Sewing Tips...

I'm not exaggerating when I say I've been sewing since I was six and was interested in my Mother's old foot pedal Singer before that. I would spend alot of time sewing  things together all through school only to give it a few years rest in my twenties. Once I realized I was going to have a baby I took up sewing again with a vengeance and made everything from clothes to gift bags. I also spent a considerable amount of pregnant time watching my sewing mentor, Sandra Betzina, on television.

The following tidbits are some of the most important tips I've learned along the way. (or at least I think so!)

Be absolutely comfortable and familiar with your sewing machine. If you have a newer machine and don't know how it works go take lessons from the retailer. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get through a project and you can't figure out how your machine works.

Use all the best materials you can buy. Don't purchase needles or thread just because it's the least expensive because that is most often what you get. Cheap needles and thread waste your time and can ruin your projects. You'll be far more productive and pleased with the results if you spend a little more money in these two areas.

When in doubt, change it out. If you find that no amount of effort will stop the thread in your machine from tangling up or hooking into the bobbin, change the needle to a new one. You may have been sewing with the same needle for a dozen projects, there may be a burr in the metal, or maybe it's bent from hitting a pin. Whatever the case my bet lies on the  fact that a new needle will most likely cure the problem.

Do you sew corners only to find that when you turn the project to the right side you can't get a really sharp point? Here's the cure: sew normally almost all the way to the corner, stop, change your stitch length to very, very short, and take two stitches across the corner at the diagonal. Turn your project to continue sewing and return your stitch length to normal. Finish each of the corners in this manner then when you turn each one will be perfect!

How about zippers? I used to avoid putting in a zipper at all costs. The process is long and difficult, basically no fun. Here's a less painful way to set a zipper. This works especially well on home decorator projects. Choose which area or side where you'll want your zipper, Put right sides together as for a regular seam, measure and mark the fabric for your zipper length leaving ample room at each end. Sew with a normal stitch to the first mark for your zipper, backstitch for strength, then change your stitch length to a longer almost basting stitch and continue to sew the area where the zipper will set, ending at the second mark. Change back to the normal length, backstitch again, and sew to the end. Iron the seam flat, transferring your marks to the outside where they can be easily seen. Taking your zipper and a glue stick, (yes, a glue stick, any glue stick will work) run the glue stick down each side of the zipper tape on the appropriate side (the upper side that will adhere to the fabric and allow it to be sewn into place correctly) and avoiding the teeth of the zipper. Try to apply a good amount of glue without leaving globs or obvious clumps.  Flip zipper into place on your fabric in between your markings, pressing the glued sections into the fabric. You can apply a little ironing at this point to insure that it remains in place for sewing. Place a pin at either end of the zipper, just above the pull and below the metal end, to give your self clues to end your topstitching. Flip everything over and topstitch from just below the pull to the bottom, cross over below your pin, back stitching again for strength, and topstitch up the other side to just below the pull. Remove piece from machine and using a seam ripper or other thread clipping device your comfortable with, insert into the sewn seam, headed towards the bottom of the zipper and open enough of the threads that you can reach in and grab the zipper pull to open the zipper slightly. With the pull out of the way you can go back to the machine and continue your topstitching of the zipper the remainder of the way.
Once you try this once or twice you'll never go back to doing it any other way. I have this procedure down to about ten minutes total time!
Won't the glue glob up on my needle? No, your needle won't even know it's there.
Won't it make my project have a stiff spot where the glue is on the fabric? No, actually most glue sticks dissolve in the first wash never to be seen again.
Try this, you'll like it!

Keep checking back, I'm always adding new things!