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8 Steps to Optimize Your Sewing Time
by Sarah J. Doyle
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.
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.
