December 9, 2008 – 2:30 pm
Gift wrapping–you either love it or hate it! My husband hates it, mostly because I tend to demand square corners and paper patterns on grain with the box shaping (OK, perhaps it’s a bit too much to expect). I love wrapping, and once had a job when I was in high school in the gift-wrap dept. of a local department store.
A few years ago I decided to start using my boxes of holiday fabrics to make gift bags in various sizes that could be reused from year to year and recipient to recipient. That worked out well, but they all seemed to leave our immediate family, so each year I made more and more of them. This year I decided to try something different.
I found a great book titled Gift Wrapping with Textiles: Stylish Ideas from Japan
by Chizuko Morita. Goodness knows I have enough fabric to play with, so I skimmed the pages of elegant Japanese wrapping techniques and went for it. The first time I tried it necessitated a re-do, as I wasn’t diligent about following the instructions. But the book shows great step-by-step photos and it’s actually quite easy to produce some rather elaborate looking disguises for gifts. There are lots of large color photos throughout the text to inspire you.
Some of the wraps are double-layer, others are serge-finished single layers, but you could also use a no-sew technique and fuse under the raw edges.
The wraps vary by the size and shape of the gift, but they’re so easy they’d make great kid’s projects as well. And the fun part is that the recipient gets the fabric for a secondary use after they open the present.
One trick I did find helpful–in some instances you wish you had three hands to help hold things properly, so I used a bit of my temporary spray adhesive to hold layers in place. It doesn’t harm anything and dissipates in short order. In the meantime, it provided staying power for beautiful gift wrapping.
So, as they say in the movie and TV industry–it’s a wrap! Check out this great book for year-round fun.
December 3, 2008 – 11:09 am
With the thoughts of turkey waning, and the Black Friday melee over, we’re now on the hunt for the perfect gifts for friends and family. I have several friends I like to remember with something that has a sewing-related theme to it. Over the years I’ve made small gifts from fabrics showcasing spools, zippers and funky sewing girls, and I still have many of those remnants in my stash, but this year I’m on the hunt for some sewing-related jewelry. So, whether it’s for a best-friend sewing buddy, or for a secret sister at your guild neighborhood group, here are some ideas to check out.
Lapel Pins from Pure Whimsy
Pure Whimsy has a some fun pins–from zippers, scissors and thimble shapes to dress forms with dangling charms. There’s also a crafter’s version if you have friends or family that don’t sew, but are craft mavens.
Hand and Hammer has one of my all-time favorite pieces of sewing jewelry–a sterling silver bracelet that boasts “My Stash is Bigger than Your Stash.” It’s hidden on the site under knitting jewelry, so click on the link to access it directly.
Thimbles, Etc.
Thimbles, Etc. offers some heirloom pieces including custom thimbles, silver thimble cages and heirloom chatelaines. The latter comes as a kit–in case you run out of time, you’re clever friend can construct their own! One of my favorites from this site is a button bracelet kit that you can embellish with buttons from your collection. Perhaps those buttons tell a story, or they’re simply fun leftovers from other projects.
Note: While you’re visiting these sites, perhaps you want to put something on your own holiday list, or e-mail your significant other with a link to a gift you’d love to have. It doesn’t hurt to leave detailed hints, I’ve found.
November 29, 2008 – 7:56 pm
I’ve received several sewing questions, and many really can’t be answered in a blog format, as they require a full how-to story with diagrams or photos and detailed instructions. However, below are answers to some easier ones:
Does a rag doll have hair all around its head or just in front? The answer to this one depends upon the doll. Some have full heads of hair like Raggedy Ann, but others have just a fringe of hair around their faces. Some have hair pulled into braids. If a doll is wearing a hat, like Raggedy Andy, place the hair only outside the hat area. As with people, hair styling depends on the look you like!
Can I sew upholstery on my regular sewing machine? Many machines can handle upholstery-weight fabrics using a large needle and heavy thread. If there’s a way to slow the machine speed, that can be helpful as well. A walking foot helps keep layers from shifting. If you sew upholstery on a regular basis, I’d suggest an industrial machine with a heavier motor than a conventional home machine.
How can I buy fabric wholesale? Depending on the quantity of fabric you need and whether or not you have a business license and resale number, a distributor may be able to help you. Some sell half-bolts, which are about 12 yards of fabric, while others require full-bolt purchases. Check with a fabric distributor for their buying policies (check your Yellow Pages or an online search engine for ”fabric distributors” to find one near you). If you simply sew for yourself, buying fabric in quantities like this probably isn’t the answer–simply watch for sales and coupons to your local retailer. Some retailers will offer a discount if you buy an entire bolt of fabric.
Where can I find patterns for teddy bear clothes? Check the craft tabs in your favorite pattern books. Most companies that offer stuffed animal patterns also offer clothing patterns too. Sometimes doll clothes patterns will also fit stuffed animals. An online search turns up several independent companies with teddy bear clothes patterns.
More answers in upcoming blog entries….
November 23, 2008 – 10:04 pm
Thanksgiving is coming soon, and amid your hustle to find the right turkey and the polish the silverware, you can take time to help others in need with your sewing and cooking skills.
book.
Some quilt stores and fabric stores around the country are offering special sewing events to make aprons for this purpose, but it’s something you can do on your own as well. It doesn’t take long to make a simple apron, and the bread can be baking while you sew. There are lots of fun aprons in the pattern catalogs, or you can simply copy one of your favorites for this worthy cause. We even have instructions for a beautiful monogrammed apron here on sewing.org.
Time is short for the Thanksgiving offering, but this is a worthwhile cause for Christmas and other holidays as well. Call social service agencies and food banks in your area to offer your donation, and if you’re part of a guild, recommend this worthy gesture as a group activity.
For more information on the the National Tie One On campaign, or to find a store in your area with an organized effort, visit the Apronicity site.
November 21, 2008 – 1:36 pm
November 16-22 is National Geography Week, and in noting that I became curious about how many towns there might be with sewing-related names. (OK, you may think I have too much time on my hands, but curiosity is in my genes from childhood.)
So, I started doing a bit of research online at Map Planet. I put in some sewing terms and discovered several fun things. There are 38 locations around the world with the word needle in them, including our favorite Needles, California. How fun would it be to live on Stitches Ridge in St. Helena? Or near Scissor Creek in Australia or the NW Territories of Canada?
Not far from my home in the Portland, Oregon area is a town called Zigzag. It’s a beautiful little burb near the base of Mt. Hood, and is always abloom with rhododendrons and azaelas in the spring.
There are also lots of towns with the word rip, pattern and fabric in them as well. Most people can’t really choose the name of their own street, but wouldn’t it just be fun as a sewer to live on a Thread Lane in Zigzag? It’s almost like a fairy tale.
