Hints and Tips - Fabric Crafts

Embellishment Hints and Tips
Home Decorating Hints and Tips
Quilting Hints and Tips
Sewing and Tailoring Hints and Tips

 

If stitching "shows," color the thread with a permanent marker that matched the background fabric.
Never cut paper with fabric scissors. Paper will dull the scissors and make cutting fabric difficult.
Spray thread end with hair spray to stiffen for easier needle threading.
Keep a journal of sample stitches made on your various types of fabrics. You should always take a scrap of fabric and practice your stitch and seam before you get started on any sewing project and attach this sample to your journal. Keep notes on your fabric type and weight, stitch length, tension and presser foot pressure settings, and any special considerations. See Sewing and Quilting Portfolio Sheets.
The new Ott daylight lamps are great when quilting or sewing on black or navy blue fabric. They make the task easier on your eyes.
If sewing needles get rusty or dull, rub them lightly with fine steel wool to bring them back to life.
A sewing machine needle has a flat side and a round side. If you have trouble threading the needle, turn the needle around. (This does require removing the needle from the machine though.)
When doing handwork, remember to give yourself a break every once in a while by standing up and stretching and stretching out your hands.
To find a needle easy and fast, leave some thread in a needle before putting it in a pincushion.
Wash all the fabric you intend to use for your project before you start to cut or stitch it. See Before You Sew, Knit, Crochet, or Quilt - Fabric and Yarn Preparation.
To pick up pins that have fallen on the floor, keep a small magnet in your sewing basket.
When painting on t-shirts or any fabric, apply a piece of contact paper (larger than the design to be painted) to the inside of the project. This makes it impossible for the paint to bleed through to the opposite side of your material. The contact paper will keep your fabric from stretching while you paint.
Always use thread the same way as it comes off the spool - if used the wrong way it snags.

Never cut paper with fabric scissors. Paper will dull the scissors and make cutting fabric difficult.
Tobacco or black pepper are natural moth repellents. Also, bay leaves, cedar, cloves, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, or wormwood will keep away unwanted bugs. Always clean garments before storing.
If an item makes you smile, find a place for it in your home.
Decorate your home with the things you love - get them out of the storage boxes and use them. Make your home, "your home" and not a decorating magazine photo.
Disposable brushes or any old paint brush is great for projects when you don't want to clean a brush - just throw away the old or disposable brush.
When stenciling, apply the lightest color first. And remember to use as little paint as possible.
When using metallic paints, brush one coat in one direction and the next coat in the opposite direction.
Make a paint wash by using two parts paint and eight parts water; to make a pickling, mix one part color to three parts sealer/finish.
Keep a journal of your projects. You should always take a scrap of fabric and practice your stitch and seam before you get started on any sewing project and attach this sample to your journal. Keep notes on your fabric type and weight, stitch length, tension and presser foot pressure settings, and any special considerations. See Sewing and Quilting Portfolio Sheets.
Wash all the fabric you intend to use for your project before you start to cut or stitch it. See Before You Sew, Knit, Crochet, or Quilt - Fabric and Yarn Preparation.
To add interest and variety to your painting, spread just a hint of color with a dry brushing with an old paintbrush.
To remove little bumps after the base coat has dried, rub over the surface with a brown paper bag.
Use a damp cloth or pre-moistened baby wipe to clean off paint "droppings" before they dry.
To keep a paint brush from drying out over night, place the brush in a plastic bag and secure closed. Place in the refrigerator.
Wash brushes in warm water - hot or cold water makes the paint stick to the brush.
After washing a paint brush, if the hairs seem to "stray", rinse in hair conditioner and press into shape. Rinse before using with paint.
For one-step painting on wood, mix equal amounts of acrylic color and wood sealer.
To remove dried acrylic paint from brushes, soak in rubbing alcohol.
To apply multiple base coats, use a sea sponge. The paint dries fast and the coverage is even.

