I recently randomly came across a few posts/comments that were discussing names used for people who sew. I was surprised that opposing “name droppers” had very strong opinions on the subject. When I first started sewing, it seems that most people sewing were female and the definitive name was seamstress, which is a female name. […] Read more…
Freearm Sewing
There’s a feature on most of today’s sewing machines that you hardly ever use but is a lifesaver when you need it. Today’s post is about the freearm sewing surface of your machine. Some machines, such as the bernette 35 shown below, have a small section of the sewing surface that pulls away from the […] Read more…
Circle Art – Almost!
Here’s a sneak peek at my latest art quilt. I used few fabric scraps cut into circles and then I embellished them with scraps and leftovers, making art clusters. I’m right in the middle of this project but am already loving it! Over the next couple of weeks, I will finish it and then post […] Read more…
Table Scraps
There are so many ways to sew – quilting, making garments, sewing items for your home, embroidering by machine, and more. Even though we may enjoy different types of sewing, there is at least one thing all sewists have in common. We all have scraps of fabric left over from every project we make. And […] Read more…
No-Sew Candy Bowl
Most sewers know that the Halloween season is the busiest time for fabric and craft stores. Everyone is looking for costumes, and “Hey! Why not sew one? For some sewers this is the ONLY time they get the sewing machine out of the closet and try to remember how to turn it on. And there […] Read more…
Super Simple Decorative Pillows
If you want to change the décor of your home, decorative pillows are the way to go. If you want to do it quickly, these super simple pillows are the answer. With just a few steps and a little bit of time, you can make several of these pillows to give a warm, cozy feel […] Read more…
Easy Peasy Piecing Method
I‘ve seen this easy method of piecing a quilt block in a number of places and I think it is a great way to piece a quilt in a short time or use as a beginner block for new quilters. It is a simple pattern that goes together quickly, partly because it starts with pre-cut […] Read more…
Mini Art Quilt with Kaffe Fassett Fabrics
I am drawn to Kaffe Fasset fabrics because of the complex patterns and vibrant colors (as are many sewers). But when I have used his fabrics before, I’ve always looked for one or more solids to calm things down a bit. But this time, not only am I not adding solids, I decided to bring […] Read more…
Happy Independence Day!
Wow – summer is going by quickly! It’s been a busy one for me so far and I haven’t had time to come up with a new project, so I’m featuring the Fourth of July project I posted last year. It’s fun to sew and anyone can make this. It is a holiday placemat that […] Read more…
Where is Your Needle?
For decade (centuries?) sewing machines had one type of needle and it was always in center position. It did its job, carrying thread through the fabric, which locks with the bobbin thread to create stitches. Even though the basic mechanics and methods of a sewing machine are the similar today, needles and what you can […] Read more…