A Sewing Habit I Wish I Had Started Sooner as a Beginner

How saving my test swatches helped me stop guessing, remember what worked, and feel more confident at my sewing machine.

As a beginner, I spend a lot of time experimenting with my sewing machine.

I try different stitches, adjust the length and width, change the tension, and test everything on scrap fabric. Sometimes I finally find settings that work beautifully—only to forget them by the time I begin another project.

That’s why I started saving my stitch samples.

I Thought I Would Remember the Settings

When I found a combination that worked, I assumed I would remember it.

I didn’t.

A few days or weeks later, I would sit down with a similar fabric and have no idea which stitch length, width, tension, needle, or thread I had used. I had to start testing all over again.

Writing down the settings while they are fresh takes only a minute and gives me a useful starting point for the next project.

My Test Swatches Became Useful References

I used to think of test swatches as scraps to throw away. Now I see them as records of what I’m learning.

A saved fabric sample can remind me:

• How a stitch looked on a particular fabric

• Whether the fabric puckered

• Which settings produced the neatest result

• Which decorative stitches I would use again

Because I am still learning, having a visual reference is often more helpful than trying to remember a list of numbers.

What I Record

For each sample, I write down details such as:

• Stitch name or number

• Stitch length and width

• Tension

• Needle

• Thread

• Fabric

• Presser foot

• Notes about the result

I don’t always know exactly what every setting means yet—and that’s okay. The goal is simply to record what I tried and what happened.

I’m Building the Binder as I Learn

I’m not trying to test every stitch on my machine at once.

I add a page when I try a new fabric, discover a stitch I like, or find settings that I want to use again. Over time, the binder is becoming a personal record of my sewing progress.

It doesn’t have to be perfect to be useful.

A Helpful Habit for Other Beginners

If you are learning to sew too, consider saving your test swatches instead of throwing them away.

Label the fabric, record the settings, and add a few notes about what worked—or what didn’t. Your samples can help you make decisions more confidently as you continue learning.

I created a Printable Stitch Reference Binder to make this process easier for myself and other beginners. It includes a reusable worksheet, cover page, and illustrated instructions.

It is available as a digital download in my Etsy shop. The physical binder, printed pages, fabric samples, and sewing supplies shown in the photographs are for demonstration purposes only and are not included.

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

Printable Sewing Stitch Reference Binder

Save fabric samples, machine settings, and sewing notes as you learn. Print a fresh page whenever you test a new combination.

View the Printable on Etsy

Physical binder, printed pages, fabric samples, and sewing supplies are not included.