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Friday, June 1, 2012

Keeping Track of Sewing Supplies

Sewing supplies have a way of getting away from you. Pins roll onto the floor. Scissors and marking pens get lost under swaths of fabric. Beads and buttons end up all over the place. And you never can find that sewing machine manual when you need it, though it will turn up when you don't.

Everyone who sews needs to track of those sewing supplies. And different supplies require different solutions. For all those little pins and whatever other metal tools you might have, try magnetic trays. You can find these simple items at your local hardware store and they'll keep your pins from rolling away. And, if the tray is knocked over, most of the pins stay in the magnetic tray.

But a magnetic tray doesn't help when it comes to marking pens and cutters. So try recycling an old silverware basket, the kind that come in most dishwashers. You can use these baskets to hold marking pens, scissors, cutters, glue sticks, and other supplies. It works magic and allows you to keep your sewing area organized.

Then there are those tiny little items such as buttoms, crystal, trim, and even the pressure feet from your sewing machine. While some of these might fit in the silverware basket or conveniently stick to the magnetic trays, some of them are just awkward. try an old fishing tackle box. These boxes fit almost anything and tend to conserve space better than traditional sewing boxes. They're also cheaper.

And what about all those manuals, supply instructions, magazine article, printouts, and other random papers? Don't toss them in a drawer. They'll get crumpled and perhaps even ruined. Instead, invest in a good-quality three-ring binder and some inserts. Also pick up a few pockets to fit in your binder. This way, you can store all the paper you need in one convenient location.

Keeping your sewing area organized will cut down on the time you spend searching for the items you need. Get creative and find unique ways to keep track of all your sewing supplies and you'll find your life gets a lot easier.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Remembering Those Serger Settings

New fabrics are always fun to work with. I love to bring home a new fabric. The first thing I do is find that perfect serger setting and serge all the raw edges. This is an important step before washing the fabric since it helps prevent the edges from fraying. Then, I'm ready to use the fabric for whatever project is necessary.

But the second time I buy this fabric, I just want to get down to business. I don't want to spend maybe 15 minutes finding the perfect serger setting. I just want to serge the edges and wash the fabric. The problem is each fabric has a unique serger setting. So I've developed a little method to help me keep track of the many different settings I have to use. I record that perfect setting and write in on a sticker. Then I take that sticker and stick it firmly on a small scrap of fabric. Now, when I begin a project, I know exactly what setting that fabric needs. The problems are solved and my sewing projects are completed with less aggravation and far more speed.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Keeping Sewing Cords Under Control

If you're anything like me, you don't just have one sewing machine with a single cord. It can never be that simple. There's the serger, iron, and whatever other small appliances you need for your particular sewing project. And all those cords get in the way and tangle in the knees when I'm sewing. It's very irritating and quite easy to solve.

I picked up a couple 2" magnetic bulldog clips at the local office supply store. I do a lot of shopping for my sewing supplies over there. These clips just about saved my life. I use them to secure the many cords to the underside of the sewing table. Of course, you need a metal table (or metal on the table) for this to work. Once clipped, the cords are kept away from my legs while I'm working, don't tangle with themselves, and are not in the way. Therefore, I don't trip on them as I move around the room, and my children and dogs don't get tangled and pull a heavy sewing machine or iron down on top of themselves.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Steadying Sewing Spools

Have you ever bought thread spools with a center hole too large to fit on your spool holder? Well, I did. The colors I needed didn't come in the size that would fit my holder. When using these spools, they rattle all over the place and sometimes even fly off the machine. A quick fix was certainly in order.

I had two options. I could do as a friend of mine suggested and unroll the entire spool then reroll it on a spool that fits. I keep the old spools for my children to use in their many craft projects, so I had plenty of spools around. However, even using the machine, this would take a while and I'd have to do it again every time I purchase this particular sized spool. Not my idea of a good time.

Instead, I hit the craft store and went immediately to the wooden beads section, spool firmly in hand. After a little trial and error, I found a bead that fit snugly into the thread center hole. An electric drill helped me to drill a hole though the center of the bead to fit the spool holder perfectly. The best thing? I'm keeping the beads. Next time I have to buy that sized spool, I'll have a bead all ready to go.