Sewing, particularly hand sewing is a task we have to constantly indulge in. Sometimes it may be to tack a popped button or fix that random tear you found in your favourite shirt. In our opinion, sewing is a life skill that everyone should have.
Like everything else in life, sewing is easier when you know certain hacks, tips and tricks to make a process easier, smoother or faster.
In this article, we are sharing with you some of the hacks that make the sewing job easier.
THREADING NEEDLES EASILY
If you have ever encountered the frustration of constantly battling with passing thread through a needle, You definitely need the easy solutions we have gathered for you:
– Hair products e.g., hair spray, hair wax help with stiffening. Applying any of these products to the tip of the thread you want to insert into the needle, will stiffen it, preventing the constant sway of thread when trying to insert into the needle.
– Water: Just like hair products, water also helps stiffen the thread (though not to the same texture). Wet the tip of the thread in water, this would help the thread stay straight and glide easily through the needle.
– Needle threader: A lot of people are unaware that a tool like this exists. It often comes in sewing kits, though it can be purchased separately. It can be used by passing the thread through the threader which has a way bigger hole then, passing the wire ends of the threader through the needle.
USE OF THIMBLE WHEN SEWING
Pricking of one’s finger is a common disadvantage of hand sewing. Thimbles, which are small metallic cup-shaped tools are made to protect your thumb when sewing. Thimbles are used to cover your thumb and it helps to push needles when stuck during sewing. With thimbles, you get dual important functions when hand sewing.
MAGNET FOR NEEDLES AND PINS
Need help keeping your needles and pins together? Then a magnet is your answer. While there are several other options, this is overly effective as it holds the pins and needles together with the attraction between the magnet and metallic objects. It is also effective for picking needles or pins up, just hold the magnet over the pins or needle and they get attached to the magnet.
MARKING YOUR THUMB OR THIMBLE WHEN MAKING STITCHES
When making visible hand stitches, particularly those on the front side of the cloth, a good way to ensure an even seam allowance is to make marks on your thumb or thimble. The marks should have the same distance you would like the seams to have. This way, putting the marked area over a stitch would show you the next place to stitch. This would help your hand stitches look evenly placed and neat.
USE OF FORK FOR PLEATS
Achieving similar sizes of pleats when sewing can be difficult, but with a fork, you are assured of a means of measurement. Slide the material through the last tine of the fork then fold, use this for every pleat. This way your pleats are even-sized and orderly.
NAIL POLISH FOR HOLDING THREADS
A con of hand sewing is the high possibility of the thread coming off easily. To prevent the threads from loosening especially when you tack on buttons, apply a coat or two of clear nail polish over the stitch. Clear nail polish acts as hardeners so it would help hold the thread together making it harder to come off and for your buttons, harder to pop.
Try these hacks and tell others about them.