Sewing for beginners: common mistakes and how to avoid them

New to sewing? Let’s skip the classic beginner mistakes together

If you’re just getting started with sewing, welcome! You’re in the right place. Sewing is brilliant, creative, occasionally confusing and sometimes a bit rage-inducing. Most beginner mistakes aren’t about lack of talent, they’re just part of learning how fabric and patterns actually work together.

Let’s go through the most common sewing issues I see beginners make and how to avoid them, without overcomplicating things.

1. Choosing the right fabric for the job

Fabric choice matters more than most beginners realise. If a pattern asks for a woven fabric and you grab something stretchy (or super slippery, or very thick) it’s going to feel like the pattern is wrong when really it's the fabric.

Before buying fabric, check:

• Is it woven or stretchy?

• Is it lightweight, medium, or heavy?

• Does it drape softly or hold its shape?

And yes, always pre-wash your fabric before cutting into it. Fabric can shrink and colour can run and the last thing you want it to spend all your time and energy on something beautiful and then it shrinks!

2. Skipping prep because you’re excited (we’ve all done it)

I know you just want to sew. But skipping prep is the fastest way to end up frustrated halfway through.

Good prep looks like:

• Washing and ironing your fabric

• Cutting pattern pieces accurately

• Transferring markings (notches, dots, lines... they’re there for a reason)

Ten extra minutes at the start saves unpicking later. Ask me how I know 🙃

3. Not actually reading the pattern instructions

Pattern instructions aren’t just polite suggestions. They’re a step-by-step order of construction that usually assumes you’ll follow them.

Before you start:

• Read the instructions all the way through

• Check which view you’re making

• Look up any techniques you don’t recognise

You don’t need to memorise everything, this is just so you know what’s coming so nothing surprises you mid-seam.

4. Seam allowance going rogue

Seam allowance is the distance between your stitching line and the raw edge of the fabric. If it changes halfway through a garment, the fit changes too.

To keep things consistent:

• Set a seam guide on your machine or use the markings

• Go slowly at first

• Check your seam allowance before sewing long seams

Accuracy here makes a huge difference, especially for clothing.

5. Treating pressing as “optional”

Pressing is not the same as ironing, and it’s not just for the end. Pressing as you sew helps:

• Seams lie flat

• Pieces line up properly

• Your finished garment look intentional (not homemade in the bad way)

Press after almost every seam. It really is that important.

6. Being scared to make mistakes

Nobody is born knowing how to insert a zip or read a pattern. You learn by trying and failing and trying again!

You will:

• Sew things backwards

• Miss steps

• Unpick seams (sometimes more than once)

That doesn’t mean you’re bad at sewing. It means you’re learning. Every mistake teaches you something!

A little reminder before you head back to your machine

If sewing ever feels hard, it’s not because you’re failing it’s because you’re building a new skill with your hands. Slow down, take breaks and don’t expect perfection from yourself.

You’re allowed to be a beginner. We all have to start badly.

Happy sewing 💛🧵