Top10 Strange Sewing Hacks

[@franpatzcraig6713]

An empty prescription bottle with a hole in the cap is a great way to dispose of old, bent pins and needles. Just slip them through the hole and when the bottle is full throw it away.

[@julieglenn2456]

The little squares the seal bread from the grocery store are wonderful to put on the end of the blue painters tape so you can easily find the end, pull what you want off and replace the plastic square and rear off your tape. Saves time and frustration.

[@meman6964]

Genius, those bread clips are such a bother, can't even recycle. Hooray, now you gave purpose to a few Thanks 👵🏼🐞

[@virginiaomalley]

That’s a good idea to use on the end of duck tape. I usually use a paper clip but your idea sounds better.

[@janematthews6579]

I use an inexpensive set of make up brushes to clean my sewing machines and serger. They are very soft and come in several sizes making it possible to get into the tiniest cracks and crevices.

[@bestillandknow9127]

I use my grandmothers silver toast rack to hold my small quilting rulers. My moms sterling butter dish for holding safety pins & the removable glass insert to hold my pins.

[@charlenerichardson2623]

Coffee mugs work great as a bulk thread holder

[@jogriffiths4797]

I trim material with zig zag scissors before washing it, which stops a lot of fraying, and also tells me if I’ve washed it or not

[@meman6964]

Brilliant idea 💡🙂, grateful

[@marywise2014]

I also use painters tape also for marking straight lines on my quilts. So many ideas you have here in the video. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@crisreneemakes7178]

I got into making jeans so I keep a rubber mallet for pounding seams and a sanding block for distressing. I also have zip ties to use a boning in my bras.

[@lizzyr-c2708]

I also use a paint brush as a turner, and use the other end to brush out machine lint. Works great! Another hack, the one most of us know, is to use large metal washers as pattern and fabric weights. Thanks for the great tips!

[@lindaalley5411]

I use a letter opener to cut fabric for the Chanel look.

[@peggydid]

I use the wax paper to trace patterns onto with a permanent marker. I tape a bit on if it's not wide enough. I use a knitting needle to poke out collars. I put tape on to mark the seam allowance. It will always be that, so it doesn't matter if it sticks! Otherwise, I have a magnet that I use instead of the lego block. I see plenty of items on that shelf behind you that need the grabber! Thanks, Kim, for sharing these great hacks! Hugs!

[@andreajohnsMyPotteryBliss]

Lots of good ideas. The blue painter’s tape is brilliant. You tell in a glance if you need to prewash or if you’re ready to go already.

[@conniebond7628]

Genius ideas! A lot of “Why didn’t I think of that moments?” Several gems I will take advantage of immediately. Thank you so much!

[@robertalordagarcia9992]

New sub here from Spokane Valley Wa, I haven't sowen since I was 16,and I made my square dancing dress, I got a little sewing machine, back in 2021 to make masks, but then the ordinance was lifted lol,well I am getting ready to set up my sewing area thanks to a friend,giving me a desk ,I am going to try my hand at a couple dog coats, and a summer cover up

[@sagepreaumx9903]

I like that rotary sharpening hack. I do that for scissors, cut a bunch of aluminum foil but didn't think about it doing the same for the rotary blades. I use the painter's tape to label jars. I make a lot of my own supplies - for cleaning, medicines, laundry, food stuff. When I purchase fabric I pin labels on them as to the size, fabric content, "prewashed" if I've done so and what pattern I have in mind to use it for. The pattern isn't set in stone but helps me remember what I originally had in mind.

[@mindyfederman6603]

I too have use aluminum foil to sharpen scissors especially my pinking shears never ever knew about rolling a ball up and sharpening my rotary cutter that way. I’m going to try it

[@HlavacKristina]

I have a little goat that screams when you push his head down... and honestly that’s all it’s for but it’s great when something I’m sewing isn’t quite cooperating! 😂 really useful 👌

[@Nonna_Tina]

I love this suggestion! I need to find one.

[@HlavacKristina]

@@Nonna_Tina I got mine at a Barnes and noble but there are so many things that could work for this 😂

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

Glass coasters that I got a garage sale for a song. Heavy enough to be pattern weights, and the dip in them where the drink is supposed to be, holds pins, wonder clips, or whatever. My mom would iron over wax paper whenever she felt the plate wasn't slick enough to glide easily over fabric.

