I’m a senior but, when my mother had started teaching me how to sew I was barely 10. After repeated safety instructions each time, she would have me sewing without thread following the lines on note paper. Once weeks had passed and they were all straight without any mishaps, I then graduated to scraps with thread. That’s how I’ve taught my granddaughters as well.
Love this story. My dads mom taught my dad > my dad taught my mom > and my mom taught me to sew. The line in paper is a great trick :) thanks for sharing your story.
I’m looking forward to teaching my granddaughter to sew just like that. That is if I ever get moved to Texas, which looks like it may be a little while.
I always have a post it note in the side of my sewing machine where I write the type of needle I’m using, the date I changed it and also the date I cleaned and oiled my machine. Thank you for sharing all these tips.
@SookieSews I start to do that but end up getting delayed w my project, then I sit down and look at my note and ???? Anybody have another tip for us scatter brains?
@sunshineandwarmth scatter brains :) block out focus sessions. Set an alarm and don’t do anything except what your goal is until that alarm goes off! Focus blocks is how achieve everything
Here are a few extra tips about lighters. 1) If you use a BBQ lighter, your hand is away from the flame and stays cool. 😜 2) Place the item you wish to seal just “near” the flame, and not right in the flame. This will prevent the black on the edge. This is particularly helpful when searing the ends of ribbon on a child’s outfit. 3) I like to use the lighter to ensure the fabric is 100% cotton when quilting. Take a small scrap of the fabric in question an place it on a metal juice lid. (Another non-sewing notion!) Burn the scrap and if there’s only ash left, it’s all cotton. If there’s a hard, black bit left, there’s polyester in it. These videos are fun to watch on a lazy Saturday. Thanks for your awesome tips!
Thanks for your excellent comment. Yes the BBQ lighter would work for sure and you’re absolutely right about the black. Isn’t it funny how I like to put it under the flame so close. It’s how I was shown to donor so I just passed that along. I remember when I was in college for fashion design we burnt fabric. It was one of my favorite classes, Textiles. I think that was one of my favorite memories and I almost went into adding 2 more years to my degree and that’s when I got offered a job at Busch gardens for costuming and it changed my life. But every once in awhile I think about going back to school for textiles. Thanks again :)
I use an extendable magnet tool from hardware store to pick up pins and needles from the floor. I also use a handbag storage that hangs in closet to hold my rolls of stabilizers, just one side hanging on the wall.
If you're pounding a thick seam, use a rubber mallet & a large block of wood (not your clapper). Less likely to damage your fabric. I use a medium-hard new toothbrush to clean velcro, pop it into a plastic toothbrush holder & it easily fits into my sewing box.
I’m always finding small buttons threaded together on a large safety pin. Especially in my grandma’s button jar. Grandma also had a bar of soap in a plastic travel storage box made for soap. She’d mark fabric sometimes, but the full-size bar was full of little holes. The soap was used in quilting, the ladies would poke needles and pins in it to make them easier to use. And take a threaded needle and press the thread onto the soap and pull it across the surface. It reduces knots and tangles so they could use longer thread. It was before coated thread we can buy now. They also waxed thread by melting wax on the stove and then soaking spools of thread in the wax. They kept the wax liquid and let the wax seep into all the threads. After awhile they’d drain them and when the spoils were cool enough to handle they were good to go. They always had paraffin or beeswax on hand to seal jelly jars when they ran out of canning lids. Thanks for your tips. Tongue depressors can also be used as a hump jumper, or Jean-a-ma-jig, when needed. Thanks for all these ideas! Jan
Hi Jan, thank you so much for sharing these ideas. Just want to make sure I understand, the soap she'd use to poke needles in? Would it coat the needle and make it glide in smoother? I'd love to learn more. Again, thank you for taking the time to write here. Sookie!
@@SookieSews yes, that was the thought. They would just stick it into the soap, like you put a needle in a pin cushion. And needles were usually left in the soap when they finished for the day. I think as you sew with it the soap would be distributed the length of the needle for smoother stitches. These ladies would pile up at least 6-8 stitches on the needle for quilting and the soap probably helped them slide the stitches off the needle. These were the kinds of needles you find rusted to the paper or fabric in old sewing boxes. Today our needles don’t rust so we don’t need the extra help as much as they would have. PS I use hand quilting thread for any hand stitching I have to do (hems, buttons… whatever) because it’s coated and stitches smoother with hardly any tangles which I get with regular thread. It’s a bit more expensive, but I use it all since it doesn’t tangle. And if it does get twisted on itself I can usually loosen and untwist any potential knots and keep stitching. Thanks for asking! Looking forward to Volume 3. 😉 Jan
@@SookieSews I just remembered she also used the soap to give new life to metal zippers, especially those she took out of one old dress to use in a new one. Jan
For soap use the tiny last bit left of your normal bathing soap. I learnt that from my high school clothing and textile teacher and I have never bought tailors chalk since then
Using the safety pin as a guide for trim is smart and the straw method for pulling elastic thru the tube was way faster. So great that ur sharing these time saving tricks
The straw and elastic tip is the best I have learned today! I do a lot of threading into bias binding tubes for my neck pieces. This is a faster way I must try
So glad it helped. I forgot I use to do this years ago and needed a refresher. That is what's cool about these videos, they are reminding me of old things. Thanks for stopping by.
Love using the bamboo skewers. A friend added a decorative bead on the end so we could spot ours when we sewed together. Love your show! I just found you today.
I wish I didnt have need of so many, but all sizes of empty pill bottles are useful for storing little things. I remove the labels of course and relabel with a piece of painter's tape. Also little mint containers, the size of Tic Tacs are flatter for storage of needles, old and new.
