One of my biggest gripes is puckery seams, you know the ones I'm talking about, the ones that show up after you wash a garment the first time. Whether it's "ready to wear" or a handmade beauty. Here's a tip that will help stop the puckers.

Prewash your fabric. Don't you just hate being told that all the time? Well ladies there's a reason to be told all the time...we don't do it. Even if the counter clerk assures you "this piece will never shrink"...prewash anyway.

As soon as you come home with your fabric goodies..don't put them in your sewing area...no, no, no, put them in your laundry room. Keeps you from cutting it up right away and gets it washed real fast. Open your fabric all the way up, get rid of that fold line. I even prewash my trims...just be sure and anchor them some way. Sometimes I put them in the lingerie bag.