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Stitchers' Tips

From Maureen: I collect all the little bits of thread in a box. When I have enough, I lay them all between two sheets of water-soluble stabilizer (WSS), and then free embroider over the top with variegated thread. Rinse away the WSS and it leaves a wonderful colored thread square to use on quilts, t-shirts, etc.
From Chickee: Tupperware makes a round Bagel Keeper that is ideal for a round magnetic pin cushion. The cover is attached, and even when stuffed, the pins don't fall off.
From Ronny:  I save all my thread scraps and when I have enough, I lay them out on a piece of plain material and place a piece of water-soluble stabilizer on top and sew the threads on. Then, I rinse and use for a very different material pattern.
From Ann:  To store thread I reuse the clear plastic boxes that pastry products come in. They come in different sizes that are great for the different spool sizes and they snap close so I can carry the threads.
From Nancy K.:  When making a quilt top with lots of little pieces, I find that a plastic silverware tray works great for keeping the pieces sorted and at my fingertips! I recently made a quilt for my daughter that had 34 pieces in every 10 inch block and this was a LIFE SAVER!
From Donna:  When I quilt, I usually have left over squares. I collect these for a period of time then hand them over to my granddaughters (ages 8-11) to use in their little projects. I have given each girl her own Janome Sew Mini machine and they have a real need for project ideas to do on their machines. Since I don't want them using a rotary cutter just yet, this gives them plenty of cut squares to work with. Their projects are a good use for my leftovers.
From Ronny:  My daughter was about to get rid of a tiny pair of nail scissors (the kind you cut a babies fingernails with), but I took them and they work great to clip jump stitches.
From Christine:  I sew with many different weight threads. I wanted to find a way to keep the wound bobbins together by weight so they would travel well to classes. I was at my local pharmacy and they had 7 day pill cases for free, so I brought 2 home. Since my vitamins were too large to fit into the daily slot, I just put them away. I was going to take a class and had to bring bobbins that were wound with different weight threads. I didn't want to put them in bags where the threads would get all tangled. I remembered the pill case. The bobbins fit in the daily slot perfectly, each bobbin having its own slot, no loose threads. I have since purchased a larger pill case and can fit several bobbins in a slot and mark the slot with the thread weight. Just be sure to bring a bobbin with you when purchasing the weekly pill reminder.
From Sylvia:  Sunsweet individually wrapped prunes provide the perfect container to store 5500 yd narrow spools of thread. It also can be used to sit behind the machine when embroidering because of smooth edges around the top of container. Contents can easily be seen for identifying colors. We are now eating a lot of prunes, which is a good thing!
From Marian:  I bought clear plastic table cover at Joann's and cut it in strips to wrap around my thread spools to keep the thread from unraveling. It clings to itself and works great.
From Ramona:  I cut off selvage edges in long strips (with a rotary cutter, of course), and use the strips to tie everything from tomato plants to rolled-up quilts.
From Nancy:  A hard sided eye-glass case makes a great to-go sewing kit. It will hold thread bobbins, needles, and pins in a small piece of batting/felt, a seam ripper and even small pair of scissors. Works for me!
From Angela:  On the end of my sewing machine cabinet, I have attached (with blue/white "tack") an empty small square tissue box, into which I drop all the odd ends of cut-off thread when I am sewing/embroidering. This can be emptied and re-used or thrown away with contents inside and replaced by another one.
From Lois:  When making your quilt sandwich on a baby quilt or wall hanging. I use clothespins and hang the quilt, batting, and backing by the top. I then start pinning, smoothing and straightening as I go. Sure beats crawling around on the floor!
From Nancy:  I use my husband's golf tees to keep my thread spool and matching bobbin together.
From Nancy:  I'm always looking for easy ways to carry things to sewing classes and retreats. While second hand store shopping, I ran across an older hard case suitcase and knew I had found my next great 'take along'! I cleaned up the suitcase and tucked my current projects inside and off to class I went! I LOVE IT! I have since painted quilt blocks on the outside of the suitcase for a more personal look. The second hand stores in my area are surprised that these seldom purchased items are now selling like hotcakes!
From Lorraine:  I use a drink carrier from a fast-food restaurant for organizing my spray starch, lint brush, seam guide, tailor's ham, and fusible hem tape. I keep it on the end of my ironing board. It is great!
From Patricia L.: Use your best fabrics to sew stitch outs to check designs. These can be used for so many things. They can be combined for a charity quilt or a pocket or an applique on a garment.
