March 2014 Sewing Classes

Very excited about the new classes! Can't believe how many kids I'm teaching, and they keep getting younger each time. Do what you love, and love what you do.

Maria

www.mariasewsalot.com

February Vacation Knitting Class

February Kid's Sewing Classes

Join us for February Kid's Sewing Classes and learn the basics of sewing.  These classes are for everyone and anyone who wants to learn sewing basics by making simple projects you can complete in one class.  Join us for one, or take them all! 

 February 17-19

10:00am-12:00pm or

1:00pm-3:00pm

Monday 17Th Make your on Pocketbook or wristlet

Tuesday 18th Make your own Backpack

Wednesday 19th  Make your own Skirt

Picking out a sewing machine by Consumer Reports

Picking out a sewing machine

I found this little helpful hint to help you searching for a sewing machine hope it helps.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/video-hub/most-popular/most-popular/sewing-machine-buying-guide/17512520001/9138121001/

Rooster fabric

I'm so excited this is my first fabric design I just got in the mail and I want to share it and here it is.

Now you can buy the Galo de Barcelos fabric on Spoonflower here is the link http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/mariasewsalot 

Soccer Mom

Soccer mom Beanies

I've been wanting to make these beanies for really long time and I finally found an embroidery that I like and hats that I liked. They come in four different colors for now black, white, royal blue and red. I just love them they keep me nice and toasty on those cold soccer days and nights. I love watching soccer but hate being cold and I hate the rain so you'll find me there. Underneath my umbrella with my blankets and my soccer beanie. I am that soccer mom that screams for both teams if I know kids from both teams. I like to watch, I just like to make sure that nobody gets hurt and that they do play fair I hate watching dirty soccer. Here are my beanies hope you like them 

How to fix plumbers pants problems

Here are step by step instructions to fix your plumbers pants, so your underwear don't show when wearing jeans. We will be working on the inside waistband of the jeans.

1. Cut buttonhole on inside of waistband near second loops.

2. Cut elastic to lenght you need.

3. Turn under double half inch and stich to finish edge.

4. Stitch a button on waistband above seam where pocket starts.

5. Insert elastic through hole and feed out other side.

6. Cut button hole on the elastic and button the button on the elastic.

7. Sew the elastic down flat on the center back of the pants close to the belt loop ( remember to back stitch). Make sure the elastic is even in both sides before stitching down.

8. Try them on and if you need to cut another hole in the elastic to make them tighter then you can do so.

This is a great way to solve that plumbers problem and still be able to get the jeans or other pants over your hips. 

I'm thankful for my sewing students

Today I want to thank my sewing students. I can't believe it's been 15 months since I started the sewing studio it all started with my first three students Amy, Pat and Sam. Yesterday Sam would not of been happy with me at all.My two hour class lasted for almost 3 and half hours. That's what happens sewing is sew exciting you lose trace of time.

Thank you for all your hard work, for listening to the instructions. Pinning the way you sew! Learning to use the iron even the little ones.  Being patient, keeping calm and sewing on!

I hope to inspire and keep you sewing for both our lifetimes. I will keep posting your projects on Facebook and now I've added a board to my Pinterest called Student's project. You know how I love Pinterest.

Thank you for sending me messages, thank you for all the likes on Facebook, and I see some of you are starting to find me in other social media outlets. You know I love technology, thanks Julio. 

I just want to make sure that even if you are not taking classes you are still sewing. You and I both know you love it, remember I was there when you were trying to hide the excitement of your finished project or how to finally use your machine that was still in the box! 

Many years of happy sewing and thank you for coming to my little studio.

Custom cushions

I just love the colors of these reversible cushions. Hope they inspire you.

Recycled sweater stocking

1. Cut the sweater to the shape of a stocking

2. Cut lining Material to the same shape

3. Put lining pieces right sides together and sew around the edges leaving the top open

4. Sew outside of stocking right sides together leaving top open

5. Stick one stocking inside the other right sides together and stitch around leaving a whole big enough for turning inside out

6. Turn right side out

7. Top stitch around the top of the stocking

8. Stitch cording to side to hang

You are done!

