2010 SCHMETZ Portfolio Designer - Linda McGehee

Linda's Favorite Needle:  Ask and Linda will tell you Topstitch . . . Metallic Twin . . . Jeans . . . Universal. . . . and . . . well you get the idea.  Linda has a favorite needle for every type of work she does!

Linda has a diverse sewing background from garments to handbags, piecing to heirloom, surface manipulation to combining techniques.  She travels the globe demonstrating and lecturing from her many books and patterns.

Bags Galore is Linda's newest DVD.  Get motivated to create your own handbags.  Linda shares informative techniques to create an array of handbags.  She covers products, basic construction, pockets, straps, snaps, zippers - everything to make dynamite bags!

Linda loves zippers.

I adore this black lace zipper with the dainty floral zipper pull.

My favorite is the clear zipper above in an array of neon colors. - I have an idea for a wrap using that neon yellow! - I just need more time for sewing up all my ideas!

You will find Linda at a variety of sewing shows around the country.  Her company name is Ghee's.  Check out her booth for terrific handbag hardware - high quality hardware -  frames, clips, feet.  If you can't travel to a show, look for her teaching in a store near you or check her website at http://www.ghees.com/.

Sewing & Sharing - Changing Lives One Little Dress At A Time

Little Dresses for Africa
What project have you created recently to help someone else?  Recently I visited Priors and Sew Forth in Imperial, NE.  What a wonderful, well organized store with a broad range of quilting and fashion fabrics.  This small town store is remarkable!  Every town & city too, should be so lucky to have a local fabric store.

Ann, Jackie & Janet
Prior's and Sew Forth

Janet on the right is the owner.  She and her staff are delightful and true quilting & sewing enthusiasts.  In fact they participate in a wonderful non-profit program, Little Dresses for Africa. Simple dresses are made from pillowcases and sent to orphanages in Central Africa. To date with contributions from 49 States, over 50,000 dresses have been distributed to over 13 countries.

A Tower of Change

Prior's has already contributed over 100 dresses to Little Dresses for Africa, with their next shipment ready any day now.  Dresses are shipped to Nancy's Notions in Beaver Dam, WI for distribution.

Want to combine your love for sewing with sharing with others?  

Contact www.littledressesforafrica.org.

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Garden Inspiration

August is here!  How does your garden grow?

My front garden is very young with all new fresh plants.  What a pleasure it is to watch new vines and branches sprout.  Now the ultimate waiting game begins -  hoping leaves and flowers will sprout with an abundance of color dancing through my garden.  My expectations are even greater for next year . . . 

 . . . . yet simple pleasures are found in a fleeting moment as a bright and happy little finch visits my favorite Harry Lauder Walking Stick Tree.

Sewing is sometimes like gardening - starting simple, sometimes getting help and building upon your ideas - and along the way sharing.  Read my next blog on sharing.

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2010 SCHMETZ Portfolio Designer - Debra Justice

Debra's favorite SCHMETZ needle:  Hemstitch 100/16

Debra is the proprietress of Labours of Love Heirloom Sewing Supplies, a Canadian based mail order company.  Her discriminating taste is reflected in her "How To" DVD series. 

Debra uses the Hemstitch - sometimes known as a Wing - needle, to make old fashioned "pin stitching" or dainty little holes in natural fibers.  She uses the Hemstitch needle to attach lace and embellish the edge of lace.  Debra also likes to use the Hemstitch needle to join laces and make entredeux for free!

Debra makes heirloom sewing easy & inspiring with her patterns, books and DVDs. 

Debra's eye for design does not stop in the sewing room.  Visit her blog for terrific recipes and design ideas ... Sushi Cupcakes?  ... and what about that Louis Vuitton birthday cake!  Bravo!!!

Debra Justice

http://www.laboursoflove.com/

http://www.debrajustice.blogspot.com/

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2010 SCHMETZ Portfolio Designer - Louise Cutting

Louise's Favorite Needle - Quilting 75/11

Louise uses the SCHMETZ Quilting 75/11 exclusively for all her garment sewing along with 100% cotton thread in either 50 or 60 wt.  She finds the combination of the 75/11 Quilting needle and the 100% cotton thread to have a wonderful stitch quality.  The seam does not pucker and lies flat when it is first sewn and after washings.

The SCHMETZ Quilting needle has a special taper to the slightly rounded point allowing easier fabric penetration and elimination of skipped stitches.  This needle is made especially for piecing and machine quilting.

Louise  is a contributing editor of Thread's Magazine and frequently lectures at the American Sewing Guild National Conference, The Sewing & Stitchery Expo, Original Sewing & Quilt Expos and Martha Pullen's Market Place.  Louise's TV appearances include HGTV, DIY and PBS.  Thirty-five years ago Louise founded Cutting Corners, Inc., a successful Couture Custom Clothing Buisness designing bridal gowns, tailored suits and "high end" sportswear.  She established "Fashion Collections" as a haven for sewing enthusiasts filled with New York and European designer fabrics and buttons.

One Seam Pant

Louise started "The Cutting Line Designs" pattern company.  Her most popular pattern One Seam Pant(C) sold 43,000 patterns!  Isn't this astonishing!  Are you wearing a pair today?  This pattern collection now offers twenty different designs representing today's lifestyle with a timeless and easy elegance. 

One of my summer sewing projects!

With over 30 years of knowledge Louise compiled a series of booklets "Expert Tips and Techniques for Fine Sewing."  She is also co-creator of "Shapes" pattern line offering super simple and fresh wearables.

Louise is a professional Fashion Illustrator with many illustrations appearing in Vogue and Harpers Bazaar.  She was the Dept. Head for Fashion Merchandising and Design at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and Prospect Hall College. 

View Louise's website for her newest patterns: http://www.cuttinglinedesigns.com/. 

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2010 SCHMETZ Portfolio Designer - Connie Crawford

Connie's Favorite Needle - Quick Threading

Connie is a licensed designer for Butterick Patterns and is owner of Fashion Patterns by Coni.  She was the 2009 selection for the American Sewing Guild Sewing Hall of Fame.  She is a nationally recognized lecturer, fashion specialist, educator and author of sewing and pattern textbooks.  Drawing on her 35 years of experience in apparel manufacturing and 23 years teaching fashion design classes in patternmaking, sewing and draping at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, Connie created her own pattern line with true-to-body fit from sizes X-Small to 6X. 

Connie's textbooks and DVD's help you customize your sewing.

Connie is particularly fond of the SCHMETZ Quick Threading needle because it is easier to thread.  The Quick Threading Needle is a Universal needle with a small slip-in threading slot in the eye. It has a slightly rounded point for trouble-free sewing on numerous types of fabrics.

Check out Connie's website for her newest pattern & product catalog at http://www.fashionpatterns.com/ .

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"Sewing For Men" Contest

SCHMETZ recently sponsored the "Sewing for Men" Contest at PatternReview.com. When was the last time you have sewn for your favorite guy? No, I don't mean hemming jeans and sewing on buttons . . . but thoughtfully selecting a pattern, fabric and asking our "guy" about favorite features in their pants and shirts. Lynne, the First Prize winner was worried about fit, while accommodating a list of her husband's "modifications" to a Jalie pattern.  Michelle was the Random winner using a favorite Big & Tall Simplicity shirt pattern.  Both ladies scored major points.  Their husbands love their new duds!  Well done ladies!

Here's the press release with pictures of Lynne & Michelle's winning entries at http://sewing.patternreview.com/news?s=981298 
Maybe this is just the little nudge you need to sew up something special for your guy.

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