Category: Sewing

Marking your Seam Allowance

One of the best uses for blue painters tape is on the bed of my sewing machine.  It will mark your seam allowance.  If you add a dash mark across from your needle you will be set to sew curves also.  Line your fabric up to the blue tape without covering it up and guide your fabric while the machine sews so that it follows the tape.

Sometimes it hard not to look at the needle while the machine is running. But it’s very important to use the blue tape as your guide.  You can reposition it many times before it loses it’s stickiness. Most machines don’t have lines that are easy to see or extended far enough to use.  This solves both or either of those problems.

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Organizing Sewing Tools

The shelf is from Michaels a long time ago, I painted it and added cup hooks for the scissors and rotary cutters.  I’ll be putting my glass jars on top with notions.  Just noticed that all my pics have the drill.  I guess that shows that I’m a little impatient 😉  Will have to add overall pictures when everything is put up and cleaned up.IMG_2858

The studio is being set up!

Getting the embroidery area(s) set up has been a little challenging.  Since the room is smaller I’ve had to give up one table top  (a big one) and had to cut down the embroidery bar top that I’ve used for years.  Thanks to my wonderful husband and his handy jigsaw skills the table has been cut and the embroidery bar is getting set up.  This took away the space for the thread cabinets so those were hung on the walls of the landing to the studio.  Now there’s a splash of color as I come up the stairs!  A very inspiring sight as I start to work.

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Fabric Dyeing in the Heat!

This is my second class in fabric dyeing with Deb Harwell

.  It’s a wonderful art but the heat was in the 90’s!  Definitely a couple of hot days, but I’m going back next weekend because I had such a great time.  Lots of water and Gatorade was needed.

We learned how to do Shibori pole dyeing, value to value gradation, parfait, tray and my favorite, ice dyeing. After opening all the pieces, I’ve decided that I really like the direct dyeing best of all.  I’ve already been to Michaels to pick up beads and findings to use with the the parfait dyeing set (purples).  For one of the ice dyeing sets I found glass beads and a heart that I picked up in Asheville at the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair last fall.  The dyed wools are really to die for there!!  We saw a lady with an angora bunny in her lap, spinning directly from the animal.  That’s a picture I wish I had!  The show is in October this year.  Follow the link for more information.  http://www.saffsite.org/

I hope to have a bag made by the Charlotte Quilt Guild http://charlottequiltersguild.org/ meeting this Wednesday.  Will post if I make it!  I’m going to start with the purples, since I have a few ideas commited to paper already!

Multi-Size Patterns Can Be Confusing

Highlighting YOUR size!

I have found that multi-size patterns can become a little confusing after you have pinned them to your fabric and are ready to cut them out.  Highlighters are the best thing for finding your way.  BEFORE you even pin them to the fabric, find your size and highlight the lines that intersect.  This way you’ll be able to know where to cut and not make the mistake of cutting off anything important!

New Pattern for Kids Sewing I Camp

A pillowcase, top and shorts in a week!

 

This class offers a great sense of accomplishment.  Kids get to learn their machines and finish 3 projects in 5 days!  Check out the calendar for upcoming classes.

We have a new pattern for the Kids Sewing I Camp!  McCalls discontinued the pattern we were using, so I picked the McCalls M6009.  It’s an Easy Stitch ‘n Save Pattern for only $2.99.  My only complaint is that the top is too short and very deceiving in the photo.  Purchase a 1/4 yard extraof fabric for the top, it will work out great!

 

Recycled Jean Quilt Rows

Jean Pile Divided

After collecting all of our old jeans, I embroidered them with my kids activities throughout the years.  Everything from preschool thru high school.  It’s been a lot of fun remembering all the different activities and sports throughout the years.  It’s a wonder that we’re not exhausted from all the driving, chaperoning and running around!

I laid out all the squares on my living room floor and made a pattern with the embroidered blocks and filled in with the extra plain blocks.  Then they were stacked into rows.  Each square has a jean square top, batting center and flannel on the back. (I used 2 different flannels)  The batting was cut 1/2″ smaller all around.  The blank squares were embroidered with designs from a quilt software pack from Anita Goodesign. Quilt Feathers & Quilter’s Paradise.  http://www.anitagoodesignonline.com/  The squares with the activities were freehand quilted with stars and hearts.

Sewing Machine Manuals

This posting is a little late tonight, but I wanted to address the issue of sewing machine manuals!  It is sooo important to have a copy of the manual that goes with your machine.  Each sewing machine can have little differences between other machines, even the mechanical machines but especially the electronic ones.  How a bobbin is wound, or the machine is threaded and don’t get me started on buttonholes.  Sewing machine manufacturers can get very creative with your buttonhole makers.  So I’m adding a link for a website that lists the manufacturers websites.  A lot of manuals can be found online.  It’s really important to have that manual with you when you sew. In order to get the most benefit out of your machine you really need all the information your can find. The manual also addresses troubleshooting and cleaning, which goes a long way to keeping your machine in good working order. If your machine needs oil, make sure your oil is good.  No yellow oil, please!  I’ve also added a link from Craft Nectar with photos on how to clean a front loading machine.  Yours may be a little different, always follow your manual for where to oil and clean your machine, but these pictures may help.

Happy Sewing!

http://sewing.about.com/od/beginner1/ig/Sewing-Tools/Sewing-Machine-Manuals.htm  About.com Sewing

http://craftnectar.com/2009/03/09/spring-cleaning-for-your-sewing-machine/  Craft Nectar