A sewing machine, like any other piece of equipment, requires time and research to purchase and use. So for these basics, we'll stick to hand sewing. Here's what you'll need: A needle: You'll want ...

My 11-year-old son pressed the sewing machine foot pedal like a NASCAR driver hitting the gas on a straight away. The machine hummed and rattled as he fed the fabric under the flashing needle. I wo… ...