Only 2 days left to order Jenny's Heritage Quilt!!!

A new spectacular quilt and book from the Studio of Jenny and Simon Haskins!!!

Save 20% off the regular price of $49.95 and purchase the book and cd for only $39.95 until September 30th!!

As well as the Jenny’s Heritage quilt and 16 pillows, the book is filled with spectacular techniques to dazzle and inspire quilters and embroiderers alike. The book also includes a revolutionary 'perfect every time embroidery technique that is easy, fun and simple to achieve!

FREE DESIGNS!!!! Jenny’s Heritage also includes a FREE CD with the 47 designs needed to make this quilt and the 16 pillows; the CD alone is worth the cost of the book.

Be sure to add this book to your collection!!

Don't miss out on these savings!!! Order your book today before the sale ends!!! These books have been flying off the shelves, so be sure to get your own today!!!

Christmas tablecloth

I agree with the rest of you on the placemats - the red borders with the green triangles! That's my favorite as well.


The tablecloth - This is the first thing I thought of doing with the beautiful borders in this collection. Those large, beautiful borders on that bolt of fabric are just calling for mitered corners!
The red background with the holly on it will be on the outside and probably on the other side as well that joins the border to the rest of the tablecloth.

The edge is figured out, so now it's time to make a decision as to what's in the middle. Here's some of the images I played with in BQ and I think the choice is pretty obvious. I put the placemat with red borders on top to see the results. The red version also has the placemat with green borders on it because the red borders just get lost.

What do you think?

ivory center

red center

gold center

green center

Something else I've been thinking about is how to finish the tablecloth. Here are my choices I've been considering as I stitch the borders to the center and miter the corners:

1. Stitch 1/4" seams and serge the seam allowances. It will be on the back, so it shouldn't show, except for perhaps the corners where the fabric drapes off the table.

2. Stitch the seams in a french seam so the seam is completely enclosed. It would just make for a nicer finish if the back did flip up. Or I could do a stitch and serges seam on the sides and just do a french seam on the mitered corners.

3. Line the tablecloth, so then the seams would be inside and enclosed and the back would look nice. But if I do that, I need to do some stitching in the ditch and other stitching in the center to hold the layers together and keep them laying flat on the table.

Then for finishing the edge, I also have a couple of choices:

1. Roll hem the edge. This is quick and easy and I really like a rolled hem edge, but it's not quite as durable as a turned under and under hem.

2. Turn the edge under and under in a 1/4" seam and straight stitch.

3. If I line it, I can stitch the edges together with right sides together and then turn it to the outside for a finished edge.

4. Or if I line it, I could also stitch a binding around the edge. This would add another fabric into the mix and would add a little weight to the edge to hold the tablecloth down which wouldn't be a bad idea. Of course, this would also be the most time consuming.

Hmm.....choices, decisions....I'm going to start cutting the fabric on these next week, so I still have a little time to make a decision.

Just WHICH batting scraps do you keep?

That's a tough question. I hate to throw away batting scraps, especially if they are larger pieces that I can use for something else. But what do you do with all those scraps of batting? Just how much of it should you keep?

I've been doing some cleaning and organizing in my sewing room and found three large garbage sacks of batting scraps. Yes, three very large, full to the brim sacks. The scraps range in size from 4-8" wide and anywhere from 8-92" long. Those sacks have been there for at least 4-5 years. And I haven't once retrieved one scrap of batting from them since I put them there.

Why? I just have too many scraps I want to keep. I already have a small pile of batting scraps that I am pulling pieces from for potholders, pillows, small quilt wall hangings and other various projects. I will never use my entire stockpile of batting scraps.

So, I decided to take the plunge and toss them. If I haven't used them in the past five years, most likely I won't be using them in the next five years. I always like to keep batting scraps on hand to use for practice quilting sandwiches, little projects and even for picking up lint (works great as a cleaning cloth!). But I am also constantly adding to my batting stash with the scraps from large quilts and other larger projects.