From Tommie: When embroidering on a purchased garment, I use butterfly hair clips to hold the excess fabric out of the way. They're plastic and don't scratch the machine, light weight so there's no drag, and depending on the size hold lots of scrunched up fabric.
From Christine: What do you do when your cutting mat is not useable for sewing? I had my husband cut it to fit under my kitchen sink. I turned it over to the back side, it is much easier to clean the mat instead of the wooden cabinet. This also keeps the inside cabinet base from becoming discolored from my cleaning products.
From Marie: Our local grocery store gave out canvas totes with bottle dividers if you bought at certain amount of bottles of wine. I use those totes to store my stabilizer rolls, can of basting spray, and adhesive sprays. They are kept neat and easily available at my finger tips.
From Daphna: We all want to see what a design will look like before we stitch it onto our final project, but don't want to waste the thread, fabric, and stabilizer. I do my "test stitch" on a piece of 16x16 cotton fabric, and turn it into a cloth napkin. Nothing goes to waste, and you end up with something fun and useful.
From Joyce: Bamboo skewers are can be used for a multitude of tasks - feeding a narrow strip of bias tape under the presser foot, fishing out that bit of thread or dust bunny from the bobbin case or anything for which you need something long, thin, pointy and flexible. I keep several on my work table and the rest of the package in the kitchen (they come in packages of 50 - very cheap).
From Patti: I use a pipe cleaner to keep my bobbin thread with the spool of thread. It also keeps the bobbin thread from unwinding. I wrap the pipe cleaner as tightly as I can a few times around the bobbin, then set it on top of the spool and continue to wind it, snuggly around the top portion of the spool. The bobbin will raise a little from the top of the spool when you let go of it. I place it on my thread rack and it works perfectly. The pipe cleaners can be used and reused many times.
From Debbie: With lots of color threads used in embroidery projects, I took a pretty jar with a wider mouth, and I place all my thread snips and longer strings inside the jar. It's beautiful and colorful as it fills with threads. I've filled one jar very full, capped it, and it now decorates my sewing room!
From Ruth C.: When making templates, I go to the dollar store and pick up the plastic cutting boards, which come two to a package and use them to make my templates. They work just as well as the more expensive materials sold in fabric stores.
From Mary: Don't throw away those used sewing machine needles (even the ones with broken tips). They work great for hanging pictures or wall hangings. They only make a small hole in the wall and are very strong, thus can be moved around as necessary. If the wall is white, white toothpaste will fill any visible hole when needle is removed. I place small plastic rings on the back of wall hangings which are then hooked over the needles.
From Patricia: Save your empty containers from Press N' Seal wrap. Remove one of the plastic roller ends from the end of the box and you can pull up the cardboard roller. Slide a roll of stabilizer onto the roll and return the plastic end. You have a place to keep a roll of stabilizer neatly together and you have a great way to cut off the pieces you need.
From Christine: Ever wonder what to do with the plastic bags from bread? I reuse my bread bags as replacement bags for my scrap bag on my sergers. If the bag is too long, I pull the excess to the top and when the bag is full, I cut the bag, throw it away, and pull the excess down from the top and put a twist tie on the bottom. I now have another bag ready to go. This a much cheaper than buying replacement bag and they fit great.
From Jackie: I purchased metal, rubber coated, dish racks about 16 inches long at the dollar store. With pliers, I squeezed the tips together. This gives me 18 spool holders for my projects. I paid 50 cents and they don't take up too much room.
From Pattie: I like to use slivers of bar soap for marking the center of my designs or for any of my sewing projects. A little steam and it's gone! No worry about blue marks that keep coming back.
From Patricia: The plastic sheets that children use to store baseball cards are wonderful to store needles. The little pockets clearly show the needle pack and can be put in a folder or hung on your peg board as I do.
From Gerry: I store my new needles in plastic pill bottles. I label them according to size and they're easy to find when I need a certain needle.
From Ruth C.: For those problem fabrics that don't allow your straight pins to glide in, I keep a small bar of soap (the type we all take home from our stay in a hotel), and keep it in a dish next to my sewing area. When I have trouble with pins sticking, I stick them into the soap and presto! They glide into the fabric like a hot knife in butter.
From Diane H.: For practice fabric, I buy sheets at the Salvation Army as low as 75 cents. If there are a few stains I just work around them. Now I have a lot to practice with.
