April Sewing

Hello Sewing Enthusiasts,

Now that spring is finally in the air you may be starting to reassess your springtime attire. Making piles will help you streamline your efforts so you’ll have more time to spend on the creative fun stuff. Piles may be “KEEP” – (gently worn can go another season), “TOSS” – (out the door forever more—thrift store box), “RE-VAMP”– (dated piece but still good may need a little updating) and “HARVEST” – (remove usable parts for future use. ‘Parts’ may be buttons, collars, appliques, embroideries, or even zippers). Zippers are showing up in many of this spring’s accessory reports. You can refashion them into bows, flowers or decorative swirls and reapply them on an otherwise boring pair of shoes, a necklace, handbag or hairpiece. These sandles were brand new when Rocksy decided to give her teeth a workout on the jeweled pins that once adorned the thong. The zipper flowers are soft and flexible but artsy and rockin’ while sporting the metal teeth.
I saw this embroidered Magnet idea while attending the Sewing and Quilting Expo. These palm sized novelty gifts can be tucked into a greeting card and will add warmth, whimsy and personality to a refrigerator, file cabinet or even your computer tower!

To make your own DECORATIVE EMBROIDERED MAGNETS you will need:

 SUPPLIES

• Your choice of favorite embroidered designs
• Large magnet sheet
• Industrial strength fabric and craft glue, such as E-6000
• Small, sharp, precise utility scissors
DIRECTIONS:
1. Carefully cut around embroidered designs being careful not to cut any threads
2. With embroidery design facing up, Trace the embroidery design outline on the front (white) side of the magnet Sheet
3. Cut the magnet sheet along the traced outline
4. Glue the embroidered design to the front of the cut-out magnet
5. Press design firmly- place a heavy book on top and allow to completely dry
 






 
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
How do I use the Gathering foot?
The gathering foot is one of the feet that has to be screwed onto the presser foot shank. Once you have the gathering foot attached and both the bobbin and upper thread are threaded, (Be sure to pull the top thread through the foot’s opening) The gathering foot can gather a single layer or add a gather to a flat piece.
1. To gather a single layer, position the lightweight fabric under the foot and lower the foot. For best results, use a straight stitch with a long stitch length. Using your locking stitch or back tacking at the beginning of the seam will keep the gathers from coming out near the edge. For increased fullness, increase the upper thread tension.
2. To make a gather that is attached to a flat piece place the fabric to be gathered on the bottom and slip the flat piece in the center slot. Make sure that both fabrics are facing right sides together. Slowly stitch and gently hold back the upper flat fabric while the bottom layer gathers and feeds through. TIP: Move your needle position to the extreme left!
 
 
How do I use the Ruffler Attachment?
Your Ruffler attachment is a foot that has to be attached to the presser foot shank. Make sure that the lobster claw is positioned on the needle screw so the foot will work properly.
The ruffler has three settings and can space a ‘tuck or pleat’ every 12 stitches, every 6 stitches or every stitch. Experiment first to ensure perfect results on your next project!
 
 
 
 
 
My needle threader isn’t working on the Brother Computerized Machine.  What should I do?
Brother’s computerized machines have a built in safety feature that protects the needle threader from crashing into a needle that is not in the right position. Make sure that the hand wheel is turned until the raised band on the hand wheel lines up directly with the notched seam on the machine at the center top of the wheel.

WHEN TO WATCH
April 27 Today’s Special A Brand New Singer Machine 12 am, 1 am, 8a m, 11 am, 12pm, 4 pm, 7 pm, 10 pm ET
See you next month!