Cut and stack quilt pieces in the order to be sewed. This makes chain sewing of pieces easier and orderly.
If stitching "shows," color the thread with a permanent marker that matched the background fabric.
Never cut paper with fabric scissors. Paper will dull the scissors and make cutting fabric difficult.
Tobacco or black pepper are natural moth repellents. Also, bay leaves, cedar, cloves, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, or wormwood will keep away unwanted bugs. Always clean garments before storing.
Spray thread end with hair spray to stiffen for easier needle threading.
Create an inexpensive seam guide by attaching a 1/2" strip of Moleskin™ or Molefoam™ on your sewing machine bed at 1/4" from the needle.
Test all marking materials (pencils, chalk, etc.) on a scrap of fabric before using on your quilt project. Make sure the markings are removable before you use them on your finished project.
Make your own "pin sharpening pin cushion" by cover a steel wool pad with scrap fabric.
Never use a fabric's selvedge in a quilt - it may shrink and pucker your finished project.
Starch your quilting fabric to exsure precision patchwork.
To thread a needle easily, coat the thread with beeswax or a little wax from a crayon or a candle and it will slide right in the hole.
Keep a journal of quilt projects and sample stitches made on your various types of fabrics. You should always take a scrap of fabric and practice your stitch and seam before you get started on any sewing project and attach this sample to your journal. Keep notes on your fabric type and weight, stitch length, tension and presser foot pressure settings, and any special considerations. See Sewing and Quilting Portfolio Sheets.
When doing handwork, remember to give yourself a break every once in a while by standing up and stretching and stretching out your hands.
The new Ott daylight lamps are great when quilting or sewing on black or navy blue fabric. They make the task easier on your eyes.
If sewing needles get rusty or dull, rub them lightly with fine steel wool to bring them back to life.
Sharpen your sewing machine needles by sewing a few inch over fine grit sandpaper.
A sewing machine needle has a flat side and a round side. If you have trouble threading the needle, turn the needle around. (This does require removing the needle from the machine though.)
The little plastic container that film comes in make great needle holders. Add a bit of refrigerator magnet inside the lid to keep needles from falling out.
Wash all the fabric you intend to use for your project before you start to cut or stitch it. See Before You Sew, Knit, Crochet, or Quilt - Fabric and Yarn Preparation.
To pick up pins that have fallen on the floor, keep a small magnet in your sewing basket.
To find a needle easy and fast, leave some thread in a needle before putting it in a pincushion.
Full length drapes make a great design board - just close the drapes and pin your quilt squares to the drape fabric.
Run a bristle broom across the carpet to pick up bits and pieces of thread before vacuuming.
Leftover batting can be used for dusting.
Hold the binding in place with large paperclips while you are stitching.
Use soap slivers to mark quilts. Keep the slivers in the freezer to keep the soap hard and easier to use. It also washes out right away
Spray the back of quilt blocks with spray starch - when pressed, it will lie very flat.
When sewing triangles, spray starch the fabric before cutting to prevent stretching
When pre-washing fabric, serge or zigzag the cut ends (not the selvedge edges) to prevent fraying.
When ripping out a seam, cut every second or third stitch, turn over and pull out the seam apart.
To remove the wrinkles in batting, lay it it flat and run a smooth yardstick over it. Wrinkles may also be removed by tumbling the batting in the dryer.
Quilting thread will not fray or knot as easily as other threads when applying quilt bindings.
Serge the edge of your quilt before applying the quilt binding.
If you have a difficult time determining the right side from the wrong side of dark fabrics, place a sticky dot (available at office supply stores) on the wrong side of the fabrics.
When hand quilting, thread a package of needles onto your spool of thread, one right after the other, then knot the end. All of your needles will stay on the spool. As you need one, pull one needle with the length of thread needed, cut and tie another knot on the spool thread.
