10 best sewing tips

[nonie]

Share your 10 best sewing tips. Let's get those machines humming.

[nonie]

My ten

1. Press, press and then press again
2. Use a spray starch on your fabric and press. Has changed my embroidery out come.
3. clean, keep your machines clean
4. clean and remember the serger needs oil
5.Use the correct size needle for your project and replace often.
6.Organize, keeping things organized makes sewing go so much smoother.
7.Sewing scissors are only for sewing. keep them clean and sharpened
8.As with needles, also use the correct thread and invest in good thread.
9.read as much as you can about new ideas in the sewing world.
10. Use the correct foot for your project, one foot does not fit all.

sewing feet.jpg (68.86 KiB) Viewed 1753 times

[nonie]

If no one has ten tips, do you have one?

[NancyFigur]

Don't sew when you aren't in the mood. It will be a mess and you will be in a worse mood.

[ShirleyC]

When doing embroidery machine applique designs, I print out a template, and sometimes 2. If it's a name, I cut the letters apart.
Then I decide on the fabrics and cut them just a little larger than the letter. I iron Heat-n-bond lite on the back of the fabrics, and line them up in stitch order. If I"m using different colored threads, I line them up with the template. (Don't forget to pull the paper backing off the fabric.)
I use one template for placement on the project - usually a shirt or baby gown.

If it is a one design applique, ex. Santa or Rudolph, I line up the thread, but I also write on the template what color for each section so I don't grab the wrong one.

[nonie]

Glue stick! If you don't have some on hand, run out and add them to your sewing tools.

[KarenVA]

I LOVE my Havel's Snip-Eze for trimming fabric close to the tackdown stitch for machine embroidery!!

https://www.havelssewing.com/snip-eze-e ... ips-carded

[nonie]

Karen, I love my snips, I don't know what I would do without them, plus they were a gift from a sewing friend, when I got my embroidery machine. so every time I use them, I think of her

[nonie]

For hand Sewing especially smocking, these snips from my sister are my go to. The little notch in the blade will life the threads and I can remove many stitches without cutting them.

snips1.jpg (93.22 KiB) Viewed 785 times

snips2.jpg (40.78 KiB) Viewed 785 times

snips2.jpg (40.78 KiB) Viewed 785 times

[Angela]

1. Use tracing paper to trace off traditional patterns. It keeps the original in tact for future use especially if it is multi sized.
2. Learn how to properly sew on a button.
3. Read your pattern and know exactly what notions you need prior to starting.
4. Invest in a good pair of scissors.
5. Don't worry about mistakes. We all make them and learn from them. Plus it has been told to me by many here that most people don't see mistakes on a moving baby.
6. Read through the entire pattern instructions before beginning.
7. Make notes on a pattern if the instructions are lacking or hard to understand. That way you will know the next time you use it.
8. Use tailor's tacks for marking fabrics.
9. Keep different size rotary cutters on hand. Smaller ones are great for tight curves while larger ones cover more surface area.
10. Keep a good set of tweezers. They come in handy for lots of things.