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The Most Important But Neglected Sewing Tip

November 2009

3 November 2009 - Jo Williams

Of all the tips I read and share, the most forgotten item is probably the importance of taking care of your equipment. This tip is the least glamorous and the least creative, easy to put on the back burner of important things. But you can save time, money and aggravation by keeping your machines and tools in good condition.

Sewing Machine

The best way to keep your sewing machine in tip-top condition is to keep it clean. Use a lint brush to clean the lint, dust and threads away from the inner parts after every project. This will prevent clumping and knotting of the bobbin threads and keep your stitches smooth and clean. Keep your sewing machine covered with a dust cover when you’re not sewing, this will minimize dust.

Consult your sewing machine anual for removal of the plate and for directions to oil the machine. Oiling is usually recommended after a certain number of hours. Make sure to use proper machine oil.

Have your machine serviced after the recommended time. This will assure the best performance.

Iron

Use a proper iron cleaner to clean the plate of your iron. Some people use a baking soda paste to clean the plate, just make sure you get it all out of the holes. Many people use a vinegar and water solution to clean a steam iron, but some manufacturers advise not to do this, (Bernina). If you want to be sure you’re not damaging inside parts, just use distilled water. Fill the reservoir and turn to highest setting, allowing all the water to steam out.

Scissors

Keeping your scissors sharp and free of nicks will give you years of good cutting. Get them professionally sharpened periodically.

Keep your scissors in a case, most of the nicks in scissors come from dropping them and banging them against things.

Only use fabric scissors for fabric. Get a different pair of general purpose scissors for paper, and keep them in your sewing supplies, along with some wire cutters, craft scissors, embroidery scissors, and any other utensils you might be tempted to replace with your good scissors. Using your scissors for other purposes will certainly dull them.

Tools

Keep all of your tools organized and in a proper storage box. This will not only help you take care of tools, saving you money, it will help you find things when you need them, cutting down on frustration.

Having a proper sewing cabinet is a great idea, and not as expensive as you’d think. If you don’t think you have room, even a little corner of a bedroom is a perfect spot for a sewing table. There are so many storage solutions to choose from, you should be able to find the right combination to keep all of your necessary supplies close to hand.

Some of the tools you’ll need close: Scissors, Measuring tape and a hem gauge, pins and pincussion, needles and threader, seam ripper, fabric markers, thread and bobbins, and sewing machine feet and parts.