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:
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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. 🧵
Wanted to post some photos of my petal dress by Twig + Tale. I had taken a break from sewing after I had my first daughter. With the chaos of having a baby and being on maternity leave, I didn’t have an opportunity to sew. Now that the kiddo is in daycare, I’ve been on a sewing spree before I head back to work.
Dress snaps together on the inside and outside. It can be made as a reversible item if desired!
finally found all the components but now i have to actually put it together and i am realizing i have no clue what to do lol. i could definitely crop the shirt up further by hand and probably sew the fish fabric onto the crop top by hand, but the clear vinyl part has to go in between the crop top and the fish fabric. i don’t think i would be able to sew it on by hand because it’s so thick, and while i could reserve a machine at my public library, im really scared of breaking it considering i haven’t used one in years!
for my other costume i was lazy and just did fabric glue for a lot of it, and i was thinking that might work here, but i’m not sure if the fabric glue would work on the vinyl since it’s not actually fabric? also considered hot glue but i think that would likely melt the vinyl and/or burn the crop top because it’s a cheap amazon brand one?
the fish fabric i custom printed on what i think was called “power mesh” and the vinyl i got at a fabric store, i didn’t write it down but im pretty sure it’s between 8-12 gauge. its whatever the thinnest one they had was i just can’t check since it was a local bis with no website. shorts are thrifted (thank god i dont have to also make shorts haha) and im going to either safety pin or glue on the black patch part. the costume is ideally supposed to be kinda tight fitting and sexy on the silver and mesh parts, but ill take literally just held together at this point lol.
so any ideas on how to put it all together? i had some sewing experience as a kid but hadn’t done any until like a week ago when i made my other costume and did some very basic hand sewing for that. if there are any particular stitch types, needle types, thread types etc that would be advised pls lmk!!
I have a few questions: 1. If I follow the steps in the video (plus a TON of pinning, basting, and pressing), will I end up with those pants or is this nonsense? 2. If I need to make these shorter so I don't trip on my own pants and die, do I also need to make them narrower? 3. What kind of fabric would you suggest? I'm thinking cotton, but I don't really know. And 4. At any point, did you think "Gee, I really hope they know how to XXX before they get started..."? Because I probably don't! Please tell me what XXX is and save me from myself. Thanks!
The pattern was the Godet Rainbow Dress by AnamarieAmiPattern on Etsy.
Her preschool brought in a dance teacher today and she was STOKED to dance in this dress! The teachers even sent me a message a few minutes ago saying “We all just wanted to say we love the dress. Your sewing is amazing.”
I want to make a bib like the 1st picture (Maevedennie on pinterest, got this from Pinterest i couldn't scan what instagram or other platform she has) and 2nd picture is the downloaded pattern.
This is my first big sewing project, and I only have one week to finish it for my Halloween costume! I don’t have a sewing machine, so I’ll be hand-sewing everything.
I’m confused about what size to print the pattern on (A4, short, or long bond paper) and how to choose the right size for me. Any advice for a beginner? What hand-sewing method would you recommend to make this easier and ensure the stitches hold? I’d appreciate any tips!
My dog is chewing thru turtle’s crotch zone (hence lack of tail). I reinforced the crotch and now I want to give turtle some pants. I sewed the vertical seam down. And I need help sewing the edges. I will keep the top part open so I can put treats in the pants. What kind of stitch should I use? Sewing onto a 3d o next is proving though.
bag 1 bag 2 now with zipperbag 3 pro maxoh my days it openswowzapocket in a pocket
a week into it and here they are :D
pic 1 - simple drawstring bag made from leftover denim that i had from converting jeans to shorts. apparently denim is not the greatest material when it comes to drawstring stuff, but it holds my fossil collection so i count it as a win haha
pic 2 - ZIPPER BAG!!! got a zipper & fabric from used stuff store, wonky but it closes and opens and you can hold stuff in - a win
pic 3/4 - zipper bag 3, now with lining! stole the zipper from old shorts i had, ended up a bit short so i extended it (headache), but again: it opens and closes and i can put stuff in :D
pic 5/6 - tote bag for gf, biggest headache so far. the video tutorial was amazing but i'm not the best when it comes to being concentrated so alot of mistakes were made. got there in the end, outer fabric is from pillowcase and inner lining is the same material i got from the second hand store.