[@elizabethwatt8131]

I need a rod for turning belts and ties right-side out, but I find knitting needles too flexible and lacking a tip that will grab and hold. So, would you believe, I use the steel cleaning rods from my late husbands’ black-powder gun cleaning kit. It works marvellous! If I was going to invent a rod to use for turning belts and ties, it would look just like this! They’re very long and of strong steel, made to grab and hold a small rag at one end, covered with gun-oil. The gun cleaner uses force and back and forth movements to scrub the long gun barrels clean of sulferous, black powder residue. If it’s good enough for the Civil War soldiers, it’s good enough for me!

[@amandawilliams2266]

Very clever and resourceful

[@jessig50]

Now, that is original! With over 50 years if sewing and crafting experience, I have seen most sewing tips before but never this idea. Congratulations.

[@judemack8604]

I put up a small curtain rod on the wall above my cutting table and hang my plastic rulers and yardstick on it with the wire clips used for hanging shower curtains.

[@cindyrees436]

The thick vinyl bags that sheets come in (sometimes bras) make excellent envelopes for used patterns that have "outgrown" their original packets. They usually close, are sturdy, and you can see what's inside.

[@qormi1000]

All great ideas for the sewing room. Some items cannot get where I live, but I can improvise maybe. Love the extended magnet idea. Thank you Kim. Love all your videos. xx

[@swenstrand]

Mini bamboo skewers for a stiletto. Pool noodles for storing quilt blocks, interfacing, bias binding...anything I don’t want fold lines on after ironing. Thin rubber jar openers, cut in small squares or circles to use as needle pullers.

[@diananesbitt1260]

You talk a lot, but I only hear about a fourth of it. I have volume on high. Now when you're at the machine I can hear you.

[@marsha4796]

I love the pool noodles. I keep my patterns which get used a lot wrapped on them. Keeps them smooth, accessible and I can use them without "ironing" them.

[@dorisampofowah5215]

Thanks for sharing your great ideas.Is very helpful.👍👍👍👍👍👍❤

[@heidefries1825]

Great tips, I never thought about a telescoping magnet but need one! I have a few dull rotary cutters and will be sure to try your tip to sharpen them! I use large washers as pattern weights, a pair of needle nose pliers for pulling a seam out, and a small plastic Rx bottle for sharps.

[@peggydid]

My pin holder is a magnet, so I just wave that over the floor. I don't have back or knee problems, so I can get that close!

[@nanettejernigan7338]

Harbor Freight has very inexpensive telescoping magnets!

[@alisonwilliams5355]

Thank you great tips, from the foil sharpening rotary cutters to that magnet on a stick all good ideas.

[@BarbGruhl]

If you have a older all metal sewing machine you can also rub the wax side of the waxed paper on the free-arm sewing area so the material slides better when sewing large items, wiping it off like you are polishing it. For removing threads from ripped out seams I have a big block eraser, rub it over them and it pulls out all the threads into a pile. I have a sample spray bottle and mist my mat every morning to keep it hydrated so it always gives a good cut, I mist it before I turn on the coffee, drink a couple cups and by the time I go back in the mat is dry and ready to go again. For cardboard to fold material on I get the free flat rate shipping boxes from UPS and cut them in half. the sides and end pieces are good for cut strips and wide binding that has not been folded and pressed, once the binding is made I put it on TP or paper towel rolls, I keep a TP roll stand in my sewing room for the binding, it rolls off as you put the binding on. You can also use the ends to put your dull rotary blades in then tape the edges.

[@SewLady]

I keep the Dollar Tree plastic cutting mats in my sewing room to draw pattern pieces on for templates. I have kitchen scissors that I use to cut the template out. I can use these templates over and over again and they don't wear out. Love the idea of the grabber, some times my kitchen tongs aren't quite long enough for fishing things out from under my sewing machine.

[@lisafisk2826]

I think you are my favorite sewing buddy! Practical hints are so awesome! (I hadn't sewn in years and you give me hope I can do it!)

[@suejoslin1354]

I use a craft stick to help get over thick seams. Like a Jean-a-ma-jig but for lighter weight fabrics.

