It’s your last day to enter the 11 amazing Thanks to YOU Week Giveaways. Tonight (July 20th) at midnight EST they will close and tomorrow I’m so excited to find out who will win! (Winners will be posted later this week.)
If you haven’t already, CLICK HERE TO LINK TO ALL THE GIVEAWAYS!
I also really love the sewing tips that we got from our giveaway sponsors and thought they should all be in one place – just in case you skipped over them in your hurry to fill out the entry form! A lot of these are new-to-me tips, and I love learning something new, especially when it saves me time and brain power!
Which of these sewing tips is your new favorite?
| Bebe’s Sewing Tip: The majority of my quilts come from patterns I find in magazines or books. When I’m working on a pattern from a magazine (or book) I find it a pain to have to keep looking back and forth at a magazine/book that’s sitting on a table. I’m always losing my spot on the page or the page flips. Depending on how many different cuts I have to make I have two things that help me.
1) I use a recipe book holder to hold my magazine/book while I’m working. This stops the pages from flipping and I find it easier to look at instructions when they are upright. I also use those reusable “sign here” labels that are used for documents to keep my place on the page. As I complete a cut I move the arrow to the next one. 2) Depending on how many different cuts I have to do sometimes I transfer the cutting instructions onto a dry erase board and erase as I do the cuts. ~ Canadian National Fabric |
| Sylvia’s Sewing Tip: Remember those little reinforcements we used (back in the day) on our paper for our binders? Well, they are a great way to label your sewing machine bobbins, so you won’t forget which thread you have on which bobbin – you can find them at your dollar store or stationary store. ~ Country Clothesline |
| Rita’s Sewing Tip: Maintenance is key – sewing machine maintenance (cleaning, change needles), personal maintenance (Hydrate – drink water, move/stretch often), tool maintenance (change rotary blades). The maker is only as good as his tools! They need not be expensive – just in good working order. ~ Fabric Please! |
| Daryl’s Sewing Tip: My best sewing tip is to take on something you’ve never sewn before. If you’re a quilter – make a dress, if you sew bags – slip-cover a chair. There is so much helpful information on blogs like Thread Riding Hood, your hand will be held every step of the way, and sewing is one of the most transferable skills there is. It will open up a whole new world of creative opportunities.~ Fabric Spark |
| Jill’s Sewing Tip: I have a scrap piece of fabric that I ALWAYS start sewing on before I start stitching – to prevent that snarl of stitches underneath your work or even worse – the edge being eaten by your machine! ~ Fishskin Fabric |
| Marlene’s Sewing Tip: Press, don’t iron. Press once to set your seam, then either press the seam to either one side or open. Then press again from the front. Pressing means picking your iron up and moving it along the fabric, overlapping as you go. Don’t iron! Ironing — where you slide the iron in a back and forth motion across the fabric — easily stretches and distorts the fabric. And don’t wait until the end to press – press as you go. This is true whether you’re sewing a quilt, clothing or — well, actually anything and everything. ~ Flare Fabrics |
| Alanna’s Sewing Tip: When sew garments always sew up a muslin first, it’s time consuming but so worth it. ~ Fridays Off Fabric Shop |
| Pam’s Sewing Tip: Use the best thread you can afford. We tend to spend a lot of money on fabric, but forget that the thread is going to have to hold it all together. My favourite is Aurifil. ~ Mad About Patchwork |
| Nikki’s Sewing Tip: My favorite sewing tip, although technically not a “tip”, is to listen to audio books while you sew. I’ve listened to so many great books (everyone, you HAVE to listen to The Girl With All the Gifts) while sewing, and it makes sewing twice as much fun! ~ Seam Allowance |
| Judy’s Sewing Tip: When you need to keep colours sorted while sewing – why not look in your baking cupboard? I sort small pieces into muffin cups and strips onto cookie sheets. At the end of the day they can be tidied up easily just by stacking them up! (Works great for Lego projects too!) ~ Sew Sisters |
| Lisa’s Sewing Tip: Never be afraid to try something new, you will be surprised at what you can do! ~ Stay Home Fabrics |
I listen to audiobooks while sewing just like Nikki’s Tip! crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
Like Nikki I listen while I sew-usually podcasts!
press dont iron…………..lol my favorite……….ty for the reminder flare fabrics…happyness04431@yahoo.com
PRESS DON’T IRON TIP !!!
The press don’t iron tip, and the tip of trying something new. Last week was great, I was afraid I couldn’t keep up with you (I can’t read my feed everyday), but I’ve managed it 😉
So true Mirjam! I’m glad you were able to keep everything straight 🙂 It was a bit crazy over here and I was running it!!
I agree with Nikki, I turn on Sirius, up the volume and away I go.
The iron as you go tip! It really makes a difference in the final product!
So true Sheri – it makes it look so much more professional!
I really like the tip from Sylvia, this is a great way to label bobbins. x
That one is my favorite too Kay – such a great simple idea!
Jill’s is my favorite tip.
Ha! Yes Jonquil – it’s true!