Sewing Tips & Sewing Ideas
To Help You Sew Better

Sewing tips are invaluable in making your sewing experience a pleasant one. Creative ideas and help, are quick simple bits of information to enhance your experience. 

Share your Sewing Advice or tip

Do you have sewing advice or tips you would like to share?

 Scroll down the page and share your advice with your fellow sewers.

Use the Correct Thread

  • Use the thread that is spun specifically for the machine you are using. For instance, if you are using a serger, don't use serger cones and regular sewing machine thread mixed. You will create tension problems, and waste precious sewing time trying to figure out what is wrong.
Serger Thread
Sewing Machine Thread

Sew Pants that Fit
  • Here is a tip for sewing pants that fit. Use muslin and tweak your pattern as you sew. Make notes on the pattern pieces if you have made any changes. This will help to remind you when you sew a pair of pants for real. This takes more time, but in the end will be well worth it.

Fabric Preparation

Don't forget to preshrink your fabric before laying out your pattern and cutting. Go to sewing fabric guide for "how to's" for pre shrinking different types of fabric. In addition, if you are using piping, lining, or anything else that will need pre shrinking as well.

Choose the Correct Lining 

  • If you need lining for your garment or project, keep in mind that some linings are dry clean only. Purchase lining that is cleaning compatible to the fabric you are  using.
  • This is an excellent article for fabric lining. 

The Right Fabric for the Job

  • Be sure to purchase fabric that is compatible with the style of garment or sewing project you are working on. Some styles require stiff fabric and some styles require flowing fabric. Read the pattern back, as it will advise you on the type of fabric required.

Keep Your Sewing Patterns Organized

  •  In order to keep my patterns organized, I keep a binder with page separators. On each tab of the page separator, I write what that section of pattern is about much like a commercial pattern catalogue does. ·      When I purchase a pattern I photo copy that pattern, and place the photocopied page in the appropriate section of the binder. This keeps me organized, and I refer to the binder when I what to see what patterns I have. 

Sewing Patterns-Take a close look

  • Don't always assume that the instructions in the pattern envelope will be clear. Looking closely at the details of your garment or project can save time and frustration in the long run. If the pattern envelope has a photo, see how the garment fits, or how the project hangs. This will be a very big help when you are ready to put your project together.

Sewing Tips From Around the Web

  • I came across a wonderful tip from Threads Magazine. When you don't have a friend handy and you want to create an even hem for a skirt, dress or coat, try this tip. Click Here .

Marking Pens

  • Be careful not to iron your marking pen, or chalk marks. You run the risk of setting the mark so it will not come out of the fabric.

Do You Have A Sewing Tip? Want To Share Your Tip? Or Do You Have A Sewing Question? How About Your Sewing Story? Share anything that is related to sewing right here.

Do You Have A Sewing Tip? Want To Share Your Tip? Or Do You Have A Sewing Question?

Share Your Tip or Question With Your Fellow Sewers!

If you have a question, please give as much information as you can.
For example the pattern brand and number of pattern or photos of what your working on. This will make it so much easier for me to help you.

What Other Visitors Have Contributed.

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

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Sewing Ultra Seude 
What type of thread and what type of needle should you use for sewing ultra suede? There are two types of synthetic suede. Ultra suede tends to be the …

Sleeve Styles. Image Courtesy of thefoldlind.com

Sewing Sleeves  
Why do sleeves need to be separately cut out and then sewn into the garment; why can't sleeves be a part of the main body of the pattern piece? To best …

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I learned to sew on my mother's knee, quite literally. My mom had and still has a featherweight Singer sewing machine. It's at this point, about 60 …

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Sewing Help...Fixing A Too Narrow Seam Allowance 
Hi Help....I'm re-lining a jacket that I've had for 15years. I bought a pattern for the lining pieces, so they do not exactly fit the jacket. I …

Brother Thread and Needle Chart

What Type of Thread Do You Use For What Fabric. 
What thread is best to use for different types of fabric. • What kind of thread do I use to sew cotton fabric? • What kind of thread do I use to …

Vintage Sewing Patterns-Where can I find vintage patterns? 
Where can I find vintage sewing patterns? I am learning to sew and I love vintage. Can you help me find vintage sewing patterns? It's great you are …

Pattern sizing 
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I have a question about fabric 
I am trying to find a t-shirt material (not too thin) in a 50%cotton/50% polyester blend. Do you know any company that carries it? Hancock does not. …

Sewing Shears 
Can you advise me on what scissors or brand of scissors I should buy to cut t shirt fabric? Thanks Jennifer Hi Jennifer, First of all …

Just me at 73 and holding!!!

Pinking Shears 
I am wondering if there are any other shears that have a design like the pinking shears? If not, why not? They have many cool designs for paper, but …

Fold 1/4

How To Sew Casing For Elastic 
I am sewing McCall's pattern 5610, it calls for casing for elastic but I am unsure what to do. Please help Hi Mel, I do not have this pattern, …

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I just learned to sew and I am looking to make a simple colonial costume. Am I ready? Where can I find an easy costume pattern? Hi Leah , Congratulations, …

Neck Roll Pillow 1

Free Pillow Patterns - Neck Roll Pillow 
I want to make a neckroll pillow, but I don't want to buy a pattern. Can you give me an easy way to make one of these throw pillows? Thanks Lisa …

Making Arm Holes & Yoke Lay Flat 
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Sewing Spandex on a Vintage Singer Sewing Machine 
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photo courtesy of needlebook.blogspot.com

turning a corner with binding 
I need an easy way to turn a corner when sewing a binding around a blanket. Hi, June I am not working on anything of this nature right now to show …

Caring For Spandex Fabric "Did I Ruin My Spandex Jeans?" 
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Can I Sew My Own Wrestling Gear? 
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Sewing Pattern Tip 
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Fabric dyeing 
I have found through nearly 30 years of sewing that dyeing fabric is not too easily done. My tip is this: dye the fabric before cutting it. This way, all …

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