[@dorothysdaughtersews]

Great idea!

[@sylviahilxebrant7141]

I have the spring type clothes pins. Tear them apart and you can use to left presser foot over bulky seams, help keeping fabric from slipping as you sew, hold fabric as you press (saving your finger) and holding the seams together on heavier fabrics as you sew. Just find so many uses!! A lot of what you have are in my sewing room, too, but never thought of the ponytail bands as seam guides. Tried the rubber bands ending with more frustration than needed but I'm going to try this. This was a very good idea for a video and you did it so well. Thank you!!

[@PKEDRM]

I use spring clothespins as clamps but have never tried 'hump jumping' with half of one.

[@mindyfederman6603]

Love your suggestion of the clothes pin

[@del5241]

Great ideas,I ordered the magnet set, they work great👍

[@CazkiwiNZ]

I use the recycled plastic tray bottom that come in supermarket shopping bags as template plastic.. or cut in my SnC for stencils I also use the small clear/metal 3M hooks on my machines to hang my snips and 2 side-by-side to put my stiletto/awl/seam ripper on, looks cute and is really handy! I ALSO use a small 3M hook on my smaller 4x4, 5x5 rulers, smack bang in the middle… makes them easier to hold and not slip around!

[@theskirtlady7890]

Omg I use all those things in my sewing room, I love Harbor Freight.

[@brookeinmaine]

Good tips! Thank you. I’m eager to try the aluminum foil trick.

[@judycurtis44]

To keep my patterns for years, I have used plastic shelf liner. I have used a magic marker for what the pattern is, any size alterations, which way to put on grain of fabric, any notches, etc. It only needs a few pins to hold on the fabric and does not move as your cutting! You can fold for easy storage and I have some (like for aprons) that I've had for over ten years! Hope this helps you. Stay healthy and sew on. 😻

[@dorothysdaughtersews]

Great idea!

[@maryelizabeth6797]

Judy Curtis Good idea. I have been ironing my pattern pieces onto stiff interfacing for years. Mostly for doll clothes patterns but they degrade before I’m ready to let them go. I’ll try your method the next time I have need. ❤️🇨🇦

[@judycurtis44]

@@maryelizabeth6797 so glad this will help you on your projects. I think you'll like it. when I wrote the shelf liner company and sent them pictures of my patterns on their liners, they sent me six rolls of liners with a thank you note!!! Judy in South Carolina.

[@dianemorrall2687]

I use baking paper when I am ironing on interfacing. I have one sheet on the ironing board, place the fabric to be interfaced on top then after placing the interfacing on top of this, I then put another piece of baking paper over the lot. I then iron on the interfacing. I don't get glue on my ironing board or the iron!

[@annhinz6326]

Me too, parchment paper? I think it's the same thing

[@dianemorrall2687]

Ann Hinz yes I think it is. Normally to put on baking trays to prevent sticking.

[@redmarilynn]

Great idea! Thanks so much.

[@sherylwoodward2247]

I didn’t really have time to watch this right now, but it was so much fun, 😹😹. Thank you so much for all the great tips. I love the tinfoil tip. And the Telescoping magnet, my husband actually has one he never uses in his tool box. In the words of my 2 year old grandson - me! I use a crochet hook for poking out corners, I have an old pair of long medical tweezers I use for everything from picking out threads, holding buttons in place, getting material to feed properly etc, but my favourite hack is...... on big patterns that I use a lot - I iron light weight fusible interfacing into the pieces to make them last. Like PJs that I make every Christmas and sleep sacks for my new grand babies, and nieces and nephews in my life. Pattern pieces just don’t stand up like they use to. 😞. Thanks again for inviting us into your sewing room, please keep the videos coming. Next time, I’ll wait till I have the time 😉

[@addieanderson2043]

My husband ordered me a set of 4 short screwdrivers. Great item. I love them. Long ones are hard to get in some places when cleaning your machine.

[@ZeldaSews]

I learned some things that I could use in my sewing room! I have so many hair ties I wish I had known about that one before I purchased a magnetic seam guide. I'm going to look for the surger basics because my surgery is still sitting in the Box and it has been in the Box for two years brand new.😮

[@newcreations1064]

Thank you for the tips,i use a grabber,so handy.xxx

[@chrissy24-7]

Gotta get a grabber! Great ideas and hints!

