SEW-lutions sewing tips and news, brought to you by Sewing.org and the Sewing & Craft Alliance
sewing and craft projects at www.sewing.orgsewing and craft projects at www.sewing.org

National Organize Your Home Day

January 14, 2009 – 11:30 am

January 14th is National Organize Your Home Day–now I don’t know about you, but this is not a task I could ever complete in a single day. Perhaps, I could get a handle on my desk in one day!

I think sewers are always lamenting the fact that they need to organize–whether its upcoming projects, the fabric stash, burgeoning bookshelves or beads and notions filling drawers. If you’re in need of some helpful hints, check out The One-Minute Organizer: A-Z Storage Solutions book, by Donna Smalin. The sub-title notes “500 tips for storing every item in your home.” This handy little tome is organized alphabetically by some common categories of things that can easily get out of control around the house and offers up ideas for storage solutions. The author also discusses the pros and cons of various storage solutions.

One of the things I like best about this book is that it breaks tasks into small bits. Rather than turning away from my computer and staring at a dissheveled sewing room, I am encouraged to focus only on one area at a time–like my interfacing drawer, perhaps, or the cutting table surface. If I take a few minutes to organize a small section of the room at a time, then I feel like I’ve accomplished something, and soon the entire room will be in much better array than when I began. It’s much like Nancy Zieman’s book titled 10-20-30 Minutes to Sew. Using small bits of time to measure accomplishments is a great motivator. I do the same thing during TV commericials–how much can I get done during the 2-3 minute breaks?

So, I would encourage you not to view your organizing project as your entire home, but rather to break it down into smaller portions like this well-written book suggests, and pretty soon you’ll have made significant progress and feel good about what you’ve done.

By LindaG | Posted in General Information, Home Decorating

Sewing-related Stamps

January 10, 2009 – 12:05 pm
Quilt StampsBRPhotos U.S. Postal Service

Photo: U.S. Postal Service

I don’t know about you, but I love to tout my sewing habit any way possible. I have an assortment of shirts, including my fav “Fabric Fondler,” and even a baseball cap that says “You Sew Girl!” But, just recently I thought about stamps–yes, I know most people don’t write letters much any more, but when you do, it’s fun to stamp the envelope in a creative way.

In 2008, the U.S. Postal Service launched a series of stamps to honor Charles and Ray Eames, a husband-wife team noted for their modern furniture designs. But the duo also designed fabric and one of the stamps in their series showcases one of their 1945 brightly colored upholstery fabrics.

U.S. Postal Service

Photo: U.S. Postal Service

In 2006, the U.S. Postal Service honored the quilters of Gee’s Bend, a small rural Alabama community of African-American women noted for their quilts. The stamps feature 10 quilts created between 1940 and 2001. They’re 39 cent stamps, so you’ll need to add to them before using, but they’re still available from the online postal store.

One of the first stamps to honor sewing was issued in 1952–a 3-center that shows Betsy Ross with her American flag creation.

Now, we can lobby for more sewing-related stamps, or with modern technology you can create your own on PhotoStamps. Here you can upload your own photos (within the guidelines given) and print out REAL postage stamps. So, why not photograph your sewing machine, a spool of thread with a needle, your latest project or your favorite pet stretched out on your fabric collection and print your own stamps. It’s fun (but note, there is a surcharge for the customized postage), and you can send a personalized message to the world.

By LindaG | Posted in Sewing, Quilting, Embroidery & Craft Products

Sewing New Year’s Resolutions

January 6, 2009 – 1:17 am

Happy New Year! It’s now official–the holidays are over and we’re into trying to make good on our New Year’s resolutions. I’m guessing that many of you have some similar to mine–clean and organize the sewing room, get rid of some old sewing magazines and save those stories that you want to keep (and file them so you can find them), and watch what you spend on fabric, concentrating on using up what you have in the stash. Even one of those alone would be a major task, but you’ve got 12 months to do it in.

