by Sherri Sylvester | Jul 18, 2013
Okay, so I suppose this is an easy post. But I truly do not know what I would do without my magnetic pin cushion. I suppose I (or my husband and children) would step on pins more often. I love that you can sweep it over a pile of pins and they are “magically” instantly cleaned up. I also love that you can toss pins at it while you are sewing without fear of the aforementioned “pins on the floor” scenario.
You can get one on Amazon, or if you are even slightly crafty you could make a pretty one yourself – follow this tutorial from Miscellany of Me. By the way – I got this one from my mom too! Moms are good for that kind of thing, and it’s in my favorite colour!
Where do you store your pins?
Sew Essential #8 – coming your way tomorrow! Get yourself a chance to win some Tula Pink goodness here.
by Sherri Sylvester | Jul 17, 2013
I used to find turning fabric right side out, for things like straps and sashes, really tedious. Then I read this amazing tip from Made by Rae. She explains how to turn a tube of fabric right side out using a safety pin. The trick is – where you place the safety pin! This is AMAZING, and it’s so easy!
I find that this type of sash is the trickiest to turn because you need to stitch up one end of the tube before you need to turn it. I used this trick to turn some sashes when I made my girls’ Easter dresses this March, and I’m just blogging it now – a little late, but perfect for this series!
You will need:
- Your sash fabric, ironed in half lengthwise, right sides together
- A chopstick
- A safety pin
- Matchy thread, Sewing machine, etc.
(1) Make sure you have all your materials. (2) Draw a 45 degree angle on the end of your sash, start the angle in the corner on the folded side of the fabric. (3) Open the fabric and attach a safety pin near the fold – about 1” away from your angle mark. (I drew in the 45 degree line as an example, it will not be on the right side of your fabric) (4) Re-fold your fabric with the safety pin inside, stitch along the open side of the fabric (not the folded side!) and along the angled end (5) Trim along your 45 degree line. (6) Trim the corner to reduce bulk, don’t cut your stitches! (7) Use the safety pin to start turning the sash. (8) Turn the sash right side out. (9) Carefully push out the corners with your chopstick. (10) Press, you’re done!
How do you turn tubes and sashes?
Tomorrow’s Post: Sew Essential #7! Enter the giveaway here, I know you need some Tula Pink!
by Sherri Sylvester | Jul 16, 2013
Dana’s book is an amazing resource that most definitely NEEDS to be on your Sew Essential list! I won’t say too much today, because I did a review of it in May of this year. Suffice to say, there is an amazing amount of information in this book. It even includes how to do a “burn test” so you can find out what the fibre content of your fabric is!
Also, if you have never read Dana Willard’s blog, MADE, you should really check it out. She covers everything from sewing to baking to crafting – all with bits of life in between. Her photos are refreshing, bright and colourful – something for bloggers (especially me!) to aspire to and use for inspiration!
Of course, you can get her book from Amazon, or a myriad of other places I’m sure. Check out your local book store (if you still have one, sadly) or quilt shop and you may find it there as well.
Do you have a favorite sewing book that you reference on a regular basis?
Continuing on… Come back tomorrow for Sew Essential #6! And – as usual this week – enter the contest to win a fat quarter bundle – can’t hurt. You might just win!
by Sherri Sylvester | Jul 15, 2013
Okay, I know I have talked about these pouches before – hmmm… lots! And I know that you already know that I love them – they make a great quick gift idea. But they also use a technique that I have found really useful, so that is why they are front and centre again today!
Noodlehead Open Wide Zipper Pouch
Funny thing, this blog started (1 year ago now) with an Open Wide Zipper Pouch, here. Since then I have posted a few I’ve made here and most recently here. That given, so far I have only made the smallest of the 3 sizes that Anna provides a tutorial for. As usual with Anna’s tutorials the photos are easy to follow, the directions are specific and everything looks super polished when you are done. I can’t say enough good about her tutorials and patterns. Try this pouch even if you have not installed a zipper in a project before. Her instructions make the process really simple and will leave you wondering why you hadn’t used them before!
Now, on to our technique.
Whenever I stitched something in the past that had to be turned right-side out, I was always irritated by the uneven edge that was left to stitch up, and it would take a long time to evenly fold the seam allowances to the inside.
I found that if I took a second to fold and iron the seam allowance before turning, the edge was already marked – without all of the extra fiddling and folding.
Here’s what I mean, using the Noodlehead Open Wide Pouch. The opening is in the bottom of the lining. (Sorry for the orange dots – it’s a bit hard on the eyes!)
(1) Fold the seam allowances open to both sides. (2) Iron them flat. (3) Turn the pouch, take a look at the precisely folded edges on the opening! (4) Match and pin your ironed and tidily folded edges. (5) Stitch close to the edge to close the opening. ~ Wasn’t that easy!
This also works on flat items, like the Super Hero Cape. Just fold both seam allowances up and iron (use lots of steam to get a good fold). Then turn and top-stitch or hand-stitch the opening closed.
Come back tomorrow for Sew Essential #5. (and click here (if you haven’t already) to enter to win some Tula Pink fat quarters!)
by Sherri Sylvester | Jul 14, 2013
My Fiskars are amazing, and they came from my mom – which makes them even better! These scissors are really useful for clipping threads, but they do a whole lot more than that. They have a spring loaded handle – so they are easy on your hands. The blades are super-sharp, and cut all the way to the tip – so they are really great for clipping and grading seams.
They can also double as an impromptu seam ripper. The tip of the blade works well if you have a small seam to pull out and are too lazy busy to get the seam ripper. I have not had a lot of success using them for cutting out pattern fabric, the blades are too short. But I can imagine they would be amazing for applique – especially small precise shapes. I also like that they have a safety latch, because these are really sharp (can I say again, REALLY sharp!) and I would never want my kids to find them open.
You can find something similar here – but I can’t seem to find a link to the exact ones that I have. All of them seem to have stainless steel blades, and the ones that I own have Titanium Nitride blades. What are your favorite scissors?
Want free fabric? Enter the giveaway and you could win a Tula Pink fat quarter bundle. Back tomorrow for Sew Essential #4 – “Made By Me Monday”-style!
Disclaimer: I was not paid by Fiskars for this review, these scissors really are great!
by Sherri Sylvester | Jul 13, 2013
If you do a lot of applique you know how important it is to fuse the pieces properly before stitching everything together. I have tried quite a few fusible web products and LOVE the results I get with Steam-A-Seam 2 from the Warm Company.
The main difference between Steam-A-Seam 2 and the other fusible webs I have tried is how precise you can be with your final product. Steam-A-Seam 2 is made with a pressure sensitive adhesive on both sides. This allows you to cut out, place and re-place your applique wherever you’d like on the final project. If you are making a shirt applique, for example, it is possible to try the shirt on with the applique in place before ironing it down to ensure everything is exactly where you want it. Once everything is perfectly placed, you can iron it on and know you will love how your project turns out!
I generally stitch around my applique – but apparently this fusible web also works to adhere permanently even without stitching. I also really like that it provides a non-fraying edge wherever you have fused it to your background. Steam-A-Seam 2 is available by the metre/yard and also in “hemming” widths of 1/4″ and 1/2″ wide.
Here are a few Thread Riding Hood tutorials that use Steam-A-Seam 2:
Notice a trend? The first two Sew Essential Tips help me to easily make things EXACTLY how I want them to be! Do you like “Slow and Precise” or “Get it done Quick” sewing best? Make sure you enter the giveaway to win some Tula Pink goodness and come back tomorrow for Sew Essential #3!
Disclaimer: I was not paid by the Warm Company for this review, they really do have an amazing product!
