Sewing Machine Madness

Anticipation has been high with announcements of new sewing machines.  Machines that stitch a medley of designs while humming at the touch of a button.  Sewing machines have certainly evolved with technology.  I recently returned from two major shows - Baby Lock Tech and Janome Institute.  These were wholesale shows.  Dealers from around the world marveled at the newest machines that soon will be in our local stores. 

Here are a few friends I met along the way in the machine vendor malls:

Check out Eileen's wonderful embroidered neckline.

One of my favorite embroidery magazines is Designs in Machine Embroidery which just happened to be my booth neighbor.  Eileen Roche, the fabulous and inspirational editor, taught many embroidery techniques.   In fact you should visit her blog for clever tips.  I am especially intrigued by her recent posting on how to install a zipper using an embroidery hoop.   Really!  How very clever..........

Yes, this necklace is made entirely of zippers!

Speaking of zippers Linda McGhee at Ghee's also has a clever way of using zippers in non-traditional ways.  This necklace was stunning.  Who knew that zippers could be manipulated into masterful necklaces, bangles and brooches.  Linda has sourced beautiful zippers with rhinestones, lace and neon, iridescent and unusual colors.  I just will never look at a zipper the same way. 

The HoopSisters with their 2011 and 2012 EmbroideraBlock Quilts.

Annie and Lynda, The HoopSisters, were another neighbor.   They create exquisite quilt blocks in embroidery hoops.  That's right!  Let your embroidery machine do the quilt work!  Their technique is so successful that they developed Battlilizer, a batting and stabilizer in one, that is easy to hoop and provides a great foundation for quilt blocks.  Really love Annie and Lynda's traditional quilting with a 21st century twist!

Doug showing a trio pack of Hot-Wire Kreinik threads.

Love beautiful threads?  Kreinik has exquisite threads for a variety of uses, including fly fishing!  Doesn't every fish deserve an alluring line?  Whether you fish or not, Doug, owner of Kreinik, has a thread for your special projects.  An adhesive thread for use in scrapbooking and on multi-media postcards, and luscious metallic, silk and embroidery threads.

Just in time for the holidays ...
The SCHMETZ Gift Tin

  ....... and what was new with SCHMETZ at these two shows?  The new SCHMETZ Gift Tin was presented just in time for the holidays.  One tin holds up to 20 packs of needles and contain that ever handy SCHMETZ ABC Pocket Guide for easy reference.  More details coming, but as the holiday approaches look for this tin in your favorite sewing store.  The SCHMETZ Gift Tin is the perfect stocking stuffer!   

Sew SCHMETZ!

www.dzgns.com/blog
http://www.ghees.com/
http://www.shoopsisters.com/
http://www.kreinik.com/
http://www.schmetzneedles.com/

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IPCA Midnight Magic Contest

What do these 8 great design companies have in common?

Dana Marie Design Co.

Fashion Patterns by Coni

Great Copy Patterns

Islander Sewing Systems

Kayla Kennington Pattern Collection

L.J. Designs

Petite Plus Patterns

Saf-T-Pockets Patterns

They are members of the IPCA, Independent Pattern Company Alliance.  If you are looking for a creative, well drafted, professionally graded pattern with illustrated pattern guides, look to IPCA for wonderful wearable patterns.  IPCA has just announced a fashion sewing competition.

 
Choose a pattern from any of the above 8 IPCA member pattern collections, then let your imagination create a mystical, magical, marvelous wearable.  The theme is "Midnight Magic".  Submit a photo of your creation by January 26, 2012.  The semi-finalist entries will travel to the fabulous Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA, where expo attendees will vote for their favorite wearable.  The semi-finalists will also be presented in a slide show on BurdaStyle.com where an international audience will vote on-line.   ... and that's not all!  The semi-finalists will be presented in Las Vegas at the exclusive International Textile Expo in the IPCA fashion show.

