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Great Sewing TipsYou may not have the slightest interest in sewing. However, for basic reasons, you should know the "ins" and "outs" of sewing, even if all you ever do is sew on a button. After all the way we look tells the world how we feel about ourselves.
Sharp-pointed scissors are a menace inside your sewing basket or drawer. Protect yourself and prevent damage to your container by sticking the point of the closed scissor into a cork.
Pinking Shears Perk up dull pinking shears by cutting several times through fine sandpaper. Threading a Needle When threading a needle, a dab of hairspray or spray starch applied to the end of the thread will stiffen the thread just enough to easily get it through the eye. If you don't have hair spray or spray starch, us clear nail polish. Uncurling Thread Thread that tends to curl and knot while you are hand sewing can be controlled. Rest a hot iron flat on the ironing board and draw a suitable length of thread under it. No more hassle. Bulky Seams Ever have trouble getting the machine needle to sew through heavy seams? Rub the seam with a piece of hard bar soap and you'll find it much easier. Transfer Pattern Markings To transfer pattern marking onto fabric, you can use a thin sliver of bar soap instead of commercial marking paper. It shows up clearly on almost all fabrics and, of course, comes off in the wash. The Right Tape for Pattern Adjustments Pink hair setting tape is excellent for making adjustments on your pattern in place of masking or cellophane tape. Unlike other types of tape, it presses with out a buckle or wrinkle when touched with a warm iron. It also works well to secure a pattern to leather or ultrasuede while cutting them out, since these fabrics shouldn't be pinned. Shopping for Buttons This is one step better than merely taking a piece of the material with you when you shop for buttons. Cut three or four slits in the fabric sample so that you can slip the carded buttons through, making it easy to decide what size and color is best. Sewing on Snaps To line up the two halves of a row of snaps, sew all the snaps with the points on one side first. Then rub chalk on them and press against the side where their mates must be sewn into place. The chalk will mark the places exactly. Hemming a Skirt Hemming a skirt is easier from the floor up. Mark a yardstick with a strip of bright tape at the ideal length from the floor. Hold your yardstick in front of you, end resting on the floor, and you can see at a glance how many inches to raise or lower the hem. After basting in the hem, it's wise to check against the yardstick again to make sure the hem is even. Patches When stitching on an important patch or insignia, apply it first with a dab of white glue. Let it dry and then sew around the edges by hand or machine. The glue will wash out.
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