Another one I plan to tackle soon is organizing all my cotton fabrics by color. At present, they’re running amuck…some are organized by theme, like food prints and sewing prints, but the general stash is a mish-mash. I think if I refold, touch and categorize the fabrics I’ll be reminded of what I have and then I can organize them by colors for easier finding later. It’s always fun to remember where you purchased a particular fabric, or what your original plan was for it. (OK, so that plan may no longer be in fashion if the fabric has significantly aged!)

So, I wish you the best of luck in your sewing room resolutions, and I’ll report back periodically on my determination to fulfill mine.

By LindaG | Posted in General Information

Online Sewing Classes

December 27, 2008 – 6:18 pm

Whether you live in an area without live sewing classes, or you simply like the convenience of learning in your own time and space (OK, perhaps in your jammies!), take a look at some online sewing classes. More and more companies are offering lessons online, some taught by notable names in the industry…it’s as if the teacher is right there in your sewing room, but you don’t even have to clean up the place for the visit. Several new classes will start around the first of the new year, so check them out now and sign yourself up.

Perhaps Santa brought you an embroidery machine this year, or even last year and it’s still in the box. Embroidery.com offers several classes on projects and embroidery techniques and some are even specific to a machine brand taught by the company educators.

Pattern Review offers a wide variety of classes on topics like serging (for something other than finishing seams, which most people only do with their machines), working with laces, handling sheer fabrics and several beginning classes. If you’re not a beginner, but you know someone who has asked  you for help or resources, direct them to this site. You can even download a sample sewing lesson for free.

Many people request help with fitting, and Patterns That Fit You offers classes in fit and alterations, and even classes specifically for men.

If quilting is your thing, check out the online offerings at Quilt University. You can learn to piece at your leisure from one or more of the 120 course offerings, many taught by notable artists who have exhibited and taught internationally.

So, if winter weather has you hesitant to sign up for a class in your area, online classes are the perfect option to keep learning something new about sewing, quilting or embroidery. For more resources, simply type “online sewing classes” in a search engine and pick your pleasure.

By LindaG | Posted in General Information

More Sewing Answers

December 21, 2008 – 4:50 pm

It’s 22 degrees outside and we have 10″ of snow, topped with a thick layer of ice on the ground. What better time to stay inside and answer a few sewing questions from blog readers. Keep in mind that I can’t answer all the questions I receive, as some require extensive how-to information and illustrations, which I’m not able to do in this format.

Can I use a woven fabric in place of a knit for a pattern calling for “stretch fabrics only?” In most instances, no, as the design and fit of the garment is dependent on the fabric’s flexibility. However, if the garment is loose fitting, you may be able to get away with the switch. Best idea–make a sample from some scrap fabric to test the fit. If you pursue the fabric switch, perhaps cut the garment one size larger than normal to account for the lack of stretch.

I don’t have any fabric store in my area–can you suggest some other resources? Even though you may not have a good fabric store nearby, you can shop the world online! Simply go to your favorite search engine and enter the type of fabric you’re looking for. For example, if you go to Google and type in “red velvet fabric,” you’ll find several hundred resources listed. It’s good to be as specific as possible when entering search criteria. In this example, if you forget “fabric” you’ll also find red velvet cake recipes. My favorite general fabric sites with searchable stock are fabric.com, equilter.com and some of the chains like Hancock and Joanns. You can order exactly what you need and have it delivered right to your door…can’t get much easier than that! If you don’t know what you want, check them out as well–just browse the various categories. Some sites specifically list what’s new, so you can keep up on the latest.

I want to make fabric napkins–what’s the easiest way to finish the edges? If you have a serger, the speediest way is to set it for a rolled hem, use Woolly Nylon thread in the loopers and matching thread in the needle, and go for it. Most napkins should be at least 18″ square, though if you’re making them from cotton, simply cut them two across the width (22″) and the same distance along the length for ample sizing. As you serge, trim off the selvage edges. Secure the corners with seam sealant before trimming the excess threads. If you don’t have a serger, just turn under the edges all around and stitch a narrow double hem. Or, for a faster finish, use a narrow strip of fusible web to hold the hems in place–this method is so easy, even kids can do it.

By LindaG | Posted in Sewing, Quilting & Embroidery Tips & Techniques