Woohoo! Now you can start collecting patterns and fabric lile the reat of us! And sewing.

Congratulations—- looking forward to seeing curtains, clothes and everything else!

If you can sew a straight line, you can make beautiful curtains! Congrats! Singer's a good machine to learn with.

Congratulations! Enjoy your new addition.

Gutterman thread, a good seam ripper, good scissors (I like Kai, but Fiskars are ok to start with) larger ones for fabric cutting and a smaller one for trimming threads at the machine.. Schmetz or organ needles in at least 2 different sizes ( size 11 or 70 for light weight fabric, size 14 or 80 for medium weights, or size 16 or 90 for heavier weight fabric) and be prepared to change the needles fairly often depending on your sewing times. Decent tape measure and rigid rulers are important, too.

Good long pins, or even better, the new clips which come in different sizes, prevent lots of finger sticks. i also like a magnetic dish if youre using pins to contain them. Chalk markers are safer than the ”eraseable“ markers which can be accidentally permanently set. a good pressing surface with a good steam iron and a good pressing cloth is also a must for turning out profesionally finished items. There's more, but it's a start.

Congrats!

I have several working vintage Singer machines, which have mostly compatible parts.

FWIW, B.P. (before pandemic), I used to peruse thrift and second hand stores for sewing notions & supplies. I've gotten bobbins, pins and all kinds of fasteners (and trims too) for pennies - literally, and amassed a big collection of quilting pins, which are longer, with larger round heads that make doing lots of pinning more comfortable for my fingers.

A local church thrift mall has been the best source over the years. I've also gotten vintage sewing patterns and some very nice fabrics too.

I avoid Gutterman thread.....it unravels on my Bernina. I like Coats & Clark thread. I love Schmetz needles and Fiskar scissors tho. ♥ My orange handled Fiskars....had them replaced because the plastic handles broke. They have a life-time warranty.....DO NOT get the orange handled ones. The soft grey plastic is gentle on your hands. You'll need a cardboard cutting mat, a Sulky thread box to hold ALL your sewing thread & a bobbin holder. ♥ Your going to be able to sew and see your designs come to life. ENJOY!

Note: I use my zipper foot a LOT. I do a lot of upholstery and it's GREAT for piping or zippered pillow covers.

Congratulations!

One online source that seems to have a lot of good parts, products and accessories is sewingpartsonline dot com

I need to get back there soon.

If you want a bit more illumination, IKEA has aan inexpensive adjustable gooseneck LED lamp. And look for sales on those (cant think of name now) natural light lamps sold at Joann and other places. Can find at second hand venues as well.

Lots of good beginner sewing tips on YT. Reddit has sewing forums.

Is this your machine?

Thank you, everyone. I am sorry about the late response. Yes, curtains and simple clothes are on the list. First, I must take up a slew of pants. Nothing great, mostly hiking pants and for a relative, lots of work pants. I also bought an a-line skirt pattern and Liberty of London fabric last time I was in London. Now I can make that skirt. I have not been able to find a good seamstress in years. My inseam is not the same on both sides and I have a hard time getting dry cleaners to hem my pants correctly. I also have short arms and want to shorten long sleeve t-shirts.

I have always loved textiles and at one time had a lot of vintage fabric. Unfortunately, I gave it all away. Time to start collecting again. I have found fabric at estate sales, thrift stores and occasionally someone would gift me some when cleaning out a relative's house.

Terezosa-I will see how the machine works just using the zig-zag foot.

Bluebird-Thanks for the specific brand names of things. I knew there were better needles etc. but didn't know which ones.

Carolb- I love thrift stores and will keep my eyes open for sewing items.

1929Spanish- The problem is I will collect too much. I love fabric.

Kswl- I will share as I go. I am slow and very busy but eventually, I will have projects to share.

Oakley- I have crazy big windows and eventually I will have to make some panels as purchasing them is custom only.

Outside playing- Thank you.

nicole-I have several spools of old (25 years) Coats & Clark thread. Is it still ok to use? Thank you for the pictures. They help me to plan an area in my studio.

