It doesn’t matter if you’re well seasoned at sewing or just starting out on this creative artistic adventure, there are always new things to learn.
We have put together a list of sewing tricks for you to access which you may have forgotten or haven’t learned, as well as some wonderful beginner sewing tips that anyone can benefit from.
For those of us who love to sew, we know that sewing tips are timeless and can be easily forgotten.
For those just starting out, our beginner sewing tips will offer suggestions on how to approach those first big projects.
We have so many sewing tips, hacks, tricks and beginner sewing tips on this page that you are sure to learn something new here!
FABRIC SEWING TIPS
Have you ever wondered how to find the right side of batiks? Maybe you’ve wondered how to keep track of the right side of knits. We have great sewing tips to help you with these!
Cutting fabric on your cutting surface incorrectly will stretch your fabric and result in the fabric’s grain being distorted. Check out the sewing trick to keep your fabric from stretching!
Batting fibers can get lodged in the groves made by your rotary cutter. Learn the sewing tip we have to keep these fibers from interfering with cutting other fabrics.
I’m always on the lookout for fabric storage ideas to help me straighten up my sewing room. You will find many sewing tips for fabric and sewing accessory storage on this page!
BUTTONHOLES AND BUTTONS
Check out this sewing trick to sew buttons on your clothing in order to prevent them from falling off with lots of use. Perfect for kids’ clothing!
Marking buttonholes on your fabric is not always easy; use this beginner sewing tip to mark your placement before you make the buttonholes! Sew easy!
Covered buttons are a special touch to garments; I remember a beautiful dress my mom made me for a high school dance with three covered buttons on the cuffs.
I took for granted her talent for sewing! Use this sewing trick to make fabric covered buttons quickly and easily.
SEWING TIPS FOR THREAD AND BOBBINS
Use this beginner sewing tip when winding your bobbins. Speed of winding is more important than you realize.
Do you ever have trouble with metallic thread breaking? This sewing trick takes a little prep time, but it is worth every minute you save by avoiding rethreading your needle over and over!
Bobbins can easily be misplaced if you don’t have the right storage place for them. And thread hanging off of the bobbins drives me nuts!
Use these sewing tips to manage the storage of your bobbins and keep them wound with no loose threads!
Use this genius sewing trick to extend the number of thread spools you can hold on your thread rack!
SEWING TRICKS FOR YOUR NEEDLES
Many ideas are on this page for the proper disposal of your used or broken sewing needles. Don’t just toss them in the trash; someone is sure to get hurt that way!
What is the size and type of sewing needle to use? These handy sewing tricks will make keeping track of this easy peasy!
When hand sewing or quilting, there are several ways to make pulling the needle through the fabric easier for you. Check out the ideas below!
MANY MORE SEWING TIPS AND TRICKS
There are just too many of these wonderful sewing tips, hacks, and sewing tricks to list!
We have many more sewing tips related to machine manuals, applique, bias tape, sewing patterns, and more.
This page is full of ideas and sewing tips for all of us who like to sew . Scroll down to find these sewing tricks to make your time sewing even more enjoyable!
We would love to share web sites and blogs that are all-things-sewing with you at our favorite sewing sites page! We had so much fun putting this page together and know you will enjoy visiting it.
Happy Sewing!
Supporting Products and links: Some of the links below may be affiliate links.
We make a small commission on sales through the affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you in advance
for your purchase and your support! Please see our full Affiliate
Statement for more information.
|
Polar fleece makes a wonderful backing for a baby quilt; it's super warm, water resistant and so soft against baby's delicate skin! It also glides easily over the machine throat plate when machine quilting.
Clotilde
|
|
|
What is right and wrong side of batik fabric? You can use either side. Use the one you like the best.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
Learn about batik fabric. What is the right and wrong side of batik fabric?
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
Save an old cutting mat to use only when rotary cutting batting. Batting fibers can get lodged in the grooves made by the cutter and interfere with cutting fabrics.
|
|
|
|
|
When making bias tape some fabrics do not hold a pressed crease. To simplify this process, spray the fabric with spray starch, allow to dry and then slip it into the bias tape maker and press.
By Liz Barefoot at Nancy's Notions
|
|
|
Remnants of bias tapes, trims and braids can be kept under control if you wrap them around an old paper towel tube.