When hand quilting, run the thread over beeswax so your thread will slide through the fabrics.
Place a small piece of contrasting fabric onto a safety pin and when you're done quilting for the day, attach the safety pin to your quilt where you stopped. When you go back to work on the quilt, it will easy to see where you left off.
Turn you ironing board in the opposite direction from normal use. By placing the iron on the narrow end you have more space for pressing.
Use distilled bottled water to avoid hard water build up in your iron.
Inexpensive gardening gloves with the little dots on the palm make good machine quilting gloves. Also, disposable latex gloves will do the same thing.
Stitch your quilt label to the back of your quilt before it is quilted then stitch through the label along with the rest of the quilt.
To easily thread the sewing machine needle, place a piece of white paper behind the needle eye so the eye can easily be seen.
When you start a new project buy many extra bobbins and fill them all with the project thread and set aside. Nothing is more frustrating than to have to stop and wind a bobbin when it runs out of thread.
A dark gray (for dark fabrics) or light gray (for light fabrics) thread blends with most fabrics and there is no need to constantly change threads. A compromise is to use a medium gray thread on everything.
When making repeat cuts of same size, place post-it notes or making tape on width line of the ruler. This enables you to slide the ruler up to cut without having to search for the line.
To clean fusibles from your iron, try running the iron (no steam) over a fabric softener sheet until the fusible is removed. Also, alcohol wipes are wonderful to clean the fusibles off your iron. (You could also use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball.)
A clean, unused pizza box make a great storage box for quilt blocks.
The plastic containers for 35mm film are great to carry in your sewing bag to dispose of bent needles and pins.
Rubberized shelf lining can be placed under your sewing machine to prevent it from moving as you sew. A piece can also be placed under the foot pedal.
Spray starch your blocks before sewing together and they won't slip.
Stay stitch bias edges before assembling them into a quilt. Mark the center diagonal and then stay stitch 1/8" each side of the line and then cut apart.
Keep your old rotary cutter and mat if you buy a new one. The old one can be used to cut paper patterns, photos or other craft things.
To resharpen your rotary cutters, fold up a piece of aluminum foil so that you have several layers and then just cut through it several times and your cutter will be resharpened.
Roll your quilts or wall hanging on wrapping paper tubes covered with acid free tissue paper to make them safe for your quilt. Then place them in a pillow case.
Instead of putting your crinkled batting into the tumble dryer, hang it over the banisters and blow it dry with a hair dryer. The creases and crinkles will drop out. Don't forget to clean your cutting board between fabric cutting, particularly if you are going from light to dark or vice versa.
Cut the finger off a used rubber glove, place the glove finger over your quilting fingers and quilt away! The rubber glove finger grip the needle well.
Store pattern pieces in zip type plastic bags where you can see what is inside.
When you have used only part of a package of batting, measure the remaining piece, mark the measurements on the outside of the bag with a permanent marker and when you need a small piece, you have only to check the outside of the bags to see if you have one large enough. If you use some of the batting, remark the measurement on the bag.
When machine quilting, wear rubber finger tips (the kind you buy at the office supply store) on your thumb and first two fingers on both hands. It gives you complete control of your work and freedom of movement when using free-motion quilting.
When cutting fabric into quilt pieces, spray starch it and iron it first. Then it holds its shape better and there is less distortion when sewing, especially if it is a soft fabric.
Always use thread the same way as it comes off the spool - if used the wrong way it snags.
If sewing needles get rusty or dull, rub them lightly with fine steel wool.

