BERNINA ArtLink 6 Embroidery Software- For Everybody!!!

Do you have embroidery software?  Do you need it?  Well, come to Zede’s Sewing Studio and ask us about software- we’ll figure out which one is best for you.

In the meantime, if you need to visualize designs, convert designs from one format to another, or write designs to a BERNINA embroidery machine download ArtLink V6 here!  For free!

Even if you don’t have a BERNINA embroidery machine, you can use this software.

Here’s the deal.  Download ArtLink V6.  Ok?  Good.

Now, you can open any design file: .ART, .HUS, .PES, .PCS, etc!  That’s right guys, you can open those proprietary .ART files without purchasing embroidery software.  So, feel free to purchase whatever designs you want!

After you open your designs, you can save them as any file format that ArtLink allows. Awesome!  If you do have a BERNINA, ArtLink will let you send your files over to your machine in the proper format as well.

Even if you own the full version of BERNINA V6 Embroidery Software, you can download this for convenience.  You don’t need a dongle to open it.  So, if you don’t need to edit a design, just open up ArtLink to send designs over to your machine.

ArtLink V6 won’t let you combine designs and it doesn’t have any fonts, but it will let you resize a design up or down by 20%.  This is a great program backed by a reputable company- so you don’t need to feel nervous about downloading and using it.

When you go to the webpage, there is a menu on the right-hand side, click on the “download” tab and then you can download the zip file.  It’s a little confusing, but you can do it!

Happy Sewing!!!

If I Had A Hammer: How to Sew with Sequined/Beaded Fabric

You may never sew a beaded silk dress in your life.  But if you ever do, you’ll be down on your knees thanking us for this blog post!  Beaded fabric, silk or otherwise, can be a pain-in-the-behind to sew with.  Here are some pictures, tips, and pop culture song references to get you through such a project!

As you sew along on this fabric, the glass beads will inevitably break your needle, no matter how hard you try to miss them.  When we first started sewing a garment from this fabric, we thought the solution would be to cut the beads off the dress.  Unfortunately, that also meant cutting threads that held other beads and sequins on the fabric, leaving bare spots.  What to do? What to do?

Hammer time!  I can’t exactly remember how we got to this solution- I’m sure it was all mom’s idea- but here it is!

Trace your pattern onto your fabric and then place painter’s tape along the edges of the pattern piece.  Painter’s tape is low tack, so it should not damage your fabric. (I’m using a small sample of the beaded silk here, because it can cost $100/yard)

Then, hammer along the painter’s tape to break the bulky, glass beads.

Pull the painter’s tape up, and voila! all the little pieces of glass are nicely contained and ready to be thrown away. Hint: You may need to repeat this process a couple of times- it depends on how heavily beaded your fabric is.

 

Your seam lines are clear of debris and hazardous decoration.  Best of all, the threads holding the sequins down are still intact, so you don’t lose any more sparkle than you have to!

Believe you me, we were pretty excited when we figured this out!  It erased our fears and motivated us to use the fabric more often.  Here are some photos of projects we’ve done with beaded silk…they were both for me :)

Mallory and dance partner Brad in 2007. Ballroom dress repurposed from a thrifted beaded silk gown.

Mallory and friend Becca at prom in 2007. It was the year of the beaded silk dress!

 

Happy Sewing!!!

Blog Tour: Sharon Boggons

I’ve recently gotten a lot of compliments on our blog, and I just want to say “Thank You!” to everyone reading.  This blog wouldn’t be here without you.

When formatting and choosing topics for our blog, I often look to other blogs for inspiration.  And I have to say, I’ve been a little disappointed in what I get in my Google search for “Sewing Blogs”.  I figured that maybe a few of you have run up against the same problem.

So, I’ve got a little present for all of you- links to other awesome blogs!  As I find other well-written, informative, creative blogs, I’ll link to them here.  These blogs will mostly be about sewing.  And, just to be clear, a lot of these bloggers are much more experienced in the blogging world than we are- so we hope to learn as we go along as well!

Our first stop on the blog tour is Sharon Boggons’ blog, Pin Tangle.  Sharon is from Australia!  Read more about her here.

I was first introduced to her blog by Jane, who teaches her at ZSS.  Jane has been stitching along with Sharon for about a year, following her Take A Stitch Tuesday (TAST) program and other stitch challenges.

I’m honored to have her on the blog!  To get to know her better, I did an interview via e-mail, check it out below:

How long have you been stitching?  Which techniques got you interesting in sewing first? 

