Sew mania

potato bags

2011-05-26T17:02:00.001-06:00

Recently a customer asked me to sew a potato bag. They are used in the microwave to 'bake' potatoes or warm up tortillas. I found a few patterns and would appreciate hints or comments if you have sewn any or use them.

- square edges or rounded

- velcro closure or drawstring

- best size

- type of batting

Happy sewing

Fabrics and sewing in Asia

2011-02-02T12:11:00.002-06:00

Just got back from a fantastic trip to Asia - Thailand, Viet Nam and Camodia. There are many fabric stores with gorgeous silks. I was so tempted to buy tons of the fabric. At several stores there were young women cutting fabric and sewing garments right in the store. They were creating beautiful outfits. Their working conditions weren't the greatest - poor lighting and old machines but their work was beautiful. It was cool in northern Viet Nam so they wore their coats while they worked. The temperature was +8 C so they cancelled school (no heat).

Happy American Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T09:46:00.002-06:00

Happy thanksgiving to all our American friends and readers. God has blessed us in so many ways. We are thankful.

Crib skirt or dust ruffle - pleated or gathered?

2010-10-25T08:48:00.002-06:00

Have you ever sewn a crib skirt? It's a length of fabric, about 12 to 16 inches deep that hangs below the crib mattress to the floor. I sew a lot of John Deere items and many people ask if I can make a crib skirt. There's two options: gathered or ruffled or pleated (one centre pleat on each side). There are instructions at sewing.about.com and other places for the ruffled version so I won't repeat them. You start with a piece of cotton fabric, white or off-white or a colour to match the ruffle, about 53 by 29 inches. This is the base that will go under the mattress. You cut four pieces of fabric to sew in each side of the base. For the pleated version, at the middle of each side, fold the fabric with a double one each pleat. You can get fancy, like the red one in the photo with extra ties and trim or just leave it plain. Matching the pieces up at the corners is the only tricky part - you want to be sure they are close to lining up but the edges are covered so you don't have to be exact.

Summer vacation

2010-09-04T15:58:00.002-06:00

We went on an incredible holiday this summer - hiking in Peru to Machu Picchu. Once in a lifetime experience. Now it's back to the routine. I have a million things to sew to get ready for Christmas and fall craft shows. Will post photos as the items are created.

Happy Canada Day July 1st

2010-07-01T08:40:00.003-06:00

Today we celebrate Canada's birthday. It is a wonderful country and I am proud to wear the flag where ever I travel around the world. Enjoy the day.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-08T07:44:00.000-06:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms out there. Enjoy the day and remember you are special.

Back home from Egypt & Sewing

2010-03-29T07:31:00.002-06:00

Just got back from a wonderful trip to Egypt - the place where civilization started. Check out my photos on facebook. It was a trip of a lifetime. Saw the pyramids and cruised the Nile. Now I'm back home and ready to take on some new sewing projects. Will be posting lots of photos so hope to see you here.

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-12T21:46:00.002-06:00

Happy Valentines Day! Do you sew anything special for Valentines Day? Or make a special craft? Lots of people bake fancy cookies and cupcakes with hearts and pink - how nice! My sewing machine is in for a tune up so I'm not sewing this weekend. Maybe I'll work on a few ideas, cutting things out, etc. And I still have my serger! Share any special Valentines Day crafts and sewing that you have.

Happy New Year! 2010

2010-01-07T06:56:00.002-06:00

All the best for 2010. We had a wonderful Christmas and I hope that yours was blessed. Do you make new years' resolutions? Well, one of mine is to reduce my stash of fabric. Yes, we all have a stash. So I need to get busy and take on some of those projects. I have some great ideas for placemats and aprons and I can't wait to see how they turn out. I'll post photos.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T07:11:00.001-06:00

All the best for Christmas 2009. Are you ready? I have the baking almost done and the sewing is 99% done. Did you make any Christmas gifts this year? I made a quillow/pillow set. A quillow is a quilt that folds up into a pillow so then I make a matching pillow and you have a set! They are great. I have given away many sets as gifts. You can tell in the photos that one 'pillow' is different - it has the quilt folded up inside.

And I made a draft dodger - that's a stuffed fabric panel that goes at the bottom of your door to stop drafts. It has dalmations and is very cute. What are you making this year?

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-28T09:37:00.004-06:00

Happy thanksgiving. Have a wonderful safe week-end. Remember to be thankful for all our blessings.

We have many items for Thanksgiving including aprons and tote bags. Take a look at these.

Remembrance Day

2009-11-12T07:58:00.001-06:00

November 11th we remember the enormous sacrifice made by soldiers of yesterday and today. Because of them, we have freedom today. It was a special ceremony yesterday in Ottawa with Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla present for the ceremony. Take a moment to say thanks to all who have served our countries.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-10-09T17:39:00.003-06:00

It is thanksgiving weekend in Canada. We have received a lot of snow today and it will be cold and snowy all weekend. We are still very thankful - we have so many blessings. God bless you this weekend.

Sewing Fair

2009-09-30T08:44:00.002-06:00

Have you ever gone to a sewing fair? I went to the Creative Stitches extravaganze in Calgary, Canada last weekend. It was absolutely fantastic. There were four streams of consecutive classes ranging from clothes to recycling to embroidery to fat quarters to 'you name it'. Out in the main room there were booths filled with enthusiastic people ready to tell you about their products - quilts, sewing machines, fabric, gadgets and yes even that amazing gizmo that dices and slices and those magic shammy cloths! I stayed right to the end both days and just couldn't get enough. I bought a few kits, some cute colored bobbins for my sewing machine and got so many ideas. I can't wait to go again. The cost was only $15 to attend both days. If you get a chance to attend an event like this, be sure to go.

Bib apron with eyelet trim

2009-09-24T10:21:00.004-06:00

I had a request to make several gingham aprons with a bib, gathered skirt and eyelet trim. I had no pattern and no sample apron to work from so this was a challenge. The customer gave me some dimensions from an apron they had sewn some time ago. The first challenge was finding turquoise and apple green gingham. Our local fabric stores had a very limited selection so we ended up buying on line. Then I cautiously cut out the large square for the skirt, serged the edges and gathered the top with elastic - I find that much easier than a double row of stitching and then pulling the bottom thread. Then the square piece for the bib and serging the edges. I made the waist band and straps by simply folding, stitching and turning right side out. Then the pieces were sewn together and eyelet trim was added. The second one was much easier than the first one! The customer was very happy and I'm looking forward to making some in Christmas fabric for her.

Sewing a diaper bag

2009-08-09T09:20:00.003-06:00

I have never sewn a diaper bag or a tote bag with lots of pockets. Recently someone asked me to sew a John Deere diaper bag. Why not? I started with John Deere panels, added a green cotton lining and a thin layer of batting for padding. I sewed the pockets onto the green lining first, putting elastic at the top of the pockets so they would hold items in abit better. I also padded the straps and re-enforced the stitching on them. I sewed a cloth flap, added a buttonhole and button for a closure. The buyer was very happy with the end result and I was happy to learn how to sew the bag. A very positive experience. If you would like a diaper bag let me know - we have a wide variety of fabrics.

Happy July 4th - Celebrate

2009-07-04T08:16:00.004-06:00

Happy July 4th to all our American readers. We have made some wonderful items with fabric that highlights the flag.

