Cover Stitch with pictures

Cover stitch done with double needle on a knit dress.

I had to do alterations on some knit dresses and went to price out a cover stitch machine and had sticker shock.  I thought well I will just go back to doing things the way I normally do them.

This is how I do a cover stitch

1. Shorten  hem as always .

2. Serge bottom of hem.

3. Turn hem under and press with pressing cloth so as not to burn the item.

4. Turn the item over, press again and pin hem on the right side of the fabric.

5. Insert double needle into your machine. Thread with two spools of thread. Make sure you run both threads through the same tension disk.

6. Put your machine into a double needle position if it has one.

7. Make sure your serged edge is completely under the  presser foot or it will not catch on both sides of the material.

8.  Use the markings on your sewing  machine as a guide to keep you sewing straight.

Use measuring lines to keep your stitching straight or you can use masking tape to make lines in between

Under side of dress. Serged edge and bobbin stitching.

 9. Your stitching is complete just make sure you watch the end very careful, because now you have two stitching lines to match up not just one.

Hope this helps if you have any questions just email me.

Embroidered beach bag

New font on my embroidery machine. I just love it.

                              Great color combination for a beach bag.

Snappy alterations

Shirt was a little open in the front and we needed it closed, so I decided to add a snap closure

Ties we starting to get outdated, so we decided to add snaps

It's really easy to do you take the Open prong ring and put it on the bottom and lay the material on top.  Then you take the stud and put it on top of the material and get the Snap Setter tool on top of everything and hammer it. ( See below) 

When you add the socket to do the other side it is basically the same steps.

This is the finished look

Finished shirts now have different looks from above

Sunroom cushions

                                                   
                                                             Cushions before

Cushions after

Go to my facebook to see my other pictures of these cushions.

http://www.facebook.com/sewsalotmaria

Pink backpack instructions

This pink backpack is a great gift idea.  The way I made this backpack was I picked what I wanted to embroider on it, then  decided the size I wanted.  I cut four pieces the same size and sewed two together down the sides and the bottom. Then I sewed the other the same way. Then I folded the bottom corners indivually into triangles and sewed across triangle about 3" in to make a square bottom.  I did this on all four bottom corners.  I then put the lining inside and made sure the corners and everything squared off.  Once I was sure everything was straight I pinned the bias tape across the top of the back pack and then sew into place folding over the end so it is hiden in the back side somewhere.  I have a grommet press but you can get a grommet kit or grommet pliers( I will insert pictures of both below).  You make the hole as instructed in your packaging. One at each side near the bottom and six across the top ( you can make how as many holes as you desire, but 6 works the best for the drawstring).  I have found that a polyester cord works best for the backpacks. Figure out how long you need your string to be to go over your back or over your shoulder.  Don't forget you need two seperate pieces for each shoulder.  You thread it through the holes one side and knot it on the bottom, and do the same for the other.  Hope you enjoy it.

From store bought panels to Custom goblet pleats

Before

  Rod pocket store bought panel

After

Custom goblet pleats and side trim.

I added a lining to the back with a regular 3 inch double hem so that it hangs properly.  I  figured out the size pleats I wanted and stitched them to the top from the hem line.  Then I tacked four inches down and half an inch over to make the great pleat. 

The second treatment just looks more finished more formal.  I love it

New embroidered cream Pillow

Custom embroidered pillows

The above embroidery is one I decided to do for myself.  Originally I was just going to do my name so I could see what the color combinations would be like and what the size porpotion would be.  I really liked it. 

A couple of days later I decided to do something on the back.  I thought it would be a lot easier than it was.  I had to do each design seperately so I don't know the number of times I threaded and unthreaded the needle.  It took longer than I thought, but I love it.  It's called something like lovebirds.  So cute.

A new client sent me an email and I designed this pillow for her with my 5D software.  I worked hard on this one.  I ended up using two spools of thread to get the desired effect I wanted.  I was very happy with the effect I received.

Pinch Pleats and Shaped Valances

These pinch pleats look great, but they were a lot of work.  Each pinch pleated treatment is four widths of fabric.  I planned this design so that all the same flowers are in the same spot in all four treatments in the room.  I love them on the wooden rod.

I made this shaped valance double sided so you could see it when the door is open or closed.  I made it to match the valance on the side window with a little header.

Vintage wedding dress

Last friday I went to my first estate sale and bought the most beautiful vintage wedding dress. It's so simple so elagant.  I can't decide if I should keep it or resell it. It has a long line of fabric covered buttons up the back. Lace collar, lace at the bottom and sleeves. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

New backpacks

Here are a few backpacks I have made recently.  I will be making patterns like these soon.
It's been a long week my son has had pneumonia and I was finally able to get to the studio today to clean up a little and do a little sewing.

I have been working on this pattern for a while now and have finally reached the point where it is the way I like it.  I have had a lot of input from my children, do this, add that. The backpacks have grommets on the bottom to hold the cord in place and I just love that. The top is pulled tight from both sides and the kids love the patterns. Hope you enjoy them.

