All About Sewing Machines, Embroidery Machines, Sergers, Knitting and Quilting Supplies

Guides:

Ultimate Sewing Guide

Guide to the Creative Art of Sewing

Sewing Machine FAQ

Sewing Machines for Dummies

1. Your sewing machine (Introduction)



2. Getting set up to sew



3. All about seams



4. All about hems



5. Fastening and Fasteners: Zippers, Buttonholes, Ties, and Loops



6. All about corners (coming soon)



7. All about edges (coming soon)



8. Fancy and fancier (coming soon)



9. Gotta make it! (coming soon)

Ultimate Clothing Guide -- Fashion, Fabrics and Construction

Sewing and Serging

• Patterns, Fabrics, and Notions
  • Selecting a Pattern
  
  
  
  • Selecting Fabric
  
  
  
  • Selecting Notions
  
  
  
  • Patterns, Fabrics, and Notions -- summary



• Machines and Equipment
  • Using a Sewing Machine
  
  
  
  • Using a Serger
  
  
  
  • Identifying Sewing Equipment
  
  
  
  • Machines and Equipment -- summary



• Getting Ready to Sew
• Understanding Patterns



• Adjusting a Pattern



• Preparing Fabric



• Laying Out a Pattern



• Cutting and Marking Fabric



• Getting Ready to Sew -- summary
• Basic Construction
• Stitching by Machine



• Stitching by Hand



• Pressing Fabric



• Making Darts



• Gathering and Easing Fabric



• Sewing Plain Seams



• Applying Facings



• Making Casings



• Applying Fasteners



• Putting in Zippers



• Putting in Hems



• Checking Fit



• Basic Construction -- Summary, Review and Activities
• Special Sewing Techniques
• Sewing Special Seams



• Making Tucks and Pleats



• Applying Interfacings



• Putting in Linings



• Sewing Collars



• Sewing Sleeves



• Sewing Cuffs



• Sewing Pockets



• Finishing Waistlines



• Applying Bias Bindings



• Adding Ruffles



• Adding Trims



• Special Sewing Techniques -- Summary, Review and Activities

Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers

The A-Z Guide to Sewing Machines

Sewing Basics -- A Quick-start Guide:

1. Fabric



2. Basic sewing tools



3. Beyond the basic tools



4. Choosing a pattern



5. Choosing fabric



6. Layout and cutting



7. Marking the pieces



8. Introduction to the sewing machine

Ultimate Guide to Machine Embroidery

Part One: Techniques, Effects, and Materials

• 1. Introduction to Machine Embroidery
  • Supplies, 4 Enlarging Designs
  
  
  
  • Transferring Designs — Eight Ways
  
  
  
  • Cautions



• 2. Straight Stitch
  • Visual Glossary
  
  
  
  • How a Stitch Is Formed
  
  
  
  • Troubleshooting Stitching Problems
  
  
  
  • Thread
  
  
  
  • Preparing Fabric/Preventing Puckering
  
  
  
  • Top and Bobbin Tensions
  
  
  
  • Threadless Practice
  
  
  
  • Avoiding Headaches
  
  
  
  • Straight-Stitch Appliqué
  
  
  
  • Crosshatching
  
  
  
  • Quilting
  
  
  
  • Additional Ideas



• 3. (coming soon)



• 4. Simple Free-Machine Embroidery



• 5-7 (coming soon)



• 8. Machine Accessories
  • Visual Glossary
  
  
  
  • Presser Feet
  
  
  
  • Needles
  
  
  
  • Needle Plates
  
  
  
  • Additional Ideas



• 9-12 (coming soon)



• 13. Know Your Tools
  • Stitch Quality
  
  
  
  • Bobbin Systems
  
  
  
  • Feed Dogs
  
  
  
  • Motors
  
  
  
  • Presser Feet
  
  
  
  • Needles
  
  
  
  • Threads
  
  
  
  • Bobbins
  
  
  
  • Hoops
  
  
  
  • Scissors/Shears
  
  
  
  • Additional Idea



• 14. Projects (coming soon)

(more coming soon!)

