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I have a Singer heavy duty and I will sing its praise forever, it's a total beast. I am lowkey obsessed with it! Love the tips! I have electric scissors, but find it difficult to use on fabric flat on a table, so might save up for the electric rotary cutter, that seems a lot nicer. My little tip, is I have a ironing mat its not that big, but can be folded to fit any available work space, which works well for me because my desk is always messy so having the flexibility of ironing basically anywhere (even the floor if needed) is really helpful!

So you can cut on the gridded ironing cover without damaging its surface?

With all due respect, I take issue with your method. It has total disregard for the human form. We are all shorter and longer in different areas and proper fitting takes this into consideration. For example: shortening a bodice for a shorter woman, petite if you will, at the waistline, will merely bring the horizontal line of the waist higher visually. It will not raise the armscye, or shorten the area between the apex and shoulder seam or the apex and waistline, both VERY common lengthadjustments for petites, which I have fitted for decades. As for pant legs and skirts, shortening at the hem merely shortens the pants. It does not take into consideration the cut of the pant leg, very important today with various shapes of pant legs out in the market place. The knee point needs to be established first on any pant leg before shortening it. I assume you know the technique. And don't even get me going on high , full buttocks that need more length in the upper area of pants, when the hem length can be perfect. The sad reality is that less experienced sewists do not know these things and seek the internet for help. Your advice totally ignores their individuality of body shape and the unique fitting adjustments it needs. Its not all about length.

HANDHELD (cordless) VACUUM YALL 👏💪 no dust everything under control 😤

could you do a review of the chi iron?

Soy principiante. Tus consejos son valiosos💜 . Gracias💜

You’re machines are less expensive. I have the same ones. Wondering if you’ve bought these for the same reason I did-because you can replace it for about the same cost as having it repaired.

I enjoyed your sewing story. I put it on in my sewing room and it was like visiting with a friend. I checked out your website and love it! Congratulations on finding your way to make your living in a way perfectly suited to your personality and skills.

great tips! I'm also a big fan of snips next to the sewing machine, snipping off the threads is so much more efficient than using scissors I found ^^ For the thread not getting pulled up by the machine, I got used to putting the needle in via hand wheel, might not be the most efficient though... I would like to add sewing clips to the list, I think they can be more efficient than pins, and less poky haha. Also, something I thought about ordering soon, is a better universal presser foot than the one my singer heavy duty came with, one where I can see multiple different lines of SA from both sides, so I don't have to switch my feet, for example for close edge stitching, and with that black button that's supposed to level the foot for getting over a bump of layers. Ps. I thought it's funny that you kinda look like a surgeon in your thumbnail, with that electric cutter and your blue top xD

What a delightful journey of sewing!!! I started sewing in junior high school. I was trying to make a pair of shorts but my mother wouldn't show me how to put on the zipper (ZIPPER?) foot so I could finish them . Frustrated, I just put it in anyway and my mother screamed. But when she looked at it, she was just a little bit proud. I think that was the last time I asked for help sewing. (Fun fact, this was so long ago that if you were a girl, you couldn't wear pants to school.) I'm am so excited to have found you...and your marvelous website.

--Stray and uncut threads make me crazy, so I keep scissors and a lint roller on my ironing board to help keep them at bay. --I use muslin to make pressing cloths--bought on sale, then washed and pinked into whatever size I want. They are easy to wash and reuse. --I use Crest Cavity Protection toothpaste to clean my iron--it’s their basic and least expensive toothpaste and I get it at Dollar Tree. Just put some on a damp wash rag then rub on a warm iron and the glue from interfacing, etc. is wiped away and your iron smells minty fresh!!!😂***Be careful to MAKE SURE you fold the wash rag THICK enough so you don’t burn yourself on the hot iron that you’re cleaning. DO NOT ask me HOW I know this!!!😂🤦‍♀️😂🤦‍♀️😂

Very very helpful tips. Thank you for taking the time to help others have a better sewing experience.

I have the EZ cutter electric scissors. Love them! I can cut out a pattern so much quicker!

Love, love, love tip #1, it's gold! As for me, at nearly 70 years of age, a tip from which i [personally] would probably benefit the most (and which is not on your list of course) is: TAKE A SEWING CLASS and actually learn to sew!! I say this facetiously, but i'm serious. I'm so tired of my free hand projects and occasionally having things serendipitously turn out well or sort of, well. Then i could make use of some of the nifty tools you feature here. Btw, my latest nail biter, $70 worth of gorgeous linen (i bought 2 years ago) from which i hope to make a maxi dress. Thanks ever so much for your delightful video!

Oohhhh...dated notes...that is so brilliant. I cannot even count how many times I've altered a pattern and then 6 months later gone to make it again and can't remember if I'm supposed to cut one line or the other...

Thank you!

Great video. Your sound was too low.

Omg I checked out your websit and those are the most boring outfits and style i have ever seen. Lol. And those prices!

For gathering. Pull out a bunch of the top thread, at least 2x's the length of the fabric you want to gather. Set the stitch to a medium to large zigzag and stitch a couple of stitches then bring the top thread under the presser foot and zig zag over the thread. (You can pull on the thread a little bit if you need to as you go). This will gather your fabric and you can still adjust the gathers as you need. Am I clear as mud? lol I hope I'm not to confusing.

Bias tape makers are some of the unsung heroes of my sewing (not that there are any heroes, but you know what I mean). I was surprised at how efficient they are.

It is adorable that you kept your first makes.