Thank you for this! Using post it notes to level the foot while sewing a thick seam now that’s a great idea. I use a pile of scraps. But if the foot doesn’t have a ridge making it uneven, and the front of the foot is rising up over the thick seam, you press in the black button on the back side of the foot, it keeps the foot level. Yes, I use paper clips to make straps or binding. I also use a pill bottle for needles. For rotary blades, I keep the used ones in an older container my rotary blades came in, when I have enough used blades, I put them in a recycled plastic food container, after it’s cleaned, I put the blades in and put in recycle.
A bobbin wound with thread, and a few pins and needles will easily fit inside an empty dental floss container as a sewing kit when travelling,. When in use, the thread can be fed through to the outside of the container, plus the floss cutter (on the outside) will easily trim the thread.
SAFETY PINS - I use a small craft/fishing lure storage box omitting the some of the dividers. I separate all by sizes - mini, small, medium, and large. The safety pins stay in a drawer and since the box has a flip lid I just reach in and take what I need. Even my hubby knows where I keep them.
Great storage idea! I have tiny safety pins in a small box and larger ones in a jar, but seems like I’m always dumping something out to find the right size!
Thanks for the great tips.I'll be stocking up on safety pins and paper clips for sure lol! Decreasing the bulk in the hem is also useful. We can always learn new things. i love it!!
i use binder clips to hold pattern pieces together and hang them on my peg board. Works amazingly. I can keep commonly used patterns, like my standard pocket and mask patterns, i've also used it to hold my pattern pieces out of the way but still available for reference later.
Good point in the RSO - When I did costumes (which I was referring to- we had dozens of performers to fit so this was the most efficient but you are right though I still got this way most of the time. Old habits I guess :)
My great grandma started me down the path of using med bottles I still have some with her name and the old alma seltzer glass bottles are perfect for the metal crochet hooks. The other bottles held everything like bra hooks snaps pins elastic dried flowers tiny silk flowers etc. Thank you for sharing!!!
Lots of good tips here. The only one I would caution about is using paper clips for storage of buttons, trims, etc. Speaking from experience, over the long term, paper clips will rust and stain. At the very least, it would be a better option to use vinyl covered paper clips for this purpose.
You are an excellent demonstrator. I absolutely love the way you use the hump jumper. I have had very mixed results with the hump jumper and even damaged my serger using it. Your method, or rather your viewer’s, is truly brilliant. Thank you very much.
I'm so glad you enjoyed seeing it. I must say most of these wonderful ideas came from folks like you :) I just have the platform to demonstrate and I'm blessed to have viewers like you to spend the time to write something nice.
I use a glue stick to stick down the patch inside my husband's jeans I'm mending and then I can sew the patch in. The glue works so well to hold the patch in place until I can get it sewn in.
@get2craft no, it doesn't. It's basically school glue in the stick form and you are spreading it out somewhat thin. I think mine gets dry by the time I am sewing it. Hope this helps.
Another use for soap. My mother in law taught me to use a piece of soap, slightly wet to rub on joined seams before you press them open. Especially for heavyweight fabric like coat material. After pressing with iron she “clapped” it flat with back of a smooth backed clothes brush. One with a handle was even better. Loved all your tips. So practical. Thankyou.
I use post it notes to make notes about settings for various things and stick them under the lid of my sewing machine. I also have one that has a reminder to clean my machine that I stick on it when I finish a project if I don't have time to clean it at that moment.
Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed watching it and I certainly have food for thought with all of these. I want to get some bull dog clips and paper clips and buy more safety pins. I really like that Idea of using them instead of pins for fitting patterns. At our sewing guild coming up we are pattern drafting and safety pins, instead of pins, would be better so things don't come undone when packing things up and taking our newly fitted pattern home.
I’m so glad this helped and yeah when fitting performer’s back in my costume days it was necessary since we were always in a hurry, and didn’t want to poke the performers, please do share with your guild about Sookie Sews
My grandmother used soap as a marking tool however she used ivory soap no oils are in it like the dove bar and that’s probably why you’re still seeing the line. Just a thought ❤
Great tips! I think i may know why the soap leaves a mark; you're using Dove soap that has moisturizer in it. The moisturizer is probably oil-based. Using a pure soap bar, like Ivory, may not leave marks (or less of a mark). Just food for thought. 😊
@valeriesuttonpayne7413 Yes... and no. No, as in the mark needs to wash out cleanly. From her description, my understanding is that the soap mark doesn't come out cleanly. I guessed that the moisturizers (oils) in the soap (Dove) may not have washed out cleanly, leaving a faint mark. A pure soap like Ivory would probably not leave traces after laundering. Hope this makes sense. 😀
Yes good point on the mark but that’s why I showed what happens after watching it out :) and the Ivory is supposed to be oil free but I always buy Dove. Just wish I would have remembered to mention. So thanks for leaving in g a comment :)
I am a new sewer/crocheter and have no idea why your video came up on my feed but am SOOO happy it did. This video alone has so many cool ideas even for a Newby like me. Yes. I will be subscribing and following from now on - thank you.
I’m so glad you found me! If you wanna stay in the know of new videos and more I wrote a weekly newsletter called the Beehive, head to this link below to sign up! sookiesews.com/sign-mailing-list/
2:09 Yay, my 3M hook/ruler suggestion! Your hook is even cooler than the tiny clear ones I used…. I need to look out for those ones now! 😂 (I’m also glad you removed it (for now!)…. it would annoy my OCD that it wasn’t in the middle 😂 I have another tip…. I always wanted a clapper… but they’re so expensive! But a cute door knob/handle glued onto a dollar store/cheap small wooden chopping board… voila!
