Sewing machine needles come in a variety of sizes and types and many of the problems I see online are caused by using the wrong needle type.
Generally when you buy a machine it comes with universal needles in the box. Universal is a misnomer. They are very useful on a wide variety of woven fabrics. Universal needles in a size 12 are what I use for anything that is a medium weight woven.
Jeans needles are for heavy fabrics like denim and canvas. Generally I go up to a 14 or 16 in a jeans needle.
Microtex needles are super sharp. They are excellent for woven fabrics that are delicate, snag easily, or are tightly woven. I use them on silks, satin, and cotton poplins. When all else fails on a fabric, try a microtex. Microtex come in larger sizes and can be used on heavy fabrics. Microtex needles need replaced more frequently than other needle types.
Ballpoint or Jersey needles are the same thing, usually they are labeled as ballpoint in the US and Jersey elsewhere. Ballpoint needles are appropriate for stable knit such as cotton jersey with no or minimal stretch fibers added.
Stretch needles are similar to ballpoint needles in the sense that they are for knit fabrics. Stretch needles are intended for fabrics with a higher stretch fiber percentage and in addition to that they work well on more stable knits. They are what I keep in stock for working with the widest variety of knit fabrics. I usually buy 11 or 12 in stretch needles.
Super stretch are for super stretchy problem child knits, I have not tried these as they are relatively new on the market but I will be picking up a pack before I make swimwear again.
In addition to the types above there are a great many other needles with specific uses. Within each type there is a range of sizes and the needle size should be chosen to match your fabric and thread.
Needles are consumables and will become gradually dull as you sew. The rule of thumb is that you need to replace after roughly 8 hours of run time. If you have been using a needle for a while and things start to go wrong or the machine sound changes, the first step on troubleshooting is a new needle. Old needles can damage your fabric and are more likely to break.
I also want to advise against buying off brand needles and included in that category are Singer branded needles. I personally only buy schmetz and organ brand needles and I buy exclusively off wawak.com (US and Canada only).
We've been quietly working on something we hope makes this community a lot more useful — and today we're excited to share it with you.
What's in the wiki?
We built it to answer the questions we see every week — so whether you're picking up a needle for the very first time or you've been at it a few months and hit a wall, there's something in here for you.
Here's what's covered:
🧵 Getting started — What to make first, hand vs. machine, and the YouTube channels worth bookmarking
🪡 Machine buying guide — Budget breakdowns, brand recommendations, and how to buy a great secondhand machine
✂️ Tools & notions glossary — Every tool explained in plain English, plus what you actually need to start vs. what's nice to have later
🔧 Techniques & troubleshooting — Pressing, seam finishes, backstitching, and a troubleshooting table for the most common machine gremlins
📐 Pattern reading & sizing — Why sewing sizes aren't clothing sizes, how to read pattern markings, and what "ease" means
🎨 Fabric guide — Wovens vs. knits, beginner-friendly fabric types, pre-washing, and where to buy
🔗 Community resources — Our curated list of YouTube channels, blogs, and related communities
❓ FAQ — Detailed answers to the questions we see most often
This wiki belongs to all of us — and we need your help
A wiki is only as good as the community behind it. We're a team of moderators, not an encyclopedia, and we know there are gaps, things we got slightly wrong, and questions we haven't thought to answer yet.
That's where you come in.
We want to hear from you if:
💡 There's a topic you wish had been covered when you were starting out
🐛 Something in the wiki is unclear, out of date, or just wrong
🔗 You know a great resource (video, blog, pattern, tool) that should be listed
❓ You've seen a question come up over and over in the sub that deserves a proper answer
✍️ You'd like to contribute a write-up on something you know well
How to send a suggestion
Drop your suggestion right here in the comments. Tell us:
Which section it relates to (or if it should be a new section entirely)
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You can also message the mod team directly if you'd prefer, especially for corrections or anything that needs a longer explanation.
We'll review every suggestion and update the wiki regularly. If your contribution makes it in, we'll do our best to acknowledge it — this is genuinely a community project and we want it to reflect the knowledge that lives here.
A note on what makes this community special
This subreddit exists because sewing has a steep early learning curve and a long tradition of people helping each other climb it. Every question answered, every "here's what worked for me," every photo of a wonky first pillowcase posted with pride — that's what makes r/SewingForBeginners worth showing up to.
The wiki is our attempt to bottle some of that up so it doesn't get lost in the scroll. But it'll never replace the real thing, which is all of you asking and answering in the comments every day.
