Sewing for Beginners
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Fabric
For every sewing project, you must first decide on a suitable fabric and then use the right materials for this fabric so that neither the fabric nor the sewing machine are damaged. The following table (Quelle: Naehmaschine.de - Stoffkunde) provides an overview:
| Fabric | Characteristics | Suitable for… | Sewing instructions |
| Cotton | easy to care for, easy to work with, made from natural plant material, soft and absorbent | tear-resistant heavy-duty textiles such as furniture covers, very suitable for beginners | Universal needle, cotton or polyester thread, reinforce seams subject to wear and tear |
| Canvas | tightly woven from strong thread, traditionally made from natural fibers and sometimes also mixed with chemical fibers, tear-resistant | robust textiles such as bags, pouches or seat cushions | jeans or leather needle, strong thread made from cotton or polyester, reinforce seams that are subject to heavy use |
| Tweed | coarse wool fabric with a hand-woven character, water-repellent, hard-wearing | Depending on the thickness of the fabric it is suitable for jackets, coats, pants or skirts | Universal or jersey needle, strong cotton or polyester thread, reinforce seams subject to heavy wear |
| Jersey | elastic, made from a blend of cotton and viscose, machine-knitted, very fine, stretchy | T-shirts or dresses | Jeans or continuous needle, polyester or cotton thread: zigzag stitch for finishing |
| Fleece | thick, voluminous velour fabric, usually made of polyester, stores warmth | Sweaters, baby clothes, blankets | Jersey or stretch needle, elastic polyester thread, zigzag stitch for finishing |
| Chiffon | made of very fine threads, delicate, slightly transparent, usually made of natural fibers, light weight | airy blouses or tunics | Microtex or silk needle, silk or polyester thread, make fabric more difficult when sewing |
| Jeans / Denim | robust and strong fabric, made of cotton, light, natural-colored threads are woven with indigo blue threads, creating a finely striped fabric structure | Pants and denim jackets, but also well suited for sewing bags | Jeans needle, strong denim thread or polyester, reinforce heavily used seams |
| Satin | elegant, shiny, mainly made of polyester, almost wrinkle-free, hardly absorbs any moisture | evening wear or bed linen | Microtex or silk needle, polyester or silk thread |
| Silk | has a cooling or warming effect depending on the season, natural product of the silkworm | festive clothing | Microtex or silk needle, silk or polyester thread |
| Linen | durable, breathable, absorbent, natural structure, crease-resistant | Summer clothing, towels | Universal needle, high-quality cotton or polyester thread, neaten edges |
| Sweat fabric | soft, comfortable, heat-insulating, breathable, absorbent, stretchy | Casual wear such as jogging pants or hoodies, sportswear, children's clothing | Jersey or stretch needle, elastic thread, neaten edges |
Basic knowledge of fabrics is essential to achieve good sewing results.