Safety pins are great for notch marking by pining the safety pin into the cut out garment where all the notch locations are away from the seam of the garment , then cut off all the original notch markings , this great idea for safety pins use & now , you wont ever have to worry about them notches anyore & its great for a serging project , you wont ever have to worry about missing pattern notches never again , i also use safety pins to transport elastics through elastic fabric casings , works very well & sew helpful
I wonder if the person who invented safety pins would be impressed at how many ways we can use them :) thanks for the time you put and thoughtful tips.
I use the empty medicine bottles as pattern weights. I fill the bottles with pea sized gravel or sand. I glue the lid on so the sand or gravel will not spill out. Great for weighing down the pattern on the fabric. Used in place of pins. Works great and can be used over and over.
I use a suction cup handicapped handle (supposed to be used i. A bathroom, but I didn’t find it safe) to attach to a 24-36” ruler. Makes it easy to hold in place while cutting
Use ivory soap because it is pure and will not leave a mark. Dove and other soaps have additives that help with moisturizer for skin. Those elements stay in your fabric.
I have a fine nail file next to my sewing machine which i use to sharpen and remove burs from needles and pins. My grandmother and great grandmother both did this. They were Scotswomen and tailors from the 1800s. The only needles or pins that are thrown away are the broken ones.
I use an empty plastic gum container to hold safety pins, buttons, needles, etc. It has two openings. The small one for shaking out one pin at a time or open the other side which opens the entire top in order to get a lot of pins out at once.
I wonder if when using soap to mark your fabric, you use a soap that does not have lotion or cream in it. Use just plain soap. Maybe that would make a difference. Now, I don't know about ironing it out. But surely after washing it would be completely gone. I use castile soap as I have sensitive skin, and I think it would be better than the other soaps as it is just soap. Just found your channel. There are a lot of very useful tips. Thank you.
About the safety pin removing static cling……how about wearing a safety pin on two in the hem of a skirt or dress….do you think it would work? In winter I struggle with static cling when I wear tights & a skirt….hmmm I have to try that.
Tracy on the sewing channel has those hooks on all of her rulers because of the arthritis in her hands so it does work and that’s probably where they saw it. she put some on the other way so she can place to hook between her thumb and index finger. Facing towards her hand, so it just slid right under the hook and she could lift it or move it. Anyway, she needed to. I bought some of the clips in crafting with the pink handles in the large and small size because they are easier for me to pinch. Those binders are real stiff and sometimes my hands won’t do that.
Yes those are nice depending where you place them. I’ve got arthritis in both my hands and I’ve had three hand surgeries, so anything to help make cutting easier, for sure is going to be some thing I try. This was actually a recommendation from one of the viewers here on my UA-cam channel and I was really glad to try it out.
You could hot glue that 3M hook onto the cutting ruler if you mess up the original glue strip. It wouldn't damage it like regular glue might. I love that straw and elastic trick. Post-It Notes can also be used as a seam guide to keep the seam straight. I saw someone else tape a safety pin or a paper clip to the back of the machine as a thread guide for cone thread (placed in a mug behind machine). I would use the vinyl coated paper clips for any long-term storage of ribbons and such. Regular paper clips can rust.
I use the biggest size of binder clips when layering my quilt. I lay down the backing fabric so it hangs over the equal amount on the ends as well as the sides and clip it so the fabric is taut but not stretched. Then I do the same for the batting layer but I don’t remove the clip on the backing layer until I clip the one with the batting layer and the backing right next to the clip you put on the backing. That way you don’t move the backing by unclipping it before you’ve clipped the two layers down. Once you have the two layers down, you can remove the first clip. Do the same with all the clips all the way round your table. Then you do the same with you quilt front using the same technique.
I didn’t make this clear but I clip the quilt layers to the top of my dining room table. Also you mentioned a way to sew thick hems. I just fold it over the first time and I smash it with the hammer (really bash it hard). The I fold it over the second hem and do the same thing. You need to bash it at least 6 or more times.
I bought a $3 magnetic bowl from harbor freight for my box of straight pins. No more knocking the pins onto the floor. The bowls are marketed for screws and stuff like that.
Empty tic tac and altiods tins are good for travel sewing notions. Use a large pill box with a hole in the lid for thread and pull from top. This was good for basting hexies with one color of thread on long trips or waiting on someone.
Yes the tic tax containers do work great. We covered in another one of these videos :) but can you explain more about the “hexies” idea, not sure I’m following.
The Black button on the right side of the presser foot is there as a built in answer to what is called "hump jumper" or as in this video, a stack of post it notes. When you stitch up to where the thick seam starts push in the black button (I can't remember if you have to lift the presser foot to push it in). This is one of the sneeky answers to sewing issues the people that designed presser feet created. I don't understand why it isn;t clearly in our sewing machine manuals. I've seen those little black buttons for years but didn't know what it was for.
Video point 22:48: I'm surprised that you are not using the sewing machine's built-in 'hump-jumper' to sew over thick seams. Just push in the black button on the rear of the standard foot to lock it into the horizontal position as you reach the thickest part.
Oh yes, you are very right, the Black Button does work great for that, however not everyone has one of those feet. But you my dear are right :) I explain how to use that foot/button in other videos.
Ok…I just have to say that if your wonder clips are falling off or coming loose you need new ones. I’ve been using them for years and I’ve NEVER had them be loose or fall off. They are much less clumsy than a binder clip. ツ
I’ll have to keep that one in mind. I talked about glue in one of my dollar store videos and mentioned that as king as it’s water soluble, it will work with Fabric, of course, always test it out in a small part of your fabric
Not all presser feet have that little black button, but for those that do have it, tapping the little black button on that presser foot also assists going over that thick seam.
