Twin needles are commonly used for decorative stitching and also hemming knits. Twin needles have two numbers in their sizing.  The first number indicates the space between the needles.  The second number is the size of the needle.  So add some spark to your next straight stitch project, use a twin needle or be adventurous and try a triple!

Check out twin needles http://www.nancysnotions.com/category/supplies/needles.do

Twin needles can also be used for embroidery, if you have a running stitch type of design. These embroidery designs are perfect for twin needle and are from Designer’s Gallery Sashiko Interactive

Free motion quilting is not for everyone.  True or False?  Why false of course.  I recently had the pleasure of seeing an Easter egg wall hanging Kendra made.  It was her first attempt at free motion quilting.  While looking at the great job she did, it came to me that she gets constant encouragement and coaching to try these techniques.  This takes some of the fear out of it.  So, I am going to share some of the encouragement and coaching with you.  First of all, anyone can free motion quilt.  All you need is a machine with a straight stitch and feed dogs that can be lowered.  Any of the machine in the A-Line series would be perfect.  To get started you will bring the bobbin thread up and hold both threads behind the needle, drop the feed dogs, step on the foot pedal and you are off  to the races moving your fabric to create a flowing path of stitches.

Free Motion Stippling

In stippling, you typically want to avoid crossing over your stitching.   If you do cross-over, no problem, that’s called meandering!

Free Motion Meandering

Once you get your flow, there are a number of books you can get to help you learn other free motion techniques like flowers and leaves.

Free-Motion Quilting Made Easy

Give it a try on your next project…it really is easy.  And…look for Kendra’s Easter egg project for spring.

Add a modern, fashionable twist to a flawless classic. Mix different patterns of fabric with coordinating colors for an A-Line skirt that’s flattering and funky!

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Its no secret that I’m not a fan of bias binding. Between burning myself with the iron while pressing and pricking my fingers while pinning, its safe to same that I strongly dislike bias binding.

Previously I posted a blog in reference to a few helpful websites about bias binding. These websites were great at teaching me how to cut the fabric and providing step-by-step instructions, but it didn’t solve my issue of burning myself while pressing.

Well, good news, you no longer have to endure the smell of scorched skin to press your binding! Put the aloe plant back in the sun and let it flourish, your burnt finger days are over! The bias tape maker is here! Alright, so its been out for a while, but I just discovered it and I’m excited to try it out.

I love quilts because of their unique ability to tell a story, so I’m always excited to find artists who use quilting as a way to tell the stories that they love. One woman (and rabbi!) who does just that is Rabbi Joanne Heiligman.

Rabbi Heiligman combines a variety of techniques (including piecing, appliqué, raw edge appliqué, embroidery, photography, and embellishments) on a Baby Lock Ellageo machine to create these amazing pieces of art. She also told us that her work “includes layers of meaning rooted in the text, as well as in the choice of fabrics.”

I love her online portfolio because as you scroll across or click on each image, you can read about the incredible stories (some Biblical, some personal, some both) behind each quilt. Each quilt is so beautiful, detailed and inspirational. Be sure to check out her online gallery or, if you are in the Baltimore area, visit the American Visionary Art Museum to see her quilts in person!

There must be someone like me out there. As soon as I get stuck on a project, I want to give up and start a new one.

I’m in the middle of making a tunic (started, ahem, in the fall) and have gotten stuck in a tricky part of the project. Seriously, this is no excuse since I work with super smart sewing gals. So, I’m going to get back to it this weekend and commit to finishing it. I’ll even wear it next week.

What project are you working on? And, if you’re like me, what part of the project is making you stray from it? Before you commit sewdultery, we may have a tip that can work for you. Just post your comment and we’ll help you out.

Machine embroidery doesn’t have to be a simple plop-and-drop on a boring towel, bib or other blank. The Sofia, for instance, has some great editing features built-in, so you can make your emboridery as unique as you are.

Urban Threads has created a tutorial on ways to “hack” your embroidery designs using your embroidery machine. Their Design Hack ideas help you go from elegant to moody, large to small, text to no text, and sew on.

And, once you’ve explored all the edits your machine has to offer, step up to Designer’s Gallery Software for more custom options.

How will you make your embroidery work for you?

As well as spending a week in Huntsville, AL helping with the Martha Pullen Kid’s School, I will also be spending five weeks in New York City sewing.

For the past two months I have been raising support money to travel to NYC with Campus Crusade which is a christian organization on Kent State University’s campus that I attend regularly. The project that I will be attending is called Tribeca and consists of many students around the country that have a passion for art. 

In NYC we will spend the five weeks working on projects for a final art show. Wewill travel around NYC and do evangelism to people in the inner city to speak about my faith. Each student has a different focus, mine being fashion design and we are encouraged to use the art we feel most comfortable with. The garments that I make will be on display and people will be invited to come and see them in hopes that they will stir something inside of them and allow us students to strike up a conversation about their faith.

I hope from my artistic ability I will be able to bridge the gap between artists and their faith. I am leaving June 9th and will be blogging along the way this summer. I will keep you updated on my progress and post pictures of the garments I create as well!

If you want to expand your sewing ability, work with some really great Baby Lock machines, and meet seamstresses just like you, set aside July 20-26th. Martha Pullen founder of Sew Beautiful Magazine has a Sew Kool For Kids School and Teen Sewing School in Huntsville, Alabama. This is such a great opportunity that I wish was around when I was younger!

Students 3rd-12th grade can attend sewing classes taught by Susan Zellers and Baby Lock staff, while you work on brand new Sofia sewing machines. I will be there throughout the week assisting in the 9-12th grade classes and blogging about the entire experience! I look forward to meeting all of the students and along with some summer sewing! Please consider this conference because I can personally tell you it is worth every penny.

For more information check out http://www.marthapullen.com/schools/School.html If you don’t fit into the 3rd-12th grade category, don’t worry! The adult classes are just next door and are just as great at the kids! What a bonding experience for mother and daughter? Or grandma and grandchild?

Just because you’re in the dirt doesn’t mean you can’t look cute! This easy-to-make apron will hold all of your gardening tools. Add some trim to gloves for a matching set!

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