About.com Sewing

Christmas Ornaments

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:45:43 +0000

I made a resolution last New Years that I was going to sew new Christmas Ornaments every month... and I even kept the resolution for many months but as with most New Year's resolution, I quit being resolute. Now that Christmas is around the corner, I decided to make a bag to keep in the car. That way all those wasted moments that I sitting waiting for my daughter, I can get ornaments made. I'm working on soft sculpture Santa and Mrs Santa heads this week, but because ornaments are small most of them can be made into a take along bag or kit that's ready to sew when ever you have a spare moment.

Create and Sew Christmas Tree Ornaments from Fabric, Lace and Trim - Free Patterns and Directions

Christmas Ornaments originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 14:45:43.

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Just for fun

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:29:14 +0000

I have never outgrown the hidden pictures games in Highlights Magazines. My mother had given my daughter a subscription when she was younger and we all had a sheet of tissue paper we placed over the pictures so they could be played over and over again. Threads has a game online that is just as much fun. I have to warn you though... their "Spot the Difference" game is addictive, so don't even think about looking if you have things you need to get done.

Just for fun originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 07:29:14.

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Great Grandmother's Gift

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:24:59 +0000

When I was very young and just learning to cook, my Great Grandmother sent me an apron she had made. Many, many years (more years than I want to count) later I still have that apron. The only problem is that the thread is now giving way so if I try to tie the apron, the ties break off the body of the apron.... so I decided it's time to remake that apron... and I did. It's a simple to sew, really great apron and doesn't have gathers that tend to "fluff" the waistline.

I can never get another apron from that wonderful Great Grandmother but I can carry on the tradition. I think I'll make them for Christmas gifts this year. Buying the fabric on sale will make them an economical gift. I know I am making a couple to have on hand for Thanksgiving so anyone that wants to help in the kitchen can keep their clothes protected.

Great Grandmother's Gift originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 14:24:59.

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Holiday Fabric Sales and New Retro Apron

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:28:25 +0000

If you receive the email sales newsletters from online fabric stores, you probably noticed that almost all of them have already started marking down the fall harvest and Thanksgiving print fabrics. I am ordering some to make the new apron I am posting this week... maybe some Christmas fabric while I'm at it to make this retro apron as Christmas gifts.

Holiday Fabric Sales and New Retro Apron originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 05:28:25.

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Thread

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:25:53 +0000

Who stops to think about thread? I used to think thread is just a basic that you have on hand or you buy when you buy fabric but there was no big deal... then I put some under a microscope and discovered otherwise.

Then I started teaching kids to sew... without going to the store with them like we did for a 4H field trip. Unfortunately it hadn't dawned on me to teach the kids about matching thread color before I sent them shopping. When we went on our filed trip we learned about choosing a thread color and the type of thread. We didn't have all the kinds of thread to choose from that are available today in fabric stores.

Turns out thread is a big deal after all!

Thread originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 05:25:53.

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Talk Back

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:59:41 +0000

I love the sewing forum. I love people sharing knowledge and experiences. I love how the forum helps people learn to sew and solve problems.

Talk Back originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 05:59:41.

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Last Weekend Left

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:16:46 +0000

I tend to put things I want to do off until the weekend... I can get out of the housework if I save a big enough project. Halloween costumes usually qualify as a weekend project and this year is no different. I even made a deal with my daughter that she would have to do the laundry if I was going to make the costume. (Seems like a great deal to me! Who wouldn't rather sew than do laundry?) I am not going to count on getting things done next weekend... that would be cutting it too close for comfort.

Last Weekend Left originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 02:16:46.

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Straight Intersections

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:00:06 +0000

When you come to a stop sign or traffic light there is usually an intersection that makes a perfect cross. Occasionally the roads are not directly across from each other. When they aren't it's as if someone didn't lining things up properly.

The same thing holds true when four seams come together. When the seams don't line up it looks cheap or homemade. Lining up the seams the way they are supposed to line up, also makes pieces fit together properly. The further an intersection is off, the less likely it is that the pieces will fit together.

Straight Intersections originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 06:00:06.

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Apples

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:47:49 +0000

In the great northeast, and I'm sure other parts of the world, apples are a big deal in the fall. There is nothing like biting into a just picked crisp apple. Every where you turn there are things with apples on them.

It shouldn't come as a big surprise that when I went to a local quilt show I just had to have some of the fabric that had apples printed on it. It was just too "seasonal" to not buy some. So once I got that fabric home I had to come up with something "perfect" to use the fabric on... a potholder to handle that nice hot apple pie was my solution... but I wanted it real homey so I decided to use plain muslin and applique a basket of apples on the pot holder.

Apples originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 11:47:49.

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Sewing with an Iron

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:49:13 +0000

Creating with fabric is not always a question of a needle and thread or a sewing machine. Especially when you are making a costume, sewing is not always a reasonable option. One of the most common questions I get this time of year is how to prevent marker from bleeding on fabric... because someone is trying to make perfect "spots" on a costume.
So many animal costumes have spots and finding spotted fabric is not always possible. Fusing spots on to the fabric will allow you to start with an economical plain color fabric and add another color in the shapes you want, without having to search for the "perfect" fabric and without bleeding markers!

Sewing with an Iron originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 09:49:13.

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