Pat Bravo, Art Gallery Fabrics, Kollabora

Spring and summer are just around the corner.  So, now is the time to grab a Pat Bravo pattern and a variety of Art Gallery Fabrics.  What a combo!  Pat is not only a designer, but co-founder of Art Gallery Fabrics.  Located in Florida, Pat's designs - patterns and fabrics - are fresh and flirty with a touch of sophistication appropriate for everyday use.  I love the thought of combining Art Gallery Fabrics' colorful florals and intricate graphics into relaxed, yet chic dresses, totes and a variety of quilt and sewing projects.  Check the website for free projects and creative videos.  Art Gallery Fabrics are found in quilt shops around the world.  Pat's patterns are presented in a CD featuring 40+ pages of detailed instructions with full color diagrams and pics.  Plus real size patterns are included in the CD case.  Yahoo!  Let's get stitchin . . .
www.patbravo.com
www.liveartgalleryfabrics.com

Pat Bravo and Art Gallery Fabrics
Inspiration From Around the Globe Speaking the Language of Color

Looking for a creative community?  Join Kollabora to collaborate or work together.  Learn new skills - sewing, jewelry making, knitting and a whole bunch more.  Get inspired by the creative projects of other members.  Make new friends from around the world. Kollabora is a DIY dream to share projects, instructions and techniques.
www.kollabora.com

Kollabora

Make Something Awesome

Sew many projects, so little time.......
Let's get stitchin!
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda

www.patbravo.com
www.artgalleryfabrics.com
www.kollabora.com

STUDIOe Fabrics, Saf-T-Pockets, Pellon PERFECT Loft

Is your stash ever complete?  Absolutely not... and I want this beautiful collection of STUDIOe Fabrics.  The fabrics are fresh and inspiring... really delightful for sewing and quilt projects.  STUDIOe fabrics are found in independent quilt shops around the world, but check out their website for some amazing FREE quilt projects.  Just how can I fit more sewing time into my schedule?
www.studioefabrics.com

STUDIOe Fabrics
Collect fabrics from all STUDIOe designers
 

If we have met at a sewing show in the last 6 months, at one time you have probably seen me wear this pattern, Saf-T-Pockets T-Shirt Trifecta.  Yes, I love to sew and quilt and this pattern is my current favorite to quickly stitch with the serger or sewing machine.  From glittery textured knits to recycled t-shirts, I have made this pattern four times in the last 6 months with two more fabrics waiting for the Trifecta.  Marsha McClintock, owner and designer of Saf-T-Pockets loves stylish pickpocket proof patterns for traveling.  My favorite is View 1.
www.saf-t-pockets.com





Saf-T-Pockets Patterns

View 1 is My Favorite

 

I am about to begin a little recycled sock creature project and was curious about what stuffing to use.  Pellon has provided the perfect solution - PERFECT Loft.  This fiber fill is soooo soft, yet retains its resilence - Pellon states 30% more filling power than standard fill.  PERFECT Loft will never clump nor bunch and is hypoallergenic.  Just ask Leslie pictured below.  Leslie is a new sewist with a new blog and recently reviewed Pellon PERFECT Loft. 
www.pellonideas.com

 

 

 Pellon PERFECT Loft is Oh So Huggable

Read Leslie's March 8th Review at 50 Sq Ft Studios

 

More terrific sewing product reviews coming. . . .
Drop by our SCHMETZneedles Face Book page to "Like" us.

Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.studioefabrics.com
www.saf-t-pockets.com
www.pellonideas.com
www.50sqftstudios.com





ToolTron, Angela Wolf & Indygo Junction Product Reviews

This week I am excited to show you a few new sewing products that will soon be seen in your local stores.  Where do I start? 

Have a hard-to-reach area on your sewing machine?  This little Micro Screwdriver from Tooltron is as adorable as it is functional.  Already I have used it for easy removal of my machine throat plate during cleaning.  The chunky 3/4" handle makes usage very easy, especially if you have large fingers.  Available with Flat and Philips heads.  Thanks Tooltron for this cute and very useful screwdriver.  Tooltron is a terrific source for all kinds of nifty tools for pets, fishing, scrapbooking, and lucky for us - quilting and sewing. 
www.tooltron.com

Tooltron
Creative Tools for Creative People
 

A good pair of jeans is very hard to find. . .  just ask me how I know.  A solution is to make your own.  Angela Wolf has just the pattern  . . .  appropriate for every body type.  Angela is an internationally renowned fashion designer and her pattern, The Angel Bootcut Jean, is a stylish lower-rise jean that will flatter every body shape.  Angela loves to share her sewing knowledge.  Find her teaching and writing for PatternReview.com, Craftsy, It's Sew Easy TV, Threads and Sew Stylish magazines.  With Angela's detailed instructions sewing fabulous jeans is so much less daunting.  I can hardly wait to stitch up a pair myself.
www.angelawolfpatterns.com

 Angela Wolf

Design & Tailoring Expert

 

 

I have known Amy Barickman for many years and marvel at her design prowess and business expansion.  I love Indygo Junction products and this book is no exception.  Fabric Flowers are all the rage, and Amy shows how to create stunners.  Grab some favorite fabric and Clover Flower Making Tools to create your own floral bouquet! 
www.indygojunction.com  

 Indygo Junction

Let Your Creativity Bloom

Three more product reviews coming...

Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com
www.tooltron.com
www.angelawolf.com
www.indygojunction.com

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How To Open the Needle Cartridge

Opening a package of SCHMETZ needles is a fairly simple procedure... once you know the physics behind this little plastic container. Put away the hammers, pliers, rocks, and whatever else you might have been using to free your needles from the confines of the storage container. Many already know the secret of getting to your needles, but if you are still have lost patience and have uttered any one of the seven dirty words you can't use on the radio, then please read further.

Here's the secret...
                    
The clear plastic cover is designed to SLIDE down over the main storage case. You cannot pry the clear cover up and off... it is designed to SLIDE off.
It can't be that simple you say. Well, actually, yes it can. Follow the illustrations below to help you master the technique. This technique works on the cartridges storing both carded and loose pack needles.
                   

1. Correct way to slide the cover: To open - SLIDE cover pushing from the top edge towards the needle point (not towards the shank); take care not to press the cover towards the bottom. 2. Incorrect way to slide the cover:

Now insert your needle, thread your machine and start your new sewing adventure!
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

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Needle Replacement

When do you change your needle?  Recently I conducted an informal survey at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo and found that 46% change their needles with every new project or every 4 to 10 sewing hours.  That was a pleasant surprise, but again I was asking attendees at the largest sewing party in North America.  Hmmmm 46% . . . . 

What is everyone else doing?  That leaves many sewists waiting to replace their needle until it snags, pops or breaks.  Well for those of you that never change your needle - you know who you are - or wait until the needle breaks, take a look at this magnified pic of a used needle.  The needle on the left has been used, yet a closer look tells a very different story.

This needle is not as sharp as it looks to our naked eye.  Look at that giant burr and striations!  What is it doing to your fabrics?  Is it compromising your machine?  Just like a razor gets dull and pulls at a beard, a machine needle is similar and needs to be changed.  The general rule of thumb is to change your needle after 8 hours of sewing time.  Fabrics with different finishes and even your sewing technique may determine needle replacement more or less than every 8 hours.  In the meantime, here are a few clues to help you to determine when to replace the needle:

Broken or Shredded Threads

Skipped or Uneven Stitches

Puckered or Damaged Fabrics

Popping/Clunking Sound Made by Sewing Machine

Yes, your machine talks to you.  Look and listen.  Change your needle.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

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What Blogs Do You Read?

What sewing and creative blogs do you read?  This was my question of the week at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo.  With the zillions of websites and blogs, where do others find sewing facts, education, inspiration, some humor and a recipe or two?  Through an informal questionnaire, I got quite a list.  In fact I was thrilled with the variety!  So here's a list of blogs - or websites with blogs - that our creative friends are reading.  

If you are new to blogs or you just want to break out of your reading rut and discover new blogs, have some fun checking these out.  Each blog or website below is linked, so just click a name and you are off to discover a new site. . . .  Of course I was thrilled to know SCHMETZneedles is regularly read.

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alittlesewing          ARMOMMY          Army Wife 101          Arts Business Institute          Artfabrik          The American Sewing Guild          Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery International Guild          BellaOnline           Burda Style           Canada College Fashion Dept      Centsational Girl          Colette Patterns          Communing With Fabric          Craftsy          Crazy Mom Quilts          Wolfram Demonstrations Project

Design Sponge          Embroidery Library          50 sqft studios          feeling stitchy   Generation Q Magazine          Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing          Goodbye Valentino          the Inspired room          instructables         janome life           j stern designs          knittyblog          kollabora          MARCY TILTON          mr x stitch          Nancy Zieman                    new dress a day          One Piece at a Time          Organized Home          Pacific Fabrics and Crafts          Paper Craft Planet          PatternReview          Pinterest         

Quality Sewing and Vacuum          Quilters Newsletter          Quilting Board          Quiltville          Judy Niemeyer Quilting          ravelry          Rita's Sew Fun Blog          Royal School of Needlework          SCHMETZneedles          Sewaholic          sew bittersweet designs          Sewing and Stitchery Expo Blog          Sew Nancy          SEW iT All tv          Sew, Mama, Sew!          sew can she          Smitten Kitchen          Stitchery Dickory Dock          Stitches and Seams          Sure-Fit Designs          the house of SMITHS          The Pioneer Woman          The Vivienne Files          Thread Banger          Threads Magazine          tumblr          Urban Threads          We All Sew          Whisk Kid          Without Directions

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Besides sewing tips and lots of inspiration, did you find the recipe for the salted caramel brownies?  Maybe it's time for a little snack.  So the question to YOU is "What blogs do you read?"   Let me know by commenting and I will post another list.

Sew SCHMETZ!

Rhonda

www.SCHMETZneedles.com

Sewing & Stitchery Expo 2013: Meet Mary Collen

What ingenuity!  Meet Mary Collen.  Mary took a few moments from her busy schedule at the Sewing & Stitchery Expo to talk about her entry into the IPCA, Independent Pattern Company Alliance, Ticket To Paradise Challenge.  Mary used a Dana Marie Design pattern to create a ski jacket with QR codes that when scanned with a smartphone redirect the reader to her website for details about the jacket at www.sewjazzyparadise.com.  Mary used a SCHMETZ Microtex needle.

Mary didn't win the challenge this year, but she won last year with the beautiful jacket she is wearing in this video.  Note the timeless embellished lapel.  What will Mary think of next year?  I'm going to keep a look out for next year's IPCA challenge.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.sewjazzyparadise.com
www.danamarie.com
www.patterncompanies.com