Petalique-Thank you for the website. I have a relative who is extremely handy and is going to give my machine a good cleaning and lubrication before I start any projects. He can order any parts he may need for the job. Yes, I have several lamps. Bright light truly makes those close work tasks much easier.

Congratulations!

If shortening things is going to be your thing, see if your machine has a stitch like this

This blind hem stitch is the fastest way to hem and shorten things. The fabric is folded so that the straight stitches run along the inside of the hem and the zig zag just knicks the face fabric creating the blind stitch.

Also, if you are shortening t shirts and stretchy fabrics, I suggest you get some ball point needles. Working with stretch fabrics requires stitches that aren't straight as, if they are, as the fabric stretches, the straight stitches will not and instead they will rip. Any stitch with a v or zig zag will stretch with the fabric and not rip.

Another thing to investigate is if your machine will accommodate 2 threads. If you can use a double needle, you can get a well finished stretchy hem for things like knit pants.

Be courageous, try stuff, have fun!!

@hcbm...machines are thread sensitive. I own two machines. It's not recommended to use old thread. Fiber breaks down in humid climates...light..dust..static electricity. I usually buy NEW thread for a project....but I'd use old thread if you pull on it and it's still strong especially for mending old blue jeans. It's up to you.

Yay for sewing!

The only thing I ever had trouble with is with excessively thick topstitching thread -- like the kind they use on jeans. I solved it by adjusting the tension on my bobbin case, but ugh, regret. If you ever need to do that, I recommend marking the original position of the screw with a bit of nail polish so you can put it back to the way it was.

For really strong threads, I've never had a difficult time with Coats & Clark Dual Duty, but anything thicker is really challenging.

FWIW, I was taught to load extra thick thread on the bobbin, not to try and thread it through the needle.

And I inherited a sewing cabinet filled with spools of thread from one of my great aunts. A lot of it might now be antique - the wood spools are so cool and a lot is silk. I have used quite a bit of it - as nicole suggests, test the strength first. Thread doesn't have to completely resist breaking, but it shouldn't break easily.

For scissors, I prefer Gingher shears, which are made in Italy. It does not hurt to have more than one pair of shears, but make sure that you use them only for fabric. Buy different scissors for other uses, and protect your fabric shears.

I have a good collection of sewing needles, and I use ball-point needles for knits and special leather needles for leather and hides. When you sew leather, make sure to use a long stitch, as the stitches create perforations that can turn into tears.

Another good item to have is a magnetic pin holder - this saves a lot of time, as it is easier to use than a pin cushion.

You may also want a cutting pad and rotary cutter, especially if you plan to make quilts.

I use a zigzag foot for straight stitches, and my machines do not have a straight stitch foot. One of the reasons for this is that you may want to move the needle position to the left or right, and this is especially important when installing zippers. I use a zipper foot for zippers, and your machine probably came with that.

There are other feet you might want, such as one with rollers, which I use with hides.

Also get some beeswax for the ends of thread, to make it easier to thread the needle. This is helpful for threading the sewing machine needle, and I wax the entire length of the thread for hand sewing the finishing details.

Thank you all, I am very excited and will play around a little this weekend. Today I was near a Michael's so I stopped to see if they had needles. They had a whole section of empty racks where needles, pins, and other notions should be displayed. When I asked if they were restocking the clerk said there is a shortage of all kinds of sewing notions. They have been out of everything for over a month. Luckily I live in a very diverse cultural area of NYC and there are several sewing-type shops within 10 miles. I love traveling to different areas to eat and now I get to shop in Latino, Asian, European, etc. sewing stores. The fabrics in the South East Asian shops are to die for.

Annie- I do have a stitch like that. I appreciate the video and will spend some time practicing before I try it on the pants. Thanks for the information about the type of stitches to use on knits and double-needle. I will have to research the two needles more.

Nicole- I have to clear out my old sewing junk and start fresh. I will test the threads and use new for anything I care about.

