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If you have children, then you know how quickly they can go through clothes. When your kids outgrow certain garments or damage them while playing, it helps to know some basic sewing machine and hand-sewing skills. Below, learn more about which techniques tend to come in handy for parents. 

4 Essential Sewing Skills for Parents

1. Letting Out a Hem

Children spurt up quickly, which means they outgrow their clothing at a rapid pace. Rather than spending money on new clothing every season, let out the hems of certain garments to make them roomier or add length. Use a seam ripper to remove the stitch at the bottom of the pant leg, then press the garment about half a centimeter from the raw edge before sewing it to smooth it down. 

2. Sewing a Button

sewing machine It’s common for kids to lose buttons on coats, shirts, and pants. Sewing a four-hole button is quick, easy, and often doesn’t even require the use of a machine. Use a needle and thread to attach the button. Tie a knot in the thread first, then loop it through each hole using an X-shaped pattern before tying it off at the end with a sturdy knot. 

3. Patching 

When your kids fall and scrape their knees and elbows, their clothing may become damaged and develop holes. Sewing patches onto clothing will reduce the appearance of holes and extend the lifespan of the garments. Trim the clothing inside out and cut a matching patch so that it fully covers the hole. Then slip the garment onto the sewing machine and clip it into place. Gradually shift the garment’s position in the machine and follow the shape of the patch carefully. 

4. Replacing Zippers

When your child’s coat or pant zippers break or run off their tracks, it helps to know how to attach new ones. It’s as simple as lining up the zipper with the seam on the machine or by hand and pinning it into place. Next, sew down one side along the bottom and then sew up to the top of the other side. 

 

If you’re ready to learn some sewing machine basics, look into lessons available from Sew Special. They offer sewing classes, supplies, machines, and quilting fabrics to customers throughout the Kahului, HI, area. Call (808) 877-6128 to sign up for sewing tutorials, and visit the website to browse through their inventory. 

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