How do I get over my fear of using my machine?

What kind of machine do you have? Perhaps taking lessons from where you bought the machine. Baby steps!

It is just a cheap brothers I bought at Walmart. I have been handquilting a couple of years but my sister insist it would be easier with machine.

What part of using the machine is making you nervous? Piecing, FMQ, machine applique?

Not knowing anything about it, do not know how to even thread it.

How about taking a quilting class for beginners where you bring your machine to use? The manual should have step by step directions. What kind of machine is it?

Did it come with a manual? The Brothers are pretty simple to run. You could try googling "how to thread a machine". Good luck!

Thank you for all replies. I look at all the pretty things on here and dream. I do have a manual I just have to get off board and read it. Wish me luck.

Read, reread, and reread the manual. Figure out one thing at a time. Maybe start with winding a bobbin. After you have almost memorized that section in the manual, do it double checking yourself ever step of the way. Then wind so many bobbins that you are comfortable with that. Do the same thing with threading the bobbin. Take the bobbin out, rethread, take it out, rethread... there is no hurry at this point. When you are comfortable with that step move on to threading the upper thread of the machine. The manual is your friend!

Check your local community college and park district. They may offer beginner classes which will help you get familiar with your machine. How about your sister, who said it would be easier by machine...can she show you how to use it?

What are you afraid of? Well its just like the first time you picked up a sewing needle except this one has voltage power, and empowers you to do more. I dont know who said it but I like repeating it( it was one of those presidents) We have nothing to fear but fear itself!

Now get away from the computer and go plug her in, turn the light on.....aw now aint she purdy....you dont even need to thread it. Just push on the peddle a little to get the feel for it.....See you can do this!

Looking forward to seeing what you make!

County extension offices usually have someone to help, or maybe a fellow church member?

Where are you located? Are there any board members in your area? If there are, you may want to PM them and perhaps one will come over and help get you started. Manuals are good, but someone showing you is even better!

Just jump right in and play with it! Enjoy it!

If you bought it from a dealer. You can see if they offer classes on your machine. That's what I did when I bought my serger. They were really helpful.

Have any friends that sew? One of my friends from work will bring in her machine when she is confused (usually it is the bobbin) and I will show her how to do it (again, we all have different learning curves lol). It takes about 5 min for someone to show you and then have you do it and they can correct you. We sew at lunch together about 4 of us.

Does your sister sew? Does she live near you? If she cant help, maybe you can find a class at your local tech school to help you learn how to sew.

Try your local county extension office or the state university [such as Kansas State University---not Kansas University]---they are very helpful and will help you out---will also teach you how to take care of your machine---clean oil etc

Baby steps. Don't try to learn everything at once. My first sewing machine was a hand-me-down with no instructions. There was no internet then to search. Finally took a class at a local high school.
Took a long time to get comfortable with it. Now there are so many new things. Give it a kick and have fun

where are you located.
Maybe someone here is close and can help.

How about trying YouTube? I find there are people demonstrating just about everything on there. You could try typing in "Brother sewing machine" and see if there's anything available. You can watch over and over until you "get it"!

We have folks from all over the world here on these boards, I am sure if one of us was close to you, we would be more than happy to help out. I know I would. But a good start is the manual, : ) and it should at least get you started. Once you get it threaded, just use some scrap materials you have laying around and practice on it. You can do this, I know you can !!!

Go to your local JoAnns and talk to the cutting counter ladies or if you are lucky there will be a Viking Sewing Gallery or an independent maybe they will help you. I work at a gallery and even if you did not buy your machine I generally can help you thread it. I would only caution you that when you are ready to replace that machine you do more homework and buy from someplace that will support you on your machine purchase like we do.

I have a friend who, like you, was petrified of her sewing machine. She had a new one in the box for 10 years before she even opened it! All you can do is sit down and start working with it. It just takes time but the more time, the more relaxed you will feel. Ask your LQS if they will go over the machine with you if there isn't a dealer nearby. Good luck! Soon you will love it!

We all learn differently. I learn better following written directions. Others need to be shown how to do something. If you have trouble with the written directions, find someone to show you. Perhaps a retired home ec teacher, or the current home ec teacher, or your extension office. If you have Community Ed in your town, call them and ask for a sewing class. If you are in a small town, put up a sign on the bulletin board of your grocery store, if they have one.

i have one of those its really easy just jump in and make an easy quilt to start! thats how I started!!

If I was close by, I would enjoy coming over and helping you to learn about your new machine and quilting on it. Maybe you can find a friend to come over and show you what your machine can do.

It is not necessarily easier to quilt. May be faster. But if you like to sew by hand, just enjoy it.

If there is a change in life that you want to continue sewing but have difficulty doing it by hand, don't worry and just unpack that machine and start trying it out. Baby steps.

I would check out some of the You Tube videos available. Just go to YouTube (.) com and enter a search for sewing, machine, piecing, etc. After watching some of the video you may then feel a bit more confident about starting to use your machine.

Cut up some scrap fabric and just practice sewing, using all of the different settings available.

As others have mentioned taking a class. If you ask around you might be able to find someone to help walk you through different things on your machine. Search out any of the machine dealers in your area and go and have them demonstrate their machines to you. Even though it might be a different brand they will help you with their models and that may be just enough help to get you started on your machine at home.

Good luck with machine sewing. Keep us updated on how you're doing.

Have a Great Day!

Pam M

Get out the manual, read it carefully and then start on page 1 and do each thing it describes. It won't take long before you are both good friends.

I hope all is well with you and your machine!
I know I did the same thing with my machine, embroidery scared me but I really wanted to get started.
I waited several months, now we are getting to know each other. "I" have a lot to learn, she knows it all, LOL