Enjoy the day with parades, barbeques, fireworks and lots of friends and family. God Bless America.

Happy Canada Day

2009-07-01T07:31:00.003-06:00

We are celebrating Canada Day today. We live in a wonderful country. I am fortunate to have traveled to almost every corner of the country. The landscape is varied but the people are warm and friendly everywhere you go. We are also thankful for all those who gave their lives so we can enjoy freedom. Celebrate and enjoy the day.

Precious Moments fabric

2009-06-29T15:12:00.003-06:00

There are many lovely Precious Moments fabrics available. I have been very fortunate to find quite a few and to make them into adorable baby items. Crib blankets, crib sheets, bumper pads, bibs, burp cloths, and more. I have made many customs items for people as well. It is a wonderful treat to make items for new babies. Look at these cute items.

Making potholders

2009-06-02T14:00:00.002-06:00

Have you ever tried making potholders? I make them in several different styles. The next few batches I make I'll take a few more photos. Some of the potholders are made with pre-printed canvas/thick cotton panels. For most of those I sew them to a potholder backing with a zigzag stitch. Then I add seam binding to finish the edges and a loop on the corner so the potholder can be hung up. The other main type that I make are with unique fabric like the John Deere varieties. With these I usually sew them to a backing and then turn them inside out. No seam binding is needed. What would be your preference?

Cookie Mix in a jar

2009-05-13T06:53:00.003-06:00

Have you seen these mixes layered in a jar? They can look like a work of art with different coloured layers. We have made many different cookie mixes in a jar. There are also many recipes for soup, muffins, and other mixes. The cookie mix we have made includes:

Layer in order:

½ cup white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

¼ cup coconut

¼ cup chocolate chips

½ cup oatmeal

2 cups flour

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

Label/tag on jar:

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Combine dry ingredients with:

2/3 cup melted and cooled margarine

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Drop by spoonful on cookie sheet

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

We put a piece of fabric under the jar lid and there you have a wonderful gift. If you would like more recipes let me know or go ahead and google for them. Enjoy!

Winnie the Pooh & Friends

2009-04-23T11:15:00.004-06:00

There is a wide variety of cute gorgeous Winnie the Pooh fabrics. I have made aprons, pillows, tote bags, baby bibs, baby quilts, quillows and more. Almost everyone loves Pooh or Tigger or Eeyore or Piglet or all of them! Enjoy some of these photos.

Blessed Easter - He is risen!

2009-04-12T07:32:00.001-06:00

Have a blessed Easter Sunday. We are very fortunate to live in a country where we can worship freely. God Bless.

Rag Quilt

2009-04-03T06:45:00.002-06:00

My newest project is the rag quilt. I have lots of 8 inch squares of fabric from all the fitted crib sheets that I make. So I bought some flannelette and I've cut out the matching squares.

The pink John Deere fabric was the first one I thought I would try.

Making Buttonholes - machine or hand stitched

2009-03-10T07:16:00.002-06:00

How do you tackle making buttonholes? I usually use my sewing machine. My Husqvarna has a setting for buttonholes and that works quite well. Simplicity has a great tutorial to take you through the steps to measure, mark and make that perfect buttonhole. http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?page=section/sewtips/boundbuttonhole/bbuttonhole.html. I also have a Singer attachment with inserts that makes almost flawless buttonholes. It comes in a nice case with all the inserts (different size buttonholes) and a plate to guide the process. It looks pretty clunky but it works extremely well. I make alot of tote bags and often people ask for a closure on the bag. One option is a cloth flap with a buttonhole and a button on the other side of the bag. Once I match the button to the bag colours and then size the button it's a very straight forward process. Next blog topic will be the hand stitched buttonholes. Have you made them?

Sewing with Snoopy Fabric

2009-02-24T07:15:00.003-06:00

Snoopy from the Peanuts comic strip is so cute. I've been fortunate to find a number of different fabric styles to sew items with. I had a great Snoopy quilt panel and made many quilts, crib sheets and bumper pad sets with the matching fabric. I had a few scraps left over and decided to cut them into bibs. I used a fairly large bib pattern and backed them with white flannel for absorbency. With bias tape all around the bib they will stand up wash after wash. I put velcro at the neck and they are ready to go.

Sewing for your pets

2009-02-21T07:20:00.002-06:00

Have you ever sewn an item for your cat or dog (or other pets)? We used to have a gorgeous short hair pointer who lived outside. I sewed a coat for him so he'd be a bit warmer, especially on walks. He as high energy so a daily walk was a must. This link http://nantonanimalprotection.com/naps/reports%20and%20documents/pet%20clothes/fleece%20dog%20sweater.pdf has a great pattern for a dog coat with a turtleneck style of neck. There are lots of different styles and if you google for patterns you will find a wide variety including knit, crochet or sewing patterns. I've also seen little booties for dogs. They are very easy to make. Try these patterns.

Happy Family Day

2009-02-16T08:21:00.003-06:00

The third Monday in February designated as 'Family Day' is a relatively new holiday in Canada. Not all provinces have designated Family Day - we have had it for a few years. It's a day off to enjoy with your family. It's a cold day here (25 below) but it should warm up enough this afternoon for a short walk, tobogganing or even outdoor skating. Have a wonderful day, even if it isn't a holiday in your area, and enjoy your family.

Wonderful finds in the fabric stash

2009-02-06T07:42:00.002-06:00

Do you have a fabric stash? Ofcourse, we all do! I have several and once in awhile find myself going through one of the stashes. I just found some very cute Snoopy appliques. They have a Christmas theme and are a nice size (about 7 inches across). Also found about 45 yards of a light blue gauzy fabric. Can't remember how I got such a long piece of this fabric - what did I plan to do with it? There was about a dozen teddy bear Christmas ornaments that I made over 5 years ago and I'm doing to donate them to a thrift shop. What do you have in your stash? Share your stories with us.

Happy Chinese New Years 新年快乐新年快樂

2009-01-25T09:11:00.002-06:00

Happy Chinese New Years to everyone who is celebrating the Year of the Ox.

Our younger son spent a year in China and we visited for a few weeks while he was there, so we appreciate many of the Chinese customs and celebrations.

Recyclable sewing

2009-01-22T15:37:00.002-06:00

Do you ever recycle items by sewing them? You could start with a towel or other item of clothing and make it into a new item. This could be a totally new item or just a restyling. I've made some pants into shorts after the knees wore through - that's pretty easy. The important thing is to get them the same length. Mark the pants at the length that you would like them to end up at.

But before cutting off any fabric, decide how thick of a hem/cuff you would like, if any. ex: If you want a 1 inch cuff/hem, make another mark 1 1/2 inches below the first mark. Fold the pants flat and make sure the pant legs are strait, flat and evenly laying on top of the other.

Cut in a straight line cutting one leg first and then the second.

Fold the ends into the pant legs up to the first mark and iron in place. Hem the edges by hand or by machine. If your machine has decorative stitches, use one of them to make a pretty edge.

But there are lots of other options and I'll post some of my projects. Tell us about yours!

New curtains are sewn and looking good!

2009-01-12T08:40:00.005-06:00

I found a lovely soft cotton fabric with skiers and snowboarders. This was perfect because the most frequent 'guest' in our guest bedroom is our son, who is a new snowboarder. The window has blinds but needs a bit more coverage to keep the morning sunlight out. It's a narrow window so I decided to sew a curtain in one piece rather than splitting it down the middle.