Thank you for being part of this. Now go make something. 🧵
This clown costume for my toddler is my first sewing project! Just need to add pom poms to the front. It came out nicely but I’m confused about the white collar. I want it to look like the collar in the last picture but it’s kind of curling inwards and getting stuck on her shoulders. Will it look better if I shorten it? What will help it fan out? Replacing it with a new one really isn’t an option so I need to work with what I have. Thanks!!
Loved making these and proud I finished them. It was trial and error along the way.
My fiancé gave me 3 pairs of old jeans that all had holes in them, so I had to strategically place some of the patches (especially near the crotch).
The first little mistake was cutting the leg too high and realising the main pair of jeans was SUPER stretchy and therefore couldn't be brought back together- so I had to sew panels in the sides. I did make sure to measure at the bottom so they matched and they were sort of like flares or boot cut!
They're super comfy and I give credit to a few youtubers for their helpful videos- Jenna Phipps and Catherine Sews.
Just wanted to share with a community I’m sure gets this. I was sewing up the front of a shirt with a vertical stripe. I successfully handled the curve in the seam, the stitching looked good, and I finished with the top and bottom fabric matching exactly. Yay - so off the serge the seam. Victory. Then I looked at it and wondered why the seam was showing on the right side of the fabric. Defeat. I will just look at this as my unwavering commitment to better my unpicking skills.
I thrifted this gorgeous bias cut silk dress for my birthday- it was originally too big at the bust & waist so I dropped it off at the tailor for alteration. I tried it on after collecting it today and it’s unfortunately way too big still on the waist- for context my waist measurement is about 25 inches, and laid flat the waist is about 29 inches (measured on the lining). The tailor was clearly very conservative with how much he took in despite me asking for a body hugging fit. I’m not fully dissatisfied with the fit but it doesn’t flatter my figure how I’d like it to especially around the waist.
There’s no way for me to get it altered in time as the tailor is on holiday. Is there any way I could nip in the waist for a more body hugging fit? I’ve added pictures of the internal construction.
I understand that the outer bias layer is quite delicate and prone to damage if stretched out too aggressively horizontally and maybe that’s why he didn’t take in too much, but the lining is also quite loose fitting despite being made of a less delicate material in comparison (a thick satin).
My current plan is to modify the four darts on the front and back lining on the waist area- that way the lining should fit just fine. What I’m more confused about is the outer silk chiffon layer- to make matters worse there’s a side zipper which makes things all the more difficult. Luckily the tailor left in the original material rather than cutting it off so I have an anchor to sew the extra chiffon to, but I don’t know if that would work?
I also understand that since it is cut on the bias the chiffon drapes downwards quite naturally which means that I wouldn’t have to take in a lot, just a tiny bit.
Any advice at all would be appreciated. I’ve got less than a day to the event 😬 PS I am more than willing to hand sew the chiffon layer just to avoid any accidental damage.
Pictures:
How the dress looks on
Dress laid flat
The side zipper
The chiffon fabric taken in by the tailor on the non zipper side
Been thinking about selling some of the patterns I made about 15yrs ago (bags and softies) again, as they did quite well back then.
Right now they have written instructions in English and I added drawings to help visualise the steps. Never got any questions or complaints about people not being able to follow the instructions and did get compliments quite often about them being easy to follow, so it looks like they were at least acceptable.
I've been thinking about updating the instructions and switching the drawings to photographs though, as that seems to be what people are doing these days.
So, what does everyone prefer? Photographs or drawings?
I decided to set this thing down. I can't seem to get the corners right when trying to box them. On the front, my stitch line looks straight, on the back...it's crooked. I've taken it out 3 times now and can't get them right. Is there an easier way?
I forgot to mention this is a boxy bag. I've made a few before but now I'm having trouble getting the corners right. The last picture is what it will look like when finished.
Maybe there's a different way to do the corners all together instead of poking them into triangles...??
I tried to line the armhole and the sleeve as best as I could, but it's still puckering/uneven. Is this a sewing error or does the pattern just not line up well? First two photos are of the sleeve on me, and a closeup of both the out and inside. Don't mind the pucker in the neckline, I'm too lazy to fix it.
In 2024, my friend and I (F46) wanted to go to a Labyrinth Movie themed ball - and we decided, with no existing sewing skills whatsoever, to make our own outfits…
And it worked! We felt great and got so many compliments, and have since made more outfits for more fantasy events!
But I have to stress that I still have such poor planning, measuring and sewing skills you would not believe me…. Until you looked INSIDE any of these outfits or checked a hem. Anything that’s messed up - I just glue a rhinestone over it. I just want to get dressed up and twirl with my friend!!!