Hello, good tips! Straws for sewing: 1- elastic, on fabric: cut about 1.5 - 3 inch lengths of the straw sized to accommodate the elastic size - feed elastic into the straw, pull some thru as a start of sewing, slip straw onto presser foot just before needle opening, position fabric, lower foot, engage needle, hold elastic steady to guide and start sewing! 2 - yarn on to fabric: cut about 3.5 inch length of straw round enough to accommodate yarn size and clear the machine about1.5 inches, take a little length of masking tape, tape straw horizontally on your side of the machine body pass the needle. Place your fabric, put machine on zig zag, position your yarn an sew! Straws, just to name a few! ❤ I wanted to add a photo but the system wouldn't let me. 😢 Just Jai 💓
I’m a senior but, when my mother had started teaching me how to sew I was barely 10. After repeated safety instructions each time, she would have me sewing without thread following the lines on note paper. Once weeks had passed and they were all straight without any mishaps, I then graduated to scraps with thread. That’s how I’ve taught my granddaughters as well.
A very good grandma ❤
Love this story. My dads mom taught my dad > my dad taught my mom > and my mom taught me to sew. The line in paper is a great trick :) thanks for sharing your story.
@@queenwere1❤❤❤
Qqqqqqqqq❤❤❤❤q!
I’m looking forward to teaching my granddaughter to sew just like that. That is if I ever get moved to Texas, which looks like it may be a little while.
I always have a post it note in the side of my sewing machine where I write the type of needle I’m using, the date I changed it and also the date I cleaned and oiled my machine.
Thank you for sharing all these tips.
Ooo this is a smart idea! Especially since I forget the second I put it in :)
Such a good idea
@SookieSews
I start to do that but end up getting delayed w my project, then I sit down and look at my note and ????
Anybody have another tip for us scatter brains?
@sunshineandwarmth scatter brains :) block out focus sessions. Set an alarm and don’t do anything except what your goal is until that alarm goes off! Focus blocks is how achieve everything
Here are a few extra tips about lighters.
1) If you use a BBQ lighter, your hand is away from the flame and stays cool. 😜
2) Place the item you wish to seal just “near” the flame, and not right in the flame. This will prevent the black on the edge. This is particularly helpful when searing the ends of ribbon on a child’s outfit.
3) I like to use the lighter to ensure the fabric is 100% cotton when quilting. Take a small scrap of the fabric in question an place it on a metal juice lid. (Another non-sewing notion!) Burn the scrap and if there’s only ash left, it’s all cotton. If there’s a hard, black bit left, there’s polyester in it.
These videos are fun to watch on a lazy Saturday. Thanks for your awesome tips!
Thanks for your excellent comment. Yes the BBQ lighter would work for sure and you’re absolutely right about the black. Isn’t it funny how I like to put it under the flame so close. It’s how I was shown to donor so I just passed that along. I remember when I was in college for fashion design we burnt fabric. It was one of my favorite classes, Textiles. I think that was one of my favorite memories and I almost went into adding 2 more years to my degree and that’s when I got offered a job at Busch gardens for costuming and it changed my life. But every once in awhile I think about going back to school for textiles. Thanks again :)
I use an extendable magnet tool from hardware store to pick up pins and needles from the floor. I also use a handbag storage that hangs in closet to hold my rolls of stabilizers, just one side hanging on the wall.
Love this idea!! I’m thinking of doing a storage hack video so i might borrow that
Not sure i have seen a handbag storage , i use a shoe holder that i slide rolls through!
@@patdavies2048 Same idea, usually sold near the shoe storage.
@patdavies2048 I’ve got one of those handbag storage. You can so get one for hats.
If you're pounding a thick seam, use a rubber mallet & a large block of wood (not your clapper). Less likely to damage your fabric.
I use a medium-hard new toothbrush to clean velcro, pop it into a plastic toothbrush holder & it easily fits into my sewing box.
Oh Joy excellent ideas. Might need to make a 4th video
I’m always finding small buttons threaded together on a large safety pin. Especially in my grandma’s button jar.
Grandma also had a bar of soap in a plastic travel storage box made for soap. She’d mark fabric sometimes, but the full-size bar was full of little holes.
The soap was used in quilting, the ladies would poke needles and pins in it to make them easier to use. And take a threaded needle and press the thread onto the soap and pull it across the surface. It reduces knots and tangles so they could use longer thread.
It was before coated thread we can buy now. They also waxed thread by melting wax on the stove and then soaking spools of thread in the wax. They kept the wax liquid and let the wax seep into all the threads. After awhile they’d drain them and when the spoils were cool enough to handle they were good to go.
They always had paraffin or beeswax on hand to seal jelly jars when they ran out of canning lids.
Thanks for your tips.
Tongue depressors can also be used as a hump jumper, or Jean-a-ma-jig, when needed.
Thanks for all these ideas!
Jan
Hi Jan, thank you so much for sharing these ideas. Just want to make sure I understand, the soap she'd use to poke needles in? Would it coat the needle and make it glide in smoother? I'd love to learn more. Again, thank you for taking the time to write here.
Sookie!
@@SookieSews yes, that was the thought. They would just stick it into the soap, like you put a needle in a pin cushion. And needles were usually left in the soap when they finished for the day. I think as you sew with it the soap would be distributed the length of the needle for smoother stitches. These ladies would pile up at least 6-8 stitches on the needle for quilting and the soap probably helped them slide the stitches off the needle.
These were the kinds of needles you find rusted to the paper or fabric in old sewing boxes. Today our needles don’t rust so we don’t need the extra help as much as they would have.