I cut the fabric into two lengths, allowing enough fabric to make a rod pocket at the top. I serged the two pieces together and serged the top and bottom edges. The outside edges were selvages so I didn't need to finish them before turning them under.

I turned the edges under, sewing them with a straight stitch and making sure the corners were nice and square.

Then I checked to make sure I made the top pocket the right size for the rod and stitched the pocket also with a straight stitch.

I ironed the pocket and the edges to give the curtain a nice finish. Then the curtain went on the rod and I could hang it in place.

I emailed a photo of the finished product to my son and he thought it looked great! How nice.

Making curtains for a bedroom window

2009-01-09T07:09:00.003-06:00

I need to make curtains for a rectangular bedroom window. For now we have a sheet hanging over the mini-blinds - it helps to keep the sun out but really looks cheesy. I'd like to get some heavier fabric that won't require a separate lining. I'll just make a pocket on top so the curtain will slip over the existing rod. So I'm off to the fabric store to pick up supplies. I'll post photos as I work through making the curtains.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2008-12-26T08:51:00.003-06:00

Christmas is a wonderful time to be with friends and family and rejoice in the birth of the Saviour. Merry Christmas to all the dedicated sewing friends. All the best for 2009. Looking forward to new projects to work on in 2009.

Sewing for Christmas

2008-12-15T08:08:00.002-06:00

Are you sewing any gifts for Christmas? I have a few to sew. I want to make a personalized lunch bag for one friend. It will be cute to make a bag just for her and I'm hoping it also encourages her to take her lunch more often! I'll post photos when I make it this week. I usually make some John Deere items too because everyone on my side of the family is crazy about John Deere farm equipment. The tote bags, aprons, coasters and placemats have been big hits over the years. I need to make up some placemats and a few coasters and hot pads. There are no babies on my Christmas list this year but in the past I have made alot of bibs! How about you - are you sewing for Christmas this year?

Sewing an apron with pockets across the bottom

2008-12-09T07:18:00.004-06:00

There are several ways to sew an apron with three pockets across the bottom. I usually sew the ties first so they are ready to go. This apron has four ties, two for the waist and two for the neck.

I start with the pocket piece, which is about 12 inches tall and the same width as the apron.

I serge the top edge and then topstitch that edge.

Then I put the pocket piece in place on the apron and serge the edges of the apron, including around the pocket. This puts the pocket in place. Be very careful to have the pocket in place because with the serger you don't really get a second chance. The serger also cuts and trims the fabric edge so if you went too far the fabric is gone!

Then I top stitch all around the apron.

As I go by the spots where the ties go, I stitch them in place, going back and forth a couple of times to make sure they are secure.

This apron pocket has clear markings where the apron splits into three but for other aprons I just measure the width, divide by three and mark the spots with pins so I know where to topstitch to divide the pocket piece.

And that's it the apron is ready to go. This is a lovely Debbie Mumm St. Nick pattern.

Happy Thanksgiving to Americans

2008-11-27T07:39:00.002-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving. This is a time to remember how many blessings we have. A time to get together with friends and family. For many people it is still harvest time, bringing in the last of the fruits and vegetables from their farms and gardens. I sew lots of thanksgiving related items and enjoy the images of scarecrows, turkeys, roosters, gardens and flowers. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Pillows, pillows everywhere!

2008-11-23T10:10:00.003-06:00

Pillows are very easy to make and they can really brighten up a room. You can make a pillow from new materials or you can brighten up a pillow you already have or a plain pillow that you can buy for a very reasonable price. I love these ideas for adding trims to a plain pillow. This one with the starburst pattern is very nice.

You can sew pearl-shape beads or small buttoms randomly around the edge and adding a few more to accent the center button. String beads on thread and glue them in place, following a specific starburst design or a design of your choice. If the bought pillow already has a pattern, like flowers, you could add small buttoms beads to the centres of flowers. Decorative edging stripes with sequins or sparkles would also be great. If you like to cross-stitch or embroider you could easily adds style to a solid-color pillow.

How about adding a fringe or ruffle with a colourful or playful fabric?

You can also transfer a photo to fabric and use it to embellish a pillow.

Truck seat cover - making it wider

2008-11-18T07:17:00.005-06:00

My brother asked if I could make a seat cover 8 inches wider. A top and bottom cover for a split bench seat. The cover was made from a tweed style upholstery with a dark grey strip on one side. I thought I would cut the seat covers down the middle so that I wouldn't mess up the fit of the corners and the straps that hold the covers in place. Ideally I would have used a matching grey strip down the middle but that colour was not available.

So, I bought a black upholstery fabric. I also planned to buy some stretchy t-shirt style of fabric for the backing but a very helpful lady in the fabric store suggested that I just run the black fabric all the way along the covers. I agreed!

The upholstery fabric was nice and strong so the edges sewed up very nicely. So after making the initial cut down the middle, I serged the seams to put the black strip in place.

Then I serged the edges, sewed in some elastic and it really went quite well.

Much easier than I expected. The covers are now on the truck seat looking good! This was a great project.

Remembrance Day

2008-11-11T09:29:00.003-06:00

We are so thankful for the sacrifice made by men and women who fought in the wars to give us our freedoms and way of life. They gave so much. We wear the poppy, attend special services and observe a minute of silence at the 11th hour. This year we have the "Vigile 1914-1918 Vigil." The vigil is an electronic tribute to fallen soldiers, featuring a nightly display of the names of soldiers who died in battle. The names are displayed on a large screen at our provincial Legislative Building. This is a wonderful way to honour those soldiers.

Sewing Notions

2008-11-07T06:39:00.002-06:00

There is an incredible variety of sewing notions. Little gizmos and gadgets that can help you with your projects. Our local fabric store frequently has a half price sale on the gadgets and that's when I stock up. We've already looked at the bias tape maker (it is fantastic, check out our earlier blog) but what about some other gadgets. I have several seam rippers - one larger size that is really sturdy and one with a very fine tip for those smaller stitches. They are invaluable when you have to take out stitches. Isn't this one in the photo beautiful? It is too nice to use.

Thimbles are also handy when you are hand sewing several layers of thick fabric or just doing a lot of hand sewing and the tips of your fingers start to get sore. There are so many more - cutting mats, pins, rulers. They really do help get the job done. What is your favourite gadget?

U.S. Election Day sewing

2008-11-03T18:58:00.002-06:00

Did anyone sew a project for the U.S. Presidential Election? How about an Obama or McCain tote bag? Or maybe a flag pillow to show your patriotism? The important thing is to get out and vote.

PLEASE VOTE.

Make a halloween treat bag

2008-10-29T09:56:00.004-06:00

Are you ready for Halloween? People are very generous in our area and we have to make sure that the treat bags are big enough to hold all the treats that get handed out. When I was young we used pillow cases but it is easier if you have a bag with handles. I purchased several pre-sewn light canvas bags and we can decorate them for halloween. Let the kids go wild with paint or felt pieces they can glue on. You could also let them decorate a sturdy brown paper bag - maybe one from a store that you can turn inside out so the plain side can be decorated.

