Favorite Sewing Supplies

Have you ever thought about what your favorite sewing supplies are? I've given this some thought and there are definitely some items that I don't want to be without in my sewing area. Here's the list of items that I used a lot:

1.Wash Away Wonder Tape – This is my all time favorite notion.
2.Wash Away Thread - This is wonderful for basting.
3.Bamboo skewer - I keep a package of the bamboo skewers close to my sewing area to help hold items close to the needle. This is a tip that I got from Martha Pullen.
4.Tiger tape – This is a new item in my sewing box. I think this is generally used in hand embroidery to get even stitches but think about it for long straight sewing or for holding gathers in place.
5.Seam ripper – This seems to be a very necessary item.
6.Tape measure – This must have both inches and metric measurements.
7.Glass head pins – This type of pin can be ironed without worry of the head melting.
8.Flower head pins – This type of pin is a little bit longer and easy to grab when sewing.
9.Allary chalk cartridge set – This cartridge set comes with white and colored chalk.
10.Paper tracing paper – The paper that I use is about 20” wide and about 75 yards long.
11.Mini dust it – I love this to clean the sewing machine and the serger.
12.Fusbile knit interfacing – I used this for almost everything. Works well to give stability to knit hems.

I think that I could make this list even longer but I will stop at twelve. What are the favorite items to in your sewing area?

Happy Sewing!

Stash Contest - Covington Bag

I have an update on the Covington Bag project. The outside is finished with the exception of the drawstrings. Those are the last item to be completed. There have been many challenges with this project. I ended up using 100/16 & 110/18 denim needles instead of the leather needle and a walking foot instead of the teflon foot. I'm happy with the outside of this bag. This has been a very challenging project.

Now, I'm working on the lining which turned out to be the front and back piece sewn flat. I will be modifying the lining. The modifications that I'm planning are adding some depth (the handbag has about 3" depth), adding a zippered pocket, a cell phone pocket, and just a patch pocket. I'm thinking about trying to create a tutorial for the zippered pocket.

I'm going to take a little break from this bag project and see if I can't do a couple of quicky projects.

Happy Sewing!

Inspiration and Shop Talk

Today I found this jacket at J Jill. This would be a nice jacket for fall or to wear in the office. It's lined with 3/4 sleeves. You could get a similar look using the Indygo Junction Confident Jacket pattern shorting the sleeve and making it a 2 piece sleeve.

Skirts - Freebie and Shop Talk

Today, I thought that I would share with you a skirt tutorial that I found. Here is the 5-minute skirt. I haven't tried it yet but it looks like it would be quick and easy. While you there, check out the other tutorials. If it doesn't interest you to draft you own pattern, there are a couple of bias skirt patterns at the store:

Pamela's Favorite Bias Skirt features two lengths, two silhouettes (full and slim), elastic waist, and fits hips sizes 36" to 53".

Joyce's Almost Bias Skirt which features 2 lengths - one at the knee and the other is based on height. Also, this pattern uses a zipper.

Skirts are such a quick sewing project. Enjoy!

Happy Sewing!

Christmas is 160 days away! Gift ideas & Shop Talk

I thought that it would be fun to put up gift ideas every 10 days or so with a count-down to Christmas. Here's a project that I found at Dritz - Pretty and Practical notebook cover. Check it out! If you don't like that idea, here's a few from the shop:

In My Bag accessory pattern. This pattern includes an eyeglass case, make-up bag (two sizes), coin purse, checkbook cover, tissue cover, and notebook cover.

Accessories to Go - This pattern includes four-pocket card wallet, checkbook cover, calendar cover, and a note pad cover. There is also an alphabet so that projects can be monogrammed with crystals.

Now more shop talk - The Sewing Workshop and Shape patterns have arrived. There will be fourteen Sewing Workshop patterns available and five Shape patterns available. These will be put in the store over the next week. Use a the link at the right to visit The Pattern Loft @ ebay.

Thanks! Hope you enjoy the projects.

Happy Sewing!

Stash Contest - next item

I started working on the black and grey snake pleather yesterday using the Amy Butler Covington Bag pattern. I think if I had known how tough it was going to be to use the pleather I may not have started it but I'm committed now. Cutting out the pleather pieces were a challenge due to not being able to use pins and chalk didn't leave a mark on the pleather. I ended up using weights to hold down the pattern pieces. For sewing the pleather, I started with a leather needle, a teflon foot on my machine, the pressure on the foot reduced from 4.0 to 2.5, and the stitch length set to 3.5mm. I quickly changed the stitch length to 4.0mm. The original sample that I sewed looked good but when I started stitched the pleather and the canvas together the canvas looked like it was gathered. Next, I changed the teflon foot for a walking foot. Now, the pleather and the canvas look good. I'm hoping once I really get started sewing the bag pieces together that I will not have any more changes. The only thing holding me back now is finding sewing time. I hoping tonight to finish getting the remaining pleather and canvas pieces sewn together. The drawstrings on the bag may be a challenge as well. I think that I can use Wonder Tape to hold it together while I stitch.

Happy Sewing!

Inspiration - Nanette Leopore designs

Today, I found these two lovely tops by Nanette Leopore. The knit top to the left is called "Heartbreak Hotel Knit Pullover". It is described as having a scooped ruched neckline with bow detail. It sells for $275. Here's the link so you can zoom in the neckline: Heartbreak Hotel.


The second item is the Tia Maria cardigan. It is short-sleeved with white beading. It sells for $196. This is another item that needs to be zoomed in on to really see the detail: Tia Maria.



So, do you think that either one of these details would be easy to reproduce on your own garments?

Happy Sewing!