Friday, May 16, 2014
Two New Patterns, and one is free!
Two new patterns up on Bucklebee's Craftsy page! One is the Essential Tablet Cover, the other is the Essential Key Fob. Get over there and grab the fab fob freebie, and treat yourself to the other. The cover is easy to make, and there are more than 20 photos to help you through it, step by step!
You are going to love it!
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Friday Project Planning
I have a (rare) weekend day off this week, and I want to spend a big chunk of time sewing on Saturday. I have spent the odd hour here and there this week getting things ready so I can be as efficient as possible. I have all the prints cut for a throw-sized quilt (my favorite size to make); just the background needs to be cut. Tomorrow evening I'll get that cut and hopefully get my quick-piecing shortcuts marked and set up, ready to go.
My leisure time is so limited right now that I will forego my usual audio book while I am sewing and think about what I want to do for fun on my next free day! I have this quilt-in-progress, and an old languishing UFO that's nearly done to finish as well. Plus, now that the weather has warmed up, I need a few hard cleaning hours in the (unheated) studio so I can move out of the dining room and back into my real workspace.
I'll also think about a meal plan for the coming week and make a grocery list, and make a (short) list of other around-the-house projects I want to finish in the next couple of weeks. I've become pretty good at being efficient with my time at home, and I'm proud of that.
How do you manage your time off? Are you frantically busy every minute, or do you take it easy, kick back and watch the world turn? Are you a planner, a plan-to-be-a-planner, or completely spontaneous? And how tidy do you keep your workspace? I think mine qualifies me for a reality show.
Have a great day, kiddoes!
My leisure time is so limited right now that I will forego my usual audio book while I am sewing and think about what I want to do for fun on my next free day! I have this quilt-in-progress, and an old languishing UFO that's nearly done to finish as well. Plus, now that the weather has warmed up, I need a few hard cleaning hours in the (unheated) studio so I can move out of the dining room and back into my real workspace.
I'll also think about a meal plan for the coming week and make a grocery list, and make a (short) list of other around-the-house projects I want to finish in the next couple of weeks. I've become pretty good at being efficient with my time at home, and I'm proud of that.
How do you manage your time off? Are you frantically busy every minute, or do you take it easy, kick back and watch the world turn? Are you a planner, a plan-to-be-a-planner, or completely spontaneous? And how tidy do you keep your workspace? I think mine qualifies me for a reality show.
Have a great day, kiddoes!
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Do Re Mi
Do Re Mi!
Remember Maria Von Trapp singing "Let's start at the very beginning; the very best place to start?" in The Sound of Music? Sound advice, that.
So often, I see really intriguing, inspiring pattern designs online, but the samples are so poorly constructed that I am immediately critical and don't really take a second look.
Wednesdays, we talk technical basics.
Don't panic. The word "technical" sounds like difficult, non-fun stuff and it really isn't. Techniques are ways to apply and build your skills. The very first skill we'll talk about is taking that first stitch. Here's where you are going to have to get to know your sewing machine and make it your best buddy.
Do you have a box of thread of indeterminate age? Chuck it. Threadmaking technology has come a long way in the last few years, and bad thread makes bad seams. Experiment and find out what brand of thread your machine prefers. Same with needles. Start thinking about needles as consumable products, just like you think of fabric and thread. Needles get used up. If you're putting more than 5 or 6 hours on a needle, you're shortchanging your work. Take a good look at your bobbins. If they're cloudy or scratched, get rid of them. My Janome Horizon QC8800 prefers Guterman all purpose thread and Schmetz needles. I buy 20 bobbins a year, rotating the old ones out.
Thread your machine, put in a fresh bobbin, and grab some pressed scraps. Set your machine for a straight stitch of medium length. Line up two scraps as though you were going to sew a seam, put them under the presser foot, and lower the foot. Use an all-purpose or open toed foot, so you can see what's going on. You should take your first stitch into fabric, not air, but it should be very close--within a thread or three--of the leading edge of your seam. Place your hands on your fabric, one in front and one to the side. Use just enough pressure to guide the fabric, there will be no pulling nor pushing. Let the machine do its work as you begin to slowly sew. After 3 stitches, reverse two stitches. Then head forward at an easy, comfortable speed. This isn't a race and it isn't a contest. When you get to the very end of your seam, backstitch 3 stitches, forward stitch 2. Cut your threads, leaving enough tail so you won't have to rethread your needle when you start your next stitch. Now, take a close look at your seam. On the needle side, can you see little bumps of bobbin thread between each stitch? If so, tighten your needle tension half a step. On the bobbin side, can you see little bumps of needle thread between each stitch? If so, loosen your needle tension half a step. Don't touch your bobbin tension, or I will hunt you down and scold you soundly! Repeat this exercise until your stitch is perfectly balanced and perfectly straight, and your backstitches are directly on top of your forward stitches. When you achieve this, and it won't take long, write down your machine settings on an index card.