Beyond Patterns: Optimal Sewing Techniques for Clothing

How to Test a Sewing Machine

The Successful Sewing Guide:

1. CHOOSING YOUR EQUIPMENT: The right tools for dressmaking and needlework



2. MODERN SEWING MACHINES: Their selection, use and care



3. YOUR IMPORTANT CHOICE: Choice of pattern, style, pattern size, fabric and color



4. SEWING COURSE FOR BEGINNERS: A twelve-point plan for professionalism



5. DIRECTORY OF SEWING PROCESSES
• part 1



• part 2
6. FABRICS, FIBERS AND FINISHES



7. EMBROIDERY STITCHES



8. CLOTHES CARE

Basic, intermediate and advanced info about sewing machines, sergers, related equipment, and accessories:

• Sewing Machine Tutorial Videos
  
  



• Field Guide to Sewing Machines: a pictorial guide to help you identify machine types, brands, models and accessories.
  
  



• Sewing Machines: Basics and Buy Recommendations
  
  



• Sewing Machine: An in-depth look
  
  



• Quick Guide to Sergers
  
  



• Sergers: An in-depth look
  • The Stitches and their Uses
  
  
  
  • Creating the Perfect Stitch
  
  
  
  • Serger Basics
    
    



• Guide to Embroidery Machines
  
  



• Essential Equipment and Supplies
  • Marking and Measuring Tools
  
  
  
  • Cutting and Pressing Tools
  
  
  
  • Special Equipment
  
  
  
  • Thread, Trims and Tapes, and Buttons and Closures
    
    



• Industrial Sewing Machines
  
  



• FAQ

Essentials of Serging: A How-to Guide to Using and Maintaining Sergers

Sew, Serge, Press: Speed Tailoring in the Ultimate Sewing Center

Shortcut Sewing:

• Intro to Shortcut Sewing



• Glossary



• Closet Close-up



• Get Organized



• The Sewing Machine



• Basic Sewing Skills



• The Preliminaries

Fitting and Pattern Alteration (Theory):

• Introduction



• Using the Elements and Principles of Design
• The Elements of Design
• Line



• Shape



• Color



• Texture
• The Principles of Design
• Balance



• Proportion and Scale



• Rhythm



• Emphasis



• Harmony
• Selecting and Using Equipment
• Measuring Tools



• Metric Conversion Charts



• Marking Tools



• Cutting Tools



• Stitching Tools



• Fitting Supplies



• Pattern Alteration Supplies
• Evaluating the Figure
• Alternative Methods of Figure Evaluation



• The Standard / Ideal / Symmetrical Figure



• Symmetrical Variations from the Standard Figure



• The Asymmetrical Figure



• Posture Evaluation

Sewing Machine Repair and Maintenance:

• Introduction



• Basic Sewing Machine Mechanisms: Straight-Stitch Sewing Machine—Basic Straight-Stitch Mechanisms—Stitch Variation of the Straight-Stitch Machine—Zig-Zag Stitch Sewing Machine—Basic Zig-Zag Stitch Mechanism—Stitch Variations of the Zig-Zag Machine—Summary



• Sewing and Machine Adjustment Maintenance: Buying a New Sewing Machine—Buying a Used Sewing Machine—Readying the Machine for Service—Checking the Electrical Components—Adjusting the Drive Belt Tension—Cleaning and Oiling the Machine the First Time—Periodic Cleaning and Oiling—Needles, Threads and Materials—Regulating the Machine—Feed Dog Dropping—Presser Feet—Tension Regulation—Summary



• Internal Repair and Adjustments: Disassembly Procedure-Tools—Adjustments

Owner's Guide to Sewing Machines, Sergers, and Knitting Machines:

• Sewing Machines
  • How a Sewing Machine Really Works
  
  
  
  • Don’t Spit into Your Sewing Machine
  
  
  
  • Don't be too Cheap
  
  
  
  • Foot Notes and Feed Dogs
  
  
  
  • Sewing Machine Gremlins



• Sergers / Overlocks
  • What Overlocks Really Do
  
  
  
