I read an article about personal finance that talked about the most important “rules” being placed on an index card. I thought that would be pretty handy to have for sewing, something that could be placed near the machine to remind me of basics that I might forget or be too lazy to do.

Well, the index card idea didn’t work, but I still was hopeful I could come up with a few rules that were important; rules we all break on occasion. There are some of which I am very guilty. I know I do this all the time — hold  pins in my mouth. I know it’s a really stupid thing to do, but I do it anyway. I’ve gotten better about some of them but some I ignore and I pay for that in the end. Grrrrr. So here it is, not in any order of  importance.

Ten of My Most Important Sewing Rules

  1. Use the right size needle and change it regularly

  2. Do not put pins in your mouth, ever; use a wrist pin cushion or a tomato-like cushion or just a collection plate

  3. Never sew over pins unless you are walking the needle using the hand-wheel

  4. Control top and bottom threads when you start your sewing – hold on to them to start to prevent your fabric from being pulled into the throat plate

  5. Always move the hand-wheel of the machine toward you

  6. Follow the directions in your manual – how to thread the machine and thread your bobbin (you may want to keep a wound bobbin or two on hand since the bobbin usually runs out of thread while you are in the middle of a difficult seam)

  7. The grainline rules

  8. When actually sewing, the needle should not be your focal point because it is always moving. Find a stable one like the edge of the foot, the lines to the right of the needle on the throat plate, or make your own with painters’ tape

  9. Never sew over an un-pressed seam

  10. Make a muslin!

Which of these are you the most guilty of committing? I am pretty good about most of them except the pins in my mouth and make a muslin. Can you think of additional general sewing rules of which we should be aware? Put them in comments or send me an email, both of which you can find on the “Contact Us” page.  I would love to share them with everyone.

Cheers,

 

 

 

 

P.S. Have a wonderful long weekend!  Perfect for sewing.