12 Days of Christmas - Day 11 Giveaway! (January 4, 2021)

Cassandra

January 04, 2021

“My favorite sewing tip or trick is to sew a copy of the actual pattern to my pieces when trying to stitch delicate curves and shapes to ensure the end result is what I want. I the tear the pattern piece away afterwards. Works especially well when sewing for smaller dolls.

Cindy P

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is getting a machine foot that sews a 1/4" seam and ironing with a wool mat.

Carol

January 04, 2021

My favorite tip is when sewing knits, I find it helpful to use white tissue paper or a coffee filter, as a stabilizer to keep the fabric from jamming. Thank you for offering the Fashion Fabrics Club gift card.

Lyn K

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to read the pattern first than make notes on instructions sheet as I’m sewing with tips for that pattern or fabric. My tip for 2021 will be to print and cut a pattern every week, gather all the materials needed from my supply, purchase what’s needed, place in clear ziplock bag, ready to sew. Hopefully this will use up my stash quicker..lol

Laurie

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is to use scotch tape to hold your buttons in place while you attach them to the garment you’re creating. You can see the holes and then remove the tape when done.

Olga

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is using Viva like paper towels to make my patterns that I use often. They lay on the fabric fast and hold up using multiple times.

Peggy Stuart

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is starting and ending each seam on a small scrap of fabric, so you don’t have to hold the threads. It also saves thread.

Casey

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing trick is how to apply a pop hidden finish knot into any crease for hand sewing.

Cheryl Pigott

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is cut accurately, sew accurately, and press accurately. You’ll have a great finished product.

Betsey Dunn

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is pressing as you go.

MaryC

January 04, 2021

The best thing I learned, was to place a piece of painters tape on the needle plate area of my sewing machine to ‘follow’ for a consistent 1/4" seam allowance.

designdreamer

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to “google” whatever I don’t know how to do. You can ALMOST always find a way to do it.

Janet

January 04, 2021

Hi! My favorite tip is simply to be sure to tidy up at the end of the day, if I don’t finish my project. Make sure all paper pattern pieces that have been stitched are neatly folded and put into a ziploc bag with the pattern envelope or PDF cover so you know you’re putting your pattern in the correct place. I have mixed pieces of patterns when putting them away before and if you have a lot of patterns, it’s almost impossible to find those lost pieces again. Clear up your sewing area; put tools back in their places; neatly lay out the pieces you still have yet to sew. Starting with a clean area makes the next sewing day start off so much better.

Nancy

January 04, 2021

My favorite tip or trick is using seam binding for facings.

Judith Martinez

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is to read the pattern all the way through before getting started.

Edith Garrant

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is when sewing dolls and stuffed animals to trace the pattern onto pinned and folded fabric and then sew a 1/8 inch seam before cutting. This results in less bulky seems and a much neater turning on curves, espcially on the smaller pieces.

MARIA LUISA BADANI

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is to use small pieces of cardboard to put my ribbons. I storage then in small boxes so they don’t take too much space as in the spools. I also have an index of all the patterns printed and an excel sheet with all my purchases. When I need a pattern, it is easier to find the order and reprint

Fiona

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to use a tear away stabilizer when working with knits. It makes a huge difference especially with smaller pieces.

Jennifer

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tips are NEVER sew when you’re tired; and (especially for doll clothes) store your trims and notions by color in one of those plastic boxes with smaller boxes for photos in side it.

Phyllis

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is to use flat nose pliers to pull threads.

Mary Bigger

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is putting a small piece of blue painter’s tape in the center of every garment piece as I cut it out. This removes all question of which is the correct side. It is especially helpful when working with recycled denim.

Barbara Bullard

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is for invisible zippers. Before trying to stitch in the little dip in the zipper baste the zipper to the fabric. It will make such a difference.

Shasta Shippy

January 04, 2021

Oops!!! posted it twice!

Ann

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tips or tricks are don’t rush – take your time, read the directions before starting and enjoy your creative work.

Maureen W.

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is … “ I use a sliver of soap" in place of a chalk pen/pencil works like a charm in a pinch . Thank you!

