17 DIY & Sewing Hacks + Tips

[@valeriekushner5003]

My 3 year old granddaughter painted some river rocks for fun. I use them as pattern weights. If you have a pretty dish or saucer put a magnet on the bottom and it makes a great pin tray.

[@jeannemarie9466]

@Valerie Kushner My favorite is a lovely Lenox tea cup, bought at a yard sale, adapted for use in my sewing room. Love that I’m able to utilize such a nice piece of bone China for something I use everyday.

[@vh_on_my_selah3875]

1. Your intro and music are teriffic-upbeat, quirky and perfect volume. 2. You have a lovely voice and use it well. Your enthusiasm and professionalism are combined excepionally with your demonstrations-clear, concise and thorough. 3. Your tips are fresh and relevant to many types of sewing. I am a 20-year professional boat canvas fabricator and I use some variation of all the tips you covered here and it all makes a difference in the ease of fabrication, enjoyment of process and quality of end product. The waxed paper hack is new to me and I look forward to trying it out! A tip I learned years ago from another fabricator in using double-sided tape -- instead of cutting end when you've put a strip down on fabric, hold down end with your thumb and tear off. That stretches the tape a bit and loosens the carrier paper so it lifts right off rather than having to use a pin to lift the paper. Thanks for the excellent video! You're doing a reat job😎

[@stephaniemorey8351]

I've been sewing for forty years and I learned three things from you! I especially love the freezer paper hack. Thank you!

[@mudassirkhan2498]

👍

[@robertahubert9155]

I am a beginner sewer this video saves me years of learning the hard wsy. More videos please. Thanks

[@TruthSeekerNC]

Thank you for the tips. I really love the tip about taping the ruler to the edge of your table to make measuring and cutting easier. Ingenious! That's why I look to the experts for great advice. :-)

[@lilianwainwright5043]

The tip retreading the serger::::BRILLIANT! Thank you, Lilian

[@SageWhite-Rose]

We lost my mother 3 years ago to breast cancer, anyway, she was a GREAT seamstress and she left me her good scissors. She told me if I used them for any thing other than fabric, she would come back and clobber me 😲😍. And, I believe she would. Thanks for the tin foil tip for sharpening my scissors. 🤗

[@usafrn0432]

❤❤❤

[@alexandraleigh]

No matter how long you have been sewing or just getting started a Libary of Tips and Tricks never goes wrong I had totally forgot about the two pencil trick for seam allowances and What a GAME CHANGER again for me THANK YOU now I am hooked on your channel!

[@saral19]

Bobby pins work even better than clips when working with leather or other thick materials)

[@heatherlynncarter4285]

Another tip we tell people at the fabric store I work at: If you have a table with a center leaf, pull the table apart slightly and use the gap as a cutting groove for cutting with scissors. That way you get a super straight cut! Helpful when you're try to divide fabric especially.

[@krislamore5607]

Hello, how are you doing my friend?

[@lyonstill3139]

I like that you don't have a bunch of babble before your video; you get right to the point. Loved the wax paper hack; haven't heard that one before but will definitely be using that one.

[@catalinafulache4384]

.u

[@SageWhite-Rose]

I agree, I appreciate people who give their time and talents to help others, but I get tired of all of the jabber and the cheesy music.

[@s.granados9689]

The serger hack!!! Genius!

[@01ShadowAngel]

The tape is genius! Now I have a perfect hem on my skirts! Thank you thank you thank you!!!

[@friendofgod9413]

I love the plastic taping idea for straight sewing as a beginner. I've never seen the colorful one like that, so neat.

[@RobertSmith-zn5zc]

That was a great set of tips! I just started learning to sew and one big thing I've learned is the sewing community is so great at sharing and teaching. There's an ongoing feeling of generosity and willingness to share among sewists (is that a word). Maybe we all need to start sewing....make the world a nicer place to be be in. Anyway, thanks for such an informative video. I learned some really cool stuff!