PS I use hand quilting thread for any hand stitching I have to do (hems, buttons… whatever) because it’s coated and stitches smoother with hardly any tangles which I get with regular thread. It’s a bit more expensive, but I use it all since it doesn’t tangle. And if it does get twisted on itself I can usually loosen and untwist any potential knots and keep stitching.
Thanks for asking! Looking forward to Volume 3. 😉 Jan
@jcristi321 got it! Thanks Jan for the detail and helping me understand.
@@SookieSews I just remembered she also used the soap to give new life to metal zippers, especially those she took out of one old dress to use in a new one. Jan
@jcristi321 that’s so cool. I still have a collection of old zippers that are metal. I don’t use them but still keep them.
For soap use the tiny last bit left of your normal bathing soap. I learnt that from my high school clothing and textile teacher and I have never bought tailors chalk since then
It is so amazing isn't it. You've saved a bunch of $$
@@SookieSews over the 40 years, yeah plenty of cash
Seems like a great use for those tiny hotel soaps sometimes they even have their own little box
@mariantworek7015 that’s a great idea.
I'm going to try the soap. The chalk never actually shows up. I end up using the orange carpenter pencils most of the time.
The dog brush/velvet board is genius! And that handle is a real bonus.
I agree, it came in from a viewer and I LOVED this one.
Using the safety pin as a guide for trim is smart and the straw method for pulling elastic thru the tube was way faster. So great that ur sharing these time saving tricks
Thanks for leaving a comment :) I appreciate your time
The straw and elastic tip is the best I have learned today! I do a lot of threading into bias binding tubes for my neck pieces. This is a faster way I must try
So glad it helped. I forgot I use to do this years ago and needed a refresher. That is what's cool about these videos, they are reminding me of old things. Thanks for stopping by.
Maybe use clips to corral tape measures?
@celiadonnelly255 oh yes worth a try for sure :)
I use long safety pins to put same colour buttons together for easy identification especially the remaining ones from a project
Love using the bamboo skewers. A friend added a decorative bead on the end so we could spot ours when we sewed together. Love your show! I just found you today.
Me, too!
Sounds like a smart idea then you’ve got your own 💛💛 welcome to the show
Use an empty spice bottle with the shaker top for used pins and needles. If you drop it they don’t fall out. I have been doing this for years.
Nice one ❤
I wish I didnt have need of so many, but all sizes of empty pill bottles are useful for storing little things. I remove the labels of course and relabel with a piece of painter's tape. Also little mint containers, the size of Tic Tacs are flatter for storage of needles, old and new.
I do the same thing, I have tons of all kinds of items in pull bottles. When I store bad needles I put a hole in the cap to drop them in.
Just Jai 💓
I have the same, excellent idea!
@lolam.9150 what a great idea about a TicTac container, I wonder if that would work for straight pins to?
Thank you for this! Using post it notes to level the foot while sewing a thick seam now that’s a great idea. I use a pile of scraps. But if the foot doesn’t have a ridge making it uneven, and the front of the foot is rising up over the thick seam, you press in the black button on the back side of the foot, it keeps the foot level. Yes, I use paper clips to make straps or binding. I also use a pill bottle for needles.
For rotary blades, I keep the used ones in an older container my rotary blades came in, when I have enough used blades, I put them in a recycled plastic food container, after it’s cleaned, I put the blades in and put in recycle.
Yes that is the cool thing about that foot :) not everyone or every machine has it so just showing an alternative :)
Like your idea for the straw and the safety-pin. Will differently use in my sewing.
Let me know how it works :)
Great tips! Love your natural teaching and showing style. Thank you!
Thanks so much. I do enjoy sharing things, especially when they’ve been shared to me
Great idea with the safety pin to reduce static cling. However a few balled up aluminum foil in the drier are re-usable and also stop static cling.
I didn't know that!! so to be clear, you put the aluminum foil IN the dryer and it stops static cling? So fascinating
@@SookieSews yes, make them about large egg size and toss .
Ok now I’ve got to try this!! So cool and thanks.
The dog brush also works to clean out the sticky side of hook and loop tape that often gets filled with threads and fuzz
What a GREAT idea, oh I might have to add that to a new list. Thanks for sharing.
I also use my seam ripper to pick out the Velcro!
The safety pin to turn tubes / elastic inside out is genius! My mother used Bobby pins. Brilliant ❤
❤️❤️
A bobbin wound with thread, and a few pins and needles will easily fit inside an empty dental floss container as a sewing kit when travelling,. When in use, the thread can be fed through to the outside of the container, plus the floss cutter (on the outside) will easily trim the thread.
SAFETY PINS - I use a small craft/fishing lure storage box omitting the some of the dividers. I separate all by sizes - mini, small, medium, and large. The safety pins stay in a drawer and since the box has a flip lid I just reach in and take what I need. Even my hubby knows where I keep them.
Great storage idea! I have tiny safety pins in a small box and larger ones in a jar, but seems like I’m always dumping something out to find the right size!
Isn’t it funny? How are family knows where we keep our sewing things, my daughter knows literally where am I safety pens
Thanks for the great tips.I'll be stocking up on safety pins and paper clips for sure lol! Decreasing the bulk in the hem is also useful. We can always learn new things. i love it!!
So glad you learned something new
i use binder clips to hold pattern pieces together and hang them on my peg board. Works amazingly. I can keep commonly used patterns, like my standard pocket and mask patterns, i've also used it to hold my pattern pieces out of the way but still available for reference later.
Excellent idea with the patter pieces.
I've been using the binder clips to hold I copy pattern pieces onto poster board then they hand up in my closet. 😊
Great video!! Garment makers usually fit the garment with the right side out because our bodies are not symmetrical, but if it's a knit go for it!!
