"8 Steps
to Optimize Your Sewing Time"
1. Be prepared
Gather and purchase all of the supplies necessary to
complete your sewing or craft project ahead of time. Having to stop in the
middle of the project in order to run out and get a forgotten essential item is
time consuming and irritating.
2. Check the threading of your sewing machine
Double check the threading of your sewing machine to
prevent immediate stitching problems. Breaking thread or skipped stitches right
off the bat can cause you to lose interest in the project, not to mention the
time lost in fixing the problem. And speaking of thread, always use a good
quality thread. "Cheap" thread will fray, break and cause knotting of
the thread while sewing.
3. Use the correct needles for the project
It is a mistake to simply use the same needle for
everything you sew until it breaks. Some fabrics require a fine needle while
heavier duck type or denim fabrics require a heavier needle. Keep a supply of
assorted machine needles handy so you'll have the correct needle for the fabric
you'll be using. In addition, if you hit a pin, you should immediately change
the needle. A bent needle, even if only "slightly" bent or nicked can
cause skipped stitches and can quite possibly cause damage to your fabric.
4. Cut the fabric carefully
All pattern pieces have grainline markings. The grainline
should run parallel with the length of the fabric. If you simply lay the pattern
pieces anywhere on the fabric, ignoring the grain- lines, the finished garment
will not hang right. The extra few minutes spent laying the pattern pieces
correctly and cutting the seam lines precisely will result in a professional
looking garment you will be proud of.
5. Practice unusual or new techniques
If your project or garment includes a technique you are
not familiar with, or haven't done in quite some time, such as buttonholes or
flat felled seams, practice on a piece of extra fabric. It would be best to make
two or three practice samples before actually sewing on the garment itself.
6. Clip all threads as you sew
It only takes a second to clip the stitches from the
beginning and end of the seams. If you wait until the garment is finished it
will become a chore and you may be tempted to leave them, resulting in an
unprofessional looking garment. Be sure to have a waste basket handy, or tape a
small lunch bag to the side of your sewing machine table in which to toss the
threads after clipping.
7. Press seams as you work
Pressing the seams during the sewing process will produce
a more professional looking garment, and will also make it easier to sew the
seams that will "cross" any of the seams already sewn. Gently open the
seams and press flat. You will save time if you sew several seams, then press
them all at once, before moving on to the next step.
8. Clean the sewing area
Clean up the sewing area after each project. A great motto
for your sewing/craft area is "a place for everything and everything in
its' place". Put things away - left over fabric in a scrap box or drawer,
scissors, pins and thread back in the drawer. The sewing room will look much
better and an organized sewing area is much more inviting than a messy, piled up
area with only a "path" to the sewing machine.
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About the author:
Sarah J. Doyle is author of over 25 sewing, craft and
how-to books, as well as author of online pattern making, sewing and craft
classes. Visit http://SewWithSarah.com
for information on books, classes, newsletters and the latest hints and tips.
(c) Copyright 2003, Sarah J. Doyle. All Rights Reserved.
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