What a great opportunity to create a marvelous garment for viewing by an international audience. . . . and of course there are great prizes including SCHMETZ needles!

Go to http://www.patterncompanies.com/ to view the contest rules and to download the entry form. 
What needle will YOU use for your entry?

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RTW Suit Taunts Until Machine Embroidered

For a while now a lovely rose coral suit has hung in my closet . . . really taunting me for embroidery.  At last it became a summer sewing project.  This suit was a steal when I bought it - a $200 suit for only $19.99 with the bonus that it is fully lined and fits perfectly.  

My first step was auditioning embroidery thread colors.  I wanted cheery colors.

Then I played with a few different designs and created a few stitch-outs.

This design is one of 2000 in Creative DRAWings.  I had seen it seemingly a million times on my laptop and never really liked the design, yet remained curious about it.  So after stitching a sample I realized that for this suit project, the design would be quite nice mirror imaged on the center lower back jacket above a soft gathering line.  By the way I had to rip out the jacket hem to release the lining.

The embroidery stitched out easily.  To add more interest the little floral design was replicated and centered between the horizontal design.  Seemingly I thought this project was finished, but now I am wondering if a few little orange dots in the empty design area might finish the design better. 

I will be wearing this suit at a variety of consumer shows this fall.  If you see me vending or teaching, look for the orange dots.  If I decide to add them, I need to do so this afternoon as I will be wearing it tomorrow at Baby Lock Tech.  A SCHMETZ Embroidery 90/14 was used.

www.SCHMETZneedles.com
www.Creative-DRAWings.com
www.babylock.com

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Curtain Ties

A while back when my husband and I moved into our new house, we found ready-made floral print curtains that were not too boisterous and were insulated.  We really like these curtains for the protection they provide from the weather extremes in Chicago land.  Time has past and dust was settling noticeably on the curtains, plus there seemed to be a smudge mark on the coordinating sheers that I just happen to know was from chocolate ice cream.  :)  Anyway, I dust the house quarterly, but I admit the curtains had never been vacuumed nor cleaned.   Yes, this was a summer project.  I tell this story not because of my valent cleaning spree, but because sewing was involved.

One whole weekend was devoted to curtains - washing, tumble drying and although I really wanted to just hang those curtains with just a hint of wrinkles, I just could not do it, so ironing - lots of ironing was involved.  Although I discovered a certain zen to the process, the sun was shining through the very clean windows that my husband washed inside and out.  Yes, he scored huge points with window washing!  ... and I had a chance to watch a few old black and white movies that I had never seen in their entirety on TCM including Spartacus and Mutiny on the Bounty. 

Even ceramic wildlife were recruited to keep valance corners from rolling until I had a chance to iron.

When the curtains were purchased all fit the windows perfectly, full length to the floor except for one over the sliding glass doors.  I really hated having to alter the curtains, but only one length was available.  About 8 inches were trimmed from the curtains, then I remembered in my stash were a couple different upholstery trims - perfect for curtain ties.  Yeap!  My sewing machine was soon purring away making the 5 ties needed.  A Jeans 110/18 was used with upholstery thread.  An old pair of khaki slacks were cut up as lining for the ties and two plastic rings were hand stitched to the back side.

 My curtain cleaning spree is over for about another 6 years, while dusting around the house will get done again in the fourth quarter... unless chocolate ice cream is involved!

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Nordstrom Rack Bag Embellishment

Like a good sale?  Always on the prowl for another sewing project, I found an adorable bronze textured leather shoulder bag last fall at the Nordstrom Rack.  This $20 bag called for my new mission . . . embellish the front flap.  With lightly gathered leather on the flap and a fully lined interior, my challenge was how.  Here's the finished project.  Let me show you what I did.

Last week Bob in the warehouse was wondering what to do with these newly found wonderful glass bead tassels.  I said "I will take them!"  This 3 berry tassel on a satin ribbon inspired me to finish the bag.

