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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Tip #5 is awesome!!! I will make this a regular practice because it makes perfect sense!!
I use the curtain rod to hold my pattern instructions. My machine faces a window, and I hang the instructions so all I have to do is look up. I also use a moistened sponge to dampen my machine needle to draw the thread to it. Happy sewing!
Where did you get the word sewists? Are you a worker or a workist? A driver or a drivist, a planner or a plannist? Please use proper words when advertising. We are sewers not sewists.
These are great tips! Love number 5 especially! Makes so much sense!
Judy Jolly, I agree with you. Sewist sounds silly but it unfortunately is becoming THE word used to describe one who sews.
I love sewists!!! The word sewer looks too much like the other half of your water bill!!! I think sewist is much more dignified for a very noble, age old hobby or profession.
Chemist, Pharmacist, Sewist. Works for me!! I also think ‘sewer’ reads/looks like the place where The Honeymooner’s pal, Ed Norton, worked.
Sewist is correct. It is a combination of a sewer and an artist.
Fiber Artist describes one who sews artistically, IMHO. Word meanings change over time and I’m all for Sewist to describe those who sew.
Thank you from the bottom of my vitgane sewing heart for reviewing this pattern! I have it to make for my holiday in three weeks and have been umming and ahhing about starting. I just couldn’t see why you’d need a zipper in a stretch swimwsuit. Now I see the light! And I am definitely making a muslin. For sure. Can’t wait to see how this is turning out. I’m right in the middle of putting the pattern pieces together and thought I would do one last google search for a review and voila, here you are.Thanks again!
When gathering it is so much easier if you have the machine set on zigzag and then sew the thread through this. Easy to pull up and so neat and tidy. Makes for better gathers. I have used this technique for over 50 years and would never use any other technique. There is nothing worse than uneven and untidy gathers.
Don’t quite understand this technique. Can you explain it a little better? Would love to try it.
Not sure what you mean with this tip, but would love to get it right.
I’ve tried this method of zigzaging over a flat thread that is then pulled to gather the fabric. Always I end up with at least 1 spot where the zig has caught the flat thread! After a few frustrating attempts I gave it up I’m glad it works for you! Anybody who hasn’t tried this, give it a go. Christine says it’s been her favorite technique for 50 years!
I am a professional craft person and my logo defines me as a Designer – Sewist it means a person who sews and sells their projects.
I have made an afghan and embroider a picture on it. My question is I would like to sew material on the wrong side to cover up the backside of stitches. Is there a trick to sewing material on a crocheted piece. It’s a gift and I think it might be hung on a wall.
If you’re anything like me you find that thread gets everywhere. I find that keeping a small piece of flannel next to my machine works great. The thread just sticks to it and when it’s full I can just hold it over the trash can and brush off the thread. The flannel also works great to wipe up around the floor under my machine and table and it grabs any little thread and then just brush it off over the trash can.
I do not like either sewiest or sewer. I prefer seamstress. just saying