Shasta Shippy

January 04, 2021

When I bind quilts, I will sew around the quilt before I cut any batting or backing off, (kinda like a stay stitch)so it won’t end up to small,

Shasta Shippy

January 04, 2021

When I bind quilts, I will sew around the quilt before I cut any batting or backing off, (kinda like a stay stitch)so it won’t end up to small,

Janet P

January 04, 2021

I keep tube of Burt’s Bees chap stick near my machine. i use it to wax the thread before inserting it into the eye of the needle.

Lori

January 04, 2021

“My favorite sewing tip or trick is to read the entire pattern first and lay out all my materials before getting started! I also iron each piece of fabric after I cut it out before sewing so they all fit together as precisely as possible.

Elna Rothenberger

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is to iron after every step, especially if making doll clothes. Another is to tack down the snaps with a dab of glue and set before sewing so they don’t slide all over the place when sewing with arthritic hands like mine!

Alice

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to read and think through all directions before starting.

Tanya

January 04, 2021

Without a doubt out of the all the tips shared by these classes the one that made the biggest impact on my is the installation of zippers…tip one opening up the invisible zippers but the biggest was moving the zipper up above the neckline seam or the waistline seam! Brilliant and it makes it close to the seam AND you don’t Have to work so hard to find that short zipper!! That class continues to be my most favorite. Dozens and dozens are a close second but it’s Zippers all the way!!!

Judy Houk

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is when I’m hand sewing I sometimes run the tip of my sewing needle through my hair. It keeps my needle going through my fabric smooth

Monique Venne

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is taking a diagonal stitch at a corner so that the corner will be sharp when turned right side out.

Kathleen

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to use make bias strips out of leftover fabric scraps and use them to do Hong Kong finishing of seams. A win-win.

Cheri

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is read everyone else’s tips they know way more than I have learned in my many years. Feeling challenged? Someone else has found a way to concur it.

Sharon

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is using foam toe separators ( for polishing nails) to secure my thread filled bobbins . Works great and a cheap fix

Sharron W.

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to use a nail manicure orange stick to hold tiny fabric pieces in place or move them along while sewing. It is wooden so won’t hurt or break your needle like a plastic pusher will if the needle hits it and it is great for getting to tight spaces under the presser foot to hold the fabric just so for stitching. I also use a plastic drawer organizer bucket with a built in non-skid bottom next to my sewing machine to hold pins, thread, bobbin, orange stick and small pattern pieces for the project I am working on. I have a clean long handled angled brush used for dying or tinting hair that I use to clean out the lint accumulation in the bobbin case area and feed dog between projects to clear away debris if any. Lot of great tips on here ladies. Can all of these great tips from this post be compiled into a post and put somewhere for reference?

jj

January 04, 2021

My favorite tip is to change the sewing machine needle after about eight hours of use.

OKSANA R

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is ironing on every step. It makes a big difference in the end.

Jennifer K.

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to store PDF printed patterns in large window envelopes that show the entire cover page. These are usually only available online from office supply sites and come in several colors.

S

January 04, 2021

My favorite tip is to used tissue paper when sewing a seam on knit fabric.

Carol

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to iron everything as you go.

G

January 04, 2021

My favorite tips are use a bamboo skewer to maneuver small pieces through the machine, it the needle hits it you will be less likely to break your needle. On well loved tissue patterns Iron light weight or medium weight interfacing to the backs to keep them around longer.

Marge R (mer)

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to print all your pattern pieces onto Freezer Paper from the kitchen product grocery aisle which allows you to iron them onto your fabric & re-use them many times over, while eliminating the need for pins when cutting fabric. Store pieces in plastic sleeves for easy re-use.

Sandy

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tips or trick are:
1. Increase both bodice waistline and skirt seams when gathering many inches of gathers. Final stitching line is corrected. (No way can I gather 30” of skirt fabric with a 1/4” seam allowance).
2. When sewing a bodice onto a waistband that is then sewed onto a gathered shirt, cut a piece of light-weight iron-on interfacing the exact size of the finished waist band. This with give you a perfect sewing line.
3. For perfect turned corners reduce stitch length when near corner, one stitch before corner pivot 45 degrees to make a tiny gap, pivot again to correct direction of corner. This tiny gap will ease the bunching of fabric to help make a perfect corner.

