1. You need to be sure you have a strip of stabilizer that goes the full length of that strip of fabric. Spray the stabilizer with 505 Fabric Adhesive and “hand” press it to the wrong side of the strip of fabric. Once it is attached, it would be a good idea to perhaps do a long basting stitch around the edge to be sure it will stay and not come loose or you can also use a iron on interfacing stabilizer.  You will need to print out a template from your software this will help with lining up the design. I trim off excess paper so it is easier to use (I trim mine to the edge just so the placement marks are on the edge).
2. After preparing and hooping fabric, place on machine, now slow the speed down on your machine, this is important as this will help create less pull on your fabric as it stitches out the design.I have found just because the machine can stitch fast doesn’t mean you should. That is why you can control the speed. So, fast is not always best for your stitching.
3. Remove hoop from machine and un-hoop fabric, move hoop down fabric, lay the template on fabric and match it up with the marks to help in re-hooping. Once the fabric is re-hooped place it back on machine. It is best to manually step through the first stitch, the center stitch and then jump it to where the first alignment stitch is and make sure it matches. Then manually turn it to jump over to the other. If you match up the design correctly it will stitch out as a joined design.

It sounds hard but it really is not after you have a little practice. It is always best to practice first on a similar type of fabric before you put it on the piece you want it on.
Please understand these are generic directions you will need to determine what you can do on the machine you have as all the embroidery machines are not created equal.

I used the “Fresh and Funky” and “Funky Flowers”, which I both loved, by the way, to make a quilt for my grandniece.
I love to look at others’ projects so thought I would submit it.
The front is made out of all denim and the back is made out of flannel, so it is quite heavy, but very warm.

You can see Fresh and Funky by clicking here.

You can see Funky Flowers by clicking here.

You can include a Sudoku book with the set (like the one pictured) or print out some Sudoku puzzles from the Internet.  A simple search for “Sudoku” returned 18,500,000 hits!

Cutie-Pie included Math Signs which can be used with the game to help younger children with basic math.

This is a game/gift for all ages.  Please be sure to read Cutie-Pie’s notes at the end of the instructions.

You can see the set by clicking here.

To assemble in-the-hoop board:
1. All board pieces usually would be sewn on the same color, but they will be different in this tutorial for easy visual
differentiation. Begin with center board piece. Stitch completely and remove from hoop. Trim close to outline
stitching.

2. Stitch first color of side board piece (it appears the same as the center board piece) and trim felt close to outline
without cutting stabilizer.

Stitch first satin stitch to create the outside border.

Align center piece on opposite side. Match inner lines, and the corners will
automatically match (or at least be close enough). Secure with pins outside of stitching area.

Stitch second satin stitch so that it joins the two pieces into a single unit. Remove from hoop
and trim stabilizer.

3. Repeat step 2 on all three other sides of center piece.

Resulting unit will now resemble a cross, with satin stitching all around center piece and on the outer ends of the cross “arms”.

4. Stitch first color of corner board piece, as with side pieces. Align top of one side piece with bottom of corner piece
and side of ajoining side piece with left side of corner piece, again using the inner lines as your guide.

Complete satin stitch and remove from stabilizer. Repeat as indicated with additional
corner board pieces. The board is now complete.

—————————————
To create number tokens:
A placement stitch and the numerals stitch out first. Float a second piece of fabric underneath and stitch the tackdown
stitch to keep the pieces together. Trim fabric close to placement stitches at this time (before stitching the satin
stitch outlines) for a neater look. Stitch final satin stitch and remove from stabilizer.
—————————————
Notes:
Do not use knit fabrics for this pattern. All pieces should be stitched on plain colored fabric (patterns distract while
working the puzzles) with medium weight tear-away, cut-away or wash-away fibrous stabilizer (not the clear film
type). If felt or flannel is used, the natural properties of the fabric will hold the tokens in place while playing. If other
fabric is used or for added adhesion, Velcro-type dots can be added to the backs of the tokens and the center of each
square on the board. Just be sure that all “hook” sides are on the tokens and all “loop” sides are on the board, or vice
versa.
Use different colors of felt or plain white felt with different colors of thread (same color top and bobbin) for each
numeral to give easy differentiation on the number dies.
If more than one set will be made, using an identifying fabric on the back of each token per set makes it easy to keep
the sets separate (ie. all red on the back of one set and all blue on the back of the second set).
Smaller children enjoy using the set to play “Noughts and Crosses” (tic tac toe).
The set comes with a bonus of four math symbols that can be used to practice simple math problems. They are sewn
out just like the number tokens.

As crafters, we are always in need of new storage containers for patterns, fabrics, threads, etc.  I have discovered a second life for many throwaway containers that we come in contact with every day.

Did you wash your floor this week using the disposable wet pads?  Wet pads come in small and large size blue plastic bins with a see-through top.  The bins are just the perfect size for storing new patterns or patterns with the selected fabrics, along with the necessary threads.

Disposable Wet Mop Pads w/Patterns

When finishing the last pieces of nut mixtures, trail mix or candy from plastic jars, short or tall, chubby or thin, look at the container and see how useful it will be for storing buttons, loose ribbon, ribbon rolls, or lace. Glue a piece of ribbon around the lid edge and tie it in a bow.  Again use the glue gun to secure its tie.  Isn’t that pretty?  Four or five jars will look pretty on a shelf or bookcase in the craft room.  I have seen very similar jars selling for $5.00 for the small size and $10.00 for the large size in the same discount store.

Snack Jars

Round medicine bottles have many uses.  They are good storage for sequins and beads.  Keep a small medicine bottle next to your machine and use it for broken and used needles.  Throw it away when it is full. This is a much better idea than throwing one broken needle at a time in the wastebasket.  I also find medicine bottles useful for a spool of thread and matching bobbin.   Medicine bottles come in several sizes so you will find the right size for matching spool and bobbin.

Thread Containers

Do you enjoy the truffles wrapped in gold foil?   I do.  I find the empty plastic container useful for storing 8 regular spools of thread or 18 thin spools of thread.  You can see at a glance the colors in the container without having to open it.  The top has a secure overlapping lid.

Some cleaning products are sold in carrying container-type totes.  Put the container on your cutting table to hold scissors, rotary cutters and a can of spray starch.

Cleaning Product Totes Redone

A plastic half-gallon ice cream container can be decorated for use as a sewing basket.  Cut fabric for the width and depth of the container and a circle cut of matching fabric for the top.  Glue the fabric to the container and top with a glue gun.  Wrap ribbon around the handles for a finished look.  (see today’s tip, “A Home for Quilt Squares.”)

The craft stores have sturdy cardboard containers that will be thrown out.  They have served one purpose for the shipping and displaying of plastic craft boxes.  The cardboard containers will hold as many as sixty magazines, standing up.  The store staff will be more than happy to give them to you.

Cardboard Containers Hold Magazines

Save the bias material from your pretty fabrics.  The stripes make pretty ribbon ties around gifts to friends.  The material is sturdy and the recipient can use the bias a second time when she gives a gift.

Always look as an empty container and ask yourself how you could use it.  It may be useful and enjoy a second life.
Let’s throw in the old adage, “Waste not, want not.”  A second use for
throwaway containers adds enjoyment and beauty to your design studio.

We used to buy ice cream in round tubs, but they have started making it in rectangular plastic tubs.  These tubs are great for quilts squares  or anything else for that matter that you want to keep together. The lid snaps on tight and everything stays together I love them they are stackable and easily stored.

Ronny has provided some pictures of her ice cream storage containers.

Since the Father’s Day stories were so very successful, I have been giving great consideration to getting more personal life experiences from you!  We all love to read about our friends and their endeavors! So, put on your thinking caps and see what you can recall.  It might even help to talk to your friends and family about this as it is quite possible they remember something your mind has refused to recall!

The challenge:

What is the biggest mistake you have made with an embroidery project?
Explain in detail, including:

• Project
• Was this something to be used as a gift, for sale, etc?
• What happened?
• Could it be fixed and if so, how did you fix it?
• If it could NOT be fixed, what did you do?

Pictures are a bonus! (even if is a picture of the corrected project)

Send your entries to: rob@designsbysick.com
Subject line:  Attn: Rob  - Project Disaster!
Or, Just Click Here
Deadline:  Sept 4, 2010

Published entries will receive a free design set of their choice or a week’s extension on their membership.  (Lifetime members can choose to have a free set sent to a friend)

]]> http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/a-new-challenge-for-you/feed/ http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/preventing-frustrations/ http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/preventing-frustrations/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:56:40 +0000 rob http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/?p=2570 by  Gerry Murphy Mack
I spent an hour threading and re-threading my Serger.  One thread kept breaking after a few stitches.  I looked at my Serger book for the proper way to thread the machine.  I was doing it correctly but the tread continued to break.  Needless to say, I was very frustrated.
I packed the Serger in its carrying case and took it to the Sewing Center.  I knew Sandy, the owner, would help.

I put the Serger on the counter and told Sandy about the problem.  Sandy checked the spools of thread, looking to see how each spool was placed on the holders.  There was my problem. The problem thread was hooked between the two joining sections of the spool stand, causing it to break after a few stitches.

MY TIP: Begin by checking each spool of thread, at the spool area, continuing through the entire thread area, to the needle, to make certain each spool is on its’ holder properly.
In my case, the thread breaking was not caused by improper threading, but by the fact the thread was caught between the two spool holder stand sections.

Here is the project I did for a woman from my church. She has a love of cockatiels and asked if I could do something for her.
As luck would have it, I won a design set from my Father’s Day article I submitted at this great website and chose this as my prize so I could accommodate her.
I also ran a zig-zag stitch around the rim of her hat with a matching thread. (It’s a little hard to see on the pictures).
You can see the Cockatiels set here.

FSL Soap Ponies -  Instructions

SUPPLIES:
Water Soluble stabilizer(like Vilene)
Threads of your choice

STEP 1
Hoop stabilizer, place hoop on machine and follow your stitch chart.
You must stitch 2 to create the soap holder, a front and a back. You can use the same design or 2 different designs like I have in the sample; I used one with the wording and one of the ponies.

STEP 2
After stitching, soak in warm water to remove stabilizer. After they are dry, lay the back side face down as in the first and then lay the top pony face up on top and match up the openings.

STEP 3
Now lace your rope or ribbon or whatever you are going to use to hold them together going over and under the little bars as pictured.

STEP 4
Lace a little more than ¾ closed (leave enough room so the soap can be inserted inside) and insert the soap.

STEP 5
Now finish lacing closed and tie off at top and you’re finished.

Enjoy!
Bonnie

——————-

You can see the set here:  FSL Soap Ponies

Here are the designs included in the set:

“How to Make Steering Wheel Covers”

I have made several “Steering Wheel Covers”.
I got the idea from a friend and then put my own “touch” on it.

INSTRUCTIONS:

I measured the diameter (distance across) the steering wheel.

Then I made a full circle template, using that measurement, on a piece of paper.

Using that template (pattern piece) I cut three circles out of a fabric of my choice and one out of batting.

At this point you can embellish circle#1 any way you want. In this tutorial I have chosen Corvette to embroider (from set Convertibles ) on a black satin circle (a little smaller than the circle) and appliquéd it to the circle#1.

OK…you get the idea! Use your imagination.

Now you’re ready to put it together.

1..Place Batting
2..Place Circle # 1(embellished circle) on top of batting-Right Side Up.
3..Fold 3rd circle in half and press.  Place folded half circle at the top-with fold across center(horizontally)
4..Place plain circle on top of stack.

Line up all edges and pin well.  Stitch starting at the bottom of the circle.  Leave a 6 inch opening at the bottom of the circle.

Turn right side out.  This will put the Half circle on the back to slip over the Steering Wheel
Line up all edges and pin well. Stitch or serge this circle leaving about 6 inches opening to turn.
You will hand stitch this opening closed after turning right side out.
Good luck.
I find this project great fun.

Marlene has provided us with a short bio:
I’m a transplant from Northern Indiana - worked in Chicago and moved to Arkansas 33 years ago. My husband is Retired Airforce and is my backbone. He supports me in anything and everything I do.  We’ve been married 16 years. I made us matching Kilts to wear at his Scottish festivals.

Years ago I found out, that I love to digitize and sewout my designs. I got my 1st one needle Brother in 2002 and have upgraded to 2 six needles. If a design has over six colors, I split the design so I can do half the colors on one machine and the half on the other.

Marlene has been digitizing quite a while and it certainly shows in her work!  You can see her very first set, Line Art Fashion Girl by clicking here.
We know you will appreciate her fine work!
Please help us welcome her to the Designs By SiCK Family!

Corky digitzed this set!  You can see other sets he digitized by clicking here.

1. buy the roll
2. hoop your stabilizer without cutting
3. cut the stabilizer close to the hoop

This method saves several inches each time you hoop!

I donated it to the guild I belong to here in Colorado using Sick’s Spring Time Turtles.
All LUV quilts are donated to different organizations & distributed where they are needed, be it a comfort blankie for a child in the hospital to a senior in a nursing home.
We also make quilts & pillow cases for our military serving overseas, using red, white & blue fabrics.
We have around 60 members now in our quilting guild & we make a lot of LUV quilts every month besides making our own quilts.

[editor's note:  Notice how Alta incorporated the name of the set into the quilt!  Very clever!]

You can see the Springtime Turtles by clicking here.

Corky digitzed this set!  You can see other sets he digitized by clicking here.

To remove adhesive gunk from embroidery hoops, use liquid laundry fabric softener. (Also works on cooked-on food on pots and pans.)

“How to Make and Use Mini Embroidery Ironing Boards”

By Charlotte Houghton
As soon as we finish our embroidery and take our new project out of the hoop, it begins to shrink. To stop this shrinkage, the threads should be told where to live. The process is simple even though it takes a little time.

Supplies

The first thing to do is make a mini-ironing board for each of your hoop sizes. The thickness must be deeper than your hoop is so it will be off the your standard ironing board. This will vary from ¾” to 1” depending on what wood you use. You may use a 1′x4” lumber which is really ¾”x3 ¾” or cut out from 1” plywood. Draw the inside of the inner hoop onto it or a sheet of paper then take ½” off the top and one side. This will give you a ¼” clearance all around the inner hoop. Place your pattern on you wood and cut out your wooden board.

Now comes the fun part. Cut some thermal batting to the longest part of your new board then wrap this long, long strip of batting around your new board starting with a wide side and allow enough extra batting to be tucked inside the last long flat side. This will give you one side with only one layer of batting on it and the other side will have three layers of batting on it.

Get the idea? Now using a needle a one strand of thread whip stitch both ends of the batting. You do not have to make this pretty. It will be used just to help stuff all this inside the cover you are going to make next. Measure your board around and cut silver ironing board fabric (Or other fabric will such as “Duck”, canvas, etc) allow ½” seams. This may be surged or sewn. I crop off (not much) some of the corners of my boards so the cover fits a little easier.

Now comes the tricky part. You have a cover with three sides sewn or surged and you need to insert your newly covered board into the cover. I suggest you start to turn the cover at the bottom and start stuffing the board into it and work your way up by sliding the cover over the board which will turn it right side out by the time you get to the top (just like you would use a “tube turner”). Your cover should be taut because it is an Ironing Board, just smaller. Remember, you will have one of each of your hoop sizes. Just close the open end with a whip stitch and you are done. The next board will be easier than the first one.

Once you have all your new Mini-Ironing Boards completed, it is time to use them.

Your next step is to embroider something.
Remove the hoop from the machine.
While your new embroidery is in the hoop, place it over the soft part of your new ironing board.
If you would like, you can put a towel over the board between the board and the hoop. This will help from crushing the embroidery. Use a steam iron and press for a count of 10 to 20 depending on how much heat the fabric can take.
Do this three times. This will tell the embroidery threads where to live almost forever.
After the 3rd time take the embroidery out of the hoop and place it face down on your towel which is on your standard ironing board and press it again three times.
This will take out any press marks from the hoop.
After wearing and washing, you will notice you will not have to press them embroidery and it will not shrink up.
The principal of this process is the same as the old permanent creases in our slacks we used to wear years ago. We are steam cooking memory into the threads.

****   When pressing your embroidery, use the steam iron to heat up the fabric and HOLD ANOTHER BOARD OR BOOK ON THE EMBROIDERY FOR A COUNT OF 20. Repeat altering the Steam Iron then hold a board on it three times. Do the same when you take the project out of the hoop. DO NOT hold the iron on your project for a count of 20.

I put them in a glass jar with a lid and when I want to do a project on my sewing machine using some of the fancy stitches I just add water till all is dissolved and not too thick.  I then put it in a squeeze bottle or if I have enough and my project is not too big I just soak it then let it dry  I can then use my fancy stitches with out worrying about the stabilizer.  I have even done this with in the hoop embroidery.

During this time when everyone is watching their finances, every little bit helps.

Just thought you might like to see some pics of the cot quilt I made using the Blue Work Bonnets designs. I stitched them out in pink on white and used contrasting shades of pink fabric to complete my quilt.
I top-stitched all my joins with satin ribbon and backed it with soft cuddly fleece. Although I have been doing embroidery for a couple of years now,  this is my first attempt at quilting. My grand daughter has just found out that she is expecting so I’m hoping for a girl.

To see the Blue Work Bonnets set, please click here.

We all have that stash which, at times, seems to grow larger rather than shrink with use. I am one of those people who, when out shopping for notions, supplies, and random sales, always seems to find the perfect material for a project or a perfect fabric which I can just not do without. The problem I am starting to have is WHERE DO I PUT IT ALL? A solution is at hand!

I was recently hired at a fabric store in my area,  a second job and just for fun, and it has opened my eyes up to the sewing world and all the possibilities. I love hearing what projects people are working hard towards finishing and getting inspired by others. It has also made me realize how many empty bolts become available and are thrown out at the end of the night. The solution is this:  do not to be afraid to ask your local fabric store if they have any extra bolts, as I can guarantee you that they do and will be more than will to let you have some or all of them. They might even be willing to run into the back and grab all they were holding to throw away at the end of the evening. This is a NO COST way to organize your fabric. Every time you are at the fabric store, which for me is quite often, collect a few empty bolts. When you get home, take a few minutes and roll your fabrics back on the bolt. If you have the time you can even take labels and write or print out  new labels and place them over the existing label.  The new label can contain the name or brand of the fabric, how much you have, yards or inches, washing directions, and the project for which you want to use this particular material. Before you know it your fabric stash will be displayed neatly on a shelve or in a bookcase where it is easy to view, accessible, and organized!

This is an easy, organized and no cost way to make your fabric stash, or as I like to call mine, collection,  visible and more like shopping right at the fabric store in the comfort of your own home! ENJOY!

It seems like Bonnie is always coming up with new, exciting ways to not only make our lives easier - but also to make use of our smaller pieces of leftover fabric to create wonderful projects and gifts. Today’s no exception with the new Eye Glass Case!

Instructions
Supplies
Tear-away or wash-away stabilizer
Masking Tape
4 pieces of fabric cut into 5×8” pieces
2 pieces of cotton batting cut into 3 ½ x 8”(Optional)

—————STITCH TOP DESIGN FIRST—————

TOP
STEP 1
Hoop stabilizer and place hoop on machine and stitch CC1 this is your guideline for placing fabric.

