Sewing machine practice

[Tommy217xxx]

So I got a sewing machine a few weeks ago and have been messing around with just learning the basics of my machine and in that time, Ive realized that i suck a sewing around corners. So I’ve been coming up with practice exercises. 
 

Basically following the lines with my machine. I traced some quarters to practice circles. Obviously I’m terrible at sewing and have a ton of practice ahead of me but does anyone have any tricks or exercises that they use to practice sewing?

[AlZilla]

You're doing one of the exact things recommended for new sewists. People starting out with domestics are recommended to sew on paper until they get the hang of it.

I would switch to cardboard instead of using up your leather and just keep sewing patterns without thread. Build muscle memory.

[Tommy217xxx]

4 hours ago, AlZilla said:

You're doing one of the exact things recommended for new sewists. People starting out with domestics are recommended to sew on paper until they get the hang of it.

I would switch to cardboard instead of using up your leather and just keep sewing patterns without thread. Build muscle memory.

Thanks for the tip. I never thought to use cardboard and to take the thread out. I was just basically paying for my education.

 

thanks tj

[friquant]

11 hours ago, AlZilla said:

I would switch to cardboard

Cardboard is awesome. Here are some more exercises. Have fun!
 

1. Draw an arbitrary shape on the cardboard and pretend it's your lawn. Drive within it in a "lawnmower" pattern, keeping your spacing even from the previous layer.
2. Cut two rectangles of cardboard, and stitch them together about 1/2 inch from the edge
3. Cut two rectangles of cardboard. Then change the edge on one piece so it's gently convex. Stitch the straight piece and the convex piece together about 1/2 inch from the edge. (This will make a 3-D shape)
4. Same as #3 but with two convex pieces
5. Same as #3 but with one convex, one concave
6. Make a simple knife sheath from a single folded piece of cardboard. Make the curves as tidy as you can
7. Do a straight run of stitches. Then go in reverse following the same line.