SeattleMCM-I will not touch the bobbin tension. I have another machine that someone gave me and the tension is a mess. It has sat in my closet for years unused. It creates a nest every time. I wish I knew someone who could fix it. I have a friend who would love to have a working machine.

carolb- I thought you used the same thread in the top and the bobbin. Is there something I should be doing differently?

Lars- My MIL gave me a used pair of Gingher pinking shears several years ago. I should buy a regular pair. She used to sew and tailor a lot. I have only used them once or twice on fabric. That is very interesting about leather. I have several small pieces of soft leather that maybe I could make into a small coin bag. I used to save old purses of soft leather just because I love the soft broken-in feeling. This machine was given to me without any accessories. The superintendent of my building said a resident had asked him to either give it to someone or throw it out. She didn't sew anymore. I will buy a zipper foot. Beeswax is a great idea. Do you just apply it with your fingers or run the tread over the wax?

Hcbm, if you travel to Queens i know a good repair person in Bayside, SewRight Sewing machines. The store has had a change of owner but i believe the repair person, John, is still there.

The beeswax I have is in a plastic container with openings (I think it is Dritz, bought to have something right away) -- you slide the thread through the opening. I was recently hemming a very full skirt with a very deep hem (school choir dress that cannot be cut) and I was sending more time untangling the thread than stitching -- even after using the beeswax. I consulted Dr. Google and found a youtube video with a woman who used lip balm with beeswax and I recognized the tube as Burt's Bees. I tried it and it was better than the straight beeswax, so I am using that for the time being. At least good to know you can try it in a pinch.

A lot of good advise here.

If you are a total beginner, you might want to take some classes (online counts) or at least get a book to consult when you have questions. I'm not that familiar with the sewing classes, but the most cost effective way to get instruction might be to join something like National Sewing Circle or Craftsy. I have seen ads for both that give a first year subscription for about $3 and that could go a long way towards getting you comfortable in working with your machine and learning tips and tricks to make sewing easier and your results more professional looking. Also, Schmetz has a needle chart available for download -- will show you all the various types of needles and the different characteristics and uses. I printed it and tucked it inside my owner's manual .

blubird I live in Queens. Thank you, I will visit them. I would like to see if the other machine is worth the effort to repair it. I would then gift it to my friend. We could sew together. Pre-pandemic I was looking for sewing classes and had no luck. Now I am just going to dive in and try. Youtube seems to have a lot of videos to get me started.

lascatx- I have Burts Bees and have often struggled when hand sewing something. I look forward to trying that trick. I have very limited sewing experience. Over 30 years ago I made a few pieces of simple clothes, a Laura Ashley ruffled skirt, a simple polyester dress, and a knit jumpsuit. The skirt looked great beacuse my MIL assisted me. The others were ok but not great. I have made many pilliows with piping and that is the extent of my sewing. I think I have a sewing book somewhere on the shelf. However, I would love to take some classes. Mode Fabrics used to offer them but not at the present time. The one place I found is a community center that is currently closed due to the pandemic. They have a 90+ woman who has taught many generations and was recently on the local news. She is still going strong and hoping to reopen in the next couple of months. I'll check into National Sewing Circle and Craftsy. Youtube seems to have a lot. And I can always ask my 95 year old MIL but she has little stamina anymore. Though she hemmed pants last week.

I just reupholstered the seats on a leather couch....and a whole leather ottoman. Gumming up the sewing needle will make the needle stick. Hand sewing....it might be a fix. IDK

@Lars... Does your needle gum up and stick?

I only use a small amount of beeswax on the end of the thread for the sewing machine, and when hand sewing, I use an old beeswax candle that had broken into three parts. The candle was 3" diameter x 3" high (never burned), and I think it will last me the rest of my life. I lightly pull the full length of thread that I want to use for hand sewing across the broken candle, and this does stiffen the thread, but it has never gummed up on the needle. I generally try to hand sew with shorter lengths of thread, as I find it easier to use two lengths for a long hem rather than one length, especially for large skirts, or even coats. I do not like to do blind stitches on the machine because they are not truly blind, and some thread always shows.

