Sometimes the most unlikely things in your household can become useful sewing notions. Painters tape, for example! I am constantly stealing rolls from my husband’s stash in the garage to use in my sewing room. Some of the ways I use it include:
- Marking the wrong (or right!) side of your fabric. Either way is fine, as long as you are consistent!
- Marking a stitching line on your sewing machine. This is very helpful when are you stitching a non-standard distance (like an inch or two), or you are a new sewist and need a longer line to help keep your stitching straight.
- Pattern tissue adjustments. I prefer using painters tape to Scotch tape because it is much easier to re-position. And I hardly ever get it in the correct spot the first time!
- “Grabbing” loose threads from unpicked stitches. Depending on the fabric, this doesn’t always work too well, but it is worth a try!
Any other ways that you use this handy “notion”?
Happy sewing!
Maris Olsen
Great tips, thanks for sharing!
Ahh, yes. The usefulness of hardware store items in the sewing room! I usually have a roll of painters tape nearby too. =)
I learned from a coworker that Scotch makes some low tack removable tape that’s great for patterning. He uses it until he knows a pattern is corrected, and then he uses Scotch permanent tape for the final position.
I know, right? Good call on the low-tack tape too – that is better than using painter’s tape on tissue. Big washers from teh hardware store also make good pattern weights – and WAY cheaper than the ones you buy in the fabric store. Happy sewing!!