Good point in the RSO - When I did costumes (which I was referring to- we had dozens of performers to fit so this was the most efficient but you are right though I still got this way most of the time. Old habits I guess :)
Great tips. I use binder clips to hold my PDF paper patterns together then hang them. Thank you. Val ❤️🇨🇦🇬🇧
Absolutely brilliant!
A wooden mallet will work for flattening seams. I used it when I shortened jeans or bulky seams.
My great grandma started me down the path of using med bottles I still have some with her name and the old alma seltzer glass bottles are perfect for the metal crochet hooks. The other bottles held everything like bra hooks snaps pins elastic dried flowers tiny silk flowers etc. Thank you for sharing!!!
Smart idea about the smaller closures, hooks, and that got me to thinking about snaps too. Thanks for the share.
the dog/grooming brush idea is INGENIOUS
😊thanks
That straw idea is fantastic for putting elastic in fabric!!!
I agree! So many cool things. There are several other videos in this series so be sure to check them out
I've never used Hump-Jumper, nor post-it notes ;) I just use 1, or 2, lolly pop / craft sticks. Brilliant and do the job well :)
Really love this idea, might need to make another video :)
Lots of good tips here. The only one I would caution about is using paper clips for storage of buttons, trims, etc. Speaking from experience, over the long term, paper clips will rust and stain. At the very least, it would be a better option to use vinyl covered paper clips for this purpose.
Smart idea about the vinyl covered paper clips.
You are an excellent demonstrator. I absolutely love the way you use the hump jumper. I have had very mixed results with the hump jumper and even damaged my serger using it. Your method, or rather your viewer’s, is truly brilliant. Thank you very much.
I'm so glad you enjoyed seeing it. I must say most of these wonderful ideas came from folks like you :) I just have the platform to demonstrate and I'm blessed to have viewers like you to spend the time to write something nice.
Hoohoooo my post it note! Thank you Sookie!!!
Yes my dear I hope I did it justice.
I use a glue stick to stick down the patch inside my husband's jeans I'm mending and then I can sew the patch in. The glue works so well to hold the patch in place until I can get it sewn in.
Yes!! How does the glue hold for the jeans?
@@SookieSews I think it works really well. Definitely beats trying to pin a large patch in the crotch and seat areas.
@@helpfulnhappy cool. I’m gonna try next time I need to do Jean work :)
@helpfulnhappy does it gumm up the needle or end up inside the machine later
@get2craft no, it doesn't. It's basically school glue in the stick form and you are spreading it out somewhat thin. I think mine gets dry by the time I am sewing it. Hope this helps.
Another use for soap. My mother in law taught me to use a piece of soap, slightly wet to rub on joined seams before you press them open. Especially for heavyweight fabric like coat material. After pressing with iron she “clapped” it flat with back of a smooth backed clothes brush. One with a handle was even better. Loved all your tips. So practical. Thankyou.
Love the cording/trim addition with zig zag stitch! Really cool! I'll be doing that!
Oh you're welcome, have fun with that.
The safety pin and button idea is great love the straw ans elastic tip too
Yay!! So glad you got something new :) thanks for letting me know.
I use post it notes to make notes about settings for various things and stick them under the lid of my sewing machine. I also have one that has a reminder to clean my machine that I stick on it when I finish a project if I don't have time to clean it at that moment.
Another couple great uses for Post it notes :) thank you
Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed watching it and I certainly have food for thought with all of these. I want to get some bull dog clips and paper clips and buy more safety pins. I really like that Idea of using them instead of pins for fitting patterns. At our sewing guild coming up we are pattern drafting and safety pins, instead of pins, would be better so things don't come undone when packing things up and taking our newly fitted pattern home.
I’m so glad this helped and yeah when fitting performer’s back in my costume days it was necessary since we were always in a hurry, and didn’t want to poke the performers, please do share with your guild about Sookie Sews
My grandmother used soap as a marking tool however she used ivory soap no oils are in it like the dove bar and that’s probably why you’re still seeing the line. Just a thought ❤
Oh wow! Thank you for letting me know. That must be why I am seeing the line.
Saftypins, clothespins and rubbergums are the gamechenger in my household!!
Oh yes, but what are "Rubbergums"?? Please let me know.
@@SookieSews sorry, I mean rubber band! 🤣
@sternenregen5489 OMG yes silly me. I know what you’re talking about now 😂
Great tips! I think i may know why the soap leaves a mark; you're using Dove soap that has moisturizer in it. The moisturizer is probably oil-based. Using a pure soap bar, like Ivory, may not leave marks (or less of a mark). Just food for thought. 😊
Isn’t the point of using soap to leave a mark?
@valeriesuttonpayne7413 Yes... and no. No, as in the mark needs to wash out cleanly. From her description, my understanding is that the soap mark doesn't come out cleanly. I guessed that the moisturizers (oils) in the soap (Dove) may not have washed out cleanly, leaving a faint mark. A pure soap like Ivory would probably not leave traces after laundering. Hope this makes sense. 😀
Yes good point on the mark but that’s why I showed what happens after watching it out :) and the Ivory is supposed to be oil free but I always buy Dove. Just wish I would have remembered to mention. So thanks for leaving in g a comment :)
Outstanding background!!
Absolutely brilliant tips! Well produced as well
Thank you for your sweet words :)
I am a new sewer/crocheter and have no idea why your video came up on my feed but am SOOO happy it did. This video alone has so many cool ideas even for a Newby like me. Yes. I will be subscribing and following from now on - thank you.
I’m so glad you found me! If you wanna stay in the know of new videos and more I wrote a weekly newsletter called the Beehive, head to this link below to sign up! sookiesews.com/sign-mailing-list/
You can use a stack of post it notes as a seam guide. For new sewers it is easier than trying to follow the wasi tape,
That is also an excellent idea! Thanks for sharing
Love the straw elastic turning tip
Binder clips are really inexpensive too. I put two on a cheap ceramic bowl to use as an affordable yarn bowl when knitting or crocheting.
