Favorite Sewing Tips ~ Part One

on May 25 | in Sewing + Quilting Tips | by Beth | with 24 Comments

We’ll feature some of your favorite sewing tips here over the next few days. There’s a lot of great information out there!

Crafty Mummy always knows where her scissors are… Do you?!

Michelle shows you how to use a pencil to turn tiny tubes at greetingarts!

Mary Jo recently shared her favorite tools of the trade at Five Green Acres. Check out her tips for how to add a seam allowance, how to make pattern weights, her favorite “unlikely” tools and her all-time favorite tool, bias tape makers.

Use a straw and a pipe cleaner to save a bundle on repair costs with Cheryl’s sewing machine cleaning tip from Naptime Quilter.

Lindsay has a super-quick pattern weight solution at The Cottage Home.

Maddie takes us through her Scissor Hall of Fame at Fresh Thread.

Vanessa at Live, Laugh, Sew tells you her fabric pre-washing secret!

Ashleigh loves her magnetic pin holder and pins with glow-in-the-dark pin heads (“…Easy to find at night…”)!
Christine uses a pair of tweezers to thread her sewing machine and puts paper or fabric behind the needle to see the eye of the needle more clearly.
Sara from Joy in Everything also always has a pair of tweezers handy to get lint out of the bobbin area or catch bits of thread.
Susan uses a chopstick to push bulky fabric areas through her machine, to “iron” small seams while paper piecing, to push the seam while turning, etc.
Leslie uses a disappearing ink marking pen and pins rather than a tracing wheel and tracing paper for darts and tucks (see her full explanation at the bottom of this post).
Traci from my handmadehappiness uses her quilting bar to get precise channels when sewing boning in for corsets, etc.
Linda from Roscoe’s Ma takes a digital photo of her design wall when her quilt design is just right, then she prints it and keeps it handy for reference.
Kimberj from Arthur and I says office supply store butterfly clips on thick or slippery fabrics is like “…having lots of extra hands!”
Kirsten from Something Cheeky turns her sewing machine 45 degrees to the left when she does a meandering quilt stitch (which helps her control the stitches with more of her body).

More tips coming tomorrow!…

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Sewing Skills + Tips

Maripat says:

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Thanks, ladies for the link about the hump jumper. I love your site and I just signed up to get your rss feed. Thanks for keeping the sewing world alive and fun!!
Maripat
mamabear says:

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great tips…very helpful
starbaby says:

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I have the hump jumper. It’s wounderful.
I’m having a problem sewing a new hem on my jeans. When I get around the leg it isn’t coming out even. Do I stetch the denim as I sew? I’m making capris.

Ooodles of thank yous!
Wendy Paton says:

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I use a fairly good quality makeup brush to clean my machine and serger. Has a bit of static in it so it really does a good job.
Marsha says:

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Thanks for the great tips! A friend recently shared with me a product called Shout Color Catchers. It works great when you forgot to pre-wash your fabrics. 🙂
sewlindaann says:

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Thanks again, it’s amazing how many simple and clear it is when someone else says it.
Aileen says:

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I am so intrigued by the idea of turning the machine for meander quilting! Greattips, all. Thanks for sharing.
Heidi says:

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Great tips, I’d never heard of a hump jumper before.
Anna M. says:

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I never would have thought to use pipe cleaners for my sewing machine. Their original purpose was for cleaning though, so it makes sense.
Katrina H says:

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I love the photos with these tips, thank you!
Krystina says:

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These are great tips, thanks!
sharonj says:

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Great tips, especially the hump jumper on the big seam allowances! Neat! Sharonj.
Christine says:

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The washers for holding down patterns is brilliant! And I love the little scissors on a ribbon to be looped around the spool holder. I asked my hubby for a lanyard as a souvenir from his last business trip so I could keep my little snippers handy while I sewed. I was always losing them underneath my quilts and the lanyard has been a quilt-saver!
Pamela says:

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Pencil eraser tube turning = Brilliant!
Amy says:

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I love all the tips…and I learned I need a hump jumper!
Vanessa says:

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I love Kirsten’s tip about turning the machine 45 degrees. I just tried it to see what she meant and I can definately see how it can help. Can’t wait to try it!
Kristi Van Os says:

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great tip everyone
Susan says:

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Well, smack my own head! Mary Jo’s “how to add a seam allowance” using two pencils taped together just made me say, “D’uh!” and smack myself. Jump back! That is the most clever thing I’ve seen in … well, awhile. Kudos to MJ!
~Helena~ says:

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I am so glad everyone’s willing to share, this is great stuff. Thanks
Christina says:

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Ooooh I love these!
Sara says:

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Great tips – thank you!

I was inspired by your Giveaway Day to host my first giveaway ever on my blog. I’m going to make a custom messenger bag for the winner and I bet I’ll be able to use a lot of these tips and tricks!
Mrs. JP says:

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What a wealth of helps! I’m going to use some very soon! My favorite? The needle threading tip – brilliant!
Joy says:

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This are great tips! Thank you all for sharing!
Sara says:

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These are wonderful and such simple ideas that will stick in my brain!