50 Tried and True Sewing & Quilting Tips Part One
The recording of the new two-part Sewing With Nancy mini-series, Tried and True Sewing & Quilting Tips, took place during Nancy’s Notions annual Sewing Weekend event in Beaver Dam WI. This yearly event takes place in May. Over 3,000 people flock to our small community for the 3-day sewing extravaganza. My guess is that during this weekend there are more sewists and quilters per capita than any other place in the country! During this exciting weekend, I invited my friends and associates to share one or two of their favorite tried and true sewing & quilting tips. I know you’ll enjoy learning tips from these specialists, as you watch the show.
Jill Repp, from June Tailor, shares her Quick Block Cutting Tricks:
Eileen Roche, from Designs in Machine Embroidery, shares her Reversible Piecing Hints:
Jenny Doan, from Missouri Star Quilting Co., shares her tips for making ½-square triangles:
Pam Damour, Interior Designer, shares here Painless/Pinless Zipper Techniques:
Mary Mulari, Designer and Author, shares her tips for Quick Aprons with Fat Quarters:
Donna Fenske, Sewing With Nancy Team, shares her techniques for adding a Fabulous Flange Binding:
Well, how about that—six tried and true tips from such knowledgeable people! Next week my guest tipsters will be back with five more great tips in the second episode of Tried and True Sewing & Quilting Tips. Remember you can watch this episode and many other Sewing With Nancy shows online at nancyzieman.com. Plus, in the book that accompanies the show, 50 Tried and True Sewing & Quilting Tips, I’ve included 39 of my favorite sewing and quilting tips!
Watch Tried and True Sewing & Quilting Tips on Sewing With Nancy online.
To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.
For a chance to win a copy of the book, 50 Tried and True Sewing & Quilting Tips, please share your favorite sewing or quilting tip below in the comments. A random winner will be announced on November 5.
The random winner, from last week’s blog is Jodi Bowlden. She won a Quilt Expo Tote Bag from Wisconsin Public Television. Jodi said: My favorite time was when I purchased my longarm at the show! SEW FUN!!
Bye for now,
Karen payton
All the tips are very helpful. The one most helpful to me is the one by Eileen Roche for the quilt as you go binding. This tip will be put to use in my 1st quilt as u go that I have recently started! Thanks for all the great tips.
Dorris
I sew 18 inch doll clothes. My one tip is for gathering. On small areas such as the sleeve I use a needle and thread to gather the cap of the sleeve. I leave the needle in and after stitching the sleeve in it is easy to take out the gather stitch by pulling the needle. I love short cut that make sewing more enjoyable.
Kimberle
When purchasing fabric label the quanty (yardage purchased) if you don’t use it right away so when you decide to do project you will know how much fabric you have in a particular color without having to pull it out and measure it. This saves time.
Martha allison
How can get the supply that Jill Rep used ruler and cutting board
Nancy Zieman
Martha, the cutting board is available at Nancy’s Notions, http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/shape+cut+plus.do
Gail
The best tip I have learned recently is using Easy Knit Tape for the hem of knits before stitching the hems. Since using this product I have even, non curled hems.
Kathy
I enjoyed Donna’s tip about the binding even though they were all good.
Christina in FL
The very best tip I ever received was EVERYONE had a first quilt. 🙂 I tend to compare my efforts to an expert.
Faye
I have found when sewing deep hems (4-6 inches) in heirloom dresses that it is easier to sew a straight line rather than a circle (or when setting sleeves). To do the hems, I sew only one vertical side of the dress, and then hem, leaving enough space to finish the other side seam. Once the other vertical side is stitched, the small area left opened is hemmed. (Hope this makes sense; a picture is worth a thousand words!)
KayZee
My most often used quilting tip is to press seams of rows of blocks in opposite directions so they nest when being sewn together. This really helps keep corners lined up perfectly.
Adele Swanson
I set up a few essential tools (i e a seam ripper, small scissors, 6″ ruler, marking tool) at each station in my sewing room. That way I am not wasting time looking around when all I need to do is snip a thread or measure something.