There are great instructions at this website for treat bags http://www.kerryskollectables.com/PDFpages/TrickorTreatBags.pdf

Sewing Christmas gifts

2008-10-22T07:17:00.003-06:00

Are you sewing any gifts for Christmas? I have a few on my list. Tote bags and aprons are popular gifts. I've also made quite a few pillows and some pillow/quillow sets. One year I sewed bright orange hunting outfits (required here) for my husband and two sons. It's nice to put something extra special into a gift that you make for a friend or family. What gifts are you sewing this year?

I make quite a few items with angel fabric. They are really lovely.

Sewing for Halloween - or just cutting and gluing?

2008-10-19T07:43:00.004-06:00

Are you making any costumes for Halloween? When my sons were younger I sewed many costumes - the usual clown, cowboy, police officer and so on. I've also sewed a few for friends - again clown suits were popular along with a few princesses or fancy dresses. These costumes are usually fairly easy to sew because they can be loose fitting - for kids, might need to go over their jacket on a cold day, and they can use really fun, bright fabric.

How about costumes that don't require any sewing?

I love this lego costume - we spent many, many hours with lego and I have kept all the lego pieces for future grandchildren (I'm hoping!).

LEGO COSTUME:

You'll need a box big enough for your child's body, margarine containers or styrofoam cups, glue gun, spray paint, baseball cap and a utility knive.

To make the lego body from a box: Measure your child's head, then cut an opening in the top of the box about 2 inches from the front edge. Cut an armhole on each side of the box near the top front corner. Try the box on so you can make any adjustments. Make sure the box is narrow enough to let your child's arms hang down comfortably.

Lay the box flat, front-side up, and arrange margarine containers or plastic cups. Trace around each one, apply hot glue around the lip of the container, then press it in place. Repeat for the other containers.

If you want to put a box on the child's head too, glue a container upside down on top of a smaller box .

Spray-paint both boxes (follow instructions on paint).

For the hat, put a baseball cap on backward, then apply double-sided tape to the top of the cap. Fit the box on top of the cap so that the box just covers the bottom edge of the back of the hat.

This costume can easily be used for an adult too. Have fun!

Making geckos and critters with beads

2008-10-17T08:21:00.002-06:00

When I'm not busy on the sewing machine I also love to use pony beads to make geckos and other critters. I give away many of the projects we work on since they are not that expensive to make. They are easy to add to a gift tag, put in the Operation Christmas Child boxes, or even the Halloween treat bags. I tried making rectangular beaded fobs with WWJD - for 'What would Jesus Do' and gave them out for our church's summer day camp. Kids really seem to love them. There are so many different colours of beads, glow in the dark, neon, pastel, the combinations are endless. The geckos are very popular. Some easy instructions are available at http://www.raft.net/ideas/Just%20Bead%20It.pdf

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-10-12T07:48:00.003-06:00

We celebrate Thanksgiving on October 13 in Canada. We have had a wonderful year with an especially beautiful fall. Warm days, the leaves changing colour and many blessings. Our harvest is done except for a few fields of flax and sunflowers which are always combined late in the month.

To all the crafters and seamstresses out there, have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. We have all our family together and I'll be cooking the traditional turkey and pumpkin pie. God Bless.

Sewing pockets

2008-10-07T07:27:00.003-06:00

I have many projects that include a pocket. Most aprons have a

pocket. Some of my aprons are made from a panel that includes a pocket and others I cut from fabric and make the pocket myself. Square or rectangular pockets are relatively easy:

Cut a piece of fabric about 1/2 inch larger, on both sides, than the finished pocket.

Stay stitch 1/4" from all edges.

Press under using 1/4" stitch line as a guide. For a neater appearance use mitered corners

On top edge of pocket (a 7" edge. Press under 1 1/2" for pocket hem.

Top stitch into place.

Attach Pocket To Apron Body

On apron body, measure desired distance in from side edge and up from bottom hemmed edge. Make sure both pockets are in alignment.

Top stitch pockets into place, stitching 1/4" or closer from pocket edge.

For added strength at the top of the pockets: stitch 2 to 3 stitches along the top

I find the curved pockets (straight across the top) much more of a challenge. It's the third step above that is difficult, to turn under the fabric and get it smooth around the curve. Don't forget to press the edges - this really does help.

If I'm putting a pocket INSIDE a tote bag, the finish doesn't have to quite as precise. I'll often serge the pocket edges and then zigzag over top to sew the pocket in place. Sometimes I'll put a small pocket (like for cell phone or pens, keys) down the side of a larger pocket by stitching about 3 inches from the edge, basically dividing the larger pocket into two sections.

Closures for the pocket can be a top flap, a button or velcro. I find velcro the easiest but have made lots of top flaps too.

If you want to personalize an item, you could make the pocket in a unique shape or decorate the pocket to make the garment more interesting.

If you are a talented seamstress you may want to try sewing more professional pockets like a welted pocket - just google the words and you'll find websites with great instructions.

Cats are wonderful creatures, or not?

2008-10-02T06:29:00.002-06:00

Do you love cats? A few years ago we are our first and last house cat. Jade was a wonderful cat and made us think that maybe we could live with a cat. Prior to that, growing up on a farm, we only had yard or farm cats, that were mostly wild. If you love cats there is a wide range of fabric that features cats to be used to make all kinds of cat themed items. You can buy fleece or flannel to make warm cuddly jackets or pajamas, cotton or broadcloth for practical items, linen or silk for fancy clothes. There is lots to choose from. Even if you have a special favourite breed of cat, changes are there is a fabric available. Do you love cats? What's your favourite breed? Here are some of the cat items that I have made. Enjoy.

Embroidery - machine or by hand

2008-09-28T14:46:00.003-06:00

Lots of people ask if I can embroider their child's name on a bib or quilt. They likely think that I might have a machine with emboidery options. I do not! But I love to cross-stitch and hand embroider so finally I started telling people that 'yes', I could hand embroider a name onto one of my handmade items. That opened the flood gates. Now I have tons of requests for names on aprons and tote bags and everything else! I am really enjoying it and hope that the customers feel the same. The stitches are very easy:

Basic Outline or Stem Stitch — This stitch is worked from left to right (or right to left if you are lefthanded like me). Bring needle up through fabric on the line to be outlined. Hold the thread toward you (or the thread may be swung away from you), take a short slanting back stitch along line. Make each successive stitch from right to left and bring the needle out to the left at the end of previous stitch. Repeat, keeping stitches small and uniform.

There are lots of great websites showing the more detailed stitches; check it out.

Someday, if I keep getting requests for embroidery maybe I'll look at buying a machine - then the options would be endless!

Sewing Zippers

2008-09-23T18:32:00.003-06:00

Putting a zipper into a new garment as you make it, is one challenge but replacing a zipper in a finished garment can be much more difficult. Easy instructions for installing a zipper in a new garment are shown at this website: http://www.craftstylish.com/item/8831/zippers-part-1

Replacing a broken zipper is a slow, painstaking process. First you must be very careful removing the old broken zipper. Carefully rip out the stitches and be sure to keep all the pieces of the jacket or pants together. If there is a waistband or bottom trim you have to take some of the stitches out of that as well. Finding a replacement zipper, the right colour and the right length can be difficult too. When in doubt, buy a zipper that is slightly too long, never one that is too short. And you need to match the original thread colour as closely as you can. It's a good idea to baste the zipper in place with all the fabric pieces back together the way they originally were to see how everything looks. Sometimes you'll need to do a bit of hand stitching at the top or the bottom to make everything stay together and lay flat. It will really help if your sewing machine has a zipper foot like the one shown in the photo, so you can stitch quite close to the zipper teeth.

