Just Sew Sew

Fabric Choice: Patterns often have suggestions on what fabrics to avoid or which ones work best.  Jot down these recommendations before going to the store so, when browsing the shelves, you won’t be tempted by something that just won’t work.  Shopping lists are also great ways to help keep you from unnecessary splurging.

Keeping Things in Place: Sewing pins with glass or plastic heads are the easiest to see and grab.

Guard Against Dust: A buildup of dust and lint in and on your sewing machine is the most common cause of machine breakage.  Be sure to clean and cover your machine when you are finished with it.

Check the Tags: When mixing fabric and other materials, make sure they can all be cleaned the same way.  Then prewash all appropriate materials to be used so they can shrink before the patterns are cut out.

Through the Eye of a Needle: Try trimming the end of your thread at an angle and threading your needle in front of a white background.  Never moisten the end of polyester thread, this will cause the fibers to swell.

Erasing All Evidence: For a stubborn crease that does not want to disappear after letting down a hem, try dampening it with an equal mix of white vinegar and water.  Then press the crease with a pressing cloth.  If this does not work, try straight vinegar; be sure to test the vinegar on a hidden area of the garment first.

Safe and Out of the Way: To store your rotary cutting mat, hang it with the clips on a pants hanger.  This reduces risk of damage and saves space.

Drying Linen: Air-dry any linen fabric and garments since dryers damage the flax fibers.

Save Every Thread: When pre-shrinking fabric, fraying can be prevented by zig-zaging or serging the raw edges.

The Magic of Sure-Grip: To keep a straying foot pedal in place, put a piece of sure-grip drawer liner underneath.  It is also useful in reducing vibrations when placed under the sewing machine.

Tell-tale Signs: Refrain from constructing garments out of velvet if there is the possibility of resizing as the stitch marks from the original seam will show.

Careful with Irons: All fabric with nap should be ironed with a pressing cloth and velvet should never be ironed as it is a piled fabric.  Instead, try steaming it.

Trial and Error: Keep scraps of fabric handy for when you want to try a new stitch or tension.

Erase Wrinkles: Cotton fabric is easier to iron when slightly damp.

Horizontal vs. Vertical: Buttonholes should be vertical on shirts and blouses but horizontal on jackets and coats.

Battling Snags: Never trim the loose threads, this can cause unraveling.  Instead, turn the garment inside out and use a crochet hook to pull the loose loop to the inside of the garment so it will not show.

Rips and Tears: Before washing a ripped garment or fabric, mend it as the washing can cause more damage.

Clean Cuts – The Secret: For a clean cut, stop the scissors about one inch from the tip, reopen, and continue. 

Keep the Spares: You never know when you will need the extra button.  So instead of searching through stores and online databases trying to find a match, keep an extra one or two handy.