Hello, Friends!
How's your week? Busy???
Mine, too...as always.
That's why I want you to hop on over to the
where I've got an article just for you!
I've put together some simple suggestions
for making the most of your creative time.
You'll find inspiration and links to some great tutorials!
To celebrate,
I'm hosting a little February giveaway,
and you're all invited to play along.
The prize:
One winner will receive 3 patterns of their choice,
One comment per person...
please leave a comment about your favorite time-saver,
whether it's from my post or not.
This giveaway has now ended.
Winner: Marie Evans - comment #28
I'll draw the name of one lucky winner, who will be notified via email.
Please make sure you provide your email in your comment,
if you are a no-reply blogger.
Good luck...I've gotta run now!
Pin It
Although there are many ways,,My favorite time saver is clothesline sewing, saves fabric and thread too!
ReplyDeleteI love that expression, "clothesline sewing"!
DeleteNot really a timesaver tip but sometimes I'll just put together a quick pouch or pincushion when overwhelmed with "what's the best project to choose?" I'm always pleased with the quick little project and will then be ready to start a bigger, long term quilt.
ReplyDeletepeks1001(at)yahoo(dot)com
When you get through with a project, go ahead and clean your sewing machine and change the needle and when you start a new project, your are ready to go! It really doesn't save time, but you do not have to dread cleaning your machine!
ReplyDeleteBefore I start a project I gather up everything I need and put it one of those big decorative boxes. Keeps everything all together and ready.
ReplyDeleteAmy, you did great with your tips and really Wow Wow Wow with your photographs!
ReplyDeleteMy least favorite timesaver is to remove the pups from my lap. Hee hee - does that count?
Loved your article and makes me feel better about spending so much time on Pinterest! The heart mug rugs are darling. jarvenpa1ne at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteMy time saver is pinning! Takes a few extra seconds at the time, but saves many minutes of picking out.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite timesaver is to cut my quilting pieces during the week while my kids are doing homework at the table. Then they are ready when I have an hour on the weekend ��
ReplyDeleteI always write down notes on things I've made, so when I make something more than once, I have notes on any mistakes I've made, or things I would do different. It's so nice to have those notes!
ReplyDeleteI would say the best time saver is gather everything you need before you start and then when you are done put everything away.
ReplyDeleteMake sure your rotary blade is new and or sharp so you don't have to go over fabric twice.
ReplyDeleteThe best timesaver tip for me is to have a pouch to go filled with something to work on in the car, at events, while waiting.
ReplyDeleteMy time saver: start with a clean sewing machine, a clean table and alle your supplies ready to go.
ReplyDeleteGreat article, I love the tip about planning ahead and having your materials cut and ready to go.
ReplyDeleteIain.ross30 at gmail dot com
My favorite time-saver has been chain piecing. I keep one finished block by my machine to refer to, and turn it with each new piece I am adding so that I don't get confused. Before you know it, you have a set of blocks ready to go!
ReplyDeleteI have a hand stitching project ready... now they are hexagons for an epp quilt... and I have a sewing machine project ready if i could sew something in the five minutes nap... fabric cut, sewing machine ready...
ReplyDeleteA clean and neat workspace with projects in their respective bins complete with all necessary supplies works best for me. It means I can sit down and begin to work on a project at any given moment.
ReplyDeleteChain piecing is a great time saver for me. My favorite part is the sewing! Cutting not so much.
ReplyDeleteDmac5958ataoldotcom
I put all fabric, thread, patterns, and anything else needed for a project, in a plastic ziplock bag. Then i can just pick it up and get started.
ReplyDeleteI love HST so your tutorial on making 8 at a time is my new favorite time saver! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy biggest time saver seems to be taking the "time" to press and starch my project fabric at the very beginning! It makes a ton of difference as the project progresses.
ReplyDeleteThe old adage, measure twice, cut once, is a time saver in the long run....plus, you don't waste fabric!
ReplyDeleteI like the tip to sew everyday even if it is for just a few minutes. It is amazing how much can get done.
ReplyDeleteramona_murrayatcomcastdotnet
change your needle and clean your machine
ReplyDeleteI think my most productive time saver is to set up the next step of my project before I leave the sewing machine. That way, when I have an extra couple of minutes, I can just sit down and sew without thinking about it. Great article!
