Sewing tips and hints abound - seeming as numerous as snowflakes falling on a wintry day and as unique too. For a few more to add, or to review once again...

When cutting buttons off a no longer usable garment to save for some future use, be sure to string the buttons together to make it easier to know exactly how many buttons you have of that particular type. It is easier than rummaging through a button jar or box to find all matching buttons.

When stitching a sleeve to the garment, consider stitching first the shoulder seams of the garment as indicated on your pattern, pressing the shoulder seems open but do not stitch the garment’s side seams. Sew the top of the sleeve cap to the flat shoulder seam area matching notches. Sew the sleeve underarm seam and the side seam in one long stitching run. Just be sure to have stitched prior a row or two of long running stitches just along and inside the sleeve cap seam allowance to be able to pull up a few of the stitches to adjust for ease between the notches to shape and fit the slightly rounded top of the sleeve as you stitch it to the shoulder area.

Give a one-quarter counter-clockwise twist to the needle and thread after every few stitches when hand stitching to keep the thread from twisting and potentially knotting and jamming as it is pulled through the fabric.

Consider using an inexpensive mesh pop up hamper to store bags of poly fiberfill and quilt battings to corral those puffy bags that take up precious sewing room space. The lightweight mesh hampers are easy to move from room to room or just move out of the way when necessary. They pop open easily, flatten when empty for space saving storage and come in a variety of bright colors.

Our grandmothers and great grandmothers may have embroidered doll faces on hankies as well as made flannel bears and sock monkeys to stuff all with a few left over fabric pieces or wool to give as toys for young children. Make a child happy with a soft toy made with a few stitches on some leftover fabric and a bit of stuffing material. Perhaps use unpaired socks that manage to have made their escape from the washer and dryer to make puppets or sock monkeys and refurbish their now solo existence!

Sew happy, sew well.

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