Sewing Tips

🔥 Ironing vs. Pressing — Know the Difference

Ironing is moving the iron back and forth over fabric to remove wrinkles. Great for prepping fabric before you cut. Pressing is lifting the iron up and down over your project as you sew — it sets your stitches, opens seams, and shapes your work without distorting the fabric grain.

Ms. Bobbi's rule: press every seam before you sew another one across it. Professional-looking results come from this single habit more than almost anything else.

📐 Seams and Seam Allowances Explained

A seam is the line of stitching that joins two pieces of fabric. The seam allowance is the extra fabric between that stitch line and the cut edge — the buffer zone that gives your seam strength.

Seam allowances range from ¼" to 1" depending on your project. Always check your pattern before cutting — they are not universal. Finishing your seams keeps raw edges from fraying and gives your project a polished look. Ms. Bobbi covers seam finishing methods in detail on Bobbi's Blog.

Cut Slowly, Sew Confidently

Most sewing mistakes happen at the cutting stage, not the sewing stage. Take your time cutting fabric accurately. Once it is cut wrong, it cannot be uncut. Once you sit at the machine, sew with intention and move at a steady pace.

Backstitch at the Start and End

Always backstitch two or three stitches at the beginning and end of every seam to lock your stitches. Skipping this is the single most common reason seams come apart. It takes two seconds and it matters every time.

Read the Whole Pattern First

Before you cut a single piece of fabric, read the entire pattern instruction sheet from start to finish. You will understand what is coming, catch any steps that need prep in advance, and avoid the frustration of realizing halfway through that you missed something.

Use the Right Needle for Your Fabric

A universal needle works for most woven fabrics, but stretch fabrics need a ballpoint or stretch needle, and denim needs a heavy-duty needle. Using the wrong needle causes skipped stitches, broken thread, and pulled fabric — and it looks like a machine problem when it is actually a needle problem.

Change Your Needle More Often

A dull needle is responsible for more sewing frustration than almost anything else. Change your needle every 8–10 hours of sewing, or at the start of every new project. Needles are inexpensive. Unpicking ruined fabric is not.

🧵 Teach Your Child to Hand Sew First

Hand sewing is one of the best first skills you can give a child. It builds fine motor skills, patience, and creativity — and the supplies cost almost nothing.

What you'll need:

• Colorful felt — forgiving fabric, no fraying, no frustration
• Embroidery floss in bright colors
• Size 18 chenille needle (large eye = easy threading for little fingers)
• Craft scissors with blunt ends for safety
• A few basic stitches: running stitch and whip stitch to start

Pick these up at Michaels or Hobby Lobby for just a few dollars. Let your child choose their own thread colors — ownership of creative choices keeps kids excited to keep sewing!

Let Them Choose the Project

A child who is excited about what they are making will sit at that machine for an hour without complaint. A child who is bored by the project will lose interest in five minutes. Let them pick something they genuinely want — even if it seems ambitious. Motivation is the most important ingredient.

Praise the Effort, Not the Perfection

Seams will be wobbly. Stitches will be uneven. That is completely normal and completely fine. Children who are corrected too often will stop wanting to sew. Celebrate what they made and what they learned. Technique improves naturally with practice and encouragement.

Keep Sessions Short at First

Younger children do best with shorter, focused sessions — 45 minutes to an hour is plenty for ages 5 to 7. It is better to end while they still want more than to push past the point of frustration. Leave them wanting the next session.