This is not your Grandmother's Yo-Yo

It's all in the name: yo-yo. Doesn't the name just sound like a fun little piece of flair? Exactly! A yo-yo is a fun little embellishment to use on any of your sewing crafts. In my opinion, yo-yos have been over-used in the past. It is not my style to cover purses and sweaters in these little things. And, although I am not exactly a style guru, I don't exactly think the latest fads are using too many yo-yos either. But, using a few to form a flower or just one to make a piece really pop is an exciting new idea. I especially enjoy using a button in the center for effect. This is quickly becoming my new favorite design label.

Here are a couple of pictures I found on random websites

Once a Yarn Girl, Always a Yarn Girl

My first craft love was crocheting. I have not been doing much crocheting lately, because I grew into knitting and sewing. But, I am pretty proud of this Fall Phoenix Sweater I just finished. So, I just had to show off. I used Paton Grace, color: Wasabi. It's not the softest yarn, but it's fairly thin and allows for bigger holes in the pattern (the type of sweater that you wear over a tank top).

I am also loving knitting right now. I just like the look of knitting so much more, especially for clothing. I am currently working on a "shrugigan." I have just started working with Alpaca wool for this project. And, it is possibly my favorite new heavy yarn. It is so soft, and just slips through your fingers, unlike most wool. I am using Highlander Alpaca with a Twist, in the Blue color, #1013. I LOVE this yarn. It is blue with flecks of black and tan and brown. It just looks great and it's easy to work with. I am using a size 10 circular needle for this project because it is big. But, if you pick up this yarn, you will probably want to use a size 9. My stitches tend to be tight. I will include a picture when I finish with this project.

Other personal news: I am going to be very busy for the next month, so I may not be posting quite as frequently. I am starting a new job, re-starting my Masters degree, and have several sewing/quilting orders to fill. But keep checking! I hope to still post at least once a week!

Machine Care: Needles

Don't learn the hard way, take care of your sewing machine right from the beginning. Now, sometimes when you buy your machine, they offer classes or special help on your particular machine, as was the case with my machine. I went to a class on the Singer machine last Thursday, and have another one this week. Even if you are a seasoned sewer, you can get some specialized attention with these classes. For example, this class talked a bit about the appropriate needles and thread to use with your machine. So, I will pass on some information.

Needles: First, and most important, change your needle often! Most quilting books suggest a change of needle after one project or 8 hours of use (whichever comes first). It may still seem sharp, but as the needle gets dull, it will punch and stretch your fabric. Research what type of needle you will need to use. For normal projects, a Universal size 90 needle would be appropriate. But, you may need to use a Denim needle for heavier fabrics, or a ball point needle for knits. I found this great chart to help you:
http://www.sewing.org/files/guidelines/22_115_sewing_machine_needle_charts.pdf

There was also a great tip at the class. When you are switching back and forth between needles frequently, keep them on post it notes with the type of needle and size written on it. Then, when you are using the needle, you can keep the post it on the machine to remind you which needle you are using. And when you are not using the needle, you can keep the needle on the post-it so you don't have to try to remember which needle is which.

Another organization tip that I saw in a magazine: for long term needle storage, you can use a medicine sorter (You know, the ones with the days of the week compartments). Then, each of the compartments can be used for different sizes of needles or different types. For example: Monday is for Universal size 90, Tuesday is for all other Universal sizes, Wednesday is for Microtex needles, etc.

Double the Fun

Quick note: I love, love, love using twin needles! Twin needles are great when you want to do decorative stitches with two colors side-by-side. I just started playing with a twin needle. I know the picture is hard to see, but I tried decorative stitches in pink and white, and it looks so cool! So, you can be sure that most of my bags will have double the pleasure, double the fun, with double colored stitches.

Tips and Tricks

The moment you have all been waiting for has arrived:

5 Easy Tricks to Steal

1. Keep your bobbins organized (that means you, Grandma!). Now, I have quite a few bobbins, so I bought a $6 case at Joanne's that holds 32 bobbins. But, if you have a few that you use a lot, use that old RING HOLDER. You know, the one that has a post sticking up. Many of these have small enough posts to hold bobbins for easy access.

