Take Care of Your Sewing and Quilting Tools

There’s something about the start of a New Year to make you think ‘new sewing room, new me.’ We all start tidying and cleaning and organizing our sewing space, taking care of the fabric stash, and planning to make this year of quilting even better than the last. But do you have a plan to take care of your tools? It’s time to give your sewing tools and notions a little TLC. We’ll go through our guide to help you tidy up, repair, and clean your sewing tools and start the year off right.

Give Your Sewing Machine Some Love

Your sewing machine works hard for you, so be sure to love it back! Start by giving it a thorough cleaning. Remove the needle plate and use a small brush to get rid of any lint or dust buildup. Take the time to oil your machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions and replace your needle with a new one. If you haven’t scheduled your machine for its yearly cleaning and maintenance at Quilting Mayhem, make sure to call and get that set up.

Clean Your Iron

Your next key piece of sewing equipment is your iron. Look for any buildup on the soleplate and clean it off with a suitable cleaner. If you use steam in your iron, check the steam function and water reservoir for any clogs or residue. Don’t forget that you want to empty any remaining water after each use to prevent mineral buildup from the water.

Inspect and Sharpen Your Cutting Tools

Anything that has a sharp edge or point needs a closer look, so take out your rotary cutter, scissors, and seam rippers. Just go ahead and replace your rotary cutter blade, because it’s probably worse than you realize and dull blades can cause uneven cuts and frayed edges. The same goes for scissors—if they’re not cutting smoothly, get them professionally sharpened at Quilting Mayhem. As for signs of wear on your seam ripper, look to see if the tip is dull or damaged. If it doesn’t look perfectly pointy or your spot little nicks, it’s time to replace it. A sharp seam ripper makes removing stitches much easier and less likely to damage your fabric.

Lighting Is a Tool

While you’re taking the time to inspect your tools, stop and take a look at the lighting in your ironing and sewing area. Ensuring your sewing area is well-lit and not full of shadows will help you with everything from matching seams and selecting the perfect fabric match to reducing eye strain and keep you sewing longer!

Refresh Your Small Notions

Sort through your pins, needles, and other small notions. Bent pins? Toss them. Worn-out marking tools? Replace them. This is a fresh start, and we don’t want to waste our precious time quilting on trying to wrestle tools that don’t work for us any more. 

Congratulations on your tidy, refreshed, and ready to use sewing space and tools. Remember, your tools are an investment in your creative process, taking care of them means more time for the fun part, quilting!