The first Beginning Sewing Class of the year is tonight! It’s going to be a full class with 8 students. We will learn to use our machines, make a pillowcase, pajama bottoms and a tote. All in 6 weeks! I love to teach Beginning Sewing. It’s always a lively group of people who want to learn how to sew for so many different reasons. Some are coming back to sewing after years of being away, some have never sewn and can’t wait to get started and then we have self taught sewers that would like a little extra instruction. There’s homework every week with show and tell at the beginning of each class. I’m always excited to see fabric choices. Everyone has such different personalities and it always shows by what they bring. Our 2 books are Sew with Confidence by Nancy Zieman www.nancysnotions.com and Sew Easy Pajama Pants by Cindy Taylor Oates http://taylormadedesigns.typepad.com/ . We make the pillowcase a little differently by using flat construction. It’s much easier to line all the pieces up for sewing when it’s flat and cut off the extra fabric with salvages. This always works better than trying to line up the 3 finished pieces after they’ve each been sewn into a circle. You need to be extremely accurate for that to work each time. My all time favorite way to finish a pillowcase though, is shown on you tube by Missouri Star Quilt Company for the Million Pillowcase Challenge. It gives a very finished hem and goes much faster. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYWCma9wgM
Category: Teaching
Flip ‘n Stitch Stockings
We had a great time making stockings for Christmas. Using precut strips and quilting as we stitched the strips on the base. In just a day the stockings were finished! (With a short break for lunch!)
Selvage and Fold
Beginning Sewers sometimes seem to have a hard time with selvage and folding fabrics to cut a lay out. The best way to know that you have your fabric laid out correctly is to make sure you have a fold on one side and the selvages meet on the other. If you have a fold and 2 selvage edges than you need to refold BEFORE cutting your fabric. This will ensure that you have enough fabric to complete your project.
The first photo has the fold at the bottom and both selvages at the top with the cut edges at the left and right. This is the correct way to have the fabric laid out.
The second photo also has the fold at the bottom but has selvages at both the right and left side with the cut edges together at the top. This is incorrect and will cause you all sorts of problems. Both photos contain the same piece of fabric, but how you fold them will change the width of the fabric and your pattern pieces will not always fit.
Quick Pillowcases
The first project we make in Basic Sewing is a pillowcase. I change up the pattern a little and we use flat construction instead of matching individual tube of fabric. I’ve come across a wonderful, quick and easy pillowcase video for those that would like an even quicker method. I always think it looks like a big hotdog filled with the body and trim. It’s done by Missouri Star Quilt Company on YouTube. Take a couple minutes to watch it. You’ll be amazed how quickly it comes together!
Beginning Sewing
The first Beginning Sewing class of the year went well today. Most of my students are new to sewing and I always love being able to introduce them to sewing and their machine. The biggest learning curves are usually the machine and sewing terms. Our projects will be a pillowcase, pajama bottoms and tote bag from the book titled, Sew Easy Pajama Pants by Cindy Taylor Oates. The other book we’re using is Nancy Zieman’s Sew with Confidence. It’s such a wonderful resource for sewing terms and tips. It will be a great companion for the new sewe
Pillow Topper Class
It’s that time of year again. The Beginning Sewing Classes are starting up and I’m always asked, “What comes next?” So Creative Sewing has started offering an Advanced Sewing Class to have buttonholes, applique, piping, zippers and a little sewing with clear thread. It’s a fun class and some of my students have gone on to make quite a few pillow toppers. Once you have the pillow made you can button on the topper for the season/holiday/celebration that you want. So far we have 4 designs for the class. Two for Spring and 2 for Fall.
It’s That Time of Year Again!
First Communion is right around the corner! It is so much fun to make the veils for the girls. I always participate in a show at St. Matthews in December with my veils and christening gowns to hand out my cards. I made bridal veils, accessories and christening gowns for over 10 years and then moved to NC. I took a break and volunteered a lot with the kids schools activities. In the past couple of years I’ve been creating again and found that I really missed it and am glad to have started back. I actually am thinking about teaching how to make Christening gowns and veils, but time will tell.
Free Motion Quilting
After posting the embroidery club, I realized that I had another project that I did free motion quilting on! I use this 3 ring binder all the time for classes. All my notes and handouts are in it for the sessions I teach and I’m always surprised when someone remarks on it. Because I use it all the time, sometimes I forget how striking it is. I used leftover fabric from a quilt that I made with purples, blues and lime green. I found the lime green at Quilt Patch Fabrics,www.quiltpatchfabrics.com and went thru my stash for the rest. I’ve enjoyed working with the silk flowers also. They’ve stood up really well to being carried around with all of my other supplies.
Embroidery Club is Here Again!
Embroidery Club starts at Creative Sewing, www.leesewing.com, next month and two of the samples are done and in the shop. Here’s a quick peek. February is going to offer The Patchfolio for an 8×11 pad with room on the left for papers, pens and a business card. It’s a wonderful gift or place to keep papers from class and notes. I will also be offering directions for an ebook holder as an extra or alternative project. I just received a kindle for my birthday last year and I love it! I honestly didn’t know if I’d miss my “real” books, but I have to admit that I like the size and weight of the kindle. It will make traveling soooooo much easier this year. Last year for vacation I took a BUNCH of books and was stuck at O’Hare airport rearranging my luggage so that I wasn’t over weight and had to pay extra. Not fun at all. April will bring the Quilting Laptop Case. This was a wonderful project to practice free motion quilting. It’s small enough that shouldn’t prove too frustrating and I sure need the practice. I usually quilt with my mother’s long arm. Moving the fabric instead of the machine proves to be very different. I will definitely need more practice! I honestly think this bag could be used for anything. I’m off to finish that last project, which will be a cutwork pillow. I found that cording for it today and will sew it up tomorrow.
Happy Stitching!