Sewing, Sewing, Sewing

Humming the tune of "Rawhide" in my head.  Sewing, Sewing, Sewing, the bias tape keeps growing, da da da da de da Rawhide!

I'm sewing the bias tape on the 20 boy scout neckerchiefs.  Each neckerchief takes a full package, 4 yards.  That's 80 yards I'm stitching on.  I'm on my 6th neckerchief right now.  Just needed a break!

Have you seen a presser foot like this?  It is a "binding foot" and it hold the bias tape open and in place and the fabric fits in a little slot that feeds it right down the middle of the tape.  Sure makes it easier to sew as there is no pinning required and it catches the bias tape neatly on both sides. 

So I keep plugging away singing my little diddy.  Actually, I'm listening to podcasts as I sew.  Have you ever heard of Daily Audio Bible or Merry Ministries?  Those are two great ones to listen to, and they are free!

 

Hugs and blessings,

Nancy

ps.  Want to know a little secret?  I have produced some podcasts myself.  Back in 2010 I made several podcasts that you can find on iTunes.  My podcast was titled "Making Our Home a Haven."  In my very own home, I have always strived to make it a haven.  I don't always succeed, but I do always strive for it.  :-)

Machine Embroidery - Spring Hand Towels

Hi Friends,
It was time to give my blog a new look.  Actually I got to playing with it because right beside me my embroidery machine is humming away with those boy scout neckerchiefs I mentioned in my previous post.  I don't like to stray too far while it does it's thing, so I've had a chance to play with my blog.

The hand towels are from Anita Goodesign and it is from the Spring Curls collection.  These are more designs that just make me smile.  The towels were from Wally World and I used a water soluble stabilizer on both the top and bottom.

At our house, it is bursting with signs of spring!  I've got most of the garden in now.  There should be no more freezes now till fall.  Mama robin has built her nest in the back yard.  I've enjoyed watching her.  We will have new baby birds very soon.  My peach and plum trees already have small green fruit and the grape vines look like they will be loaded.  On a sad note, my cherry tree froze.  Not even a single leaf on it.  I hope next year it comes back in full.  Last year I froze 20 pints of cherries and was looking forward to more this season.  Oh well, I will be thankful for the produce I do manage to harvest from my little yard.  The red bud tree and forsythia bushes have been so pretty.

Spring blessings to you all!
Nancy

Machine Embroidery - Boy Scout Neckerchiefs

 

Hi Dear Friends, 

Whew, the neckerchief design for the boy scouts is done!  This is my second digitizing design I've completed and I'm thrilled at the results.  Remember what it started out looking like below?  It is a map of the hiking trek that the boys will be taking this summer at the Philmont National Scout Ranch.

More was added in the detail and we went to three colors.  I'm making the neckerchiefs as well.  I've used broadcloth to stitch them on.  The stabilizer is Floriani's fusible wash away.  It certainly makes for a smooth surface to stitch on.  For the final step I'm stitching on 1/4" bias tape.  That's what gives it the nice candy stripe effect as the neckerchief twists up at the ends.

Here is my son Timothy, our youngest.  He is such a character and was goofing off for the camera below.  He really has a great sense of humor and loves to tease his sisters, and his parents too!  I'm very proud of him and all he does in boy scouts.  He is a good young man.  Timothy is a Life scout and will become an Eagle scout this summer.  He and Mike have been involved in scouting since Tim was six years old.  He will turn 16 in July.  Golly I'm feeling old.  My babies are all growing up!

Now I'm working on making 20 of these neckerchiefs for everyone.  It's keeping me busy for a few days!

Anyone want to hike 71 miles up, down and around a couple mountains? :-)

Embroidery Blessings!!
Nancy

Machine Embroidery using a Wing Needle

Hi Friends,
This past week was spring break for my children and boy did we have fun.  Mike and Tim went on a boy scout camping trip and Emily and I drove to Oklahoma City to visit Katie in the Air Force. 

Two beautiful sisters, Emily and Katie.  Oh how mama loves you both!

This was my first time to visit her there!  She gave us a tour of the base and her dorm room (tiny dorm room).  She has her own bedroom with sink, but shares a bathroom and kitchen with another girl.  In her kitchen I saw she had one of my tea towels.  (I was wondering where it had gone to!)  Of course she can have it.  I'm delighted she liked something I had made and wants to use it!  Here it is...

It is just a tea towel with a fabric strip sewn onto the bottom to add more color.  Then for the butterfly, I used colors to match the fabric.  The interesting part of this design is that between the butterfly and the diamond, a wing needle was used with white thread to add a beautiful dramatic effect.

Just look how wide the needle is.  As the needle punches through the fabric, it pushes the fabric and creates a little hole.  Can you see it in the picture above?  It gives is a richness with the texture it creates.  The hole is created by the needle going through the same spot numerous times.

Just a note, if using a wing needle, be sure to do it on a cotton fabric.  If you use it on a fabric with polyester or other man made material, the fabric will have a tendency to spring back into place and the little hole will fill in and not be noticeable.

 

Also it is wise to use an embroidery design especially made for using a wing sewing needle.  This design is from Sew Inspired by Bonnie.

 

So we are back home now.  This morning we are home and the sun is shining.  The leaves on the trees are the most beautiful spring green and the robins, finches and other birds are singing.  Spring always has been and always will be my favorite season.

 

Love and blessings to you all!

Nancy

Machine Embroidery Boy Scout Neckerchief Design

Hi Friends,
Doing the happy dance because I created a design!!!
My son's boy scout troop has asked me to create their neckerchiefs for their upcoming camping trip to Philmont.  The line with dots indicates their hiking trail and stops.  This is the practice stitch out which I did on heavy craft weight stabilizer.  That stuff doesn't iron out, but at least they can see the finished design.
I'm so super excited about doing this!  I did it!!!
I used my Generations software and my Intuos graphing tablet.  It has been fun a fun couple of days.  I can't wait to show you the finished neckerchief.
I wish you hugs and blessings and happy embroidering,
Nancy

Machine Embroidery Gym Bags and Cheer Skirts

Dear Friends,

This has been a busy week following Easter.  Even so, I finished sewing names on cheer skirts and gym bags for a team.  They asked me to specifically sew over the pleats which I was very hesitant to do.  That is what they wanted.  Needless to say, when the girls have them on, the skirt flairs out so my concerns were aleviated and all looked well.

This is our beagle, Cindy.  I set up a folding table in Katie's old room to have extra room for doing the skirts.  Cindy follows me everywhere, so as I worked, she was right there with me in the room, shoring soundly!  She too, was tired from a busy week :-)  I do have to say, the bed she's on had been made, but that little ornery girl pushes all the covers off to the side and makes a mess of them and the pillows.  Funny girl :-)

With the money I've made doing embroidery, I splurged on this that I have been wanting for a long time!  It is a medium Wacom Intuos 5.  I've never used a graphics tablet before, but as I learn to digitize embroidery, I've felt this will be a huge time saver and it has been recommended by many to me.  Our son's boy scout troop wants me to design their neckerchiefs for their big camping trip this summer.  That set me over the top in "needing" one. 

So as I play with my new toy, I leave you with...

Machine Embroidery - New Phone App to Erase your Stitching Mistakes

Hi Friends,
This is a must see video from Alex Anderson.  It shows the latest and greatest new phone app to erase your stitching mistakes.  This new tool is super cool and is a must have for all who sew. If you have any problems with the app, please don't ask me, just contact the developers of it.



Enjoy April 1st today. I know I am!
Hugs,
Nancy