Ah the sewing machine... it's our trusty friend (or occasionally enemy when a needle snaps or bobbin thread runs out) and the ultimate 'could-not-live-without' piece of tech on our sewing tables. So given that 13th June is a day of national celebration of this cleverest of machines, surely we're allowed to drop everything and run to our sewing desks, pronto?
If you're thinking of using today as an excuse to treat yourself to your first ever sewing machine, take a look at our Best sewing machines for beginners guide.
And keep reading for more ways to join in with today's festivities...
Get the party started! How to celebrate
Spring clean your machine
Let's face it, we give them a pretty thorough workout, but when was the last time you got your machine serviced? We always suggest taking your machine to a professional for a proper service regularly, but if you can't for any reason we've put together a free guide to cleaning and maintaining your machine.
Refresh your skills
Whether you’ve just invested in your first ever machine and have no idea where to start, or you’re already pretty confident with the basics but want to try some new things, we’ll have something for you! We’re creating a machine-stitching masterclass here on our website, split into bite-sized chunks so you can pick the bit you want to tackle next. Check out our How to use a sewing machine post for links to all our handy articles and step-by-step guides.
Take a free video class
From Sew Ready: Machine Basics to Machines for Sewing Knit Fabrics and Machine Savy: Tips for Creative Sewing, video course pros Craftsy have got a handy selection of free resources to boost your skills.
Get to know your needles
If you haven't already tried out different needles for different fabrics, prepare to be amazed! Adjusting your needle choice can revolutionise how easily fabric moves through your machine and the end results. If you're not sure where to start, check out our guide to sewing machine needle types.
Treat yourself
If all this talk of the sewists' favourite tool has got you thinking of updating your model, or finally treating yourself, we've put together some tips for what to look for when buying a sewing machine here, and Best sewing machines for beginners here.