ReplyDeleteIf I only have 10 minutes to work, I will pin my next step and then I'm ready to sew, even if it's only that one seam. Every minute helps!
ReplyDeletemtwevans@yahoo.com
One of my favorite time-saving methods is to cut out several items (the same or different) from a fabric while you have it pressed and laid out for cutting. You can make multiples of one item at the same time that way, or make several different items without changing thread and bobbin colors.
ReplyDeleteOne of my recent favorite time-savers is to cut my scraps into common shapes: 5" squares, 2.5" squares, etc., so that when I want to make a quick project, the cutting is done for me and I'm ready to go.
ReplyDeleteI use rustless pins to pin notes to myself on pieces. A stack of squares gets a label saying which row, which way to press the seams,or anything I think I might forget or get confused about. Sometimes I even pin a note about who a project is for. That way if Something Happens and I don't get back to that project as fast as I want, I won't waste time trying to figure out what I was doing.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! My tip is to leave my project out all the time - sew a seamless while I walk by on the way to the laundry, pin a seam on the way to the kitchen. Slow progress!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite time saver is to use the crockpot as often as possible, so I can have more time to sew! It's a great time-saver in the kitchen and almost always produces a great meal that can be scooped into bowls or plates whenever I want to take a break from my sewing machine. Then, pay the kids to do the dishes so you can get right back to sewing!
ReplyDeleteChain piecing comes to mind! Thank you.
ReplyDeletekcummings71@gmail.com
I love your suggestion to just DO it! I had a bag I wanted to make, but was a bit overwhelmed by the thought of it. When I finally forced myself to just sit down and DO it, it only took a single afternoon. Thanks for your suggestions!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite time saver was to have a little kit ready to go with you. I'm putting one together as soon as I finish this comment!
ReplyDeleteI have a procrastination page that i put in with every project that tells me where in the pattern I left off, what thread colours I was using, what problems I was having, where I bought the fabric and a few spots for motivation (who was this quilt intended for)...then when I go back I know exactly where I am. Some of my UFOs have lots of writing..... L)
ReplyDeleteCutting and sewing multiples of small projects is my favorite way to save time!
ReplyDeleteIt might be a simple time saver, but it's helped me numerous times. I make sure have multiple bobbins of basic thread colors ready to go. This way when I'm in the middle of a project I can do an easy swap out and keep going. Maybe a frustration saver is a better description. Love all the ideas listed and I just discovered your blog after seeing you introduced on Sew Mama Sew.
ReplyDeleteChain-piecing and post-it notes. The post-it notes are great for marking where I am in the process and on the machine to note my stitch length, etc.
ReplyDeleteakronne17@gmail.com
One of my favorite tips is to "kit" my projects - I gather pattern, fabrics, and threads and place into a big zip bag. By doing this I save lots of time hunting for these items in my sewing room, and I don't accidently use the fabric for something else (which I have done way too many times)! Marykas@windstream.net
ReplyDeleteWhen I want to make a project, either quilting or crochet, I make sure I have everything necessary for the project before I start, then keep it all together in a box or bag so that I am not constantly searching for bits and pieces.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tip follows pretty close to your "When you can't sew, plan". The last 2 years have been a time of upheaval for me as well as spending a lot of time on the road babysitting my grandchildren. My time for actual sewing, when I'm not dog-tired, has been drastically cut so I put together quilt kits for myself...alot of them entailing handwork that I can find a few minutes to work on with the toddlers.
ReplyDeleteOne of my time saver sewing tips is when I plan to make a quilt and the fabric has been purchased, I make sure to put the pattern WITH the batch of fabrics so I don't spend all my precious sewing time looking in my magazines to find which pattern I was going to make!
ReplyDeleteYou are speaking to me with #1--Just do it! Sometimes I want to get the Perfect fabric. Really though, I save a ton of time if I use my stash fabrics. Using design boards to organize my pieces ready for chain piecing has helped to ( Lori Holts tutorial for design boards.)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite time saver is a go project bag that I take every where I go. I take a few minutes and put things in it that I can hand sew while waiting for appointments or being in meetings.
ReplyDelete