Sewing Up a Great Fourth of July

We're updating our Idea Wall in the store with Christmas in July ideas to help everyone get their holiday sewing off to a great start next month.

And since there's a lull in the class schedule while next month's preparations are made, we thought we'd bring you some last minute ideas for your fourth of July holiday. So here's just a sampling of  inspiration and ideas from around the net to make your fourth sparkle:

Need a casserole carrier? We found this tutorial here.

Decorations are great and the Aesthetic Nest Blog has a great Fourth of July post covering napkin rings, table runners, and garlands to sew and hang for your fourth picnic.

And for a whimsical set of placemats how about these from A Spoonful of Sugar Designs made with the pockets off of old blue jeans for cutlery holders? Be sure to have some denim needles on hand for this project and make sure your machine is set for heavy fabric!

Have a safe and lovely holiday and join us for our Christmas in July festivities next month!

Snowman Redwork Quilt Coming Soon

Join us for a Class!

This summer is just getting better with all the great new classes we have in the works. In this post we'd like to highlight a couple that you do not want to miss---the first is on July 23rd and is the Double Diamond Tote class. This bag features the double diamond technique on the front along with a decorative twisted handle. The bag is large enough to accommodate a whole market day of purchases! What a lovely gift it would make if you're planning on getting started on your holiday gift sewing early this year.

The other class that everyone is looking forward to is the Wildflower Embroidered Quilt class. This is a Smith Street design and features all those lovely wildflowers you find in Michigan woods and meadows. You can almost smell the beautiful Tiger Lilies, Jack in the Pulpits, and Trilliums. Join us beginning in August for this really outstanding project. View our whole class project here. And don't forget to finish those unfinished projects and get them in for credit! 

 

Sewing Machine Issues? Try this...

The other day I was sewing out an embroidery design on a piece of ribbon that I was going to attach to a quilt as a label. All of the sudden, half way through stitching out the design my normally well behaved machine gave a clunking noise and, after stopping the stitching, and examining my project I found a birds nest that could have accommodated an ostrich underneath my project.

So, as many of us who enjoy sewing, I started the process of troubleshooting. I first checked the threading---making sure that the thread hadn't become caught coming off the spool or come out of the lifter arm on the topside. I examined the bobbin thread and made sure that it was properly threaded and flowing out of where it should be.

Then I examined the needle and realized I hadn't changed out the needle from a large quilting project that I'd worked on last. Well, no wonder my poor machine was experiencing technical difficulties! Not only was the needle the wrong kind for my current project, but the needle was dull from all that quilting. I changed to an embroidery needle of the proper sized for the close woven ribbon and had no other problems after that.

Today's sewing machines do wonderful things. And they are very sophisticated and designed to work with the tools we have available today. That means that a home sewing enthusiast needs to brush up on the needles and feet that are available and when and how to use them.

Vintage machines like Grandma and Mom used could, and often did, go years on the same needle. (Although running on the same needle for years is not something I would recommend---those poor machines are not at their best with an old, dull needle.) In fact quite frequently we have customers come into the sewing center and brag that the same needle has been in the machine for years. But the modern machines that handle tension control and automatic adjustments for you need to have good sharp needles that should be swapped out after each project, sooner for those large quilting projects.

And today's needle assortments come in all sizes for all different uses. We have specialized needles not only for embroidery, but for delicates, denim, stretch knits, quilting, and others. Each of these needle types have a special design making them a solution for their designated purpose. For example, a Microtex needle has a specially designed tiny, sharp point to get through those delicate, sheer fabrics---a solution that wasn't available to Grandma's vintage machine.

So if you're having issues with your machine, after checking the threading, try another needle.  Head over  to our website to check out all the types of needles we have available. Come see us in the store to stock up so you'll have plenty of needles on hand for your next sewing projects.

You're Invited!

You're invited to this Kalamazoo Sewing Center exclusive Anita Goodesign event on February 14th, 2013. Event fee is $20 and includes packet of goodies. Call today and register! Hurry space is limited!

  

Sewing Notion of note

One of the first things that you learn in quilting class is that precise cuts are imperative to your finished product. Fortunately, the sewing center has many tools to help you get this cuts done accurately and easily so you can get to the sewing part!

One of the best investments you can make is in a good quality cutting matt. It doesn't need to be large---but if you have the room you should consider this 24x36 version from TrueCut.

The matt features measurements to the 1/8th of an inch, angle marks of 45, 60, 90 degrees for making cuts and when you need to find the bias just set your fabric on the lines and cut. This is a superb quality matt that should last you years.

Be sure to take care of your matt---avoid exposure to excess heat (don't leave it in a hot car) and don't roll or fold it---there's a handy hanging hole for wall hanging when not in use. You won't be able to find this kind of quality elsewhere for this amazing price---just $59.95.