Why two?
LOL! Good question. In case I want to use two yarns. @@carolentringer8836
YES! So true, I might need to find mine. Thanks
dog brush for a needle board. that's brilliant. sometimes I use a scrap of velvet as a pressing surface in place of a needle board
I used empty pill bottles to make an emergency sewing kit for my purse. I have needles, thread ( wound on a card, needle threader, safety pins, etc.
A bobbin will fit inside many of those prescription bottles.
Great idea on making a sewing kit
Love the hem tip, re cutting the bulk!
Glad it helped. I’ve been doing that for a very long time and it was nice to share :)
I always have a couple of chopsticks in my sewing room. I use a chopstick to make sewn corners nice and pointed!
They do work great don’t they?! And they are free with your Chinese take out :)
Lovely Jean, can't wait for the quilting ❤
Wow--so many great ideas. I like how you used a straw.
Thank you!!
2:09 Yay, my 3M hook/ruler suggestion!
Your hook is even cooler than the tiny clear ones I used…. I need to look out for those ones now! 😂
(I’m also glad you removed it (for now!)…. it would annoy my OCD that it wasn’t in the middle 😂
I have another tip….
I always wanted a clapper… but they’re so expensive!
But a cute door knob/handle glued onto a dollar store/cheap small wooden chopping board… voila!
That is a very good idea, thanks so much for sharing, I might go ahead and make a fourth video after all
Hi Sookie, love your tip about dissipating the static electricity with either a safety pin or a wire hanger! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Love sharing all these things I've learned.
I use binder clips to keep my pattern pieces and cut fabric together at the end of the day. I always clean up my sewing room before I go to bed.
Wow - I forgot all about soap as a marker, Thanks!
That I learned from my high school clothing and textile teacher! I have never bought tailors chalk since 😅😅
Safety pins are great for notch marking by pining the safety pin into the cut out garment where all the notch locations are away from the seam of the garment , then cut off all the original notch markings , this great idea for safety pins use & now , you wont ever have to worry about them notches anyore & its great for a serging project , you wont ever have to worry about missing pattern notches never again , i also use safety pins to transport elastics through elastic fabric casings , works very well & sew helpful
I wonder if the person who invented safety pins would be impressed at how many ways we can use them :) thanks for the time you put and thoughtful tips.
I use the empty medicine bottles as pattern weights. I fill the bottles with pea sized gravel or sand. I glue the lid on so the sand or gravel will not spill out. Great for weighing down the pattern on the fabric. Used in place of pins. Works great and can be used over and over.
Love this idea, will have to add to a future video. Thanks for sharing.
I love the safety pin to relieve static cling!
Glad it was helpful. I still think it’s cool :)
I use a suction cup handicapped handle (supposed to be used i. A bathroom, but I didn’t find it safe) to attach to a 24-36” ruler. Makes it easy to hold in place while cutting
Now that is a clever idea
Use ivory soap because it is pure and will not leave a mark. Dove and other soaps have additives that help with moisturizer for skin. Those elements stay in your fabric.
I super glued the lid of an old medicine bottle down and punched a thole the size of the needles to get rid of my old sewing needles
Ok now that is a brilliant idea!! Thanks for sharing
I have a fine nail file next to my sewing machine which i use to sharpen and remove burs from needles and pins. My grandmother and great grandmother both did this. They were Scotswomen and tailors from the 1800s. The only needles or pins that are thrown away are the broken ones.
Love the old school method of getting every penny’s worth from things.
I use an empty plastic gum container to hold safety pins, buttons, needles, etc. It has two openings. The small one for shaking out one pin at a time or open the other side which opens the entire top in order to get a lot of pins out at once.
Great idea
Suggestion regarding the dog brush, wrap the rubber in aluminum foil to avoid melting.
Best thing using the post it notes for seams!!!
Yay glad it helped
I love the safety pin hack for fitting clothing. That would be so useful when fitting clothes on your own body.
I wonder if when using soap to mark your fabric, you use a soap that does not have lotion or cream in it. Use just plain soap. Maybe that would make a difference. Now, I don't know about ironing it out. But surely after washing it would be completely gone. I use castile soap as I have sensitive skin, and I think it would be better than the other soaps as it is just soap. Just found your channel. There are a lot of very useful tips. Thank you.
Welcome to the Beehive, so glad you’ve found me :) thanks for your comments
I use larger safety pins to sort buttons. I buy mixed bags second hand and the pins keep the matching ones together. It's best for smaller buttons.
I love organizing my buttons too.
The binder clips can hold whatever and the handles will let you hang the item on a hook or something.
This video was fabulous
Thank you so much! I have to say the viewers have really shared some remarkable ideas. I'm blessed to have the platform to spread the word :)
About the safety pin removing static cling……how about wearing a safety pin on two in the hem of a skirt or dress….do you think it would work? In winter I struggle with static cling when I wear tights & a skirt….hmmm I have to try that.
Oh please try and let me know :)
These are amazing tips. Love them all.
So glad you liked them. Thanks for leaving such a nice comment
Somebgreatbtips, thank you!
You’re welcome
Open safety pins and thread buttons onto open pin and close pin. Keeps like buttons together.
That works great too!!
Harbor Freight has great items too
Like 😊the straw idea.very quick ide
Wonderful tips.
So glad you found them helpful.
