Sewing Tips: Sewing Tips and Hints

When cutting out a garment, trim the selvage from the fabric to use for stabilizing shoulder and waistline seams. You are assured of a perfect match.Sew News Sewing Room Secrets

Did you know? "Lycra" is the registered product name of DuPont. Spandex fibers are used to make "Lycra." Therefore, Spandex is the generic name for continuous filament elastic textile yarns with excellent stretch and recovery properties. A garment labeled "Lycra" has been made of Spandex by DuPont. A Dictionary of Textile Terms by Dan River Inc.

Interfacings purchased by the yard have a continuous guide sheet that runs the length of the roll. Use a section of this printed instruction sheet to make a bag for storing the interfacing. Fold the plastic sheet in half and sew up the sides. Tuck the interfacing (and scraps) into the bag and you will have instructions right at hand, all in an organized drawer.
Sew News Sewing Room Secrets

To remove pen marks on clothing Sandra Betzina recommends the following. Use hair spray on polyester fabric. If this fails and for all other fabric rub the stain with rubbing alcohol, then saturate it with soap and then wash.
STAIN REMOVAL by Sandra Betzina

Here's a quick step to make nearly invisible hand-sewn closings in elastic casings, bagged jacket linings or any item stitched and turned to the right side through an opening in a seam allowance. Before you create the casing or insert the lining, determine where the opening in the seam allowance is going to be and how long an opening is needed. At the place selected stitch at 5/8" on the piece(s) to be turned and sewn. Proceed to make your casing or inset your lining, etc. The stitch line you made in the first step makes it easy to hand turn an even and accurate seam allowance as you hand stitch the opening closed.

To keep balled pearl cotton from feeding unevenly on a serger, place the thread ball in a heavy glass jar directly behind the serger.

When pulling elastic through a casing, first round the leading end of the elastic with scissors. The elastic pulls through easier and faster because the rounded end makes it less likely to catch on seam allowances within the casing.

To extend the life of somewhat delicate wire needle threaders, put a drop of Super Glue© on the crossed ends of the wire and where they attach to the thin metal handle.

One convenient way to keep your filled bobbin with its spool of thread is to rubber band them together. Pinch a rubber band and put it through the hole of the bobbin and pull it part-way through. Loop one end of the rubber band through the other and cinch it up snugly around the bobbin. Put the free loop of the rubber band around the spool of thread and voila!, bobbin and spool are together ready to hang on the thread holder.

To remind you which sewing machine foot is which, use a "Sharpie Ultra Fine Point" permanent pen to write its name on top of the foot behind the bar that attaches it to the machine.

When using pattern directions that include several variations on a garment, review the entire set of directions first then use a highlighter pen to circle the steps that are for the View you are making. This saves a lot of paper flipping and possible confusion when you just want to have fun and sew.

Restore your antique linens and laces to like-new appearance. Sandra Betzina says to fill a 5 quart pot full of water. Bring to a boil. Throw in 20 tablets of denture cleaner (yes, denture cleaner!) and stir until dissolved. Add the antique fabric. Reduce to a low boil and cook for 20 minutes. Rinse with clear water. Air dry.

Change your sewing machine needle every time you start a new garment or project. And for big projects put in a new needle halfway through. Remember, the most common cause of missed stitches and broken thread is a dull or damaged needle. At Whitlock's a package of 5 Schmetz Microtex needles is $3.95, that's only 59 cents to avoid two of sewing's most frequent frustrations

Sewing Tips