[@floridagirl386]

❤

[@taylorott4185]

I say sewers lol

[@kassandrajohnson9241]

the pencil and tape hacks are genius! and I can't wait to try the hack for changing thread on a serger when I get one!

[@camilledammasch3648]

always fun when your husband grabs your fabric scissors from the sewing room to cut CARPET. his justification was that it was fabric...

[@TruthSeekerNC]

Camille Prestwidge Men right? LOL

[@innocentmaps]

Oh NO he had the b!#/s to say the carpet was FABRIC? I don't know what I would've done - died llaughing or killed him! GREAT story, though - and he knew IT, too, the dirty scissors-sneaker!

[@dinaSgood]

So when is the divorce final? LOL just kidding. :-)

[@mepoopsies1905]

😂 I still can't find mine... 🙈

[@CJ-im2uu]

The scissors then become a blunt force murder weapon.

[@veniciak910]

That serger threading hack just blew my mind

[@MagdelineG]

Woah, woah! Where have I been?! That 2 pencil seam allowance literally made me smack my head like- how did I not know this? Haha thank so much! Love your channel! X

[@jct4294]

Same sis same 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@ruby123473]

Hi... I am struggling with that seam allowance! What seam allowance do these 2 pencils banded together do? Is that to mark your fabric?

[@bmfoodsecrets9044]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYiTc2ilip6Vrpo

[@DanniBambi]

The painters tape hack is GOLD! Thank you!

[@01ShadowAngel]

Isn't it!? I've been struggling to pin a hem on a skirt I'm doing and this happens to pop up. Made my day ha ha 😂

[@bekahnavarro]

Thx so much for these! I grew up w super crafty parents, but i was too hyperactive to learn. (My mom made all our clothes in the 80s. Super cringy now. There's a pic of my sis, bro and I in matching outfits.) Now, I would kill for that time back, to learn to sew, knit, crochet, etc from a stay at home mother.

[@ThreadheadTV]

Very sweet!

[@bouslamabouthaina9997]

Rebekah Navarro صق

[@Philyra86]

Hopefully someone will cross your path who will be able to teach you how to do all those crafty crafts🍀

[@jeanniebosch3628]

My mom made a lot of my clothes when I was growing up too! My favorite part of it was picking out the material! Lol. This was back in the early 70s to 1982. Lol

[@jeannemarie9466]

@Rebekah N 5 of us, later 6 all matchy- matchy back in the day. When dads shirt matched, too. Lol!

[@vickiestewart5142]

I like the tip of using tweezers to thread the machine needle and the hair spray trick.

[@winebox]

My grandmother's way of keeping straight pins sharp: make a pin cushion and stuff it with fine steel wool. Every time you put a pin in it, it sharpens the tip.

[@bysoira8303]

winebox that's a great tip 🙌🏼

[@TruthSeekerNC]

winebox Ooh great tip!

[@LillyLuvsLollipopsGaming]

this is amazing!! bless

[@melhorler45]

Pin cushion idea is a good me thinks am going to do this

[@pturineisa4777]

winebox Genius idea.

[@Lilyskz25]

Omg I'm only halfway through the video but already feel this video is super useful! I'm shocking, can't sew straight.. but it isn't stopping me from trying since I have a sewing machine.

[@AnnikaVictoria24]

This is so good. Throwing this up on my beginners sewing resource ☺️

[@DangerHEARTZ]

Annika Victoria Hey Annika! I love your videos!

[@TheBeggarMaster]

Annika Victoria yay Annika you are the best 💕

[@carolau2605]

Thrifted transformations

[@masirataufiq6089]

Carol Au 8th

[@vilmaa.vazquez605]

Carol Au lo

[@TheLadybughug]

The seam allowance tip! GENIUS! ALL of them were excellent, with top notch presentation! ❤️

[@explaincauseidontgetit3294]

We have 20 pairs of missing scissors at any given time, but I can leave my sewing scissors out, in the open, nobody touches them. Ever. They know.

