Even the smallest scraps are put to use!
By Serena Smith | November 19, 2009
Need a use for those leftover tiny fabric scraps and selvage edges? Try this! ;)
Topics: Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
Change your needle!
By Serena Smith | November 10, 2009
Believe it or not, sewing machine needles are not intended to last forever. The little mechanism that holds the needle in place on your sewing machine has a screw that tightens and loosens. That means you are able to take out the old needle and put in a new one.
As I pulled my needle from my machine this morning, I felt the rather large burr at the tip of my needle. Oh, yes! It was time for a new one! Especially since I was planning to stitch on satin fabric which easily shows runs in the fabric from a less-than-perfect needle.
Unless a needle breaks or is bent, it’s easy to forget about changing the needle as you are sewing, but it is important to do so. Not only can a slightly bent or dull needle cause damage to your bobbin case, presser foot or stitch plate, but it also can damage your fabric. Thread breakage, shredded thread and skipped stitches can many times be eliminated with a change of the needle.
The next time you sit at your sewing machine, take a moment and look at the needle and see if you need to replace it. When was the last time you changed it? Try turning that screw sitting above your needle. It’s not glued in place; it really does work! :) And then save that old needle for hanging up picture frames!
Topics: Embroidery, Helpful Lessons | 4 Comments »
Christmas Stocking Make-It-&-Take-It
By Serena Smith | November 5, 2009
Tonight I’m teaching a hands-on class at our local quilt quild on how to make quick and easy Christmas stockings. It’s been several years since I’ve taught this class, so I’m looking forward to doing it again! Looking forward to lots of fun and excitement!
Yards and yards of batting cut!
Table station signs printed and patterns traced.
Samples stitched and instructions printed!
Topics: Teaching | 1 Comment »
Giveaway winner!
By Serena Smith | November 2, 2009
Jo Anne is the winner for last week’s giveaway for the quilt kit! Congratulations!
Be sure to take a peek on November 23rd for a chance to win this month’s giveaway!
Topics: Giveaways | No Comments »
Monday Giveaway: Easy Diamonds Quilt by Benartex
By Serena Smith | October 26, 2009
Win a quick and easy, but fun quilt kit from Benartex – a $70 value!!
WOW! What a dynamic combination of Benartex’s Baby Geniuses Collection of fabrics! Here’s a secret about this 45″ square quilt kit – it’s put together a block at a time. (What could be easier?)
Kit includes pattern and fabric for complete quilt in a nice zippered clear pouch. A great first quilt idea, for any age!
–To be entered in this giveaway, just leave a comment on this post with your name.
–Post a link to this giveaway on your blog and leave a second comment with the blog post url and you will be entered twice in the giveaway.
–Comments will be open until next Monday, November 2nd and the winner announced that same day.
–This giveaway is only available to US residents.
–You must leave an email address in the comments or link back to a blog so I can contact you if you win. If your name is selected and there is no way to contact you, another name will be chosen.
–You have one week to claim your prize. If the prize is not claimed, another name will be chosen.
Topics: Giveaways | 17 Comments »
Oh how I love embroidery software!
By Serena Smith | October 22, 2009
Ok, I admit, it’s been a while since I’ve really sat down and played with my computer embroidery software. Yes, I use it several times a week, if not everyday to open designs, resize, send designs to the machine, etc. But those are just the basic, everyday uses that it is capable of doing. I can navigate my mouse or keyboard to do those tasks in my sleep. It’s the more creative stuff that the software will do that I don’t do everyday. And then when I get to play with those features….oh, what fun it is!!
Version 3 and 4 of my Bernina DesignerPlus software, I know like the back of my hand, but V5…that I’m still learning all the *new* things that have been added! (I know, I know….V6 is now out, but I’m still loving V5 features! And when I install V6 on my computer in a couple weeks…well, I’ll be wowed away by all the new stuff in it as well!)
But take a look at this! It used to be back in the old versions of software that I would have to manually digitize an applique shape or design. You know, digitize the placement line, cutting line, tackdown stitch and then the cover stitch. Each. One. Separately.
Then the auto applique tool was developed and oh, did that ever speed up the process! And now the partial applique and advanced applique tools have been added, but the thing that caught my eye today as I’ve been designing is this: bringing the fabric into the applique so it shows onscreen.
Yep, that’s right! Here’s my design and inside the square on point, I can see the fairy frost fabric in my head, but I can’t actually SEE it onscreen.
Until I bring in that little scanned fabric swatch. See?! How cool is that!