Sewing by Hand

2008-09-18T08:22:00.002-06:00

How do you feel about sewing by hand. Sometimes it is unavoidable - sewing a button on, hemming up a pair of dress pants. Sometimes a very small tear is easier to fix by hand. Or taking down those pesky shoulder pads that keep coming loose and moving around! Sewing on snaps and buttons sometimes requires a firm stitch, catching the thread underneath every 2 or 3 stitch to make sure it doesn't come undone too easily. Using a blind stitch can also be very handy when you really don't want the stitches to show. Lots of people find it relaxing to do some hand sewing while they watch TV, listen to music or visit. I remember one very enjoyable visit with a friend, we sat and hand stitched 17 garments - really made a dent on her mending pile!

Check out some of the more common hand stitches at this website: http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Sewing/Howtos/Hand+Sewing.htm

Sewing for Babies

2008-09-12T08:20:00.002-06:00

A friend is expecting a baby girl. She already has two boys so she really needs some 'girl' stuff. I have two boys so I am always thrilled to buy and sew things for baby girls. There are so many beautiful fabrics and trims for baby girls. I love the Precious Moments and Strawberry Shortcake fabric. I've made many baby items including comforters, crib sheets, crib bumper pad sets, bibs, onesies and more.

Sewing TV shows and videos

2008-09-10T13:48:00.003-06:00

Do you ever watch sewing or craft shows on TV? Or rented or bought a sewing video? One show that we have on our channels is "Sewing with Nancy". Her show is really great - easy to follow, lots of clothing and decorating items that are practical, and a few guests to add some variety. Another show on PBS is "Martha's Sewing Room". I've also borrowed a few sewing/craft videos from the public library and found them to be very easy to follow. Do you have a favorite sewing show?

Threading a needle

2008-09-08T07:49:00.002-06:00

Do you ever have trouble threading a needle? One suggestion is to cut the thread on an angle. How about placing a white background like an index card behind the needle? I usually moisten the end of the thread but I've heard that's a 'no-no' since the thread will swell up and be even harder to get through the needle eye. Have you tried using a needle threader? There are many different styles available. I've got the type with the thin metal loop and it works quite well.

Save the whales & dolphins

2008-09-03T08:11:00.002-06:00

I sew a few items that use fabric with whales and dolphins. I've been contacted by a few groups that work to save the whales and dolphins. They've used my items for fundraisers, silent auctions and so on. It's a great feeling to know that people who really care about a great cause are carrying my tote bags, wearing the aprons, snuggling up in the quillows.

Sewing machine needs repairs again

2008-08-30T06:46:00.002-06:00

Isn't it annoying when you are without your sewing machine for a few days. That's always when something urgently needs to be sewn. The tension on my machine needs and adjustment and it takes a week to get the repairs done! So I have to strategize about what to do while the machine is being fixed - lots of things I can cut out, maybe organize the sewing room!

Do any people have more than one machine so that you have a back-up?

Self Threading needles

2008-08-26T08:59:00.002-06:00

Do you have a sewing machine with a self threading needle? I don't but I used one at a sewing class and thought it was wonderful. You can also buy the needles and put them on any sewing machine. I've read reports that they don't work very well; they thread but as you start sewing they 'unthread' themselves. Have you tried them? Is there a trick to making them work? There are regular needles, for hand-stitching that are self threading also. I will definitely have to check this out. Let us know what your experience is.

Craft Sales

2008-08-19T07:58:00.003-06:00

It's time to start thinking about craft sales. In our area, groups start hosting them in late September. Some sales are huge - run over 2 to 3 days in a large exhibition hall. Others are much smaller, maybe just on a Saturday in a church basement. I like both kinds - they have such different customers and momentum. Some years I have signed up for lots of sales, almost every week-end. You need alot of items in stock to carry you through all those sales. I always find that there are some items that sell really well at the live sales and just don't sell over the internet. Some items, really need to be seen. Groups usually provide a couple of tables and chairs but you provide all your own decor - table cloth, lighting, shelving - some people do a fantastic job presenting their items. Have you ever sold your items at a craft sale? Any tips for a successful sale?

Shoulder pad crafts

2008-08-12T09:26:00.002-06:00

Do you have extra shoulder pads that you've removed from clothing? I have tons of them and hate to throw them away. So I looked into various crafts and other uses for them. People have terrific ideas. Just google ' shoulder pad crafts' to find details on some of these.

You can use shoulder pads to make angels and other Christmas ornaments.

Make a cat toy.

Make a cute pin cushion to store your pins and needles.

What about these adorable embroidered bags?

The hats are also incredible?

Do you have some ideas? Please share them with us.

Tablecloth

2008-08-09T10:52:00.002-06:00

Have you ever made a tablecloth? They are quite easy to make, especially if you are making it from one large piece of fabric and you own a serger. I get many special requests for tablecloths - especially ones made from John Deere fabric and Christmas is very popular too. I would love to try making one that involves quilting. There are many beautiful patterns out there. I try to make mine with curved corners so they lay smoother but I don't think there's really a problem with square corners. Tell us about your experiences making tablecloths.

Sewing for Breast Cancer

2008-07-28T20:53:00.002-06:00

There are many lovely fabrics that highlight the pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness. One of my favourite fabrics is the last photo which shows 'on the mend' from breast cancer. The fabric is available in many patterns and different fabric types - cotton, flannelette, fleece and panels. You could use the fabric to make so many different things. It's a great cause. Use your imagination . . . what could you sew?

Loons or loony?

2008-07-24T11:40:00.003-06:00

I love loons and have many photos, ornaments and ofcourse fabric with loons. One of the first things I sewed for commercial purposes was the green loon tote bag. Since then I have made many items with loons. We don't have loons locally but I have seen them 'in the wild' up north. They are a beautiful bird and the way they carry the chicks on their backs is so cute. Some people have called me the loon lady; that's OK as long as they don't say 'loony'.

Not too early for Christmas sewing

2008-07-19T12:09:00.003-06:00

It's not too early to start on Christmas sewing projects. I've been listing my Christmas items on ebay for about a month and they are selling very quickly. The aprons are always popular. Most of my aprons are very straightforward - cut from panels. I also make some from border fabrics - works great for aprons or tablecloths. I'd like to try some placemats this year too.

I want to try a few new projects this year. I have a very cute Christmas angel quilt and need to sew up a few more of those. I included a photo of a cute Noel rug hooking project that I did. I know it's not sewing but I love to do rug hooking too (kind of a winter project, stay inside where it's warm and work on them).

Are you starting on your Christmas sewing? Some of you are probably way ahead of me. What projects are you working on this year?

Koalas 'bears'

2008-07-18T21:33:00.004-06:00

Have you ever seen a koala? For all my readers from Australia, ofcourse you have! I was lucky enough to visit Australia and we saw the koalas 'down under'. They love the eucalyptus tree and that is what we often associate with the koalas. Many people from around the world love koalas and I've sewn a few items with fabric that has koalas.

It's a very cute fabric and for those people who love koalas it gives them a little reminder of the cute bear everyday.

