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Sewing Tips

How To Set Up Your Sewing Area For Maximum Efficiency

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When setting up your workspace, the most important thing to set up is a work surface for your sewing machine. The best thing to use is the cabinet the machine came in, but it may not be big enough, or you may have a portable machine.

While you could use the kitchen table or maybe an office desk, this would be too high, and you might experience pain in your shoulders and back. You could cut the legs down to be the right height for you.

If your machine comes with a cabinet, when it’s not in use, it can be lowered into the cabinet to save space. You can also buy sewing tables designed for sewing machines.

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Female fashion designer holding big golden tailor scissors in hand closeup. Creating garment dress sewing service seamstress ready to take measurement and make new suit concept

A sewing cabinet will probably have side drawers for storage. However, even if it does have some storage, you will need more for all of the accessories and tools you will be using.

An inexpensive option is to buy a plastic drawer set that can be found in most retail stores. You could use plastic boxes that stack upon each other.

You could make a storage system in a closet if you have room. Always be on the lookout for cheap storage, whether it be sales or even yard sales, thrift stores, or flea markets.

You can find great inspiration on Pinterest and online websites to create an efficient and organized space. You can mount magnetic horizontal bars on a wall to store metal tools.

They can easily hold scissors, seam rippers, pinking shears, and other tools and accessories. You can find them at any hardware store for around ten bucks.

It’s important to keep your fabric and your patterns stored properly to keep them clean. If you are short on space, you can store them under the bed in plastic containers specially designed to be hidden and out of the way beneath the bed.

It’s important to fold your patterns correctly to fit back into the package. Try using file storage boxes for sale at most office supply stores.

You can fit two patterns side by side. If you couldn’t get the pattern back into the original package, a zippered freezer bag will work well.

If you are working on a project and have to put things away before you are done, fold the material and pattern over a wire hanger and then clip a few clothespins to the hanger.

You can then hang everything up in the closet, and when you can work on it once again, you simply grab the hanger, and you are good to go.

To keep things organized, if you are working on a few different projects simultaneously, be sure the pattern number or name is facing outward so you can easily see what’s what. You can also attach the pattern envelope on the hanger for a quick and easy way to identify what you need.

A large, flat surface is necessary for cutting out patterns. Be sure that the surface you use is at the correct height, or you will find yourself aching later that day or the next.

For sitting, the height of the table should be 26 to 30 inches. If you prefer to stand when you cut, a 30 to 36-inch high surface will work best.

It should be wide enough to hold most pattern sizes. But if you sit when you cut, you may prefer a narrow table to reach across comfortably.

A self-healing cutting mat works best, but if you are short on cash, you can create a makeshift cutting surface using a corkboard. You can glue it onto the table or use a craft foam board.

You will find that the cork is resistant to heat, too. You can create a grid on the cork board by taping white paper on top of the cork and adding the grid lines with a marking pen. When the paper gets tattered, replace it.

It’s best to have an ironing surface to press seams on, but if you have to, you can just put several towels on top of your table.

Using your cork mat will work, too. An ironing board isn’t ideal for pressing seams as it’s not usually sturdy enough, and in most cases, it’s simply too narrow.

When you put a lot of pressure on the iron, you may find your ironing board bending or falling over. It’s very important to get a chair that you are comfortable in.

Be sure that it rolls and swivels. It should support your back as you may spend long hours sitting and sewing in it.

It must be at a height that your feet comfortably reach the ground, as you will have to use the pedal of your sewing machine. The flooring of your room is left to your discretion, but there are pros and cons to both hard and carpeted floors.

It’s important to be able to see pins when they drop and to be able to pick them all up. You can buy a magnetic pin holder to pick up any strays.

If you have a hard floor, it could cause the foot pedal of your sewing machine to move around. You can always glue a small piece of rubber shelf paper on the bottom of the pedal.

A carpeted floor is more comfortable, especially if you stand for long periods. If you have children or pets, having a door in a room dedicated to your sewing will keep little ones and pets out.