One of my earliest memories is sitting on the back verandah of my house with embroidery in my hands. It was before I went to school so it was before I was 5 years old which means thatit is over 50 years since I am 56 “

Who do you make things for?

Friends, Family and now mainly as teaching samples so indirectly they are for my students.”

Why did you start blogging?  What did you do before you started blogging? 

“I was teaching in our local art school (University Level) across 2 departments textiles and new media. I taught textile design and web design when I noticed blogs becoming more popular in the digital media area. I first noticed them around in about 2002 but it took me until January 2004 before I started my own. I was curious about the genre. There were very few textile related blogs then. In fact that is the subject of my first post “Where are all the Textile blogs?”

What’s the most exciting thing that has happened since you started blogging?

“I started teaching online which has enabled me to work from home and spend more time in my studio. It has changed my life from that angle. I delivered a series of workshops in Connecticut at the Crazy Quilt Adventure in America 2011.”

What is your favorite medium?  Do you prefer threads to beads, etc.?  

I do both hand embroidery and crazy quilting so that is very difficult to answer. The medium of textiles – particularly surface embellishment really attracts me.”

What’s your best advice to a new stitcher?

 ”Just do it and share what you learn. Don’t be fearful, the days of too many rules for hand embroidery are over. Take pleasure in developing the skill.”

What’s your best advice to a seasoned stitcher?

“Do it more, share what you know and take pleasure in your skill but also carry on learning new stuff too!”

What’s one material that you use a lot that is hard to find?

“I don’t use hard to find material. Much of what I use I have on hand or have scavenged from secondhand shops.”

Which tool in your sewing kit would you never live without?

“A needle!”

Some great things you’ll find on Sharon’s blog are: Online Classes and Stitch Challenges

Thank you Sharon!  I can’t wait to see what you come out with next!

 

 

Free Downloadable Book for Using a Ruffler Attachment

Guys, guys!!!! Sorry to fill your inboxes with two blogs this morning, but this could not wait!

Using the magic of the internet, Pinterest in particular, I discovered an awesome “e-book” about how to use your Ruffler Foot!

Find it on this website!

The post was written by The Scientific Seamstress, and I don’t think we’ll all be able to thank her enough for the awesome instructions.  It’s a PDF file, so just download it to your computer, save it, print, laminate it- whatever!  Keep the info near your ruffler and you’ll be bound to use it!

Need a ruffler?  Come to Zede’s and get one!  We’ll help you use it!

How to Darn Jeans

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This has been one of our most popular videos that we’ve ever uploaded to YouTube. I think I know why- everyone wears jeans and everyone wears them out!

I wear out my jeans in the crotch area, which turns out to be a pretty embarrassing problem if left unchecked. I think I’ve darned just about every pair of jeans that I’ve owned for over 1 year…which means just about every pair.

Just because you have to darn your jeans doesn’t mean they are particularly bad quality. When I think about how often I wear my $25 pair of jeans from some store in the Mall, I know I’ve gotten my money’s worth- plus I’ve gotten even longer use since I know how to darn them.

Watch, learn, save your jeans!

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What else do you do to make your wardrobe last longer?

How to Make a Lettuce Edge Scarf

These knit lettuce edged scarves are so cute, easy and versatile that I thought I’d highlight them again in a little blog post, even though we did a feature on them in the last Inside Zede’s Sewing Studio.

First off, I’d like to thank Baby Lock for putting this project idea on their website. Our staff and customers have really put this idea to good use- we’ve made a ton of them!

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I’ve even worn these “scarves” as belts and headbands.

The instructions are simple enough, but if you want a visual on stretching the fabric through the serger, we show it in the second half of “Inside Zede’s Sewing Studio” from January 2012.

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Check it out and make a few!  Bring them to club!

Have you ever tried a project from BabyLock.com?  How did you like it?

The Baby Lock Sofia2: Why is it so popular?

If you live in the Columbia, MO area and you come to classes at Zede’s Sewing Studio, you will have noticed that you often share the classroom with owners of the Baby Lock Sofia or Sofia2.  Actually, if you have been coming to Zede’s, it’s likely that you’ve bought a Sofia or Sofia2, because Sofia fever has been spreading like wildfire ever since the machine came out!

The Sofia2 (the most current version of the machine) is a 15lb. full service sewing and embroidery machine with a DC motor.  It’s also at a great price point (call for pricing, we can’t put it online 573.874.2500).  In this time of “recession” or “economic hardship”, we’ve seen a lot of people gravitate to this powerhouse of a sewing machine.  After they use it, they fall even more in love!  One of our customers calls her machine “Madame Sofia”.