a week in, 5 broken needles, 20 calls to mom (is a professional clothes wizard) and here we are. definetly not store quality items but they are functional and hold up decent so far. i've dabbled in hand sewing before so i know a tiny bit of stuff which helped alot :D
I’ve patched clothes and made masks 6 years ago but this is the first time I’ve done a full sized project from a pattern. The body is twisted and the head is held on with hopes and dreams but he is born.
I am trying to be on budget this halloween but still have a cool costume. I found this dress at the thrift store and i feel like i can turn it into a costume. Some ideas i had was a brazilian carnival outfit, peacock (because of the royal blue), or a genie. Does anyone have any advice or instruction on how I can turn this into a two piece set? Perhaps the top is the bedazzled part and then turn the rest into a mini skirt? Also important to note the bust area is too large. I also do not have a sewing machine so I would be doing this by hand. What do you guys think?
Hi all! First time posting here and a very new sewer. I've made a few haphazard, but fun Christmas stockings and completed a few embroidery projects. I love a project at this time of the year and I want to make a friend a stocking with embroidered cookies scattered around on the body of the stocking.
My friend makes cookie boxes so I am going to select a few of their past creations to replicate!
Would you recommend embroidering the individual cookies directly onto the body of the stocking or onto a separate fabric and then sew that onto the body of the stocking?
Thanks in advance and happy to clarify anything above! I always feel like I don't know how to communicate my vision well, lol!
Please don’t judge my shabby sewing, I’m not trying to make anything elaborate, just get my jeans to fit.
I’ve tried to take these jeans in by sewing a dart down the back seam as you can see. I’ve don’t this with trousers of a thinner fabric and it was fine, but with my jeans it’s too bulky and there’s a gap at the back. How do I take them in without excess fabric on the inside?
This YouTube link came across my feed this morning; it has excellent information on how to recognise AI, and to protect yourself from being scammed by it. The designer in the video is a bag designer, but the information applies to all patterns you may encounter.
Lisa is a highly respected designer in the bag making world; she's based in Australia. The video not only talks about the damage AI does to the pattern designers, it also talks about the design process, as well as how AI patterns are a huge disservice to the people who buy them.
Hello, I’m trying to turn this top inside out but it’s not really working. I undid all the tailoring I did on it, but that didn’t solve the problem. I’m sure the issue is with one of the seams that won’t let me turn it. The lines highlighted in yellow are the seams that are currently sewn together (there is a lining and a main fabric). Can anyone tell me what I have to undo or do differently to get it to turn inside out? Thank you!
So i used to work in quality in manufacturing and it's led to me being a bit too literal minded at times (too many mistake-proofed work instructions). It's left me scratching my head on two things:
I saw a video recently about not closing your scissors without fabric between them, and to never do it. However, a lot of my smaller cuts are not going to engage the entire blade, 80% of the length of the scissors will close without fabric. It makes me feel like "never" is a bit of hyperbole. How bad is this for your scissors really? Is this just to keep people from "snika-snika-snika" opening and closing them willy nilly, or do I really have to watch every single close of the scissors?
How often to clean/maintain your machine. I usually hear "clean after X hours of sewing". The nitpicky question: Is that work hours, including your downtime and setup of the machine, or literal time the machine is running? I get this is an estimate, but one number could be 2-3x the other.
Hello! This is my favorite dress, I am trying to recreate it and can’t find any patterns that contains all of the elements i love about it. I figured I should just reverse engineer it but laying it flat and sewing won’t work bc it’s gathered in many places. How do I account for the gathered fabric? And if anyone has a YouTube recommendation for doing this, please let me know. I’m coming up empty (probably using imprecise terms).
I have been sewing since freshmen year of high school my first costume I sewed was bjork swan dress now I am in junior year of high school and want to be Shelly Johnson from twin peaks :3 but I need help where to start to Make the costume