Kristin

January 04, 2021

One of my favorite tricks is to gather fabric using my serger. I set the stitch length to the longest it will go and set the differential feed to the “highest” setting. (I’m sure all sergers are a little different, but hopefully this conveys the technique.) Then I simply serge along the edge to be gathered. What I love about this is that using a 4 thread serger, you can pull the gathering tighter by loosening and pulling on the two needle threads from the top side of your work. Sometimes the serger gathers just the right amount but often I want the piece a little fuller. The two needle threads give you two rows of gathering stitches to pull on with just one pass of the serger. The gathering slides along these two threads just as if I had stitched two rows of long stitches with my regular sewing machine.

Kathleen

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is if you’re not getting the results you want from what you’re making, put it down, work on something else then go back to it. Sometimes a bit of rest time brings the project into perspective

Deb Johnson

January 04, 2021

My favorite tip is to always remember to use the correct type needle and be sure it is a nice sharp one.

Sandra

January 04, 2021

“My favorite sewing tip or trick is coffee filters.

Suzi

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to take your time sewing on snaps and do a good job – it makes a difference in the overall quality and look of your garment.

Beth c

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing trick is to use a coffee filter under knits when sewing them on my machine to keep them from stretching out.

Barbara

January 04, 2021

“My favorite sewing tip or trick is gathering with elastic.

Barbara

January 04, 2021

“My favorite sewing tip or trick is gathering with elastic.

Ann

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to use tissue paper or a coffee filter to start a seam. It really makes a difference especially with knits and delicate fabrics.

Gwyn

January 04, 2021

My favorite tip for sewing knits is to always have a piece of paper under your fabric to start sewing a seam. It keeps your fabric from being caught in the feed dogs and it tears away easily when your done.

Mary Jo

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing trick is to thoroughly read all the instructions before starting my project and to always iron as I sew.

MonicaAD

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is Sharpie marking my notches in different colors on my sewing feet … FIESTA :)

Linda

January 04, 2021

My favorite tip is washing and ironing my fabric before I use it. It looks and feels much better after. Also I always serge the edges before washing (or zig zag)

Delpha

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is iron as you go. It is often so tempting to skip that part as it can get be a hassle to get up and do it

Teresa-Jo

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is…sewing with a titanium topstitch needle especially for hems. I mostly use it for the hems on curtains, such a professional look!

Theresa Pasquale

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is watching a “how to” video by Pixie Faire. Also using tracing paper.

Charlene Hickey

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is reading the pattern several times and recycling clothing into other projects.

Soozee

January 04, 2021

My favorite tip is to keep all my PDF patterns in a page protector and in a 3-ring binder labeled with the contents.

Mitch

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is using light weight iron-on interfacing when sewing a tiny hem.

Bonny

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is the one you showed to use coffee filters to sew facings around the neckline.

Kay

January 04, 2021

My favorite trick is to serge fabric edges before sewing the pieces together. It makes it so much easier, and the end result is very professional.

teresa

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to read all the handy tips that have been shared on this page. I have discovered many ways to improve my sewing experience. Thank you all for the tips.

Virginia

January 04, 2021

A favorite sewing tip is how to create perfectly matched tiny collars.
1. Copy or transfer the collar pattern onto card stock and carefully cut it out.
2. Draw around the pattern piece on the wrong side of a block of fabric, lining it up with the grain of the fabric as indicated on the pattern.
3. Mark front and back in the seam allowance.
4. Flip the pattern to mark the other collar.
5. Do not cut until AFTER sewing.
6. Place another block of fabric underneath this block, right sides together, lining up grain lines
7. Sew along seam line using a small (2mm) stitch length.
8. Adjust needle position and sew a second row of stitches 1/8” outside the first.
9. Press to set the stitches.
10. Cut out the collar very close to second stitching line, leaving a bit of fabric at the neckline.
11. Carefully turn the collar and press again.
12. Cut along the neckline.
Voilá! Perfectly matched collars.

Barb M.

January 04, 2021

My favorite trick is to always double check that I’m sewing the right pieces together with the correct sides together, the sleeve in the correct position, etc. I had to do it when I started sewing and find that it pays to do it now with my shall we say—decreasing memory! lol Saves a whole lot of seam ripping and some bad words!

Katherine

January 04, 2021

I use Aleene’s No -Sew fabric glue to hold ribbon and trims in place instead of hand basting then machine stitch.

Lizbrth

January 04, 2021

My favourite sewing tip or trick is to always line my bodices. I find it much easier than just clipping and turning. I like the finished look as well. My best friend is 1/4 in double sided sticky washaway strips! Nothing better to hold things where they need to be held! Thanks Cinnamon for these marvellous offers

Jean Marshall

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to prewash the fabric the same you will be laundering the finished product.