Kathy
I have become convinced pressing seams open is a good thing in quilt construction. 22 years of quilt making and 40+ years of sewing have provided me with lots of experience. I don’t enter contests so I only have to please myself, or the recipients of my sewing projects, and pressing quilt seams open has made my tops look better than pressing to the darker fabric.
gail h
My best tip is to measure several times before you cut. Think through what you’re doing before doing it. Draw diagrams. Can you tell I’ve made my share of dumb mistakes?
Cyndi
There are so many wonderful tips! I do like the zipper tips by Pam Damour. Pam shows that sewing has evolved and has improved! Thank you for the giveaway!
Judy Moen
A tip I learned in home ec class way back, 1956, was when threading you machine, always check to see if there is a little give and take on the thread to make sure you have thread running through the tension properly. Save so much agrivation when starting to sew.
c brown
Keep a piece of cotton batting next to your machine and with your hand sewing; it acts like a magnet for thread snippets.
AS
I enjoy learning from other people’s tips.
Alice
I always wash my silk fabric before using in a quilt . If I happen to get stuck with a pin and get blood on the fabric or if the iron decides to spit out water it is easily removed with no water marks left behind.
Joyce
Using invisible tape on the shoulder seams to prevent stretching is a favorite tip I learned from a previous Nancy video.
caroline S
My favorite and useful tip is always measure twice cut once,,, saves material and less mistakes.
lynn zukowski
My sewing tip: before I prewash my fabric I always serge the two cut edges. This prevents major fraying in the wash and dry cycle. And when I see those two serged edges- in my fabric pile- I know that it has already been prewashed. This is especially helpful for flannelette.
Candice
In sewing, I always read the entire set of directions, even before cutting. I find I can do things in a slightly different order that usually makes the final sewing easier. (Such as putting in the sleeves before sewing the side seams – much easier to manipulate the fabric, and you’re not trying to sew in a small circle.)
Susan
I share my sewing knowledge to teach another.
Marti Morgan
One of my many favorites is sewing your binding on the back, bringing it forward and top stitching on front.
Chris
I find that cans of food make great weights when cutting out patterns.
Beth
All the tips are great, can’t wait to try the flange binding. Would love to have the book with all the tips.
ROBIN, TX
Always press every seam.
Karen
I’m into quilt as you go techniques so I really enjoyed Eileen’s tip the most but all of the tips were equally impressive.
Sharon S
I like all of the tips…too hard to choose just one. Thanks for all that you share with the world.
Annette G
My best tip is kind of small, but makes a big difference to me! Keep a pincushion at the machine, on the ironing board, and at the cutting area; instead of carrying one back and forth – it’s a huge time saver!
Chris
The most important tip I have is to press, press, press. Whether you’re sewing or quilting, the final step in every move will proof your work.
Jan Ramis
On my cutting table I have small baskets which are each marked 1 inch, thru 4 inch. When cutting material, the scraps can be put in the basket that it closely fits (i.e. 1 1/2 inch piece would end up in the 1 inch basket). This process has made making scrap projects quicker. Anything 5 inches or larger goes back in the small stash color coded piles.
Maritza
I find the 1/4″ sewing foot ideal and a must for attaching binding. The 1/4″ marking in front of the needle position always ensures you stop at the correct position to make your corner. Perfect corners all the time.
Tammy L. W.
Finish one project before starting the next.
Pat
My best sewing tip (and for other things as well) is never keep working on a project when you are tired. Pushing to complete that “one more thing before I stop for the night” will almost always lead to making silly mistakes or inaccuracies. You sew because you love it. When you get tired, stop. You will love it all the more when you are rested.
Thanks for the chance to win the book.
BS
A tip I learned was to always have the presser foot up when threading the machine, otherwise the machine tension could be harmed. Also hold a finger on the thread at the top of the machine while threading the machine. Once machine is threaded one can then lower the presser foot to better thread the needle.
Valerie
Wow! Such great tips all in one place. My tip would be to press as you go (notice I did not say “iron” as you go). I learned from my grandmother that pressing a seam open whether in dressmaking or quilting does not stretch the fabric like ironing does. In Grandma’s words: Press On!
Virginia Promer
I heard a friend dropped her needle inside sewing machine, and incurred an expensive repair. Whenever changing my needle, I put a narrow ruler under the pressure foot to avoid this problem. With some sergers, you can’t do this because the needle has to angle below the pressure foot , but for mine, they gave me a brush with a hole in it that allows me to hold the needle safely when replacing. Better safe than sorry.