From Nancy K.: I have finally found the perfect way to store my quilting safety pins, long pins, safety pins, glass head pins, directional pins, etc. The Dollar Tree sells an item called "body butter" in a 7.6 oz flat round container. Once emptied and cleaned out, this 2 inch tall, 4 3/4 inch diameter clear jar makes the perfect storage place for all my different types of pins. I use them for all sorts of things - buttons, snaps, hook & eye sets, and best of all they are 'green' and 'free' - the best type of storage container.
From Sandra: I have found that clear plastic coin rollers (quarter size) are perfect for holding bobbins. Each one holds six and they are clear so colors are easily seen. I use an elastic band to hold them closed so it can be reopened easily.
From Marie:  I use the new clear double pack egg cartons to stage my color changes. Room enough for matching bobbins and can stage 36 color changes at a time.
From Sandra:  I bought a bunch of embroidery threads from a lady that used to have a quilting store at a very reasonable price, but I couldn't afford to buy thread nets, too. So I made my own from empty garlic bags that I had saved because I knew I would find a use for them someday.
From Keri: At home I keep a small bowl filled with pre-wound bobbins close by in a drawer, but I was stumped about keeping them clean and accessible when I went to classes. I found the perfect solution in a mini M & M holder. They are just the right circumference and I don't worry about them getting all tangled up or lose.
Tip from Therese: If you ever find that your air erase marker tip is dry, you can remove those marks instantly with a touch of white vinegar.
Tip from Nancy K.: I get all sorts of return address labels in the mail from different organizations. I have started to use them in my sewing room. I stick one to my various sewing supplies and containers. That way, when I go to class I can quickly see which of the 10 blue magnetic pin catchers is mine! I keep a sheet in my basket so that I can easily share contact information with new friends. I also stick one to each of my pattern books -- then when I am at the store picking out fabric, it is easy to identify that I brought the pattern/book in with me.
Tip from Melissa: I have wood flooring in my sewing room, so I use an old mouse pad to keep my foot controller in place.
Tip from Charlene: A cosmetic or jewelry travel organizer (the kind that rolls up and has a loop at the top for hanging on a doorknob or hook) works great to organize extra sewing machine feet, bobbins, needles, etc. You can recycle your old ones or find very inexpensive ones at the local dollar store.
Tip from Char: The next time you are shopping at a major department store, stop at the makeup counter and ask for a few disposable mascara applicators. They work great for cleaning out lint and thread scraps from bobbin case and are reusable many times. When they get too grubby, simply toss out and ask for a new one next time you shop!
Tip from Jackie: Purchase applique embroidery to use up your scraps of material. It also saves money on using embroidery cotton.
Tip from Nancy K.: I used to always misplace my small scissors when working. But no more! I purchased a name badge holder (the type that clips to your shirt and you can pull out then it retracts into itself). I removed the plastic name badge holder and added my small scissors instead. I clip this to my shirt and now my scissors are always handy! You can get the plain jane ones at the discount store 3 for $5 or you can get some really nice fancy ones for $7 or $8 from gift shops or office supply stores.
Tip from Beth: I keep a scotch tape dispenser on my sewing table to tape the ends of my jumbo spools of thread when I'm switching them out. I find I can re-use the small bit of tape from one spool on the spool I'm unloading up to three or four times. It saves time unwrapping mesh covers or struggling with the eaten ends in the snap spools. So handy, quick, and convenient!
Tip from Angela:  I'm new to machine embroidery, so after a snafu with a t-shirt, I kept it and now use it for practice runs. I turn them this way and that way and make use of all the space.
Tip from June:  To clean up, I take a long handled narrow paint roller handle, and snap a lint roller cartridge on the end (Instead of a paint roller). Now all I have to do is roll it around on the floor, tear off the used portion, and am ready to pick up anything! It works great - no bending over to pick threads, pins, etc. off the floor!
Tip from Sheila:  If you've ever made a mistake with an embroidery design, or are simply tired of the design you have embroidered, I have a great tip! I discovered that a design can be put on another piece of fabric and then layered over the top of the other designs. This works great for sweatshirts or t-shirts.
Tip from Deborah:  I try to do most of my sample designs on same size blocks, with coordinating backgrounds. They make great squares for scrap quilts for quick gifts!
Tip from Kathy:  Make clean-up a breeze by keeping a scrap of leftover fleece fabric by your machine! Thread snippets cling to it, and when you finished for the day, a quick swipe over your table area and machine and all that lint and threads go into the trash in a flash!
