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How to stitch your first free-motion lines

Pinny, a SewSift mascot

Practise speed and smooth hand movement with simple shapes.

How-toBeginner20 minutes
ResearchedSewSift editorialChecked 1 Nov 2026

Step by step

  1. Draw simple shapes or loops on your practice piece.
  2. Run the machine at a steady medium speed.
  3. Move the fabric smoothly; don't jerk it.
  4. If stitches are long and jagged, speed the machine up slightly and slow your hands.
  5. Stitch over lines twice for a sketchy, drawn look.

Watch

3 Stitches Every Free Motion Embroidery Beginner Must Learn (8:32)
By Wardrobe School with Vania · Open on YouTube

Chosen from its title and channel: an 8-minute video from Wardrobe School with Vania on the same topic as this guide. Embedded from YouTube with credit; we don't host it. It only loads when you press play.

All guides ›Free-motion embroidery

Sources

All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

  1. Thread Sketching in Action: Beginner's guide to free motion embroidery
  2. Brother: Free motion embroidery
  3. SewShare: Free motion basics
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