Barb Steinmetz
I press at every step. It really makes a difference to the finished project. I also love basting tape. Thanks for all the great tips. Can’t wait to see the next episode!
Christina Gonzalez
The painless zipper techniques are great.
Anne Jahnke
Loved reading all these tips this morning. My tip – if you’re fighting with your machine, un-thread the whole thing and start again. I know we hate to do this with our sergers, but it really can save the day.
Mary
I keep fabrics collected for a project together in a ziplock bag. Then I’m not tempted to use one in a different project.
Faresa
Press fabric and fabric in between!!
Louise
After struggling keeping my roll of fusible web from unwinding and tangling as I use it, I finally put it on a
scotch tape dispenser. Works great and I can even tear off pieces easily. Why did it take me so long to come up with this very easy solution?
Starla
Chain stitching numerous pieced items changed my life! Also, I recently talked to a woman who claims she trained her cats not to chase the yarn around her spinning wheel. I’m going to try this with my cats — whenever I lay out fabric, they arrive immediately to settle down in the very center.
Amy Brant
Flange bindings and painless zippers. Perfect.
Cheryl
I love the flanged binding. It is fast and easy and adds an extra flair to the quilt.
MJ Modjeski
My tip combines early years of textile and clothing sewing and quilting. Pressing seams is not simply press to the dark fabric. Depending on the construction and number of seams close together you may want to press to the light or press open the seam. Think through and test how your fabrics want to go and how you plan to quilt or have your project quilted professionally. If professionally ask your quilter want they prefer and send a picture to them.
Judy H
Enjoyed all the tips, as we’re never to old to learn so thank you and for the chance to win.
My tips are to use wash away thread in both your bobbin & upper thread when machine basting then you don’t have to use your seam ripper to remove unwanted stitches and use a small swatch of scrap fabric each time you start to sew any seam and you never have any issues with your main fabric not moving through the feed dogs.
Happy sewing…..
Betty
I like to use Washi Tape to hold down my Appliques before stitching. Makes it so much easier!
Debbie D
I use pipe cleaners to clean nooks and crannies in my sewing machine, easy to use and inexpensive. I find it pulls a lot of lint out for me. I love Jenny Doan’s 1/2 square triangle idea. Can’t wait to try it out!
GrrannyH
Love all the tips! I just bought the foot used for the zipper, so I will have to try this technique. I have used Jenny Doan’s HST method. Just a word of caution: STARCH your fabric!!! Your HST’s wind up with bias edges that can stretch if you don’t press carefully — starching helps keep their shape. Jenny Doan (MSQC) also just did a tutorial on the flange binding on one of her quilts, so this is not totally new to me, but I haven’t tried it yet. Thank you for gathering all these tips!
Carol Rollins
Two things I recently purchased and LOVE is a quarter inch ruler for paper piecing. (Makes it so much easier!!!), and one of the tiny irons that I keep heated on a small ironing top right beside my machine! Wonderful for easy pressing, especially seams!!! Saves me so much moving around!!!
Helen Stewart
I enjoyed the video of Jill Repp for June Tailor using her shape cut ruler to make hexagons. I have the ruler and use it to cut lots of squares and rectangles, but would like to use it more.
Melody Lutz
Always – clean sewing machine by removing plate and bobbin housing – every 2 bobbins used! RARE thread breaks and skipped stitches when FMQing.
Susan brennand
When I start a new project I first put a new needle appropriate to the project and then I make a note of all my machine settings I have settled on after making a test patch.
Sue
My favorite tip from this video was Pam Domour’s zipper technique. My all-time favorite tip is Nancy’s gathering technique where you pull out the bobbin thread to the length you need, zig-zag over it, and then pull the bobbin thread to make the gathers.
Sue
My favorite tip from this video was Pam Damour’s zipper technique. My all-time favorite tip is Nancy’s gathering technique where you pull out the bobbin thread to the length you need, zig-zag over it, and then pull the bobbin thread to make the gathers.
Mary Ellen
These sewing tips are great; this is the first time that I’ve seen the quick block cutting mat method. Off to Steve’s Sew and Vac for this item.
