Most of the times, life interferes with your sewing. Between your family commitments and work, sewing can take backstage.
What if you could get as much done as you want in a very small amount of time when sewing. There are some handy tips you could use by which you could save time while sewing. Sewing faster and efficiently is possible.
30 Ultimate sewing tricks and tips to save time.
Let me share some tips with which you can fasten up your sewing time and thus do more of it.
TIP 1. Buy all your sewing supplies before you start your sewing project.
Running out of an item when you absolutely feel like sewing is a pain. It slows down your creativity and your sewing.
TIP 2. Keep everything closeby.
Before you start sewing, take a ziplock bag and collect everything you need for sewing that project like the thread, zipper, buckle, buttons trims etc in it. No need to interrupt your sewing flow in between with mundane things. The momentum you lose when you run out of something mid-way through a project is enormous.
Pre-cut patterns and fabrics to have it all accessibe as you start to sew.
TIP 3. Choose a simple design.
That is if you are really short of time, but you are determined to do a sewing project- then look for patterns with simple designs and fewer pieces. Avoid unnecessary details like intricate pleats or numerous buttonholes if speed is your goal.
TIP 4. Group similar tasks together.
Do all your cutting at once, then move on to pressing, and then to sewing.
If you have a number of small pieces to interface, interface the whole fabric at once and then mark and cut pattern pieces from this fabric. Saves a lot of time interfacing small pieces.
Chain piecing is one such method of joining fabrics for patchwork. You will be sewing multiple pieces of fabric without cutting the thread between each piece; this is called chain piecing. Continue feeding the next piece under the presser foot. This quick-sewing technique is especially time saving in quilting.
TIP 5. Prewash all your fabrics in one go.
Prewash and shrink all your fabrics in one go and store. This way you do not waste time in individually washing each cloth. The fabric is ready for the sewing whenever you feel like sewing or you get the time to sew.
TIP 6. Organise your sewing space for efficiency.
Keep zip lock bags handy with buttons threads, buttons etc near the sewing area well organised. You do not want to go searching everywhere for that thread you want you do not even know where.
When you buy your fabric for a dress, the first preference should go to easy to sew fabrics like cotton linen etc. Especially if you are not so experienced. Some fabrics like silk, chiffon etc can get very difficult to sew and make your sewing time miserable and stretched out.
TIP 7. Sew parts with one thread in one go.
Group similar tasks together. And one of that is parts that need one color thread. Having to Change threads mid-way is a pain. Make sure that you do the sewing for pieces with the same thread in one go.
TIP 8. Note down the sequence of sewing.
Write the sequence of sewing a project so that you will have a record of the various stages of that pattern . You can cross the entries as soon as they are complete for increased clarity.
TIP 9. Do not use very small stitch length
If you use a longer stitch length you can sew a lot faster than if you choose a shorter stitch length. This tip can come handy when you have made a mistake – just think of the time it will take for you to unpick all those small stitches. But do not make it too long that the stitching is unstable. You need a rip proof seam.
When you want to baste layers of fabrics together, you can use the longest stitch in your sewing machine – Make sure that the tension is also adjusted loose. This way, it will be easier to remove the stitches later.
TIP 10. Wind enough bobbins
Wind enough bobbins (to finish the project at hand) with the same thread. This way you can sew without stopping to wind new bobbins. I also keep some bobbins filled with threads in basic colours like white, grey, and black.
TIP 11. Use enough thread on the needle
When sewing a button or a buckle by hand, use double strands of thread instead of single strand of thread to finish the sewing fast.
When hand sewing make sure that you have taken atleast 20 inch long thread on your needle. If it is shorter, you will need to thread again and again wasting time.
Tip 12. Do not over pin
Overpinning can make your sewing slow – when you start sewing, removing the pins can become a chore. Use only as much as needed.
Fabric glue can be used to close an opening left for turning a project inside out. Make sure to use only a small layer of glue. The ordinary glue stick can be used instead of pins, as a fast way to keep trims, hems and linings in place for sewing.
Tip 13. Avoid confusion; Know which side is which from marks
Mark the wrong side of the fabric with a few inches of tape to prevent you doubting every time you take it up which is the right side.
Tip 14. Use Fray check
Edge finishing gives the garments their professional finish, but doing it can be cumbersome, when you have a lot of cut edges to deal with and is short of time. Instead of edge finishing you can use a fray preventer liquid. A small drop along the edge and the raw edge will not unravel.
Tip 15. Keep a thread snipper close to sewing machine
Keep a thread snip near your sewing machine at all times. The extra threads can be snipped as and when it shows up. Ensure that it doesnot stray away from the machine or get lost, but tying it to the machine. This will ensure that you have it when you want it and not lose any time looking for it.
Tip 16. Keep a waste bin near the machine
Keep a small bin near your sewing machine to catch all the loose threads. Saves you time for an after big clean up
Tip 17. You need an iron in your sewing room
Always place the ironing table and iron in the same room as your sewing machine. YOU will save enormous amount of time going between them.
Use the pressing time wisely too, to save time. It is a good practice to press each time you have sewn a seam. But plan so that you have a good number of seams to sew in one go.
Tip 18 . Use sewing tools and accessories to save time
Learn all about the different feet available for your sewing machine . Simple attachments like the zipper foot, narrow hemming foot, overcast foot, Button sewing foot can save a great deal of time for you. Special foot like the ruffler attachment foot, darning foot can also come handy.
Always keep the sewing manual near your sewing machine at all times. This is so that any problem to your sewing machine, you have a ready reckoner at hand.
If you have an overlock machine use this to sew the seams of knit clothes. Saves you time by finishing the edges and sewing seams in one go.
Tip 19. Save time cutting fabric
Use a rotary cutter if you have multiple pieces to cut in the same shape.
Tip 20. Save time making binding
Use pre-cut tricot bias binding to finish your edges. If you keep the two seam allowances together and bind with the bias tape the edge will look neat easily
Use a bias tape maker to make bias binding tapes. You can use a bias tape maker for this. Learn how to make double fold bias tape with the tape maker.
Elastic can be applied to dresses with an overlock stitch instead of the time consuming way of making casings.
Finally
Last but not the least, declutter your sewing stash and sewing space. This is a necessity for a free flow of ideas and creativity in your sewing room. You shouldn’t have to wade through unnecessary stuff to get to your necessary items
You should not feel compelled to let go of basic sewing principles in sewing in your hurry though. Follow the dressmaking rules for finishing your sewing to look top notch.
