Tuesday Tip

I'm playing along with Carmel's Tuesday Tip again this week, hoping a few more folk join in so we can get an encyclopaedia of sewing/crafting knowledge happening.

This is an oldie but a goodie - lots of you probably do it already but if you are new to sewing then add this to the final step when sewing elastic-waisted pants and shorts.

Before you sew the final seam to encase the elastic, add a small tab of ribbon to the back of the pants.

This makes it super-simple to find the back, particuarly handy when you are dressing a wriggling toddler.

I like to refer to it as 'daddy proofing' them.

I got tired of finding my girls walking around with their dacks on back to front!

If you are after some fabric to make some new pants check out this great giveaway at Fabric Shoppe.

Tuesday Tip

I thought I'd join in Carmel's Tuesday Tip because I like to see what handy tips others have up their sleeves, it's always the best way to learn something new.

Today is about sharing your favourite crafty tip.

Of course mine is sewing related and to do with my overlocker.

How do you finish off threads on the overlocker to prevent them unravelling?
At a course I went to the instructor showed us that when you look at a chain of overlocking thread after you have sewn the seam, there are two relatively straight threads through the centre of the chain. These are the needle threads.

(shown here in white)

Use tweezers or a pin to pull these threads out and the other two threads (from the upper and lower loopers) will simply untangle.

Now you can easily take two threads in each hand and knot them together a few times before cutting the thread off (or sewing them back into the seam as Kylie suggests).

Sounds a little complicated but it's really not and makes finishing so simple.

I hope my dodgy photo's help explain what am talking about.

Head on over to Carmel's blog to join in and share your wisdom.