It's a continual cycle. I stitch a large quilt and my batting scrap pile is replenished. Gradually piece by piece, that pile diminishes and by that time I've stitched another large quilt and yet again added to the pile. The space I have that held the three large sacks of batting will be put to much better storage use (like fun fabric!) than just little bits of batting.

In my mind, I just can't justify keeping that many little pieces of batting. Yes, I always want to keep some available for small projects and trial pieces. Yes, I will sew some larger ones together for a larger wall hanging or project. But there is also a time to just throw the little pieces in the trash.

My general rule is: If it's at least 8-10" square, I keep it. Many times I end up with strips that are 8-10" wide by 80-90" long, which is an excellent piece of batting to keep. By piecing one, two or three strips together, it would be perfect for a wall hanging, small quilt or lining a pillow or pillow sham. But if it's less than 6" wide, I toss it. Even if it is in a long strip. It's just too narrow to do anything.

How about you? What do you do with all your scraps of batting? Do you keep every little piece or have a general rule as to the size of batting scraps you keep?

MarJen for Error Quilt in Pink

I finished my pink version of the MarJen for Error quilt right down to even tacking on the label! I was a little concerned that the fabrics I chose would be too light and just blend together too much. But as I look at in now, finished, I love the soft, delicate look it creates! I just really do love it!

You can see close-up photos here with details on the embroidery and quilting.

Autumn Fabric Sale - This week only!!!! Save $$$$$

Today is the first day of Autumn and take a peek at these Fall fabrics at these sale prices!



Check out these fall prints, Kaufman Kona cottons, plaids, dots and more all in the colors of Autumn!

Be sure to grab onto these pieces for your Fall projects before the sale ends Monday, September 29th!!!

Jenny's Heritage Quilt: A NEW Embroidered Quilt!

A new spectacular quilt and book from the Studio of Jenny and Simon Haskins!!!

Save 20% off the regular price of $49.95 and purchase the book and cd for only $39.95 until September 30th!!

As well as the Jenny’s Heritage quilt and 16 pillows, the book is filled with spectacular techniques to dazzle and inspire quilters and embroiderers alike. The book also includes a revolutionary 'perfect every time embroidery technique that is easy, fun and simple to achieve!'

Jenny’s Heritage is a quilt designed to do for machine embroiderers what The Heritage quilt (Jenny's first quilt stitched in 1992) did for sewers. It is as effortless as it is stunning – introducing sewers to a machine embroidered quilt and teaching the more experienced quilters some of Jenny’s time-honored techniques, ones she has not published to date.

No embroidery designs are embroidered directly onto the quilt. Instead, Jenny employs a user-friendly cut-and-paste technique called Embroidered Decoupage – an approach that is amazing in its simplicity when it comes to machine embroidered quilts.

You simply cannot fail with Jenny’s Heritage. Choose to make just one or two blocks from the quilt or several of the 16 glorious pillows we have included in this book – or ‘spread your wings and soar with the eagles’ and make the whole quilt. Go on! Grab hold of your courage with both hands and join Jenny as she gently guides you through her latest creation – Jenny’s Heritage. You can’t fail!

FREE DESIGNS!!!! Jenny’s Heritage also includes a FREE CD with the 47 designs needed to make this quilt and the 16 pillows; the CD alone is worth the cost of the book.


Be sure to add this book to your collection!!

Dishwasher Hanger Sign

Dishwasher Hanger Signs

by Serena Smith
www.embtreasures.com

Dishwasher signs are quick, fun and easy to make! In just a few minutes you can create a catchy little sign to attach to your dishwasher to enhance the look of your kitchen!


Supplies:
1/4 yard, fat quarter or scraps of fabric
batting scraps
embroidery thread
tear away stabilizer
embroidery designs
wonderunder scraps

Instructions:
Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 9" x 6". Cut one rectangle of batting measuring 7 1/2" x 4 1/2". Mark vertical and horizontal lines with a water soluble marker on the two rectangles of fabric to mark the center. This is where the center of the design will be stitched.

