Sewing Birthday party

I'm so excited, I had my first sewing Birthday party. It was very busy. I had eight new sewers on my hand. I hand to teach them to use the machines, make sure the used them safe, followed directions and sewed straight. They did great! I think I enjoyed the experience as much as they did. There is nothing like the feeling of hearing someone new saying this is so much fun. That's all I wanted out if my day, to make sewing fun.  Here are some of the handbags they made. Pretty good job if I do say so myself. I wouldn't be surprised if more then half of them don't become life long sewers.

The pattern for these handbags will be available shortly on my website. The handbags are reversible and great for beginners. This pattern was designed by a 20 year old new sewer. I do have to say I am impressed with that myself.   

www.mariasewsalot.com

Monograms & custom embroidery

Love these two!

Zipper pouch

Zippered pouch 

Supplies needed

4 pieces of fabric the same size

Zipper the same size as top of your bag or pouch

Standard sewing machine foot and zipper foot

Thread 

Pins

1. Place zipper face down on right side of fabric (facing outside fabric).

2. Place lining fabric on top of back side of zipper and pin all three layers. Make sure all three edges are even.

3. Unzip zipper a little before you start sewing so you don't have a bump near the zipper pull. Stitch zipper using your zipper foot. Make sure you remember to back stitch at the beginning and end of the zipper. (Hint when doing zippers always open it a little sew until you are near the zipper pull, but not on top of it and close the zipper that way you don't get that bump around the pull and continue sewing).

4. Open up fabric

5. Place outside fabric over zipper and lining under zipper as shown and stitch. Remember to leave zipper open a little when you are sewing.

6. Open all four layers and pin all around make sure the outside fabric edges all meet and the lining edges all meet. Leave a hole at the bottom in the lining so you can turn it inside out. 

7. Stitch all around remember to leave a hole and backstitch at beginning and end. When you get to your corners put your needle down lift your presser foot and turn your fabric so you have a sharp corner, lower your presser foot and continue sewing. Make sure you do that for all four corners.  Careful when you sew near the edge of your zipper. 

8. Turn it inside out and close the hole in the lining either by machine or by hand.

9. Push corners out and lining in and you are done!

Congratulations, I'm so proud!

Creative life quote

I love to sew

Sewing Birthday Parties at Maria Sews A Lot

I am so excited to announce that as of today I will be doing Sewing Birthday parties.  It is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I have a Shiny Princess room, I have a crown, now I'm having parties.  They are going to be so much fun!
I'm going to let the birthday person pick what he or she wants to make and show them how to use the sewing machines and let them create what they will. They will get to choose between pocketbooks, backpacks, stuffed animals, pillows, tote bags or whatever they decide. I can't wait!
Here is the link to my site Maria Sews A Lot Sewing Birthday Parties

 

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