Tip from Nelda:  When doing freestanding lace, reuse the extra water soluble stabilizer you trim off. Keep it and dissolve it in water to use for stiffening agent on other items, such as pencil toppers, candy cane holders etc.
Tip from Carol H.:  I hated feeling like I was wasting the thread cuts from my machine after a color change. So now I save some of them until I have three strands of the same color (or close to same) and thread all three into a needle. I place these needles in a pincushion and now I am ready to sew on a button or take a quick-stitch.
Tip from Christine:  I tend to save my small pieces of fabric hoping someday to use them up. I had such a large collection over the years and had not used them, but hated to just throw them away. I took a large box to the local elementary school and donated it to the Art teacher. She was thrilled and was able to use it with the children on several projects. I have since given another box to a preschool. My scraps of trash have turned out to be someone else's treasure. The nicest thing was that my niece made a project at school and realized the fabric she picked was from an outfit I had made her. With the schools cutting their budgets for supplies, these are welcomed donations.
Tip from Julya:  As a newcomer to machine embroidery, I purchased a set of flour-sack towels for practice. I can observe colors, spacing, etc. I use these to cover my machine so they're always handy for a new design or looking at an older one. My grandson also likes to practice which makes it fun for me, too! When the towel is full, I will add straps and have an apron full of memories!
Tip from Christine:  I do not throw away my scrap pieces of stabilizer from embroidery projects. I mark gallon zipper top bags with the type of stabilizer it contains (tear away, cut away, etc.) I use these piece when I make button holes to add support to the stitches, fix tears or holes in garments when mending, and support shoulder seams when sewing with knit fabrics. I am still experimenting other uses as I write this.
Tip from Joan:  I use the tall CD containers that CD's come in to keep my large spools of embroidery thread clean and out of the way of my feet. My husband put a hole in the center of the cover to pull the thread through which keeps it close to the machine as I usually have the container sitting on the floor. The spool doesn't fall over and I don't get all tangled up in the thread. I find all kind of ways to recycle and this is one of them.
Tip from Kathy G.:  Take your leftover cutaway stabilizer and donate the pieces to daycares or schools. The children can use them in their art projects, decorations, or even make bookmarks!
Tip from Christine:  It is always difficult to throw things away that still may have a useful purpose. When my rotary cutter blades do not cut my fabric as clean as I like, I save them in a candy tin and mark 'used blades' on the tin. I then use them for cutting wrapping paper during the holidays. I have a clean edge and it makes wrapping gifts go quicker. I also use my old cutting mats for this purpose, too.
Tip from Dru: When bed pillows need to go, I take all the stuffing out, put it in a cloth mesh bag, wash and dry. Now I have stuffing for my projects and a new pillow.
Tip from Elaine: I like to re-use the clear, zippered bags that bed sheet sets and blankets often come in to store my embroidery supplies and projects. They are clear bags, so it's easy to see what you have. Plus, it keeps everything dust free, and they hold up really well!
Tip from Carol: When I need to print a paper dieline for a template, I use outdated maps. I can cut the size I need when 8x11 paper isn't quite large enough. It fits more securely in my hoop.
Tip from Joanie: I use clear, plastic, square tubs that you can buy spinach in at the grocery store to hold my threads. I use one for pinks, reds, and oranges and another for blues, greens, etc. They stack beautifully, and you can easily see the thread colors through the clear sides.
Tip from June: I use an empty and well washed out roll-on deodorant bottle for erasing the marks from water-soluble markers. Use something thin and pointed to pop the circular top off, and then fill with water, put the top back on, and you're in business. It works great.
Tip from Leslie: When removing the plate to clean your machine, it is sometimes difficult to get a screwdriver under the machine. I use a small coin, like a nickel or dime, to loosen the screws.
Tip from Christine:  When you purchase clothing, shoes, and handbags, there are usually small packs of silica placed inside the item. I collect these packs and keep them in a zip tight bag. I use these packs where I store my water soluble stabilizer (in zip tight bags). It keeps out the humidity and leaves my stabilizer in its original condition. I also use these packs when I am storing fabric in plastic bins. (Reminder: Keep these packs out of the reach of young children)
Tip from Janet:  For test sew-outs, make each test using a 6x6 inch square, then work the squares into a quilt for hospital patients - female, male, or children's. Most hospitals will welcome such donations. Our sewing group has made hundreds over the last few years.
