Sewing Tips
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Easter Egg Holder Made In The Embroidery Hoop
Easter Egg Holder Make an Easter Egg Holder completely in the hoop of your embroidery machine! This cute Easter Egg Holder design can be changed up by recipient by choosing different felt colors and further personalizing with a name or monogram, too. Grab the design and minimal materials and get started quickly and easily. A plastic egg fits inside nicely, but a dyed Easter egg does too! Add a name to the chick’s belly and treat these as place cards for your Easter table. Simply add a name using your machine screen before advancing to the embroidery steps. Because there isn’t much room for a large name, sub a monogram…
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Tips for Using All Sulky Threads on Longarm Machines
By Sue Moats and Evelyn Byler These tips are from two professional Long Arm Quilters who are graciously allowing us to learn from their vast experience. Do you have any tips or tricks for Long Arm Quilting? If so, please leave them in the comments. While all Sulky threads can be used on longarm machines, some may need special handling. Some of the most important things are: Sew more slowly; use a soft, smooth thread in the bobbin; and use a needle with a larger eye, even when the thread seems very thin, like Sulky Original, Sliver™ and Holoshimmer™ Metallic Threads. It is not unusual to need to adjust the top…
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Embroider a Stuffed Animal: Embroider Buddies Tutorial
Embroider a Stuffed Animal Have you ever tried to embroider a stuffed animal? The only way is to take it apart and restitch seams, and that’s assuming you can access one layer of the stuffy in order to get it secured in the hoop. All in all, the whole process is a bear (pun intended). Embroider Buddies A few months ago, Sulky.com added these adorable Embroider Buddies to the online store. With a large zipper that allows you to access the whole animal belly, it’s never been easier to embroider a stuffed animal. That’s what they’re meant for! This allows you to add a name, favorite motif or monogram…
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Needles and Threads – Which to Use Where and When
Needle and Thread Choice All too often as sewists, we blame our skill level when a project doesn’t come out perfectly. But many times, it isn’t our skill that is the issue, but our needle and thread choice! Pairing the right needle with the thread we choose (and fabric, for that matter), can determine whether a sewing project is a success or failure. Zoë MacDonald, the Social Media Manager for H.A. Kidd, wrote this well written post. (Click here or on the picture to go to the post) She explains how to choose the right needle for the thread at hand, and has some atypical choices for certain tasks. Sometimes…
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How to fold your fabric so you have room for more fabric
I was doing a little sewing room clean up last week. I had let thing get really messy and it was no longer a fun space full of inspiration. Instead it was a really cluttered space that was paralyzing. Do you ever let your sewing room get that messy? Part of the issue was I had a ton of fabric that need to be folded and put away properly. A few years ago, I took a class from Lois Hallock who wrote a great book called, “Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space.” In her book she gives a wonderful way to fold fabric that not only keeps all your fabric uniform…
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Christmas in July Series – Mantel Scarf
It may be extremely hot and humid outside, but I am dreaming of a white Christmas in my sewing studio! Okay, maybe not white, but bright red, green, pink, orange and blue! I am in love with the new color scheme that I am using for my holiday season decor this year. It started with the Speedy Spiral Christmas Tree Skirt, then the Bonus Projects that I made from the scraps. Now I have dug into Cotton + Steel’s new Christmas line Tinsel. I have always used a very traditional Garnet and Gold color scheme during the holidays (yes, it is because I went to FSU). This year I am…
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Quick Gifts – Make These In Less Than An Hour!
Sometimes you just need a really quick gift. Maybe you forgot about that bridal shower you are supposed to go to this weekend, or maybe you thought Father’s Day was next weekend (it’s not, by the way, it’s Sunday), or maybe you are just really good at procrastinating like me! Whatever the reason, sometimes a quick, yet thoughtful gift is in order. Before I go any further I do want to clear something up. Just because a gift is quick to make, doesn’t mean it isn’t meaningful. I mean you could have just stopped by the grocery store on your way to that shower or Father’s Day lunch, picked up…
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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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Stabilizer Basics: When & How to Use Different Stabilizers
Understand each type of stabilizer and how and when to use each one. This blog series includes helpful tips, hints and expert advice to ensure you choose the right stabilizer for your projects. Bookmark this post to refer to it later, as it’s a great resource for all things machine embroidery (and more!) Stabilizer Basics References The Stabilizer Basics – Series The Stabilizer Basics – Cut-Away and Tear-Away Stabilizer The Stabilizer Series – Your Questions Answered The Stabilizer Series – More Questions Answered The Stabilizer Basics – Water Soluble and Heat-Away The Stabilizer Basics – How Do I Get Started? The Stabilizer Infographic The Stabilizer Series – Tender Touch Once…
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Tips for Machine Embroidery on Onesies
I have been all about baby lately! I have several friends that are having babies soon so I am making lots of baby things. I made a sweet blanket for one and Taggies for a set a twins. (Go here to check out the blanket and here for the Taggie tutorial). Next up, the onesies! I love seeing a brand new baby in a cute little onesie with a name or little embroidered applique on it, but let’s be honest, onesies are tiny and can be hard to embroider! Here are a few tips to make things a little easier. Hoop Size. Use a hoop that is about the same…
