Purse Handles

After teaching today my students asked about making different purse handles so I thought this would be a good opportunity to post a few links on making handles.

The first on in my list below are my favorite way to do my handles.
I am sure that you will pick one to make that will become your favorite.
http://sewmodernbags.com/how-to-make-bag-handles-with-plastic-tubing-video/

http://makezine.com/2015/03/20/make-your-own-perfect-fabric-purse-handles/

http://www.sewcanshe.com/blog/2016/9/10/diy-clip-on-tote-bag-handles-free-tutorial

http://juniperplaceyarns.blogspot.com/2012/04/diy-purse-handles.html

http://www.sewcanshe.com/blog/2013/8/5/making-faux-leather-bag-handles

http://thesewingloftblog.com/rolled-handbag-handles/

Hope this helps to finish your bag off with style!

Happy Stitching,
Denise

Needle Know How

How important is a needle in your sewing world?  For my world it is the point in my stitching that get the job done.  

Learn more about needles with my friend. Rhonda. just watch his video and see more.

Needle education with Rhonda

Here are a few digital articles that I found very educational so I thought I'd share. them with you.  

schmetz digital-magazines

Happy. Sewing,

Denise

Quilt Club August

During Quilt Club in July and August we talked about continuous bias binding.  So I thought this would be a good time to share this video from Pam Damour.

Continuous Bias Binding Video

Happy Quilting,
Denise

Caring for your quilts...How do that?

A questions that is always coming up is about how to care for quilts.  This give me a great opportunity to give some suggestions and advice on what my thoughts are.
Here's my thoughts: Laundry detergents and Woolite are to harsh for quilts of any age.  At my home we us a product called Orvus Quilt Soap.  I purchase it from my local quilt shop.
It's really a detergent, not a soap, made of 100% sodium lauryl sulfate, with a neutral pH that is completely biodegradable.
The most important about a information is that it contains no:

• Optical brighteners which are really poor wash-fast fluorescent dyes (that means they wash out easily) that transform invisible ultraviolet light to make fabric colors appear brighter.
• Fabric softeners which can leave behind a residue on fabric that attracts dirt and oils.
• Fragrances
• Enzymes

One of its best features is that you know exactly what is and isn't in Orvus and what it is.
Though similar chemically, detergents and soaps are different. Soaps are made from animal or vegetable fat and oils which are then mixed with a strong alkali. Detergents are created from petro-chemicals.

Below are a few websites with information on caring for your quilts. 

http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/quiltcare.html
http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-to-quilt/quilting-basics/caring-your-quilts
http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmah/vicquilt.htm 

Last I would like to tell you about what I do with regards to quilts that  I give as gifts.

1. Label
2. Give quilt with a card that describes best practices for caring for your new quilt. 
3. Also let the person know the quilt is made for loving, holding cuddling and washing is allowed. 
4. Include a bottle of quilt soap with each quilt. 

Happy Quilting,
Denise

Embroidery Stabilizers

There are so many stabilizers for you to choose from that it makes it hard to select the right one for the job.  Below are a few links to education sites and documents about keeping things stable.

My favorite stabilizers are the following:
These can be purchased from many different companies. 
Cut Away - White  for sweatshirts
Cut Away Black for dark fabrics
No Show Fusible Mesh - this is great for t-shirts and quilting blocks
Tear Away Wash Away - another stabilizer good for quilting
Clear Wash Away - towels and anything needing a topper
Aqua Wash Away - the best for lace



Click to link to Embroidery Library's Guide Page
Click to link to Sewing & Craft Club Stabilizer Guide Page
Click to link to Sulky's Stabilizer Guide Page
Click to download Hollingsworths Educational Page
Threads Magazine shares stabilizers information by clicking this link
Click to download Babylock's Education page for stabilizers
Check your download folder for the files that automatically are downloaded to your computer.
 
Happy Stitching,
Denise

Getting Organizred in your Studio

Some of you have asked for tips on how to get organized in your sewing room/studio.  So, it's seems to me that we all need help with this.  Let me show you some of my favorite ways that I keep thing in there place and what helps me. 

Hanging the batting from the basement ceiling works very well at my home.  Not all of you have a basement and this is not something you could do.  Here's a thought maybe you have a garage, storage closet or a place that it could be hung.  Hanging from the ceiling doesn't take up floor space.

We used the extra poles for my long arm frames to hang the batting on.  The poles are hung with straps that you can get at the local hardware store. Then I went to my closet and selected a few belts that I no longer can wear (or fit in). These belts became a strap to hold the batting from unrolling it's self which one bold did entirely on the floor.

Four bin hamper for organizing scrapes.  I could not live with out this device in my studo.

Each bin is labeled for what goes in the hamper. Batting, batiks, regular fabric and strips are how I sort each compartment.

 

Serger thread sorted by color on a peg board has been attached to an unfinished wall in the basement.  When you need 4 or more spools of each color it is nice to see what colors you have and the ability to get to them helps also. 

Under the long arm frame is a large amount of dead space.  After taking a few measurements I started researching for drawer units with wheels.  These fit perfect and I purchased four from Ikea. This frame is 12 foot.

Here's the information about the units and a link to help you with more details about the drawers.

ALEX

Drawer unit on casters, white

$119.00

Article Number: 

401.962.41

Drawer stops prevent the drawer from being pulled out too far.

Size

26 3/8x26 "

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40196241/

Under my 10 foot Momentum Frame I have added a shelving unit with fabric drawers.  This works well for scrapes, stabilizers, yarn, project and sew much more!  These units were purchased at Target.  They are made to stand up.  By putting them on their sides they were perfect for this frame and the space that I had. 

Wactch for more ways to help you get organize!

Happy Quilting, 

Denise

Birthing a Quilt

The first time I ever made a quilt I was shown how to birth it.  At that time is was very common to do. 

 

Finishing a project without binding is simplified with inside-out method for making a quilt sandwich, sometimes also called you may have heard it called “Birthing”.  

Cut the backing 2” longer than the top.  Take backing but in half. Place right sides together. Using 2 pins mark a 4” space along the width of the backing. Seam the edge using 2.0 stitch length and ½” seam allowance.  Press to one side (not open).

Next place the top on the backing right sides together.  Place the batting on the wrong side of the top. Stitch around the entire quilt.  Turn the quilt through the hole that was created in the middle of the backing.  Trim corners to remove excess fabric.  Use a corner turner to push the fabric to a point at each corner. Press and quilt as desired. 

The below project is a small wall hanging that works well for a first project to try this technique on.