[@mintea2779]

That was really useful thank you. Tweezers are my main hack. When you've used a seam ripper occasionally you get that one stitch that you can't get hold off, so I use the tweezers. I also use sticky tape to pick up the majority of the threads.

[@yvonnemoretti7646]

When I need a shape like a big star or heart I go to my cookie cutter collection. I have a 8 inch butterfly pancake mold that comes into my sewing room and it makes a cute decoration on my wall too

[@addieanderson2043]

I have all but one. The only one I do not have is the lint remover but will add it. Thank you great ideas.

[@Chericherry4]

I have a silver colored plastic ice bucket from Dollar Tree that I keep on my sewing table for sewing trash. It's pretty and functional.

[@dorothysdaughtersews]

What a great idea!

[@kimberlytifft810]

thank you for your great tips i will be using them Betty Tifft.

[@trudyaverill4233]

Washable glue sticks to tack down (baste) seams rather than pinning or clipping, especially when working with woven fabrics. Then just sew your seam.

[@SA-wb1jb]

Just found your channel and subscribed. Thanks for the handy tips! I use a chopstick for poking out corners which works great. Love the telescopic magnet. I'm constantly dropping pins and hate having to try pick them up.

[@carolbursby7174]

I use an Emery board. When I turn the corner on binding, I place a thick Emery board behind but under the back end of the presser foot. It equals the thickness of the layers of fabric.

[@nanastevens4094]

I have the waxed paper and freezer paper. Have a grabber attached to my walker and that gets used constantly. Keep an 8" cake pan to use as a pattern for a thread caddy i make frequently as well as bowl caddies.

[@maryviti6799]

nana stevens, 8” Cake Pan - ingenious😀

[@janetcozens4623]

Oh my goodness that definitely reminds me of me great idea😂😂😂🐣🐥🐣🐥🐣🤣🤣

[@mindyfederman6603]

Great video. Have subscribed and pressed the “All” notifications button, curious to see if i get notification. I too have a grabber in my house but never thought to use you it the way that you suggested. Using a Lego block is another thing that I would have never thought of doing. Thank you soooooo much for doing this video, can’t wait for another one. 💜

[@suzannewalker2090]

I keep hemostats nearby when I sew. They are perfect for turning bag handles and other things. I just used them for putting stuffing in small corners.

[@annhinz6326]

Yes! I dropped a rotary cutter (fresh blade) on my foot and needed stitches and since they don't bother to reuse but throw the set away, I got the hemostats, small scissors plus nice rags to boot.

[@pennyclark9079]

Suzanne Walker Great for stuffing small things too like dolls/teddy arms and legs!!!

[@mindyfederman6603]

Never thought of using the hemostats for sewing. Great great tip

[@marsha4796]

Kenneth King shows a really cool way to install an invisible zip using hemostats.

[@virginiaomalley]

What’s a hemostat?

[@dorissimmons571]

I wear a garden glove with rubber palm when I cut my rag quilts.

[@glendavizecky7581]

I have auto parts magnet dishes for pins.

[@nans969]

I have them for die cutting, sewing and assembling furniture. I also have a magnet wand because I drop small dies and needles a lot.

[@laticiarodriguez8997]

Me too!

[@1wholovestrees]

Whenever I need to trace a large pattern, I take my pattern and tracing tissue to a large window in the house. I tape both to the window and I can feel like I'm drawing, when I''m actually tracing. I use old phone books as quilting string stabilizer and sometimes I'll use adding machine rolls. Also, when a calendar is finished with the month, I'll cut that month up and use it for scrap paper (the other side is clear)

[@kerstinshadbolt1003]

I use most of your items - my kitchen tongs get used a lot for picking up things dropped on the floor. I use non-stick baking parchment on my ironing board when fusing interfacing - saves mess on the ironing board cover.

[@annewhitney8809]

I have a blush brush for cleaning out the bobbin area.i have a roll of press and seal that I use to clone ready made clothing .

[@nataliestanchevski4628]

Press and seal, what a fabulous idea! I have to go get some now, thank you!

