Sewing techniques, tutorials, and everything that goes along with them
I love to use magnetic snaps in my projects, so we made a video explaining how to insert them.
You can use them in purses, tablet covers, on garments, etc. They can really lend a professional feel to your projects, since you often see them on designer bags.
One thing that Zede points out that I don’t mention in the video is that she will often put a square of felt behind the snap for extra stabilization. Good tip!
Have you ever used a magnetic snap? What project did you put it on?
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!
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!
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.
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?
Foot Focus is our continuing education class about presser feet!
The right presser foot can mean the difference between a project that is so-so and a project that screams wowza! As Linda Bratten says, “The right foot can make the beginning seamstress look like a professional.”
Did you know that there are at least 7 different uses for a Pin-Tuck foot (only one of which is a pintuck)? Do you know the proper way to fold your fabric for a blind-hem? Do you know how to get that walking foot on your sewing machine? These are the questions that we answer in Foot Focus
For the next two months (February and March 2012), we are going to Focus on the Baby Lock 7 Cord Foot and the Bernina Foot #6, #22 and #25. Jane just gave me her list of techniques and there are 14, count ‘em, 14 different techniques on the list!!!! That’s why we’re splitting it into two months worth of classes.
Here’s the deal. You come to class with a sewing machine in good working order. You can either borrow the foot we’re focusing on or bring it if you already have it. You leave the class with samples of all the techniques that Jane and Linda have gathered together and now you know how to use the foot. So, if you already own it, now you’re more educated about your equipment. If you didn’t already have it, you can make an educated decision about purchasing the foot or not.
When you sign up, make sure to tell us what brand of machine you have, so we know what feet to make available.
Have you been to Foot Focus? How did you like it? What feet would you like to focus on?
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.
Zede and I had an awesome time, and so did our audience!!!
Do you have a sewing question for us?
I am so excited! We are dedicating every Tuesday night after club to some form of quilting lesson! This coming Tuesday will kick off our Fiber Fun series. In Fiber Fun we will explore some contemporary and mixed media techinques to enhance and embellish your quilts. We will start out by using Karen Linduska’s book, Your Machine’s Decorative Stitches, and our first project will be Marshland #1.
Marshland #1
It will be fun to learn new ways to use those built-in stitches in our machines to create botanical images. The best part is that you don’t have to be a quilter to enjoy this class. In fact, you can be newbie to your machine, and still experience success with Karen’s methods! It is a super way to become familiar with your machine’s different functions and opportunities for creativity!
Fiber Fun will continue every other month, always on the Tuesday after club!
I can’t wait to share with you what I have learned, Linda B.
I just had to share with you photos from our Nature Inspired Quilting Motifs class. This class was designed to build on the skills that they learned in the Meandering Methods machine quilting class.
I think they did a fabulous job, and of course I am as proud as a peacock about the results!
What is it you want to learn in 2012?
Waiting to hear from you, Linda B.
I am so excited about this project! Take a look!
It’s a Post Card!
And so easy to make. Kids be sure to sign up for Kids Clubhouse this Saturday morning at Zede’s Sewing Studio and make this great card to send to a friend or relative.
Isn’t it pretty!
T-Shirt Quilt
I am so proud of my student, Jennifer. She has spent many hours designing this quilt from various t-shirts that she has acquired whenever she participated in races. Many memories are attached to this project and for many years this quilt will warm her heart as well as her body.
She had the pleasure of using my trusty 1130 Bernina. I am always pleased at the performance my 1130 Bernina gives me whenever I have a major project to undertake.
And as with all my Bernina sewing machines, they all withstand weekly and sometimes daily use and always perform and never disappoint me in the quality stitching of the machines.
Be sure to check back soon for my Pillow Case Party post. It was a blast!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am so excited about the fall weather. It is so cozy inside and cool outside. This is when we all start thinking about our fall and winter sewing projects. I am always deciding to sew seasonal items at that particular time of year. I really should organize my projects and sew fall projects in the summer, winter projects in the fall, srping projects in the winter, and summer projects in the spring. Well, hmmm maybe eventually I will get that organized with my projects.
As for my students and their projects; monthly lessons start up again at Zede’s Sewing Studio September 18th & 25th. We will be meeting for classes 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. There is plenty of room for 4-8 students as long as you get your child registered through Zede’s Sewing Studio to reserve his or her spot. Remember we meet twice a month for 2-hour sessions. The student advances through whatever sewing level they have aspired to and moves up into their next level of achievement.
Holiday Camp will be hosted in November before Thanksgiving. I have great plans for our Holiday Camp and hope to see eager young students participate in this exciting camp.
In November we will be hosting another Rocci’s Sewing School Fashion Show. So tell your children to be sure to have all their projects in good shape to show off at the fashion show.
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