Black Friday special

I'm having $20.00 off three different sewing classes today and tomorrow only. Check out the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/mariasewsalot/posts/552131314869568

November Sewing Studio

November 2013

Register online at 

www.mariasewsalot.com

Purple fun today

So excited got my new kid's mannequin now I can take new pictures!

Basic Sewing Supplies

Here is a list of the basic sewing supplies you will need with pictures. These are the ones I can't do without for all types of sewing. These are the items I keep multiples of.

1. Fabric snips on a clip, so I can clip them to my shirt.

2. Fabric scissors.

3. Pins

4. Magnetic bowl or pin cushion 

5. Tracing wheels

7. Marking chalk or pencil

8. Tracing or wax paper

9. Measuring gauge 

10. Tape measure

11. Seam ripper 

12. Thread

13. Thread conditioner (wax) (Thread Heaven) 

14. Hand sewing needles

15. Yard stick

16. Thimble

There are a lot of different tools that I have incorporated from sewing all different kinds of projects into my regular sewing and these are a few. They are not necessary but, if you plan on doing a lot of different types of sewing I would definitely recommend that also get in the items below.

I also like to have a self healing cutting mat, ruler and rotary cutter on hand (rotary cutters are not meant to be used on anything but cutting mats, they definitely will ruin your table or anything else you try to used them on). They are very sharp and you need to be careful, make sure you close it when not in use.

If I'm doing window treatments I also like to have a 72 inch metal ruler. 

I believe that is about it for basic tools. Remember sewing  is supposed to be a relaxing experience the only mistake you can make is cutting ( remember measure twice cut once) and not a big deal we just go out to Fabric store and get new fabric. If you make a mistake sewing, you just use your seam ripper that's what it's for.

Happy sewing,

Maria

Pleather, clear vinyl aprons

How much fun are these? Great for cleaning up, painting, crafting so many things. 

Sewing 101 in Portuguese

Sewing 101
I just love teaching and today was no exception. Except for the fact that I did the class half in English and half in Portuguese. Teaching sewing in Portuguese is new for me. I have been teaching a class in social media and selling on the internet in Portuguese, but sewing is a little different.
It was so much fun watching someone who didn't know how to thread a machine leave the sewing studio with a zippered wristlet. Today I taught a mother and daughter how to sew and this is what they made.

Pillows 101 September Class

Pillows 101

I decided to have a pillow class in September for the beginner sewer. First we will practice sewing straight and pivoting our fabric so we can have great corners. Then we will be cutting out the pillow and installing a zipper on the bottom. Once that is done we will sew all around and our pillow will be done. Pre registration is required, no walk-ins please.

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

September is National Sewing Month

September is National Sewing Month.  I'm going to start the very beginning of the month with sewing classes. I'm sew excited! Classes are going to start on the third so we can start of and get four full weeks. I have been pinning all kinds of boards on Pinterest of the fun things I want to do. The Sewing 101 are starting to fill up the specialty class I will be adding in a couple of weeks. I'm thinking we are going be sewing here 7 days a weeks and I just can't wait! National Sewing Month +Maria Sews A Lot is going to be a blast! Wait until you see the little crochet flowers I'm working on.http://www.mariasewsalot.com/Pages/Classes.aspx

September Sewing Classes

In September we will be starting all our sewing classes the first week so we can get a whole four weeks of sewing fun in. We will be keeping the Sewing 101 the same Monday's 10-12 Wednesday's 6:30-8:30 and Saturday's 9-11. That seemed to work out for most people. If it didn't work out for you send me and e-mail. The Know Your Sewing Machine I will continue doing as a private class, as I feel people get more out of it that way and they learn about their machine not somebody else's.

I will be adding a few more classes and put up a calendar so people can see what classes are what days. I will be adding a window treatment class, a pillow class, a flower making class, crochet class, knitting class. A start your own sewing business class and the class everyone has been asking me for is a social media class. Let's get everybody's Klout up. http://klout.com/home

If there are specific class someone is interested in taking please let me know.

It's going to be an exciting time at 262 Main St. this September. Hope everyone is ready?  I will be adding classes the month of August the the link below will be changing.

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

Embroidered beach totes

Lately I have come to really love my embroidery machine. I have been playing with the different fonts available and making beach totes for people. Here are some samples. Hope you like them.