My tip for sewing and quilting is to drink white wine while sewing as it doesn’t stain like red wine. 🙂
Karen
My tip is when doing something with a large hem is using a seam guide taped on the arm to keep sewing straight. You can buy them now, but I would tape a fake credit card onto it.
Bonnye
After completing the first step when sewing a binding on a quilt or onto clothing, I always zigzag the seam allowance. This compresses the seam by making it easier to wrap the binding around the seam when you are finishing the binding.
Jan N.
Very cool zipper tips from Pam Damour. I’m going to try that method for sure. My favorite sewing tip is to use clear elastic to stabilize shoulder seam when sewing with knits. Just be careful and don’t stretch the elastic when sewing it in the seam. Thank you for the chance to win!
Deb J
My favorite tip is to use a pinking rotary cutter on curves rather than clipping.
Sarah Roberts
The half square triangle block construction shown by Jenny Doan is an easy and fun method I like. I keep my mini iron on the left side of my machine on a small pressing pad to press seams as I sew.
Margaret
My best tip – Iron everything.
mary ronan
I love tips & tricks…& the above ladies are all worth watching…
Nancy McKenzie
Before I start a new project I try to pick up and move along a UFO. It often leads to a finished project and I feel like I’ve earned my right to a new adventure.
Marilyn
When cutting long strips of fabric for borders, I use two rulers, a 12 inch and a 24 inch. I’m right handed, so my long ruler is what I cut against. I use the shorter ruler with the small end against the cutting ruler (like the letter L.) I slide the short ruler along the long ruler to keep the fabric “true” using the numbers on the short ruler. It works well for me.
Liz Jefferys
The June Tailor cutting tips were great. I had not seen other uses for my strip-cutting ruler. Thanks!
Jody
I would ’embellish’ Annette G’s tip to include scissors, pins,
and a measuring tape at your machine, ironing board and cutting table areas. These tips are great. keep them coming!
Corinne
What a bunch of great tips! My favorite was the zipper technique from Pam Damour. I’m going to make several of the zippered bags in different sizes. Thanks!
fran Houtz
When quilting several layers i use a gulestick between layers so that they do not slide apart. Works every time with no slipping.
Peggy V
All tips are great, anxious to try the flange binding!!! Thank you for the opportunity to win that fabulous book!!!
Sandy Pride
I put scissors at the sewing machine and ironing board. It saves scrambling time!
Robyne
I learned so much about how to repair knee holes in jeans. Awesome.
Patti
My favorite overall tip is to press, press, press. My favorite of the tips shown is the mitered corners on the placemats.
Virginia Stoiber
I use many of my patterns several times, this causes wear on the pattern. Now the first time I use a pattern I will reinforce it with Fusible Interfacing, when I do the initial Ironing of the pattern. I generally stock up on the Fusible Interfacing in the value packs of 15″ x 3 yards. It is very handy.
Renea
I always do as much chain piecing as possible. Makes the quilt process go so much quickly. Thanks for the great giveaway.
Kity
Lots of great tips posted. My favorite tip is to relax and enjoy what your doing. If something did not turn out as expected, no one knows if you do not say anything and it can be your “designers choice” for that project. Who knows…it could be a improvement!
Lynn
Working on a project when you are tired, angry at others or yourself can/will lead to mistakes (large or small) and the wasting of your time and energy. Remember to give yourself breaks; both physical and mentally.
Terri D.
I have finally begun making interesting quilt backs with leftover fabrics from piecing the top. I may never go back to Plain Jane backs!
Chris
These are all great. I guess my favorite tip is if you want to get rid of that fold crease put one Tbsp fabric softener in 1 cup distilled water. Mix and then spray the crease, let dry a little and iron. Crease will be gone. You can use scented or unscented, a little more or less to your liking. Commercial Wrinkle Release form the Dollar stores works great too.
Lorij
My favorite tip to share is, when making a dress or top with sleeves after joining shoulder seams put in the sleeve, and if making a dress or skirt with pockets, stitch the pockets on the front and back garment pieces where notched then sew right sides together. Then, stitch pockets together, you open the pocket after completing the garment. This makes for a neat pocket and easy sleeve insertion. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
RuthAnn
When I wash my fabric for a small project,I use a lingerie bag to wash it in. It keeps it from fraying. I love the tips and would especially enjoy your book.
