I often ignore my own good advice. But every time—without fail—I’m sorry later. Here are a few tips I’ve learned that have made sewing a lot easier.
Trimming threads as I go | Guilty as charged. Every once in a while, I don’t trim as I go. And I end up with a mess. It’s a really good practice to trim those threads before they get tangled and bothersome. It keeps your sewing neater and helps you avoid having an extra step when you are done.
Needle-down position | This is a rule I’ve imposed on myself that I never break. When I’m sewing long stretches, I have my machine set to stop in the needle-down position. In other words, if I stop sewing midway through, my needle automatically stays in the fabric. This helps keep lines straight and keeps fabrics from jiggling around.
Please, don’t forget to close that rotary cutter! | At Wooden Gate Quilts, the local quilt shop where I go to a drop-in class each week, if you leave it open, you buy lunch. Fingers intact: good. Blood: bad. Just saying.
Pressing | We all know that pressing seams open or to one side when called for is a requirement. But I didn’t realize that pressing your seams as sewn first, before you open or press them to one side, sets them in place. I did not believe it until I tried it, but it really helps the seam to look nice when you turn it, especially if it’s around a curve.
Same thread in the bobbin that you use on top | I have noticed that machines tend to get a little testy about not having the same kind of thread in the bobbin as in the needle. It messes with the tension and generally creates havoc. So if you are experiencing breaking thread or tension issues, it’s a good idea to make sure both threads are the same.
