How to Sew Straight, by Paul Chevallier on YouTube. 1 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Fit a standard needle and thread the machine with the presser foot up. Bring the bobbin thread up through the needle plate so both threads sit under the foot and trail behind it.
Set the machine to the straight stitch and choose a stitch length of about 2.5 mm. Check the tension dial sits in the middle before you start.
Mark your seam line on a scrap of fabric with a ruler and fabric marker. For practice, draw a few parallel lines 1.5 cm apart.
Place a strip of masking tape or a magnetic seam guide on the needle plate at the distance you want from the needle. This gives your fabric edge a wall to follow.
Slide the fabric under the presser foot and line the edge up with your guide. Lower the presser foot and turn the handwheel towards you so the needle enters the fabric.
Press the pedal gently and let the machine feed the fabric. Keep your eyes on the guide line, not on the needle, and use your hands only to keep the edge against it.
Sew at a slow, steady speed. If the line starts to wander, stop with the needle down, lift the presser foot, and straighten the fabric before carrying on.
Sew two or three backstitches at the end to lock the thread, then raise the needle and cut the threads. Repeat on the other marked lines until the seam feels steady.
Tips and common mistakes
Never push or pull the fabric through the machine, since the feed dogs move it and your hands only guide it.
Keep the needle down and the presser foot lifted whenever you adjust the fabric so the seam stays where you want it.
Short stitch lengths hide wobbles, but they are harder to unpick, so practise at 2.5 mm first.
Unplug the machine before changing the needle and keep your fingers clear of the needle while sewing.
Questions
Why does my stitching wander off the line?
You are probably watching the needle instead of the fabric edge. Pick a fixed point on the needle plate or add a tape guide and watch that instead.
What stitch length should a beginner use?
Around 2.5 mm suits most seams and is easy to unpick if you make a mistake. Use a longer stitch for basting and a shorter one for lightweight fabric.
Do I have to backstitch at the ends?
Yes, for anything that will be worn or washed. Two or three reverse stitches at each end stop the seam from coming undone.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
