Why you Need Pennies in your Sewing Room

I love sewing with lightweight fabric like rayon, tencel, or silk, but I usually make something that’s really drapey. Whenever I sew something drapey and lightweight I worry about wind flipping up the hem especially when it comes to skirts and voluminous blouses. I remember hearing a trick to keep the hem down from my boss when I worked at a tailor shop, and it all has to do with having pennies (or small coins from your country’s currency) in your sewing room.

SUPPLIES
Sewing supplies
Two small coins or pennies
Fabric scraps

DIRECTIONS
1. Cut two scraps of fabric that is the same width of your coin but twice as tall with a little bit of seam allowance.
2. Finish the edges of the short ends.
3. Fold the scrap in half longwise with right sides together. Sew each side with a 1/4″ seam allowance.

4. Turn the pocket right sides out and poke out the corners.
5. Insert the penny and baste the opening closed.

6. Sew the pocket into the side seam allowance of your skirt or blouse near the hem but not close enough to hang out from the bottom of the hem. I like to sew mine in 1/2″ from the hem.