Horses, ponies and more horses

2008-07-11T07:39:00.002-06:00

Fabric with horses is widely available and is very popular. I've made many tote bags, aprons, pillows, quillows and specialty items for people who love horses. They are beautiful animals and people form close relationships with their horses. Horses are powerful amazing creatures. Do you have a favourite memory of horse riding or horses? Are you still out riding horses? Here is a sample of some of my horse items.

Happy Independence Day July 4

2008-07-04T08:22:00.003-06:00

For all our American sewers, happy Independence Day. Celebrate and enjoy the day - parades, fireworks and lots of fun.

I've sewn a few fun items that highlight the July 4 celebration - aprons, tote bags, everyone loves the flag.

Celebrate Canada Day

2008-07-01T18:37:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday Canada. It is a wonderful sunny day and we are celebrating Canada's birthday. Parades, flags, 21 gun salute, snowbirds fly-by, cake, fireworks, music, games and fun - everything come together to celebrate our country's birthday.

Quillow - a blanket in a pillow

2008-06-27T08:46:00.002-06:00

Have you ever sewn a quillow? It's really quite easy. A quillow is basically a quilt with a pocket on the end that you can fold the quilt into. Once the quilt is folded and tucked into the pocket, it looks like a pillow. They are very handy in the car, on the couch, at the cabin. Some people make them from fleece or flannel so they are warmer but I make most of mine from cotton. Most of them are made with a quilt about 44 inches wide and 63 inches long. They can be made longer or shorter. If I make one for a child, like the Noah's Ark quilt, I usually make it shorter.

I take solid coloured cotton, 45 inches wide and cut two pieces to the desired length. I put a thin batting in between, sew it up leaving a short opening to turn to the right side. After turning, I top stitch all around the quilt. The pocket section is make with a decorative panel of your choice, with backing of solid coloured cotton and batting lining. Sew together, leaving an opening to turn and then top stitch after turning. I sometimes do some additional to stitching to highlight the design on the panel. Then stitch the panel in the centre of one end of the quilt leaving an opening at the bottom of the panel. Top stitch, machine stitch or tie the quilt as you like to hold the batting in place. Fold the quilt up and tucking it in to the pocket and you have the finished product. They are great.

Here is a link to a set of instruction, or just google and you'll find more.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/3721/quillow.htm

Panda Bears

2008-06-20T06:08:00.002-06:00

We've been hearing about the panda bears recently because of the earthquakes and resulting mud slides, etc. in China. News reports seem to indicate that there's a risk of running out of bamboo for the pandas in a refuge area. I hope they find a solution quickly so the animals are not suffering. I have sewn a few panda items and they are very popular. The green panels are my favourites with the vibrant green colours. Here's a few samples of the items I've made - tote bags, pillows, quillows.

Sewing machine repairs

2008-06-16T08:56:00.003-06:00

I find it very difficult to be without my sewing machine for a few days. But I know that it's almost time to take it in for the annual tune up. A few weeks ago I had to start tightening up the tension, a little bit more every week to keep the top thread tight. That's the signal for me that it is time to take the machine in. I have an older sewing machine that I keep for 'back up'. I get so many special requests from people (could you add a closure to a tote bag, how about a matching pillow case, etc.) that I like to be able to respond quickly. But . . . there's no putting it off now. Must take the machine in this week.

Sewing books

2008-06-12T07:15:00.001-06:00

Do you buy sewing books? Do you have a stack of them? I have a few books, a few magazines, and I look looking through them. I always get lots of good ideas. It's not as easy to put those ideas into finished products but it's nice to learn how to make new things. Are there any books that you would recommend? I love the County Woman magazine, they have lots of other articles like decorating, cooking and general crafting and they often had sewing projects.

Sewing with Pink fabric

2008-06-10T07:14:00.002-06:00

What do you think about all the pink fabrics that are available for subjects that normally aren't pink. I don't mean the fabric that is related to breat cancer, that an issue that deserves lots of support. I'm talking about fabric like the pink John Deere fabric. I love them and have been trying to track some down to make baby items like bibs, crib sets, blankets. I grew up with 5 brothers and now have 2 sons so I didn't see alot of pink fabric up until now. I did find some of the fabric and was able to make a few aprons which proved very popular.

Treadle sewing machine

2008-06-08T07:28:00.003-06:00

Have you ever used a treadle sewing machine? Some of you may be thinking, what IS a treadle sewing machine? The treadle machine was built around the turn of the century (20th century) so many of them are over 100 years old. There was no electricity so there was a small platform on the bottom (a treadle) and you pushed your feet from front to back, up and down, to make the machine work. It was one of those things that after a short time you got the hang of it and you could sew very efficiently. These machines were very resilient. We use ours to sew canvas tents. It's really my husband's machine. Recently he added 18 inches to the bottom of a canvas tent to make it taller. What kind of projects have you sewn on a treadle machine?

Fabric stash

2008-06-06T09:29:00.002-06:00

Are you brave enough to admit how much of a sewing and fabric stash you have? We love to buy the fabric and trim and bits and pieces but then it just sits there, waiting for us to to cut and sew into finished products. Do you have nice sorted piles of fabric or just random piles and piles and piles of fabric and goodies. We all need a stash but how much is too much?

Gotta love John Deere

2008-05-31T10:25:00.002-06:00

There are so many different items that I've sewn from John Deere fabric. They have a wide variety of patterns and fabric including fleece, cotton, and pillow and apron panels. Recently they have brought out pink John Deere fabric. I started out making baby bibs for my own children because our family farms and we love John Deere tractors, combines, air seeders and all the rest. Then we got to making aprons, baby crib sheets, pillows, quillows, quilts, baby crib bumper sets, tote bags, placemats and on and on. I get lots of special requests from people and I love to make items for them. John Deere - can't get enough of it. Here is a small sampling of the many items I have made. Have you sewn anything with the John Deere fabric?

Sunflowers

2008-05-27T09:50:00.002-06:00

Sunflowers are very popular. They are so pretty when the bright yellow colour comes out. Have you every tried growing them in your garden? We tried one year and they grew about 8 feet tall! Farmers also grow fields of them and they are gorgeous. I sew a few sunflower tote bags and they are lovely with the bright colours. They can also be made into quilts, pillows and quillows.

Interesting repair jobs

2008-05-26T08:46:00.003-06:00

My husband is an avid outdoorsman and recently he asked me to repair a tent. Originally the tent came with two clear plastic inserts to allow light in. The plastic had become hard and discoloured over time and he wanted them replaced. I removed the plastic pieces - large triangles - and cut waterproof fabric the same size. We used white to give some brightness to the tent rather than using a transparent plastic which would likely get brittle again. I serged the edges of the new fabric pieces and then sewed them into the two areas as best I could. I was very happy with the smooth corners. Now we'll spray the seams to waterproof them and hopefully everything will work out. It turned out much better than I expected and I was able to do everything on sewing machines. I had dreaded having to finish the corners by hand to get them neat and smooth but it turned out not to be necessary.

Thanks goodness!

Making bias tape

2008-05-22T14:03:00.002-06:00

I had an earlier post about using the handy bias tape maker gadget to make bias tape. I've used the gadget to make bias tape a few times with really no problem. I bought some bias tape rolls at a thrift store and thought it was a really good deal until I tried folding it through the gadget and it was just too narrow. So I had to decide if I would buy another gadget with a smaller opening or try the basic method with a needle pinned onto the ironing board. Ofcourse I tried the needle on the ironing board. It worked quite well. I scorched my old ironing board cover a bit but I'm due for a new one soon anyway. Had to watch that I didn't get my fingers too close to the iron and steam but otherwise it was great. Another great advantage is that you can make bias tape to perfectly match your garment, blanket or whatever project you have.

