Needles- a basic tool.

Today I want to address the issue of sewing machine needles.  My mother didn't teach me a lot of the very basic things about sewing when I was learning to sew as a child/teen.  It wasn't until I was in my early 30s that I discovered stretch needles.  I also didn't know that you needed to change your needle regularly.  Here are some basic tips for sewing machine needles.

Choose the appropriate needle for your fabric.  Below are some pictures of different types of needles.  Pick the one that suits your needs appropriately.  You can go online to find descriptions of each needle to assess which one is best.  They may also tell you on the back of the card what purpose is best suited. (This is the brand that is available at my local store.  I am not compensated for this post.)

Change needles often.  Some say change it with every new project, but if you are making something small it probably isn't necessary.  Maybe every 8-10 hours of sewing time would be good.

Change you needle any time you hit a pin (or anything else).  It is really best to remove pins instead of stitching over them.  I try to remove them as I sew. 
If you are having trouble with your machine, try a new needle.  I think this is often the last thing people think to try.  Even the slightest bend (not noticeable to the naked eye) will mess the thread up.  If the point isn't sharp, it can tear your fabric or create runs.  Sewing machines are very precise instruments.  If you listen to your machine, you will hear it making a different noise when a needle is damaged.  The timing can be thrown of by hitting pins.  The timing is how the needle and bobbin casing move in sync with each other.  If they aren't just right, you will have problems.  Having your machine serviced regularly is important for this reason, as well as cleaning and oiling all the parts in there to keep it running smoothly.

Feel free to comment with any questions I may not have addressed!

How To: Remove Crayon From Furniture

Okay, here's the deal.  My kids, being kids, have on ocassion, colored with crayon on their toy bins or something like that.  I mean, it happens right.  But, no matter how much muscle you've got, you can't get that darn crayon off without a little help.

This happened to me the other day and I was in no mood to run to the store for some sort of goo remover to clean it up with (since I'm out and all). 

That got me thinking of all the cleaning tips I'd heard watching BBC America's "How Clean Is Your House?"  I remembered once that they said that hairspray removes lipstick from wood doors rather well.  In my opinion, lipstick and crayon are rather similar, considering they're both rather waxy in nature, so I tried it, and I'm here to tell you that using hairspray to remove crayon from hard, nonporous surfaces works really well.

Supplies needed:

• hairspray
• paper towels
• elbow grease

You still need the elbow grease associated with any scrubbing task, but it works and my furniture is back to looking brand new, shiny and beautiful.

So next time your toddler gets a little artistic on your kitchen table, rest assured that you can have it looking beautiful again in no time.  All you need to do is raid your beauty supplies.

Good Luck!

How To: Scrub Your Stainless Steel Pots

I am cheap, and I'm always looking for a nice, natural way of cleaning, without all the nasty chemicals that burn my skin, my nosehairs, and clutter up my cleaning supply cabinet.

The other day I did a big oops!  I accidentally burned tomato soup to the bottom of my stainless steel pot.  I didn't think it would ever come off, until I remembered this really great concoction that I periodically use on tough rings around my bathtub.

Sprinkle a bunch of baking soda in the pot, then add some coarse salt (mine is kosher salt) in with it.  Add just enough water to make a paste and scrub it with the scrubby side of a sponge.  Not only does it remove whatever nasties are burned on, it also shines your stainless steel and deoderizes your drains as you rinse it down.

Next time you get distracted and oops while you're making dinner, whip out some baking supplies and your pots will be sparkling clean again, without a trip to the grocery store.

Good Luck!