Top Seven Sewing Room Tips

» Download all tips in a PDF file!

The PDF makes it easy for you to print out the tips. The file is small too (138 KB), so you can share it with your friends via email. You can also recommend this page to a friend (see link at the top of this page).

1. To make threading needles easier, put a little hair spray on the thread to stiffen it before passing it through the eye of the needle.
2. Remove the white hemline on jeans by rubbing the hem with a crayon matching the color of your jeans, then iron the hem.  Remember to use a pressing cloth, otherwise the crayon will stick to the bottom of your iron.
3. When working with satin fabrics, prevent snagging of the fibres by first exfoliating your hands with a tablespoon of vegetable oil mixed with a tablespoon of sugar.  The sugar granules remove any dead or rough skin while the vegetable oil softens the skin.  Remember to wash your hands to remove any excess oil.  This also makes a great exfoliant for elbows, knees, and heels.
4. When hand sewing, prevent threads from tangling by drawing them over a bar of soap.
5. When hand sewing four-hole buttons, sew through 2 holes and knot the thread.  Use a separate strand of thread to sew the remaining 2 holes. This way, should one thread let go, the button will still be secure.
6. Tack garment drawstrings in the center back of the casing to prevent them from pulling through.
7. For those stubborn buttons that don't want to stay sewn on, sew them first with a strand of fine dental floss, then cover the floss with a couple of stitches using thread to match the garment. 

» Download all tips in a PDF file!

The PDF makes it easy for you to print out the tips. The file is small too (138 KB), so you can share it with your friends via email. You can also recommend this page to a friend (see link at the top of this page).