Sewing to Save the Polar Bear

2008-05-16T08:08:00.005-06:00

A few years ago I was fortunate to travel way up north to Churchill, Manitoba and we saw polar bears. Ever since, I have been very aware of the danger that polar bears face because of global warming. The ice cap is melting quickly and without the ice the bears can't travel and catch seals, their prime source of food. The polar bears are now very close to extinction. One of the first items that I sewed was a polar bear tote bag. Since then I've found a few polar bear fabrics and I've made many different items like aprons, quillows and potholders. They are a fascinating animal and I'm very happy to sew items that remind me of the polar bear.

Step by Step instructions to make a tote bag with gusset

2008-05-13T17:38:00.006-06:00

Black and white cow tote bag

How do you go from a flat piece of fabric to a tote bag with gusset? Here are the step by step instructions on how I make the black and white cow tote. Start with a rectangular piece of fabric - you can use any size that suits your needs.

With a serger or zigzag stitch finish the top edges and then fold the bag in half legnthwise and stitch the sides together. I like to use the serger because it leaves a nice finished edge with a strong seam.

Now the handles. I have webbing that I buy in bulk and then I cut it to the desired length, around 27 inches for this bag and serge the ends or use zigzag so there isn't too much fraying. If you don't have webbing you can use matching fabric, folded in three and topstitched or sewn together and then turned right side out.

This panel is marked for the handle placement but you can easily measure and mark the spots for the handles. Sew the handles on with the raw edge matching the top of the bag because when you fold the top edge down the handles will be in the right position and can be overstitched in place.

Once the handles are sewn on, the top can be folded down an inch or so. I topstitch the very top first to ensure the handles are secured properly.

Then I stitch around again to hold the fold in place.

The gusset is the last thing that I stitch. I fold the corners into a triangle and stitch straight across at the desired width of gusset - for this bag about 4 inches.

Here is the bottom of the bag showing the gusset.

Fold the bag right side out and there I have the finished bag.

Have a Wonderful Mother's Day

2008-05-10T10:20:00.003-06:00

For all the mothers out there who love to sew, or if you sew to keep your family looking good, have a wonderful mother's day. Enjoy the day.

For many of us, it was our mother who taught us how to sew and encouraged us to develop a love for sewing. Thanks to all those mothers and hopefully we can do the same for our children and extended families to ensure the love for sewing continues for many generations.

More on sewing conferences

2008-05-08T11:06:00.002-06:00

I'm looking at a conference during the fall or winter that would be held in a warmer climate. This would be a great getaway and have the bonus of all the excitement of the the sewing networking. Somewhere in California, Texas, Florida or another southern state would be perfect. Any suggestions?

Sewing conferences

2008-05-06T09:20:00.000-06:00

Have you ever attended a sewing conference? I'm starting to seriously think about going to one this fall or winter. You can easily find listings for them if you google 'sewing conferences'. I'd love to attend a couple of classes or instructional sessions and get to network with other sewing 'fanatics'. Have you been to a conference? Can you recommend a conference? Please share your experiences.

Serger escapades

2008-05-05T07:58:00.003-06:00

I love my serger. It is very easy to thread and does a wonderful job finishing off seams. I know the serger can do even more. I took a beginner class a few years ago and I was amazed at the garments that the instructor had made. I don't make very many clothes but I love using the serger to finish off the edges of something like an apron and then I fold under the edge and everything looks fairly professional (I think, hope . . . ). Changing the thread can be a challenge. Our instructor gave us one cheat for this - tie a knot between the old thread and the new thread, slowly work the knot through and you are on to a new spool. It works about 75% of the time so I always give it a try. The other tip she gave us was to clean, clean, clean the machine. That's when I started buying compressed air to clear away all the lint and threads. Now I use it all the time (on my regular sewing machine too). Any tips for the serger are welcome. What kind of garments or crafts do you use your serger for?

Scissors

2008-05-03T07:34:00.007-06:00

I have several pair of scissors that I use for sewing. I found out long ago that it pays to buy good quality scissors. For awhile I made alot of terrycloth baby bibs and cutting the terrycloth was a challenge. And being left-handed I can't just borrow scissors from a friend. I have regular sewing scissors for everyday.

Then pinking shears for trimming and leaving a special edge. Lately I've used these on small pieces of cute fabric to put on top of jars of layered cookie mix.

I have a very handy small set of scissors - I call them embroidery scissors and they are great when you are working on something smaller or even for clipping small areas or stitches. Great for trimming threads on sewing projects.

I really like a pair of soft grip quick release pair too. Sometimes when I'm cutting alot of fabric I'll switch off between this pair and the regular scissors just to give my hand a break. I find I can't be quite as precise with this pair.

I have a rotary cutter but haven't used it much yet. I'm looking forward to getting more skilled with it and using it to cut squares for some rag quilts.

Which scissors do you like best? How many pair do you have?

What kind of thread to use

2008-05-02T08:56:00.002-06:00

Have you ever struggled with finding the right kind of thread for your project? I usually buy 'all purpose' or polyester to use for almost everything. But once in awhile I need a different kind of thread for special projects. You do get what you pay for and any cheap thread will be a problem, fraying, breaking, just not performing. It is not worth it. Here are a few tips.

COTTON: used for sewing on light and medium weight cottons, rayons and linens. The lack of give in cotton thread means it won't work well for knits or other stretchy fabrics - the stitches will tend to pop.

SILK: A fine strong thread for sewing on silk, knits and wool and ideal for basting all fabric types. It won't leave holes from stitching. Silk thread is excellent for tailoring because it will mold with the fabric in shaped areas.

NYLON: A fine strong thread for sewing light to medium weight synthetics. This is especially suited to nylon tricot.

POLYESTER: An all-purpose thread that is suitable for sewing on most fabrics, and particularly for woven synthetics. Most polyester threads have a wax or silicone finish to help them slip through the fabric with a minimum of friction.

HEAVY DUTY THREADS: These are coarse threads used where extra strength is required for heavy vinyl, coating or upholstery fabrics.

I have found that one brand works better than others on my machine - I'm not sure why!

Adding a zipper to a tote bag

2008-05-01T07:14:00.002-06:00

I make dozens of tote bags; I hope you'll check them out on eBay or drop me an email and I'll send you some photos. They are straightforward sewing two pieces of cotton (usually printed panels) together, adding batting for light padding and then a solid coloured cotton lining. I make the straps from extra fabric that comes with the panels or from the same cotton as the lining. After making a few dozen, it's very easy to sew them and get everything put together correctly. Once in awhile people ask for custom details - longer straps (no problem), pocket inside (not too much work) or a closure - now that can be trickier. Sewing velcro across the top is OK, adding a button with a ribbon loop closure or even a cloth flap with a buttonhole isn't too bad either. But adding a zipper. That can be a challenge after the bag is completely put together. I'm happy to give it a try if it is something that people would really like to have. A person has to have some challenges!

Sewing for Anne Murray

2008-04-30T07:45:00.002-06:00

I couldn't help making reference to Anne Murray today. She is my favourite singer and I am going to her concert tonight. This is her final tour. I was lucky enough to meet her a few years ago at a concert in Billings, Montana. It was a thrill. There's no connection to sewing - just had to mention it.