Patternsthatfityou.com
|
|
|
Don't throw out thread and yarn trimmings and tiny scraps of fabric. Put them in a suet holder and hang outside for the birds to use as nesting material.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
Learn how to help keep bobbin threads from unraveling while storing by wrapping a tiny ponytail scrunchy around the bobbin. Watch video.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
|
|
How to keep your bobbin storage box from opening accidentally.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
A quick tip bobbin storage idea when traveling to a retreat, workshop or class. No need to take your entire bobbin box, learn what to do.
By Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
Use empty little black or clear plastic cannisters rolls of film come in to store sewing machine bobbins.
Patchwords Tips & Techniques
|
|
|
Storing bobbins can be a bit of a problem with the threads going all over the place. This quick sewing tip shows how to use inexpensive, clear plastic tubing as a bobbin thread holder and stop thread from unraveling.
Needlepointers.com Associate
|
|
|
|
|
Always wind a bobbin at a very even rate, medium speed. Winding too slow or too fast will affect tension.
JOANN
|
|
|
To mark buttonholes, cut a strip of water-soluable stabilizer the length of your buttonhole area. Pin to fabric. Using a pen that will not run, mark the placement of your button holes. After stitching -tear away excess stabilizer. Spritz any whiskers with water to make the stabilizer totally disappear.
Hans Sew and Vac
|
|
|
Sewing buttons with dental floss will give them a longer life, especially on children's clothes.
GotFabric.com
|
|
|
How to make a cone thread holder and thread guide for your sewing machine.
|
|
|
|
|
Mini mason jars are a way to store small craft and sewing supplies and other items.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
Place a foam cushion inside a plastic bag for easier insertion into a cushion cover. Slip the plastic out before sewing the cushion shut.
JOANN
|
|
|
Sew your darts from the widest point of the dart. Backstitch at the beginning of the stitch, gradually tapering to a point at the end of the dart. The last three or four stitches should be precisely on the fold. Continue stitching a few stitches off the edge of the fabric.
Clotilde
|
|
|
Do you have a sewing machine with built-in decorative stitches? Sometime the decorative stitch picture does not stitch as it appears on the picture. Make a decorative stitch sample.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
|
|
Use a diaper pin to thread elastic through a waist casing. Diaper pins are less likely to open like a regular larger safety pin does.
Sew News
|
|
|
When sewing elastic casing, use fusible web to hold down the interior seam allowance. The elastic glides smoothly through the casing without catching loose seam allowances.
GotFabric.com
|
|
|
When sewing elastic casing, use fusible web to hold down the interior seam allowance. The elastic glides smoothly through the casing without catching loose seam allowances.
GotFabric.com
|
|
|
Hold the circle fabric in place when making covered buttons by using a glue stick and applying some glue to the wrong side of the fabric.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
|
|
When cutting out your project, do not let the fabric hang off the edge of your cutting surface as this will stretch the fabric and result in the fabric's grain being distorted.
Sewing Savvy
|
|
|
Keep soap slivers for the best, washable way to mark fabric.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
Mark the right side of your fabric by taping a small piece of masking tape to the wrong side. This is especially good to do if it's difficult to tell which is the right and wrong side of your fabric.
Nancy's Home Page
|
|
|
Cut the fabric with right-sides together; the wrong side will then be exposed for quick marking.
All Free Crafts
|
|
|
|
|
Don't throw away those cereal boxes anymore? Recycle them into simple bolts to store fabric.
U Create Crafts
|
|
|
Remover door from sewing room closet, make split curtain to cover doorway with a spring curtain rod and store fabric in pull-out wire baskets.
Bernina
|
|
|
A quick tip and idea on how to store fabric by repurposing an old DVD video cabinet.
Needlepointers.com Associates
|
|
|
How to use an old dresser to store fabric. Repurpose an old dresser into a great storage cabinet in your sewing room.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
|
|
Use a big glue stick instead of spray adhesive when embroidering or sewing felt appliques. It works and saves on spray adhesive.
Creative Machine Embroidery
|
|
|
This quick tip will show you how to stop a sewing machine foot pedal from sliding around on tile or wood floors by using a mouse pad.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
Demonstrating how to use a mouse pad to prevent your sewing machine foot pedal from moving.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
Do you ever have trouble pulling the needle through the fabric? This tips explains how to use a small piece of jar opener rubber to help pull needle through material.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
|
|
A heavy piece of cardboard can be used as an alternative to a hem guide. Simply mark the board with the hem width desired.