[@susanrodgers6104]

Stop saying super for god's sake.

[@treestout9270]

*THEY KNOW.*

[@thatcoffeefeel8]

You trained them good😊

[@grannyofmany6777]

susan rodgers ....don’t watch the video if it bothers you so much.....there are other videos out there that you may like better.....I’m sure you wouldn’t hurt people’s feelings that way. Thank you and God bless you.

[@SashasRevenge]

Granny of Many, really,... you tell them honey! Besides! God has way to much to handle to worry about such things. I don’t see him liking how she used his name to be so petty to someone who was trying to help others, though. 🤨

[@rachaelart]

That serger trick is gold! Thank you so much!

[@AdirondackRuby]

Such great tips! Especially the hairspray and aluminum foil ones. Thanks!

[@junesmith6704]

How to thread the serger is genius! I haven’t even used this expensive machine because I didn’t want to thread it. Thank you!

[@mouse9008]

ironing wax paper patterns on fabric is a great tip, also the aluminum foil scissor sharpening trick, I also know that using plastic wrap sandwiched between a napkin and cardstock then ironed will create a bond for card making crafts, of course don't touch the wrap to the iron for this hack.

[@anitaeaston7897]

Just found you. I’m using KZbin more rather than trying to figure things out. Love the hacks.

[@natashasalazar3275]

each tip was awesome. I'm a beginner so I need all the help I can get

[@hermajestysmagicalqueendom7699]

Natasha Salazar , ditto.

[@alexamulliner7488]

awesome tip! people really recommend to get really good bright lighting to work easier. i'm really loving the Lumiy Lightline LED Lamp

[@muhammadaliraza3548]

HerMajesty Magical Queendomp

[@tinam4676]

Natasha Salazar

[@funkymonkey5747]

These are great tips. I been sewing for nearly 40 years and there was a few I didnt know.

[@jackiegardee9350]

I like the washer tip, last time I used frosting and game controllers. 😂

[@veegee1135]

I use cheap plastic boxes from Poundland filled with marbles that I have from childhood days.

[@Grains_of_truth]

The pencil bound together is the best tip for me !

[@ThatRomyKate]

Some cool ideas. My favourite tip is when overlocking, I only ever change the left hand needle thread to the colour of my project, as that's the only stitch that might be seen from the outside, and the other threads I just leave as white or black. Yeah, it's not as neat on the inside as having all matching threads, but I'm the only one who sees it and it saves a lot of time, plus you only need to buy one normal sized spool to match your project, instead of buying 4 big cones, so it's especially good if you're sewing something in an unusual colour.

[@jessicasnipes1755]

ThatRomyKate Thanks for this awesome tip. I'm just starting to use a serger and what to hem some things but didn't t want to send a ton of money trying to buy every color I needed. You saved me lots of money and storage space (that I don't have).

[@whossoul]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one taken aback by seeing her re-threading her whole machine. I only own white and black serger thread. Like really.....who's looking inside your handmade clothes to see if your serging matches? Most people are going to be astounded that you can sew a straight line, let alone a whole garment!

[@lookyoncelookytwice2869]

Agree with the "white and black" threads only. I took it one lazy step further and bought a second serger (overlocker), one loaded with white thread and one loaded with black thread. That way, I avoid having to rethread the machine unless I run out of thread.

[@rayneblackwater6778]

+Looky once Looky twice wow, I don't even have the money to buy one

[@may-marydobie8638]

That is a fantastic tip,Thank-you for sharing it with us.💕

[@darlenep.a.2731]

Brand new to sewing... This was great. Keep 'em coming!

[@Awkwardly-Weird]

Another good tip for sewing straight is to look at the fabric as you're sewing and not at the needle.

[@sarahkinsey5434]

I am so focused on making sure the edge is lined up with the guide that I will sew 4-5 inches after I've run out of bobbin thread!

[@zoisapeers676]

Yes, or line the side of the presser foot up with the edge of the fabric and keep it that way!

