Tutorial: Easy way to store slightly used sewing machine needles

Confession time: I sew almost everything on a universal needle. And the reason is that all those needles look the same to me, so once I switch out one needle for the other, I’m left wondering where to put the old needle. It’s still good but not brand new, so I don’t want to put it back into the package it came in. Abby from Things for Boys shares her system for keeping her needles straight, including how to store her slightly used needles so she can tell them apart from the ones that are brand spankin’ new. Her method is simple enough to make me change my no-needle-changing ways!

Click below to read what she does:

How to Store Your Used Sewing Machine Needles, by Things for Boys

[photo from Things for Boys]

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I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store. So much texture! And the way the fibers catch the light! But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think. That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl. That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared. And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet.

Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects. Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter. Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long.

Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success. There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid. She describes the different types of velvet available. And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric. Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric. There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.

Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric.

And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.

[photo credit: Melly Sews]

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