Sewing for men

2008-04-29T07:09:00.002-06:00

Have you tried sewing for the men in your life? I grew up with my dad and five brothers and now have a husband and two sons so I have lots of experience. It seemed that most of the sewing for them was patching, mending, hemming pants, replacing zippers, sewing buttons . . . Occasionally I have made them clothes. I've sewn several hunting outfits - loose fitting jacket and pants with lots of pockets and ofcourse bright orange in our part of the country. A few fleece jackets along the way but I didn't try to make pants with pockets and zippers, shirts with buttons and pockets. Have you tried to sew for men? Or maybe we have some male readers out there - send us your comments!

Sewing for charity

2008-04-28T06:55:00.002-06:00

Please consider sewing something for charity, to donate to a group home or shelter or to a silent auction that is raising funds for a charity. It's a great way to give back to your community. I regularily donate to silent auctions and other charities and it is great. Check this website, it you live in the US http://www.sewing.org/html/e_charitysew.html and in Canada http://www.hatsoffforcancer.com/ and http://www.sewonfire.com/index.htm. Imagine sewing hats and teddy bears for kids who are dealing with cancer. It's an awesome feeling!

Sewing a calendar

2008-04-27T07:21:00.002-06:00

I've sewn a few calendars over the years from panels, like Debbie Mumm, that are created for that purpose. It's simply a matter of finishing the edges, or doing some quilting, adding a few hangers and there you have a calendar. I've also made a perpetual calendar from plastic canvas - you just keep changing the month and arrangements of dates and use it month after month. I enjoy the perpetual calendar because I have some special 'numbers' that I use for birthdays (cake), Christmas (tree), St Patrick's Day (shamrock), Valentines (heart) and so on. You can find a pattern here http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/566925/how_to_make_a_plastic_canvas_perpetual.html but the special effects were something that our family created. I haven't seen them anywhere else. Have you sewn or made a calendar?

Quick fixes

2008-04-26T09:14:00.002-06:00

Have you ever had to make a quick repair to your clothing at the last minute. I love these quick fixes:

use a stapler to hold up a fallen hem or fill in for a missing button.
use duct tape to hem jeans and it will hold through several washings.
safety pin for all kinds of things.
carry one of those little sewing kits that hotels provide.
Other ideas?

Sewing forums

2008-04-25T07:27:00.003-06:00

Do you ever go on sewing forums to discuss a problem or help someone solve a problem? I find them very interesting and almost always learn something. Once in awhile I'm able to provide a suggestion or an answer to someone else's problem and that is always great! Take a look at the sewing forum under my links or google to look for others. You will enjoy them.

Sewing left handed

2008-04-24T06:57:00.003-06:00

Yes, I'm one of the 10% of the world who are left handed. Does it make a difference for sewing? I found a book about the phenomenom - must be a phenomenom, someone wrote a book! You can google the book's title or check amazon if you are interested in purchasing the book.

Obviously left handed scissors are a must. I find it cumbersome at my sewing machine to have all my pins, scissors and bits & pieces on the right, because the fabric has to go under the sewing needle on the left and that area needs to be clear. So I reach over with my left hand to grab a pin or the scissors. I had one sewing instructor who wore her scissors in a little pouch around her neck - looked very handy. Anything else? Share your experiences and tips.

Mother's day sewing

2008-04-23T07:12:00.002-06:00

Is it too early to start thinking about creating a gift for mom? I've sewn many gifts for my mom and I'm pretty sure she always appreciates them - she taught me how to sew! She doesn't use a computer so I'm pretty safe discussing gift ideas here. What about you? Do you sew gifts for other people? Share your ideas.

Earth Day - let's sew green

2008-04-22T09:52:00.003-06:00

Sewing green is easy! I think sewing is the ultimate in being green - you can reuse scraps, cut up clothes & towels and reuse the 'good' parts, repair clothes with missing buttons or minor damage, resize clothes so they still fit, the list goes on and on. You can also sew yourself tote bags to use at the store so you don't need paper or plastic. What are you doing for earth day?

Sewing classes

2008-04-21T13:40:00.002-06:00

Have you ever taken a sewing class? We have some local sewing stores that offer wonderful classes. I took a class when I first bought a serger and it really helped me understand everything the machine could be used for. Last year I took a class to make a tote bag with 4 inch squares. It really changed my attitude about using scraps. Now I keep everything. I'm looking forward to making a couple more bags. Check out some of our links or google 'sewing classes' and you'll be amazed at what is available.

Sewing Patterns - getting organized

2008-04-20T07:24:00.003-06:00

Buying sewing patterns for clothes can be a real challenge. First of all there are millions of them! You look through books and books. When you find one you like then you have to pick the size and hope the store has it in stock. Then the price! Wow, some patterns are over $20. It's worth waiting for a sale day to buy a pattern. I have a stack of patterns and if you do too you might be interested in this pattern organizer idea. They fit in a filing cabinet drawer or one of those handy totes that come in all sizes. This looks like a great way to get organized.

Sew mania

potato bags

Fabrics and sewing in Asia

Happy American Thanksgiving

Crib skirt or dust ruffle - pleated or gathered?

Summer vacation

Happy Canada Day July 1st

Happy Mother's Day

Back home from Egypt & Sewing

Happy Valentines Day

Happy New Year! 2010

Merry Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving

Remembrance Day

Happy Thanksgiving

Sewing Fair

Bib apron with eyelet trim

Sewing a diaper bag

Happy July 4th - Celebrate

Happy Canada Day

Precious Moments fabric

Making potholders

Cookie Mix in a jar

Winnie the Pooh & Friends

Blessed Easter - He is risen!

Rag Quilt

Making Buttonholes - machine or hand stitched

Sewing with Snoopy Fabric

Sewing for your pets

Happy Family Day

Wonderful finds in the fabric stash

Happy Chinese New Years 新年快乐 新年快樂

Recyclable sewing

New curtains are sewn and looking good!

Making curtains for a bedroom window

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Sewing for Christmas

Sewing an apron with pockets across the bottom

Happy Thanksgiving to Americans

Pillows, pillows everywhere!

Truck seat cover - making it wider

Remembrance Day

Sewing Notions

U.S. Election Day sewing

Make a halloween treat bag

Sewing Christmas gifts

Sewing for Halloween - or just cutting and gluing?

Making geckos and critters with beads

Happy Thanksgiving

Sewing pockets

Cats are wonderful creatures, or not?

Embroidery - machine or by hand

Sewing Zippers

Sewing by Hand

Sewing for Babies

Sewing TV shows and videos

Threading a needle

Save the whales & dolphins

Sewing machine needs repairs again

Self Threading needles

Craft Sales

Shoulder pad crafts

Tablecloth

Sewing for Breast Cancer

Loons or loony?

Not too early for Christmas sewing

Koalas 'bears'

Horses, ponies and more horses

Happy Independence Day July 4

Celebrate Canada Day

Quillow - a blanket in a pillow

Panda Bears

Sewing machine repairs

Sewing books

Sewing with Pink fabric

Treadle sewing machine

Fabric stash

Gotta love John Deere

Sunflowers

Interesting repair jobs

Happy Chinese New Years 新年快乐新年快樂