[@dianeblajsa3033]

Rather new to sewing (at 56) LOL, and LOVE your tips! Subscribed and will definitely be visiting often! Thank you!!!

[@mudpatchmama]

Easy to watch. Good music, just loud enough. Beautiful voice, & just enough perk. Gonna watch your other videos.

[@sabounji]

Aluminium for scissor sharpenning is really a nice idea. Thx.

[@EncoderFashion]

Thanks for sharing the tips and tricks with us. That’s so cool.

[@teresahaven9222]

I actually made my own pincushion. It is a super strong magnet, a small bar of soap like you get at a motel, a piece of sandpaper, a small amount of batting, covered with fabric. It incorporates all the things I was told about in home ec. Lol. I actually haven't sewn on my machine in a few years due to vision problems. I have just recently started hand sewing again and I think maybe I am ready to break back into my sewing machine. It has been sitting collecting junk on top of it long enough. I am also ready to learn about how all the attachments work. It is a 1962 machine. Quite high tech for its era

[@naah]

It took me so long to figure out what a "serger" was. xD In the UK we call them "overlockers".

[@mirabellabiage4690]

Rachel Mansell it's the same thing, so don't worry 😂

[@andree824]

Rachel Mansell - that's what we call them in Australia too : )

[@anieub1293]

In Nigeria we call it 'weaving machine'

[@zahralovesdekuandyuuji7512]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 now I'm here in damn Algerian trying to figure out how do we call it here (it's either in French IR in RUINED FRENCH THAT NO ONE CAN KNOW IT'S FRENCH !!

[@pitonise]

@@zahralovesdekuandyuuji7512 C'est "surjeteuse" en français :-)

[@DMAbCD]

These are really awesome tips. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@mayaflynnster]

maya'smomhere: Thanks so much for the tin-foil idea!!! I just sharpened two pairs of Pinking Shears which have puzzled me in that direction for years!!! Kudos!!! Love, anonymousmom

[@angieabk]

YOU are a genius! Love all these ideas!

[@cathyvincent4349]

I tied a small scrap of fabric on my cloth scissor handle so my family knows they are only for fabric.

[@simonejacobs6626]

Cathy Vincent

[@grandmalovesmebest]

thats brilliant!

[@BriaGabe]

I just recently started making baby things && I think this video helps a LOT

[@paulinechapman9319]

Always cut thread on a slant before threading any needle...magic

[@johncollins8304]

I've just read two other tips: Hair spray the thread & let dry. Wet (lick) your finger and wet behind the needle -- apparently the moisture will pull the thread through! Apparently!!

[@tracybrewer8237]

So many great fantastic tips that I will be trying out.Thanks for sharing these with us. HAPPY CRAFTING...

[@brendasanderson7538]

Hide my fabric scissors more securely than money in my house 🤣

[@mercedeslluberes50]

Hahaha I do the same

[@mothersoul1]

Barik Allah fikum. The double pencil trick! I needed it and the rest of it.

[@desrieebeckford4717]

Adding the measuring tape to the tables is a great idea. I can't cut straight, so thank you for sharing your take on this. I also liked the painters tape on the sewing machine. Thanks you so much for sharing this video, you have help me a lot with solutions to help me with my sewing.

[@SewStruck]

wow,didn't know about adding seam allowance with two pencils tied together. awesome tips

[@RayleneMichelleStudio]

Ah the serger threading hack is my fave! Can't believe I didn't even think of that 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Thanks so much for these hacks xx

[@courtneyward5067]

HOW GOOD IS THAT ONE?! I feel like she just saved my life

[@dianebruns9305]

Your sewing hacks we're very good but I loved the two pencils together I've only been sewing now for about 6 years I realize I have a ton to learn but your two pencils together was a real aha moment it was one of those things that I set back and said that is genius why didn't I think of that thank you so much for the tips

[@delicateghoul]

Another way to sew straight: use sticky tac and a long lego piece to create a "wall" that the fabric can line up against

[@jessicamarlow7702]

wow thank you so much for mentioning wonder tape and the blue tape hack!!! Will definitely start using them

[@daliavelazquez7788]

You have such a nice soothing voice, love this video! Thank you! It can be pretty hard to make a good youtube video.

