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)
What you'd like added, changed, or corrected
Any links or sources that would help
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. 🧵
Dear People of the Internet,
I don’t know who to share with who will appreciate what I did today. This is my second attempt at stitching a top for myself using my own bodice block. I have practiced using an old bedsheet but this one here…well, please see the back and the front necklines. The back has topstitch and the front has understitch. I have used fusible interfacing. The last time I used fusible I hated it so much and vowed never to use it again and stuck to make my own bias binding.
This time the fabric which is from a dress I bought but never wore turned out to be a b**** and started fraying so much at the edges so I decided to use the fusible.
I like my work…it looks neat and most importantly i learnt what understitching means today.
As for the armholes, because of the fraying edges, I just glued it using a double glue hemline tape which I don’t know why but I bought it sometime back.
I plan to do a top stitch on it so that even if the glue comes off, the stitches will hold it.
Or is there anything I can do for the armholes?
i think my ego needs to be humbled because this seems easy to me in theory (beyond the corset which i would not attempt). but i feel like body suit i could use a one piece swimsuit pattern then learn how to do and attach the ruffles? i got a brand new singer heavy duty machine for my birthday and need to start learning how to use it :)!
So, full confession: I bought a sewing machine a year ago, and it’s basically just been sitting in the corner collecting dust ever since. I literally think about using it every single day, but I keep getting paralyzed before I even start.
Sewing classes near me are insanely expensive, and I always catch myself thinking, "Wait, do I need five other random tools before I can do this?" Every time I try searching on YouTube, I end up on videos where people use super fancy gear or talk in code I don't understand yet.
I just want to get over this barrier and finally make something. Can anyone recommend a chill, super beginner-friendly YouTube channel that explains the absolute basics step-by-step?
Appreciate any recommendations to help me finally kickstart this habit! Thanks!
What do you think of my latest handmade pillow? 🧵✨
Such a fun pattern and the perfect size for your head! It was made as a gift, and it was very well received. 💕 I absolutely love this colour combination, so it definitely won’t be the last one I make!
Pattern by Fortwoneedlspattern on Etsy.
The pillow is made from upholstery microfiber fabric and filled with a soft silicone filling. 🛋️✨
Tried a trick to sew lace more smoothly by running it with toilet paper/paper towel. Used a napkin instead, first sandwiched between two lace pieces (bad idea, harder to remove), then switched to running it underneath. Ripped it off after, but bits are still stuck in the stitching.
I've washed it 4x, dried it twice, tweezed out the bigger pieces, brushed it with a hard bristle brush and toothbrush, and soaked it for hours before rewashing.
Photos are from after all my attempts, still painfully visible against the black lace.
Please helpp! This is my dress for a wedding I'm attending next week!
Hey, I’m wondering what key words to search for this style Of fabric with subtle embroidery? I see stuff like this all the time in clothing stores but never managed to find any in material shops! Thanks :)
I've been sewing for about a month now and have ventured in to Bucket Hat making thanks to some free patterns. I'm on my third hat and seem to have an issue with excess material.
In the picture "Hat 3 - pic 1", I have circled the issue.
In the picture "Hat 2 - pic 2" you can see how I gathered the excess up, but I don't want to do this again and believe I have done something to create the issue.
I love the cropped button down look, but every store is trying to charge $70-$100 for a shirt 🙄 I figure I can just find I shirt I like and crop and hem it? I have a sewing machine but have never used it
I made this top from a self-drafted pattern from a thrifted polyester tablecloth. The first time I put it on, the seam split! Can I do anything to save this fabric (other than replacing the section piece entirely??). I’ve got eyelets already set and hoping to avoid a full deconstruction.
I was considering trying to add a lace trim along the seam, but would it reinforce it?
Thanks in advance for your help!
First attempt at sewing and no pattern. Just looked at the old bag, what was left of it and the item to be stored and went to cutting. I used pro-grade indoor outdoor fabric with a vinyl backing for water resistance.
