How do I sew things up??

[SummatAnNowt]

I am new to this and just made a material coaster. I sewed all the way round, turned it inside out and then looked at a tutorial I probably didn't understand correctly to finish it off. It looks hideous! Franken-stitching!

Does anyone have any clear instructions for idiots beginners?

I just fold overso the edges are on the inside and finish it off with small stitches on my machine.

Would that mean that the stitches are showing then?

not if the thread matches the fabric

You could also use a needle and thread (again, as close a match as you have) and sew it so that most of the thread is inside the folds IYSWIM So, medium sized stitch inside the thing, then cross the very short distance to the other piece of fabric, then medium sized stitch inside that side. back and forwards with most of the thead on the inside of the coaster, and just the tiny little bits going from one piece to the other - if you're very neat it might look no different from the machined parts!

I think that's what I tried. I will keep practising!

Did you clip the curves (assuming it was circular coaster..)?

I'm with fizzbuzz - clip the curves if there are any, even taking out small triangle shaped pieces, but don't cut into the stitching. Give it a good press with an iron, and it might look better.

Post us a picture of it

I am not posting a picture! It was my first try, and yes it was supposed to be circular, but I think I should have started with a square!

Don't forget to pivot at the corners with a square, and clip them

I wasn't going to take the piss out of your 1st attempt, but just have a look and see if there were any obvious (to an experienced sewer) mistakes.

Don't give up!!!!

pivot??? clip??? It's like a foreign language!

I will see about getting a photo up in the next few days.

I don't mind piss-taking, I would just fear condescenion

No, not piss taking, it was said in my best Miss Brodie voice!

Pivoting means, leave needle in fabric, lift up foot and pivot fabric round ready to sew next edge. Clipping corners, means cutting at 45 degrees across corner next to stitching to make turning it look neater when turned inside out!