Lars, the dresses I have been working on are full length, sweeping skirts. I couldn't possibly pull one length of thread, or even two, long enough to hem the skirt. I'm working in at least 4 or 5 lengths. I've never used beeswax for threading the machine, but it has worked well for me with other hand sewing. For some reason, it decided not to last weekend. I'm not sure if it was the colder weather or just the fact that it knew I was turning up about 20 inches of hem and more challenge would make it even more special. These are school choir uniforms and they can't be cut. There are always a few deep hems, but I don't think I've ever done more than 6-8 inches.

Happy for you and your new machine. Such a wealth of good advice here. I learned to sew in grade school - went to classes at a fabric store. Just donated my old Singer and one day would like to replace that. So enjoy yours and I'll look forward to your projects and everyone else's here.

lascatx are you referring to how the thread tangles up when hand sewing? Are you doubling the thread? That will snarl way worse than single thread.

I use single thread when I am doing hems, even though sometimes it slips out of the needle. In general, I do not use thread that is longer than about 20-30 inches, at the very most.

Lars- Now I know I can use a bit of an old beeswax candle I have. Also, I have been playing around and could not understand how a blind stitch on a machine was truly blind. Thank you for the explanation.

Arapaho-I hope you get a machine you truly love when you are ready.

I went looking for notions etc today and found a local sewing store that had Singer brand needles. I bought 110/18 for heavy duty, 99/14 ball points for knits,90/14 for woven, and 80/11 for woven. I know that I probably bought too many kinds but I want to try a little of everything. Since needles are in short supply I will offer some to my SIL or MIL if they need any.

Tomorrow afternoon I hope to have an hour or two to start learning how to hem pants. I'll post my efforts.

Again I am so thankfull for all your help. I am ridiculously excited to learn how to sew.

Hcbm, If you try the lip balm trick, she just rubbed a little on her finger tip and then ran the thread over that. Lip balm is softer than beeswax and you might get too much if you ran the thread over it directly. I just realized I neglected to mention that.

My machine has a blind hem stitch but I haven't used it since I haven't made any clothes since getting it. My last machine had a blind hem stitch also, but I never got used to it. I was taught to hem by hand and it seemed easier to just stitch it by hand than to futz with the machine and stitch adjustment to get it just right and have it as near invisible as possible. Since that will be a lot of what you want to do, it will be worth getting it down right.

I use a single thread for hand hemming and a similar length to Lars. I only double the thread when sewing on buttons or snaps and that's with a shorter length. There's just something about that spool of thread that has it kinking up and knotting itself if I'm not slow and really careful.

Here's my rule for collecting fabric.

1. pick a cabinet and that's all the fabric you get to buy.

2. once that cabinet is full, then something has to go if you want something new.

3. Preferrably, when something goes that means goes through the sewing machine to become something wonderful.

4. Expensive fabric that you got for cheap at the thrift store doesn't count.

5. Rolled expensive fabric that you got cheap at the thrift store is okay when you store it in your husband's office closet.

6. Expensive fabric that you got cheap to sell on eBay doesn't count.

7. Don't live near a thrift store where one of the donors is a drapery maker in a fancy community (= not your town).

Petalique- Sorry I didn't answer your question. Yes, the machine in your post is the machine I have.

1929Spanish- I need to add to your rules. If you can fill and carry by yourself a large plastic storage container to the attic and no one saw you do it, it doesn't count.

I really did give away tons of beautiful fabric. Most only a yard or less but I did give away a bolt of seafoam green canvas duck. It was left over from having a slipcover made. I had a neighbor who gave me garbage bags full of Schumacher fabric. Her brother was a trucker driver for them and he used to drive the leftovers to the recycling place. Most pieces were only big enough to make a pillow but there was some that were more than a yard. I had a wicker chair recovered with a Schumacher chintz print. I will take a photo next time I go to my weekend shack. Tons of random yardage I would get at farm auctions. I regret not keeping some the fabric but there is only so much space and time to organize the space.