10 Sewing Hacks

I’ve always loved to sew. When I was a kid, I made my own Barbie doll clothes. In high school when most were making pot holders, I sewed a three-piece lined suit. For fun a couple years ago, my niece and I made tablecloths.

Here are a few hacks that I’ve learned along the way:

1. Thread a needle. Whether you’re threading your machine or hand sewing, you can simply spray the tip of your thread with hairspray and it will stiffen it right up. Just push it right through the eye of the needle without pesky fraying problems.
2. Keep buttons in place. Buttons tend to come loose and fall off at the most inconvenient times. You can keep them in place by simply adding a thin layer of clear nail polish. The polish, when added to button tops, keeps the threads in place so they won’t unravel.
3. Sewing on a button. Use dental floss to sew on a button. It’s stronger than regular thread.
4. Sewing without a sewing machine. If you’re not interested in making anything fancy, perhaps just a new table runner for the next party or a quick pant hem, break out the glue gun. It’s an easy and quick way to turn under fabric for a clean finished edge.
5. Store bobbins. Keeps your bobbins in toe separators. This is a smart way to easily (and cheaply) store all your bobbins.
6. Seam allowance. If you struggle to keep your seam allowances straight while you’re sewing, all you need to do is place a rubber band on the arm of your machine where the seam allowance should be. Your seams will be perfect!
7. Keep fabric from fraying. Cut your fabric with pinking shears to keep it from fraying while you are sewing.
8. Press fabric between buttons. Use your trusty hair straightener to press fabric between buttons and other embellishments.
9. Pincushion replacement. Don’t have a pincushion handy? Use a bar of soap.
10. Lint roller. Use a lint roller to pick up pieces of cut thread to keep your work area tidy.

Have fun sewing!

Nancy Roe
Author