.

Hi Add, make sure you have threaded the machine properly as its an easy error to make....also make sure you put the foot holding he needle down before you sew...another common beginners mistake (been there and done it).

Did your machine come with a DVD? If not then YouTube is fabulous.

Jumping onto this thread slightly but wen using the sewing machine why do I often get 3 threads coming out instead of 2 sometimes? It seems to be one from the top and 2 from the bottom where the bobbin in slotted in. I cant figure it out at all.

Don't know Blu. Only thing I can suggest is taking all threads off, bobbin out as well and start over again threading the whole thing according to the instructions in the manual.

If there isn't too much thread on the bobbin, or if you have a clean bobbin it might be good to thread that from scratch as well.

Check that your tension is right; that was one of the things I found quite hard to do and is a matter of trial and error again and working closely with the manual.

Thank you, just decided that my next class for my WI group will be conquering your sewing machine.

Tilly and the Buttons
Did you make that?
Handmade Jane
Scruffy Badger
Gerties New Blog for Better Sewing

I'd reccomend the above blogs for getting you ridiculously inspired! Another vote for bare foot sewing too.
But most importantly practice practice practice! Use old sheets or scrappy bits of fabric and just practice the basics.

I did a dressmaking course at my local college which I found pretty good, worth looking to see if there is anything available near you.

I'd also add it's worth getting some decent thread too. I use guttermans mostly. You can get a spool for a couple of £. Sometimes the cheaper threads jump around in the machine and cause problems even if it's set up perfectly.

Good luck, start with small projects like maybe a tote bag or cushion cover. You can even drawn the line you want to sew on the fabric with a pencil if you like to have something to follow. It will wash out and be on the inside anyway. Before long you'll be loving it and making all kinds of things!!!

Lesson. I got a lesson and it mostly cured my sewing machine fear.

Yeah. Way to go. No for bit of practice and then another lesson to iron out some more issues.