Sewing rooms can be quite dangerous, so just click here to read the post I wrote concerning the safety of your sewing room. If you have pets, you don’t want all their fur and dander on your clean fabric.

You can keep a PC or a small TV and DVD player in your room to listen to podcasts or music while you work. A small window can let the sunshine in and make your room brighter and happier.

Be sure that you have enough lighting in the room. You will be looking at small stitches, needles, and pins, and it’s important to be able to see.

There are also heavy-duty and large magnifying glasses that you can clip onto your table or sewing machine for those hard-to-see patterns and needle eyes. You also want to be able to see the correct color.

If the room is too dark, you could mistake dark blue for black and use the wrong color thread. You can customize your room and turn it into a fun and relaxing experience so that you look forward to sewing.

If you have a business or take orders for alterations, you want to be as organized and efficient as possible. Turn your sewing room into a space where you can retreat from the day’s worries and enjoy yourself.

Setting up a sewing area will evolve and change over time as your needs change. The most important thing is to make it YOUR space!

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Sewing Tips

Top 10 Sewing Hacks

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Sewing tips and hacks can make the lives of individuals who sew for a living or as a hobby much, much easier.

I will share ten important sewing hacks that can increase a person’s skills, keep things more organized and speed up the process.

sewing objects

1. Hand Stitching Guide

When looking for a way to sew hand stitches that are evenly spaced, use a sewing machine to machine-baste a straight line of the required stitches and then use these stitches as a guide for the hand stitching.

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The stitch lengths should be set on the type of hand stitch chosen. Now, pull on a few machine stitches each time and hand sew, following the holes left behind.

Alternatively, the machine stitches can be left in place and pulled out once the hand sewing is complete. Machine stitches can serve as a guide for various hand stitches like herringbone stitch, top stitch, or blanket stitch.

2. Simplified Tailor’s Tack

Another technique for tailor’s tacks offers a way to hold threads more securely compared to the traditional methods. Once the pattern pieces are cut out, use unknotted contrasting doubled-thread in the hand needle.

Now, take one stitch that passes through the tissue pattern and the layers of the fabric. Now, from the other side, take the needle back through the pattern and fabric and cut thread tails that are long in length.

The next step involves lifting the tissue pattern off the fabric, allowing the tails to pass through.

Now, turn the fabric over, use a different thread color, and use a second stitch that goes over the first in the same technique, leaving behind the long tails.

Now, pulling the layers of fabric apart, the one set will stay stitched onto the top layer while the alternative set will remain stitched onto the bottom.

These threads now mark a clear position for sewing that can be viewed from either side.

3. Why Two Safety Pins Are Better Than Just One

Many sewing enthusiasts pull cording or elastic through a type of casing. For this technique, some people use a safety pin to guide it through.

However, in some cases, the cord or elastic at the start point can go into the casing. This is when it becomes a complex task to weave backward, which usually means the individual has to start all over again.

To avoid this issue, use another safety pin to secure the cord’s tail or elastic to its casing.

4. How To Make A Button Shank Out Of Thread

When using flat buttons for thicker fabric, creating button shanks out of thread is advisable. To do this, start with threading the needle using thread that is a double strand.

The next step involves taking one stitch at the placement mark for the button on the fabric’s right side. This will hide the knots underneath the buttons.

Now, take the stitch through each button as one would normally do, but avoid pulling this thread tight. Follow this up by selecting a spacer that ensures ample room between the button and the fabric.

When using thinner fabrics, use a toothpick or pin; when using thicker fabrics, use a thin pen, chopstick, darning needle, or bobby pin. Place the spacer underneath each button between these holes and then tug on the thread from the sewing needle to secure the spacers and tighten the thread.

Follow up by sewing on the buttons in the traditional manner.

Once the button is securely sewn, ensure the needle is on the fabric’s underside. Remove the spacer, ensuring the stitch remains taut. Bring the needle through the fabric and then the button, and wind this thread around the sewn stitches until a shank has been created.

For a finished look, especially when using the larger spacers, use blanket stitches that are closely spaced around these threads as opposed to just winding threads around this shank. When finished, ensure the thread has been secured closely to the shank.