Then get yourself a nice glass of something cold and refreshing. You've set a high standard, and you deserve a little celebration!
See you tomorrow! Thursday we talk about Tools!
Remember Maria Von Trapp singing "Let's start at the very beginning; the very best place to start?" in The Sound of Music? Sound advice, that.
So often, I see really intriguing, inspiring pattern designs online, but the samples are so poorly constructed that I am immediately critical and don't really take a second look.
Wednesdays, we talk technical basics.
Don't panic. The word "technical" sounds like difficult, non-fun stuff and it really isn't. Techniques are ways to apply and build your skills. The very first skill we'll talk about is taking that first stitch. Here's where you are going to have to get to know your sewing machine and make it your best buddy.
Do you have a box of thread of indeterminate age? Chuck it. Threadmaking technology has come a long way in the last few years, and bad thread makes bad seams. Experiment and find out what brand of thread your machine prefers. Same with needles. Start thinking about needles as consumable products, just like you think of fabric and thread. Needles get used up. If you're putting more than 5 or 6 hours on a needle, you're shortchanging your work. Take a good look at your bobbins. If they're cloudy or scratched, get rid of them. My Janome Horizon QC8800 prefers Guterman all purpose thread and Schmetz needles. I buy 20 bobbins a year, rotating the old ones out.
Thread your machine, put in a fresh bobbin, and grab some pressed scraps. Set your machine for a straight stitch of medium length. Line up two scraps as though you were going to sew a seam, put them under the presser foot, and lower the foot. Use an all-purpose or open toed foot, so you can see what's going on. You should take your first stitch into fabric, not air, but it should be very close--within a thread or three--of the leading edge of your seam. Place your hands on your fabric, one in front and one to the side. Use just enough pressure to guide the fabric, there will be no pulling nor pushing. Let the machine do its work as you begin to slowly sew. After 3 stitches, reverse two stitches. Then head forward at an easy, comfortable speed. This isn't a race and it isn't a contest. When you get to the very end of your seam, backstitch 3 stitches, forward stitch 2. Cut your threads, leaving enough tail so you won't have to rethread your needle when you start your next stitch. Now, take a close look at your seam. On the needle side, can you see little bumps of bobbin thread between each stitch? If so, tighten your needle tension half a step. On the bobbin side, can you see little bumps of needle thread between each stitch? If so, loosen your needle tension half a step. Don't touch your bobbin tension, or I will hunt you down and scold you soundly! Repeat this exercise until your stitch is perfectly balanced and perfectly straight, and your backstitches are directly on top of your forward stitches. When you achieve this, and it won't take long, write down your machine settings on an index card.
Then get yourself a nice glass of something cold and refreshing. You've set a high standard, and you deserve a little celebration!
See you tomorrow! Thursday we talk about Tools!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Hit the Ground Running
I lost a week to the worst sinus infection in recorded history, so I need to hit the ground running this week to catch up! Before I put my game-face on and get down to work, I wanted to post about felt.
'Tis the season to felt old sweaters, and I have a few tips and ideas if you need some ultra-quick gifts. Before you hit the thrift stores to find old sweaters to use, check your own closet. Any animal fiber will felt as long as it hasn't been treated to be machine washable. (There is an exception: muskox fiber, also known as qiviut. Since this is rare as well, muskox, it doesn't really count.) Lop off the sleeves and cut up the sleeve seam. I also cut the shoulder seams. Seams can get really tough and thick while felting. Throw the cut up sweater into a top loading washing machine set for the hottest wash available. A low water level is fine. Add a tablespoon of laundry detergent that does not have fabric softener added, and also add about a quarter of a cup of baking soda. This helps eliminate the wet-wool smell.