   

For the Host or Hostess---Gifts to Sew

Candy Ornament table runner

Sewing something for the hostess (or host) of that holiday party or gathering is a thoughtful way of saying thank you for all the hardwork that went into planning, cooking, and cleaning. And these gifts are fast and easy---made in as little as an hour or two, depending on your skill and tools available. So don't forget a little something for that hostess---you'll be the most thoughtful guest on the list.


Matching Applique towel

Hostess gift one---bring two holiday scrubbies and complimentary dish towels and help with the clean up. The design CD has holiday designs for virtually every holiday of the year so you can use it over and over again to keep your house and those chores fun all year long.



Scrubbie

I love cloth napkins---don't you? And in just two minutes you can have fabric edged with one of the Husqvarna/Viking Sergers. So easy to take a yard or two of fun holiday fabric and turn it into napkins that can be brought out with every holiday.


 




Holiday table runners and trivets make great hostess gifts. Not only will they eliminate the scramble to find something to protect that fine table from your hot casserole but they will help create a festive table too. And we have so many designs and patterns in the store to help you out.

And a set of coasters will come in handy to protect that sofa table from that holiday punch. Cover old, unusable CD's and DVD's with embroidery and voila!

    And one of my favorites are the chocolate towels, using the Lunchbox quilt's fun Chocolate design CD. Embroider recipe's onto ready made towels for a quick and easy right there in the hoop gift. (CD is only $29.95 for a limited time!)

And don't you use the same recipes from your recipe books each year? Why not mark the pages with some festive holiday bookmarks---embroidered right on Aqua Magic stabilizer---no trimming of those edges; just a quick swish in warm water after embroidery and there's your bookmark ready to go.

Don't have a sewing machine yet that will perform these works of magic? Come in and see us. Now is the best time to get your Husqvarna/Viking Diamond or Ruby---with 0% interest financing for a very limited time only.(see the store for details.)

       

Wow! What a Notion!

During a recent event we saw how easy it was to sew flat, finished on both sides seams using a flat felled foot. This is really the easiest way to get great looking seams on garments.

And there's an added bonus you can get out of this foot. Have you ever needed to make not so wide ties for a project out of a thin strip of fabric? You can try to iron and sew accurately but the strip is so small that it makes the job difficult.

But with the flat felled foot the job is nearly automatic and so easy. We can help show you how and if you're ever stuck at 2:00 in the morning or at 5:00 on a Sunday afternoon, here's a handy Husqvarna Viking video to show you the trick to a flat felled foot.

On sale this week only. See store for complete details.

     

Sewing up a Spooky Halloween

Last year  seven tiny teenagers descended on a local fabric store to hunt fabric for Halloween Costumes. The seven had a ballerina costume in mind and wanted tulle and patterns to make matchhing tutu's. What a lovely picture they would make, all in different colors, tiny ballerina's to the Halloween Party. The only problem standing in their way was that they couldn't get any advice at the fabric store.

You will always find a lot of friendly advice at the Kalamazoo Sewing Center. We have a knowledgeable staff to answer questions and provide the tools you need to have a great holiday season. We have classes, like our Autumn Table Runner that teaches cutwork design and we have unique designs like the Anita Goodesign Halloween Quilt full of fun ideas that could be used for pillows, treatbags, aprons, or costumes.

And if the tiny ballerinas needed advice on how much and what fabric to buy and how to best sew their tutu's, we'd be right there with help to make their Halloween a treat.

We've scoured the net and here are some Halloween project ideas we like for home decorating, costumes, and parties. Have a spooky time sewing for Halloween!

• Super cute costumes and tutorials on BHG site. 
• A spooky embroidery design from the Singer Sewing site.
• A reversible pillow topper from BHG.
• A jester's hat on the Husqvarna/Viking Site.
• For the King a cape from Husqvarna/Viking.
• And if your Princess needs a bag for her treats. Why not this one?

And for more inspiration come by the store where we'll be getting together to sew up ghouls, ghosts, and goblins for a spooky Halloween.

It's Back to School Sewing Time

We're in the last days of summer and heading toward the back to school rush. With money being tight for most families, more and more moms (and dads) are dusting off that sewing machine and creating back to school clothing, supplies, and totes. The best thing about sewing your own (besides the more reasonable price for a designer piece) is that your child and you can be creative and get exactly what you want in color, size, and material.

At the sewing center we have literally thousands of embroidery designs that are suitable for kindergartners on up through college; designs to suit any hobby or interest.

We also carry 5D Software that allows you to digitize your own designs from a piece of clip art or a school logo. How cool is that? And it is simpler than you might think---we even have classes to show you how!