Cora

January 04, 2021

My favorite is a quick way to make gathers. On the wrong side of the fabric, zig zag about 3/8 to 4/8ths across dental floss. Be careful not to catch the dental floss in the zig zag stitching. Mark your center, and at the 1/4 and 3/4ths/ Pull both ends and smooth the gathers as you pin to your bodice or waistband, et, .matching the ends of the fabric and the 1/4th center and 3/4th/

Rebecca

January 04, 2021

….is to keep learning, every day.

Barbara

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing trick is to run three rows of long stitches to gather something. It make the gathers lay flatter and you don’t get the small pleats that you do with two rows. It also makes the cap of a sleeve fit almost perfectly without any adjustment.

Sherry McCosh

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tips are to read all directions first to make sure I understand them then cut out fabric and ironing all seams as I go.

Doris

January 04, 2021

“My favorite sewing tip or trick is o’t to hurry

Krynne

January 04, 2021

“My favorite sewing tip or trick is … “

… I always print out 2 copies of the pattern pieces… one to keep as a backup in case the first gets lost or badly ruined. I also like to make sure all my fabrics are pressed flat with no wrinkles to be sure the size is right. For human sizes fabric wrinkles aren’t too offsetting in most cases, but for a small doll it’s often enough to make it too small of a fit!

Bev

January 04, 2021

“My favorite sewing tip or trick is (to cut out doll patterns with accuracy and sewing the the seams as close as possible to have the best fit for our dolls.…) “

MARY

January 04, 2021

Favorite tip – pre-wash, dry and starch fabric so that your project will be perfect when done. No surprise in fitting etc.

Roxanne

January 04, 2021

My favorite tip is using coffee filters to start a seam.

Mary

January 04, 2021

My two favorite sewing tips are: using strips of coffee filters to sew knits (no stretching or slipping and they tear off easily!) and using an alligator hair clip to hold a piece of velcro in place instead of struggling with pins.

Teresa

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is use clips rather than pins to hold pieces or seams in place as you sew. Such a spoiler when you get used to it.

Laura

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tricks to cover th pattern pieces with contact paper. This is great for doll dress patterns that you will use many times. I also use removable painters tape instead of pins when I am sewing because then I don’t have to worry about dogs or kitties being in the same room.

LeeAnn

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to clean up after every project so I’m ready for the next one.

Lisa

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip or trick is always read the pattern all the way through before you start a sewing project.

Andrea

January 04, 2021

One of my favorite tips when sewing small pieces together is the draw with a pencil the seam lines, cut the fabric out bigger, sew on the lines, then cut the seam down. Much easier to make small sewn pieces come out better. Of course pressing is a must.

Marilyn

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to never think you know it all. There is always something new to learn if you are looking for it.

Paula H

January 04, 2021

My favorite tool is the plastic tub and pusher for narrow straps.

Jen H.

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing trick is using a basting thread to mark a fold line for a hem.

sharon

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tips are:
Don’t rush it, take your time making the pattern and It doesn’t have to be perfect.

Nancy

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to never skip a lining if a pattern calls for it.. The lining actually makes the sewing process simpler in the end.

Jacqueline

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to have a clear mind. Eat before you start so you’re not distracted by hunger and do those chores first. It will help keep your mind on your project!

Paula H

January 04, 2021

My favorite tool is the plastic tub and pusher for narrow straps.

Connie Tkach

January 04, 2021

ALWAYS take pictures of your finished projects. So you will always have when you started and how far you have come in your sewing journey and learning your skills!! AND give yourself a Pass when needed..EVERYONE starts at the beginning..

Linda

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to sew everything flat that I can. I sew the hems of skirts before I gather the waist, sew trim, etc. on flat pieces whenever practicable.

Jean

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to block fuse fabric to the interfacing and then cut out your pattern pieces. Your interfacing and fabric will be sure to be cut on grain and it saves time in cutting.

Donna

January 04, 2021

My favorite tip is to use my stiletto to help hold fabric as I sew. I also use washable markers to Mark fabric.

Beverly

January 04, 2021

My favorite sewing tip is to not repeat patterns or designs too often so there is not boring burn out. I try to do something different each time.