Nancy
I’m reading these tips as I drink my morning coffee. The official plan of the day is to work on the exterior house painting, but I really want to run up to my studio and try some of these great tips!
Lately I find myself thinking more about shortcuts and which ones are truly timesaving and which ones might negatively effect the overall quality of the piece. I have to remind myself that basting doesn’t really take very long and can be worth the effort.
Rand
I use a round mint container to safely discard damaged needles, pins and rotary cutter blades. rmc
Tina
I really like the zipper insertion method. My tip is I keep the little cleaning brush that comes with the sewing machine handy to clean out the bobbin area frequently. I also use the pincushion with the type of needle and how used it is by my machine when I have to change types of needles during a project.
Carolyn
I use Command Hooks, especially the ones with the metal hook, on the sides of my sewing machines and work tables so I have them hanging handy. This is especially helpful on the sides of my 10-needle machine when I need to move to the back for the tie-on method of changing threads. These hints were most helpful, can’t wait to try a few.
peaceful
When you hand applique while watching TV be sure to check to see if you are maybe sewing it to your shirt too.
Kaye Miller
I find using a design wall very useful in all stages of making a quilt. I also like having some way of identifying blocks (either by writing on tape or using the new pins with beads, etc.) one of the most useful tips when putting together a quilt. I identify the column and row so that I’m sure they will be in the right order when I sew the blocks together.
Kim H
Have trouble with birds nests right as you begin to sew??? Try this remedy!
Always thread your machine with your presser foot in the up position. A simple fix, but many people don’t know how important this is.
Linda
I write the needle size and type that I am using on a piece of painters tape and stick it on the front of my machine. The numbers on the needle aren’t as easy to see as they used to be.
Patricia Lowrie
Clean and oil your sewing machine often. I keep track of how many bobbins I’ve used. After emptying 5 or 6 bobbins, I clean and oil the machine. I don’t always take my machines to be professionally cleaned “every” year, but you should.
Brenda Nance
When I buy a pattern I make a copy of the front and back and put it in a 3 ring binder. I then put the pattern in a pattern box and mark which box the pattern is in on the copy. Then when I need a pattern I look it up in my pattern book and find it very quickly.
Millissa
Everyone has such great tips! The one I use most often is when sewing corners to a block I will chain stitch them and when the one side is done line up the stitching on my cutting mat and using my add a quarter ruler cut them all at once. This really helps when making many of the same block for even a table runner.
Ell
I like to save leftovers from mostly clothes making projects and reuse for others things like a clutch purse cover, glasses case, doll clothes, etc. Keep a few leftovers as long as you own the garment. I also use “retired” clothes to make new things.
Peggy S.
I so enjoyed these tips from the experts and also the ones from the viewers. I put my ironing board to the left of my machine even with the height of my sewing table (I am right-handed) and I can just turn my chair and press as needed. It saves me from getting up every time I need to press a seam.
Thank you Nancy for all you do for all the sewists.
Pat Hunsucker
When I have use a pattern, I put pattern envelope and pattern pieces into a gallon zip lock bag. I then can fold pieces larger so they are less wrinkled and everything is clearly visible and protected from damage.
Karen
I love all the tips, now to try and remember them! I have a red line drawn on my sewing machine from the center position needle hole to the edge of the machine (towards the sewer) I use this as a stitch line guide for sewing those diagonal lines for binding pieces. Wish I could add a picture!
Pam Kent
Loved this series of tips and ideas. My tip is for the cutting table area. I’m always patting down the fabric searching for scissors, etc. I purchased a 12 inch quilt hanger with cute sewing machine on top. Quilted a rectangle to fit and then a second rectangle roughly half as tall and a bit wider; binding its top edge. Placing the smaller one on top of the larger, pleating the excess fabric and adding a third, smaller (shorter) single layer of complimentary fabric, I then sewed three vertical lines for pockets, added a rod pocket and bound the entire piece. Now my shears, rotary cutters, smaller 6″ rulers, chalk pencils and other cutting table tools are hung where I can always find them! Thank you for all you have done for all of us! ~ Love from a beginner at Grammies knee, to a 4-H state winner and life time professional costumer designer who is now trying to teach herself to quilt!!
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