Sewing Shortcuts to Save You Sewing Time! + Keep It Simple

Sewing tips to help organize your next sewing project, reduce frustration and save you time.

By Sarah J Doyle

For part one and part two of this series, see Choosing the Right Sewing Thread and Choosing the Right Needle

When a deadline is near, shortcuts can mean the difference between it being wise or foolish for an expert or novice to undertake a sewing project. For those home sewers who dislike detail, or those whose temperaments demand that a project must go quickly, shortcuts can mean the difference between continued interest or giving up sewing completely.

Quality must not be sacrificed, and it needn't be if the entire project is viewed with shortcuts in mind. Consider some of the following shortcut suggestions.

Rely on easy-to-sew patterns. Easy patterns have fewer pieces, fewer seams and fewer hard to follow details. 

Utilize items which are already available. A favorite chain or leather belt or scarf can eliminate the need for making a belt or collar.

If you have a more-than-one size figure, it may be easier for you to purchase separate sizes in patterns for the top and bottom of a garment, just as when buying ready to wear. Or buy patterns styled for your easiest fit that have a minimum of "fitting" requirements.

Avoid difficult fabrics - ravelly ones, or those that do not feed easily, or the one-way naps. Shun fabric designs that require careful matching such as one-way stripes, plaids or large designs.

Cut the fabric with right-sides together; the wrong side will then be exposed for quick marking.

Sew the center seams right after removing the pattern from the fabric.

When you reach the end of a seam, and before fastening off, check to see if there is another seam that can be fed into the machine; this will make fewer starts and stops, and clipping of loose threads.

When you don't have a second seam to feed into the machine, always clip the threads "as you go" to eliminate the need for finding and clipping all loose threads when finished with the project.

Substitute basting tape or basting-adhesive glue stick for basting stitches whenever practical, even for holding zippers in place. This will eliminate the need to spend time on removal of basting stitches.

 

With fusible webbing, fuse pockets in position for top-stitching; fuse hems instead of hand sewing them; fuse facings. (Of course the use of this shortcut would be determined by the type of fabric being used).

When practical, sew in sleeves before sewing the side seams and sleeve seams. If done in this manner, you can make one "side seam" stitching from the cuff to the waist or to the hem of the garment.

Keep It Simple

I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
—2 Corinthians 11:3 NKJV

God really wants our relationships and communication with Him to be simple, but the devil has twisted our thinking about prayer because he not only knows how powerful it is, he also knows how easy it should be for us.

Just ask yourself, Why would God create us for communication and fellowship with Him and then complicate it? God has not complicated anything; He has made a simple and enjoyable way for us to pray and enjoy spending time with Him. Satan wants us to believe that prayer has to take a long time and that we must follow a specific formula. He surrounds prayer with rules and regulations and steals the creativity and freedom God desires us to enjoy as we pray. He tries to keep us from having faith and to convince us that we really are not worthy enough to be talking to God anyway and that we cannot hear God's voice.

When we do pray the devil always tries to condemn us by telling us that we do not pray enough or the right way, and that our prayers do not make a difference. He also attempts to distract us when we are praying. For these reasons, people often feel that prayer is so difficult and unfruitful that they rarely do it.

In general, many people seem to be frustrated and dissatisfied with their prayer lives, but that can change. We can pray simple, heartfelt prayers in faith and be assured that God hears and answers.

God's word for you today: A "kiss" for you: Keep It Simple, Sister (or Brother)!

From the book Hearing from God Each Morning: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2010 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.