[@lscalmanini]

I LOVE the serger pinning hack, Awesome!

[@beckv8526]

You'd think that having only one child your scissors would be your own but noo. My solution? Taught her to sew and now she knows. 😊

[@anitavisram8346]

Thank you for your very welcome tips. Do as many as you like. They are Gr8.

[@zoopism1701]

The pencil hack is so simple but so effective! Thanks :D

[@naturalNstylish]

Love your ideas. I stopped sewing for quite a few years and have recently picked it up again. Thanks 😊 [new subbie]

[@keknegenkai2700]

I fell in love within the first 12 minutes 😍 your voice is so cute and soothing and radiates so much kindness 😘

[@salmaalmassad7505]

Uhm sorry to burst your bubble but the video was only 7minutes long

[@susanabaquerizo8494]

Very cool hacks, specially the pencils. Thanks for sharing.

[@seaturtlekai]

Love these tips! On the magnetic pin hack: I had some leftover magnetic “tape” (it’s a magnet strip with a sticky side) that I got for markers to stick onto my whiteboard. I took a few strips of that and stuck it on my sewing machine- super convenient to stick my pins right on my machine while I’m taking them out to sew!

[@veronicasiczewski299]

I keep watching your video... it's clear, you are great!

[@Nadira037]

Aww thank you so much! ❤️☺️

[@MoonBunny69]

my bf and I always argue because he uses every pair of fabric scissors I buy as "all purpose" scissors 😡😡😡😡

[@jUjU-gg4bx]

Mona Hogan Omg that is horrible... Those are poor scissors. 😵

[@eleanorrieth458]

Get a small Master Lock to lock the handles together.

[@rayneblackwater6778]

make him buy you a brand new pair of nice fabric sisscors everytime he ruins a pair. thats what I had my dad do and he quickly realized he'd rather find a pair of proper sisscors than spend $20 everytime he uses mine.

[@eduardacorreia689]

One time my brother used my mother's fabric scissors to cut the dogs hair. She was MAAAAAD!!

[@melissahislop5716]

I hadn’t seen the easy rethreading your serger idea or the wonder tape. Definitely going to use those ones.

[@harrymason1053]

I use saliva to thread a needle. Why use anything else?

[@ruheenashah6625]

Harry Mason . We have using this method in India for million of years and I still do it and it works.

[@nini_panini008]

Same. I do too.

[@hinachansansensei]

Same, but neither hack would work for someone like my mother, who has trouble seeing the eye of the needle now that she's older haha I've had to do it for her sometimes, which doesn't bode well for me in the future because I'm the only other person in this house that knows how to sew

[@goldengryphon]

@@hinachansansensei Needle threaders can help. And/or you can use a magic marker to color the eye portion. It's easier to see the hole for threading if you can put a color against a light background (I've used index cards for that.) And/or use self-threading needles for hand work. if you have an auto-thread function on your machine (some of them do) use that. Otherwise, use the index card method of threading a front to back facing machine needle. It all helps, and anything you can do to keep creating is a good thing.

[@thetroublewithtrebles1362]

@@hinachansansensei I never look for the eye. I turn the needle sideways, so the eye is facing left and right, and aim the thread at the place where I know the eye is. It's so much easier...no eye strain.

[@notoriousannie64]

Love the Wonder Tape ideas!!!!

[@scorpioninblue]

Great video! I added it to my sewing collection......all of the tips were helpful and the video is so well done! Keep them coming!!

[@KayDejaVu]

Wax paper! Never thought of this. Thank you sis. Pattern weights are not used for cutting out a pattern. That is what glue and pins are for. The weights are used to keep it in place while being traced for from being blown around when a fan is on.