Topics: Bernina Software, Current Projects, Embroidery, Helpful Lessons | No Comments »
Creative Expressions: Moulin Rouge & Fragrant Delights
By Serena Smith | October 22, 2009
Moulin Rouge and Fragrant Delights are two special issues of Creative Expressions, written by Jenny & Simon Haskins. I was able to grab a stack of back issues and am able to offer them to you at 50% off! Both these magazines are filled with fun machine embroidery projects and ideas in addition to instructions for completing the quilt on the front cover!
Fragrant Delights is an embroidered quilt in soft, pastel colors. As well as the instructions to make the Fragrant Delights quilt, this magazine show cases 10 wonderful pillows submitted by embroidery designers and distributors from around the world who also are giving away free sampler designs from their collections – 17 FREE designs that you can download!!
In Moulin Rouge, color seduces the eye and excites the senses on this richly designed quilt that features black velvet with red and black silk, embellished with rich red roses, bows and gold lattice. Plus there are many other projects included from great designers such as Kerrie Hay from Bernina with a bridal trousseau, Robyn Cawdron from Elna with summer outfit fun and Sharon Bummer’s school formals. All fantastic ideas to keep your mind overflowing with possibilities. Plus a cd is included with the magazine filled with FREE designs!
These issues are no longer in print and once they’re gone – they’re gone! So be sure to get your copy today! Machine embroidery ideas galore plus free embroidery designs; what could be better?!
Topics: Embroidery, News, Product Reviews | No Comments »
Head Over Heels – Whimsical Shoe Collection!
By Serena Smith | October 15, 2009
A NEW Crafter’s Collection from OESD – Head Over Heels!
These fun and whimsical heeled shoes are perfect for any frilly project or idea. Add glitz, jewels and 3D elements to make each shoe unique.
Package contains: USB Design stick, Thread Color Chart, Thread Shopping List
Multi-format USB stick includes the following formats: art, pes, pcs, dst, hus, jef, xxx, sew, exp
Topics: Embroidery Designs, New Items | No Comments »
Enhanced features in Bernina’s Quilter program
By Serena Smith | October 6, 2009
I have used Bernina’s Quilter program in the embroidery software for some projects. It is helpful to be able to actually put fabric samples into blocks, sashing and borders and then insert an embroidery design to “see” what it will look like. It’s not something I use a whole lot, but it is helpful. While I was watching Bernina’s webinar last night, I was hoping that the new version 6 would add some features that would make me use it even more.
New Diamond Layout – The new diamond layout is neat, although I’m not sure how much I would use it. Since I’m not a traditional quilter, but prefer to work with larger pieces and incorporate embroidery, I have used the square and on point layouts quite a bit. One item to note: A diamond and square on point look like the same shape, but nope, they aren’t! A diamond is a skewed square where a square on point is actually a square that has been turned 45 degrees, making it much simpler and easier to add pieces around it.
Block Editor – You can draw and create your own custom blocks to import into your block library. Cool feature! What can I see doing with this?? Paper piecing! I don’t do a lot of paper piecing but have done a little and created a couple paper pieced blocks for an embroidered project I taught. So I can definitely see using the block editor to create paper pieced blocks specifically designed with an open area for embroidery. Yep, I can see that.
One thing I do like to do is use the quilter program to bring in a design and place it in a border and resize the design so it will fit in the space I want it to. There are other ways to do this on the embroidery screen of the software, but if I do it on an actual border, it’s a bit easier to visualize and see what will and won’t work.
The basic key to Bernina’s Quilter program is that you can see it before you stitch it! If you are having trouble envisioning the fabrics together or knowing what embroidery designs to add in or where to put them, the Quilter program is a jewel to use because you can see it and play with it before you go to the work of cutting and stitching it.
This webinar will be available on Bernina’s website for about a week if you would like to watch it and they are always scheduling more webinars which are always informative! So be sure to sign up for them!
One of the next webinars I’m looking forward to is on the new CutWork Tool & Software. That will be neat to see!
Topics: Bernina Software, Bernina USA, Embroidery, Links, Quilting | No Comments »
Embroidery Marathon – Complete!
By Serena Smith | October 5, 2009
Whew! I feel like all I did last week was embroider. And actually that’s just about what I did! My goal starting last Tuesday morning was to get 30 hours of embroidery done in two days. Did I make it? I’m thrilled to say yes! Here’s what I was able to get accomplished among other things!
I like the purple fabrics and threads, but really loved the flower once it was stitched!
And the teal flower was just as beautiful!
30 hours…606,045 stitches…3,312 yds of embroidery thread…24 bobbins…9 yards of stabilizer later……..all three center medallion blocks are stitched! Whoohoo!!!
Topics: Current Projects, Embroidery, Quilting, Quilts | 4 Comments »
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