"I like to crochet around flannel baby blankets and bibs. Sometimes it is difficult to push the hook through the fabric. I find that it is a lot easier to first place a "winged needle" into my sewing machine with out thread. Select a baste stitch and then stitch around the item I want to crochet. The winged needle leaves a perfect hole to place a crochet needle through." - Janet
When easing a larger piece to a smaller piece (such as a sleeve into a sleeve-cap, place the larger piece on the bottom next to the feed dogs on your sewing machine.
To ensure garments hang correctly, always "straighten the grain" before cutting. To straighten fabric, tear fabric from selvedge to selvedge to find "straight of grain." If fabric will not tear, cut the selvedge and pull a thread from selvedge to selvedge. Then cut along the pulled thread.
Never cut paper with fabric scissors. Paper will dull the scissors and make cutting fabric difficult.
Make a hem guide cutting a piece of thin cardboard about 6"-8" long. With a permanent marker draw 1", 1 1/2", 2". 2 1/2", and 3" lines along the cardboard. To use, place the cardboard on top of the wrong side of the fabric hem. Turn the hem up onto the cardboard along whichever hemline you desire and press. The cardboard will also act and a "cushion" between the fabric and prevent the hem from showing through to the right side of the fabric.
Spray thread end with hair spray to stiffen for easier needle threading.
Tobacco or black pepper are natural moth repellents. Also, bay leaves, cedar, cloves, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, or wormwood will keep away unwanted bugs. Always clean garments before storing.
Create an inexpensive seam guide by attaching a 1/2" strip of Moleskin™ or Molefoam™ on your sewing machine bed at the desired seam width.
Try using silk dressmaker's pins to pin delicate fabrics. Silk Dressmaker's are smaller and sharper than regular sewing pins.
To prevent fabric from being pulled down into the sewing machine throat when sewing straight stitch, use a single stitch throat plate instead of the multi-use zigzag plate.
To thread a needle easily, coat the thread with beeswax or a little wax from a crayon or a candle and it will slide right in the hole.
Always discard a dull, bent, or burred sewing needle.
Keep a journal of sample stitches made on your various types of fabrics. You should always take a scrap of fabric and practice your stitch and seam before you get started on any sewing project and attach this sample to your journal. Keep notes on your fabric type and weight, stitch length, tension and presser foot pressure settings, and any special considerations. See Sewing and Quilting Portfolio Sheets.
The new Ott daylight lamps are great when quilting or sewing on black or navy blue fabric. They make the task easier on your eyes.
Sharpen your sewing machine needles by sewing a few inch over fine grit sandpaper.
When working on sheer fabric, rather than using a backstitch to lock your stitches, try shortening your stitch length about 1/2" before then end of the seam.
When doing handwork, remember to give yourself a break every once in a while by standing up and stretching and stretching out your hands.
Make your own "pin sharpening pin cushion" by cover a steel wool pad with scrap fabric.
The little plastic container that film comes in make great needle holders. Add a bit of refrigerator magnet inside the lid to keep needles from falling out.
If sewing needles get rusty or dull, rub them lightly with fine steel wool to bring them back to life.
A sewing machine needle has a flat side and a round side. If you have trouble threading the needle, turn the needle around. (This does require removing the needle from the machine though.)
Wash all the fabric you intend to use for your project before you start to cut or stitch it. See Before You Sew, Knit, Crochet, or Quilt - Fabric and Yarn Preparation.
To pick up pins that have fallen on the floor, keep a small magnet in your sewing basket.
To find a needle easy and fast, leave some thread in a needle before putting it in a pincushion.
When pre-washing fabric, serge or zigzag the cut ends (not the selvedge edges) to prevent fraying.
When ripping out a seam, cut every second or third stitch, turn over and pull out the seam apart.
Use distilled bottled water to avoid hard water build up in your iron.
To easily thread the sewing machine needle, place a piece of white paper behind the needle eye so the eye can easily be seen.
To clean fusibles from your iron, try running the iron (no steam) over a fabric softener sheet until the fusible is removed. Also, alcohol wipes are wonderful to clean the fusibles off your iron. (You could also use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball.)
Rubberized shelf lining can be placed under your sewing machine to prevent it from moving as you sew. A piece can also be placed under the foot pedal.
When sewing two pieces of fabric together where one requires to be eased to a shorter piece, place the piece of fabric with the most ease on the bottom near the feed teeth. The feed teeth will ease the extra fabric to the shorter top fabric easily.
Put clear nail polish on ribbon ends to keep them neat and prevent them from fraying.
Always use thread the same way as it comes off the spool - if used the wrong way it snags.
If sewing needles get rusty or dull, rub them lightly with fine steel wool.
Attach your tape measure to the side of your sewing table with self stick velcro.
Before you sew on buttons, coat the thread with beeswax. This makes the thread stronger and helps getting it through the holes.
Keep a chopstick in your sewing basket for all poking and stuffing needs.
When using pinking shears always have fabric between your blades. Opening and closing the blades without fabric will dull the blades.
Use a low-melt glue gun when working with net, tulle or sheer synthetic fabric.
To open a stuck zipper, rub the teeth with a bar of soap.
Use a bar of soap as a pincushion - the needles and pins slide through fabrics.
Dental floss can be used to sew on buttons and will keep the button on longer.
When stitching stretch fabrics on a sewing machine always use the "zigzag" stitch, this will then stretch with the material and not break.

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