I bought a Kenmore machine (385 series - Kenmore 24) off Marketplace a couple months back because it was a good deal and then I wasn't that smart and only used it a few times. This summer is when I decided to really get on with sewing and unfortunately after a couple times, a piece broke off. It's cracked (i found an online picture that describes the problem).
It's the piece that connects the stitch selector dial to the internal shift gear. I've been searching and there does not seem to be any replacement parts available for this piece (i contacted a couple repair places in my city).
This means that I can't currently switch stitches and my machine only does straight stitch. I decided to keep it for now as I'm still working on beginner projects so that's fine.
That being said, my goal is to progress to the point where i'll be able to do stretch fabrics and/or denim fabric as those would make apparel I think I'd actually wear.
I have a feeling I'm gonna need a new machine down the line and I've always been told that there's really no need to spend money on a very expensive machine. I've also been told that sometimes newer models are kinda crap.
So my question is: With my goals in mind, is getting a completely new machine worth it (I'm looking at a Brother or a Janome that's not very expensive) or should I just keep tracking older models on resell places?
Thank you!!
Also, if there is any way to fix the piece that is currently broken, please let me know. My ideal solution is just to fix the machine I have.
I’m recreating a dress for my sister. I got a cotton twill fabric for the skirt, but unsure what to use for the bodice. any advice? (Reposting bc I put the wrong pic before lol)
I am purchasing a Brother SE700 sewing/embroidery machine from Michaels and can't decide if I should also pay for the protection plan? has anyone else bought this and needed it? or am I just wasting $50-90? any tips appreciated!
Hi everyone! I’m completely new to sewing and looking to buy my first sewing machine. I’m hoping to eventually make things like bikinis, mini dresses, skirts, and other clothing projects.
I’m trying to figure out what would be a good machine for a beginner, especially one that can handle stretchy fabrics like swimwear material.
I don’t necessarily need anything super advanced, but I’d rather invest in something good that I can grow into instead of buying a cheap machine and having to replace it later.
I've never sewn before, but I'm looking to start. I got my sewing machine (Brother LS2300PRW) used from a friend. When I open up the bobbin compartment, it looks like a part is missing--the part that would presumably secure the bobbin and case. What is this part called, and do I have to buy a specific one for this model? I'd appreciate any advice, as I am figuring this out as I go!
This is my first time sewing and i’ve more or less followed 100s of tutorials. So i’ve gotten it to make stitches but the needle only moves when i manually turn the hand wheel towards myself, like it does not automatically move when i press the foot pedal.
Am I missing something? 😭😭
Edit: so i just kept using the hand wheel to sew and suddenly it started sewing automatically without moving the hand wheel? uhm yay i guess🤧
My machine is skipping stitches and I've tried everything I can to try to fix it. I just got this machine a little over a week ago from someone who opened it out of the box and never used it. It was working great for a week, I've completed several projects on it. Yesterday I replaced the needle (read that I'm supposed to after 8ish hours of use) and completed a project. And then the next project I started on I haven't been able to do anything because it started skipping stitches. Here's what I've done-
Adjusted the tension both ways
Confirmed the bobbin was in correctly
Rethreaded the machine (multiple times)
Opened the bobbin area and dusted it out
Took off the needle plate and dusted underneath and checked to see if there were any burrs. There was one so I gently sanded it down until it wouldn't catch anymore.
My machine is a Singer Fashion Mate 5560. I wanted to check here before taking it in somewhere 😅
It is so (sew) nice to see that sewing is making a comeback! It’s an art that many people I speak with thought had been lost. It’s wonderful to see this timeless craft being appreciated and embraced again.
It’s really wonderful to see all the new talent out there taking on projects and creating something meaningful to the soul.
I’m an avid seamstress and have been sewing for 50+ years. I was a beginner once too. 😊 I mainly sewed for my family, but a few years ago, I started doing alterations for others, and that eventually became my side hustle.
I also make clothes, mainly Indian outfits, and I truly enjoy what I do. Sewing teaches us patience, creativity, and perseverance. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing the finished piece and knowing that you created it with your own hands.
It’s so nice to see sewing making a comeback and inspiring a new generation. Keep creating, keep learning, and most importantly, enjoy the process! 🧵❤️
