Show your love at a small business near you!

 

I love to have so many quilt shops withing easy reach. I support as many of them as I can. Running Stitch Fabrics is a happy, friendly quilt shop right in my town! I was greeted by my current favorite fabric Moda's Grunge. Alice stocks lot of it! I indulged!!!

213 1st Ave S, Kent WA 98032
Phone: 253-277-2248

Small Business Saturday

Block of the Month by Jason Yenter - Jewels of the Universe

I thought I would get a head start on Small Business Friday. So earlier this week, a friend and went to The Quilt Barn, she wanted to go to pick up her block of the month. Me? I just went for a fabric fix. If you need (?) any batik fabric The Quilt Barn is the place to go! I don't know how many bolts they have, but oodles and oodles!

2102 E Main, Suite 102
Puyallup, WA 98372
ph: 253-845-1532-1532













One shop just wasn't enough so we checked out Keepsake Cottage Fabrics in Country Village. I love the way they display their fabric!

Phone: (425) 486-3483
    818 238th Street S.E.
    Bothell, WA 98021

 

Thanksgiving - Wishing you a family and friend filled holiday

Santa Claus' arrival at the Macy's parade's finale marks the start of the Christmas season.

Prayers of thanks and special thanksgiving ceremonies are common among almost all religions after harvests and at other times. The Thanksgiving holiday's history in North America is rooted in English traditions dating from the Protestant Reformation. It also has aspects of a harvest festival, even though the harvest in New England occurs well before the late-November date on which the modern Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated.

Machine Neeldes

I like to learn new things, sometimes 'new' is new to me, sometimes it is something I forgot. I recently ran into some needle info I thought I would share with you.

 

Colonial English Needles

I like nice tools. They just make sewing so much more fun. One of the things I have learned along the way is; all needles are not created equal. Years ago I found the perfect needle in my stash of stuff. It cut threads, was impossible to thread. For a while I thought it was me, maybe I was just having a bad day? Then I realize the it was one I inherited from my mother. Now I must confess, my Mom died over 30 years ago, so the needle was old! 

I now use Colonial Needles.  Their needles are sold under the Colonial, John James, Richard Hemming, S. Thomas and Roxanne brands. Be sure to check out their web site for some great information.

Ask for them at your local quilt shop!

All About Hand Sewing Needles

Selecting a suitable needle can make the difference between an easy job well done and a hard one that lacks finesse. The needle chosen should be compatible with the thread you wish to use. Hand sewing needles are classified by type and size, each designed for a specific use. Choose the type of needle according to the job it will be doing, and the size of the needle according to the thread it will be pulling through the fabric. The finer the fabric, the sharper and more slender the needle should be.

Melody's TIP: The smaller the size number, the longer and thicker the needle.

There are many types of needles to choose from;

·        Betweens or quilting needles are very short, round-eyed needles. Use them to make fine, short, sturdy stitches.

·        Sharps are all-purpose medium length needles with small rounded eyes used for applique and general sewing.

·        Straw and milliner needles are long and slender with small, rounded eyes. These slender needles are used for applique.

·        Chenille needles are short, thick needles with long, oval eyes and sharp points. The longer eye allows multiple strands of embroidery floss, pearl cotton & silk ribbon to be threaded easily. For silk ribbon embroidery these needles are used to make stitches that pierce the fabric.

·        Tapestry needles are short and thick with large eyes and blunt points. The long oval eye carries silk ribbon and other bulkier threads easily. These blunt needles are often used for wrapped stitches seen in silk ribbon embroidery.

·        Embroidery needles are medium length with long oval eyes. They have two advantages; a long eye for easy threading and a very sharp point that will pierce close-woven fabrics.

·        Beading needles are extremely long and fine with a small round eye; generally used for beading due to their flexibility.

