8 Sewing Tips and Hacks for Beginners / My Best Top 8
If you are new to sewing or have been sewing for a long time, there are always some new sewing tips and hacks that could make your sewing experience easier and more enjoyable.
In this post, I share with you my top eight sewing tips.
1. Preventing Ruler Slippage
This tip is a game-changer if you use a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler. When making long cuts, your ruler may slide, even if you press down firmly.
The solution? A simple five-pound hand weight. That’s it.
What do you do with it? Place the weight on the end of the ruler to keep it in place. This prevents any slipping or sliding and ensures straight cuts every time.
I keep my weight on my sewing table whenever I’m getting ready to cut.
2. Starting and Ending Seams on Knit and Lightweight Fabrics
Starting a seam on knit or lightweight fabrics without the fabric getting sucked into the machine can be challenging.
You get bunched up fabric, and sometimes it will even make a hole in your fabric. OUCH!
I have the perfect little gadget that will cost you nothing and save you so much grief.
It’s just a piece of scrap fabric about 2 x 2 inches. When you start a seam, sew onto the scrap first and then put the end of the fabric against it.
This keeps the presser foot level and allows the feed dogs to move the fabric through without getting it sucked down into the machine. (I’m sure you’ve experienced it). It is so frustrating.
It will also ensure a smooth start and finish to your seams.
***I keep many scrap pieces close to my machine in a little pouch on my sewing supply holder.
You can use the same scrap piece over and over again.
3. Sewing Over Bulky Seams
When sewing over bulky seams, such as denim or fleece, skipped stitches and uneven stitches can be a problem.
To prevent this, all you need to do is keep the presser foot level by placing something under the back of the foot.
You can use a “hump jumper,” a folded piece of cereal box, or even an emery board.
Alternatively, some machines have a leveling button on the presser foot to help maintain an even stitch.
When you come to the bulky seam, slide the device under the back of the presser foot and start sewing. This will allow the feed dogs to pull the fabric evenly without skipping stitches.
Then, when you continue to sew and go off the bulky seam, the device will simply fall away or the button will pop back out, disengaging it.
4. Using Painter’s Tape or Masking Tape
I know this may seem like a strange thing to have in your sewing kit, but painter’s tape or masking tape can be incredibly useful in sewing projects. It’s one of my favorite sewing tips!
To mark the seam allowance on your sewing machin
- As a guide to sew straight lines instead of using chalks or pens.
- Seam Allowances and Straight Lines
- Use it to mark your seam allowances on your sewing machine
- As a temporary hold for fabric pieces
5. Top Stitching without Thread Bunching
Top stitching adds a professional touch to your projects, but threads can bunch up and knot at the start and look really messy.
To avoid this, adjust your stitch length from 2.5 to 3 and gently pull back the threads from the needle and bobbin when you begin stitching. Take a few stitches and let them go.
This prevents bunching and ensures a clean finish start.
6. Keeping Your Sewing Pedal in Place
If your sewing pedal keeps sliding away while you work, place a piece of rubbery shelf liner under it.
This will keep the pedal in place and prevent it from moving around.
Here’s a sewing tip for those of you with a carpet surface: You can apply a few pieces of sticky back Velcro to the pedal (the prickly hook piece) to keep it from slipping around.
7. Troubleshooting Funky Stitches
If your machine starts acting up and the stitches start looking a little wonky, the simplest solution is often to re-thread your sewing machine. It’s as simple as that.
Ensure you’re threading the machine correctly according to the instructions in your sewing machine manual, and check your bobbin.
This quick fix can solve many common stitching problems.
***If you still are having issues, check out my tutorial on
Troubleshooting 3 Common Sewing Machine Problems | Sew Simple Series Lesson #7
8. Managing Serger Tails
For those of you who use a serger, here is a tip to avoid leaving those obnoxious tails when starting or ending a seam with a serger.
Start sewing about half an inch. Stop and lift the presser foot. Pull the tail to the front and under the presser foot so that when you continue to sew, the tail will be reinforced by sewing over it and then cut off.
At the end of a seam, sew to the end of the fabric, maybe one stitch off the fabric, then lift the presser foot, pull the fabric back slightly, flip it over, and align the edge with the needle before continuing to sew. Sew a few inches, then veer quickly off.
Cut your threads. This technique results in a neat finish without loose tails.
Feel free to share your experiences, ask questions, or comment below.
I would love to hear some of your sewing tips.
OTHER POSTS YOU MAY FIND HELPFUL
Sewing With Fleece the Easy Way | My Top 10 Tips
A Beginners Guide to Rotary Cutting / Helpful Tips and Tricks
Have fun sewing!
2 Comments
Thank you very much Jan. Learnt a few new ways . Thankyou
You are so welcome.