STEP 2
Lay batting down as shown in picture. Center it between the two guidelines. There will be a little space between the guideline and the batting. Then lay your top fabric over top of batting right side up and stitch CC2. This will tack batting and fabric in place.

STEP 3
Stitch CC3. This is the decorative quilt stitching.

STEP 4
Follow color change sheet to stitch design.
STEP 5
Next slide the back fabric under hoop face down or you can remove hoop and use masking tape to hold it in place.
Place hoop back on machine if you removed it and continue.

Don’t worry if you stitch through the masking tape as it will tear away nice and clean.
STEP 6
Stitch next CC, this will join the back to the front.  Next, remove hoop and trim excess fabric away cutting as close to the stitching as possible being careful not to cut threads.

STEP 7
Return hoop to machine and stitch last CC, this is the satin stitch across the top.

STEP 8
Remove hoop and trim around as close to the outside stitching as possible.

EYE GLASS CASE - BACK

STEP 1
Hoop stabilizer and place hoop on machine and stitch CC1 this is your guide line for placing fabric.

STEP 2
Lay batting down as shown in picture.  Center it between the two guidelines.  There will be a little space between the guideline and the batting.  Then lay your top fabric over top of batting right side up and stitch CC2.  This will tack batting and fabric in place.

STEP 3
Stitch CC3 this is the decorative quilt stitching.

STEP 4
Next remove hoop and place fabric over back and tape in place with masking tape as pictured below.
Place hoop back on machine and stitch CC4 (this will secure the back fabric).

STEP 5
Now take the top and lay over the bottom half in the hoop and line up the bottom edges and then use masking tape to tape top in place as pictured below.

Now stitch CC5.  This will connect the top piece to the bottom.
Don’t worry about stitching over the masking tape as it will tear-away very easy.  Remove tape once you have stitched top to bottom.

STEP 6
Now stitch the last stitch. This is your satin stitch border.  You can stitch this again if thread does not cover everything.  My samples 1-4 were all stitched once and covered just fine, but just in case yours doesn’t you can stitch it again and it should cover the second time.
The one below I stepped through to the end CC and then stepped through the stitches until I came to the starting point of the satin stitch and then I started the machine to do the satin stitch again.

Enjoy!
Bonnie

My best friend’s daughter is having a baby girl in September and I made her this quilt using the Partially Filled Bears design.  The designs worked out beautifully with no problems at all.  I’m a newbie to machine embroidery and your site and so far I’m enjoying doing projects.  I plan on making more quilts as 2 more friends are having babies (along with my son).

You can see the Partially Filled Bears set by clicking here.

Once again Bonnie has come up with a clever way to create  a project which requires very little fabric, are quick-to-stitch, and all fit the 4 x 4 hoop!

These delightful bookmarks are begging to be made for stocking-stuffers, the upcoming school year or perhaps just to be tucked into an envelope and sent to the avid reader in your life!  I can see them being included when a book has been given as a gift as well!

I have a feeling this is going to be one of those projects where - you can’t make just one! (searching through my stash now finding small 6 x 6 scraps!  Oh, this is going to be SO much fun!)

To see the Butterfly Corner Bookmark Set, please click here.

~rob

INSTRUCTIONS:

Please read all instructions before starting

SUPPLIES:
Tear-away or Wash-away Stabilizer
Thread of your choice
Fabric pieces

Note:  CC – Stands for Color Change

Prepare fabric pieces as follows:

Cut 3 6×6 blocks for each bookmark.
You can mix and match your fabrics or have them all one pattern or color. It’s up to you.

DIRECTIONS FOR TOP OF BOOKMARKS
Note: All Bookmark tops have the word “top”after the number. All bottoms have a the word “bottom” after the number.

TOP Bookmark
STEP 1  - Take one of the blocks and fold in half diagonally making a triangle and press a nice crisp fold making sure the wrong side of the fabric is to the inside.

STEP 2 - Hoop your stabilizer and place hoop on machine.
Stitch out first CC.
This is a placement mark for your triangle. See Below:

STEP 3 - Place your triangle over the placement stitching and line it up so that the fold is along the center diagonal line. See Below:

STEP 4 - Stitch next CC. This will tack the piece in place.
Follow the CC chart to finish the design. When finished remove from hoop and remove all the stabilizer from the back.
Trim around leaving about ½” of fabric, also cut across the corner as close to the stitching line as possible with out cutting the thread.

BOTTOM Bookmark

STEP 1 - Hoop your stabilizer and place hoop on machine.
Stitch out first CC.
This is a placement mark for your square. See Below:

STEP 2  - Next place your square over the placement stitching making sure the line is covered by the fabric all around.
Stitch next CC this tack down the fabric and then continue with the stitching the design.

STEP 3 - After stitching design place your back fabric under hoop right side facing down.
Stitch next CC — this will tack back in place.

STEP 4 - Now place your triangle over top. Set the edge back away from the corner a little bit as pictured below where the scissor point is pointing and then stitch the tack down stitch.
By cutting the top corner away you can use this to help line up triangle over top.

STEP 5 - After tacking the top in place remove hoop and trim fabric from top and bottom.

STEP 6 - Place hoop back on machine and finish with the satin stitch.
Remove Bookmark from hoop and you”re finished.

ENJOY! Bonnie

Because I travel to events with my machine, I have the machine in a trailer.  When the weather gets warm, I cannot use paper sided bobbins since they seem to swell with the humidity.  Recently, while using a plastic sided bobbin, the machine stopped stitching and broke the needle.   I saw the bobbin was a mess and after replacing the needle, I inserted a new bobbin.  Now the machine would not form stitches and kept breaking needles.   .

I decided to check the lower end of the machine and oil it .  I couldn’t find anything wrong until I attempted to insert another bobbin.  Then I realized it did not snap in place.  Upon further investigation,  I found one side had come off the bobbin and was still stuck in the bobbin case.  Upon removal, the machine sewed fine.  In four years of embroidery. this has never happened before;  but I will be aware it’s possible now.   On a commercial machine, a service call can be quite expensive.  I will always check the bobbin case before inserting a new one.

I love the Spring Time Turtle designs.
My son who has been in Egypt for a year with the military had his first child in March.
I couldn’t resist making a baby quilt for my new grandson.
I hope more turtle designs come in the future.

(editor’s note:  I removed Brody’s last name for safety reasons.  Please see “Shhh…Don’t tell!)

You can see the Springtime Turtle Designs by clicking here.

UFOs - we all have them – “UnFinished Objects. Items we worked on and then set aside so we could begin another design. We are wasting time when we do this. We are being unfair with our time, money and creativity.

Now is the perfect time to do something about unfinished objects.  Just follow these simple steps:

1. Begin by finding a plastic bin to temporarily store UFOs, preferably one which has see-through sides. Stack all UFOs on a table.
2. Place each item in a plastic bag, label the bag: purse, tablecloth, etc. as to its contents, making certain all needed pieces are together.
3. Write down the item on an index card, listing what needs to be done for its completion.
   For example:
   • Purse: needs lining sewn in; handles attached.
   • Tablecloth: one more embroidery design; hem.

   You get the idea.

4. Now, place the card in the bag. Continue to work in this manner until all UFOs are in a bag and labeled.
5. Next, place each item in the bin according to the amount of time you think is needed for its completion. Using the see-through bin allows you to see its contents.
6. Write the item and time needed in a notebook.
7. On a Monday, remove the first UFO from the bin. Complete the item.
8. Do not start or work on any other design until the UFO is finished.
9. Check off each item as you complete it, jotting down the time needed for its completion and the date. Continue doing this on each Monday until the bin is empty.

UFOs have no beauty but they are filled with promise. They can’t be placed on display or given as a gift until the final touches are added. A crafter has to complete their work before they can be called a designer.

Now, don’t you feel really great looking at the empty bin? I know you do!

You can see the set here.

Basic directions for Doilies

Materials Needed:

• Thread with matching bobbin thread
• Opaque Water solvable stabilizer
• 2 pieces of Plastic Canvas
• Clothes Pins or other clips

1: Hoop Stabilizer and stitch out design.
2:  Remove from hoop and cut off excess stabilizer.

3: Place piece on to the plastic canvas.
4: Position other piece of plastic canvas on top and clip together with clothes pins.
5: Let dry.
6: Remove from Plastic Canvas; you now have a nice piece. Using this method, you will not have to block back into shape.
(I use this method to reshape washed pieces too. You can do this by dissolving those extra pieces of stabilizer in some water, dip you cleaned lace into it and then lay flat in the plastic canvas and let dry.  Perfect for cleaning FSL Christmas Ornaments)

7: With a sharp sewing needle and matching embroidery thread.
Hold tips together and whip stitch sides together as shown in picture.
There will be a small hole for the center when completed.
I have used a large needle and large dark thread for demonstration purposes only.

I hope you enjoy these doilies.

I have always sewn items for family and friends.  For many years I made baby blankets, bibs, Halloween costumes, clothing and quick gifts. When I got my embroidery machine most of my basic sewing flew out the window in order to embellish ready made items.  I’ve also spent hours making FSL angels to send to strangers in need. Recently I was asked to make some items for a friend who was becoming a grandmother for the first time, she was excited about the pending arrival of twin grandsons.  Of course I had many twin embroideries to add to the items, but during the construction of the hooded towels and bib sets, I re-awakened the sewing bug within me.

Now I am back to making items and embellishing them.  What joy I have in finding new patterns for my projects.  These completely hand made items are valued by the recipients far beyond anything store bought. I look at the price and availability in the stores and find poor quality and small selection.  My homemade items are unique and well made.  I am not a perfect seamstress, but the love and care I sew into each item is evident.

We all love our embroidery machines, but sewing was one of my first creative outlets and I am so thrilled to re-discover the happiness it brings me.  My husband didn’t understand why I didn’t trade in or sell my old sewing machine but I am sure all of you do.  I keep my embroidery machine (always in embroidery mode), sewing machine and sergers ready to use at all times.  I never know when the sewing bug will bite, but I enjoy the results when it does. If you haven’t really sewn for a while, try it, and see if the sewing bug bites you too!

The 4×4 TeePee Trinket Bags are perfect for coins and assorted goodies!

These zipper cases are done in the hoop, there is only one seam that need be sewn on your machine.

You can see this set here.

Supplies:

1. Stabilizer – you can use either water soluble Vilene or regular tear-away. The nice thing about using Vilene is that you can wash away all traces of stabilizer once you’re finished for a much neater look.
2. Small amount of fabric for the bag
3. Nylon zipper with a plastic coil (do not use a metal zipper) at least 6” long
4. Embroidery threads and bobbin fill
5. Optional: webbing or ribbon to make a tab handle
6. Cutting Requirements
7. Bag front - Cut two pieces of fabric, each measuring 5 x 4 ½ inches. Fold in half, with wrong sides together, to measure 2 ½ x 4 ½ inches, Press for a crisp edge.
8. Bag back – Cut 1 piece of fabric measuring 5 x 4 ½ inches.

—————–Stitch the bottom design first—————–
All bottoms are done the same. (CC=Color Change)
Hoop stabilizer and place your bottom fabric over the hoop and stitch CC01-(this will tack down your fabric in place).
CC02 is the decorative quilt stitch.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR ZIPPER PULL IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOOP (closest end to you) AND THAT BOTH ENDS EXTEND OVER EDGE OF HOOP.
STEP 1
Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer and then place hoop on machine.
Color 1 embroiders the zipper placement lines (photo below).

Remove hoop from machine.
Spray light mist of temp spray adhesive over placement area. Please remember to do this away from your work area and machine.
Place closed zip face up over the placement lines so that the coil is on top of the centerline (See photo below).

Also center the zipper in the hoop so that the metal pull and other end of zipper lie outside the stitching area (See photo below) and make sure the pullis at the bottom of the hoop.

The zipper pull open end must be at the bottom and the zip end at the top.
Embroider Color 2, stitches the zipper into place.
STEP 2
Place folded fabric pieces to the left and right of zipper. Making sure the fabric edges overlap the top and bottom borders of your zipper placement lines. Secure in place with a little temp adhesive spray.

Color 3 attaches the left piece of fabric to the hooped stabilizer. Color 4 attaches the right piece of fabric to the hooped stabilizer.
Color 5 stitches the decorative stitching on fabric.
Next follow color chart for design you are doing.

Next Gently open the zipper as far as it will go down. Please make sure the zipper is not in the center as if your machine goes back to the center start when finished it will hit the zipper and break your needle.
Place your piece of backing fabric on top of the design, with the wrong side facing up.

Now embroider the last color which attaches the back and front together.

STEP 3
Remove the case from the hoop and trim around the stitched outline. The excess zipper is also trimmed away.

Remove the stabilizer piece covering the zipper.
Zip zipper part closed. Leave partly open so you can turn the bag once the bottom is sewn closed.
Now open bottom of bag and line up side seams and pin.

Sew together on your sewing machine.

Trim bottom of fabric and zipper.

Now turn right side out and you’re finished.

Enjoy!
Bonnie

“I try to have a couple of quilts made up for different events that come up.  In the past events come up and people need donations for benefits for people with cancer to raise money to help pay medical expenses.  So I like to have something ready.  Then they make great wedding gifts or baby shower gifts and of course Christmas gifts.  So right at this moment in time I am not sure where this one will end up. ”

You can see the Lacy Quilt Blocks 1 by clicking here.

You can see the instructions for stitching the Lacy Quilt Blocks by clicking here.

These blocks are created to be joined together to make one large quilt block.
You hold the key to a unique appearance by your choice of colors!

To see the Lacy Quilt Blocks 1 set, click here.

To see the Lacy Quilt Blocks 2 set, click here.

Supplies:
Fabric cut into blocks (my blocks were cut 8×8 so I had the extra room to trim)
Thread of your choice
Instructions:

1. Stitch out each design block.
   
2. After stitching all blocks, trim all sides to what you would like. I trimmed mine to ¼ inch all around.

   

   

3. Lay block A facing up and match up block B right side facing down and match up and then sew together.

   

4. Then do this C & D blocks then with AB facing up, place CD on top facing down match up and sew together.

   

You now have a completed block.

Do this to complete each block. Sew together as you wish.
Enjoy!
Bonnie

I.  Hoop your fabric and stabilizer .

2.  After putting the hoop on the machine, the first round of my design is the placement stitch showing  where the Mylar is going to be place.

3. Round 2,  lay your Mylar on the top of the placement stitch and sew.

4.  Trim your Mylar back to the placement stitch.

5. Sew the rest of the design over the Mylar, and you will have a lovely lacy design with Mylar underneath that will give it extra sparkle and shine through out.

Click here to see the new Mylar Butterflies set.

Enjoy!

[Editor's note:  We would love to have some pictures of your Mylar appliqué! Please send them to: rob@designsbysick.com.   huggers, rob]

I finally put my ideas together for Designs by Sick and  came up with something new for the website.  Yes, Mylar is workable with the home machine embroidery.  They make designs sparkle beyond  belief.  The first one I did was a real dud, but with practice comes perfection for sure.

[Editor's note: First of all, I know many of you are thinking, "What is Mylar?  Does Heidi want us to do something with those big silver balloons?"  No, actually Mylar is that iridescent film you see used in gift bags or wrapping Easter/gift baskets!]

Now, rumor is going around that other designs that have been previously published could be used with Mylar also.  The first thing that came to my mind was the DD Lace Ornaments.  just slide a little piece of Mylar in under it before beginning and it will give a whole new look for the ornament that you are using.

Without Mylar

With Mylar

Now, let me tell you a little about my method. One design can be stitched out to give you two different looks. The first set is butterflies with lace in them. You can stitch them with Mylar or they can appliquéd with fabric. You can leave the lace off, or you can Stitch out the lace.  The possibilities go on and on.

Now, on the second set (and there will be a second set) you can also use these designs as regular lace designs, just leave off the placement stitch and the tack down stitch the first 2 rounds, and you will have a lacy design instead of one with Mylar.

Some suggestions with working with Mylar:
Stay with the machine it tends to dull the needle fast and if so it starts messing up.
You may want to back off your speed a little if possible, makes for slower but sometimes better sewing on these projects.

I don’t believe that pictures does the Mylar justice, I would suggest that you make one, but be careful you will get hooked on this new and wonderful way to add life to a traditional craft.

The new applique set for Mylar will be uploaded to the website within the next 24 hours.  Keep watching!

For instructions on how to appliqué with Mylar, please click here.

Click here to see the new Mylar Butterflies set.

Without Mylar

With Mylar

When I found that my ’stash’ was taking over too much of my sewing room I discovered Space Bags!
I put all the calico in one Space Bag and vacuumed out the air and laid it neatly on a shelf, then all the corduroy, then the gingham, etc.
Now there is so much more room for MORE STASH!  If you are an ‘organizer’ like I am, you may want to put things away by color instead of fabric type, whatever works for you.
You can see through the bags so you can search for the piece of fabric you want, open that bag and take it out, then vacuum the air back out and put it away again.
This also works well for polyester fiberfill and yarn.
If you buy the kind of Space Bags that you can ‘roll’ the air out of instead of using the vacuum, you can use them when transporting fabric or knitted or crocheted items to and from Craft Fairs (takes up less room in the vehicle).

I went to Japan & had a wonderful time there. The quilt you are about to see was given to the bride & groom as a wedding present.
The bride was our homestay student from Japan for 10 months a few years back & invited us to her wedding, She & her family classed us as family & so we got to go to the temple wedding which is only reserved for close family… we were soooo honoured.

Regina used the Butterfly Quilt Redwork and Jacobean Butterflies to complete this set.

GrannieJo has done it again!  She has taken one of the wonderful alphabets available on the website and turned it into a lovely wall hanging!

To quote GrannieJo, “I do like stitching alphabets!!!!!”
She used the Eastertime Alphabet for this project.

Click here to see the alphabet.

All of this came about as I was in my kitchen one day, missing my sister terribly.  She and I love to sit and share a cup of tea together. “I wish I could just send her a cup of tea!” I announced to no one in particular.  Since I am known for being just a wee bit on the silly side, I knew there was something I could do to let her know I was thinking about her. While the cup of tea was impossible, a tea bag in an envelope was not!  This was not out of the ordinary for me, as I had done something equally as strange years ago when my mother was recovering from heart surgery.

I was far away and had no money to travel home to be with her or purchase get well cards.  So, I did the next best thing.  I scraped my pennies together and bought a pack of construction paper, some tape and glue and a small box of envelopes.  Before her surgery, I sat and made a few cards at first and then just a little get well sign, decorating it as a  small child would do.  Soon I realized I had quickly run out of ideas.  Since it was around Easter, I somehow figured out how to make a basket out of the construction paper and toothpicks (toothpicks for stability) and when the handle on the basket was pulled up, a bunny appeared over the rim.  That was my piece de resistance  - in other words, my brain was finished.  From then on it was construction paper flowers, stars, hearts, all placed in an envelope and sent to Mom in the hospital.  Mom, of course, loved every one of them.  No notes, just silly little brightly colored shapes.  She knew my personality and could imagine me sitting at my kitchen table, laughing until tears streamed down my face - imagining how she would react when she opened her envelope of the day.  Little did I know, she was proudly showing each day’s treasures to the nursing staff and her doctor.  They, too, looked forward to seeing what her daughter had sent.

