Embroidery Tip: For the best embroidery tension, use the smallest hoop that will hold the design.

Serger Tip: If a serged edge ripples rather than being straight and smooth, slightly tighten the differential feed. When the differential is tightened, feed dogs bite more fabric, eliminating bubbling or bowing. It’s especially helpful when serging around curves such as a neckline.

Notion Tip: To remove tiny burrs from your hand sewing needle, pass the needle through an emery cloth or the “strawberry” from a tomato pincushion.

Stabilizer Tip: Use cut-away stabilizer on designs that will be touching your body from the wrong side of the garment. Tear-away stabilizers tend to be scratchy.

Lining Tip: Use the old lining in a suit or coat as a pattern to replace the lining. To determine the grain line, pull a thread to create a run in the old lining piece. This will give you a guide for determining the correct grain.

Braiding Tip: To make a beautiful braid, I serge over 1/4" wide ribbon using decorative thread such as Pearl Cotton in the upper looper and fusible thread in the lower looper. To attach the braid to your project, position the braid with the fusible thread next to the fabric, cover with a press cloth, and press. Permanently stitch in place with monofilament thread on your sewing machine.

Sewing Tip: When stitching sheer fabric, hold the fabric taut as it feeds through the machine. This will prevent the seams from puckering.

Sewing Tip: Sew, press, sew, press! Pressing is just as important as sewing. Your finished project will look better if you always press each seam or construction detail before you cross it with another seam or construction detail.

Pressing Tip: Pressing can permanently set air- and water-soluble pen marks. To avoid this, completely remove marks before pressing, even if that means using water on air-soluble marks.

Quilting Tip: The most hassle free way to transfer photographs to fabric is to use 8-1/2" x 11" sheets of fabric that are designed to be used with a photocopy machine. Gently tape the photographs to a sheet of paper and place on the photocopy machine as to make a copy. Manually feed the fabric sheets into the photocopier, and press, "start!" The fabric is colorfast, washable, and ready for your quilt project.

Sewing Tip: Make a practice of changing your needle frequently to eliminate sewing problems. Changing the needle with each new sewing project, or after eight hours of use, is an inexpensive way to maintain stitch quality.

Embroidery Tip: To soften the edges of outlined embroidery designs use grey, brown or navy thread instead of black. The edges are defined but much less harsh.

Serging Tip: Removing serged stitches can be a messy procedure! Use a Sticky Fingers Mitt or a Lint Roller to remove the excess trimmed stitches.