5. Extreme Makeovers

Shop consignment or resale stores that sell used shirts for men can be used for this type of project. Take the shirt, cut off the sleeves, cuffs, and collars, and open up the side seams.

Now press all the items flat. Now lay a simple blouse pattern over the remainder of the shirt and use the existing hems and button plackets.

One can make a scoop-neck blouse by adapting the neckline to take advantage of the original button placements. Shorter sleeves can be cut out from the original shirt, and in most cases, there will be sufficient fabric left over to cut out a new self-facing for the neckline.

Pockets can also be repositioned and dependent on the fit of the original garment; one can keep the yoke and shoulders of the shirt and only adapt the length, sleeves, and neck.

6. Tape Guide Using Topstitch

One can sew straight top stitching onto fabric without any markings by using masking tape on the fabric to establish the top stitching guide. All that is required is to stitch along the tape edge and then remove this tape once finished.

7. Hem Guide Using Silicone

Hem guides made of metal can be uncomfortably hot when pressing the hem. To avoid this issue, use one strip of a silicone pot holder.

One can make these strips from a whole pot holder and cut the strips into various-sized hem guides. The iron will not harm the silicone and will always remain cool.

8. How To Stop Disappearing Ink From Vanishing

To stop air-soluble disappearing inks from fading away fast, apply Scotch Magic Tape onto each mark. In addition, when pulling off the tape, no residue will be left behind.

It takes far less time to remove the tape than to reconstruct these marks.

9. Marking A Hem Without A Helper

To mark hems without helpers, take a string and stretch it tightly across the length of a doorway to the desired height for the hem and now tape or tack it onto the jamb on each side. Now dust bath powder over this string.

Now, with the garment on, brush up against this powdered string, which will transfer a dusting onto this garment at the exact right height. This is ideal for coats, dresses and skirts.

10. Using A Crotchet Hook To Remove Basting

Crochet hooks are fantastic tools to remove basting threads, open seams, or ease up stitching threads. Use the rounded point to get underneath a stitch and then the hook to remove the threads.

This technique stops the dangers of snagging the threads’ fabrics or cutting an accidental hole into the fabric. This is usually a risk when using a seam-ripper.

It is best to use a size nine hook, but smaller hooks also work.

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Sewing Tips

What Is Backstitching And Why Should I do It?

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For beginners, you may not know what a backstitch is. It’s elementary in sewing, and you need to know it. Backstitching is essential when sewing by hand or on the machine.

What is it exactly? This secures the starting and finishing seam that was just sewn. The seam will, without fail, unravel if you don’t backstitch.

backstitch

Each modern machine has a backstitch button. Even the majority of older machines had them. No matter which one that is used, the process is the same.

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Typically, the button is just a symbol of an arrow that points backward. We will use curtains as an example.

When you start and stop a seam, the backstitch must be used.

First, sew the first 5-6 forward stitches as you normally would. If you have a manual button to backstitch and are new to using it, you may want to slow the machine down.

Just until you get used to it. After you have sewn the first 5-6 forward stitches, you can push the backstitch button for the backstitch.

Many modern machines will auto-backstitch without holding the button down. But with some, you must hold down the button while it backstitches.

5-6 stitches are plenty of backstitches for the beginning and ending seams. The fabric also feeds backward while this takes place, so keep that in mind.

When backstitching, do your best to guide the thread over the stitches that have just been sewn. If it’s not exact, don’t worry. Just get it as close as possible.

Once you have backstitched the 5-6 stitches, sew forward again. If you have a manual backstitch button, you must hold and release the button until you finish the backstitch.

As mentioned previously, be sure to backstitch at the end of the seam as well. So, the process goes this way.

First, sew a forward seam 5-6 stitches. Next, backstitch. Follow this up by sewing to the end of the seam and then backstitch once again for the final stitching of that seam.

Now you’re done, with a nice secure seam. This prevents the thread from unraveling at the beginning and end of the stitching.

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Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.