10 Time-Saving Tips to Get More Sewing Time!

1. Book your sewing time as a personal appointment in your calendar. Let your family know that you are unavailable during that window of time.  Still find it difficult to carve out time? Sign up for a class.

2. Prep for your project in stages: if you only have 2 hours on Sunday, set up your sewing machine ironing board and fabric before you go to bed on Saturday night.

3. Set your alarm clock one hour earlier (if you are a morning person). If you are not a morning sewer, plan a slow-cooker meal (or maybe order pizza) to gain some time in the evening.

4. Spin several bobbins of black, white, medium gray and off-white. Or buy pre-wound bobbins, like Fil-Tec, which come in a variety of colours in both polyester and cotton. Great for quilters! 

5. Use a rotary cutter, ruler and mat for more accurate cutting.

6. Read pattern instructions while you are waiting at the doctor’s office, getting your car tuned up, etc.  They never have sewing magazines in the waiting area anyway!

7. Cut pattern pieces in front of the TV.

8. Embroidery Machine Owners: pre-cut your stabilizer. Use this handy chart.

9. Get a high quality iron that generates enough heat (450° F) and steam to release wrinkles so that you will less time ironing. Rowenta and Oliso are two top performing brands.

10. If you have a willing servant loving family member who is willing (and capable!) to assist with simple pinning, cutting or clipping of threads, enlist their help.  (This will work one of two ways: their help will speed your project up or they will avoid your workspace—giving you fewer interruptions while you sew!)