UFO Class (Unfinished Fabric Objective)

     Unfinished fabric Objective (UFO) is something I have been think of for years.  The other day one of my students said to me you should have everyone come in and help you finish your unfinished projects.  I said nobody wants to help me finish my projects, but I remembered the idea from way back when about this class I wanted to do.
     I think will be a great class, because it will be people the chance to clean up their sewing rooms and mine.  I have these great embroideries I want to do something with that I think are older than my son. It will also give people a chance to ask for help that are stuck on a certain project and can't move on to get it done.

My UFO not sure if I should make a pillow or just frame it.

This class will run the 4th Friday of the month starting at 7:00pm for $5.00.  People can stay for as little or long as they want.  Hope to see you there, and maybe we can help you get rid of all your UFOs.
Maria

My Sewing/ Crafting dream

Here goes everything in a blog post. I have always wanted a sewing/ crafting room, now I'm getting 3.  It's very exciting and a little scary at the same time.  I'm happy because now people will have a local place where they can learn to use all the supplies they have been buying over the years. A place where people can come alone or with their friends and family and try something new they never thought they could do. A place to share a laugh and relax without being judged if it's right or wrong. If it looks wrong there's always a seam ripper or a bow, not a big deal.  Everything can be fixed with a little embroidery or paint or glue.  The rule of thumb is you measure twice and cut once and I almost forgot never use my fabric scissors on paper.  Hope you come and sew and craft with me or maybe paint in the Shiny Princess room.

http://www.mariasewsalot.com/Pages/Upcomingclasses.aspx

Maria

Halloween Costume Class

Here is the flier for one of my specialty classes.  I will be adding Specialty sewing classes as they are requested or I feel they are needed in order to finish off certain projects.

 

 

 

Sewing & Embroidery Club

After talking to a few people I have decided to start a Sewing Club and and Machine Embroidery Club.  I fugured there really are a lot of sewers in this area, but nowhere to get together and show off what you made or get help on something you are stuck on.  So I thought why not here, I have the space.  I love see other people's projects.  Here it does not matter what machine you are working on I will not be a machine snob ( you know if you have been sewing for awhile you are).  I do have my favorites, but I think there needs to be a place for people to get together and show off their sewing.  Let's get our sewing projects out of theclosets, spare rooms and the dining rooms and show them off to your new sewing friends. If you are stuck you never know there might be an expert that will be there who wants to show their projects off too.  I saw a few this week at the ASG that I was very impressed with.
Hope to see you at my little sewing studio.
Maria
http://www.mariasewsalot.com/Pages/Classes.aspx

Mommy and Me aprons

Mommy and me aprons

Here is my collection of mommy and me aprons.  The reason behind these is all the little ones that like to bake with me always want their own aprons, so I created a few. Now other moms can have their own. I know how happy they get when they are matching, so I made a few fun ones. Hope you like them as much as I do.

What I have started doing lately is embroidering their names on them and they love seeing their little names on them.

Heirloom teddy bear

If you don't know what to do with all your old bridesmaids dresses why not turn them into family heirlooms like the teddy below. It was made from a bridesmade dress and flower girl dress. This is why I say do what you love and love what you do.

 

 

Hope you like this idea.

 

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.