So here to get your creative juices going are some projects scoured from across the internet:

• Laptop tote/messanger bag with free instructions from Coats and Clark. We carry an assortment of Coats and Clark threads in the Sewing Center to help out with your projects.
• Also from Coats and Clark is a handy wall organizer. I'm thinking of attaching magnets to the back for an organized  locker. The best part of this project is that it recycles jeans---bet you have plenty of worn out jeans if you have school age children. Use store bought embellishments or grab that embroidery machine and use some of those designs. Come see us if you can't find exactly the right thing for your child. We've got plenty of designs!
• When you have school, you have lots of books. With books you need bookends. Such a simple project is this one for fabric bookends. This is a real beginner project and I'm thinking you could add any trim or embellishment that you can find that makes you happy.
• And with all those kids getting together, you'll need tissues and plenty of them. Here's the plans for a handy tissue cover. So easy to make and won't your child feel special!  
• And finally when all the kids get together for homework after school, they'll need some drinks. And how do you keep whose drink is whose straight? With cup cozies of course! Made right on your sewing machine. This project would be perfect for that embroidery machine but also is within reach of a regular machine. Find the instructions on the Better Homes and Gardens site here.   

And remember, we have all sorts of sewing machines, threads, designs, software, and notions and know how. So stop by and see us---we're here to help.

 

Father's Day is less than a month away and even if you have a Dad who has everything, there's still time to sew something that will thrill and surprise Dad. Here are just a few suggestions and even some patterns to help you get started.

• For Dads who golf how about an embroidered golfing towel? Golf club covers are fast easy. Put all your pent up creativity to work.

• Does your Dad cook? A chef's hat and apron for that barbecue might be just the thing he needs. Get a handy pattern here. While you're at it stop by the sewing center for some Insul-Bright so you can make Dad a couple of grill mitts to match.
• For Dads who hunt and fish a slip for a gun or fishing pole comes in handy. For the fishing pole try reclaiming an old pair of jeans. Cut the jeans in half, so that you have two separate leg portions. Sew up the waist of the jeans, add a Velcro or zipper closure on the seat and a tape measure down the side for measuring all those whales that Dad is going to catch once he has that lucky fishing pole tote. Here's a how to on the gun sleeve. (We recommend that you use your embroidery machine for embellishments) 
• Then there's the Dad with all the gadgets. But can he really ever have enough gadget totes? He'll need one for that phone, one for the tablet, and another for that laptop. No problem, with your sewing machine you've go all those gadgets covered. And don't forget to create some snazzy labels for all those bags. The Sewing Center has lots of in the hoop embroidery software specifically designed for the Dad in your life.   
• For those Dads that like to nap a lap quilt can be made in a day. I know; sounds unbelievable but we've got some designs that can be cut, pieced, and quilted in a day. I didn't think I could put together a quilt in a day either but a recent trip to the sewing center proved me wrong. I'm thinking of using some of the family photo's to make a memorable quilt that can keep Dad warm. And a nice cozy pillow, maybe with a monogram to make Dad a personal gift that is really as special as he is.

I'm going to get out the sewing machine right now and get started. Less than one month to go to make Dad something special and so many ideas to chose from. Come into the sewing center and gather your supplies.

Spice up those gifts with Embroidery designs

Friday Guest Blog

Today's blog is by guest blogger, Marie Furmanski, a web consultant and lover of everything sewing related in her spare time....

I dropped in at the Kalamazoo Sew Center on Thursday and found some industrious elves hard at work on Christmas quilting projects for gifts and decor. There was one type of quilt being worked but each individual quilt was the owners own creation; you would never know that all the quilts were from the same pattern and easily quilted "as you go" so that by the time the blocks are finished the quilt is finished too.

There was the quilt that was destined to be a table runner at the holiday festivities full of golden stars and Christmas trees:

      Then there was this completely different and gorgeous quilt version:

And one version Santa's elf was making was made of scraps left over from the making of a childhood of sundresses:

Adorable isn't it?



This is the finished version that started it all:

I am so excited about next month's project, this beautiful song bird quilt:

The first square is the Chickadee square. I can't wait to check my stash of materials to see if I have some material to complete this lovely square:



 This lovely quilt was made and designed by this genius sewing professional whose beautiful tag is as lovely as the quilt:

Be sure to check the January calendar on the website for class times; you won't want to miss out on the fun of making this lovely quilt.

And when you visit the Kalamazoo Sewing Center don't miss Grandma. She greets every one at the door. Watch this blog for sewing projects, tips, and pointers from Grandma:

We'll leave you with this tip from Grandma: The Amish always make sure there is a tiny flaw in everything they make; a missed stitch, a backwards pattern, something tiny and not noticeable. The reason is that only God can make a work of perfection. 

Well, thank you Grandma, I make all kinds of sewing mistakes; most not done on purpose; now I know it's just because I'm human. 

Thank you to all the students and staff of Kalamazoo Sewing Center for showing me all the exciting and gorgeous projects in the works. I can't wait to start going on my own. 

Bye for now.....