Reusing Dull Thread Scissors

What do you do with scissors that are no longer sharp? Some scissors, like thread clippers and shears can be sharpened to prolong their life. But the some of the greatest embroidery scissors to use for clipping threads have curved blades like snip-eze scissors. With the curved blade, there is no way they can be sharpened. Clipping small amounts of fabric, like trimming away the excess fabric around embroidery applique designs is much easier to do with a curved pair of scissors. But the fabric will dull small embroidery scissors very quickly. After repeated use the curved blades of scissors get dull and won't clip the threads neatly. Should you just throw them away since you can't sharpen them? No, instead save them for other projects that don't require such a sharp edge.

My snip-eze scissors are my best friends! I can hardly stitch embroidery designs without them to clip jump threads. When the blades start to get dull, I will save it for trimming the fabric around applique embroidery designs. The small curved blades work great for snipping the fabric close to the stitches and it doesn't require a very sharp blade. I will then tie a piece of ribbon on the end of my new pair of scissors, so I can distinguish which one is the sharpest. I have a new pair of scissors that clips my embroidery threads easily, but I also can still use my old pair for trimming small amounts of fabric when needed. It prolongs the life of my scissors a little longer and I can have a new pair for threads and an old pair for fabric!

April is National Decorating Month

April is National Decorating Month - a perfect time to brighten up your home with the refreshing colors of Spring with curtains, pillows, picture frames, wall hangings and quilts! As you are busy creating, sprinkle a few embroidery designs into your projects to add a bit more flare. Use beaded, feathered and corded trims to add detail to your projects!

Martha Stewart & Sewing Endorsement

Joan from Lazy Girl Designs has a post about Martha Stewart's recent endorsement with SVP Worldwide. SVP Worldwide manufactures Singer, Viking and Pfaff sewing machines. Hopefully this will inspire more people to the sewing and quilting world.

Here is an excerpt from the SVP Worlwide press release:

"My mother taught me the basics of sewing at a young age and I have had
Singer sewing machines in my home since I was a girl. I used them to make many
of my clothes in high school and college and I even sewed my wedding dress,”
stated Martha Stewart. “Sewing is a wonderfully useful skill. It enables anyone
to create beautiful and functional projects or even enhance something as basic
as a paper gift bag. I’m delighted that sewing is enjoying a national
renaissance since I know very well the pride and pleasure that can be derived
from this rewarding pursuit."

Martha Stewart's website if full of sewing and craft ideas and projects. The projects vary from something as simple and basic as sewing on a button to more complex such as a quiet book or creating a footstool cover.

Sewing in the news...

In digging through my unopened email, I found this little clip from CBS showing the sewing come back for many younger sewers. Click here to visit the page and download the clip. The file may take a little while to download, but I found it fun to watch.