Coming Soon to Kalamazoo Sewing Center!

Husqvarna/Viking is rolling out a new machine soon---the Designer Ruby Deluxe. This new Ruby is sure to please with completely new features to make all sorts of sewing easier, allowing you to spend more time creating.

This new machine has a newly engineered in Sweden Deluxe Stitch System. This new feature controls and adjusts bobbin and top threads so that your sewing is perfect and professional even with sheer fabrics and even when using those sometimes pesky metallic threads.

The new Designer Ruby Deluxe has features that you would expect on one of the top of the line Husqvarna/Viking machines like a large sewing and embroidery area---great when you have a large quilt and super when embroidering---it comes with 2 hoops 120x120mm and 360x200mm.  It has nearly 10 amazing inches to the right of the needle! 

And when creating that embroidery the Designer Ruby Deluxe actually allows you to resize your design in your machine and adjusts the stitches automatically for you. How handy is that? You can also reposition, change colors, and make adjustments easily and right on your screen. And this machine will help you re-hoop and position large designs too.

The bright color touch screen allows you to navigate through over 1000 available stitches, including 7mm width, sideways sewing, and 6 built in sewing fonts.

The Exclusive Sensor System adjusts the foot pressure on your fabric and helps the feed of even the most delicate fabrics through the Designer Ruby Deluxe.

The Husqvarna/Viking folks have created a whole trunk show of items created with the Designer Ruby Deluxe. The projects are centered around a dream wedding---wedding gown with embroidery design on top of tulle using metallic thread to make the bride shine, bridesmaid dress, ring bearers pillow,  a tiny dress for the flower girl.   

And for an heirloom for the bride and groom to pull out every anniversary; a flag streamer for the back of the car to make memories of that special day last throughout the years.

    

Notionable Notion

 
Wouldn't these eye glass cases make great holiday gifts? And they're so fast and easy and done right in the hoop. Make them in all sorts of colors, add the cute designs to personalize for all those folks on your list who are difficult to buy for.

Who couldn't use an eye glass case for that pair of reading glasses, sunglasses, or even some normal sized safety glasses?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Just about everyone has been touched by a life that has been affected by Breast Cancer. It's hard to know what to say and you feel so hopeless when all you want to do is help. Here are some projects from around the internet that you can sew and give some comfort to someone who could use a little something just to make it through to the next hour, the next day, the next five years.

So let's go get our breast exams and let's get behind those whose lives are touched by this disease:

•  Sew a comfort pillow for a cancer patient. This pillow fits around the shoulder to keep the arm from resting on delicate sore areas. The pattern comes with this embroidery design and is currently free, although you do have to create an account to download. The pillow pattern is a downloadable PDF. Click on the picture for more info. 



Source: emblibrary.com via Kalamazoo on Pinterest
• I thought this was a great idea---a prayer pillow. Tuck a thoughtful note, prayer, or blessing in the pocket of this tiny heart.
  
  Source: with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com via Kalamazoo on Pinterest

A lovely paper pieced quilt block perfect in pink---Click the picture to get to the pattern: 

Source: with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com via Kalamazoo on Pinterest

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.

Wow! What a Notion!

One thing that is a challenge when going from sewing garments from patterns to quilting is that 1/4 inch seam.

It has to be so precise and there is so little room for error. If you're having problems with piecing your quilts on that 1/4 inch accurately that is the time to come by the sewing center and find some help.

One gadget that might just help you with accuracy is this clear quarter inch piecing foot. It's clear so you can see where you're going and where you've been and it has a handy flange that rides the edge of the fabric and keeps your seam exactly where it's supposed to be.

And, best of all, it's on sale this week---so hurry in and get one! See the store for complete details.

     

Sewing Tip--Soluble Stabilizers

A water soluble stabilizer topper is a must when embroidering fabrics such as towels, velvets, or anything with a nap. You can also hoop a couple of sheets of soluble and use as a backing for projects such as lace. If necessary, for added stability you can sew together 2 sheets of water soluble using water soluble thread.

Water soluble thread and stabilizers should be kept in a sealed plastic container when not in use, otherwise you'll return and find that your solubles have turned to hard, unusuable lumps.  

And be sure to mark that bobbin of water soluble and place it in the plastic container---wouldn't want to confuse water soluble with usual thread.