Clotilde
|
|
|
Make sure you have all the pieces listed on the pattern layout sheet. Press the pattern pieces with a dry iron at a low heat setting. Make any alterations necessary for fit. Patterns pieces usually have lines to indicate where to change the length. Make sure to alter all pieces that will be are affected.
Life Tips
|
|
|
Appliqueing a light fabric on top of a dark fabric can cause shadowing. Lining the applique fabric with a second fabric to create a bonded fabric is a solution. Learn how here!
Needlepointers.com Associate
|
|
|
Here is a way to keep a supply of water readily accessible near the iron area to refill the steam iron water tank.
Needlepointers.com Associates
|
|
|
|
|
Pressing and ironing a project is so important. Always have an iron and ironing board set up near your sewing area. Press as you stitch.
Needlepointers.com Associate
|
|
|
When sewing jeans, pound the seams with a hammer to flatten them to a thickness your sewing machine can handle easily.
Sew News
|
|
|
When both sides of a knit fabric look alike, mark with masking tape the side you determine as the wrong side.
JOANN
|
|
|
Store bought patches are usually thick and stiff. You can make a softer fusible patch with lining material and fusible webbing. Fuse one side of the webbing to large scrap of lining material and have it ready so all you have to do is cut out the correct size and iron it on.
Life Tips
|
|
|
|
|
Make a back-up copy of the serger and sewing machine manual. Replacing lost manuals can be a hassle.
BabyLock USA Sergers and Sewing Machines
|
|
|
Prevent metallic thread from breaking by placing spools in the freezer for an hour or two prior to sewing.
Creative Matchine Embroidery Magazine
|
|
|
Did you forget the size and type of needle in your sewing machine? There is a tip on how to always know the size and type.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
A great way to store and sort sewing machine needles is to use an embroidery floss storage container. The needles fit perfectly in the container.
Needlepointers.com Associate
|
|
|
|
|
Keep a combo package of needles on hand. This will allow you to experiment with different needle sizes and types before you begin sewing your fabric.
Clotilde
|
|
|
Use a Tic-Tac box for safe disposal of broken or dull needles and pins.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
To safely dispose of machine needles, rinse out the complimentary shampoo bottles from hotels and place used needles inside. Carolyn R
Sew News
|
|
|
Don't throw sewing machine needles and pins into the trash. Learn how to dispose of broken and bent needles and pins safely. Watch Video.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
|
|
When storing slightly used sewing machine needle, leave 4-5 inches of thread in the eye. This indicates that the needle was already used for a project.
Love of Quilting Magazine
|
|
|
To keep track of the needles that I have taken off my machine but that still have some life left in them, I use one of the old-fashioned tomato-shaped pincushions. Mark each section with the size and type of needle, using a black permanent marking pen.
Quilter's Review
|
|
|
When sewing with oilcloth, don't pin the oilcloth. Pinning creates permanent holes in the fabric. Use transparent tape, pattern weights or sewing clips to secure fabric layers instead.
Creative Machine Embroidery Magazine
|
|
|
Watch video to see how pegboard is an inexpensive way to make much needed storage space for sewing and quilting tools in your sewing room. Just build a wooden frame on the wall and attach pegboard.
|
|
|
|
|
Painter's tape or post notes are a quick and easy for sticking on the bed of your machine as a seam guide.
Londa's Creative Threads
|
|
|
To make alterations to a sewing pattern, first trace pattern onto parchment paper. Make alterations to traced copy. This way you will not ruin the original pattern.
Creative Machine Embroidery Magazine
|
|
|
If you need to create a huge pattern, use newspaper.
Craftionary
|
|
|
Learn why you should press and how you should press wrinkled sewing pattern pieces.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
|
|
Some sewing patterns contain different sizes on the same pattern piece.
This is one way to be able to reuse the same pattern in a different size.
|
|
|
Why trace sewing patterns? Some reason are commercial pattern are not cheap, contain more than one size and you want to make the pattern several times. Transferring the pattern onto tracing paper is the solution.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
By rounding the corners when sewing the back and front of a pillow together, it will be a low easier to sew and will look much neater when you turn it right-side out.
Needlepointers.com Staff
|
|
|
Make your pillow corners sharp by pushing them out with the tip of a knitting needle.
Hobby Industry Association
|
|
|
|
|
Use a magnet for to easily pick up sewing pins.
Craftionary
|
|
|
Never sew over pins, which will damage the needle or the machine's throat plate.