The previous week I had embroidered several medallions - experimenting with different stitches, threads, dimensions and stabilizers.  Finally I settled on stitching the medallions on black tulle stabilized with Sulky Solvy Medium Weight Water Soluable Stabilizer.

It was fun using Sulky's Water Soluable Stabilizers.  Here are a couple medallions soaking in water.  You can easily see the black tulle.

After drying my next question was how to apply the medallion to the bag.  Bob's timing was perfect when he found those cute little berry tassels.  Using heavy upholstery thread and a hand needle I threaded the satin ribbon through the center of the medallion, then through a hole in the leather bag and lining created by my trusty brass stiletto.  The hole in the bag and lining was not too large, so effort - rather a struggle - finally pulled the satin ribbon through both layers.  The ribbon was cut in half, then run through two eyes of the button and knotted for security. 

The embroidered medallion and glass berry tassel add a whole new and exciting personality to the bag.  Someone asked "Why use tulle?"  The embroidery stitches need support.  The black tulle provided stitch support while also disappearing on the textured leather bag. 

I still have a handful of the glass bead tassels.  No doubt somewhere along the sewing journey those little tassels will show up.

Summer is almost over.  Do you still have sewing projects to finish?  I do!  :)

www:Sulky.com
http://www.creative-drawings.com/

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Two Finished Sewing Projects

With this intense summer heat I have been inside sewing in preparation for fall SCHMETZ classes.  Recently I dedicated a weekend to just cutting out garments.  Projects were lined up in the guest room with their respective patterns, thread and any special notions.    Here are the first 2 finished sewing projects that I will be wearing at sewing shows this fall.

I was curious about this Connie Crawford pattern.  The suggested fabrication was wool, fleece, lightweight wovens and sheers.  What about an open knit fabric ... that just happened to be waiting in my stash? 

At first I was afraid that this loosely fit jacket may look too much like a tablecloth, but after trying it on a few times I'm going to have fun with it.  This pattern was very easy to cut out - although a huge cutting table or floor is needed.  It was also easy to sew thanks to my serger, although a sewing machine could easily get a similar effect.  All edges were serged, so my challenge was how to finish the edges.  The thought crossed my mind to just leave the serged edges alone which is frequently seen in the stores, but really I like a finished edge.

So I used my trusty SCHMETZ twin needles.  The neckline facing was secured with a Universal 4.0/80 twin.  The serged hem edge was turned up 1" then stitched with Universal 2.5/80.  Since the fabric had a decorative open pattern, I was a bit concerned that the twin needles would push the fabric into the throat plate.  After stitching a few samples, my suspicions were unfounded.  Both twin needles stitched beautifully and gave a nice finished edge to the jacket.

Jan Bones' V-Neck Camisole pattern was used for this cheerful top cut on the bias.  There is a small bit of topstitching along the neckline.  I used a Microtex 80/12 for precision stitching.

I have been playing around with my serger, learning different stitches and overall experimenting.  So all raw edges on this little top were serged.  What I really like is the serged hem - this gentle and flirty lettuce hem. 

Although I didn't plan to wear these two items together, they certain look terrific.  With a pair of white slacks I have the perfect outfit for Janome Institute - a wholesale dealer show - next month in Orlando.  Plus I have a cheery Swarovski daisy pendant that will be perfect bling. 

 ....... just 10 more sewing projects to go!

See my teaching schedule at consumer sewing shows at www.SCHMETZneedles.com.

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Dancing Digital Quilts

Spinning pinwheels. . .  Waltzing fans. . . .  Dancing log cabins. . . .  Here's a wonderful 6 minute film presented by the National Film Board of Canada.  You are sure to dance a jig on the way to your sewing machine.

http://www.nfb.ca/film/quilt/?ec=20110209
QUILT Directed by Gayle Thomas, Music by Normand Roger


Thanks Linda for sharing this delightful video!
If only I could quilt and sew as quickly as this QUILT film!

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