Tip from Kris:  I usually do a test sew-out when embroidering for a gift (baby blanket, apron, etc.). Instead of keeping the design which I will probably never use again, I cut out around the design with pinking shears, spray the back of the embroidery with permanent spray adhesive, and put it on an inexpensive plain gift bag. It adds a little personal touch to the gift bag!
Tip from LuAnn:  I use my camera film containers with the snap on lid to dispose of used or broken needles or bent straight pins.
Tip from Laurie: I use an egg carton to line up my threads for embroidering. I number the spaces and have everything neatly organized.
Tip from Charlene:  If you have several "test designs" you dont know what to do with, then make pillows. Sew design blocks together for desired size or convert a sample into a full-sized pillow by sewing coordinating borders around all 4 edges to equal the size of your pillow form. You can also make the pillow reversible by using designs on each side. A quick and easy way to use those "tests" and a great addition to sofa, chair, or bed.
Tip from Doreen:  Because I'm a design junkie, I recycle some stabilizers so nothing goes to waste. When using either tear-away or cutaway stabilizer, I save the leftover larger pieces after a design is finished. I overlap each piece about 1/4" and sew them together with a long wide zigzag stitch. When the sewn together piece is large enough to fit your hoop, you can re-use it and save money for more designs!
Tip from Christine:  I always sew out a sample when I do an embroidery design I have not used before. I use 100% cotton fabric and cut the squares big enough for my largest hoop. When I'm done with the embroidery, I make a colored copy of the design, scan the sample sew out, and put both away with any notes or adjustments that may need to be made in the future when using this design. When I need a quick gift, I go to my samples and use them for quilts, wall hangings, or appliques. This has cut down on many hours of embroidering gifts.
Tip from Ruth C:  Whenever I sew a project there always seems to be scraps of material left over and I hate to throw them out. The in-the-hoop projects are just right for using up these scraps. You need small amounts of fabric and a selection of textures and colors, so these leftover scraps are a great source. I just completed tissue holders from left over denim and they turned out GREAT!
From Angela:  I'm new to machine embroidery. After a snafu with both a t-shirt and a shirt, I kept them and now I use them for practice runs. I turn them this way and that way and make use of all the space.
Tip from Sheila:  As a new embroiderer I hated throwing away all those partially used needles. I also have an alterations business, so I save these 'used' needles to mend jeans. They work fine for a few patches, and then I throw them away.
Tip from Mary Lou:  I save the clear plastic from Christmas Card boxes, slipper boxes, and salon gift certificates and recycle them for making templates. The plastic is stiff enough to make them work, and no extra money is spent.
From Diane: Instead of buying magnets for the back of fridge magnet projects, I save the advertising magnets that come on the cover of my phone book. They're easy to cut (not with your good scissors!) and hot glue to the back of my magnets!
Tip from Marlene:  STOP!  Don't toss those "Try outs". Your time and money is involved. Instead, if you like the results, just cut them out with a 1/2 inch margin, then zig zag around the edge to attach them to something else. Perhaps a stretchy sweater or back pack - just don't waste them.
Tip from Shirley:  Keep all your rinse-away and solvy scraps and dissolve them in warm water to make an excellent starch. Soak your chosen fabric (thoroughly wet), and then dry and use. I starch chiffon this way, and then use woven rinse-away in my hoop. I embroider the design and rinse it out. Works great on any lightweight woven fabric. You will get used to how much rinse-away to dissolve by experimenting.
Tip from Martha:  Instead of throwing away thread when changing colors, I just hang the thread over an artificial flower arrangement sitting on my sewing cabinet. Then, when I need that little length of thread for small jobs like sewing on a button, there are many colors available to match the project. And, it is neat.
Tip from Cynthia:  If your working with slippery fabric, place a piece of non-slip kitchen matting below the fabric. It will keep you fabric right where you want it.
Tip from Sandra:  Save the pull-off plastic plug protectors when you buy a new appliance. Use them on your embroidery machine plug when going to sewing classes. This will protect your precious machine from scratches, as the prongs on the plugs are quite sharp.
Tip from Melana: I don't like "wasting" thread, and we all know we should cut it at the spool and pull it through the needle when changing colors. Those clips of thread are the perfect size for mending. I keep an old paper towel roll covered with sticky stabilizer on a wire coat hanger close at hand, and then stick those thread tails to it when I change thread! If I ever need just a short piece of thread, it's right there!