JOANN
|
|
|
Quilt battings are bulky and take up much needed storage space. Try rolling them up neatly and slipping them into a pillowcase and tossing it under your bed.
Sewing Savvy
|
|
|
If you prewash fabric, how do you prevent fraying? Learn some techniques on how to stop fraying.
|
|
|
|
|
When a cutting mat wears out, save it! You can cut it into custom-size pieces that can stabilize the bottoms of quilted bags and pouches.
American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine
|
|
|
When you reupholster furniture, carefully remove old coverings and use them to make a pattern out of Pattern Ease, interfacing or paper.
JOANN
|
|
|
use eyeglasses cases to store my rotary cutter. The hard plastic ones are perfect for larger cutters, and smaller cutters fit in slimline eyeglass cases.
Marcus Fabrics
|
|
|
Keep an old CD or DVD disk handy with your sewing tools. Because you can use it to create perfectly rounded corners on any projects - such as quilts, pillows, placemats, blankets and more.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
|
|
Before discarding old rubber gloves, cut off a 2" length of the thumb and needle fingers - these work great on hand sewing and craft projects where the needle is hard to pull through the fabric.
Patternthatfityou.com
|
|
|
A tips about scissors. You should have three different types of scissors for different purposes. One scissor for cutting fabric, one scissor for cutting paper or other craft projects and one scissor for threads and delicate work.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
Never, never use your sewing scissor to cut paper! Don't use them for paper because it will dull the blades. This is a tip I learned from my mother.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
You should have three pair of scissors - one for fabric, one for thread and intricate work and one for paper.
Bernina
|
|
|
|
|
Learn how to mark a specific seam allowance on your sewing machine by using masking tape or a post-it note.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
A rubber band around the base of my sewing machine is an excellent way to temporarily mark a wider-than-usual seam allowance.
Thread Magazine
|
|
|
Many sewing and quilting projects require you to leave an opening for turning the project right side out. Usually the pattern or tutorial will tell you where to leave the opening.
Here is a quick tip idea on how to remember to leave the opening.
Needlepointers.com Staff
|
|
|
Keep soap silvers for the best, washable markers around!
Londa's Creative Threads
|
|
|
|
|
When making children's clothing, make sure the buttonholes are horizontal, not vertical. The buttons will be less likely to pop open during active play.
Simplicity
|
|
|
Attached a piece of non-skid shelf liner to my control foot so it doesn't slide around on hard floors.
Embroidery Library Projects
|
|
|
Plug your machine into a power surge protector strip to protect your investment.
JOANN
|
|
|
Before starting a project fill a number of bobbins so you can continue with your project uninterrupted.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
|
|
If your sewing machine has lots of built-in stitches, make a handy sampler of all the functions and decorative stitches. This is a good way to learn your machine and quickly identify stitches.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
Where did I put that sewing tool? Where is my seam ripper? This video will show you a handy storage idea for sewing and quilting tools.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
Keep your sewing area clean by using a boutique tissue box to dispose of those threads and scraps while sewing and quilting. This can also be used to toss scrapbooking scraps.
Needlepointers.com
|
|
|
If your thread rack is full, extend the use of it by placing drinking straws over the dowels to extend the length of the dowel. You will now be able to hold more than just one spool of thread on each dowel.
Sewing Savvy
|
|
|
|
|
Select a thread that is the same color or shade darker than your fabric. For plaid, print or tweed match the thread to the dominant color in the fabric.
Fabricland
|
|
|
Use high quality, tightly wound thread that does not show fuzzy lint when held to the light. Modern sewing machines are highly computerized, and lint from cheaper thread will increase the need for repairs.
JOANN
|
|
|
Quick Needle Threading: Trim the end of the thread at an angle before pulling it through the needle eye. This works for both sewing machine and hand needles.
Gotfabric.com
|
|
|
Press the edge of the fabric under 1/4 inch. Turn and press the hem to the desired length. Machine stitch close to the folded edge. A longer stitch length will give the appearance of commercial garments.
Life Tips
|
|
|
Tricot and other fabrics that have a tendency to curl will do better if you spray a little starch along the edges and press before sewing the seams.
Patternthatfityou.com
|
|
|
When working on a project that calls for narrow twill tape, use a thin fabric selvage strip. It's convenient and almost always available.
Sew News
|
|
|
When washing small pieces of flannel Serge the edges first...time taken is made up in less lost fabric in all the loose threads.
Quiltaholics
|
|