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I have a sewing tip for machine and hand sewing. When threading the needles to either one, cut your thread at an angle [not straight across] for this makes threading those needle much easier.
From Patricia:
When rotary cutting a piece of rubber shelving liner under your ruler will keep it from moving. A piece under your machine foot will keep it in place.
From SewNBev:
I recently had tips put on my nails for a special occasion and, not being used to them, have experiences some challenges, especially with my sewing. I had purchased a 6" hemostat at JoAnn Fabrics. I have the Viking 1 with the front bobbin and I just use the hemostat to remove the bobbin from the case. It is also great for grabbing hold of threads etc. I find more uses for it all the time.
From Doris:
For years after I began sewing, I would stock up on the bargain 10-spools-for-$1 thread.I had a I had a collection of threads that would be the envy of any seamtress. Then I found out the hardest way, cheaper isn't always better. After several years of experience and lots of frustration, I found that the cheaper, so called bargains were forming bumps,& loops on the underside of the fabric, tangling, and breaking. I still have a few of the old bargain thread around, I usually find them in a wound bobbin, but slowly but surely I'm weeding them out. But if a good quality thread goes on sale, look out, I may be the early bird that buys up all the thread.
From Doris:
I do lots of alterations in my home business and removing serger seams can become tedious, even with a seam ripper. I found a fast and safe tool, it is called the Surgical Seam Ripper. It opens the seam up like unzipping a zipper, fast and safe. It has a curved rounded tip that prevents the fabric from cutting or puncturing. Just slide the curved cutting edge between the stitches and they are cut away quick and easily.
From SewNBev:
I use a small pizza cutter for a tracing wheel. The large wheel traces fast and accurately.
From Janie:
I recently purchased a magnetic seam guide and I love it. I can sew very fast without hardly looking. for those who are not familiar with this little gadget, it sits on your throat plate and acts like a "fence". It's great and is only $3.75.
From SewNBev:
When I have to trace a pattern, I have found my tracing is much more accurate when I rest my hand on a wrist weight.It seems to allow more freedom of movement to the fingers holding the pencil. I use the wrist weights to hold the tracing paper in place, and just move them along the edge as I go.
From Cindy:
Keep a set of straight and curved hemostats handy when you're sewing. You'll find many uses for them - removing snagged threads from the bobbin area, grasping that serger thread during threading from one guide to the next. I like to hang one from a push pin on my bulletin board and clip pattern pieces to it as I finish with them. You'll find many uses too!
From Cindy:
Purchase a package of dental floss threaders to use when threading your serger loopers. You can also use a thread cradle, but the firm plastic of the floss threaders makes things easier
From SewMommy:
*If thread color is being rubbed off on your machine, your thread is of poor quality and should not be used. Poor quality thread will have a fuzzy or "hairy" appearance.
From SewNBev:
*Use your wrist weights as pattern weights. they stay right where you put them. also, if you have a "posture rite" and you don't need both of the weights, use the extra weight to hold your patterns in place. I like both of these better than the commercial weights.
From Diane:
*I use different colors of fingernail polish on different sizes of sewing machine needles. I paint across the top of them while in the case. That marks both the case and the needle with the same color so you know where to return it if you only use it for a short time.
A Tip from SewMommy's Mom:
*A handy item for your sewing needs is a magnetic pin catcher. It is about 2 inches by 5 inches. Place it on your sewing machine and it will catch your pins. It is inexpensive and can be found with your other sewing supply needs. (Just a note - never use anything magnetic on a computerized sewing machine.)
A Tip from SewMommy's Dad:
*Use your sewing tracing wheel and the straight edge of a ruler to create a dotted perforated line on regular paper or card stock when you want to make a perfect fold. An example of this would be to make an old fashion hand fan or to create a line for tearing.
From SewMommy:
*An easy way to make sure your button-holes are evenly spaced is to use "Space Tape". It is a transparent, sticky-backed, removable tape with button-hole markings. You place it on your garment, make your button-holes on top of the tape where they are marked, and then tear the tape away. You can find this in the notions department of most fabric stores.
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