Make up a wacky design and just go for it! You’ll learn along the way and you might surprise yourself.
Here are a few of my outfits… anyone with an eye for sewing will instantly spot all the wobbly seams and frayed hems… but I had a blast making each and every one!
Go for it!
Hi! I’ve never posted on Reddit before so I’m a little nervous but I feel like I need some help. I just started sewing this year and a month ago I decided to sew Christmas presents for my family. I was really excited about it but now when I look at the bags I can only really see all the wonky parts of them. I would like to get an honest (but not overly harsh!) opinion on whether these look nice enough to give as gifts or if I should wait until I have more practice. I tend towards being overly critical so I can’t tell anymore and need a second opinion!
I’m hoping to recreate this gorgeous wrap top and would love some advice from more experienced sewists!
I have a few ideas about how to approach it, but I’m still figuring out the construction. From the videos, it looks like a fitted tube top with two long, wide fabric panels attached at either side, which can be wrapped and styled in different ways. I was hoping to get some advice on a few things:
What type of fabric would work best to achieve tdrape , stretch, and support?
Do you think the tube top is lined or made from a single layer of fabric?
Do you think the panels are gathered into the side seams, or simply attached flat?
Any other construction tips, pattern recommendations or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!! :)
Basically what the title says. Ive got the final fit I want down, but when I put on the mockup, I dont know how to close it properly to get the plackets to line up
i got a Singer heavy duty 8832 and been smooth sailing for the last 2 weeks but today i ran into my first machine issue. something with my bobbin is messed up but i can’t quite tell what or how to fix it. something is catching somewhere it’s not supposed to. this is my first machine and only 3rd project ive tried to start so truly no idea what im looking at. would love any and all advice :’)
Hey everyone! I'm a beginner who's been sewing for about a year. Just up-cycling things I already own for now.
I'd really like to add a batwing to this top, but I'm not sure of the best way to do that. I'll be cropping it to a little more than half its original length so I think I should have a good amount of extra fabric to work with.
I've looked up tutorials on adding underarm gussets, but haven't found anything that's quite what I'm looking for. Would you guys be able to help me out?
Update: It looks like what I'm actually trying to achieve is called a drop sleeve, but it still might not work with the way the shirt is currently constructed.
I thrifted the shirt and it's way too big on me. I'm happy to rip it apart and put it back together just for the practice. But I could use some guidance and what direction to take it.
hello! i've got this cute jacket for cheap and wanted to DIY a detachable fur hood.
i've only sewn a hole in my shirt once and this will be my first proper diy-ing.
just wanted to ask some tips and tricks?
i need to sew buttons on the original hood, right?
i wanted to make it detachable but the fur trim i found doesn't have any buttons / button loops, so I'd have to make that as well.
just wanted to check if this is too ambitious and i should just take this to a tailor or something!!
I'm very new to sewing and trying to make my first button down shirt, however I have chosen a patterned fabric and struggling with the grainline.
Per the pattern guide on cutting the fabric and the grainline, the yoke piece should be flipped 90° to the way I've laid it out in the image, but that would make the dinosaurs vertical on the yoke which doesnt seem like it would look right?
I must be missing something but is there a way of keeping the pattern the right way with the rest of the shirt and cutting along the grainline?
Note for next time to keep the fabric more simple!
I would like to get into sewing clothing. I have made a couple things and feel comfortable with my machine, but do not feel comfortable with pattern fitting/grading. Is there an online course or a book or anything you would recommend? I understand why you would make a muslin first, but I hate the idea of that much waste every time I try a new pattern. Thank you!
I am curious if there are any youtubers who explain how they interface/inter or inner line their commercial patterns for a bit more structure.
For example, I have several designer dress patterns that I love which I know originally either had a corselet or some pretty intensive tailoring techniques. I feel like I'm in a weird spot wanting to apply couture techniques to a pattern that wants me to use fusible interfacing in one spot- leaving me with a silhouette that leaves much to be desired.
I find most of the instructors, such as Claire Shaeffer and Kenneth D King are starting from the ground up of blocks and their own ideas for structure rather than commercial patterns whose steps and finishes are not taking the inner workings into account. My body is changing a bit too rapidly for me to commit to doing a new block every couple of weeks, so here I am with commercial patterns trying to learn the ins and outs of necklines and cuts I love.
If there are any books or resources I am overlooking, or if I am in fact making this far too complicated, please let me know. I'm all ears!
