Zig Zag Sewing
57 Georgetown Road
Georgetown NSW 2293
Telephone 02 4960 2426

Shop 1 4a Garnett St
East Maitland NSW 2323
Telephone 02 4933 6800
zigzagsewing@optusnet.com.au

Expert Advice - Sewing Hints and Tips

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our hints and tips - you never know who’s day you have just made a lot easier! Please keep them coming!!!

Win a $10.00 Gift Voucher

E-mail us your best sewing-related tip and you could win a $10.00 Gift Voucher to spend in our shop. Just include your name and address with your hint and you will go in the draw for the prize.
We will be adding to the hint and tip-section as well, so be sure to check in often. You never know what you will learn that could make your sewing a lot easier....!!!

Using Your Buttons

With all the rage for fabric bags and re-fashioned shopping bags, why not add 4 sturdy buttons to the bottom of the bags to keep them off the ground and keep them looking nice for a lot longer!"

Bead the back of the button

When a jacket is made to be worn open, so you will see the facing and the stitches securing the button, why not pretty up the sight by attaching a matching or contrasting bead on the back of the button-stitches. Sew your buttons in place as normal, but on the last two passes of the needle, attach a small bead over the stitches on the inside of the jacket.This is a cheap and simple way to add that ‘couture’ look to your garments."

Economizing your stabilizer

To economise on Wet N Gone, cut a sheet of Stitch N Wash [or some other less expensive stabilizer] big enough to fit whichever size hoop you plan to use. [I stitched a 'basting frame' design the size of my embroiderable area as a guide.]

Cut a 'window' in that sheet large enough for your design (or lace motif) but a little smaller than your 'basting frame' and lay a piece of Wet N Gone over the Window. Then tack this piece in place & Voila! Ready to sew, using half the quantity of Wet N Gone! The Window Frame can be re-used.

Thanks to Jennifer Sterland for this tip.

Needle Organizer

I thought you might like a tip from me for all my machine needles tidy. I have a business card folder and can separate the needles per kind per page – for example Universal 70/10 in one card slot the 80/10 in the next card position.

Then individual pages for Embroidery, Quilting, Wing Needles and Overlocker needles etc each have a separate pages. I also tend to use the bottom card holder (usually 4 to a page) for used needles. I also store used needles in old needle cases.

Thanks to Evelyn Sharples for this hint.

More to come