How to Save Time Sewing

It is the end of May and now the busiest time of the year begins, for me anyway.  This is the time of year that requires more time in the yard and garden.   It is also the time when I preserve food and put unbaked pies in the freezer.  There are more events that most of us attend during the summer months and there are many more family activities.   I think it is harder to make time for sewing during these months.   With this in mind, I decided it would be a good time to talk about ways to save time when sewing. 

The first thing I immediately associate with saving time is an organized sewing space.   Keeping my sewing room organized is probably my biggest problem.  It is surprising just how fast that little six-inch ruler or the seam ripper I keep by my sewing machine can disappear.  I think all my sewing notions must have invisible feet because they keep running away!  It takes precious time away from my sewing when I have to stop to look for these items.  Frequently, I have to stop sewing when I am making a tee top to search for the stay-tape I use in the shoulder seams.  That search requires looking in almost every drawer in the room before I find it.  I know how to remedy that problem.  I can sort each drawer; put like items in one drawer; and place a label with a list of the contents on the outside.  That job goes on my “To Do List”.  I know if my friend, Stoney, is looking down from the other side, she is saying to herself, “That will never happen!”  Stoney was a very organized person, but unfortunately, she did not leave that trait behind for me.  Oh, well, I can at least try to make it happen.

Make sure your sewing machine is working properly before beginning a project.  The sewing machine is like any of us.  It needs to go to the doctor for a checkup occasionally.  It may need a professional cleaning, a tension check and perhaps even oil, although not all machines need oil now.  You can make the need for these checkups less frequent, if you take good care of your machine.  You can do that by keeping a cover on your machine to prevent dust from getting inside it and by cleaning your machine frequently.  Check your owner’s manual to see how to clean the bobbin area.  Keeping lint and dust out that area will keep your machine humming.  I read somewhere that a good rule is to clean the bobbin area after using three or four bobbins of thread.  I don’t really count the bobbins I use, but I do clean the bobbin area frequently.  If I am sewing flannel or some other fabric with lots of fuzz, I clean even more frequently.

Read your pattern from beginning to end before you start a project.  That, too, is easier said than done.  If you are like me, you have been sewing for a long time and don’t want to be bothered or bored with doing that.  So, at least glance through the pattern to make sure there are no surprises.  Make sure the pattern doesn’t use a technique that you are not familiar with or just don’t want to use.  You may be able to use an alternative method, but you need to know about it in order to plan for it.  So, check out the pattern before you begin. 

Gather all the supplies you need to do the project and have them easy to reach as you need them. 

Make sure your cutting area is completely cleared.  You may need the entire area to lay out the fabric and pattern.  You will waste time if you have to stop and remove items to give you more room.  I hope you understand what I am talking about.  Surely, I am not the only one who has a habit of placing items on my cutting surface that I intend to come back to later and put them in the place they belong.  Also, I often find those sewing notions with the invisible feet hiding in this area underneath something else!

I don’t know about you, but I hate cutting out interfacing!  I make it a little quicker and easier by cutting the interfacing last.  After I cut and mark all the pieces from the regular fabric, I look at the pieces that need interfacing and cut a piece of fabric large enough for all of them.   I cut a piece of interfacing slightly smaller and iron it onto the wrong side of the fabric piece.  Then I cut out each piece and it is ready to sew.  It is a lot easier to apply the interfacing first and then cut the individual piece than it is to cut a small item from the fabric; then one from the interfacing and then iron the two together.  I may waste a small amount of interfacing, but it is worth it to me.

 Use the right needle for the fabric.   For most woven fabrics, I use a size 70, 80, or 90 Schmetz needle; the heavier the fabric, the larger size the needle.  For knits, I use either a stretch needle or a microtex needle.  The only sure way to know if you have the right needle for the fabric is to try a few stitches on a scrap of your fabric.  Doing this simple step will save you time and frustration!  It is no fun to start a project and need to stop and rip out a lot of bad stitches caused by the wrong needle.  There is a lot of good information on needles on the internet.  If you search for "How to pick the correct sewing needle", an article on the Schmetz website will pop up.  It tells you everything you need to know to pick the correct needle.  

None of these time-saving tips will help you unless you actually go to your sewing space and begin to sew.  If you have trouble finding time to do that, I suggest you make a “sewing appointment” with yourself.  Choose a date and time and put it on your calendar.  Let your family know you will not be available during that specified time.   Explain to them that you need a little “me time” to get some sewing done.  They may benefit from the appointment because you might be making a project for them.  If you have small children, you may need to schedule your sewing appointment during their nap time or after they go to bed at night.  Schedule the time whenever it is best for you and your family, but do it!  That may be the only way you get to sew this summer.

I haven’t sewn much myself lately, but I did finish a bright pink tee top.  I added an embroidery design to the lower right front.  After I completed the design, I gathered all my supplies and put them in my sewing bag to take to a friend’s house to sew.  There are six of us who meet once a month to sew.  I cut a length of light weight iron-on interfacing to use in the bottom hem and the sleeve hems.  Unfortunately, I forgot to put it in the sewing bag.  It doesn’t help to have your supplies ready if you don’t have them within easy reach!  My friend was able to provide me with a roll of interfacing that was the perfect width for the hems.  I was able to complete the project after all.  A picture is shown below.

I hope you can prioritize your responsibilities and activities so you can include some time for sewing this summer!

Judy