5 most common mistakes beginners make when sewing - (and how to avoid them so that sewing is a joy, not a frustration)

Helena Lachowiczová
2025-10-28T10:46:21+01:00

👋 Hi,
my name is Helena, I'm the creator of Šibabi courses, and over the years of working with mothers and grandmothers, I've seen hundreds of women who started sewing with enthusiasm... but soon ended up disappointed.
Not because they couldn't do it — but because they were making small mistakes that discouraged them from continuing.

Here are five of them – and simple tips on how to elegantly avoid them 💕

1️⃣ Starting with a complex project

"The very first thing I'll sew will be a baby hoodie with a hood and snaps!" 😅

However, a sewing machine is best "learned" on straight seams and simple shapes.
If you jump straight into a difficult pattern, you'll struggle with thread tension, fabric elasticity, and ultimately with yourself!

If you're starting to sew, it's best to begin with a simple project. Ideally, try out the machine and experience how it sews on simple shapes or even on paper! Here you can download a free PDF, which contains various shapes that allow you to practice sewing without ruining fabric. We sew this step together in my sewing course, and it is part of it.

💡 Tip: Start with a small project – like a cap or a dribble bib.
You'll gain confidence and joy from a finished item.

In the course, the first thing we sew is this beautiful scarf, a dribble bib. It helps you gain confidence and get acquainted with the machine. Although it looks difficult, it's not.

2️⃣ Using wrong needles and threads

"I have some old threads and a universal needle at home, that should be enough..."

Old or unsuitable threads tend to break, and a universal needle won't go through everything.
This then leads to skipped stitches or crooked seams – and you think you "can't sew". Or that your machine is bothering you. Among beginners, I often see incorrect selection when working with knitted fabrics. Due to wrong needles, they make holes in the seams, and the joy of the finished piece is gone.

💡 Tip:
Use quality threads (e.g., Amann, Gütermann) and choose the needle according to the material. In the sewing course for moms and grandmas, we learn about needles and threads, and you'll receive a beautiful guide from me that will leave no doubt about what needle and thread you need.

3️⃣ Are afraid to adjust thread tension

"Better not to touch anything on the machine, so I don't upset it!"

However, thread tension determines stitch quality. And then the entire sewing. The biggest problem arises with simple home machines, where beginners are often afraid to turn the wheel that regulates thread tension and set the tension.

Thread tension determines how loose the fabric joins are. And I often see threads "peeking out" between the joins, which is not good. Such a garment is neither presentable nor durable.

💡 Tip:
Always do a test on a scrap of fabric – a few stitches and check if the stitch is nicely straight on both sides.
Don't be afraid to turn the wheel – the machine won't thank you, but the stitch will 😄

4️⃣ Choosing wrong fabrics for patterns

"I'll try it with sweatshirt fabric, that'll be nice!"

This is the most common mistake beginners make. They don't know fabrics and have no idea how each one stretches. They don't read pattern instructions and don't have the experience to estimate the fabric type. Then I often see beginners sewing sleeve cuffs on sweatshirts from stiff pieces of sweatshirt fabric, children can't get their hands through, it's hard to stretch and even sew.

💡 Tip:
Before sewing, carefully study the pattern and its specifications. Every pattern contains information on what fabrics to use for sewing and which ones you might need for hems. In the course, we will show you the differences in fabric elasticity and teach you how to read patterns.

5️⃣ Unclear about seam allowances

"Why does it always turn out smaller?"

Many patterns already include seam allowances, but others do not. And this is a common stumbling block for beginners. They sew without seam allowances or, conversely, add them where they are already included. With simple knit patterns that stretch well, you often won't notice. But the problem arises as soon as you start sewing with rigid fabrics or if the pattern has multiple pieces that are "joined," and there, the allowances cannot be cheated, because it simply won't work out.

If you sew without allowances where there are none - the result will be smaller than you want. And if you add them where they already exist - the result will be too large.

💡 Tip:
Always read the pattern instructions before cutting.
If you're adding seam allowance, you must add as much as you actually sew, or draw a "line" on the pattern where you will sew, so you don't end up with a mess.

🌸 In conclusion:

Sewing is not about perfection, but about patience and the joy of small progress.
Each of us made mistakes — what's important is that we learn from them.

If you want to sew without stress, from absolute basics, and with confidence that you'll manage it,
check out my course 👉 [Sewing for Baby]

There I will guide you step by step —
from choosing fabric to the first beautiful piece you'll be proud of 💕

✂️ PS:

Once you read the guide, choose just one thing you will do differently next time you sew.
Small changes make huge differences.

Sincerely,

Helena Dobrozenská (formerly Lachowiczová)