[@outside1913]

I just acquired my new most favorite tool. garden rake! the handle is long but it has a small head. I use it to gather all the fabric clippings and thread around my work area. works great on carpet and smooth floors alike. Susan Csiszer Texas

[@marsha4796]

My number one hack, not mentioned, is teflon sheets. Cut out the area for the needle and feed dogs, use masking tape to attach to the bed and/or table of your machine and you have created a slider for way less that the supreme sliders to use is either free motion or any quilting. I also keep two sheets (the came in sets of 5 from Amazon) clipped to my ironing board whenever I iron on fusible, the other one I use as a glue pad as nothing sticks.

[@rosannesahai7604]

Good tips !

[@marykayshatzer3044]

I have almost every one of those except for the wax paper fabric sheets and LEGO. I use the freezer paper like you do but I also iron my tissue patterns to it to help them last longer. A few extras are chop sticks (point turner) tooth picks & match sticks (sewing on buttons) medicine bottles to put broken needles or bent pins in, mr clean sponge to clean my iron. Thanks for the great video!

[@janetcozens4623]

I have also subscribed 👋👋👋👋👋 nice to meet you 🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰 Happy Easter

[@dorothysdaughtersews]

Thank you!!❤️

[@pennyguiberteau5343]

I keep plastic straws on hand for my thread. Make sure the width of the straw with fit inside your spool. I cut a length long enough for the height of the spool plus the height of the bobbin (and a little extra) so the matching bobbin spool can sit on top. This works on the wooden spool rack, table, or while in a drawer or box. I also use tape (painter's tape or scotch tape) to mark the right side of the fabric when both sides look and feel the same.

[@carolyncaverly2190]

Blue Painter's Tape used to remind you that you have pre-washed your fabric. Sounds good, but it can come off easily AND you have to take you fabric and hunt and search for the painter's tape. I use a lot of cottons and batiks. My method - the fabric does NOT come out of the shopping bag or enter my sewing room UNTIL after it has been pre-washed or pre-shrunk. If its in my sewing room, it has been pre-treated. No BPT to search for, no BTP to accidentally come off.

[@dorothysdaughtersews]

Covid has made me have this same policy as of late. But, I’ve never had the tape fall off. I just tuck it in the fold as I put it on the shelf.

[@Tracy137]

I use mini/tiny claw hair grips as fabric pegs as they were 12 for £1 (about $1.80). I used to use some of my washing pegs, but they were really strong and used to leave dimples in the fabric - annoying after I ironed them. I've taught myself machine sewing during lockdown (I've always hand sewed tiny stitches) and how to make bread, so my husband is loving all the new clothes & homemade bread I've been making! LOL!

[@pattybunch5738]

I keep a blow hair dryer in my sewing room to blow the lint out of my sergers between the times I have my husband take it to his work shop for a big cleaning.

[@susiecaudill6780]

Funny how we can find just what we need to make sewing faster. I keep the colorful elastic hair ties to use as a button loop and need a color other than black or white. I also recently started using spring hair clips in place of the plastic clips or pins. They are a little longer and flatter. I have used aluminum foil to sharpen scissors by cutting but will now try the ball for the rotary cutter. Lint rollers also clean you up before you leave the area. Thanks for sharing.

[@gerrihaumschild1]

A long magnet strip for knives i used to use in the kitchen, I now have it on the wall above my machine to hold scissors, hemastates, etc.

[@therealgr8typist]

Chop sticks make great corner turners. I have a pretty painted set that is nice and smooth that I bought at World Market or somewhere for under a dollar. I also use the Harbor Freight Mini Pick and Hook Set (99 cents) constantly. The right angle hook is perfect for picking up and pulling the threads on my coverstitch when I've finished a seam. The picks can be used as weeding tools with your Cricut or Silhouette too. I'll definitely incorporate the credit card trick in the removal process now too.

[@peggydid]

Oh, I want that pick set! I'm sure it would be great for paper crafting, too. Thanks, Milady! Off to Harbor Freight I go!

[@NancyLove-z7u]

I use a dowel with a magnet glued on, because one day I couldn't find the telescoping one. It cost next to nothing and works as well for getting pins or anything else that is metal. Plus, I have a small bowl that I got from Harbor Freight to use for anything metal as well. Both I use all the time.