You get a lot of “bang for your buck” with this machine.  Features like an automatic thread cutter, the ability to drop feed dogs for free-motion, 168 stitches, and 70 built in embroidery designs are usually things you expect to see on a high end machine- but they’re all present on this mid-line, super awesome machine.

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We’ve seen all different types of sewers become Sofia owners.  People who like to quilt, people who like to make purses, people who like to make garments, people who just want to embroider, make bows, make….anything!

It’s lightweight, portable, dependable, affordable and versatile- what more could you ask for?  Plus, as a Baby Lock dealer who has sold a ton (about 100 since they came out 2 years ago), we’ve got a representative sample of the sewing population operating these machines- and we only see them in the shop for basic yearly maintenance.

Some of our customers have been so impressed with the Sofia that they buy one, even if they already have a sewing machine.  It’s easier to take to and from class- plus it’s got that DC motor which means it will stitch through 8 layers of denim without breaking a sweat…and without making you break a sweat.

At the Sofia price point, a lot of other brands offer a machine that only sews or only embroiders.  It’s a steal when you can get both- even if you don’t think you’ll use one or the other.  Don’t worry, our guide classes will get you comfortable with all parts of the machine.

Here’s a video on how to make a buttonhole on “Madame Sofia”

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Do you have a Sofia?  Are you catching Sofia fever?  Ask us any questions you have, and we’ll get them answered!

What is Pinterest? Why you should be on it!

Have you heard of Facebook or Twitter? I’m assuming you’ve got some vague idea of what those two sites are, since you have the savvy to be reading this blog right now. They are “social networking” sites where you can share photos, status updates, links, and a whole lot more.

So, why would we need/want yet another social networking site? Well, I don’t, unless it’s as cool as Pinterest!

Pinterest is a site based entirely on pictures. It’s wonderful for inspiration in all areas, not just sewing. I’ve been using it a lot, especially since I’ve gotten the itch to redecorate my house.

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You can create “boards” to organize your ideas- like “New House”, “Wedding”, “Dream Sewing Room”. And you can upload pictures or add other user’s pictures to your boards.

You need an “invite” to join. You can request one at pinterest.com or send your e-mail address to us, and I’ll invite you! Then you set up an account and you can “follow” people’s pins- like us!

You’ll see all the neat stuff that we’re sewing or lusting after on our pin boards.  We’ll pin videos, tutorials, pictures of what we’re doing in our next class!  Check us out on Pinterest- you won’t be sorry!

Inside Zede’s Sewing Studio: Episode 1

Inside Zede’s Sewing Studio is a new sewing show hosted by Zede and Mallory Donohue. We film in front of a live audience and take questions from Facebook, Twitter, and the people sitting in front of us!

Check out our first episode! This month, we explained how to embroider on a ready-made tote bag and how to do a lettuce-edge scarf on your serger.

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Zede and I had an awesome time, and so did our audience!!!

Do you have a sewing question for us?

Wings and Feathers is Bold and Beautiful!

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It is funny how a quilt can catch your attention.  I was priveledged to see this quilt at the AQS Show in Paducah, and then again in Houston.  However, it was at Houston that I was able to meet and interview the creator of this fabulous piece! 

His name is Mark Sherman, and he is a quilt artist, teacher, lecturer, and award winning quilter.  This quilt, Wings and Feathers, was completed in 2009.  It features turned edge machine applique, it is machine pieced, and uses all hand dyed, and marbled  fabric that Mark did in his own home.  Even though he has only been long arm quilting for just over a year, this piece is remarkable and includes all his original designs.  Something that got my attention was his use of crystals that added a new dimension to the richly colored fabrics.  

He has put over 3,000 hours into this quilt.  That effort was recognized in Paducah, where he received first place in the AQS Bed Quilts, Long Arm Quilted, and the Viewer’s Choice Award at the same show.  This quilt will also be featured in the AQS Wall Calendar for 2011.

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Isn’t it amazing how we get into quilting? Rumor has it that he owns several Bernina sewing machines, however if his wife is reading this, it is just one!

 By the way, this quilt was the cover quilt on the July 2010 issue of American Quilter magazine!  See more of Mark’s amazing quilts at www.remarkablequilts.com!

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Considering the possibilities of hand dyed fabric,  Linda B.