When the basket with the bunny arrived she showed it to her doctor and he said, “Your daughter is very talented!” Mom replied, “Yes!  And can you guess how old she is?”  The doctor, carefully weighing his response said, “Eight?”

Mom laughed and said, “Close!!!  She is 21!”

I am sure everyone began to question my sanity when they saw pieces of black paper shaped similarly like those below fall out of the envelope one day.

Four of them.  Again, no  note was included.  Mom had no clue.  Luckily, I was able to call and explain how I had run out of ideas and at the last moment, grabbed my cat and traced her paws, each of them - separately.  I must add, the cat was none too pleased about the process.

The point of all of this is to let you know you do not have to spend a fortune to let someone know you are thinking about them.

My wanting to just tuck a tea bag into an envelope and send it to my sister - no note - just my return address would let her know exactly what I was thinking turned into the new Tea Bag Holder sets now available on the website. With Heidi’s digitizing talent, we took some simple thoughts and ideas and turned them into quic-to-stitch projects!

Getting back to that day in the kitchen, I took a piece of printer paper, cut it into the size for a 4 x 4 hoop and began to play with it until I came up with the design I wanted - one which would fit in an envelope.  The different wording could relay any thoughts I had at the time.

This expanded into thoughts of birthdays, graduations, weddings, bridal showers - the list goes on.

While my idea is to send a tea bag, you could just as easily place a check or cash into the holder and send it along.

Designs By SiCK and I have been honored by having an article about “Tea” and the tea bag project accepted and published in Designs in Machine Embroidery Magazine (issue #63, July-Aug 2010).  The article in the magazine is completely different from this one - as it explores the reasons behind “Tea” as an event and the different uses for the tea bag holders (weddings, birthdays, fundraisers, etc).

I hope you take with this the idea of sharing your life with others. Take a moment to call a friend or relative.  Visit someone who cannot come to visit you.  Have tea with a child or grandchild.  Stitch out a tea bag holder and put your favorite tea bag in it and send it to a friend or relative. Make someone smile.

You can click below to see the two sets of of tea bag holders:

Tea Bag Holders 1

Tea Bag Holders 2

Click below for complete instructions:

Tea Bag Holder Instructions

]]> http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/time-for-tea/feed/ http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/tea-bag-holders-instructions/ http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/tea-bag-holders-instructions/#comments Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:04:07 +0000 rob http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/?p=2184 created by Rob, digitized by Heidi

These Tea Bag Holders have been created for the 4 x 4 hoop so everyone can create them. Heidi’s expertise in digitizing has made them quick-to-stitch.  All of the holders can be personalized!

In addition to different occasions (weddings, bridal showers, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations), we also have many tea bag holders for different charitable +/or support organizations. The Tea Bag holders can be used as fundraisers or giveaways for all kinds of events!

They are easily tucked into a letter or a card and mailed to friends and family near and far.

Click below to see the two Tea Bag Holder Sets:

Tea Bag Holders 1

(Sisters, Christmas, Bride to Be (Bridal Shower), Baby Boy, Children Learn what they Live, Red Hatters, From this Day Forward (Wedding Favors, announcements), Happy Birthday, For Better or Worse)

Tea Bag Holders 2

(Animal Adoption, Autism, Women’s Heart Health, Cancer Awareness, Susan G Komen for the Cure, Support the Troops, Wish You Were Here, Graduation, Get Well Wishes )

Supplies:

Stiff felt (can be purchased in any craft store – these are larger than the felt squares, we used ”Easy Felt”)  These are larger than normal felt squares.

Cutaway stabilizer
Ribbon - 1/4-3/8”wide, 15-16” length
Spray adhesive (optional)

Directions:

1) Hoop Stabilizer

2) Cut stiff felt to fit the inside of your hoop (it should stay in place without needing adhesive spray, we used the spray on the first one but found it to be unnecessary)

3) Place stiff felt in hoop

4) Stitch design

5) Remove from hoop and trim close to outside edge of satin stitch

6) Punch hole inside embroidered circles for ribbon

7) Fold corners edges along stitch line towards inside

Bevel ends of ribbon to allow for easier lacing

9) Begin lacing the ribbon by inserting from top to bottom on two opposite corners

10) Lace one of the other corners from bottom to top

11) Slide tea bag into holder

12) Lace remaining ribbon from bottom to top

13) Tie into bow (if you want to add a tag, slide it onto ribbon at this point)

Add-ons
1) Tie one of the Tea poems or blank tags onto the bag by inserting the ribbon through the hole just before tying

2) Write your own note (i.e. Support The Animal Shelter, or To: From: ) on one of the tea pot shapes and attach with the ribbon

Poems and teapot shapes below are included in each set

This is about the card reader and the card.
I encountered a problem with the card reader not recognizing the card that was the right card for the reader. I purchased 12 files from an  online website.  I wrote them to my card by way of the card writer/reader. I then was going to sew one of them but didn’t know what one I wanted to sew so I put it back in the reader writer to view them and I was unable to read them as the card reader/writer said that the card was not the right card and to put in the right card.  In short I played with it and came up with a fix. I just rewrote to the card (which it would let me do) and after that the card has been working fine. Boy was I happy to find that out.  The cards are about $100.00 to replace. So if you ever have that problem I hope this information will help fix your problem.  I still have the problem when ever I write any of those files to my card.

Bonnie has been busy again!

She is always thinking of quick and easy projects for you!

Stitch out these wonderful corner bookmarks just in time to tuck them into a book to take to the beach!

Please read all instructions before starting
SUPPLIES:
Tear Away or Wash Away Stabilizer
Thread of your choice
Fabric pieces
CC – Stands for Color Change
Prepare fabric pieces as follows:
Cut three 6×6 blocks for each bookmark. You can mix and match your fabrics or have them all one pattern or color. It’s up to you.

DIRECTIONS FOR TOP OF BOOKMARKS
All Bookmark tops have an “a” after the number. All bottoms have a “b” after the number.
TOP Bookmark
STEP 1
Take one of the blocks and fold in half diagonally making a triangle and press a nice crisp fold making sure the wrong side of the fabric is to the inside.

STEP 2
Hoop your stabilizer and place hoop on machine.
Stitch out first CC. This is a placement mark for your triangle. See Below:

Next place your triangle over the placement stitching and line it up so that the fold is along the center diagonal line. See Below:

Stitch next CC. This will tack the piece in place.
Follow the CC chart to finish the design. When finished remove from hoop and remove all the stabilizer from the back.
Trim around leaving about ½” of fabric, also cut across the corner as close to the stitching line as possible without cutting the thread.
BOTTOM Bookmark
STEP 1
Hoop your stabilizer and place hoop on machine.
Stitch out first CC. This is a placement mark for your square. See Below:

Next place your square over the placement stitching making sure the line is covered by the fabric all around. Stitch next CC this will tack down the fabric and then continue with the stitching the design.

After stitching design place your back fabric under hoop right side facing down.
Stitch next CC — this will tack back in place.

Now place your triangle over top. Set the edge back away from the corner a little bit as pictured below where the scissor point is pointing and then stitch the tack down stitch. By cutting the top corner away you can use this to help line up triangle over top.

After tacking the top in place remove hoop and trim fabric from top and bottom.

Place hoop back on machine and finish with the satin stitch. Remove Bookmark from hoop and you’re finished.

ENJOY! Bonnie

I wanted to send in a picture to you of a lap quilt that I finished using your redwork pioneer designs and could not find a place to do this. I see other people have sent in pictures. My sister who is going on 60 needed a lap quilt and this one is the first that I have done in redwork. Thanks again.

Having arthritis sometimes makes it hard for me to tighten the screw fasteners on my embroidery hoops.  I have found that a small pliers is an excellent tool to tighten and loosen the screw.  Now my fabric doesn’t slip and my embroidery looks great.

Two weeks ago I put out the call for your favorite story or memory of your father, brother, uncle, grandfather - anyone you wanted to share those memories with  - for our special Father’s Day issue.

The response was overwhelming.  So many wonderful stories filled with love and laughter filled my email box.  The choice was difficult!!!  I had several impartial readers - and I present their best of the best.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write and share your memories- and without further ado, I give you  - the memories.

~rob

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A Son’s Question

My oldest and his wife invited me to visit their home two months after their son was born. When I got to their home in Texas (I live in California) I took in my arms their beautiful baby boy whom I was meeting for the first time.
As I was cuddling his son, my son asked me: Did you love me as much as I love him?
I felt my heart overflowing with love for my son who was watching his son with the love for him shining through his words.
Sylvia/Klarina

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Jack’s Story

Prologue: Just last weekend, my Mom read the attached story to all her children - not saying who wrote it, but reading for all of us to hear.  It wasn’t long before I noticed the tears streaming down my brother, Jack’s face -
You see - there are 10 of us; seven boys and three girls.  Daddy passed away 11years ago; and every year thereafter, we have all gather for our own “family reunion”; first at the home we all shared, now at the cabin in the mountains that was Dad’s favorite home away from home.
Oh, when Daddy was alive, the girls didn’t go…it was only for the “boys”; girls weren’t invited hunting.  But we girls were there to take loving care of Dad as he passed away of cancer…That was “our” job! (not hunting!).

Long story short - I would love to take credit for this story about our Dad….I am currently taking a wonderful class in “tales for the grandchildren - so perhaps next year I will have one of my very own stories of Dad…
but for this year, I hope you find Jack’s story well worth the read (if not publication)
Jane Price Parsley

Onto Jack’s Story -
Our First Squirrel Hunt

In the fall-the pungent odor of fallen leaves, water and cool air join to announce the start of squirrel season. It was 1969 and I had reached my14th year. That year, I started a walk with my father that I have not completed.

On Old One Hundred Road, Mr. Farr had a very large farm. It was a sportsman’s paradise, encompassing fields, streams, ponds, and woods. My Dad had worked for Mr. Farr over the years doing jobs in a way only my dad could. He would install guardrails on creek crossings, making sure to first design a portable drill press. He would paint fences, not with a brush or roller. He and Charlie Ward would do it with a sprayer. I imagine they would do it sitting in a trailer as it was pulled along within reach of the boards.

Dad would also do welding and any other jobs that would require above average mechanical ability and extraordinary engineering. Mr. Farr, as was the case with most people in our small part of the world, had a great respect for Dad so we were allowed to hunt squirrels on the .farm.

Our preparation was not much different from going to work at the shop. We had no special clothes, boots, or plans. Hunting was as natural as drinking water. The 22 rifle was always sighted in and the ammo was close by.

I don’t remember the drive to the woods. It couldn’t have taken more than 10 minutes. I don’t recall getting out of the truck or loading the rifle. The excitement of the hunt has evaporated to leave concentrated memories of love and learning in the purest form.

My first recollection of that hunt was being on a path, wrapped in the smells and sights of nature. We were hunting, Dad and me, just us. We had stepped out of the bubble that held broken bikes, hot weather, nagging brothers and sisters, school, and all the work that needed to be done. Through that membrane and into all that was my first hunt.

This was my first lesson in hunting. I didn’t carry the rifle. I walked behind Dad. As we moved through the woods he didn’t speak. The objective was to stalk as quiet as possible. Not a sound. He slowly pointed at what I should notice, nodded when I had acknowledged the object. A finger to the ear would alert me to a sound that was important. I think we didn’t speak because there was too much to learn. No time for talking. I knew all he would show me that day I would need for the rest of my life. I don’t remember one word, not one. But I couldn’t tell all I learned that day.

Moving through the woods would become a new way to walk. As dad stepped, his feet found places between twigs. I, on the other hand, snapped the small sticks. Dad would slowly turn back at me then look forward. Not a word. I got the message. I learned to plan my steps. Not one or 2 ahead but 5 or 6 in advance. I could sense he wasn’t moving his head down but instead planning moves in advance. I had learned another skill. I became quieter but still heard my steps over his. His backward glances became fewer.

I don’t remember if he shot any squirrels that day but I tend to believe that was not part of his objective; if he did or didn’t has no significance. In such a short time I had learned so much. Not enough time to talk.

My dad is gone now, so is our permission to hunt on the Farr property. There is a house on the path we walked that day. Now I hunt other places. I still walk the way he taught me but now he isn’t walking in front of me. I walk alone. When I arrive at my destination he’s there waiting. Not saying a word. Teaching in silence.

Friday, August 17, 2001

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Mom, the Best Father

I have no favorite memory of my father. He died when I was seven years old.
My mother became my father as well as chief caretaker, pogo stick teacher, right arm bike stabilizer as well as disiplinary. If others were afraid of their dads when they had done something wrong, well they hadn’t seen my mother yet! She put the fear in us kids the same as the old saying, “wait until your father gets home!”.
My mother taught us how to work hard, play easy and be there in any capacity for our loved ones that they may need. She always had a firm hand and a loving heart.
To this day, as she is getting on in the years (not that I would say that to her), she still gets a hand made “Happy Fathers Day, Mom” card from me. She was the mother and father that held us kids together. She was the glue to our foundation. It doesn’t take a male to be a father, just someone with the drive and the love to see the family thru the hard times and the even harder times of growing.

Kelley Potter

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Perfect in our Eyes

My father had many problems, among them alcoholism and mental illness, but growing up we never knew - this was the 50’s and people didn’t talk about things like that.

With that said, we always had a roof over our head, food in our stomachs and clothes on our backs.  We also had some wonderful memories of him.  In the summer we had a small 6′ inflatable sided pool that he would get in (overflow the water) stretch out on his stomach and we would ride the alligator as he circled the pool on his stomach.  He was also an amateur astronomer and I remember more than once my Mom getting annoyed because he would wake us up in the middle of the night to see something special in the heavens.

I’ll cherish the good times forever.
Deborah Minard

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Grandfather

I love the memories of my grandfather. He was gradually going blind from the measles he had in elementary school. They had a contest at school of who could read the most books. While he was home with the measles he read and read.  He won the contest but suffered the after effects. I would spend some summers with my grandparents in Indiana and Pap-Pap, as we called him, would always take me to the store with him. Naturally, we would walk. He always seemed to know when to stop at the crossings, how much money he gave the clerk and if he received the right change. Pap-pap would always give me his pennies and called me his little Penny Annie. I still have some of those pennies in a metal piggy bank shaped like a shepherd puppy.

Ramona Collins

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Colorful Dad

My father was a textile chemist who worked in several woolen and cotton mills where he mixed dyes to match customer orders for big batches of fabric. He used to teach me how to see all the colors in a color; for example, some reds are bluish, some have yellow in them or even a grayish hue.  He worked hard and long hours and loved it when we came into the mill to visit. Those color lessons still help me today. Thanks, Dad
Marilyn Cote-Miller

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Grandpa  - My Teacher

My own Father was an abusive alcoholic and died when I was 12. All the adults that knew him only have good things to say about him. I have a few good memories that I cherish; but the others unbalance the scale.
But Grandpa -that’s different story! Grandpa taught me how to play dominoes before I was old enough for school. He taught me to do math in my head.
He always had a lesson, a scripture and a laugh.
When I was 14 he told me he was praying for a Godly husband for me - I laughed - my outlook on marriage wasn’t good because of the examples around me. Thank you Lord for Grandpa’s prayers - because God sent me a wonderful man that I married 37 years ago.
When I was 16 he need to go to the doctor “in town” =nearest city; I was only one available to drive him to the doctor. At this doctors’ office there was paper work to fill out. 89 year old Grandpa gave me the papers - ‘here ya’ll have to do this’.
That day I learned that my beloved Grandpa could not read or write. He had been a mail carrier before the bicycle, a night watch and a butcher.
I ask him why he couldn’t read. ‘ Everything written crawled around on the page.’ Now we know what dyslexia is but not for him.
He encouraged me to always overcome, keep on with laughter.
My grandmother (a school teacher) would read the Bible to him each day & he would memorize the verses. Math was not a problem, but he could not write anything out.
He lived to 98 3/4 years and his 1 dream was to learn to read. I would ask “Grandpa, what does that sign say?” ‘Pepsi, why?’ “see Grandpa you can read!’
Thoughout my 55 years I have tutored many children, volunteer at Vacation Bible School most years, volunteered for schools - because I CAN read and for Grandpa.
Janice

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The “Only” Sons

This is a story about a Father, a Son, a Grandfather and a Grandson. Although, several of the titles might apply to one person.
It was a snowy December evening. A kind of magical night, it was December 21st, the Winter Solstice.That shortest day of the year, when the sun is farthest South. Some say it is a time when extraordinary things may happen. This is a Father’s Day story about a brief moment when the true meaning of Fatherhood shone clear and bright to us all ~ even though it was the darkest of nights.
My son had called a few hours earlier to tell us that his wife had delivered a beautiful baby boy, and all was well. We waited, very un-patiently as new grandparents would be, to hear what the plans were for bringing the child home and arranging for care. Then, from the still, snow-laden darkness there was a soft tapping at our front door. We stood to answer it in wonder of what mystical stranger would be at our doorway at such a time. As the opening gave way to allow entrance, our son, our only son walked in carrying a small, cooing bundle of love, our grandson! He walked to the center of the room washed in the soft glow of glistening Christmas tree lights, and gently folded back the soft blue blanket. He lifted the treasure and turned to his father, and ever so carefully handed over to him, not just the next generation, but all of the generations that have ever been or ever will be…the only son, of an only son, of an only son! Every father, grandfather, every son and grandson… all, as one, one moment of fatherly love, a love stronger than time, that every father knows in that moment when he becomes a father, and remembers forever.
May you be blessed with that fatherly love this Father’s Day and always.
Our son is now gone, our grandson is grown. And we are no longer as young. But we will always remember that special evening that taught us what it is… to be a father.
This is submitted by :
Paula Baker

