All crafts can be made easier if you are able to pick up some useful tips. Sewing is no exception. Sewing tips can speed up your work and may help you create a nicer final project. This page contains sewing tips and tricks.
I used to do a lot of sewing and it was so hard to get the patterns back in the package, so just put them in a large baggie and it keeps them nice and neat. If you spray them with spray starch it will help keep them from tearing.
Also, when my pins would get dull, I would just sand them with a little sandpaper, or an emery board. Your sewing machine needle will sharpen if you sew through very fine sandpaper.
I hope these tips work for you, they have worked for me. Hope they will help you enjoy your sewing!
By Dorothy from New Creek, WV
I have two new toys in my sewing stuff. Each one costs less than 5 dollars.
One is called "That Purple Thang". It comes from a company called Little Foot, Ltd in New Mexico and is made by Lynn Graves. It is for pushing the corners of pillows and collars after you sew them. They turn so nicely with one of these. I had been using the handle of a wooden spoon. This is much nicer.
The other item is called a Bobbin Buddy. It comes with 4 on a little plastic piece. You separate them by twisting the plastic. Just spread it apart with your fingers and put it on a full bobbin. No more thread ends driving you nuts. My bobbin box is so neat now. I tossed the packaging on it, but they can be ordered from J Hittle in Kentucky. You can Google "bobbin buddies" or J Hittle. They are a wholesaler of sewing and quilting supplies.
I haven't looked, but they might be available at your local fabric store.
Source: I saw these in a weekly sale flyer I got via email from J Hittle. I order a lot of my thread and supplies from them because I am not to be trusted in a fabric store. I go online and order what I want. Even with shipping it's much cheaper that way.
By Marty from Knoxville, TN
When I am doing machine sewing, I set up 2 small wastebaskets - one on each side of my chair. That way I can drop scraps, thread, etc. with either hand. Saves a lot of time and waste motion.
By DeBushe from Gilroy, CA
I have two sewing machines both of which have a variety of stitches for fancy work. In order to better see what each stitch looks like on fabric, I make a sample of each stitch on a plain piece of medium weight fabric. One for each machine. I keep them with the machine for reference. I also write the number of each stitch next to it using a pen.
By Judy from Birmingham, AL
"Appliqué is a versatile art form that can be used on quilting projects, for garment decoration, for decorative home accessories and for many other items. Basically, appliqué is a technique of layering one fabric over another to create a colorful design. When done by machine, the design is finished using zigzag or satin stitches of various widths to secure fabric pieces to the desired location" - College of Agriculture and Home Economics New Mexico State University
Sewing Hint: Have someone shine a laser beam on a piece of material you need to cut a straight line on. Just follow the laser line. Works great.
By Lois from Ontonagon, MI
While you're working with cording, some endings can come unraveled. End that by putting a tiny drop of super glue on the end of the cording that you are working with and smash it together, working it into the fibers at the ends of the cording. Get the glue off of your fingers with fingernail polish remover with acetone dabbed onto a cotton ball. You could also try the product "Fray Check", but super glue is cheaper, stronger and longer lasting.
When you get near the end of your cording with the glue on it, either sew it into your pattern or cut it off and add the new piece and continue. Since it is only on such a small area, little is wasted.
By Kelly from Mission, TX
When doing any craft work with a needle, I keep a hotel bar of soap handy, they are small, when you finish or need to sharpen your needle or it needs to slip in easy, wipe it down with the soap or poke end of needle in the soap. It makes it easy to use.
By Bert
I use hydrogen peroxide (3%) on a cotton ball to remove blood spots when quilting or sewing, from the needle sticks. Removes with no trace of stain. I use it on other spots on clothes. When applying make up, if a spot gets on a blouse, this removes it in seconds, dries with no tell tale sign, and you are good to go. I've used it on carpets and drapes as well.
By Diane from Allentown, PA
I have been sewing for many years now! I used to get so frustrated trying to add set in sleeves until I came across this helpful tip; first stitch with regular stitch length from underarm area of sleeve to the notch.
Raise your needle, then lengthen stitch length as long as it will go. Now stitch to the notch on the other side of sleeve underarm, then raise needle again and put stitch length back to normal. Finish sewing to the other edge of underarm. This stitching should be 1/2 inch from armhole edge. Next pin sleeve to armhole BEFORE sewing side seams. Ease from shoulder seam down, by using a pin or needle and pulling up a single thread and easing toward the underarm edges. When stitching, be careful to keep easing even.
By Judy from Birmingham, AL
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