TYPE	NEEDLE SIZE	THREADS	SUGGESTED USES
Betweens	10	hand quilting	quilting
	9	cotton sewing size 50 (standard)	general sewing
(large eye)	8	#8 pearl cotton	quilting
	10	size B or D nymo	beading
Sharps	11	cotton sewing size 30 (machine embroidery)	applique
	11	cotton sewing size 50 (standard)	general sewing
Straw	10	cotton sewing size 30 (machine embroidery)	applique
Chenille	24	six strands of floss	embroidery or tying
and Tapestry	22	4 mm silk ribbon	silk ribbon embroidery
	20	#3 pearl cotton	embroidery or tying
	18	7 mm silk ribbon	silk ribbon embroidery
Embroidery	9	two strands of floss	embroidery
	8	#8 pearl cotton	embroidery
	6	#5 pearl cotton	embroidery
Beading	16	size B nymo	beading

Threading that small eye can be frustrating. Here are some helpful pointers:

·        Wet the eye of the needle not the thread.

·        The eye of the needle is made by a stamping process that leaves the opening on one side of the eye larger that the other side. Thread from the ‘larger’ side.

·        Thread a supply of needles in the morning while your eyes are fresh.

·        Have someone else thread a supply of needles for you.

·        When all else fails buy a good needle threader.

Purses

Some how I missed posting these great purses started at Quilt Festival in Houston.

Parisienne Rose

My creation, Parisienne Rose, captures the romance and excitement you would expect to see at a glittering ball in one of Europe’s capital cities, or perhaps gracing a shop window along the Champs d’Elise, enticing delighted passers-by to take a closer look.See it along with other BERNINA garments in this retrospective.

 

Veterans Day

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day–a common misunderstanding, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Memorial Day (the fourth Monday in May) honors American service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle, while Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans–living or dead–but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

Stitching Thread - Two at a Time

Stitching with a double needle can have some really wonderful effects. Double needles sit two on a crossbar and are designed to be inserted into the machine at one time and sew the corresponding number of rows simultaneously. Double needles are sized both according to the millimeters between the needles and by the size of the needles. Keep in mind that when you use a double needle the stitching on the back is a zigzag because you have only the one bobbin catching both top threads.

Not very interesting - but there is 12 wt cotton on top &  poly in the bobbin - 4.0/100 needle

WAY better,Yellow 12 wt, 30 wt orange, yellow embroidery thread in the bobbin, 4.0/100 needle, tension @2.0.

Redwork

Redwork encompasses any type of embroidery worked in red thread on white or natural-colored fabric (usually muslin). This style of embroidery is most commonly worked in basic surface stitches. Redwork has been commonly used in folk embroidery since stable dyes were developed in Turkey (hence the old name of Turkey Work), and was very popular from 1880 through the early 1900's.

Seams to me that it is very popular now too. I've been playing around with it too. I have adjusted colors and styles to suit my needs.

Three strands of embroidery floss, with Dream Poly batt on the back, this was fun to stitch no need for a hoop with the batting.

Bobbin quilting - regular tension -75 quilting needle, hand dyed rayon in the bobbin, filament poly on top. The flower is hand guided but the wavy line is a programmed stitch.

New Find in Houston from Karen Kay Buckley

This ingenious ruler is four rulers in one package.  The five piece ruler easily snaps together to form a 6 inch, 12 inch, 18 inch or 24 inch length depending on your needs.  It has clear and accurate grid markings along with 30, 45 and 60 degree markings.  This ruler will become your perfect travel campion as it stores easily in a handy felt bag.  It is great when you are at home or on the go. Check it out!

Ask for it at you local quilt shop!

How to Use an Edgestitch Foot

An Edge Stitch or Top Stitch Foot have a guide running down the middle of the foot, which can be lined up against the edge of a piece of fabric or in a seam for perfect stitch placement.

With the Edge Stitch foot, you can Topstitch (stitch to the side of a seam) by adjusting the needle position to the left or right. Topstitching prevents seams from rolling and gives your project a finished and more professional look. Great for collars, pockets, and tops of purses, bags, and totes! We love it for finishing the edges of bag handles. Position both the blade and needle in the center of the seam, and have fun stitching perfectly placed decorative stitches on crazy patch blocks. When using this foot, follow these steps for success.

Top stitching, with the needle adjusted to the left.