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Uncle Screw-Loose

My story is a bit sad but it is real life.
The summer of 1956 I was 10 years old and did not have a care in the world. My grandparents were traveling 1500 miles to visit us so I was really excited. We had all kinds of plans for their vacation because they had never been to Oregon. My Dad worked for the government and we had been transferred from Colorado to Oregon 3 years prior. The excitement was really high and I wanted everything to be perfect when my grandparents arrived. The house was clean and the refrigerator was  full of wonderful food. Whow! We were really going to have a great time.I went to bed even though I didn’t want to,I thought I was excited to sleep. At around midnight my daddy got to feeling really sick and my Grandma insisted that he be taken to the hospital. At the hospital they told my mom that daddy had had a heart attack. That was impossible, he had worked all that day, enjoyed his parents all evening , how could this be. Well to make a long story short, my daddy died at about 3:30 in the morning. My mom was so distraught that she didn’t have a clue what to do.She cried a lot and tried to explain to us what had happened.  My grandma started making phone calls to everyone. My grandpa held me and my brothers on his lap for hours. He kept telling us that everything would be okay. How could everything be okay?  My great uncle Ted came from Washington state to be at the funeral. He was really funny. He played with us and tried to keep us out of everyone’s way. My mom and grandparents had a lot of business to take care of. My Uncle Ted did a great job of keeping us busy . I remember calling him “uncle screw loose” .I had been a daddy’s girl so I took to him pretty easy. I set on his lap during my daddy’s funeral and we whispered and hugged. I could not stay quiet, I cried because my daddy was sleeping and would not wake up. I told Uncle  If daddy is never going to come back that I wanted my daddy’s (wedding) ring. He said that he would see what he could do.  Well, He told the man in charge of things about my wish, then he told my mom. We went over to my daddy,s casket and the man removed the ring from my daddy’s finger and gave it to me.
I did not realize what a great treasure I had for a long time but I never forgot that the ring was in a ring box in my drawer.  In that same ring box was a tiny ring that I had worn as an infant. Twenty years later, my mom  and I decided that  I should do something with those rings. I talked about having a necklace made but never got around to it. Then one Christmas my mom surprised me with a beautiful   necklace made with the 2 rings together. Several more years passed and I asked my mom for the tiny diamond from the wedding ring my dad had given her so many years before. I now have a complete family history that hangs around my neck,. I am so happy that someone took a minute to hear through my cries that I wanted my daddy,s ring. Fathers Day has always been a special day because I always remember the special men in my life.  I am sad that I did not have a chance to know my dad but life has kept going and everything has worked out. My mom is now 87 years old and she was mom and dad all our lives.
Harold M. Dawson
June 8, 1920
June 19, 1956
Thank you Uncle Screw loose”     I will always remember.
Yvonne

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Dad - out of adversity

Dad was an orphan - his mom died when he was 10 years old, and he was placed in a boy’s home - actually an orphanage where the boys worked the farm for their support.  He and a friend ran away when they were in the seventh grade, and that began an odyssey of travel on the rails, working on farms as hired hand, and eventually ending up working in factories in the Great Lakes area - meeting my mother and raising a family.  He always had a strong feeling the world was out to get him, but by hard work he could make it.  When I was young, my mother and father had a business of “custom combine cutting”.  He had his own thrashing machine, and a big truck that he hauled it with, and a pickup truck.  My sister and my mother rode in the pickup truck and dad and I rode in the big truck with the combine loaded on top of it.  We harvested grain (oats, wheat, barley maize) all over the grain belt during harvest season.  We often stayed with other combine cutters in camps, and other times at the farmer’s land whose grain we were cutting.  Once, in Kansas, there had been a huge rainfall and fields, roads, some towns were flooded.  My mother and sister were in the pickup truck leading, and dad and I in the big truck (which was top-heavy with the large combine cutter), and the road was flooded.  It was a big dike, and you could not see the road at all - just water on both sides.  Yet you knew if you did not guess correctly, one turn and you would go off the bank and into the flooded fields below.  It was the first time in my life that I ever witnessed my father being scared.  He said, “We are going to pray.”  And we both said the Lord’s Prayer aloud all the while we followed my mom and sister on that dangerous road.   There are so many stories I could continue to tell of that great old man whom I worshiped as a little girl, but this one stands out in my memory.  He became a carpenter in New Mexico and retired in California - a strong believer in the working man.  When he was dying, I wrote a poem to him and read it to him while he lay in bed not quite conscious.  He could not respond, but he blinked his eyes, as if to acknowledge my dedication.  Here it is.  (Dziadz is Polish for Grandfather):

Goodbye Dziadz

How sad it is to say goodbye

To wait for the final gasp and sigh

The last of his family to leave us all,

Crossing over that time-worn wall.

For those who knew him for so short a span

I’ll tell you a tale of a grand old man.

He laughed and teased when inside feeling pain,

Believing always that sun follows rain.

He came from a family of siblings seven

Born at home in Nineteen-eleven

He loved his mother, whom he lost at ten.

He began to move, again and again.

From farms to factories, milking a cow

Leading horses pulling the plow,

Driving a truck, threshing the grain,

Unafraid of hard work; unafraid of pain.

With hammer and saw he helped build our town

The bridges, the homes, factories on down

Lending a hand whenever he could

To help with his hands, he said that was good.

“Honor Labor,” he always said,

“The working man will see we’re fed.

Not the white shirts on Capitol Hill,

Their own pockets they seek to fill.”

Two World Wars, the Great Depression

Medical marvels, the horse-drawn wagon,

He saw it all, yet continued to say,

“For those of us left, there’s a better day.”

His Better Day is drawing so near,

May he go without pain, in absence of fear,

Goodbye Dziadz; we love you so;

Hello to Nanu as you go.

Your daughter Sunny

February 8, 2004

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REMEMBRANCE OF MY GRANDFATHER

My grandfather was a very special person to me.  I was only 6 years old when he died, but those few years I had were the most precious  to me and have lasted a lifetime.

As young as I can remember my mom always brought me to grandfather’s house, of course grandmother was there, but she was always busy cooking, cleaning, gabbing with my mother about the day’s chores.

It was my grandfather in whom I came to see, he would take me only walks, sit in the swing with me, and watch me eat peas with a fork.

He died at a time that I didn’t have a real concept of death.  He was gone and not coming back is all I could recall, but still never realized the  concept of it.  I was too small.  He was found in the driveway after have a heart attack at 68 years old.  Shortly after the service we moved away, but I could never be moved from the memories or what they became to mean to me.

My mother was the baby of her family and quite younger than the rest of them, my grandfather was the one that was really taken by her.  From what I have been told he named her, and he was the one that took care of her.

Well as a child I was named after her, the middle name was the same, and you know when your maw used that middle name you had better move or you was going to get it.  You knew anytime your middle name was used you were in trouble on the spot, there would be not questions about what happened, just quick and fast punishment for the crime that you were accused of (most of the time you were also guilty of) so as I got older I came to hate my middle name.

I was telling my cousin that I really didn’t like my middle name even though it was my mother’s name.  He was shocked.  He told me he wanted to tell me a story about my mother and my grandfather and for me to listen really closely.

When my mother was born my grandmother thought she was done having kids, so another one in her mind was not so welcome, but my grandfather was elated at the thought of another child.  He named her Ruth Joyce, and did so for a reason in his life.  He called her my Joy instead of Joyce .   When he got to that end of this little story and the meaning of Joyce was “My Joy” you know I felt about 2 inches high., because he was one of the great men of my life, he could do no wrong and was tall and strong.  When I was  four and five years old he was my hero and is still my hero to this day.

I never complain about my name anymore, and I remember my grandfather fondly, for there is a lot of pictures of us together getting ready for a walk, or standing on the porch together.   I live in the old house that he built now, and often feel he’s right here with me.

Heidi

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Able Grandfather!

Since my mom and dad were divorced, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents.  They watched me while my mom would work.  My grandfather was in a wheelchair due to a war injury.  Even though he was in the chair, he would still play ball with me, jump rope, cards, or anything we could come up with.  My favorite memory is when we would go to the fishing hole, or just for a walk, and I would ride on the poles sticking out of the back of his chair.  He would ride me down the hills and everything.  We had so much fun together.  Even though he was disabled, it never stopped him from doing anything.

Carol

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The Best Christmas Gift

My favorite memory of my father goes back to WWI.  He was a member of the RCAF (Royal Canadian Airforce) and stationed about 175 miles away from home.   It was Christmas eve, and we were expecting to have Christmas without him.  About 9 pm the back door opened (no one locked doors back then), and to our great surprise, in he walked still in uniform.
He had been given a couple of days leave, caught the train, and walked over a mile to our home.  That was the best Christmas gift ever!

Beulah Caswell
Canada

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I’ll hang the moon and the stars…

As with any stretchy fabric, embroidering on performance wear can be tricky if you don’t use the right stabilizer. It’s possible that the embroidery may look fine when you finish it, but without proper support after washing it can pucker and even lose registration as stitches are pulled out of shape.
The best stabilizer to use for most performance styles is a no-show diagonal nylon mesh. It has a diagonal embossed pattern that is more stable than previous versions. When this type of mesh is still in its molten form, a giant steam roller comes over it to give it an embossed pattern. This enhances its stability and the diagonal pattern offers the greatest degree of multidirectional stability. This means it is easier to hoop drum tight, which allows for the tightest registration and least amount of puckering and looping.
A way to good test your stabilizer’s directional stability is to stretch it in all directions including diagonally.
The more multi-directionally stable the material is, the better the registration. No show diagonal mesh does stretch a little, which is ideal for stretchy fabrics because it will give as the garment gives.
No-show mesh has other advantages for use on performance wear over other cutaways. It is softer, which means it feel better against the skin and drapes better. Also, the mesh is lighter in weight and more translucent so it’s invisible to the naked eye when viewed from the front of the shirt. This is especially important if your performance wear is white or light colored. Traditional stabilizers can sometimes be seen from the front of the shirt as a stiff white square detracting from the overall appearance of the embroidery.
If your stitch counts range between 10,000 and 12,000 stitches, one layer of the diagonal no-show mesh will be sufficient. If your design has more than 10,000 stitches or the stitches are very dense, or they are satin stitches, you will want to pair a layer of no-show mesh with a layer of mid-weight tearaway. Put the mesh closest to the shirt and the tearaway behind it. You will remove the excess tearaway, leaving the soft, sheer, invisible mesh against the body. No show nylon mesh also will protect the skin against scratchy stitches if you use a metallic thread that is a little rougher in texture.

Fred Lebow is the non wovens product manager for Cotswold Industries, a manufacturer of embroidery stabilizers. He is also Designs By SiCK’s “Stabilizer Guru” and is available to answer all of your stabilizer questions on our forums.

To ask Fred a question, please click here.

To purchase No Show Diagonal Mesh, please click here.

GrannieJo tells us, ” I really like anything Jacobean ever since we went to graduate school at William and Mary. Hand made crewel was popular then, and lots of Jacobean flowers were available . Here is one of several of your Jacobean themed design sets. I’ll send others along soon.  This one is from JB Ferns 2008.”
You can see the JB Ferns by clicking here.

Thank you again, GrannieJo!

Do you have trouble with the few odd bobbin stitches showing through your machine embroidery , when using a dark colour in a design? Easy solution is to change the bobbin to one with matching or similar colour  while stitching out that particular colour block . I have just finished sewing out an alphabet which was outlined in dark navy blue & I changed the bobbin to one wound with black .  No sneaky white stitches in sight!  I know some people use fine felt pens but unless you use a laundry marking pen most felt pens are now made to come out in the wash.

Heads up, all quilters and wannabe quilters!  Here’s a set of blocks which combines the fun of embroidery with the love of quilting!  Bonnie’s Lace Quilt Blocks create unique squares with embroidery.  Your choice of thread colors for the blocks will add to the creative style!
You can see the set online here.

Instructions:

Supplies:
Fabric cut into blocks (my blocks were cut 8×8 so I had the extra room to trim)
Thread of your choice

STEP 1

Stitch out each design block.

STEP 2
After stitching all blocks, trim all sides to what you would like. I trimmed mine to ¼ inch all around.

TRIMMED BLOCKS

Step 3
Lay block A facing up and match up block B right side facing down and match up and then sew together.

Then do this C & D blocks then with AB facing up, place CD on top facing down match up and sew together.

You now have a completed block.

Do this to complete each block. Sew together as you wish.
Enjoy!
Bonnie

Do you have a favorite story about your father? Maybe there is a special memory of your grandfather or uncle?   Share with us!

Chosen stories will be published on Father’s Day and of course everyone will be invited to comment and share thoughts as always.

Short stories or memories should be sent to me:  rob@designsbysick.com and please put Father’s day in the subject line.

Those selected for publication on Father’s Day will receive a free embroidery set of their choice or a week’s extension on a membership.

GrannieJo tells us, “This is what I did with Ryan’s  Water Cans from 2007.  I actually made several of these and gave away all but one.  The colors are so vivid and great for my gardening friends.  Makes a nice greeting on your door. It is a great way to make up block embroideries.”

Water Cans

You can see the Ryan’s Water Cans by clicking here.

I like to snip and clean all the threads on the back of my embroidery. I use sharp scissors and trim as many as I can, then I use a sticky roll of tape  (a lint roller can also be used) and run it over the piece to pick up any strays. The ’sticky roll’ also will pick up stray thread on the floor. When the roll is filled with thread, just tear off that sheet and a new one is ready.

We all know how we love those easy-to-make “In The Hoop” projects and Bonnie has created another one for us!  This holder for the personal-sized tissue packs will quickly become a favorite to stitch out!  It uses only three pieces of fabric, 5×7 inches in size!

Now is the time to pull out all of those small pieces of fabric leftover from other projects and start making these tissue holders!  Make enough for stocking stuffers and to have as a sure-sell at craft shows!

Bonnie has included nine designs for this project, enough to suit any need!
Please read through instructions and prepare your fabric before
starting project.

SUPPLIES:
Embroidery Thread of your choice
Tear‐away or wash‐away stabilizer
Fabric of your choice – I used a light weight cotton fabric
PREPARE FABRIC
Cut 3 5×7 pieces of fabric for each case.
Take 2 of the pieces and fold in half along the 7” side and press with wrong sides
together. Each piece will be 2 ½” x 7” after folding.
CC – Stands for Color Change
I suggest using thread the same color as fabric for CCs 1 – 2 and the last CC of
each design.

STEP 1
Hoop stabilizer and place hoop on machine
Stitch out the first CC.

Step 2
Take your long pieces of fabric and lay folded edge along the center stitched line
in the hoop, laying one down at a time and having them meet in the middle on
the line.
See pictures below.

Next stitch CC 2 – this will tack down the 2 pieces and hold them in place, then
continue with stitching the design.
After stitching design take the other 5×7 piece of fabric and lay (right side down)
over top of hoop then stitch last CC; this will stitch the 2 pieces together.

When finished remove from hoop, clip all the bobbin jump threads, remove your
stabilizer from fabric and then turn right side out and press.
Now add your package of tissues and you’re done.
ENJOY!
Bonnie

You can see the set online here.

Memorial Day first began as Decoration Day when flags were placed on graves of those who died in battle.  This year more than 250,000 flags were placed on graves at the National Cemetery in Arlington by the soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment.  A small reminder of the sacrifice made by the those who fell in battle.

I recall as a child visiting family in the mountains of Western Maryland with my mother over the Memorial Day weekend.  It was nearly a four hour drive and the 3 day weekend gave us plenty of time to make the trip and still have time to “visit” with Mom’s family.

We would always go to the local cemetery and it was a sight to behold with so many flags in a cemetery so small - evidence of the loss endured by a such a small town.  My aunt would always take flowers as well and we would visit the graves of family members long passed.  In my innocence, I asked why we put flowers on graves when we knew they did not die serving their country.  She explained quite simply, “Memorial Day is for remembering and we need to remember all who have been important in our lives.”

That simple statement made sense to me then and it has an even stronger impact on me now.  We do honor those who have passed, and not just on Memorial Day.  I believe, just as importantly, we should honor those still among us.

Quilting was born out of necessity - stitching together scraps of old garments to make a warm covering for beds.  The fabric stitched into  blocks translated into stories and memories of the family.

Each time we create something for a friend or relative, we are creating new memories and celebrating their place in our hearts.  They will remember the gift no matter how small.

Time spent sitting and reading to a child or sharing stories from our past creates memories they will carry with them forever.

Time - how precious.  We each have a limited amount living among those we love. Teach a child to sew, take a friend to the store, help a neighbor rake leaves. Make good use of your time here and pass along your passions to those whom you love.  Make memories and share them

Carol tells us, “While I know next to nothing about making a quilt, the Applique Owls were just begging to be sewn–all of them. So I bought a book on how to quilt as you go and ended up with this Hooters lap blanket.  They were a delight to sew as they were so well digitized. ”
Carol was impressed by Heidi’s digitizing skills and the minimal jump stitches in the design.
[editor’s note:  I was recently told “There are two races in this world, ‘Those who quilt and all of the other people’.  How quickly one can change to the other side!”
You can see the Applique Owls by clicking here .

We want to see what unique projects you are creating using our designs! See below to submit your pictures and the stories behind them!

Next week: GrannieJo has come up with a delightful project with a set nearly 3 years old!

As an adult I still think we act like children some of the time.  I went to my mother’s one sunny Sunday, and there I saw the first block laid.  This was something I had never seen my mother do before, hand applique. It was a Dresden Plate block in all of those different colors.  In my wildest dreams, I could not imagine what this quilt would come to mean to my mother, my sister and me.

Examples of Dresden Quilt Block Design

Examples of Dresden Quilt Block Design

We checked in every once in a while to see the progress and it was a real work of love; Mother was still working a full time job and worked on it in the evenings or whenever she got a moment.

She had gone to Watson’s, an old department store in our town, and they had fabric in the basement for just a couple of dollars a yard.  Mother bought some blue fabric with a small print to put into the blocks.  My sister and I followed suite on that blue fabric, we all had it everywhere, and we weren’t going to run out anytime soon, that was for sure.

That blue just made me more attracted to that quilt. One block of the blue and then a Dresden Plate in the next block.  I would have paid big time for that quilt and I know my sister would have also, but it was Mom’s and we just adored it.  Maybe it was because we were raised on traditional quilting, that of just putting pieces together.  But this one was appliqued, and my sister and I had never done applique so we were fascinated by the technique and the result.

When it was finally put together, it was hand quilted.  Mom had a real prize of a quilt to behold in our eyes at least.  Now, I can truly say that quilt was loved as much as a child, between me, mother, and sister we just oohed and ahhed over it every time it was shown.  It wasn’t for use.

A few months later my mother’s blood pressure made it difficult for her to work, so the big move was on.  It was always planned in my mother’s mind that she would come back to her home and retire where she had been raised.  So with the help of my sisters and brothers-in-law, the move was on.

I hadn’t seen my dream quilt in quite a while, and after a few months of moving Mom into her new home and getting settled, she started looking for her quilt.  It was nowhere to be found.  We were afraid someone had taken it.  I was the first to throw a  fit.  If I couldn’t have it, certainly no one else was going to take it.   Mother looked high and low for it, and then remembered for the move she had put it into a trash bag.  With broken hearts and tears all around we realized it was gone forever.

The quilt was put out for the trash man, and no one knew who had done it.  It was gone forever.  To this day, my  sister and I are still heart broken over the loss of that quilt.  Even though Mother is gone, the quilt continues to come up in  conversion all of the time.

The remaining blue fabric finally got worked up into quilts, pot holders, doll clothes, and whatever with the exception of one piece.  My sister made a shadow box for the memories of my mother, and there inside hangs one small piece of blue.  We look at that piece of fabric and we laugh, we cry for the lost quilt, and remember what fun we had putting that blue in everything and asking the other one, ” do you still have any?”  We also mourn the passing of our mother, and pray that the quilt found a good home.

I am sure whoever found it in that trash bag was puzzled, not understanding why something so beautiful would be thrown away.  I hope the quilt has woven its way through the memories of another family, welcoming new babies, comforting others when they were ill, warming the aging body of a grandparent or being draped over a child’s bed and used as a tent over a child’s bed for an afternoon of adventure.