  • Overlock Choices and Options
  
  
  
  • Wicks, Fuzz, and Other Dirty Matters
  
  
  
  • Thread: Functional and Decorative
  
  
  
  • Problems and Mysteries



• Knitting Machines
  • How a Knitting Machine Really Works
  
  
  
  • Knitting Machines--Essentials and Options



• Comprehensive
  • How to Buy a Sewing Machine, Overlock, or Knitting Machine

Modern Sewing -- Our comprehensive "How-To" guides on the following topics:

• Sewing and Art Principles: Elements of design — line, color, texture, form; Principles of design — balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis, harmony



• Know Yourself: Figure check, neckline check, color check, mirror check; How to choose clothes to suit your figure



• Your Sewing Tools



• Know Your Sewing Machine: Principal parts, adjustments, problems, care and maintenance, button hole attachment, cloth guide; Stitching — starting, stopping, guiding the fabric; General suggestions for beginners



• Fabrics (part 1)



• How to Pick a Proper Pattern: Taking body measurements, normal ease in patterns, size and type of pattern, individual measurement chart, information on pattern envelope. Metric system of measurement.



• How to Prepare Your Fabric: Straightening, grain perfection, shrinking, stretching, testing for shrinkage



• How to Adjust and Alter Patterns: General suggestions, common adjustments, adjustments for sleeve and bodice cut in one



• Know Your Sewing Terms: Terms referring to pattern, to garment sections, to sewing techniques and procedures



• You Are a Beginner: Fabric choice, causes of sewing failures and how to avoid them, handling fabric



• The Unit Method of Construction



• The Order of Work for All Garments: General order of work, cutting, piecing, transferring pat tern markings to fabric, assembling garment



• How to Make Pants and Shorts: How pants should fit, taking measurements, adjustments, fitting



• Know Your Sewing Basics: Hand-stitches, seam finishes, darts, hems and hem finishes, trimming seams, stitching pleats



• Armhole and Neckline Finishes: Bias binding, shaped facings, notching and clipping curved seams, stitching pointed seams, trimming pointed seams, attaching a collar, armhole and neckline facing cut in one piece



• How to Apply Zippers, Snap Fasteners, Buttons; also Velcro, hooks and eyes



• How to Set in and Finish a Sleeve: Sleeve cap ease, common fitting and altering problems, finishing sleeve openings, sleeves cut in one with bodice, gussets, stiffening sleeve caps



• How to Finish a Waistline: Elastic finish, fitted waistline, waistline without waist band, interfaced band, shaped facing, belt



• How to Fit and Alter Garments: General rules; possible alterations



• Pressing Equipment, Techniques, Problems



• How to Individualize Your Garments: Trimmings; simple embroidery stitches



• Know the Basics for Knits: Stretch fabrics; Preparing fabric; pinning; stitching; fitting; double-stitched hem



• General Rules for Plaids, Stripes, Large Motifs



• When to Line, Underline, Interface



• Fabrics (part 2)
  • Introduction and Fibers
    • Natural Fibers
    
    
    
    • Man-made Fibers / Micro Fibers
  
  
  
  • Yarns
  
  
  
  • Fabric Structure
  
  
  
  • Weaving
    • Basic Weaves
  • Decorative Weaves
  • Knits
  
  
  
  • Other Fabric Construction
  
  
  
  • Finishes
    • Color and Fabric Pattern
  
  
  
  • Fabric and Fiber Facts
    • Natural vs. Synthetic
    
    
    
    • Properties and Care
  
  
  
  • Inner Construction
  
  
  
  • Underlinings and Linings
  
  
  
  • Interfacings
    



• Patterns and Equipment
  • Sewing Machine
  
  
  
  • Machine Equipment
    • Needles
    
    
    
    • Presser Feet
    
    
    
    • Special Attachments
  
  
  
  • The Overlock Machine (aka Serger)
    • Introduction and Stitch Types
    
    
    
    • Serger Thread Tension and Special Serger Notions
  
  
  