Tip from PJ: To test new designs, sew on items ready to be discarded such as faded clothing, worn towels, sweaters, etc. Then, wear them with pride or cut up for embroidered quilt squares. It's a win-win.
Tip from Kathy: I save all my thread and yarn scraps by placing them in a decorative container. When I have a nice amount I mix them with any saved dryer lint and place in an old onion mesh bag and hang outside. The birds love them for building nest! (Make sure that pieces are cut inch or smaller so that they dont cause harm to the birds.)

Tip from Patricia L.: When you need to mark a piece of fabric, use a small sliver of soap to do it. Be sure that the soap does not contain lotion or perfume. The marks are easily removed when you are finished sewing.

Tip from Christine W.: I always keep some tin foil near my embroidery machine. When the scissors start to get blunt, just cut the foil a few times with them and they get a nice sharp edge on them once again. Try it, it really works.

Tip from Carol B.: My 6 year old granddaughter is getting a sewing machine for her birthday. I am giving her a bunch of my old (but still good) needles and cardstock paper with lines drawn on them. This way she can learn to sew without thread, just learning to push the foot throttle and keep the line straight.
Tip from Connie G.: I bought the rubberized shelf liner from the 99 cent store keep hoop still when hooping. I have also used old mouse pads.
Tip from Patricia L.: Use clear plastic counter top mats for making templates. You can find them at the dollar stores and they are a good thickness for templates.
Tip from Marlene R.: I don't throw away my snipped off pieces of embroidery thread. I collect them in a tin and plan to eventually use them by placing them on top of Solvy and then on a piece of fabric, already cut into a pattern piece, then stitching over them in a random pattern to make a colorful and interesting piece to make up a vest or blouse.
Tip from Brenda D.:  When you print a template for a design, use a yellow highlighter to mark your center axis on the template. This makes it much easier to find the center after the design is no longer on your computer screen and also helps in design placement in the hoop.
Tip from Sue F.:  Attach a self-stick cup holder on the side of your machine to hold your little scissors or thread snippers. This keeps them handy all the time.
Tip from Patricia L:  If you put your embroidery hoop on a square of rubber shelf material when you are trying to hoop your fabric, it will stop the hoop from slipping around.
Tip from Debbie G.:  I use a canvas garden tool bag in my sewing room - the type that has all the pockets. I use this for all my tools, scissors, etc., that way I have everything right at my side when I need it.
Tip from Yvonne R.:  When making the dieline for the candy cane holders [or any applique or in-the-hoop design], I stitch is on freezer paper. Then, I iron it on the felt, making it easier to cut out. Also, I mirror image the dieline, cutting it out on the same time using the freezer paper ironed on the felt.
Tip from Nancy M.:  Use the mini "scrunchy" pony tail holders to tame the dangling threads from mini-king spools. About the size of a nickel when not stretched, they do the job. Packs off 100 at a dollar store will cost you less than $2.
Tip from Lynne W.: Need a golf towel? Buy a regular hand towel and fold into thirds. Set a large grommet, add a shower curtain ring clip and viola! You can customize your towel in any color (not just standard white) to coordinate with your favorite golfer. Hand towels are less expensive, too. 
Tip from Karen B.: I give the cardboard that comes with store-bought quilt binding to my two young daughters. They love creating pictures or houses with them. I then put them into a folder to keep as a memory.
Tip from Faye: After sewing out an embroidery design I use a pair of tweezers to hold the "tails" of the jump stitches tight so I can get a cut close to the fabric.
Tip from Nancy J.: When doing sewing or embroidery, I change needles often. What to do with the discarded ones? I put them in an old salt shaker I have in my sewing cabinet drawer, and then when I need a picture hung, I use the old needles leaving a small hole in my plaster.
Tip from Sherry F.: The easiest way to find the center point of your fabric for your design is to fold the material in half and iron it to create a well-defined crease. You can iron a crease horizontally and vertically. When your are finished embroidering, just iron the creases out.
Tip from Karen S.: Use your ironing board to support the weight of heavy, large projects, as you sew. Place it to the left of your sewing machine and set the extra fabric on it. This keeps the fabric off the floor and gives you a place to rest your elbow. I sewed a 24-yard canvas canopy this way.
Tip from Ava: I find that a pair of old pantyhose works very well to keep embroidery thread on the spool for storage.
   

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