SEWING
Today's hints and tips on sewing will ave you time and money and give you a professional finish.
Stop a thimble from slipping – put some blue tack inside , makes a big difference
Stick a small cork inside sewing box to hold the thimble when not in use, makes it easier to find.
Sew a paper clip carefully on end under the zero of tape measure, it will be easier & quicker to clip on to work for accurate measurements
Keep a box of paper clips in your sewing tin. They are easier & quicker to use than pins when turning up hems on nylon or net
Keep cotton reels tidy in the work basket by threading them on to a knitting needle & fixing a cork on the end
Don’t stick needles through a cotton reel, this can bend the needle & break the cotton. Instead stuff the centre of the reel with a piece of foam & stick needles into that. Or keep a magnet to rest the needles on
A needle can be threaded more easily if a little hair spray, starch or beeswax is put on the end of thread
To sharpen a machine needle sew it through a piece of sandpaper
To stop a needle from breaking when sewing through a thick material, rub grease down the seam
For a needle threader use fine fuse wire bent into a small loop
After oiling a sewing machine, place 2 thick sheets of blotting paper under the needle & stitch through several times, to absorb the surplus oil
Keep old mascara brushes & wash well. They come in handy when cleaning sewing machines
Use a feather instead of a brush for removing fluff & dust from around the spool or bobbin of a sewing machine
After cutting buttons from old garments, fasten together with a piece of thread before putting into the button box. This will make it easier to see how many of each you have
When dressmaking press open the seams of garments with a dampened length of ribbon or tape. This way you’ll see if the seams completely open & the rest of the garment wont get damp
Use a stiff-bristled nail brush to remove cut threads when unpicking stitches from material. It will prove much quicker than fingers or tweezers
When making button holes moisten the edges with colourless nail polish . When it dries the buttonhole stitches can be made neatly
Before machining a zip, sellotape it into position, stitch through the sellotape & remove afterwards
If a zip tends to unfasten, sew a dress hook above it, then slip the tab opening of the zip over the hook. If it tends to stick, rub the teeth with a pencil
When sewing very fine materials , place narrow strips of tissue along the seams. This keeps the material in place & is easily removed
Before sewing leather patches or bindings on coats, follow round the edges of bindings or patch with the sewing machine, using a large un threaded needle. The ready made holes will make sewing easier & neater
When patching children's jeans sew up the back pocket & use a piece of material from inside the pocket
Keep a piece of chalk beside sewing machine. Should an oil spot get on any material, just rub the area with the chalk & leave for a few minutes. Brush off & the spot will disappear
Stop a thimble from slipping – put some blue tack inside , makes a big difference
Stick a small cork inside sewing box to hold the thimble when not in use, makes it easier to find.
Sew a paper clip carefully on end under the zero of tape measure, it will be easier & quicker to clip on to work for accurate measurements
Keep a box of paper clips in your sewing tin. They are easier & quicker to use than pins when turning up hems on nylon or net
Keep cotton reels tidy in the work basket by threading them on to a knitting needle & fixing a cork on the end
Don’t stick needles through a cotton reel, this can bend the needle & break the cotton. Instead stuff the centre of the reel with a piece of foam & stick needles into that. Or keep a magnet to rest the needles on
A needle can be threaded more easily if a little hair spray, starch or beeswax is put on the end of thread
To sharpen a machine needle sew it through a piece of sandpaper
To stop a needle from breaking when sewing through a thick material, rub grease down the seam
For a needle threader use fine fuse wire bent into a small loop
After oiling a sewing machine, place 2 thick sheets of blotting paper under the needle & stitch through several times, to absorb the surplus oil
Keep old mascara brushes & wash well. They come in handy when cleaning sewing machines
Use a feather instead of a brush for removing fluff & dust from around the spool or bobbin of a sewing machine
After cutting buttons from old garments, fasten together with a piece of thread before putting into the button box. This will make it easier to see how many of each you have
When dressmaking press open the seams of garments with a dampened length of ribbon or tape. This way you’ll see if the seams completely open & the rest of the garment wont get damp
Use a stiff-bristled nail brush to remove cut threads when unpicking stitches from material. It will prove much quicker than fingers or tweezers
When making button holes moisten the edges with colourless nail polish . When it dries the buttonhole stitches can be made neatly
Before machining a zip, sellotape it into position, stitch through the sellotape & remove afterwards
If a zip tends to unfasten, sew a dress hook above it, then slip the tab opening of the zip over the hook. If it tends to stick, rub the teeth with a pencil
When sewing very fine materials , place narrow strips of tissue along the seams. This keeps the material in place & is easily removed
Before sewing leather patches or bindings on coats, follow round the edges of bindings or patch with the sewing machine, using a large un threaded needle. The ready made holes will make sewing easier & neater
When patching children's jeans sew up the back pocket & use a piece of material from inside the pocket
Keep a piece of chalk beside sewing machine. Should an oil spot get on any material, just rub the area with the chalk & leave for a few minutes. Brush off & the spot will disappear
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