be prepared

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My husband is the new Cubmaster, and my son will be starting scouts soon.  Which means I'd better get comfortable sewing on patches!  I came across this great tip/trick on Pinterest, and I thought I'd pass it along...  When sewing on your rank numbers, sew them together before sewing them onto the shirt.  I used a simple zig-zag stitch and a matching thread.  Do not put wrong/right sides together; lay the numbers side by side.  When it came time to sew the patches to the shirt, I found that using double sided tape worked the best to hold them in place while I sewed around the outside.  Just place a piece of tape on the wrong side of the badge before placing it on the shirt (or sash).

I have to admit, I thought throwing a few patches on would be super simple.  Let's just say that I have my work cut out for me!  I hope to get a little more comfortable with the process, because I've got years of scouting ahead of me.  I might just have my boys sew their own patches on by hand!  *B

new needles

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Did you know that you should switch out the needle on your sewing machine after eight hours of use, at most?  It's true.  And it's even better to switch it out after every major project.  A fresh needle really can make a difference...  You might notice a sense of sluggishness while sewing, like your needle is struggling to get through the fabric. Or you may be increasingly frustrated with frequent snags, uneven stitches, and/or tension problems.  A huge tell-tale sign for me is when I start hearing a tapping or popping sound while I sew (aka. a dull needle).  So don't wait until your needle breaks.  Change it frequently and you'll find yourself sewing with renewed ease!  *B

smooth hooking

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I can't remember exactly how or where I came across this tip...  But if you find your steel/aluminum crochet hooks starting to stick/squeak against your yarn, lube them up!  Squirt some unscented hand lotion into your palm, then dip and twist the tip of your hook until it's thoroughly coated.  Wipe hook clean with a paper towel.  The residue from the lotion leaves your hook smooth and makes crocheting a breeze!  *B

a pressing matter

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One of the tricks to a well-pieced quilt is to press your pieces three times: 1.) press your sewed pieces to help set the seam, 2.) press your seam to one side, then 3.) open pieces and press open seam.  Also, pressing is not the same as ironing.  Pressing means to place your hot iron on the fabric and then lift up.  Ironing involves placing your hot iron and moving it around, smoothing out the fabric as you go.  I used to always iron my pieces, which would inevitably stretch out the fabric and lead to uneven points.  Using steam just exacerbates the problem!  Even 1/8th of a difference can make a big difference...  So if your pattern involves a lot of matching up points, remember to use a dry iron (no steam) and press, don't iron.  *B