Cut two rectangles of plain cotton. Pin them right sides together, pins perpendicular to the edge so you can pull them out as you approach. Set a straight stitch at about 2.5 mm. Line the fabric edge up with the 15 mm mark on the throat plate, not with the presser foot. Backstitch three stitches, sew forward at a crawl watching the guide line rather than the needle, backstitch again at the end. Press the seam open. That last step is the one beginners skip and the one that makes the difference.
Questions people actually ask
How fast should I sew as a beginner?
Slowly enough that you are steering rather than reacting. Most machines will crawl on a light pedal, and if yours has a speed limiter, set it to half. Speed is the last thing to add, not the first.
Do I need to backstitch?
At the start and end of every seam that is not going to be crossed by another. Three or four stitches in reverse is enough; a long reverse run just builds a lump.
Last reviewed 2026-08-11