All great tips! Especially winding a few bobbins before beginning a project; it’s a great tip for quilting as well. I never realized that an electric rotary cutter even existed until I started watching your videos. 😂

That electric shear looks so fun! I don’t sew that much but I still want it jajaja

I stick those stick on hooks on my sewing machines (I have 12) and hang scissors on there so they’re handy and I can see where they are. Also you can use this method for hanging a pin cushion on the sewing machine. Voilà!

Hi Leah! The link you provided for the electric rotary cutter isn't working. Is the Hercules AS100-K Electric Rotary Fabric Mini Cutter what you like & use? Thank you for these terrific tips! I am looking forward to trying your taping on of buttons! Besides keeping my space clean as an enticement to sew, which I only periodically remember to do, I can highly highly recommend the vintage Bernina 820 sewing machine. It was a game-changer for me. I love it so! Thank you for your terrific and informative videos!

I’ve been sewing clothes for 65 years now. Last year I bought a $45 pair (using an Amazon gift card) of rechargeable scissors and they are amazing. I have arthritis in my hands and wrists but I can now cut out multiple patterns pieces accurately and pain free. I realize now how often in the past I had retreated from sewing due to pain, but now I am recharged!

Needle coming unthreaded is my number one problem, because the thread thing that goes up and down inevitably is always at the bottom when I stop sewing. When i go to sew it goes up and comes unthreaded. When I remember, I raise that to the top and it’s a non issue, do I remember?? Occasionally!

I don't see the point of filling up bobbins before you need them. Why such a big deal to fill one when the other is empty? At the end of the project, you have to transfer the bobbin thread back onto the spool, but now the thread in the spool is not continuous.

I’m so glad I came across your video… I love love your patterns!

1) Washable glue stick for quick basting seams before stitching, 2) washable crayola markers instead of fancy fabric marking pens that always run dry, and 3) setting up my sewing machine at a standing height. Your tips are amazing! I am totally drooling over that cutting and pressing table that folds down. Game changer!

Great video! If your machine has a knee lift, that's a game changer.

6:00ish, you know what’s funny about that is Abercrombie and Aeropostale were selling stuff not unlike this at the time, I mean sure it was less extreme but I would even argue that what you were doing was the couture version of the more subdued patchy/appliqué stuff they were selling at that time. But my younger sister who I’d guess is about your age had a bunch of clothes from those stores where the logos and numbers and whatnot were appliqués with high-contrast stitching and frayed edges

The best tip that my mother gave me is this one : instead of measuring a seam for the hem of a dress for example, I sew a line with the longest length possible on my machine according to the instructions on the pattern. For example, when the hem has to be folded at 1 inch, I sew a line with my machine at 1 inch. I fold and iron the fabric after and I topstitch the hem. This is fast and I am sure that the length of the hem is always exact and perfect. Love this very interesting podcast. Have a good day. Elise

I put my inexpensive adjustable height ironing board to my right side at 90 degrees. Handy worksurface, ironing surface while at the sewing machine. I set its height the same as my sewing table. It's so lightweight. Also since I no longer have kids underfoot, I use an ironing with long cord. I also use a powerstrip for the iron, and a task light. When done sewing, I turn off strip. If I see the task light on, I know my iron is still on. So good reminder for this older brain. I noticed all your dyed linen is sold out, will you be making more soon? Thanks!

Wool pressing mat to press on my sewing table without having to get out ironing board. Mini iron for pressing seams without a heavy big iron

Fantastic video. Not just inspirational for the new sewing, but for any new endeavor.

Excellent tips Léah! 👍 Thank you so much for sharing your video 🙏 Am going to have a look at the table as I currently use the end of the table where my serger sits or my ironing board and kind of shuffle the fabric around... not ideal! I do use some of the tips you have mentioned already, but would never have thought of taping buttons, how smart! I have your wide leg pants pattern, can't wait to get started on it! 💖☺️

Somehow, I did not actually know the "why" of cotton thread caused that texture and poly not. Even for all the debates about it in quilting magazines, I hadn't come across it. Wow. I have my thread carefully separated, after burn testing any missing their labels - because I was making microwavable beanbags, and bowl cozies... And also have noted that using cotton thread - which will take dye, is a terrible idea when sewing synthetics which will be dyed after, using dyes for synthetic. Those dyes eat the cotton threads just enough to cause problems. But not all synthetic thread takes dye, so if you're doing top stitching... plan carefully, test, and decide if you're ok with making it a design choice.

What thread do you use ?

Please make more steam ironing videos

I went to your site to see what qualifies you as a pro before following your advice (because some is contrary to my own experience but I’m open-minded). Your “About” section appears to be completely empty.

I remember the first wrap-around skirt I made in home ec.😅😅😅😅 I was so proud of it wore it a couple of times, put it in the washer and that was the end of that. It was MADRAS do I need to say more?😅😅😅😅😅😅

This was great. I'm allergic to all manmade fabrics so I wear a lot of linen. So durable ❤❤❤

I’ve been making phone holsters for my husband. I used reclaimed leather from jackets and a leather duffel bag. I even tried to use the fabric from Duluth firehose pants.

Very much relatable, the juggling of many selves past and present. I think this becomes more interesting the older I get, as my relationship with what I do becomes less deeply attached to how I define myself. They're just skills, facets, interests.

You guys are brilliant at doing tutorials. I love seeing every step of the way, even the little steps, and up close!!

Anxious as I watch this, especially while you were talking about microplastics and pollution - and seeing what looks like a petroleum based candle burning in the background....

❤!

I just don't dry my linen! Take it out of the washing machine and iron right away. It self-steams! Try it!