[@sewsomuch2289]

When you are self taught and do loads of these 😃😃 That wonder tape trick is awesome! Need to get me some of That!

[@crabgal]

I sew exclusively for my guinea pigs. Hopefully watching this will help what I make for them last longer

[@TheThisisThat]

the pencil trick made my life sooo much easier! thank you!

[@capedoryus]

Great video. Great in all aspects. I did not notice the high quality of the video till the end as the tips had me on the edge of my seat. Great, great work. I appreciate and honor your dedication.

[@Jana-TheCraftyGambler]

I always have a bar of soap in my sewing room.

[@krislamore5607]

Hello Crafty

[@keknegenkai2700]

I used the trick at 1:59 during high school when I had to cut something out of paper for a presentation, it is really useful!

[@jeanniecheramie3901]

Thanks for sharing I hate threading my surger I don't understand how the first part with the knot works where are you putting the thread after knotting it I didn't catch that part

[@carmellam.8703]

Me either. What happened after the knot?

[@jaxlancaster2441]

@@carmellam.8703and jeannie cheramie. Turn your tension to zero and then slowly sew, the new colour will come through as there are no needles to thread on the end two threads. You can do the same on the needle threads but when you get to the needles you have to thread them manually. After the re-threading you can then put your tension back to the best setting for your work. Hope this helps. :)

[@rubyirick1659]

I love the wonder tape, I have so much trouble putting in a zipper Thank you so much.

[@Ebyanm]

love your video, thank you for showing all the tips.

[@misickmonica5302]

Dont know you, but I ♥️ you. Made this so easy for beginners!!!!

[@sewfunny1807]

It's always fun to watch sewing hacks/tips videos, because I always learn something new! :D I have a little tip for you that I thought you would mention when you talked about the scissors: Tie a little ribbon around the handle on the sewing scissors, that way you (and everybody else) knows exactly which ones are for sewing!

[@annebentley3656]

Or attach a label to your scissors "Touch these and you're DEAD"!!!! LOL

[@tammystevens1627]

Yes when I was sharing my living quarters I put a note on white tape on my scissors which said ' Do Not Use or there will be Serious Consequences'

[@knitknack2285]

I use the hairspray trick for my serger. The rest is super cool!

[@nanon1]

I have literally gasped in awe and wonder about 5 times, and I'm only 3 minutes in.

[@krislamore5607]

Hello, how are you doing my friend?

[@loviebunnie314]

If you have a bigger project and need bigger clips I suggest using clips that are for chip bags!! I used them for my blankets I was making

[@23456JY]

can we wash off this wonder tape? i find it scary to have tape left inside our cloth, wouldnt it add bulk? please advise, thank you :)

[@Nadira037]

+23456JY the wonder tape dissolves when you wash it and it's super thin so no need to worry about bulk 😉

[@maheenabsar940]

23456JY

[@23456JY]

Nadira037 thanks so much

[@lorawiese5596]

This is one of the best tip/helper videos I have seen. Nice, nice, nice!

[@zoannewilcox6112]

anything new coming out for 2019? this was a great video.

[@lharlow8044]

Oh my gosh! THANK YOU for the wonder tape and soap hack.

[@ladytorres8323]

New at sewing! Never been taught - 43 yrs old and teaching myself. Love the painter tape trick !!!

[@owenprince4823]

You can also get a guide that has magnets that will stick to the base if you have a metal machine. (all my machines are metal; No plastic)

[@godisgoodallthetime7622]

I love your ideas. Instead of painters tape I'm using rubber bands that allow me to sustain a straight seam.

[@komal_rangoonwala]

wonder tape hack was my favorite! that's genius! thank you Nadira! :)

[@remington6363]

Thank you we all need to do these things

[@LaurenFairwx]

These are such good tips! I hadn't heard of most of them. Thank you for sharing them with us!

[@lindatilton9466]

Uas seen on TV and m

[@krislamore5607]

Hi Lauren

[@trishliston]

Love the pencil tip!!!! and the Wonder Tape. Genius.