Anyone got any tips tricks or patterns???
Practice on samples of the materials you're going to use for a project before starting in earnest - it's important to get the needle, thread, and tensions worked out, otherwise you'll be spending your time snapping needles and thread, and unpicking piles of thread loops from the piece. Get spare needles - they will break - and buy good quality (I was recommended to get Schmetz, and they've been good).
Get your working setup organised so that you have a good feel for the throttle pedal at slower speeds - don't want to be at a critical bit and suddenly get a burst of rapid stitching just where you don't want it.
Get some spare bobbins (the little spool that goes inside). They're cheap and loading two or three with the same thread saves having to disturb things too much if the current bobbin runs out in the middle of sewing. Extras are obviously handy if you use more than one type or colour of thread. (Can get little storage boxes that hold lots of them).
Also get: tailor's chalk (in different colours can be handy), tape measure with metric and imperial, good scissors (large dressmaker's ones for cutting out, small ones for snipping thread), seam ripper (for undoing mistakes rather than ripping seams per-se). Something to store all the bits in - take your pick of the many storage boxes with little compartments. A good work light that can be positioned to throw the light where you need it (the machine's built in lamp won't be up to much and gives a very localised light at the needle). A small bucket for chucking all the bits of tiny offcuts and snippings, and the bits of trimmed thread that build up after every run of stitching.