Embroidery problems

Today I learned that when you are trying to do out and embroidery and it doesn't look right it might be your bobbin.
First off I thought it might be the needle, I don't remember the last time I changed it.  Who really does? So I changed the needle still same problem, it wasn't smooth. I could see the white outline around some of my design.
I tought maybe the bobbin is getting low, no it was fine. I have been using store bought prewound bobbins, so I decided to wind my own sure enough the design came out beautiful.  Sometimes it's something so simple as replacing your bobbin and we waste your time thinking something is wrong with the design or something we did.
Hopefully next time this happens that will be the first thing I check.  I wish my machine had a little beep and said did you check the bobbin. It just beeped at me and showed the thread broke, so why not that?

Jabot & valance

These are jabots, valances and panels I made for one of my favorite clients.

It's been a rough week

Monday my son was sick. Tuesday he went to school and I went to work came out at 12:30 to find out someone had hit my car and left, luckly someone got the plate and called the police. Wednesday my daughter was sick, Thursday my son and daughter were both sick, Friday my son was sick.
I am so lucky my studio is so close I was able get there when my husband got home to finish what I needed.  I got a lot of paper work done, I was able to finish up some computer stuff I had planned on doing when I had some free time.  Things did not go the way I planned this week, but isn't that how the saying goes. Life happens when you are making other plans. 

I was able to start shipping aprons to Canada and Europe in between doctors appointments and taking care of two sick kids along with everything else that needed to be done.  My Windows 7 phone came in very handly this week. I was still able to design a new apron that I think will do very well. Hope you like it.

My Sewing Studio

     I want to introduce you to my sewing  studio.  I have waited a long time for this.  I sewed in my front porch, my garage, my kitchen, my basement and now I have My Own Sewing Studio.  It's great, I went from sewing for my self and family in one small room to sewing for others in three.

                     Conference Room

     I'm on the second floor on Main St which I love I get a lot of light coming in from the windows.  You walk up the stairs and see my door lucky number 3 and walk in to my conference room and display area.  This is the room where I meet with my clients and we look through my swatches.  This is also the room where I keep my aprons to ship for my Etsy store.

    

                  Sewing Room

     You walk down the small hall and the first room to the left is my sewing room.  This is where I keep all my sewing machines and sergers.  The way I have it set up is in an L shape. I do this so I can wheel back and forth between my machines.  Behind my sewing machines I like to keep some storage, zippers, grommets, etc., anything I use on a daily basis.  This is also the room where my students learn to use a sewing machine.

   

                                                    Cutting Room

  My last room I think is my favorite. This is my cutting room.  I built a custom cutting table on wheels. It is 60" wide by 96" long. I do all my cutting, ironing, hopping my embroideries, you name it I do it. No more working on the floor or the pool table/ping pong table.  It is just great cutting and squaring off my fabrics.

      It is still not 100% the way I want, but it is getting there.  I have everything organized how I use it most.  My apron fabrics are all together, right above that are my bias tapes. My backpack fabrics are all together, my drawstring cording are right above.  My embroidery threads are all together, my sewing threads are together, my serging threads are together. My hoops are together and near all my backings for my embroideries. 
     I only like to handle items once, so I try to save time by being organized. I have to many things I want to sew and don't want to waste time looking for little items that make my life easier.  I keep multiple measuring gauges, marking pencils ,12" rulers, scissors , etc, within reach at all times in different locations. This way I don't have to stop in the middle of my project to get every little thing I need.   I also keep a small bucket for trash on my cutting table for all those small pieces of fabric or pattern pieces i need to throw away, again within arms length. Whatever i can think of to make my sewing easier, faster and more enjoyable I do. You know how the saying goes so many sewing projects so little time. if only I didn't need to sleep.

     I hope this has give you a little look into my sewing studio and encourages you to get going with your sewing.   My daughter is now 17 and my son 13 and I figured it's now or never.  Hopefully you don't wait this long.
Best wishes

I made myself a backpack

     Today I finally made myself a backpack.  I have been making them for my son, his friends, to sell on Etsy, now I have my own and I love it.  My backpacks are made out of rip stop nylon.  They are durable and easy to wash. 
     I think my son has four or five different ones.  He has one for each soccer team he likes and/or plays for. Now I have my own. The front I did because I was trying my logo out and the back because I thought it was funny. I'm still working on digitizing and am not sure if this is going to be my final embroidered logo, but I think it is getting close.
     Now I can personalize the front and back of the backpacks with almost anything, depending on your mood. It can be your soccer backpack or dancing backpack, or you can have a funny saying on it, maybe a nice flower. 

     This just goes to show that you actually have time to sew for yourself once in a while.  

Snowman embroidery pros and cons

Today I tried a new embroidery the snowman. It was cute and I thought why not. The first one I tried with home decorating lining for the body parts, but it didn't look the way I liked. It as fleece, but the wrong kind for sure.  At bottom when it started doing the satin stitch the threads started to pull and it will unravel sooner or later.  For me that is not good enough.

My next try I just happen to have polar fleece in my stash and it came out so much better. The design just seemed to pop off the towel, it is softer to the touch. I know for a fact that it will not unravel. This just goes to show that I was right to save all my fabric.  I'm really starting to love my fabric stash.