1. PINS -Finding and picking up pins after you have sewn can be an unpleasant chore. Al you have to do is buy an extendable magnet and sweep the area on the floor where you have sewn. You will pick up all the stray pins and you do not even have to bend down. These magnets can be purchased at any sewing shop or Home depot.

2. BACK TRACKING - No matter  how hard you try, clipped ends of threads will always be showing, so instead of sewing to the end of the fabric and cutting the thread, back track for about  an inch and then cut the thread after you have pulled both threads to the back of the fabric.

3. BEFORE CUTTING A PATTERN - PRESS pattern pieces with a warm dry iron. PRE-SHRINK fabric by pre-washing washables or steam-pressing non-washables.

4.ELASTIC- To secure elastic so it will not twist in wearing, stitch through all thicknesses in middle of waist band stetching as you go along so the gatherings will be equal.

5.NECKLINE - Always Stay-stitch(-----) front and back neck edges 1,3cm from cutting line(from the outside to the middle of neckline). This stitching stays in permanently and helps prevent stretching on curved edges.

Joyce Sack- Miami - USA

 6. SEWING DENIM - When working with very thick fabric or hard fabric such as denim, leather or thick blanket fleece:

    1. Use a needle especially made for Leather (buy it in any store that sells fabric), it sews through any hard fabric like butter, after you have done Step no 2.

     2. IF you need to do a top stitch, on the above mentioned hard fabrics, after sewing your seam, turn the fabric, the way you normally do, pin it, then with a rubber mallet or, if using a steel hammer,(remember to protect fabric with an off cut piece of fabric big enough to protect top and bottom when hammering, try and do it on a concrete floor) gently hammer the edge, which will become flat and much easier to sew a top stitch or pattern on the edge. 
 

Gail Janse Van Rensburg - Cape Town - South Africa

 

7. SQUARE CORNERS - When making a square cushion, and you want to get your corners out nice and square, thread a needle with four threads, so the thread is strong, about 10cm long and make a big knot at the end.

When you have turned the item back the right side facing out, push needle with thread into the corner from the inside to outside and pull tight working out the corner slowly but surely and you will have a neat corner, cut off thread and re-knot. Follow this procedure for all four the corners.

Gail Janse Van Rensburg - Cape Town - South Africa

8. TIPS FOR BEGINNERS - Start with smooth fabrics, like cotton prints, flannel, broadcloth or poplin. They're easy to sew, providing new sewers with greater success that will encourage them to keep on sewing.

9.ECONOMIZE -If you're looking to economize, try recycling old clothing for the fabric.

10. PREP PROPERLY- Take the time to prep properly. Pre-treat fabrics and assemble all your supplies, threads and trims ahead of time. Early prep allows you to dive right into the project.

• Keep projects simple enough to make in a day. If the project takes too long or requires too many steps, young sewers may get discouraged or bored before they finish it.
• For teaching projects, use up leftover fabrics from your stash or take advantage of  markdowned fabrics.