One night last year I was doing some midnight-madness crafting, and apparently wrote myself a “lesson learned” note about sewing.  While searching for stashed Christmas presents recently, I found this note and so I’m including it here for my reference (and perhaps your amusement) — my updated comments/explanation are in itals.

To remember while sewing:

1. Think about which direction you’re sewing in before you put the pins in (elsewise, as you’re sewing merrily along the little pinses will sneak up and pokify your fingers1)
2. Figure out the size of the buckles you’re using *before* cutting the straps
3. Line everything
4. Don’t panic
5. Use more pins — always
6. Put all the the things (like straps) on before the final joining of lining to outside (yes, it’s the world of frustrating to turn your finished bag rightside out only to find you’ve neglected to add the straps in)
7. Like riding a motorcycle, sew *ahead* of where you are (don’t watch the tips of your fingers — watch 5-6″ ahead of the foot)
8. Stop with needle in down position (otherwise the fabric will sneak away when you turn your head)
9. Leave lots of thread when you cut the thread at the end of a stitch line (otherwise, the thread will creep out of the needle and you’ll have to rethread)
10. Making the iron hotter will *not* make things go faster
11. Topstich everything
12. If something has an inside and an outside, iron both pieces before proceeding
13. STOP *before* the stupid starts (that one I’d do well to remember across the board)

1 Yes, I anthropomorphize a little…