We haven’t posted some sewing tips and tricks in a while, but never fear sewists! You guys have been so great in sharing your own tips and tricks on our posts that I had to put them all together to share with everyone. I always love learning about what others make and use to help themselves whenever they are sewing. Last time, we got helpful quilting tips that you guys absolutely loved. Well, we kept getting awesome comments and tips from readers about their sewing hacks.
Sewing Tips That Every Sewist Needs to Know
Tip #1
The sewing machine is set up next to a window. Put a thin metal tension rod (the kind you use for light weight curtains) across the window 2″ up from the sill. Place several inexpensive magnets on the back of the rod (toward the glass). Keeps seam ripper, screw driver, scissors handy but contained. An old pill bottle tucked into the space between rod and window can hold pencil, fabric marker, or chalk.
Tip#2
When gathering, run three lines of basting. One on the seam line, one 1/4 inch above the seam line and one 1/4 inch below the seam line, and then use all three to gather. If one thread breaks, you still have two left!
Tip #3
When cutting out an arm, always cut a notch above the dot going on the armhole seam. It’s easier to match seam to sleeve head that way.
Tip #4
When making a lot of squares for quilts that are crazy sizes, go to your local hardware store and ask them to cut a plexiglass square the size that you need. Write the size with a permanent marker, so you can keep track of the size that you need.
Tip #5
When starting a new project, buy two spools of thread. The first spool gets wound onto bobbins, and the second spool goes on the sewing machine spool holder. Now you never have to stop and unthread the machine, fill a bobbin, then re-thread the machine. The left over bobbins can be used when sewing multi-colored fabrics like prints, calico and plaids.
Tip #6
When sewing vinyl, place a piece of wax paper between the vinyl and the presser foot to help keep the vinyl moving smoothly.
Tip #7
You know when you use bar soap and get down to that thin little piece? Don’t throw it away, use it in place of tailors chalk…it’s cheap and washes out easily! (Be sure to test out a small piece of fabric, since some soaps have oils in them and might stain.)
Tip #8
Don’t wet the thread when you are threading a needle; instead, moisten your needle and the thread will draw itself in.
Tip #9
Use a dollar-store lint roller (the kind you peel off a layer when it gets full) for a thread-catcher. Stand it up in a jar and just throw the threads on it, or roll it over finished areas to see which threads are loose and which need clipping.
Looking for more tricks? Check out these posts:
Clean the Outside of Your Machine
What are some your own sewing tricks, and have you used these before?
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