  • Tools for Every Sewing Need
    • Introduction and Measuring Tools
    
    
    
    • Cutting Tools
    
    
    
    • Marking Tools
    
    
    
    • Sewing Aids and More Sewing Aids
    
    
    
    • Pressing
    
    
    
    • Dress Forms
  
  
  
  • Preparing to Sew
  • Introduction
  
  
  
  • Preparing the Fabric
  
  
  
  • Achieving Perfect Fit
  
  
  
  • Understanding Ease
  
  
  
  • Identify Hem Lengths
  
  
  
  • Prepare to Alter your Pattern
  
  
  
  • Flat Pattern Adjustments
  
  
  
  • Dresses, Skirts, Bodice Adjustments
  
  
  
  • Pants Adjustments
  
  
  
  • Cut with Care
  
  
  
  • Special Fabric Layouts
  
  
  
  • Mark with Accuracy
  
  
  
  • More Notes on Underlining

Smart Sewing Guide

• Introduction



• 1: Smart Ways to Think about Sewing
  • WHY PEOPLE SEW THESE DAYS
  
  
  
  • YOUR SEWING TEMPERAMENT



• 2: Smart Ways to Choose a Sewing Machine
  • THE STRATEGY OF CHOOSING
  
  
  
  • DECIDING TO BUY A SEWING MACHINE
  
  
  
  • KINDS OF SEWING MACHINES
  
  
  
  • TYPES OF HOUSEHOLD SEWING MACHINES
  
  
  
  • WHICH KIND OF SEWING MACHINE IS FOR YOU?



• 3: Smart Ways to Maintain Your Sewing Machine
  • HOW TO CLEAN AND REPAIR THE MACHINE YOU HAVE
  
  
  
  • HOW TO MODERNIZE AN OLD MACHINE



• 4: Smart Ways to Buy a Sewing Machine
  • CONSIDERING A USED MACHINE
  
  
  
  • CHOOSING A NEW MACHINE
  
  
  
  • HOW TO BUY THE MACHINE YOU LIKE



• 5: Smart Ways to Use a Sewing Machine
  • WHEN YOU GET YOUR MACHINE HOME
  
  
  
  • SETTING UP YOUR SEWING SPACE
  
  
  
  • THE SEWING TABLE
  
  
  
  • THE CUTTING TABLE
  
  
  
  • YOUR SEWING CHAIR



• Sewing Machine Sources

Click here or image below for full size...

Recommended Books on Sewing, Making Clothes and related topics

How we select books:

In addition to buying and /or borrowing books from libraries (and reading these books), we go to Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble web sites, and read descriptions and reviews of all books related to sewing and clothes making. We also use Amazon's Listmania -- a service which lets experts or serious hobbyists select their top choices. Based on this research, here are out top picks:

• ABCs of Serging: A Complete Guide to Serger Sewing Basics
  
  



• Encyclopedia of Sewing Machine Techniques
  
  



• Fabric Savvy: The Essential Guide for Every Sewer
  
  



• Fine Machine Sewing 2 Ed: Easy Ways to Get the Look of Hand Finishing and Embellishing
  
  



• Power Sewing: Step-By-Step
  
  



• Ultimate Serger Answer Guide
  
  



• Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide (Creative Machine Arts)
  
  



• Complete Book of Sewing: A Practical Step-By-Step Guide to Every Technique
  
  



• Patternmaking for Fashion Design

Critical acclaim for our web site…

“Understanding the basic mechanics of equipment is essential for every sewer. Crhowto.org brings these mechanics to life with wit and humor, giving the layperson a clear understanding of the how’s and why’s of machine operation and the confidence to use any machine to its fullest potential.”

About us…

A commonsense guide to the workings of your machine: how threads and yarns are handled and what types are likely to cause trouble; how the machine forms its stitch; how its parts work together smoothly. Sound guidelines are given for buying the right sewing machine, serger, or knitting machine for your purposes; then, armed with the right tools and a basic understanding of why and how the machine does its job, you’ll find that glitches occur infrequently, and are easily isolated and fixed when they do.