Download the zipped lettering file and unzip the designs to your computer. Open the lettering design of your choice and combine small or mini designs with the lettering. Send the design to your machine to stitch.

Hoop two layers of stabilizer and spray the stabilizer with 505 spray adhesive. Then adhere the fabric to the hoop, aligning the lines drawn on the fabric with the hoop grid. Stitch the design. Depending on your hoop size, you may be able to stitch the "dirty dishes" and "clean dishes" signs both in one hoop. If not, hoop and stitch each design separately.

Clip any jump threads and tear off the excess stabilizer on the back. Carefully press the designs so they lay flat. Trim the fabric down to 7 1/2" long x 4 1/2" wide, keeping the embroidery in the center of the rectangle.

For the handle, cut a strip of fabric 1 1/4" wide x 9" long. Fold right sides together along the length and stitch a quarter inch seam to create a tube of fabric. Leave the two ends open. Use a tube turner to turn the fabric right side out and press flat.

Layer the batting, fabric and fabric handle in this order. Be sure that the lettering on each piece of fabric is the same direction and not upside down with each other.

batting
fabric right side up
fabric handle
fabric right side down

Pin the fabric handle between the right sides of the two pieces of fabric as shown.

Pin and stitch the layers together leaving a 3-4" opening on the bottom of the sign. Be sure to backstitch when you start and stop stitching. Trim the corners and turn the fabric to the right side. Use a point turner as needed to create a flat 90 degree corner. Press the sign so it lays flat.

With the opening you left open on the bottom, turn under the fabric 1/4" to the inside and press. Fuse a small piece of wonderunder to the fabric to close the opening shut.

Press the sign and hang it on your dishwasher!

You can download the lettering designs and printable directions here.

Beautiful batik fabric sale!

Batiks blend beautifully into many quilts and projects! Batiks are hand dyed fabrics containing lots of color and unique designs. Just be sure to pre-wash batiks because they will bleed since they are hand dyed fabrics!

For a limited time the prices on these batiks plus others have been slashed from $7.99 to $5.99!!! That's a 25% savings!!! What a fantastic deal!!!

Add some of these batiks to your fabric stash!

Christmas placemats

I know that it's only September, but Christmas will be here in what will seem like only a few weeks. When I first saw the Splendid Holiday collection of fabrics that Benartex designed, I knew this would be the one to use this Christmas.

I've been wanting for the last couple of years to make a table wear set with a Christmas theme, but haven't found the time (imagine that!) or haven't found the fabric that I thought was just perfect....until now!

This is the embroidery design I am going to use that matches the print fabric. It's OESD design FP044 and I took out the upright flower and extra stem cause I wanted this floral to be the focal point. I love being able to do that - match the motif in the fabric to the design. It makes it look so neat!


A great thing about this design is that it is not filled in, so it is not as dense as some others. That will (1) make it quicker to stitch and (2) will not add the bulk of stitches to the place mat which plates and flatware will have to sit over.

I played with some design various for place mats in my Bernina Quilter software and here are my favorites.

This one is design 1 with red borders:


This one is design 1 with green borders:


I couldn't decide if the triangles around the center block added to or were distracting to the rest of the place mat. So I did this one with red borders eliminating the triangles:

And the same design with the green borders:


I think I do like the mats better with the triangles surrounding the center block. It seems to keep the colors blending together.

What do you think?

RFS June 2008 Update

Our June fabric swap packages have taken a little while in returning back to me, but most of them are back bearing some fun fabrics! Thanks to all who participated!!!