2. Another organization tip: For a cute way to store fabrics, use old HAT BOXES! Not only do these keep your craft room looking cute and fashionable, but they can also be color coordinated. Now for someone like me, who is type A when it comes to organization, it is important that I keep my fabrics organized by color and also separate fabrics that are for specific projects (that I have yet to start). Easy fix: blue hat box= blue fabrics inside. You get the idea!

3. Always have a pair of CHOPSTICKS on hand for any sewing project. Especially when you are making bags of any kind, you will need something to help you poke out the corners. Please, do not use a pencil! I promise you that anything too pointy will poke through your fabric. Chopsticks are not to pointy, not to blunt, but just right.

4. Keep a CRAFT JOURNAL. This is a great little tool for writing down little tips that you may need later. Every project that I do, I think of at least one thing that would make my life easier for the next project. Also, if you are using a pattern, you can jot down any changes you make to the pattern. I am a serial pattern changer. I always change patterns as I go, and forget how I did it after I finish.

5. Need to take better care of your walking foot for your sewing machine? It just so happens that most versions of the walking foot fit perfectly into a double LIPSTICK HOLDER. You know the ones that hold 2 tubes of lipstick and button up. I never used mine for lipstick, but my walking foot now has a new home and is easy to find and store.



Hope you are able to steal at least one of these tricks! If you have any other easy tips, post them in comments or let me know so I can post them. I have more, which will come later.

Mess-ups and Fix-its

Perfectionist, me? Nah... Well, wait, yes, a little bit. Ever been overly confident about a project that you knew was going to come out just perfectly? Well, let me tell you a little story.

Title: The Curious Case of the Knitting Needle Roll-Up

Scene 1: The lights on the stage come up slowly as the camera pans around to find Samantha at her ironing board. She gazes at the fabric that she has chosen adoringly. She glances down at the pattern in her new book (Sew What! Bags, by Lexie Barnes) for the Artist's Roll. Samantha is so proud of herself for not only taking on this project, but trying to convert it to a knitting needle case herself. This is going to be a great way to store those needles, and so cute in green and flowers.

Scene 2: The camera focuses on the sweat dripping off of Samantha's face and zooms out to see that she is dreaming of tearing her beautiful green fabric to shreds. Her frustration is shown clearly through her clenched fists and her disheveled hair. The scene ends with Samantha throwing her iron through the window.

Get the idea? If you have ever worked on a project all day just to find that it turns out to be a major disappointment, you know exactly what I'm talking about. First thing, this turned out to be a stitching nightmare the way it was done in the pattern. Basically, this is a flat piece with two rows of pockets. The pockets can be however large you need, but mine are about 1 1/2 inches-2 inches for knitting needles. For stitching, the pattern calls for you to stitch all the way up on each compartment, but if I redo this project, I would stop at the top pocket. It also calls for the use of batting for delicate items, which my needles are. But, I HATED the way it came out with batting. Next time I will use fusible interfacing (I prefer thin Pellon, but this project could call for a little bit thicker interfacing). Then, the top can be folded over and it can roll up and tie together for storage. In general, I like the idea of it, but I will be rewriting a pattern. When I get it done, I'll post the pattern.

Conclusion: I did the best to fix my project (Finished time: 4 hours). But, mainly I just learned for the future. I know exactly what I'll do differently next time, and I jotted down some reminders and tips for myself. My goal for the next roll up is under 2 hours. Wish me luck.

In the Beginning...

It all started with a machine and a lot of free time. I just recently received a fantastic gift: a Singer Confidence Quilter. This sewing machine is a great tool for newbies and for seasoned sewers. It does more than just straight stitching. It has about 100 different stitches, including different buttonholes. My favorites: the dog, the stars, and the swirls. My machine came with a walking foot, a zipper foot, a free-stitch foot, a buttonhole foot, an applique foot, a satin foot, and a regular straight stitch foot. Tips and tricks on these different attachments to come... Don't be afraid to play with these accessories. Other great things about this sewing machine: the very accessable bobbin, the automatic tension, and the quiet ease of the stitches. Now sewing can be more than just a chore!