We are licensed to sell and repair every brand of machine. Our unusual perspective of analyzing operator technique in combination with machine function led us to a long teaching career, traveling widely to give seminars and workshops. We own and operate several sewing machine shops in Southern California.

Links:

Sewing Machine Maintenance (a guide from New Mexico State Univ.)

How to Clean a Sewing Machine

How to Buy a Used (or eBay) Home Sewing / Embroidery Machine -- First, consider the Brand. The European-made machines are the best quality. For a sewer or embroiderer, you will spend more time sewing / embroidering, and less time struggling with your machine. The following are the best three brands on the market for quality, reliability, available options, and local dealer support for service: Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff, Bernina. (more ...)

International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society -- Whether you have three machines or three hundred, or simply an urge to know more about those wonderful old sewing machines and the men who made, and more often lost, fortunes bringing them to reality, you will find fascinating reading on this site.

Fix Your Sewing Machine in Five Steps -- Includes discussion on "Cleaning/Oiling", "Feed Dogs", "Upper Tension", "Bottom Bobbin", and "A Sewing Test". (from eBay)

Conquering the Gremlins In Your Home Sewing Machine (from eBay)

How to Use Your Sewing Machine Attachments -- Many attachments come with modern sewing machine. Usually, they are laying in the accessory box for years. All these attachments can save you a precious time when using them properly.

How to Overhaul a Sewing Machine Motor in 30 minutes -- most sewing machines use "universal" motors. They can be overhauled in less than an hour by following a a few simple steps. Carbon accumulation and brushes sparkling are the main causes of motors performing poorly. All you need is some sandpaper, machine oil and an electric drill.

Change Serger Threads the Quick and Easy -- The big challenge for beginning serger users is when you have to change the thread color...

PatternReview.com -- online forum used by tens of thousands of sewers to collaborate, share and discuss the projects they have been working on, or are planning to work on. It catalogs and describes sewers experiences and opinions in a structured way so that you can quickly and easily find the information they are looking for. The value of this site keeps increasing as more and more sewers start using it.

SewForum.com -- information and advice about embroidery, sewing, serging, knitting and quilting. Also includes industrial sewing topics.

Sewing Machine Scam! For those who have seen flyers in the mail that say something like: TRUCK LOAD SALE! 2006 Singer Commercial Grade/School Model America's Sewing Machine Co. Placed large orders of the 2006 model school sewing machine. These machines remain UNSOLD! THEY MUST BE SOLD!

Wikipedia's Sewing Glossary -- including: Backstitch, Chain stitch, Darning mushroom, Seam ripper, and more.

Wikiversity--Sewing: articles about basic skills in the field of sewing.

Start Your Own Sewing Business In 5 Easy Steps -- If you have any sewing experience from high school, after making some basic skirts, drapes, Halloween costumes or any sewing projects around the house, it might be time to put your skills and that sewing machine to good use -- and start making some extra money.

SEWING LESSONS (blog) -- FREE SEWING LESSONS ADAPTED FROM THE 19-CENTURY "ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NEEDLEWORK", BY THERESE DE DILLMONT.

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About Us

People who knit, sew, quilt and embroider all concur: it's a challenging, yet fun and rewarding hobby. The quality and durability of homemade clothing simply can't be beat, regardless of cost.

We are committed to helping you choose the best Sewing Machines, Embroidery Machines, Sergers, and Knitting and Quilting Supplies. Along with clothing equipment, we offer helpful tips and information to help you make informed purchasing choices. Our goal isn't to clutter your shopping experience with useless junk. From the beginner to the serious sewing, knitting and quilting enthusiast, we have a selection of products to suit a person's level, goal, and experience. We have partnered with some of the Internet's largest sewing machine and fabric vendors to to bring you the very best equipment and supplies, which is also affordably priced and backed by solid customer service.

Please note: sewing machine quality isn't ubiquitous: the best brand of sewing machine at $200 isn't necessarily the best at $3000. That’s why we offer so many brands, to give you quality options no matter your budget.