julieblack
27-03-2008, 03:16 PM
After cutting buttons from old garments, fasten together with a piece of thread before putting into the button box. You can see at a glance how many you have of a particular kind.
When dressmaking, press open seams of garments with a dampened length of ribbon or tape. This way you’ll see if the seams are completely open and the rest of the garment won’t get damp.
Use a stiff-bristled nail brush to remove cut threads when unpicking stitches from material. It will prove much quicker than fingers or tweezers.
When making buttonholes, moisten the edges with colourless nail polish. When it dries the buttonhole stitches can be made neatly.
Before machining a zipper, sellotape it into position, stitch through the sellotape and remove afterwards.
If a zip tends to unfasten sew a dress hook above it, then slip the tab opening of the zip over the hook. If it tends to stick rub with a pencil.
When sewing very fine materials, place narrow strips of tissue along the seams. This keeps the materials in place and easily removed.
Before sewing leather patches or binding on coats, follow round the edges of the patch or binding with the sewing machine, using a large, unthreaded needle. The ready made holes make sewing easier.
When patching children’s jeans, sew up the back pocket and take a piece of material from inside the pocket.
Keep a piece of chalk beside the sewing machine and should an oil spot get on the material, just rub the area with chalk and leave for a few minutes. Brush off and the spot will disappear.
Measure thrice before you cut once
When dressmaking, press open seams of garments with a dampened length of ribbon or tape. This way you’ll see if the seams are completely open and the rest of the garment won’t get damp.
Use a stiff-bristled nail brush to remove cut threads when unpicking stitches from material. It will prove much quicker than fingers or tweezers.
When making buttonholes, moisten the edges with colourless nail polish. When it dries the buttonhole stitches can be made neatly.
Before machining a zipper, sellotape it into position, stitch through the sellotape and remove afterwards.
If a zip tends to unfasten sew a dress hook above it, then slip the tab opening of the zip over the hook. If it tends to stick rub with a pencil.
When sewing very fine materials, place narrow strips of tissue along the seams. This keeps the materials in place and easily removed.
Before sewing leather patches or binding on coats, follow round the edges of the patch or binding with the sewing machine, using a large, unthreaded needle. The ready made holes make sewing easier.
When patching children’s jeans, sew up the back pocket and take a piece of material from inside the pocket.
Keep a piece of chalk beside the sewing machine and should an oil spot get on the material, just rub the area with chalk and leave for a few minutes. Brush off and the spot will disappear.
Measure thrice before you cut once