I do a lot of embroidery down the side seam of jeans. Sometimes it is difficult to get the material tight at the very bottom edge. So I temporally sew 3-4 inches of scrap material (same weight as the jean material) to the bottom edge of the jean. This provides the needed tightness in my hoop and makes it easy to do the embroidery.

Carol was intrigued by Bonnie’s “Bugs in a Jar” design set.  Rather than stitching it out on a shirt or a totebag, she came up with a very innovative idea!
Carol told us, “I fell in love with your bug in a jar design and I soon found that you could put anything in them by just advancing the steps as you can see with the ant material and the hugs and kisses. I made this for my grandson last night and I think it came out cute.  Sort of personalized it with some of my messages. Thank you for the great design.”

Thank you for sharing your idea with everyone, Carol.

To see the Bugs in a Jar set, click here.

To see the instructions for the set, click here.

[Editor's note:  I know it seems as though we address one topic in many different ways and this is not in error.  We are truly an international community of friends, customers and at the very least, fellow embroidery enthusiasts.  While one person may find a solution to a problem here in our articles and tips, someone on the opposite side of the globe may have the same or similar problem but does not have access to the same materials for the solution.  So, we bring you as many solutions as possible.  And, quite frankly, the ingenuity is astounding!  You are all some terribly creative people! And with that, I give you the latest unique idea from Terri Beck.
Thanks,
rob ]

You know when you go get blood work or give blood and after your done sometimes in lieu of a band aid they put a piece of gauze there and then wrap this stretchy stuff around your arm that sticks to itself when they stretch it and cut it off?
Well I bought some (I bought the 3 in roll because it was only 50 cents more than the 1/2 in roll.
Then I cut it into strips about 1/4 in to 3/8 in width by whatever length needed to wrap around my thread spools so they won’t unwind.
It doesn’t leave any residue and can be used over and over. I especially love it for my king size 5000 yd spools. Just make sure the thread end is under the tape when you stretch it around and then it sticks to itself.
It works great and its really cheap.
I had an “aha” moment last night too. At first I thought this wouldn’t work on bobbins because you couldn’t see the color. I put the end of the thread on top of the bobbin and wrap the tape around the other way. It works GREAT. And it will still fit in your bobbin case if you have one or illuminates the need for one really.

Throughout the year we are met with a variety of symptoms which can truly become an annoyance. From colds to allergies and flu, we find ourselves and those around us continually reaching for the tissues.   Here’s a quick and easy project you can make with embroidery test stitch-outs or personalize with a monogram or your favorite little embroidery design.  So, whether you create just one special tissue holder to cheer up a sick friend or whip up a dozen for all your friends, you’ll all be feeling better soon.

Supplies:

Two coordinating fabrics
6” x 8” Fabric A (lining and “trim”)
6” x 7” Fabric B (outside)
Sewing thread for construction
Chalk marker
Optional:  embroidery thread, stabilizer and point turner

Construction:

Step 1:
Cut Fabrics A and B according to measurements, as shown.  With the chalk marker, draw a line on Fabric B to divide it in half (each half should be 3½” x 6”  ).

Optional:
Hoop Fabric B (outside fabric) with appropriate stabilizer and embroider.  Remove project from hoop, and trim or tear away stabilizer.

Step 2:
With right sides of fabrics pinned together along the 6” side, sew with a ¼” seam allowance OR serge with a 3-thread-overlock, trimming the fabric very slightly.  (Note:  Corners of Fabric A and B are turned back in photo for illustration purposes only.)  Be sure to remove pins before the sewing machine needle or serger stitches over them!

Step 3:
Press both seam allowances toward Fabric A.

Step 4:
Repeat stitching for other end.  Press seam allowances and turn, as shown.  (Note:  In the photo, the raw fabric edges are shown slightly turned back, for illustration purposes only.)

Step 5:
Fold seamed edges toward center chalk line.  Pin raw edges, as shown.  (Note:  In the photo, the edges are shown slightly turned back, for illustration purposes only.)  Serge or sew edge using ¼” seam allowance.

Step 6:
Repeat stitching on other end, as shown.

Step 7
Turn Tissue Holder right-side-out, use point turner to ensure crisp corners.  Press and insert pocket tissues.   Note:  For a complete “Stay Healthy” kit, whip up a coordinating Gift Card Holder:

http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/personalized-gift-cards/

and insert your own prescription or over-the-counter medications, as shown.

We always encourage customers to send in their project pictures.

GrannieJo Smoker is like most grandmothers who  have been bitten by the embroidery bug - she creates things for her family!

Using the Baby Alphabet created by Cindy, Grannie Jo stitched out a lovely Baby Quilt

(You can see the Baby Alphabet by clicking here)

Everyone was anxiously awaiting a large applique alphabet like that used in the Embroidered T-Shirt Dress (click for instructions.)

Just as soon as Heidi created the new large Applique Alphabet 2, GrannieJo wasted no time creating  a truly  unique project.

You can see the Applique Alphabet 2 by clicking here.

Thank you, Grannie Jo, for sharing your projects with us!

I saw a question online asking if there was a way to avoid duplicate designs without the purchase of special software.  Well,  you can save that money to buy more designs!  I use my computer’s built-in capabilities to successfully help me avoid designs I already have. There are several steps you can take:

1. First, I set my browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape, etc) so that links I’ve been to before are displayed in a different color than links I’ve not seen. Some browsers are set this way as a default; others may need to be changed manually. Look under “options”, “settings”, “preferences” or a similar menu choice to change this.

   When I see a link to a design in red, I know I’ve already seen that design and I can assume I’ve downloaded it if I wanted it. I chose red for visited links as a message to “stop”, that I’ve already been there. The color you use is your own choice. Some designs do not have a separate link, as when you click on the image to download, but this does work for most designs.

2. I always use the name assigned by the designer for the name or, at least, the “prefix,” of the design name. If I want to have some descriptive information about the design, I add it between the name and the extension (the three letters after the dot: .hus, .zip, etc.) For example, an FSL design of a poinsettia with a hanging loop might be named Holiday07-01.hus by its designer; if I want to know more information, I could call it Holiday07-01 fsl poinsettia.hus.

   If you keep this naming convention, when you view your files in list or description format and click on the name at the top of the list, you will see an alphabetical list of your files. Scroll down and files with similar names (Holiday07-01 fsl poinsettia.hus and Holiday07-01 fsl ornament.hus) will pop right out at you. You can then check the images to see if they are the same.

3. What images? When I download a design, I try to save an image of the design at the same time and I use the exact same name for the image as I did for the design. For example: the poinsettia design is Holiday07-01.hus and the image, Holiday07-01.jpg. The image goes in the same file as the design.

   Many people only look at their files as a list. I set my view for all embroidery files for thumbnail format. The advantage of doing this is that I see the actual image of the designs in my files rather than just a name.

   Frequently when looking for a design, I have to scroll through a file of hundreds of items and am likely to notice two copies of the same image. I note their names and check to see if the design files with those names are indeed duplicates or if there is some other reason for the duplicate images.

1. I may return to a site after the links have expired so I don’t know if I’ve downloaded or purchased a design. When saving the designs, I use the folders that are set up in broad subject categories (if you’re interested, these files can be found at SICK’s Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SiCKDesigns/files/). Some people file their designs by the designer.

   There is no right or wrong way to set up your files; what is important is to have a system that makes it easy for you to be consistent when deciding where to file a design. You must decide if will be filed under the designer, FSL, holiday, ornaments, or flowers. Then be consistent about that decision, so if you try to save the same design again, the computer stop and ask me if I want to replace the existing file.

2. And last but not least, when I’m in front of the television or otherwise vegging out, I’ll try to clean up a particularly large folder. I view it by list and by thumbnail to see if I can identify any duplicates.

Yes, this is a lot of information. Review each step and decide which might benefit you most. Adopt that step until it becomes your routine, and then consider adding another step.

The weather is beautiful and everyone wants to be outside enjoying all nature has to offer.  Why not bring a little bit of nature inside as you create something unique with the newest set available?

Bonnie’s “Bugs in a Jar” design set is perfect for doing  just that!  Some of these cute little bugs are safely tucked away in jars and there are also some still available to catch!  Scatter the extras outside the jar and create an entire scene!  She has even included the word “Bugs” in the set!

How cute would these be on a beach tote made of screen fabric?

Instructions:

Supplies:
Fabric of your choice
Thread of your choice
Vinyl – I suggest using the iron on type as it will hold up in the dryer better.

These are really simple to do and look so cute when finished!

1)  The first color in all designs is the placement stitch for the vinyl then you stitch
the you stitch the design.

2)  After stitching the grass place your vinyl over the hoop and design.

3)  Stitch the next CC (color change) – this will tack down the vinyl

4)  Remove hoop from machine and trim vinyl close to stitching

5) Return hoop to machine and finish stitching.

To download/see the set, please click here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/bugsinthejar

For many years I have worked with groups  making quilts for others.  Male, female, young or old, it makes no difference.  The end result is a hand made quilt to be given away - but the journey is filled with learning, excitement, anticipation and sharing.

Quilts are quite often the work of one person  who creates them, from purchasing the fabric to finally putting the blocks together.

I wanted to involve others in the quilt making, so we decided to make a “Pick Up Quilt.”

These can be worked on  as a group, at home or while in the pick up line waiting for children.

Our quilt blocks were created using the oldest form of embroidery, we stitched them by hand.

The Pick Up Quilt

This is the perfect hand made quilt for groups (Church, Scouts, Sports, etc).

Directions:

1.  Cut pieces of cloth in 8.5 inch squares, 2 for each square, cutting both a top color and bottom color

2.  Cut batting into 8 inch squares

3.  Make sets of one of each in Zip Lock bag and include quilting thread , a needle and the design pattern (to transfer to the fabric).

4.  Each person can hand quilt the design on their set of fabric.  The design is stitched through all three layers.

5.  When the squares are complete . Press one quarter inch inward on the left side turn over and repeat.

6.  Now take two squares placing them next to each other at the quarter inch line, pin to hold in place use standard quilting stitch to attach together.

7.  Continue until the row is complete.

8.  Do the same and finish all rows.

9.  Now take the bottom for front side and press one quarter in inward.

10.  On the back side press one quarter inch inwards at top .

11.  Now pin and quilt stitch rows together.

12.  When complete, make a strip two and one half inches wide press in half open and press inward one quarter inch place around outside edge.

13.  Now you have a hand made quilt than many can work on together or in the pick-up line waiting for their children.

Notes:
I prepare the bags (resuable) and when someone  finishes their square they may have another, depending on the amount of people in the group. If someone needs a hoop I loan them one, most come back.

Usually, I am the one to assemble the blocks and finish the quilt. Sometimes the people in the group get together and finish the quilt.

I never sell my work I just give it away. I have worked with many groups and we have made these quilts for years.

One year in Bible School the kids from age 2 to high school made several Lap quilts for the Nursing Home. The younger ones made shapes on patterned material sitting on my lap. Yes anyone can do this.

One of the quilts from a sports group went to a Coach who was so pleased that he would always remember his team.

It keeps me busy.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

This same idea can be used with machine embroidery!  Assemble the bags as above, omitting  the quilting thread, needle and pattern to be copied.  A slip of paper with  a “theme” could be included in the bag!

Theme examples:

western  - redwork only

western - filled or redwork

children

flowers

a season (winter, spring, summer or autumn)

holiday (Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving)

patriotic (quilts could then be sent to those in service to their country, or given to veterans who have served)

animals (dogs, cats, wild, farm) - what a great fund-raising project for animal shelters/rescues!  Create the quilt and it can be auctioned off at the facility!

The possibilities are endless!  Just imagine the diversity of such a quilt!  The only foreseeable problem may be in having to limit each group member to a certain number of blocks!

An old fashioned quilting bee certainly comes to mind,  with everyone meeting to assemble the quilt and put the finishing touches on it!

Supplies:
Machine embroidery thread of your choice.
Fabric for out side of bag and lining fabric
You can use water soluble stabilizer or 2 layers of tear-a-way(this is what I used)but its up to you, either works.
Temp. spray adhesive like KK2000

Basic directions for stitching:
Stitch out 9 blocks each for front and back if you like(I cut  2 pieces of matching fabric and cotton batting the size of the blocks after they were stitched together to form the front and then used the satin appliqué stitch on my sewing machine to make the back).

The first color change is the placement stitch for placing fabric.
The second color change is the tack down stitch, after this stitch you need remove hoop from machine and trim away all excess fabric from the block then place back on machine and stitch design.

The second to last color is the tack down stitch for the back.
Remove hoop from machine and turn over, lightly spray the back of the fabric with temp spray and put in place, return hoop to machine and stitch tack down stitch the remove again and trim fabric, return to machine and stitch finish satin stitch.

Join blocks together using a zig-zag stitch on your machine using matching thread.

You can make the tote bigger or smaller by adding blocks or taking away blocks.

Hope you enjoy making your bag!

Jacobean Totebag designs can be found here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/jacototebag

I used to get so frustrated because I stitched out this beautiful design and when it came time to do the outline, it was off. Sometimes I could stitch it and it would be perfect and the next time it wasn’t. I learned a little trick that may work for you, I now do this every time I have an outline on an embroidery design and I have never had a problem again.

After stitching the design, I leave my hoop in place, raise my needle and shut my machine off. I then turn my machine back on and let it re-center itself (provided your machine does this). I then skip to the outline section of the design, change my thread color, and begin stitching. It stitches perfectly every time.

One precaution you have to be aware of, if your fabric has stretched or it wasn’t stabilized correctly nothing you do will make the outline come out right. You do have to remember all the pushing and pulling of the fabric that is going on while it is stitching the design. Most importantly, before anything, is make sure you are using the correct stabilizer. Personally, I always use a heavy cut-away stabilizer unless I’m doing Free Standing Lace. I gave up messing up designs because the stabilizer was the thin or had too much play in it.

If you try this, I would suggest to try it on scrap fabric and test it first. This is just a little tip I have picked up along the way and like I said, I have never had problems with outlines since I started doing this.  I sincerely hopr this works for you.

As I was doing my latest set, “Butterflies and Crosses”, it came to me that the main object of the set is the ribbons.  I first heard of the ribbon theory when Tony Orlando and Dawn released the song, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree.”  I personally don’t think they had any idea of the impact that had on the different ribbons that would be created from that song alone.

While my thoughts and feelings come from my life and experiences, growing up as a Christian and living in the United States, I am hoping my words will translate to any religion, culture and life experience.

Over the years, the significance of Ribbons has come to mean so much to each of us in our own way.  While some ribbon colors may have different meanings when used as Awareness Ribbons, these are a few that I used in my crosses and the reasons for them:

The rose ribbon was for all of the mothers that we love and cherish throughout our lifetime.  Some are gone and some still with us.  I know that I think of mine often even though she’s been gone home to Heaven for years.  I still miss her and love her beyond belief.  I know that she suffers no more of the worldly problems and is in no more pain, and that is sometimes the only thing I have to hold onto.

As I mentioned in my last article, “Is Once a Year Enough?”, Mother is the one who showed me I had talent for sewing, crocheting and other crafts.  Mostly, she taught us so we would be quiet and managed to nurture out talents at the same time.  We enjoyed these crafts with her until the time she died.

The blazing ribbons I put in for the bikers of America and other countries, they take the chance to ride the roads and help America in their time of needs, if only to gather the Toys for Tots at Christmas.  I know they enjoy their hobby, just as much as we do, and we are all able to give along the way.

I chose the red for the blood that has been shed by Jesus for us humans and humanity itself, and for all of the soldiers that have given their lives so that we can continue the freedoms that we have and cherish so much.  They have given their best with their lives on the line for our freedoms.

I chose the yellow ribbon for all of those soldiers that may be missing, and for all of the children that are missing in this country, may God and His angels be with you and help guide you back to your loved ones.

I chose the purple for all of the veterans who have served and been wounded or killed in the process.  They are honored by our country when they are awarded a Purple Heart.  It’s a way to show our gratitude for all of those soldiers.

And last, but not least, the red, white and blue flames for the all patriotism in us , whether we be veterans,  fallen soldiers, or the loved ones that were left behind in this fight we all deserve to respect the flag of our country and show that we stand behind those one that defend it in their own special way.

I left all of the crosses white for the purity, love and the faithfulness of every one of us; for each time we pray that we are making the right decision about something, or just to give the Lord our God the praise that He so richly deserves for letting us live, love, laugh, mourn, and speak in this great country of ours.

As I mentioned before, these are my choices for colors.  You can certainly change them to reflect your feelings and your beliefs.  If your country’s flag has other colors you can use those to show your patriotism.

If this is your first attempt at Applique, Heidi suggests to read ” How to Applique the Country Girls Set and others like it” which is located in the Articles’ section of the website.  You can read the article by clicking here.

To purchase and/or download the set, please click here.

Mother’s Day is coming up really soon and mothers all around the globe will be honored.  Is this enough? Is this the only time of the year that we admire, think about, love, cherish, and give her attention?

My mother has been gone quite a few years, and I have missed her greatly.  They say not to live in the past but I guess I do at times.

Let me tell you a little about my mother. She was a better woman than I ever hope to be. As a child I was always curious about her sewing and quilting.  Mom and her sister would get together and quilt on occasion, it was a great time then. She was always there in the hard times, when store bought clothes were not on the list of priorities.  When I was a little girl, one of the first things I remember was mom making my clothes for school.  Today and even back then, a lot of kids may have not cared for that, but I loved those dresses she made for me.  I can remember the one she made me in the second grade.

Nowadays people talk needing therapy. I didn’t know it at the time, but my mother had her own form of therapy. She had a nervous breakdown and sewing was one of her outlets.  When she sat with fabric and her machine, she could go into her own world .  While she was sewing, she could escape the pressures of her life and be alone for just a little while. This gave her the courage and strength to deal with the trials of her life everyday and continue to be the mother we loved so very much.

As I got older Mom taught all of us girls how to sew, quilt, crochet and any and everything else she could.  It must have been challenging for her because I know when it came time for my girls to learn they didn’t want anything to do with it.

For me,  I live in hard times and hard places and sometimes I had to give up a quilt or a crocheted piece for sale because this meant food on the table for my girls.

In 1999, just as people in remote areas were coming into the computer age, my mother passed away.  She didn’t get to experience all of the great online get-togethers or spend hours looking for designs on the Internet.  She never had an embroidery machine.  Oh, how I would have loved if she had lived long enough to be introduced to this wonderful new type of sewing.  I know she would have loved it.

Mom loved homemade crafts and had quite a few when she died.  I live in the house that she lived in now, and there are bits and pieces throughout.  My sister made a shadow box with her thimble, certain pattern for quilts, fabric, and dress patterns all combined.  I still look at it with amazement and can see my mother in every part.

I remember my mother every time I go to sew something, when I look in the mirror, and especially when I see my sister.  I never realized how much my sister looked like my mother until one day, I looked at Sis and saw Mom.

I think of my mother all of the time and even though she’s gone I can feel her as she still guides my sense in right and wrong, my hands in sewing, and in most everything I do.  I love her and miss her, and would love to have one more Mother’s Day with her.  That will never be in this lifetime. Please ladies, go and tell your mother that you love her and try to spend time with her as much as possible.  You may not understand her all of the time, but you do love her and know that she loves you.