I'm taking a break from hosting any fabric swaps until January 2009. I'm making some revisions and changes to how the swaps are run to keep quilt shop quality fabric in each package throughout the swap in addition to making sure the packages arrive in a timely manner to each one on the list. So check back then for new and improved ways to shop FREE fabric arriving in YOUR mailbox!!!

fat quarter envelope 1: I just love the Barbie prints Donna included in this envelope! And the frogs or toads, whichever one they are, are just too cute as well!


fat quarter envelope 2: Doesn't that red sunflower print on the end just look bright and cheery...like it's just itching to be stitched into something?!?!


smorgasbord envelope 1: There's a cute cowboy print in this bunch as well as the crosshatch green and pink print on the end. I just love those shades of pink and green together! An embroidered quilt in those colors is on my to-do list!

international smorgasbord: Two ladies from Canada swapped these fabrics with me and the little blue print with chickens and hearts is so sweet!

Background fabric for machine embroidery?

Once you have decided what embroidery designs you are going to stitch, the next step is choosing what piece of fabric on which to stitch them. Not every piece of fabric is meant for machine embroidery. Obviously a print boasting of roses, stripes or plaids is not the choice for embroidery, in the majority of cases.

Automatically you usually reach for a solid piece of fabric such as denim, cotton or muslin. But pieces such as marbles, tone on tone fabrics and muted prints create gorgeous backgrounds for embroidery. A marble fabric or tone on tone fabric is a piece of fabric that has a dominate color, but swirled in it are lighter and darker shades of that same color. It could be swirls, splats of color or splashes of various shades in the same color family.

A muted print often mirrors a print fabric, but instead of the many colors used in a print, it is in a monotone color in lighter and darker shades. Many time fabric collections will have a very colorful floral print with the same floral print in another piece of fabric, but in a monotone.

Marbles, tone on tone fabrics and muted prints are excellent fabric choices for machine embroidery. Many times the fabric will help to enhance the embroidery and add more texture to the overall project. This is not to say that solids are not an option as far as embroidery because they are still very valuable choices. The choice of fabric will also depend on what kind of design you are stitching. A redwork or outline design would show off its stitches much more effectively with a solid background verses a marble. However a filled in design such as a blooming rose would grab your eye with a muted rose background.

The next time you start pulling pieces of fabric out of your stash for embroidery, take a look at what you are stitching and explore other possibilities instead of just solid fabrics!

Note: When I first started machine embroidery, my mind only thought of solid fabrics for embroidery. But more and more I love the look of a marble or muted print background that enhances my embroidery designs! Sometimes even a muted strip can look striking with the right design!

The navy and green dish signs are solid fabrics.
The yellow and blue are marbled fabrics.

The last stitch...

How wonderful it feels to stitch the last stitch on my MarJen for Error Quilt!

What kind of embroidery designs are the best to use on hats?

Most embroidery designs will stitch out beautifully on hats, caps and visors, but there are a few limitations to keep in mind.

The most important factor is size. Depending on the hat, you may have one inch to four inches of embroidery area. Embroidery can be stitched on the front, sides, top and back of hat. If you are stitching on the front of a hat, bend the area to be stitched until it lays flat. Then you can measure the flat area and that is your maximum size limit. Repeat this procedure for other areas of the hat to determine the design size.

Mini designs are perfect for hat embroidery. Bigger embroidery designs can be scaled down to fit on a hat. Be careful when resizing; some designs will become too dense and detailed. In your computer software, remove objects from larger designs to create new designs.

Because you are working with an object that will not lay flat in the hoop, it is harder to ensure that the hat is in the hoop straight. If your hat is crooked, your finished embroidery may look off set or rotated. Random designs that don’t have to be stitched straight to look correct are the easiest to stitch. Designs such as footprints, butterflies, shapes, leaves, flowers and snowflakes can be easily placed any direction on a hat. Stay away from square designs; it is difficult to hoop them straight and therefore the design is crooked on the hat.

Print a template for your design(s). If you are working with multiple designs, placing the printed templates on the hat will help you to know where to put it. It also will give you the cross lines to hoop your hat correctly.

Have fun stitching creative headwear!