[@kristiparker4139]

I use the plastic bread clips to clip on the ends of the multiple plug wires that are plugged in under my machine table. I label them "Machine", "Lamp" "serger", etc, so I can figure out which plug is what while on my hands and knees under the table!

[@oldtimerlee8820]

GREAT idea!

[@darleennewton1052]

Dollar Store cuticle orange sticks or scures substitute for a stiletto to hold the material as it passes under the machine needle

[@cathylombard964]

I use a clean chop stick as a point turner.

[@rhonddalesley]

It helps to lower the serger disc tension all the way when you want to pull the thread through and it saves putting stress on the machine parts and lint build up between the discs too

[@dorothysdaughtersews]

Thank you. I have buttons on top of my coverstitch that when pressed, temporarily disable the tension. In the craziness of being on camera, I just wasn’t pushing down far enough.

[@sparkleinco2035]

I use a little safety pin on the selvage to show me that it was washed

[@maryelizabeth6797]

Any ‘tray’ object will work but I purchased a wooden painting canvas from the dollar store. Turned it over and painted it, then took a magnetic sheet (cut to size) and glued it down. A lovely big space to hold my pins while sewing. They spread out nicely for easy pick up and the tray is large enough that it does not slide out of reach or get knocked off table. I plan on making a larger one as the one I have now is a little small. I started to toss in others things like small scissors, tweezers, small screwdrivers and different feet if I’m going to be changing them often.

[@LynnePedigoRidayReiter]

I saw proverbs quote, I subscribed. Then enjoyed your video. Glad I have lots of blue tape. Stealing your idea. TYVM!

[@meman6964]

The quote beside you made me stop to "visit" your video

[@auntmayme8119]

I didn’t know about the foil for rotary cutter blades, but I did know you can use it for pinking shears. I usually have my blades professionally sharpened. I also didn’t know about the dryer sheets, but use waxed paper because I have asthma and un-natural scents drive me crazy.

[@debquinonez1238]

Reading all comments, I didn't see this tip, golf tees fit in a spool of thread and you can stack your matching bobbin on the top to store it. I keep my threads in a shallow desk drawer and it works great!

[@missymorley1575]

The disposable chop sticks make great point turners, especially if you are teaching a class. Cheap tool!

[@suzannelesser5468]

Interesting to find out that other people, even really good seamstresses, have the same sorts of problems I'm having (as an beginner/intermediate sewer)! Thanks for the great ideas! Like your Bible verse.

[@Marny5580]

Don't leave chopsticks when leaving the restaurant - take them home. They are wonderful to push for turning inside out. They're good for small plant stakes, too. In a pinch, you can knit with them. Of course, wash with soap when you get them home.

[@damama630]

The blue painters tape will leave a glue residue on your fabric. The glue residue will stain. If you choose to use it to indicate a piece has been washed, put it in a corner of the fabric so you don't ruin a run of fabric.

[@gracieallen8285]

I think cut-rite wax paper is the only one with wax on both sides of the paper

[@meman6964]

Is your name really Gracie Allen? She was such a sharp comic. I love old movies on TCM and sometimes they have episode of George and Gracie 🙃👵🏼🐞

[@gracieallen8285]

@@meman6964 no, I’m not named Gracie. She was important to me when I was very young, my mother and I moved from the coast to the middle of the country leaving all our relatives behind, when I was three. When I watched Gracie she reminded me of my grandmother that was back East, she even looked like Gracie and was almost as zany. As close to being named Gracie is whenever I was clumsy my mother would call me grace.

[@nans969]

Harbor freight is my favorite craft tool store. Lol . I think I've spent more there than my husband has lately.

[@artsiecl]

I Loe the way others also share their tips, we need add the tips we can get.......I keep the sticky rollers close to my sewing machine so I can roll up strings as I go, and, also after I rip out a seam I roll it there too, to get the strings off before I press it........thanks for sharing....Oops I see she demonstrates this .......I did not see it all before making this comment

[@deniseroot7105]

I keep needle nose pliers around when I get a big needle stuck hand sewing.

[@lynettedaniels1236]

My mother needed a grabber. She was short and couldn’t always reach things on the top shelves in the kitchen, so she used a big meat fork and just poked it into boxes so she could lower them down. All our boxes on the highest shelves had holes in them. I use a step stool. 🤣

[@fayejones6740]

I have always done as your mother.

