Having your home draped with beautiful window treatments, your couch accented with chic pillows, or even your wardrobe filled with stylish clothes doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. Learning how to sew and making your own fabric masterpieces, whatever they may be, is a great way to save a lot of money on over-priced items you'd spend a fortune on in a design store. The following is a list of tips that will help whatever sewing project you're trying to tackle just a little bit easier.
Use a low-melt glue gun when working with net, tulle or sheer synthetic fabric. A hot glue gun will burn you and melt the fabric.
Avoid the frustration of threading frayed edges by folding thread in half, and pulling the smooth edge through the needle.
Keep soap slivers in the freezer to use to mark quilts. This keeps soap hard and easier to use. It also washes out right away.
Wind two or three bobbins of thread while you are making a project. You won't have to stop in the middle of a project to wind more.
Pre-wash fabric before you paint, sew or glue onto it to remove sizing. Sizing, which is found in most fabrics, will prevent craft materials from adhering to the surface properly.
Save your old check boxes, they're perfect for storing thread for cross-stitch patterns.
Store knitting needles in tubes for cross-stitch cloth.
Wear rubber fingertips while doing needlework.
Store pattern pieces in zip lock bags and label them clearly.
Make your pillow corners sharp by pushing them out with the tip of a knitting needle.
Save your cuttings of filler and batting. Cut them into smaller pieces to fill your next project.
More craft tips and projects can be found on HIA's website at
http:// www.i-craft.com
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