Hello! I've just started sewing on a machine, teaching myself how to use it.

I've mastered making straight lines (haha) but I'm having trouble with shapes.

I tried making a heart today, and it turned out lopsided despite following the pattern. I am wanting to make gloves, but if i can't even sew correctly this isn't going to work. Any tips?

Go slowly and practice a lot on scrap fabric. Practice sewing a little faster than you are comfortable with too (watch your fingers, obviously) because sometimes those little twists and turns are actually easier to make if the machine is moving faster. You'll eventually get comfortable enough with it that you can go faster when you aren't using scraps.

Also, sometimes if a turn feels uncomfortable just leave the needle down in the fabric, lift the presser foot, and rotate the fabric around the needle until it's in a better position for you. Leaving the needle in the down position is key here though so that you can rotate the fabric without shifting it around. Sometimes this helps for tighter turns or if you are turning a corner or something.

Mostly though it'll just take practice. Don't get discouraged! :)

Try turning the hand wheel instead of using the foot pedal. But it sounds like you're trying to do embroidery, which is not what a sewing machine is for.

I agree that it just takes practice, don't give up once you get the hang of it it will give you lots of pleasure and the gifts you make will be very appreciated!

Practice, practice, practice!

I'm more of a visual learner and find that YouTube and Instructables are great for learning!

I'm just going to repeat what everyone is saying here - practise! You'll get used to your sewing machine and will eventually find out how to make perfect shapes with trial and error, it took me a looong time before I could sew perfect circles Make sure you mark your pattern on the fabric with chalk and go really slow - to make a heart you need to continuously move the fabric to make a smooth curve at a steady pace, if you stop and start to adjust the fabric you'll end up with kinks and corners Goodluck!