Tracy on the sewing channel has those hooks on all of her rulers because of the arthritis in her hands so it does work and that’s probably where they saw it. she put some on the other way so she can place to hook between her thumb and index finger. Facing towards her hand, so it just slid right under the hook and she could lift it or move it. Anyway, she needed to. I bought some of the clips in crafting with the pink handles in the large and small size because they are easier for me to pinch. Those binders are real stiff and sometimes my hands won’t do that.
Yes those are nice depending where you place them. I’ve got arthritis in both my hands and I’ve had three hand surgeries, so anything to help make cutting easier, for sure is going to be some thing I try. This was actually a recommendation from one of the viewers here on my UA-cam channel and I was really glad to try it out.
You could hot glue that 3M hook onto the cutting ruler if you mess up the original glue strip. It wouldn't damage it like regular glue might. I love that straw and elastic trick. Post-It Notes can also be used as a seam guide to keep the seam straight. I saw someone else tape a safety pin or a paper clip to the back of the machine as a thread guide for cone thread (placed in a mug behind machine). I would use the vinyl coated paper clips for any long-term storage of ribbons and such. Regular paper clips can rust.
Oh my I have done the paperclip on the back of the machine trick too!! Thanks for the reminder. Please do subscribe if you haven't already!
I use the biggest size of binder clips when layering my quilt. I lay down the backing fabric so it hangs over the equal amount on the ends as well as the sides and clip it so the fabric is taut but not stretched. Then I do the same for the batting layer but I don’t remove the clip on the backing layer until I clip the one with the batting layer and the backing right next to the clip you put on the backing. That way you don’t move the backing by unclipping it before you’ve clipped the two layers down. Once you have the two layers down, you can remove the first clip. Do the same with all the clips all the way round your table. Then you do the same with you quilt front using the same technique.
I didn’t make this clear but I clip the quilt layers to the top of my dining room table. Also you mentioned a way to sew thick hems. I just fold it over the first time and I smash it with the hammer (really bash it hard). The I fold it over the second hem and do the same thing. You need to bash it at least 6 or more times.
@conniemurdoch8528 love it!! Bash those seams my friend. Whatever it takes
I use a smaller bar of soap until it gets thin. It will make sharp lines whichever wayside you use it.
Smaller bar is a good idea.
The binder clips are perfect for sewing vinyl because you don't want pin holes.
Yes, those binder clips are so handy aren't they.
I bought a $3 magnetic bowl from harbor freight for my box of straight pins. No more knocking the pins onto the floor. The bowls are marketed for screws and stuff like that.
I need to get one of those, everyone talks about them :)
Empty tic tac and altiods tins are good for travel sewing notions. Use a large pill box with a hole in the lid for thread and pull from top. This was good for basting hexies with one color of thread on long trips or waiting on someone.
Yes the tic tax containers do work great. We covered in another one of these videos :) but can you explain more about the “hexies” idea, not sure I’m following.
Thanks for these great ideas!
The Black button on the right side of the presser foot is there as a built in answer to what is called "hump jumper" or as in this video, a stack of post it notes. When you stitch up to where the thick seam starts push in the black button (I can't remember if you have to lift the presser foot to push it in). This is one of the sneeky answers to sewing issues the people that designed presser feet created. I don't understand why it isn;t clearly in our sewing machine manuals. I've seen those little black buttons for years but didn't know what it was for.
yes it sure is :) of course not all machines come with that presser foot so this is a good hack :)
Video point 22:48: I'm surprised that you are not using the sewing machine's built-in 'hump-jumper' to sew over thick seams. Just push in the black button on the rear of the standard foot to lock it into the horizontal position as you reach the thickest part.
Thank you! I never knew what the black button was for. Great tip! :-D
Oh yes, you are very right, the Black Button does work great for that, however not everyone has one of those feet. But you my dear are right :) I explain how to use that foot/button in other videos.
Thank you.
A walking foot may work well as a jumper jumper. All Pfaff machines come with a built in one!
Humper Jumper
Ok…I just have to say that if your wonder clips are falling off or coming loose you need new ones. I’ve been using them for years and I’ve NEVER had them be loose or fall off.
They are much less clumsy than a binder clip. ツ
For sure. Love Wonder Clips.
How about some school glue tips?
I’ll have to keep that one in mind. I talked about glue in one of my dollar store videos and mentioned that as king as it’s water soluble, it will work with Fabric, of course, always test it out in a small part of your fabric
Great ideas!!!!
Thanks Judy
Great video! Thanks!😊
You are so welcome!
I use an empty Pringles container to store used rotary blades. The container will hold hundreds of blades in all sizes up to 60 mm.
Not all presser feet have that little black button, but for those that do have it, tapping the little black button on that presser foot also assists going over that thick seam.
Correct! Only the basic foot has it and not even on all basic machines :)
I have also used a dog brush/comb to fringe in projects with denim and other materials
Excellent idea!!
Thank you, your great
❤
It's you're (you are) great.
Thank you :) @@marthavillanueva5505
Hello, good tips! Straws for sewing: 1- elastic, on fabric: cut about 1.5 - 3 inch lengths of the straw sized to accommodate the elastic size - feed elastic into the straw, pull some thru as a start of sewing, slip straw onto presser foot just before needle opening, position fabric, lower foot, engage needle, hold elastic steady to guide and start sewing!
2 - yarn on to fabric: cut about 3.5 inch length of straw round enough to accommodate yarn size and clear the machine about1.5 inches, take a little length of masking tape, tape straw horizontally on your side of the machine body pass the needle. Place your fabric, put machine on zig zag, position your yarn an sew!
Straws, just to
name a few! ❤
I wanted to add a photo but the system wouldn't let me. 😢
Just Jai 💓
Thanks for the detailed message. I’m gonna try some of those out, I swear I could have made an entire video on straws and safety pins lol