I’m one of those people who doesn’t want to wait for things via the US mail, but it looked like I may have to do just that because my bobbins were becoming a tangled mess and I saw items online that would take care of my problem.

I did not give in! I realized I had something close to home I could use.  I now use my granddaughter’s small pony tail holders.  They work great!  Sometimes I have to wind it twice around the bobbin depending on how much thread is left.

I can easily replace them because they are not expensive!  I can go to our local Dollar Store and get a package of 25 for a dollar.

Just a dollar  - no postage or shipping charges!

What perfect timing!  Just as Mother’s Day, graduation and June weddings are coming up, Rhonda has come up with a quick solution for your gift-giving needs!

Not only do you have something to hold a gift card, but it is homemade - it comes from the heart.  Giving of yourself, your time, is priceless.

Why not stitch out a few of the Birthday Gift Card Holders to have on hand for those last minute birthday parties?

Instructions

Colors 1 and 2 should match the outline on every design.

Easy Gift Card Holders 001

1. Stitch on stabilizer for  placement
Place material down.
2. Ribbon placement hole
3. Lettering
Follow finishing instructions
4. Outline

Easy Gift Card Holder 002

1. Stitch on stabilizer for  placement
Place material down.
2. Ribbon placement hole
3. Cupcake bottom
4. Candle
5. Flame
6. Outline flame
7. Icing
Follow finishing instructions
8. Outline

Easy Gift Card Holder 003

1. Stitch on stabilizer for  placement
Place material down.
2. Ribbon placement hole
3. Cap
4. Tassel
5. Words
Follow finishing instructions
6. Outline

Easy Gift Card Holder 004

1. Stitch outline for placement
Place material down.
2. Ribbon placement hole
3. Heart
4. Ribbon
5. Bells
6. Bells detail
7. Leaves
8. Rose
Follow finishing instructions
9. Outline

Easy Gift Card Holder 005

1. Stitch outline for placement
Place material down.
2. Ribbon placement hole
3. Words
4. Box
5. Ribbon
6. Bow
7. Bow detail
8. Rose
Follow finishing instructions
9. Outline

Easy Gift Card Holder 006

1. Stitch outline for placement
Place material down.
2. Ribbon placement hole
3. Flower
4. Flower Center
5. Leaf and Stem
6. Monster
7. Monster Mouth
8. Monster Tongue
9. Monster Teeth and Horns
10. Monster outline detail
11. Words
Follow finishing instructions
12. Outline

Easy Gift Card Holder 007

1. Stitch on stabilizer for  placement
Place material down.
2. Ribbon placement hole
3. Foot
4. Foot Outline
5. Heart
Follow finishing instructions
6. Outline

Easy Gift Card Holder 008

1. Stitch on stabilizer for  placement
Place material down.
2. Ribbon placement hole
3. Bee stripes
4. Bee Outline
5. Words
Follow finishing instructions
6. Outline

Easy Gift Card Holder 009

1. Stitch on stabilizer for  placement
Place material down.
2. Ribbon placement hole
3. Tack down for ribbon.
4. Place thin ribbon across guide and stitch down. It may help to glue the ribbon in place.
5. Rings
6. Words
Follow finishing instructions
7. Outline
When finished, tie small ribbon in a bow.

Easy Gift Card Holder 010

1. Stitch on stabilizer for  placement
Place material down.
2. Ribbon placement hole
3. Lettering
Follow finishing instructions
4. Outline

FINISHING  INSTRUCTIONS:

Remove from machine and pin or tape fabric to back side of stabilizer.
4. outline stitch

Remove from hoop, cut around card holder using pinking shears or plain scissors - your choice.

Cut a slit through the ribbon placement hole, cutting through all layers.

Insert card in holder, run a pretty piece of ribbon through both layers and tie in a bow.

You can see the set here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/easygiftcardholders

I do very little surfing on the Internet but recently I spent some time visiting a few Yahoo group message boards on embroidery and quilting, two hobbies I am trying to make more time for in my life.  I have an embroidery sewing machine and would love to get a long arm.   I wanted to see what others are doing with these types of machines.

What I found was absolutely beautiful.  Great ideas,  gorgeous designs, lots of love, and a willingness of everyone to share what they’ve done.

That being said,  ladies – and gentlemen – please listen up.  Although we realize the importance of not putting names on children’s clothing and belongings,  I saw quilts and embroidery designs with names of your precious grandbabies, nieces, nephews and friends.  The names – first, middle and last, with full birth dates usually went along with a blog (web log - an online journal) description that went something like this:

1)  My second daughter Mary and her husband John made me a grandmother for the third time.    He was in the service so they traveled around a bit until coming back to settle in the next city.   She has two other children, Mickey Dickey age 4 who was born when they were Texas for basic training and Sally Ann age 2 who was born while they were in Alaska.  It’s really nice having her close by in Austin.

or

2) This was made for my brother-in-law, Tom.  He and his wife, Sandy had their first child, Mary Jane Doe.  They live in Jackson, Mississippi.

or

3)  My first daughter Joanie loves the color red and I was able to incorporate her love of swimming with this piece with old time bathing suit fabric I found in my stash.  We spend every weekend at West Lake during the summer and she is never out of the water!

Even though the above is fictitious as I didn’t see those particular facts, to me, from what I know, this is enough information to generate identity theft of not only those precious babies but their parents and yourself,  as well.   Some security questions I have found are Mother’s maiden name; oldest/youngest sibling; mom or dad’s middle name; favorite or oldest niece or nephew; favorite sports team; your birth place, mom, dad, or spouse birthplace; favorite color, food, hobby; date of marriage,  – and sometimes even on a second tier they will list four addresses and ask which one is not familiar to you.   Social security numbers are generated, in part, from area of birthplace

Being a victim has perhaps made me over paranoid about internet usage, but please cover that square with that personal information, and be very careful about what you are writing in your descriptions.

Please continue to be creative, take pictures and share your beautiful work.  I had a great day looking through your albums.  Thank you so much for sharing.

I finally took a marker and put an arrow on my embroidery hoop so when I have to take it out to put fabric down for applique I don’t have to think about what direction my hoop goes in. This has really saved time and costly mistakes.

Soon the kids will be out of school and family vacations will be underway.  Newlyweds will be honeymooning, kids will be spending time with grandparents and everyone will need to identify their luggage!

Bonnie has come up with the perfect set of designs for you to make for yourself or others.    The In-The-Hoop Luggage Tags are just what you need!

You can see the new set here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/lugtag

SUPPLIES:
Fabrics of your choice(cut into 4”x4” pieces if you like)
Med weight clear vinyl
Tear-a-way or Vilene type wash-a-way (whatever you like to use)
Thread of your choice
Clear Vinyl (4×8” per each tag)
CC - stands for color change

INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1
Hoop stabilizer and place hoop on machine, stitch first CC(this will stitch a placement stitch).
STEP 2
Place fabric over top of stitching making sure the area is covered by the fabric.
Then stitch CC #2.
This will tack down the fabric & hold in place.

These first 2 steps are all the same with all the Tags.

STEP 3
CC 3 starts the design, follow the CC’s for the designs then return to the pictorial to finish putting your tag together.

STEP4
After stitching design place your backing fabric under hoop with right side facing down.
You can also remove hoop and spray back with temp spray and secure fabric to back that way if you wish.
If you decide to do so please DO NOT spray in the same room with your machine and threads; go out-side to do this.
Stitch next CC (this will be the 4th from last CC)

STEP 5
Next remove hoop and take your piece of vinyl and fold it over to make 4” on all sides, then line up the vinyl so the folded side is facing the tapered end of the tag. Match the edge of the vinyl to where the stitching starts to taper, put a small piece of tape on each side to hold it in place .

Next cut a piece of fabric 4×4 and fold in half so it is 2×4 and place it above the vinyl matching the folded edges of both pieces.
Tape it in place.

Place hoop back on machine and stitch next CC (3rd from the bottom).
Remove hoop and trim all fabric as close to stitching as possible with out cutting thread on front and back.

Return hoop to machine and stitch next CC (2nd from last) this is the satin stitch and the stitch last CC which is the button hole at top.
Remove from hoop and your finished.

You have added the top so that you cut your 3×5 card so it fits up into the top areal by doing this the card will not come out.
Check pictures below.

Look at the different designs!

How many times has a pacifier hit the ground in the park, fallen out of the cart in a shopping cart, or ick! fallen on a restroom floor somewhere?

Bonnie has created a very unique set which will be a necessity for all moms with babies!

With this design and a purchased (or homemade!) bib, you can create the perfect holder for a pacifier and it will be one-of-a-kind!

So, find a bib, some ribbon and your thread and head to your embroidery machine!  Why not make one for each day of the week?

You can see the set here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/bb

Supplies:

• Thread of your choice
• Med. Tear-a-way (if stitching on a fabric that stretches use cut-a-way)
• Water soluble topping (if fabric has a nap like terri)
• Gross Grain Ribbon or ribbon made from fabric of your choice not less than ½” wide.
• Cut ribbon 16”-18” long

Directions:

Hoop your stabilizer and fabric – if using fabric with a nap do not hoop the fabric only the stabilizer, use the method you like best to secure the fabric on top of hooped stabilizer such as using temp spray or a basting stitch, then add the topping if needed.

STEP 1
Stitch first CC – this will do a placement stitch for the ribbon as pictured below.

Next place ribbon over top of stitching, you can add a piece of tap to hold it in place if you like.

Next stitch CC 2, this will tack down ribbon in place.

Now continue following color chart to stitch the bug!
To finish off the ribbon, hem the bottom edge by folding up the end and using a zig-zag or satin stitch over the raw edge, then add one part of snap on the end and measure up about 3” to add the other part of the snap then attach the binky by putting ribbon through the handle and snapping close the ribbon around it.

Enjoy!
Bonnie

It is a challenge to hoop thin fabric such as tulle or organza or just stabilizer when doing FSL.

To keep your hoop from slipping get some of the rubbery shelf liner like they sell at the Dollar Tree. (They also have it at  Wal-mart but it’s cheaper at the Dollar Tree.)

1. Cut strips about 2 or 3 inches wide and the length of each side of your hoop.
2. Use double sticky tape to tape the edge of the shelf liner to the outer edge of the bottom of the inner hoop.
3. Then hoop your fabric as usual with the rubber being hooped as well.
4. Trim, if you need to, to make sure it’s not in the design area.
5. This works really well but you can also use some 1 1/4″ office clips on each side as added security if you want on the really long hoops such as the 360×150.

Sewing has become very popular, whether the purpose is hobby sewing, personalizing items with embroidery for friends and family, or increasing the family income by using your talent.  Of course one of the mainstays of sewing is the pincushion.  Everyone needs a pincushion and if you’d like to learn to make your own pincushions, be sure to read the DBS Newsletter Article tutorials on making pincushions.  For tutorials on making your own pincushions just click on the hotlinks below:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/pincushions-tutorial-pt-1-victorian-hat/
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/pincushion-tutorial-pt-2-pear/

This, however, is not another article about pincushions.  This will show you how to make a Needle Book.  Needle books and pincushions are different.  Pins have heads on them so the pins can’t slip down into the middle of of the pincushions.  Machine needles and hand sewing needles do not have heads on them so they could possibly slip down into the pincushion and not be retrievable.  For needles, one really needs a Needle Book.

Anyone with a serger will appreciate having a needle book.  With sergers, needles must be added or removed from the machine, depending on the type of stitch the sewer needs to use.  On some sergers there are as many as 5 needle slots.  Home embroidery enthusiasts know that embroidery needles need to be changed often even though they may have life left in them for sewing projects other than embroidery.  Keeping the removed needles in a Needle Book will keep them all in one place until it’s time to use them on a new sewing (not embroidery) project.

Here’s how to make a nice little Needle Book in a flash.

Cut:
Two pieces of fabric   5″ X 8″ ~ these pieces may be the same or coordinating fabrics

One piece of batting 5″ X 8″

One piece of felt  3 1/4″ X 6 1/4″ finished with pinked edges

Two pieces of Ribbon 7 1/2″ each for tying the Needle Book closed,
velcro
or 6″ of ribbon for the loop if you decide on a loop and button closure

Thread

Method:
1. Place the batting on the wrong side of the outside fabric.

2. Decorate using a design of your choice or a decorative stitch from your machine or use a straight stitch to quilt the fabric.  I used the Lover’s Font for the word “Mom” and the design is from DD Sewing Time.

Lover’s Font can be seen here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/loverfont
DD Sewing Time can be seen here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/sewingtime

If you prefer, you can use a temporary adhesive spray to hold the 2 pieces together.

3. Place the right sides of the outside fabric and inside fabric together.  What you’ll see is the batting on one side and the wrong side of
the inside fabric on the other.

4. If you wish to make a ribbon closure or a ribbon loop closure, now’s the time, before you sew the pieces together.  If you want to put the ribbon on last then that’s fine, too.

5.  Sew around the edges and leave about 3″ open at the bottom side.

6.  Turn right side out.

7.  Hand sew the opening shut.

8.  Center the pinked felt on the inside of the Needle Book.

9.  Mark the center and sew down the center to create the ‘book effect’.

Having a few of these Needle Books on hand to give as little gifts to your sewing friends and family is really handy and it’s something they will appreciate.  These are quick and simple to make.  What the end product is like is only limited by your own imagination so let your imagination run wild.  The best part is that you will be using up a bunch of your saved scraps and turning them into great gifts!

This project is just in time for Mother’s Day!  Think about how many mothers you have in your life: your own, your grandmother, your sisters, aunts, cousins, friends - these Needle Books are so quick and easy, you can  make one for each of the mothers in your life!

Needlecase Inside

Needlecase Outside

Yes, it may be too late for holiday giving, but it could be time to take advantage of this opportunity.  If you had machine problems, purchased “blanks” for the holidays and didn’t use them, or just ran out of time, then NOW may be an opportunity for you.  (Note:  “blanks” are an embroidery term for plain items like towels and T-shirts which readily lend themselves to embroidery or other embellishments.)

Without the stress of a holiday deadline, try embroidering holiday towels or other great gift items and then put them aside in your designated gift closet or cabinet.  Then, you’ll have gifts ready to go for other events – both planned and unexpected.  You can also purchase “blanks” on sale after the holidays – sometimes at terrific prices – and stitch them, too.

And what about those ‘goofs’?  You know, those last minute projects that just didn’t work out.  For whatever reason:  you didn’t have the right stabilizer or enough thread, the machine ‘ate your homework’, or you just ran out of time.  Now is the time to re-consider those projects. It’s very satisfying to finish a project (when you have time), and you’ll have a headstart on the next gift-giving season.  If a project can be salvaged with the right stabilizer, buy it on sale and finish it now.

And if it can’t be salvaged?  Then, consider the lessons learned.  If it was the wrong stabilizer, then write a note directly on the project and store with your sample stitchouts or keep with your stabilizers.  It can be an extremely helpful reference.  Another method preferred by some stitchers is: take a digital photo of the disaster and file it on your computer under a personal folder of “Helpful Hints”.

One way to salvage the “unsalvage-able”:  convert it into a completely different project.  For example, it a towel was ‘eaten’ by the machine, then cut off the damaged part and stitch the remainder into the waistband of an apron.  Or, use a fabric remnant and stitch a ‘towel topper’ with a button onto the remainder of the towel.  Voila!  Instant projects.  Instant gifts.

Another easy conversion may be traditional appliqué.  Cut or trim the damaged stitchout, then satin stitch to another garment or textile.  Be sure to cover the damaged embroidery section with satin stitching or other decorative stitches.

Of course, if the damage to stitchout is minor, then consider just adding a little ‘bling’ to cover it.  A few crystals can covert an ‘oops’ to an ‘o-o-oh’.

In conclusion, before you toss that ‘mistake’, give it another chance.  Maybe the freshness of Spring can bring new life to a sewing snafu.

If you are left with a few stitches showing from the white underlay- or perhaps haven’t quite covered the top stitching with final border run, I run a gel pen (found in most stationary shops) of the same color as the border along the edge and the applique looks excellent.

Pink Ribbons are popping up everywhere as the world prepares for Breast Cancer Awareness events.  This set can be used to support any organization, but some of the designs were created with the Susan G. Komen foundation which sponsors the “3 days, 60 miles to end breast cancer” and  Relay for Life’s “Race for the Cure” fundraisers in mind.

The widely recognized pink ribbon serves as a reminder that breast cancer is still a formidable disease and every day work is being done to educate the public, provide funds for those in need and to find a cure.

As with all fundraisers, the workload is carried on the shoulders of countless volunteers who give freely of their time and energy to ensure success.

The Breast Cancer Awareness Designs were created with fundraisers in mind.  You can put these designs on just about anything to sell as a fundraiser.  You can also stitch them out to show your support for the ongoing fight against breast cancer and the efforts to educate and find a cure.

Cindy has stitched the designs on just a few garments to show you what can be done.

A card can be created using stiff felt (these sheets are larger than the felt squares and hold their shape)

A bandanna would be the perfect for the participants in the walks and runs.

Everyone would want a towel with the beautiful circle of ribbons as they prepare to walk the track or run the 60 miles in 3 days.

An ideal place to stitch these designs is on shirts.  Relay for Life team members could be dressed alike!

The designs, each one with the ribbon created with a heart at the top, each carry a message.  There is one for everyone.

You can purchase or download this set here: http://www.designsbysick.com/details/breastcancer

Susan G. Komen website: http://ww5.komen.org/findanevent.aspx

Relay for Life website:  http://www.relayforlife.org/

Once again Rhonda has created something new and exciting for you to stitch!
Her Faux Cutwork Hearts for Mother’s Day are just perfect for all of your Mother’s Day Projects.

Rhonda has creatively devised a way to use tulle to give that “cutwork” appearance.

These would be ideal on T-shirt, shirts, and sleepers.

Can you picture the table set for Mother’s Day Brunch with napkins each its own lovely Faux Cutwork Heart?  What a way to bring Spring right into your home!

These have to be seen to be belleived.  Take a moment to see the full set of Mother’s Day Faux Cutwork Hearts to download, purchase or just admire their beauty - Click here

Materials Needed
Fabric, T-shirt, Napkins, Sleepers, Apron……. endless
Stabilizer, I used plain tear-away, but you can use Opaque Wash-A-Way
Tulle (2 layers is best), Sheer Ribbon or any Sheer see thru fabric
Applique Scissors are best, pointed and not the duck bill kind. you
will be cutting the inside of the stitchline and not the outside.
Imagination……. use your imagination and creative juices flow with
this set.

