Sulky Education
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Top 10 Notions from Eric Drexler, Sulky Educator
Eric Drexler’s Top 10 Notions If I was on a deserted island with power and my sewing machine, these are the 10 notions I would need, and why: Collins Sewer’s Aid: It is a silicone lubricant that helps with some speciality threads, and fabrics. What I like the most is it keeps the adhesive off my needle when using any sticky-back product (including fusible webs). Simply put a drop on your finger and rub on the needle. Reapply as you start to see a build up again. Sew Steady Table: Since I first laid eyes on this extension table, I knew I was in love. The square inches of extra work area…
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Learn From the Best to Improve Your Sewing Skills
Learn from the Best How to learn from the best? When people ask me what is the best way to improve their sewing skills, I tell them two things. First, practice! Nothing takes the place of good old fashion trial and error. The second thing I say is take a class from Ellen Osten! She has forgotten more about sewing than you and I will ever learn. I remember my very first class with her. I left that room empowered to try new things and with a whole base of knowledge. I have never learned more in a single class than I did in that first class with Ellen. Ellen…
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Free-Motion Fun with Eric Drexler
If you have seen any of Sulky National Educator and Free-Motion Guru, Eric Drexler’s work, then you know what an amazing artist he is. Last summer, he learned how to Zentangle®. The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. When Eric learned it, he immediately thought, “I could do this with thread!” So he did! And he has created some amazing things. (Eric did the above pattern using a FriXion™ pen, but once ironed this amazing pattern is gone! So, he figured out a way to get the pattern on the fabric and yet still keep it – learn his secret.) So…
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Sewing Online With Sulky – sign up for a Free Webinar!
We have had a wonderful response to our first Sewing Online with Sulky Webinar! We filled all the available slots in the first couple days so we have decided to double the available spots for attendees! Please join us for Sulky’s first online webinar hosted by one of our National Educators, Michelle Umlauf. This webinar is absolutely FREE. All you need to do is register (Do it soon before we fill up again!). The best part is, since this is an online event, we are coming to you. During this one-hour webinar, we will highlight a project published in our newest book “Embellish Your Life with Sulky”. You will learn the secrets…
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Advice to Sewists in 2015
Have you noticed this picture making it’s rounds on the internet lately? Since this was the advice given to women who had just purchased a sewing machine in 1949, I wondered what advice we would give today. So a few weeks ago, I asked my eNewsletter readers to send in the advice that they would give to a person who had just purchased a brand new sewing machine. I received over 100 responses! After combing through all the advice: some gave the same advice, some gave funny advice and yet others had conflicting advice! I have sorted through them all, consolidated it and here is what Sulky fans came up with: If…
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The Stabilizer Series – Sulky Tender Touch
We are well into this series now and have gone through the basics of stabilizers and their uses, now lets get to some other uses! If you missed the start of this series, here are the links: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and the Infographic! Today I want to tell you about Sulky® Tender Touch™. Tender Touch originated as a “cover-a-stitch” backing that is used when you do embroidery on clothes for babies or small children. That is still the primary use of this product, but there is sew much more you can do with it! For me personally, Tender Touch has saved the day on many occasions. My…
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For #TBT: Fred and Joyce Drexler are in the Hall of Fame!
Back in 2012, the founders of Sulky of America Fred and Joyce Drexler were inducted into the Vacuum & Sewing Trade Association Hall of Fame! Back then, we didn’t have a blog to tout this great honor so I am sharing it with you today for #TBT (Throwback Thursday). NOTE: Don’t miss the cute pictures at the end of the blog 🙂 This is what the induction plaque says: For the last 25 years, the Drexlers have been insistent about maintaining the very highest quality in all of the products that bear the Sulky label. Fred’s favorite story is about the thread manufacturer from Mexico who was trying to get…
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The Stabilizer Basics – How do I get started?
When I first started doing machine embroidery I did it all wrong. I used the wrong stabilizer, I used the wrong size hoop, and I used the wrong needle! The only thing I did right was use Sulky Rayon Thread. I ruined a great deal of fabric and spent a lot of time spinning my wheels. I didn’t want to call and ask my friends who did embroidery every time I wanted to put a silly letter on something (letters were all I did for the first year or so!). Does this sound like you? You have the machine, and you may have even taken a class on how to…
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The Stabilizer Basics – Water Solubles and Heat-Away
The Stabilizer Basics Water Solubles and Heat-Away In today’s Stabilizer Basics I am going to chat with you about Water Soluble (Solvy’s) and Heat- Away™ stabilizers. These are both temporary stabilizers that started out with a couple simple applications, but, because you guys are so creative, you have discovered a million really cool uses for these amazing stabilizers! Water Soluble Stabilizers Water Soluble Stabilizers are just that, they dissolve in water. The number 1 use for the lightest weight Solvy is as a topper on napped fabrics, like towels, to keep the loops or pile from poking through the stitching; to prevent stitches from getting lost in the fabric; and/or…
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The Stabilizer Series – More Questions Answered
I mentioned that you guys sent in a ton of great questions, right? Well here is the second installment of the Q and A. I have learned so much from finding the answers to these questions! I have also learned that there is not one right way. The things that I suggest in these answers may not be your go-to way to solve an embroidery problem. If you would do it differently, please let us know by putting it in the comments below. The best way to learn is when we all share what works for us. I used a sticky stabilizer once and it was too hard to get off.…