Felting occurs when animal fibers are exposed to heat, water, and agitation. When the process starts happening, it happens fast, so have some heavy gloves at hand to protect your skin from very hot water, and be prepared to fish a sample out of the washer every 5-6 minutes or so to check progress. Optimally, when fully felted, the individual rows of knitting will no longer be visible. When the felt looks the way you want it to look, stop the process with a cold water rinse. Dry the pieces flat, on a pad of towels, overnight.
What to make with this amazing fabric? It doesn't fray, so you can simply cut out 4" circles for coasters. Sketch out a dome shape and stitch up a tea cozy. Soft, flexible felt (mohair or cashmere, perhaps) can make a stunning muffler. How about a reusable cup-cozy for carryout coffee cups? Wool felt also makes lovely children's toys; simple stuffed shapes are tough enough to stand up as pet toys, as well. Seams can be left exposed, and look very nice with a pinked edge. Double-stitch seams on stuffed items, and leave a full 1/4" seam allowance at minimum.
'Tis the season to felt old sweaters, and I have a few tips and ideas if you need some ultra-quick gifts. Before you hit the thrift stores to find old sweaters to use, check your own closet. Any animal fiber will felt as long as it hasn't been treated to be machine washable. (There is an exception: muskox fiber, also known as qiviut. Since this is rare as well, muskox, it doesn't really count.) Lop off the sleeves and cut up the sleeve seam. I also cut the shoulder seams. Seams can get really tough and thick while felting. Throw the cut up sweater into a top loading washing machine set for the hottest wash available. A low water level is fine. Add a tablespoon of laundry detergent that does not have fabric softener added, and also add about a quarter of a cup of baking soda. This helps eliminate the wet-wool smell.
Felting occurs when animal fibers are exposed to heat, water, and agitation. When the process starts happening, it happens fast, so have some heavy gloves at hand to protect your skin from very hot water, and be prepared to fish a sample out of the washer every 5-6 minutes or so to check progress. Optimally, when fully felted, the individual rows of knitting will no longer be visible. When the felt looks the way you want it to look, stop the process with a cold water rinse. Dry the pieces flat, on a pad of towels, overnight.
What to make with this amazing fabric? It doesn't fray, so you can simply cut out 4" circles for coasters. Sketch out a dome shape and stitch up a tea cozy. Soft, flexible felt (mohair or cashmere, perhaps) can make a stunning muffler. How about a reusable cup-cozy for carryout coffee cups? Wool felt also makes lovely children's toys; simple stuffed shapes are tough enough to stand up as pet toys, as well. Seams can be left exposed, and look very nice with a pinked edge. Double-stitch seams on stuffed items, and leave a full 1/4" seam allowance at minimum.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
HoHoHolidays!
I still have Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge, but I'm thinking about Christmas. I have a lot of work to do to get ready, which means I need to be very organized. Tomorrow morning, I'll make a master list, and order ready-made gifts online if I can. I hope to be able to hit "free shipping" minimums, and of course I check retailmenot.com for coupons. I'll make my sewing list and get materials lists together. With any luck, I'll have most everything I need on hand already. The only thing I am worried about being short on is time!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
5 Ways to Use a Sticky Note
I keep a stack of sticky notes in my tool box. They come in handy for:
- Making a guideline for accurate stitching
- Making a guideline for accurate corner-turns
- Marking stacks of patchwork pieces when assembling blocks
- Marking book and magazine articles for reference
- Recording measurements of cut pieces when designing
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Custom-ary
The construction step I enjoy least is marking. And let's be honest--accurate marking is vital to a beautiful finished project. I had an idea that just may help me make it a less tedious chore. I picked up a sheet of gridded template plastic. I am going to cut some custom rulers and use a paper punch to notch them perfectly, just the way a carpenter or jeweler might make a jig for wood or wire. If I cut them wide enough, I can make notes on them as well with a permanent marker. With another hole punched in the end, they'll hang flat on the wall, ready to help me increase my marking accuracy and streamline my work. I use a cheap mechanical pencil to make marks. The lead is fine and and is easy to remove. Another tip: if you're marking placement for tabs or loops, draw a little arrow to remind yourself to position them above (or below) your marking.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)