Notion of the Week

Are you having problems finding designs that suit your projects? Still looking for embroidery designs that are just right for that pillow, quilt, or scarf?



If you believe that your creativity is all in the details and the details available are not quite what you need, it is time to try digitizing your own embroidery designs. And the top of the line software for digitizing is 5D Professional.



5D Professional makes it fast and easy to create your own designs with the following features:

   

• Multiwave fills that shape and provide 3D effects to your embroideries. Make realistic leaves and flowers. Shape hair, skirts, coats, and shirts on your designs of people---put realistic fur on those cute puppies and kitties. With just a couple of clicks in 5D you can do things with a design that would take you a few hours to do in other software!
• Create color gradients making your designs more detailed and realistic. Again, in a fraction of the time your design has more detail and looks more professional.
• Have some clipart that you've can't wait to embroider on a pillow or quilt? A school mascot or slogan? Using the Express Design to digitize will get those designs from just computer drawings to embroidery in short order.
• 5D also organizes all your designs, allows you to change colors on all designs and provides a realistic view of embroidery right on your screen so you don't have to guess what your end results will be. Use your own library of theads to plan out colors and view right on the screen!

5D software helps you create projects never dreamed of. Stitch family trees, include old photographs. Or commemorate a family vacation, honeymoon, or reunion with stitched photos and memories. Create memorable, keepsake cards for family and friends. Digitize designs made just for your grandchildren's interests. Make a memory quilt that can be passed down from generation to generation.



And one of the nicest things about 5D is that we provide classes and support after your purchase. And Husqvarna Viking has a site full of fun and interesting tutorials and projects and ideas just for 5D software customers.



Today's heirlooms start with 5D software. And a special deal on this software starts tomorrow. Visit our website tomorrow for the details.

           

Notion of the Week

Already have the Designer Sewing machine of your dreams? Now you're wondering how to organize all your beautiful threads so you'll be able to locate the color you need without all that searching, or, worse yet, running to the store and buying a duplicate because you can't find the particular color you need.

Hemingworth thread has a wonderful solution---drawers full of thread you can use right out of the drawer---no longer do you need to search for and pull the correct color and later make sure it's filed back into the proper place so you can locate it next time you need that color.

The drawers are made in the U.S.A. of Baltic Birch and come in three colors: white, black, and natural. They are attractive in addition to being so handy and functional.

This is a special order item that the sewing center can order special for you. Because of the many options we don't usually keep them in stock. Just ask at the counter and we'll be able to have one ordered for you directly.Seven drawers full of colors are available. So if you're looking for a solution to your ever growing thread collection....have us order you a drawer.

Tip of the Week

So you're ready to buy a sewing machine. The options can be daunting and confusing. And like a good customer said today there are sewing machines that cost as much as some cars. But which one is the sewing machine for your needs?

The first thing you should consider is what you are going to use the machine for and how much you will use it.

Singer 8280---Basic Stitches and Features
Great for learning to sew or occasional use

Today you can purchase a decent machine for around $100.00. This entry level machine will come with a few stitches---straight stitch, zig zag, and a couple of decorative stitches. This machine will do average weight fabrics fairly well and, with the right needle will handle light weight denims. If you are planning to use the machine mainly for occasional mending this might be the option for you.

Singer 9960
Heavy duty machine with 600
built in stitches---great all purpose
sewing machine

If you plan on sewing clothes or home fashions and using the machine once or twice per month you may want to go with a little better machine. For $300.00--$500.00 you can get a machine with features that can help you with anything from sewing that 2 year old's wardrobe to sewing drapes and curtains and even quilting. Not only do you get additional decorative stitch options, but several styles of button holes, extra presser foot lift for heavier or thicker fabric applications, twin needle sewing,  and drop feed dogs for free motion quilting and embroidery applications.

Husqvarna Viking H-Class 600E
Embroidery Machine with USB
connectivity makes a great starter
embroidery machine 

If you are mainly interested in home decor ---quilting or embroidery, then a new embroidery machine would be the one for you. Embroidery machines start around $1000.00 and many do regular sewing too. Hoop size drives the cost of the embroidery machines. Hoops start at 4"x4" and can go up to 14" or more. Some machines come with software so that you can make your own designs, use your clipart, or even make embroidery from your digital photographs. One option to look for in an embroidery machine is a USB connection to your PC so that you'll be able to transfer designs directly from computer to sewing machine without special cards, readers, or equipment. These machines also have bigger work surfaces---making quilting much easier.