MothersDayFauxCutWork0rk 001

First 4 Colors are white
1. Stitch line for cutting
carefully cut the material AND the stabilizer.
Lay a piece of TULLE on top of cut out area.
2. Stitch down tulle
3. Stitch down tulle (to make stronger
carefully tear or cut tulle away from outside of cut area. Leaving
the tulle covering the cut area.
4. Bars. This will stitch out the bars over the tulle.
Continue to follow color chart for the rest of the design.
5. Red fill and satin around tulle
6. Leaf fill
7. Leaf outline
8. Flower centers
9. Large flower fill
10. Large flower outline
11. Small flowers fill
12. Small flowers outline

MothersDayFauxCutWork 002

First 4 Colors are white
1. Stitch line for cutting
carefully cut the material AND the stabilizer.
Lay a piece of TULLE on top of cut out area.
2. Stitch down tulle
3. Stitch down tulle (to make stronger)
carefully tear or cut tulle away from outside of cut area. Leaving
the tulle covering the cut area.
4. Zig Zag around tulle
5. Lace fill
6. Red outer stitching
7. Scallop line around lace fill
8. Satin stitch around tulle
9. Leaf
10 Leaf outline
11. Large Tulip
12 Large Tulip outline
13. small tulip
14. small tulip outline
15. Ribbon
16. Ribbon outline

MothersDayFauxCutWork 003

First 4 Colors are white
1. Stitch line for cutting
carefully cut the material AND the stabilizer.
Lay a piece of TULLE on top of cut out area.
2. Stitch down tulle
3. Stitch down tulle again(to make stronger)
carefully tear or cut tulle away from outside of cut area. Leaving
the tulle covering the cut area.
4. Zig Zag around tulle
5. Lace fill
6. Fill around heart
7. Outline around heart
8. Leaf fill
9. Leaf outline
10. Rose
11. Rose outline
12. Bow
13. Bow outline

MothersDayFauxCutWork 004

First 4 Colors are white or color of choice
1. Stitch line for cutting
carefully cut the material AND the stabilizer.
Lay a piece of TULLE on top of cut out area.
2. Stitch down tulle
3. Zig zag around tulle (to make stronger)
carefully tear or cut tulle away from outside of cut area. Leaving
the tulle covering the cut area.
4. Lace Fill
5. Zig Zag around tulle
6. Red fill around Heart
7. Flower
8. Flower outline
9. Leaves
10. Leaves outline
11. Ribbon
12. Ribbon outline
13. Flower
14. Flower Center
14. Flower Outline

MothersDayFauxCutWork 005

First 4 Colors are white or color of choice
1. Stitch line for cutting
carefully cut the material AND the stabilizer.
Lay a piece of TULLE on top of cut out area.
2. Stitch down tulle
3. Zig zag around tulle (to make stronger)
carefully tear or cut tulle away from outside of cut area. Leaving
the tulle covering the cut area.
4. Zig Zag around tulle
5. Lace Fill
6. Satin around Tulle
7. Outside of heart
8. Outline of inside of heart
9. Small flowers
10. Small flowers outline
11. Flower centers
12. Flower centers outlind
13. Leaves
14. Leaves outline

MothersDayFauxCutWork 006

First 4 Colors are white
1. Stitch line for cutting
carefully cut the material AND the stabilizer.
Lay a piece of TULLE on top of cut out area.
2. Stitch down tulle
3. Stitch down tulle (to make stronger)
carefully tear or cut tulle away from outside of cut area. Leaving
the tulle covering the cut area.
4. Zig Zag around tulle
5. Lace fill
6. Outline around Heart
7. Leaves
8. Leaves outline
9. Pansies dark
10. Pansies light
11. Pansies center
12. Pansies center outline
13. Pansies outline
14. Ribbon
15. Ribbon outline

MothersDayFauxCutWork 007

First 4 Colors are white
1. Stitch line for cutting
carefully cut the material AND the stabilizer.
Lay a piece of TULLE on top of cut out area.
2. Stitch down tulle
3. Stitch down tulle (to make stronger)
carefully tear or cut tulle away from outside of cut area. Leaving the tulle covering the cut area.
4. Zig Zag around tulle
5. Lace fill
6. Lace fill outer heart and satin stitch for outer heart
7. Flowers
8. Flowers outline
9. Flowers center
10. Ribbon
11. Ribbon outline
12. Leaves
13. Leaves outline
14. Satin Stitch outline around small inner heart

MothersDayFauxCutWork 008

First 4 Colors are white or cream
1. Stitch line for cutting
carefully cut the material AND the stabilizer.
Lay a piece of TULLE on top of cut out area.
2. Stitch down tulle
3. Stitch down tulle (to make stronger)
carefully tear or cut tulle away from outside of cut area. Leaving
the tulle covering the cut area.
4. Zig Zag around tulle
5. Lace fill
6. Satin Stitch around both hearts
7. Leaves
8. Leaves Outline
9. Ribbon (I used silver metalic in picture)
10. Ribbon Outline
11. Flower
12. Flower center
13. Flower outline

MothersDayFauxCutWork 009

First 4 Colors are white
1. Stitch line for cutting
carefully cut the material AND the stabilizer.
Lay a piece of TULLE on top of cut out area.
2. Stitch down tulle
3. Zig Zag around tulle (to make stronger)
carefully tear or cut tulle away from outside of cut area. Leaving
the tulle covering the cut area.
4. Lace fill
5. Satin stitch outline and bars
6. Ribbon
7. Ribbon Outline
8. Flower
9. Flower outline
10. Leaves
11. Leaves outline
12. White flowers
13. White flowers outline
14. Satin Stitch center Heart

MothersDayFauxCutWork 010

First 3 Colors are white

1. Stitch line for cutting
carefully cut the material AND the stabilizer.
Lay a piece of TULLE on top of cut out area.
2. Stitch down tulle
3. Zig Zag around tulle (to make stronger)
carefully tear or cut tulle away from outside of cut area. Leaving the tulle covering the cut area.
4. Motif Fill stitch for other side of heart
5. Motif Fill stitch for outside heart (between outlines)
6. Satin outlines and bars across tulle
7. Leaves
8. Leaves detail
9.Ribbon
10. Ribbon detail
11. Flower
12. Flower
13. Flower outline
14. Flower center
15. Flower inner center

this “tape’ is very thin and wont interfere with the hooping, but will give more grip to it.  No More stablizer slipping.
and your designs will have better registration.  this is especially important when making Free Standing Lace

I have noticed lately a little chatter going on the Forums and blogs about colors in a design. They want the exact color that we used in our designs. I even saw where someone mentioned that we didn’t even use the color on the color charts.

Well, this is how this article came about. Color is like a digitizer -  if you don’t play you will never know what a different color scheme can offer you.  As a digitizer I take the time to run samples, push buttons and look for different ways to make things.  The design should be the same way.

Take your colors and make it your own project. You will find you may have a better choice of color than what we ever thought of. I was once told by my brother in law that he wanted a quilt that his wife refused to use the color in -  he told me that he wanted purple and green. At the time I thought he was joking with me a little, and fussing at her for one of her creations. Well as you seen the color combination is not that bad, I use it all of the time now, absolutely love it.

Purple and Green - can Nature be wrong?

Now, when you are about to do a design take a few minutes, decide what you are using it for, mine is mostly quilt blocks. Sit and look at that design, and then take a look at your threads, what do you think would go good together?  Don’t ever be afraid to experiment. I know we all have heard the rules of color, some you can’t mix, some has to be lighter, and some darker and some medium; but remember you are doing this for you or a loved one in your life. You want it to be memorable then throw your thoughts, colors and vision into it. What I see isn’t necessarily what you see.

Designs By SiCK 61 Spool Kit - Brother colors

[Editor's note: You can purchase this beautiful set of thread here: 61 Spool Thread Kits

I would absolutely would love the create the ultimate quilt in my life time, so I’m always searching for particular designs. I sit and look at the design and think of what color I would like in that design, what would enhance it, what wouldn’t.  I don’t go by color charts that much usually just to see where the color goes, like green for leaves.  Is that Irish green, leaf green or sage green?  We have a whole lot of choices to the color scheme now. My husband will say something is green, and I always ask what shade, teal, leaf, pine, emerald, it could be anything, but it’s not plain green.

It's just GREEN!

So go ahead and get that design out!  Pay no attention to anything  other than seeing where the piece of applique goes or the color goes.  Use the colors you want combine, change to a different color and get a whole new look, your look!

Nature's Palette - color with reckless abandon

I’m sure many of us share the same love of sewing. Many of us think how we can use our love of sewing to make money so we can pay for our fancy machines, add to the family budget or just help ourselves support our craft (or addiction as some claim).  Here are 10 broad ‘sewing for money’ categories. I’m sure that within each category you can think of many examples of things to sew and if you find a product that sells, sell it until there is no interest and then find something else to make. For example, for a while back in the 90s I had a great custom garment business going selling American Girl dress knockoffs; then I got bored and switched to baby layettes.  I wanted to share some of my experiences sewing and sewing for money to give you some ideas on how to develop your own thriving business.

1. Tailoring and alterations. This is a fruitful area for development. Many people who do not sew need someone to shorten pants, fix hems and so forth. I did this for a while but quit when a neighbor brought over a ratty pair of pants and asked me to fix it. Bottom line is that you need to expect anything and you will get regular customers.
2. Sewing custom garments. For a while I explored sewing for bridal parties. It was a horrible experience dealing with picky women and mother of the “bridezilla”! If you decide to get into this area I would recommend you find a niche. For example, you might sew for plus sized people, people who need their clothing adapted for a physical problem, or anyone who cannot shop right “off the rack.” I once had a 6’5” friend who could never find a shirt that fit right but I could provide a perfect fit.
3. Sew home decorator projects. Pillows, slipcovers, draperies all are good, profitable items to sew. There are lots of interior designers and real estate home stagers that would love to put you right to work. Since moving to Florida I’m in demand to sew boat seat covers. I once sewed a sail cover and had to use an industrial machine for that. I got a free day of sailing too!
4. Sew your own thing and hope someone buys it. One the one hand you sew just what you want and on the other hand, you spend a lot of time and money and it might sit there and gather dust. A few years ago I designed a line of children’s clothing and took some flyers to schools, preschools and churches. I did a fantastic business with my “Fashions under Forty” idea. All the cotton dresses sold for $39.99 and were lots of fun to design and sew. Feel free to use that idea if you’d like.
5. Make patterns and kits and sell them on the Internet. This requires some skill but can be very rewarding. If you develop something really special you might sell a lot of them or you might just sell enough to make yourself happy. A lot of your success will depend on your ability to market and sell them to distributors.
6. Learn to digitize and sell designs on the Internet. This also requires a lot of skill but you can do it in your PJs, your investment is under $1000. I digitized exactly one design set – a beautiful Celtic Alphabet and sold quite a few copies but I am not happy doing that; maybe you are. There is a lot of competition for design set sales so be prepared to make a web page, to use online sale tools and to learn marketing techniques.
7. Embroider for others. This can be very exciting. Some people embroider blanks for craft shows or customer garments and some actively solicit custom work. Both are profitable and can be done at home. You need to have policies in place regarding pricing, returns, timelines and so on. There are also copyright laws about what you can sell, how many you can make for sale and whether or not you can change them. Be careful. It’s probably best to learn to digitize to avoid the copyright issue. Even then, digitizing a copyrighted logo or cartoon character is illegal, so be careful!
8. Teach lessons. I’ve taught sewing lessons for many, many years with a lot of satisfaction. I taught them at the park district, at a sewing shop, at sewing conventions and in my house to Girl Scouts. You have to be able to explain how to do things, how to thread all the different machines people bring to sew on, and have endless patience with beginners. If you get someone’s sewing fire lit, it’s an amazing feeling!
9. Write books and articles. I’ve actually written a book about sewing and it sells on amazon.com and my web page very well. So far, I’ve sold about 5000 copies and I’d like to sell a few more. I also write articles for designsbysick.com. You won’t get rich writing but you do get a good feeling. Of course, it might require some skill … or not, as in my case.
10. Just sew for yourself. Forget about trying to sell things and enjoy your sewing world. Sew an occasional gift and go to an occasional workshop. Make a quilt for your own bed and maybe one for your sister. Don’t try to make a dime.

Many people decide to only sew for themselves or for their family. I certainly can understand that because when you have to sew for a deadline or for a project you don’t want to sew, you lose some of the love of the work. Even when I sewed for others for free, soon they became demanding and I didn’t like that either. You have customers coming to your house all the time and that might be a problem with your family or if you don’t keep house. Then there are always pricing issues; too much, too little, getting bad checks, unhappy people etc and you have to be prepared for all of that. Still, once people learn you can sew they keep your name and refer business all the time. These days I can pretty much pick and choose what I sew and for whom I sew. I personally prefer to teach a few lessons, write a few articles and sew a few of my “Fashions Under Forty” dresses here and there. When you really think about it, what kind of sewing do YOU want to do?

Use Water Soluble Thread in the top and bobbin of your sewing machine and stitch together pieces of your left over Water Soluble Stabilizer to make larger pieces that will fit in your hoop.  It all then washes away with no change to your design!

Today, as every Sunday it seems, I found myself at the beach most of the day.  The ocean is amazing … every day you get something new and every day is different from another.  I don’t think I’ve been there when it’s been the same as the day before.

Once day the water was like glass and I swam and floated the morning away.  Another day everyone was eating … the gulls and pelicans were feasting up a storm, the shore birds were drilling for crabs and there was even a dolphin meandering around snacking on the little fish that are everywhere.  I thought how the earth feeds and takes care of its own even out here where it looks like dry empty sand but is rich with food.  Floating in the water calms me and feeds my soul; like being cradled and soothed while the sound of the waves and birds melt away all negatives.

The last few weeks I’ve gone the water has been colder.  Last week I could only float for about an hour before the Great Mother chased me away.  I stooped for shells instead that day.  Today the water was very rough — there must be a rain front on the way.  It was a bit colder too — about 80 (sorry my Illinois friends) and the water was about 79 — I couldn’t go in today past my knees.  I wanted to go out to the sandbar out by the Diplomat on Longboat Key which is my new favorite place to go — good shelling and floating out there.

I bought a fishing pole last week.  I wanted to try to catch a fish that and eat it.  I’m going to buy a kayak too as soon as I pay a few more bills.  They are about $200 for a good used one.  So fishing is a bit like sewing, believe it or not.  The “thread” which is your monofilament line is wound around a “bobbin” which is your fishing reel and you feed the thread up through the little fishing pole eyes and out the top where you put the needle (hook).  You throw the needle into the fabric (ocean) over and over and when you’re “done” you have something wonderful (fish).  I bought my fishing pole (pink) that came with a pre-installed winder (also pink) but was a bit puzzled after that.  I searched the internet but they all assume you already know how it works and my Uncle Jim who fishes is still three days away.  So while I was buying my fishing license (you have to have one here, no exceptions) I was grilling the local fishermen on what I should buy and do.  The helpful clerk told me to go get my pole and he would get me set up.  I ran out to the car and came back where he deemed my $12.95 rod and reel “not too bad.”  He sold me the required fish measurement tool and a pink hook with a flapper thing and said “just go throw it into the water over at Lido Beach” which I drove over and did.  So for the next three hours I was delighted to throw the line into the water and roll it back up again.  Oh what a wonderful thing and how wonderful to spend the day at the beach in a happy pursuit.  No, I didn’t catch anything but afterword I went to Whole Foods and bought some grouper to take home for dinner.  I pretended I caught it at the beach and I was really happy.  I was really happy today.

When using your large hoop, 6×10 or larger, bring the design down to the bottom of the hoop before stitching out,  and you will have enough stabilizer left over to use for a smaller hoop.

Cold and flu season? No problem. Here’s a quick and easy project you can make with embroidery test stitch-outs or personalize with a monogram or your favorite little embroidery design. So, whether you create just one special tissue holder to cheer up a sick friend or whip up a dozen for all your friends, you’ll ALL be feeling better soon.

Supplies:

Two coordinating fabrics

6” x 8” Fabric A (lining and “trim”)

6” x 7” Fabric B (outside)

Sewing thread for construction

Chalk marker

Optional: embroidery thread, stabilizer and point turner

Construction:

Step 1:

Cut Fabrics A and B according to measurements, as shown. With the chalk marker, draw a line on Fabric B to divide it in half (each half should be 3½” x 3”).

Optional:

Hoop Fabric B (outside fabric) with appropriate stabilizer and embroider. Remove project from hoop, and trim or tear away stabilizer.

Step 2:

With right sides of fabrics pinned together along the 6” side, sew with a ¼” seam allowance OR serge with a 3-thread-overlock, trimming the fabric very slightly. (Note: Corners of Fabric A and B are turned back in photo for illustration purposes only.) Be sure to remove pins before the sewing machine needle or serger stitches over them!

Step 3:

Press both seam allowances toward Fabric A.

Step 4:

Repeat stitching for other end. Press seam allowances and turn, as shown. (Note: In the photo, the raw fabric edges are shown slightly turned back, for illustration purposes only.)

Step 5:

Fold seamed edges toward center chalk line. Pin raw edges, as shown. (Note: In the photo, the edges are shown slightly turned back, for illustration purposes only.) Serge or sew edge using ¼” seam allowance.

Step 6:

Repeat stitching on other end, as shown.

Step 7

Turn Tissue Holder right-side-out, use point turner to ensure crisp corners. Press and insert pocket tissues.

Note: For a complete “Stay Healthy” kit, whip up a coordinating Gift Card Holder:

http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/personalized-gift-cards/

and insert your own prescription or over-the-counter medications, as shown.

Don’t throw away those deodorant bottles wash out and reuse to wash away wrong blue lines on fabric. (Mum has removable top).
I was also told  by a lady who sold quilting products at a craft fair  Blue pens can ruin your projects if not washed out right away.

Rhonda has outdone herself this time!

Putting a new twist on an old idea, she has created has created sucker holders.

These are really different than the sucker covers.

And this particular design has everything folks want:

1) An ITH design

2) It fits the 4 x 4 hoop

3) It is in the familiar “candy heart” style, complete with the cool sayings

4) It uses up all of those little scraps of fabric you have saved, hoping there would be SOMEthing you could do with such a tiny piece!

Please take a moment and look closely at the hearts.
As you can see, Rhonda did not just stay with solid color fabrics!
Now, let your imagination run wild!

Anyone who has little boys probably has come camo fabric!

Luckily, this design is ready just in time to stitch out some for your child’s/grandchild’s classroom.

Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year!  What an awesome little treat to hand out at Sunday School!

You are only limited by your imagination!

One customer has already told us she is going to stitch out nearly 30 for her daughter’s class!  And, her daughter is the teacher!

Thank you, Rhonda, for another fun set!

INSTRUCTIONS:

Materials Needed
4×4 scraps of cloth
tear-away stabilizer
Thread and Bobbin Color for your choice of Main Color (MC)

1)  Outline MC
remove hoop from machine and glue material down
2)  Stitch outline MC
remove hoop from machine and cut around outside of heart with applique sissors
3)  Stitch out Candy Words MC or Color of Choice
remove hoop from machine and glue material down on bottom of hoop
4)  Stitch outline MC
remove hoop from machine and cut around outside of heart with applique sissors
5)  Tack down zig in MC, satin stitch around in MC
6)  Circles for sitcks MC
remove from hoop and carefully trim out inside of circle or hole for stick
7)  Tack down for hole MC, Satin Stich for hole MC

Customer Project!

