Today I have three sewing tips for you to use for more efficiency in the workroom.  First of all you’ll need a few simple things in order to use the tips I’m sharing.  1.  A thumbnail; 2.  Blue painters tape; and 3.  A magnet.  Oh, and as these are sewing tips, you will also need your sewing machine.

Tip #1.  My first tip is how you can use your thumbnail to help you thread your sewing machine needle.  The industrial sewing machines in my shop do not have self threaders like some home models have.  A trick I’ve learned is to hold your thumbnail behind the eye of the needle.  Take the thread in your other hand and bring the thread towards the eye of the needle.  I’m not sure why, but for some reason the thread just tends to be drawn to the fingernail and goes easily through the eye of the needle.  You can watch the video here:

Tip #2.  Some machines have seam allowance markings on the throat plates.  But when a machine doesn’t have seam allowance markings,  use blue painters tape as your guide.   The blue painters tape will allow you to align the edge of your fabric along the edge of the painters tape.  As a result you will be able to keep your seam allowance even as you sew.   You can watch the video here:

Tip #3.  Keep a small magnet at your machine to use as a pin catcher.  As you sew and remove the pins from your project, place the pins on the magnet.  This will keep your work space clean and keep the pins off the floor. Once you finish sewing, remove the pins from the magnet and put them in your pin bowl. You can watch the video here:

I hope you enjoyed these tips and are able to use these as you work on your projects.  I’d love to hear from you.  Please share in the comment section below.  Have a great day and God Bless!