But even the most expensive machines won't meet your needs until you know how to use them. Free classes like those that come with your new sewing machine when purchased at the Kalamazoo Sewing Center, friendly advise, and answers and help with any questions and issues that arise after your purchase insure that you will be satisfied.

And when it comes time to service your machine---we will be right there to provide fast, quality factory certified service too. Come see us and the new line of sewing machines today. 

Tip of the Week

Those slick, shiny new vinyls that are available today make me dream of a springtime April shower and dancing in the rain sporting bright yellow rain coats or shiny rain ponchos.

The vinyls can be a bit tricky to sew---you must get the stitches right the first time otherwise your project will be full of holes that are impossible to get rid of in all the wrong places.

Use some painters tape instead of pins and you'll have accurate stitches without pin holes.  

Notion of the Week

There are so many stabilizers and as many uses for those stabilizers. Should you use a tear away, a topper, a heavy or lightweight? If you're like me and get confused by all the options and combinations our notion of the week is for you.

The Inspira Stabilizer Guide Wheel is a handy little tool that will provide you with the answer to your stabilizer questions for your next project, giving you the perfect stabilizer solution just for you!

Stop by the sewing center today and get yours today.

Tip of the Week

The other day a sewing enthusiast dropped by the sewing center looking for answers. She had recently retired and was finally enjoying her sewing machine that had spent many a long year in a dark closet of her home. This lady was making doll clothes for her granddaughters.  She just wasn't happy with the results. She blamed the less than optimal results on herself and her rusty sewing skills.

After listening to the reasons the clothes were not quite right we started researching the potential problems. One stood out among the rest---fabric. Whether you quilt, decorate your home, or sew fashions, one thing you need to watch out for is fabric grain.

Fabric grain that is off will result in crooked garments, garments that start out relatively straight but then become disheveled upon washing, home furnishings, and, yes, even doll clothes that don't hang or drape correctly.

Woven fabrics have a lengthwise grain running along the selvage edge. And fabrics have crosswise grain running along the cut edge of the fabric as it comes off of the bolt. Then there's a bias----that's crosswise across both the grains.

So what does this all have to do with the crooked clothes? Well, fabric has the least stretch along the lengthwise grain, a little more stretch on the crosswise grain, and along the bias---well unless you want a curvature effect you want to stay away from the super stretch of the bias.

In addition, the grain on fabrics aren't always straight right off the bolt. You'll know if you have a crooked grain if you join the selvages and the fold doesn't lay straight. Sometimes you can fix the grain---sometimes you can't. Grains that are crooked on fabrics with printed on stripes or plaids can't usually be fixed. You'll know if your fabric is printed if the wrong side of the fabric doesn't match the rightside---if it does, the fabric was woven with colored threads instead of printed after weaving.

So how do you fix?

•   Wash and press your fabric. Fold so that selvages are together and stretch on the bias. If that does the trick the fold will become straight and neat when the selvages are together.
• Cut through the selvage and pull a crosswise thread all the way through from selvage to selvage adjusting the fabric as you pull the thread. You can then cut along the trail that your missing thread has made in the fabric and you will have a squared, crosswise grain. (I've had the best luck with this method.)
• You can simply cut through the selvage and rip tear the fabric. The fabric will tear along the crossgrain, giving you a nice squared grain.

Again, nothing much will help a fabric that has printed on stripes or clear diagonal lines---you'll have to catch this type of problem at point of purchase and not purchase faulty fabric no matter how much you fall in love with it.

So before you start your next project take a look at that fabric and make sure its grain is straight and your masterpiece will be a masterpiece.

Notion of the Week

Have you seen our newly arrived line of Floriani stabilizers?  The line includes stabilizers to help you with any project you're working on whether you need a stabilizer for cut-a-way designs or if you're sewing napkin corners, or if you're placing applique.

There's even a stabilizer in this line that helps with the hoop placement of quilt blocks for machine embroidery (This product is designed to go through your printer so that your embroidery design specifications are printed directly on the product.)

Come in to the Kalamazoo Sewing Center and shop the full line of Floriani Stabilizers---and if you're not sure which of these products is right for you and your current project, just ask, we're here to help.