Linda Waller saw this project and knew she had to make something special for her son’s Bear Den .  “The boys are 8 to 9 yrs old so I thought camo would be more appropriate.  All the boys loved them and none of them felt they were “sissy” valentines,” she says.

And, the best part ?  Linda’s son is the DEN CHIEF!!!!

(Aren’t Moms wonderful?)

GO LINDA!

Everybody always wonders where I come up with our ideas for designs and appliqués and just how they are created. In the following story I’m going to try to explain a little about my day, my appliqués, and how I do just that.

I’m usually up by nine in the morning and the first thing I do is check email. After I get something to drink, I sit down and let the email run, knowing Shawn will be out there somewhere on the email waiting to tell me the next project idea. As I read through them, sometimes I find a customer needing help; perhaps they are not happy with the colors or having a difficult time stitching it out. When customers include a scan of the design, often I can see right away what went wrong. Quite often it is a stabilizer issue. So, I give them my best advice or more specific instructions for their particular machine and apologize for any inconvenience. Then, I turn my attention to the last appliqué which needed to be test sewn two days ago, but here it is, still not done.

When choosing the graphics for each I listen to the forums and the stitch chat folks and we bounce ideas off of each other as to what to do with designs, as to whether it can be appliqué or not. Remember, as much as I love it, some graphics could not be used to create an appliqué, no matter how much I wanted to do them in that way.

While going through my day and the next several days doing an appliqué, and yes, they often take several days, I continuously think about the color combinations. In my mind, I change colors of the fabrics that I know that I have in my stash for this project. I always get excited when I’m near the end of the set because it takes the stress off. Soon, they are sewn out and scanned and ready to go. Is usually takes a day or better to put one design together, and another couple of hours for the sew-out, to make sure everything is in its place, if not have to go back to the beginning.

Testing an embroidery design is an involved process where the digitizer sends the design to the tester, the tester stitches it out and then informs the digitizer of any problems. The digitizer then addresses the problem areas and sends the adjusted design back to the tester. Depending on the complexity of the design, this can take from just one to many exchanges between the digitizer and the tester. However, when I finish an appliqué it is then test sewn by me, and only me. I have tried test sewers they really don’t know what I ‘m looking for in that appliqué. So, if you have a real problem with one, it’s only me to blame and I take full responsibility for the design.

The beauty of appliqué comes from the endless possibilities of final projects resulting from the variety of fabrics each person has in their stash. By choosing different fabrics and thread colors, you can create countless different looks using the same design. In my earlier articles I told you to make sure you have good quality fabrics in order to appliqué. This is extremely important because when it comes to the satin stitches necessary for appliqué your fabric, machine and thread take a real beating.

And now we come to the hard part of a design. It may stitch out perfectly on my machine, but then it’s sent to the site and someone else buys the design and they may not get the same results. You wonder, and I do also, what happened? Perhaps we should all have one universal machine, that way we would know that it works for everyone. There are many things which will affect the outcome of a design, ranging from different machines and the changing of formats, to different threads and fabrics and each digitizer has to take all of these variables into consideration when creating and testing the design.

The machine I own right now does great outlining for the appliqués, but in the past I have had some real “stinkers” which just did not outline very well. I have bought some real expensive designs only to have the outline mess up at the very end of the design and be so totally out of sync with my design that I became disappointed with the digitizer that I swore that I would never buy another one of their designs. When I was on my third or fourth machine I realized it wasn’t the design at all but the machine itself.

Needless to say, I’m up all hours of the night and day thinking of only one thing and that is sewing and producing a great design for you and the members of the site.

I hope this gives you a peek into the life of a digitizer and you can see how much goes into the design for you to enjoy and give to your loved ones at Christmas or whichever holiday or just for them being special to you.

You can read about Heidi here:
http://www.designsbysick.com/bio/?name=heidi

And you can see Heidi’s designs here:
http://www.designsbysick.com/bydigitizer/?digitizer=Heidi

When using metallic thread, use it with white thread, two strands through the needle, helps from breaking.

Now that the holidays are over, and we are into the new year, I’m sure we’re all breathing a collective sigh of relief.  It’s time to sit back and enjoy the warm thoughts of the festive time with family and friends.  It’s also time to take a break and relax.

What could be better relaxation than working on some of those sewing and embroidery projects that you have always wanted to do?  How many of us have been promising ourselves that we’d eventually get to a particular project when we had the time, or promised ourselves that we’d read our embroidery software manuals or our sewing machine manuals and learn more about our machines and how to use our embroidery software?  How many of us have been promising ourselves that we’d get around to organizing and filing our embroidery designs as soon as we had time?

I think all of us have made at least one of these promises to ourselves.  Some of us have even gone as far as writing these down in the form of New Year’s resolutions.  Well, dear fellow sewing and embroidery enthusiasts, the time is now.  To use a phrase that my dear mother used to tell me when I was a child whenever I procrastinated in attending to something, “You’ll never be any younger”.  It’s true!  None of us will ever be any younger so let me echo the wise words of my mother and remind you that now is the time to sit down in your sewing room and begin working on that project that you have been ’saving’ for when you had more time to do it.

What could be more relaxing and exhilarating than sitting down in the room where you can let your creative juices run wild and free, and actually accomplish something in the peace and quiet of your very own sewing space?  Some of us will want to take some time to organize our stash after messing it up so badly while making Christmas gifts; others of us have made such a mess of our sewing rooms after working frantically for months trying to get all the holiday presents made that it would be a pleasure to give ourselves some semblance of order in our special rooms.  A lot of sewing sisters will want to take this time to wash their stash and put it away so that when they want to use it, it will be ready at that very moment.  Once you’ve organized yourselves, you will surely be in the mood to get sewing or to embroider something that you’ve always wanted to do.

Finally, you’re ready for some meaningful, creative, private time with your sewing machine that you consider ‘your baby’.  Shock of all shocks - your mind has drawn a blank and you can’t remember a single thing you’ve been wanting to make.  Well, help is at hand and it’s so close that you won’t be able to believe how simple it is.  Simply look back at previous articles.  They’re an absolute wealth of ideas and tutorials.  Once you have decided on some projects list them in a special notebook that you keep in your sewing room.  As you complete each project, take the time to take a photo of it and write the details of the project in your special sewing notebook.  That way, you’ll be able to repeat the project at any later date when you want to make it again. Reading through the ARTICLES will prove useful and helpful, just in case you are one of the people who needs a little boost with some ideas.  Just click on the hot links below for some ideas then read on and find more ideas.

Decluttering and organizing your sewing room?  Have a laugh by reading this:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/confessions-of-a-fabric-aholic/

Planning to do some embroidery or monogramming on items but are unsure of where to place the embroidery?  Get all the information you need here:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/placement-guidelines/

Want to do something special for your own kitchen now that you have time?  Here’s a couple tutorials that will inspire you:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/teriffic-tea-towels/
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/easy-apron/

Have you always wanted to make a special tote bag with applique on it?  Instructions and pictures that will help can be found here:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/applique-using-steam-a-seam2/

Planning a holiday?  Prevent luggage mix-ups by making your luggage singularly identifiable:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/show-your-true-colors/

Feel like sewing for your grandbaby?  Here are a bunch of wonderful things you can make:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/the-road-to-success-part-1/

Always wanted to try your hand at FSL (free standing lace)?  Here’s great information:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/guide-to-fsl/

Just remember, take some time for yourself and enjoy your talents and skills by doing what you love.

[Editor's note:  Please remember, when taking photos of your projects, think about sharing the picture as well as the story behind it with others.   Our Customer Projects' area ( http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/category/projects/)  is filled with creative uses for the designs offered on the Designs By SiCK website.~rob - editor]

I position my paper pattern pieces on top of two other pieces of paper or a piece of fabric, printed side up.
I place my ruler along the lines, one at a time, no particular order, and with my dressmakers tracing wheel, I gently run the wheel down each line on paper pattern. (just hard enough to make an indentation)
This makes folding on the line very easy, straight and easier to judge cutting and placement of each new fabric piece.  Saves time from  using a piece of cardboard or ruler to bend pieces of pattern on lines.

It’s been a while since I produced and made my first paper dolls for Designs by Sick, and I have heard some good ideas that I hope to share here.

On the appliqué clothes, some people have told me they had old clothes that belonged to their children, and grandchildren, these would make for wonderful appliqué on the dolls.  What a wonderful way to have a piece of today with yesterday’s memories in it.  These would be so special to the children that received them with a small story about where the fabric came from and what their mommies and daddies where doing during that time.

For the Moms and Grandmoms who make clothing items for your children and grandchildren - just imagine how they would feel to have their own paper doll and be dressed just alike!

There are different ways to attach the clothes.  I went with the Velcro dots that you can get at craft stores.  They are easy to dress for the little hands.  Some of the wonderful letters I received suggest a tacky glue that will work over and over  to put the clothes on and then when it quits working you can reapply the glue.   (i.e.  Aleene’s  “Tack It Over and Over”  - click here to see an example.  )

For the backing I suggested maybe plastic canvas. This is what some of  your fellow sewers came up with that I never even dreamed of.  Also, some have used sticky back foam, or just foam.

The folks on the Forums even made the stand for them.  http://www.designsbysick.com/forums/chickie-paper-doll-t11562.html . You can see Skipper’s  Chickie Doll below. It is so pretty, and it she even created a stand for it.

I have read so many emails from folks who describe how these paper dolls have become cherished memories for so many, taking the clothes of a loved one that has passed and putting them into the paper doll clothes.  I’m so honored and touch by all of these stories, it really brings tears to my eyes that you loved them so much.

So when you get into making these dolls your imagination will take over and you will have great results with yours.

Chicky, I would imagine,  is going to be a great Easter gift for giving to the young ones.

There will be others down the line as my mind still goes back to making them, and I am constantly on the look out for more that I can use on these dolls.

by MaryCatherine McCoy

How many times have you heard that comment when you gave a birthday or holiday gift to someone?  Perhaps they were trying to pay a sincere compliment, but maybe they really would like to embroider but just don’t know where to start in the (sometimes overwhelming) world of machine embroidery.

In fact, traditional sewing skills used for garment construction or quilt making are not mandatory for learning machine embroidery.  And some intermediate-level embroidery students have remarked that students who come to classes without any sewing experience sometimes have an advantage on the learning curve!

Huh?  How can that be?

First of all, if someone truly wants to learn machine embroidery, she (or he) doesn’t really need to know about seam allowances, darts, or stitching-in-the-ditch.  The desire to learn is the most critical element.  A relative or friend may be interested in a new hobby but think she (or he) has to learn to sew first and embroider second.  And that assumption is not necessarily true. (That’s why they manufacture embroidery-only machines!)

Second, most of the skills and knowledge required for successful machine embroidery were new to accomplished stitchers, too.  For example, proper hooping techniques, placement & alignment are not part of quilting and sewing.  Products like stabilizers and toppings are not used to sew garments.  And how many times on the Forum does a new member inquire, “What is FSL???”  (It’s free-standing lace, in case you’re new to this world).  After learning to thread a machine, most folks – whether non-stitchers or veteran tailors – are starting to learn at the same place.  After all, you don’t even have to know how to wind a bobbin to become a machine embroiderer.

“Pay it forward” by sharing your passion with those friends and family members who are sincerely interested in a new hobby – and possibly a second income. Remember, the more folks embroidering the more embroidery resources for all of us.  Plus it’s a great way to make new friends all over the world.

As a first step, invite your friend(s) over to your house to take a first peak into machine embroidery.  Or, take them to your local dealer for a shopping (but not necessarily buying) trip.  Maybe even schedule an appointment with the dealer (explaining that you’re just looking), so you get dedicated time for a professional demonstration. A field trip to an embroidery shop is like a trip to the candy store for most of us, and probably the second best thing in the embroidery world – right after getting free designs at DesignsBySiCK every day.

If you want some strips of material  for chenille work but like me have difficulty using scissors then use the serger to do the job for you.
Simply remove the thread from the needles and put a piece of tape on the right hand side of the needles to act as guide lines for the material.
Now let the material be fed through and the blade will cut of the fabric at the required width. You can also use this method for those bias lengths.
No more painful hands, just nice long cleanly cut lengths for you to play with.
Cutting  straight  lines for quilt patches can be done this way too if you simply fold and press into double widths and then again use the serger to cut just inside the fold line.
If  you are going to quilt a large patch then make it up from several smaller squares and join them together with the  serger.
Place the square into the  embroidery hoop as normal with the batting and backing on your embroidery machine and  do applique or embroidery work on top to give you one large mosaic square.
Hope this will help.

I like to do FSL designs.  Usually they are done on WSS and rinsed in water to remove the WSS.  Then they need to be dried.  This can be difficult with a large or delicate design.

What I do is lay the design to be rinsed on top of a stove splatter screen.  (it is round and has a handle and is made of screen–like on a window–$5-$6 at Walmart for a set with 2 sizes)

I tear off the excess WSS and lay the embroidery flat on the screen.  Then I hold the handle and put it under the faucet with running water.  You can use hot water without burning your fingers.  But….the best part is that the pieces stay flat and don’t get misshapen from handling, so they dry just like they were stitched.

After I am done rinsing, I balance the screen over the sink to drip.  When it is done dripping, I balance it over a couple of coffee mugs to dry–lets air circulate and they dry faster than if they were laying on a towel.

[Editor's note:  Some folks have asked to see a picture of a splatter screen  - so here you go:

huggers,

rob]

You know all through the year we shop designs, saying, “Oh so-and-so would love that:, and  before you know it, you see something else you have to have to that for someone else that you love.  You take them time to buy the designs and you eagerly get your fabric out and test sew it.  After the test sew you have decided it was too hard to do a big project so off to the “test sewn block box” it goes.  If you are like me they stack up over a year’s time.

Now, the spring turns to summer and summer turns to fall, all the major holidays come and go and around about Halloween time you know you need to start those Christmas gifts for family and friends, but what to do?

Well,  remember those blocks that are sitting in a box somewhere?  I have a new and quick easy way to impress those loved ones and maybe even your co-workers and boss.

I have found that the Victorian Christmas stocking is an easy way of using those test sewn blocks.

In this article I hope to inspire you to make those last minute gifts for those you who inspired you to buy the designs.  In the Victorian times they loved the crazy quilt and you can take memories, a little love, and our love for the embroidery machine  and really make something nice with it. And, that is how this idea was born.

To make this stocking you need to cut 3 of the stocking patterns out.  You can find all kinds of patterns on the web for stocking, this one was provided by my sister, she is doing 30 of them for family and friends.

One is for the front, one for the back, and one for the lining.

The one for the front you will be putting your design on and then you put 2 to 2 ½ inch strips around and work the strips out until you have your stocking front completely covered.  There is going to be over-lapping as seen in the picture below.

It almost looks like a house at this point, and when you turn it over and you will see your back piece.

Take your scissors and carefully trim around the stocking pattern.

Now you are going to put the stocking together.

First lay your back of stocking on flat surface.
Next, put your front with the decorative front towards you and your lining on top of the decorative front.
Pin into place and stitch all 3 layers together.
Now that you have it all stitched you need to round out the heel and toe; to do this you need to clip the extra around the toe and heel without going into stitches, see pictures below.

Wherever it curves you need to clip about ½ inch apart being very careful not to go into the stitching.

Now that you have it stitched you can take your pins out.
For the cuff, I measured across the front and then double it/
Mine was 7 ½ across the top and I cut 15 x 12 folded in half and sewed all the way down and then turned right side out.
Make sure to press this piece
Put on decorative stitch and then pin all around the inside top
Sew around the top of the stocking with the cuff pinned into place.
Turn it right side out and pull the cuff out and flip over you have now a completed stocking.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I have in making them and remember you can use any kind of design on the front.
I’m making some with southern belles.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be Christmas, it can also be something that your loved ones are interested in: race cars, sewing, cheerleading, your choices will makes it so personal.

Have fun and happy sewing until next idea.

Here are some links for stocking and the flip and sew method of a crazy quilt, this is what you use on your stocking is the flip and sew method.

http://quilting.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&zTi=1&sdn=quilting&cdn=homegarden&tm=14&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.caron-net.com/classes/classmayfiles/clasmay1.html

This is for the flip and sew method that I used for making the front of the stocking, like I said earlier I cut 2 to 2 ½ inch strips for the stocking and started in the center with the design and worked out.

This is the one for a pattern for a stocking.  I got mine from my sister, but it gives you and idea on how to make the basic stocking.

http://www.ehow.com/how_9280_make-stocking.html

These quilts are not for friends or relatives, but for children she will never see.

Dorothy makes quilts for “Project Linus”, which is, in their own words:

The Project Linus Mission

Project Linus is comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Each volunteer and local chapter all work together to help us achieve our mission statement, which states:

First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”

Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Together we have distributed over three million blankets to children in need since our inception in 1995.

You can visit their website:  http://www.projectlinus.org/

We are so pleased our designs are making their way into the hearts and lives of children in need.

Dorothy, thank you for sharing pictures of some of your quilts with us.

You are certain to be an inspiration to others who have been searching for a way to use their talents to give back. 

From the set Kitties in the Dell

Kitties in the Dell can be found here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/kittiesinthedell

Little Princesses

Little Princesses can be found here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/littleprincesses

JN Tom Baseball

JN Tom Baseball can be found here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/jntombaseball

DD Bonnet Babes

DD Bonnet Babes can be found here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/jntombaseball

JN Dogs

JN Dogs can be found here: http://www.designsbysick.com/details/jndogs

A Mixture of 5 sets!

Several sets were used in the making of this quilt:

DD Christmas Giraffes can be found here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/ddchristmasgiraffes
Christmas Extravaganza can be found here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/christmasextravaganza
Christmas Stockings can be found here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/christmasstockings
Christmas Pandas can be found here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/christmaspandas
Beary Christmas can be found here:  http://www.designsbysick.com/details/bearychristmas

Oh my!  You have time to stitch these out and have the perfect place settings for your Holiday Season!

These lovely designs fit in the 4 x 4 hoop and can be stitched out on felt in just a few minutes!

Cindy has made sure several holidays are included!

Instructions:

These are so easy!

All you need is felt and your embroidery machine to make these lovely table decorations for your table - or that of the hostess for your holiday celebration!

You will need one additional piece of felt for the “pocket” on the back the holder.

Cut a piece of felt approximately 2/3 - 3/4 the height of the design (2  1/2  to 3 inches in height and the width of your hoop)

Stitch out all colors except for the final satin stitch.

Slide the extra piece of felt under the hoop, lining it up with the bottom of the design.

Stitch the satin outline stitch and that is it!

You are finished!

The great part about these designs is that you can mix and match!

How exciting with the “children’s table” be at the holiday dinner when they each have their own silverware holder at their place?

And, I am stealing this from Annie in the UK - she had an excellent idea!

Instead of silverware, you can put a small treat (toy or something tasty) in the pouch instead of silverware!

How exciting to see those beside your plate!

Annie also suggests adding a piece of ribbon to the top and the “treat bag” can be hung on the tree!

Using the little bags for Treasure Hunts is another idea contributed by Annie!  Just hide the clues in the bags and have them scattered throughout the house!

We love when the members of our “Designs By SiCK” family add their wisdom and creative talents to our designs!