[@dorothysdaughtersews]

Ive been known to try to knock things down with a wooden spoon. 🤣🤣🤣

[@elizabethnunley282]

@@dorothysdaughtersews I use a 6' tall husband!! I stand 5' short. LOL We both have grabbers also.

[@michelefrasier7496]

The aluminum foil ball also works for sharpening Cricut blades. just poke the blade into the foil ball several times.

[@donnam7075]

Hi Kim! What do you mean when you say you ease up on the looper thread of the cover stitch to pull out the thread? I cant see what you’re doing. I would love to know this trick bc I’m always fighting with my threads to take them out!!!

[@dorothysdaughtersews]

On my coverstitch, there are buttons on top that take all the tension off while they are pressed down. If you don’t have the buttons, you can dial down the tension temporarily.

[@patstutzman7506]

Tweezers work great to pull out the thread from a new spool of thread that is in the notch at the top.

[@dorothysdaughtersews]

Great idea!

[@ritaleimer4284]

Hair spray applied to thread to thread my serger.

[@ginam2274]

I use a mechanic's magnetic tool holder, small bowl, for my pins. It is very strong and much superior to the plastic pin holder with a small magnet

[@99999cathy]

Another use for the grabber: grabbing a snake. Works just like snake tongs. Unfortunately, I know this first hand. :)

[@pennyclark9079]

Oh My I have some inFrance but thank fully haven’t had to use them for that yet!!!!

[@notesfromleisa-land]

Hopefully no snakes in sewing room.!

[@notesfromleisa-land]

I saw dryer sheets for iron cleaning at a another site. It works great.... I was surprised. Here are some of my hacks. I use white electrical tape v painter's tape. It is slicker and holds marks better. Wooden roller as a make shift tailors clap. Full size screw driver for poking corners. I find the Philip's head works as well as a flat head. I have both. Wooden spatula for turning projects and flattening seam from inside out. Silicone spatula for holding fabric while ironing. Wash and reuse meat trays for drawer organizers. Shallow ones work great for setting rotary cutter in without having to open and close blade repeatedly.

[@marsha4796]

Now THIS is a story worthy of follow up!

[@lizzyr-c2708]

This is a silly question, but would you be able to demonstrate using the freezer paper and the wax paper? I can't wrap my head around it. TIA!!!

[@BarbGruhl]

I use waxed paper for patterns, quilt templates, transfer your pattern to the paper side of the waxed paper, cut it out. Turn your fabric print side down on the ironing board. put the waxed side of the paper on the material, iron then it is more stable to cut the patterned material, just peel it off when you are done, it's also reusable over and over. Freezer paper I transfer the pattern to it instead of cutting up the pattern paper. After using it I fold it and put it in with the pattern for next time. I also use it to make my own pattern for something. I am making a rifle sling case and traced my rifle on the freezer paper, all I needed to do was add the seam allowance when I but the fabric out. If you have a older all metal sewing machine you can also rub the wax side of the waxed paper on the free-arm sewing area so the material slides better when sewing large items, wiping it off like you are polishing it.

[@lizzyr-c2708]

@@BarbGruhl Thank you so much!

[@betterdazes1648]

My point turner is a chopstick. One end is smaller than 5he other so it works on all kinds of fabric.

[@marthavillanueva5505]

U could use a chop stick or orange cuticle stick as a corner turner. Cost pennies.

[@judierenfrow8073]

Waxed paper, freezer paper, Harbor Freight Magnet. I use freezer paper on my ironing board when I work with fusibles instead of the usual, which I have. Keeps it clean. I can take a gift and scrape the glue off if I want to use it again. When I buy fabric that I intend to prewash, I run a straight stitch down the cut sides. Keeps it from shredding and that’s how I know which has been prewashed.

[@sharonbrown4590]

I keep a hammer and a smooth rock in my sewing room. When I am hemming jeans or other thick fabrics, I pound the seams down a bit to make them easier to sew.

[@ellenkucera6205]

I keep a dollar store grabber in my laundry room to help reach things from the back of the washer and dryer. I have a bad back, some days it's hard to bend and reach everything, the grabber makes it easier to get to