Tip of the Day: Post-It Notes
 

I was watching a Craftsy course with Eileen Roche, and she gave the most awesome tip: use post-it notes as a cloth guide. You just take the bottom note off a pad of post-its and stick the whole pad to your needle plate at whatever distance you need from the needle. (sticky edge closest to the needle of course)

I just tried this out while stitching the channels for a drawstring on a bag and it was pretty awesome, I didn't even have to mark the fabric. I just put the needle down where I needed it, stuck the post-its at the edge of the fabric, hit the start button, and let it go. I just had to do some minimal guidance of the fabric to keep it in line with the edge of the post-its... came out perfectly!

I've heard of people cutting out several layers of masking tape to use as a fabric guide too. Glad to hear that post-its worked so well for you.

Jan in Va had this tip a while back. I find evetually the cloth works it's way under the stack.

I use this with the young girls I teach to sew. The ridge created by the stack of Post-It notes creates a barrier, which is more helpful than a piece of tape or marked needle plate.

I use Command strips. They stay stuck solid but easy to remove with no residue at all.

i have a terrific fenced 1/4" foot, but have also used the stacked post its. if you don't need it for too long of a time, it works pretty good.

I often use 3-4 layers of blue masking tape. Easy to take off when I'm doing something else. I just stick it next to the sewing machine and put it back on when I need it!

I sometimes use a Band-Aid. It's sticky, thick and easy to remove.

Will have to try this. Thanks for the tip.

Very cool, thank you!

That's because the note pad isn't tightly stuck down to your throat plate.

I use a thick rubber band to hold mine down because my extension table will still fit onto my Bernina with the band in place. Otherwise I'd use a loooong piece of Scotch tape to hold it tightly in place.
With both the rubber band and tape, you can easily remove them when the bobbin needs to be changed or you are sewing a diagonal seam.

A second reason for using the tape or band is because the metal of the throat plate on any machine I've worked with, in class or personally, does NOT accept the sticky on the notepads for more than a few minutes.

This is still a cheapest and most efficient trick around; I've been using it and promoting it for decades. Literally.

I saw Eleanor Burns demo this idea many years ago during one of her shows. I use multi layer of blue painter's tape with my Bernina.

Yes - the Post It's are a great sewing 'tool' .. we also use them for keeping piping in place against the fold.

Never thought of using post-it-notes...sounds like a good idea. I usually use the Dr. Sholl's foot padding that I can cut into strips.

If one paper pieces, these little post-it pads work wonders for keeping track of sections……..stick to and remove from the fabric quite nicely…….

I use command strips also. They are perfect for keeping a perfect seam and are so easy to remove. I could not sew a straight seam for anything until I got these. I tried everything else and nothing works as good as these!

That's really cool. I haven't heard of it before. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for all the tips--will have to try !

I've used the bandaid method, but forgot that I have a screw on fence that came with the machine.

BellaBoo,
Are command strips reusable?

Great tip! Also the suggestions from others, for using different items are really neat too. I would not have thought of most of these.

I have used this method before and it works. I've also read that moleskin can work as well, just find what works for you.

That's a good idea! i'm going to try this. Thanks!:)

I use mole skin. You will find it with the Dr. Scholl's foot supplies. It comes in a good sized rectangular shape and is about a quarter inch thick. Just cut a piece off while the backing paper is on, take the paper off and lay it on your mark. It sticks well and doesn't let the fabric wear into it for many many uses. Use the uncut edge as the side toward your fabric, or use a rotary cutter to be sure you have a straight edge.

Painters a Tape is what I was taught!

Post it's are available with nearly full glue backing while helps it hold down

Doesn't work for me becasue I need my guides several inches before the needle. Blue painter's tape is my favorite

Thank you for sharing this tip. I am going to give it a try.

I use a strip out of the "Heel savers" you can find in the foot department of most drug stores. I cut it in strips and then use the sticky bottom to put it in place, and the heel saver forms a nice ridge to keep the fabric on the straight and narrow. I also use a "scant quart inch" ruler to get the heel saver strips in the right place.

I use a strip of mole skin.

I have found I really like the sticky back Velcro it is easy to apply and remove can be kept handy on the machine and the difference in height as well as texture helps keep from riding up over.