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Time Saving Tips
Susan Wigley, Paragon Patterns

TIP # 1: Before you layout your fabric, trim all of your seam allowances to 3/8". Trim neck seams and enclosed seams (i.e. pockets, center front plackets, facings, collars, etc.) to 1/4". This will eliminate trimming and clipping seams after your garment is sewn.

TIP # 2: Chain your seams together. For example, start at the hem and sew up to the armhole, then butt the shoulder seam up next to the armhole and continue sewing without clipping the threads. Continue sewing the shoulder seam and side seam butting the seams right next to each other. After you get to the bottom of the opposite side seam clip all of the threads at once.

TIP # 3: Set aside all of the pattern pieces that require interfacing. Then cut a piece of interfacing and a piece of fabric large enough to accommodate all of the pieces. Now fuse the interfacing to the fabric following the manufacturer instructions. Layout the pattern pieces and cut them after the interfacing is fused on. The results are great!

Tip # 4: Lay out the cut pieces in the order that they will be sewn together on a table or chair next to where you are working. Then just lift the pieces off of the stack as you are sewing. Believe it or not, this step speeds up the process quite a bit.

For more useful sewing tips like this, visit our website at www.paragonpatterns.com Or if you have questions about sewing and you need help, visit our sewing tips page and send me an e-mail. I'll do what I can to answer your questions.

Until next time, sew happy!
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