Sewing Tips

Cleaning Up Ripped Out Seams
How many times have you picked and picked at tiny pieces of thread after ripping out a seam?
After going through this several times when I was younger, I would avoid ripping out seams whenever I could, using many different methods that were never very satisfying.
A few years ago, I came across a great idea. Now, I wrap a piece of box tape around my hand with the sticky side out and press the tape along the ripped seam and it pulls all the little pieces of thread out! It's great! I would think you could use any kind or size of tape. Even one of the sticky lint rollers would probably work. I sure wish I had known this back when!
I have also used this to pick up the pieces of thread in my carpet, before I vacuum. (I miss the trash can quiet often when I am sewing and cutting off the thread ends.) Before, when I vacuumed, all the thread pieces would wrap around the roller of my vacuum, which meant I had to open it up and cut them off every so often. Now, I quickly pick them all up before I vacuum.
Wash Your Fabric
One of the most important tips I was not given when I first started sewing was to wash my fabric before starting on a project. I was always so excited to get started I would lay my new fabric out, pin the pattern on and start cutting! The problem came when I would wash my finished item. There were several times when the fabric would shrink during the washing and drying and then my beautiful project would be all out of shape!
Now, I wash my fabric as soon after I get back home as I can. I wash it before I add it to my stash, even if I don't plan to use it right away. This way, I know it has been washed, and I can start my project right away