Craftside

How a mouse pad and clear tape can be great sewing accessories from the book PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips

WOW! I've said it before and I'll say it again, "I LOVE TIPS," so the book PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips is right up my alley! Want a little taste?

#12- "I use a computer mouse pad underneath my serger. It cuts down the vibrations and noise, and it protects my table from the serger's feet marks."

by Katherin

#29- "When lofty batting gets boggled up in the toes of your presser foot, remove the presser foot. Carefully wrap a piece of transparent tape around the toe area of your presser foot, but don't cover the area where your needle goes in and out. This creates an upward curving sort of ski that will glide nicely over the batting."

by Anetjay

Want 998 more great shortcuts and tips? Grab yourself a copy of:

PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips

Top-Rated Favorites from Sewing Fans and Master Teachers

by

Deepika Prakash

This book contains the best hands-on insider sewing tips from the popular sewing website PatternReview.com, a community of more than 170,000 members. The entries are collected from the website’s enormous database of members’ shared comments and advice, rated by hits and reviews. Also included are five special how-to features by PatternReview.com's master teachers and pattern designers, who regularly conduct online chats and workshops (including Kenneth King, Susan Khalje, Sarah Veblen, Shannon Gifford, and Anna Mazur).

Deepika Prakash founded PatternReview.com in 2001. She travels extensively to meet PatternReview.com members and support small sewing businesses. She participates in sewing conferences throughout the United States and has hosted PatternReview.com workshops in New York City, Portland (Oregon), and Los Angeles and also in Germany and Australia.

 

Four pattern adjustments for a professional fit from the book Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket

These are some great tips from  Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket for altering a pattern to make fitting "seamless." Hehe don'tcha just love sewing jokes?

Click on this page from  Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket to enlarge and read about cutting extra seam allowances, adding a center back seam allowance, changing a one-piece under collar to a two-piece under collar and adding a vent to a two-piece sleeve. Like these tips and want more great techniques for sewing a jacket? Then grab a copy of:

 

Tailoring: The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket

from the

Editors of CPi

  Tailoring is the complete photo guide to sewing jackets and coats. Written by sewing professionals, this book teaches the trusted, proven methods for sewing tailored jackets with impeccable details and perfect fit. Written for the intermediate sewer who wants to move on to more challenging projects, this book ensures success with detailed, step-by-step instructions, more than 400 photos, in-depth discussions about products and how to use them. It offers guidance for every aspect of tailoring a jacket: fitting and pattern alteration, fabrics and tools, interfacings, interlinings, seams and finishes, hand stitches, collars, pressing, topstitching, shaping shoulders, setting in sleeves, sewing pockets, vents, and making perfect buttonholes.

The editors of Creative Publishing international have created dozens of best-selling titles in the fields of sewing, crafting, quilting, home repair, home improvement, home decor, and landscaping.

 

How to make serged thread chain and braid from the book Successful Serging: From Setup to Simple and Specialty Stitches

Isn't this photo from Successful Serging: From Setup to Simple and Specialty Stitches of a big pile of serged thread chain and braid pretty? Makes you want to make some yourself! Well it makes me want to go to town on the serger and try all sorts of color combos.

Click on this page from Successful Serging: From Setup to Simple and Specialty Stitches to read how to make your own serged thread chain and braid.

The other idea that's spinning around in my head is that this trim might be a fun and unique way to wrap a gift. It's never too soon to think about wrapping themes for the holidays.

More about the book:

Successful Serging: From Setup to Simple and Specialty Stitches

by

Beth Ann Baumgartel

This "at your fingertips" reference contains hundreds of techniques and tips for making the most of the serger, or overlock, machine—a versatile and speedy tool for stitching garments and home decor. 

You'll learn how the serger works, the many styles available, and the variety of functional and decorative stitches possible. There are also easy-to-find-and-follow charts—of thread choices, must-have accessories, and best stitches for a range of fabric types. This book is an easy-reference collection of basic techniques, tips, and helpful information for anyone who is learning about or already owns a serger.

Win a Singer Sewing Machine and a copy of the fabulous new book PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips

Yup! You read the title right. As the last days of National Sewing Month draw to a close we have a super fabulous giveaway: a shiny new Singer Confidence Sewing Machine and the perfect companion to making your sewing adventure a success a copy of  PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips.

 
Want to win these two great items?

Answer the following question in the comments section of this post:

Where do you turn for sewing advice and techniques (whether it's a book, blog, website, magazine, or something else)?

Leave a comment with your answer by midnight ET on Thursday October 7, 2010 and you could be the proud new owner of a Singer Confidence Sewing Machine and the book PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips.

And just because we're doing this great giveaway doesn't mean we don't have an inside peek for you.

Click on the image from PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips to enlarge and read tips 387 and 388. They are for labeling your garments; one is if the fabric requires dry cleaning and the other is a set of symbols to put on your newly-sewn duds. Like these and want more? Grab a copy of:

PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips

Top-Rated Favorites from Sewing Fans and Master Teachers

by

Deepika Prakash

This book contains the best hands-on insider sewing tips from PatternReview.com, a sewing community of more than 170,000 members. The entries are collected from the website’s enormous database of members’ shared comments and advice, rated by hits and reviews. Also included are five special how-to features by PatternReview.com's master teachers and pattern designers, who regularly conduct online chats and workshops (including Kenneth King, Susan Khalje, Sarah Veblen, Shannon Gifford, and Anna Mazur).

Deepika Prakash founded PatternReview.com in 2001. She travels extensively to meet PatternReview.com members and support small sewing businesses. She participates in sewing conferences throughout the United States and has hosted PatternReview.com workshops in New York City, Portland (Oregon), and Los Angeles and also in Germany and Australia. The author’s royalties will be donated to charity.

Iron safety and cleaning tips from the new book PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips

Whether you are a novice or have been sewing since you were little there are some fabulous tidbits of sewing knowledge in  PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips that all could use to make their sewing experience better. Here are two that I found super useful for being safe and caring for my iron:

#44 -"To remind me that the iron is on, I plugged it and a small desk lamp into a power strip and turned the light ON. Now, when I see that the light is on I know the iron is on also."

by KathySews

#29- "When I get gunk on my iron, I run the hot iron over a fabric softener sheet, and all that glue comes off."

by SueV

Want 998 more great shortcuts and tips? Grab yourself a copy of:

PatternReview.com 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips

Top-Rated Favorites from Sewing Fans and Master Teachers

by

Deepika Prakash

This book contains the best hands-on insider sewing tips from the popular sewing website PatternReview.com, a community of more than 170,000 members. The entries are collected from the website’s enormous database of members’ shared comments and advice, rated by hits and reviews. Also included are five special how-to features by PatternReview.com's master teachers and pattern designers, who regularly conduct online chats and workshops (including Kenneth King, Susan Khalje, Sarah Veblen, Shannon Gifford, and Anna Mazur).

Deepika Prakash founded PatternReview.com in 2001. She travels extensively to meet PatternReview.com members and support small sewing businesses. She participates in sewing conferences throughout the United States and has hosted PatternReview.com workshops in New York City, Portland (Oregon), and Los Angeles and also in Germany and Australia. The author’s royalties will be donated to charity.