My faves:

I learned to butt the ends of my waist band elastic together and triple zig zag together for a 'no-bump' waistband (rather than the overlap ends method)- Thank you Scarlet/Bethan!

I learned to cut and cut and cut until its gone, thereby avoiding fold random shaped pieces of fabric that are hoarded forever and forgotten about- Thank you BonaDea/Jenn and Allison/arasmama!

I learned how to hem knits with my twin needle without having to pin- just learn the feel for it and save time, wooohooo! -Thank you Allison/arasmama!

I learned what an awesome product/notion/time saver a 'turn it all' from JA's is (just used it for 20 headbands in no time flat)- thank you Meagan/pixiesmama!

Feel free to add yours :)

Sarah

When the machine starts thumping it's past time to change the needle :D Wish I'd known that years ago.

That's all I can think of today...it's snowing like crazy and the kids are all home. I could really go for a shot & a nap :joker:

Isn't it funny how you remember who told/taught you things? ;)

I remembered that Bethan told us that about butting the elastic and I still do it to this day! :thumbsup:

Sarah, from you I learned that when attaching a sleeve to a bodice you should put the sleeve side down in order to slightly gather the sleeve and make it fit well. Thank you!

Trying to think of more...

I can't remember who posted the link to the method of gathering using a zig zag stitch, but that's been a total life saver for me.

I've learned so many things from you all that I would fill up the whole thread if I listed them all ;)

I remember not too long ago arasmama telling us how she just folds the fabric over elastic and sews it in with one step without having to feed it through a casing. I've been doing it now and it is so much faster, especially on things like peasant tops.

the link to pattern review.com!

The biggies for me:

prewash ALL fabrics
keep a seam ripper nearby
there will always be cute fabric I 'have' to have :)

Pattern weights from Lowes (Thank you Jon/Scarlet's DH)

Pattern Ease.

Soil Separater as tracing cloth and stabilizer.

How to use double needles and tips on how not to break them.

Kwick Sew and Ottobre.

What to do with broken maxiloc cones.

And countless other things gleamed from the board prior to being ready to attempt clothing. Not to mention hundreds of hours on the phone and irl chatting, shareing, and brainstorming with Scarlet/Bethan. Both are priceless in terms of sewing knowledge.

Oh yeah! I use sew-on interfacing for pattern tracing. THAT is invaluable!

Mine are - gathering with lastin, the turn-it-all...I'm sure there's more I'm drawing a blank.

My favoritest tip is to always stop with the take-up lever (the thingamajig that goes up and down) in the upmost position - that way, the needle will not get unthreaded if you don't hold the threads when you start sewing. :thumbsup:

I first heard about two of my favorite sewing gadets here:

- bodkin (http://www.dritz.com/brands/showcase/details.php?ITEM_NUM=706)

- surgical seam ripper (http://www.thesewingplace.com/browseproducts/Seam-Ripper--Surgical--by-Havel.HTML)

I also learned from this forum about returning defective Maxilock cones. :D

I've learned so much, its impossible to find a favorite. Thank you to all of you :heart:

The best thing I've learned isn't a how-to, but more of a product discovery:

FOE! I'd never have come across it, and now that I have, i'm in love and I need more! :)

Oops, dupe.

Just remembered another:

Everyday me bum is thankful to Shecki's Undie sew-along. Honestly before that I had NEVER owned a pair of undies that didn't ride up!- Thank you SHecki!!!

Sarah

Everyday me bum is thankful to Shecki's Undie sew-along. Honestly before that I had NEVER owned a pair of undies that didn't ride up!- Thank you SHecki!!!



:lol:



1) I have learned that $9.99/yd might not be too much to pay for Munki fabric.

2) Ottobre!

3) Being inspired is half the battle! I love this forum :heart:


Smiles,
Christy

These aren't tricks persay, but...the things that come to mind are learning about FOE, Ottobre, good sources for cotton knits, embroidery machines and digitzing.

* Cami's sew-along for attaching a t-shirt collar so it doesn't come out all wonky was a bit of a turning point for me when working with knits. Where is she these days?

* KS patterns are worth the money

Oooooh I have another one! Before coming here altering patterns in the simplest form- like hem length, got me all nervous. Now its a wonder I follow any pattern the way it is intended; alter, create, redraft!! -Thank you all AW sewingmama posters!

Sarah

If you're getting the "bobbin orgy", it's time to clean the bobbin area. I quit sewing for years due to this problem & it's such an easy fix.

And speaking of cleaning, I now clean my machines everytime Aunt Flo comes to visit a la Suzanne......

Oh gosh - I'm such a newbie! I don't understand half the things you ladies are talking about.

What is Ottobre? FOE? lastin? turn it all?

And what DO you do with a broken MaxiLock cone?

Originally posted by OnTheBrink
Oh gosh - I'm such a newbie! I don't understand half the things you ladies are talking about.

What is Ottobre? FOE? lastin? turn it all?

And what DO you do with a broken MaxiLock cone?

Stick around Nancy.

Ottobre - magazine full of patterns. www.ottobre.de
FOE - fold over elastic
lastin - clear elastic
turn it all - gadget for turning tubes the right way.

You call maxilocks 1-800 number, get the info, send the cone in, and they send you a HUGE box of thread. It is like getting a winning lotto ticket.