Give the Gift of Homemade – anytime!
Hi Sewing Friends,
Do you remember all the gifts you ever received?
Everyone who sews knows that the gifts that were homemade especially for you are the ones that stand out! The receiver’s favorite color, logo, monogram or fabric can all play an important role in a personalized gift. If you have a sewing or embroidery machine you can whip up some last minute gifts, giving opportunities throughout the year or get ready for everyone on your Christmas list next year! Here’s a few quick and easy ideas.
Felt Coasters
With a regular sewing machine and the circular foot, it’s easy to make a set of felt coasters.
- Iron squares of felt together with wonder under.
- Stitch circles using decorative patterns.
- Cut around edges with pinks for a no-fray finish!
Greeting Cards
Save all your practice runs! Frame worthy stitched greeting cards make a BIG impression! All these cards were made from clip art using Singer’s AutoPunch embroidery software, included with their embroidery machines.
- Save vector clip art in a file folder on your computer
- Use Autopunch to digitize your own designs by following the step by step instructions in the AutoPunch Wizard windows.
- Cut around completed design and stitch onto another background.
- Temporarily tape the design inside the card and stitch around the border.
Kitchen Towels
A good hostess can never have too many kitchen towels—especially when they make her smile! Remember that both sides will be seen, so an iron-on tear away stabilizer is a good choice.
- Purchase plain dish towels
- Add embroidery and lettering
- Tear away stabilizer from back
Gifts for the little ones
If you’re fortunate enough to have little ones on your gift list, consider purchasing a solid sweat suit, bathrobe or pajamas and decorate them yourself! With embroidery you can stitch things you can’t find in a store!
- Remove the stitching from the pantleg to lay it flat in the hoop.
- If you’re stitching velveteen or terry, be sure to use a topper. (thin, looks like Saran Wrap—keeps the fibers from poking up between the stitches–but tears and washes away)
Bottle covers
For holidays throughout the year, bottle covers are always in good taste—especially if they bear the recipient’s monogram, name or occasion.
- Always use a stabilizer under the fabric when embroidering. Stitch the design on the right side of the outer fabric before constructing the winebag
- Use embroidery threads
- Embellish design with iron-on stones
- Tie top with a ribbon of your choice
Whatever you decide to sew for the holidays, remember that the journey should be relaxing and stress-free… sewing should serve as a creative outlet and give you a sense of accomplishment. Have FUN!!!
Thank you for stopping by to read my blog today:) Thank you for sharing your love of sewing with all of us here at HSN and Thank you for making HSN sewing so successful! I appreciate you and wish you the very happiest, healthiest, safe and love-filled Holiday Season ever!
Hope to see you in January on the 17th for another BRAND NEW Today’s Special from the good folks at Singer!
Sew your Dreams,
Darlene Cahill
I purchased the Singer One Plus and it is beautiful. I received a small instruction booklet but it only helps with very basic instructions. I can not find a totoral on line for the One Plus. Do you know of anything to help me know how to program the stitches? HSN does not have any of these machines for sale now and therefore I can not see the demonstration of the machine.
Help!
Hello Darlene, I watch you every time you are on the air, you are just amazing. I also bought the singer one plus and would love to have a copy of the 10 flowers that you talked about. Also is there any way that I can watch the video again from the today special. Now that I have the singer one plus, I would love to watch it again. Love this machine, but still have sooo much to learn. It would be nice if they had provided a video on how to use all the assessories they gave us. I am 63 years old, I have sewn all my life but I have never had a sewing machine that has so many special features and it’s hard to figure it out looking at the instructions. Thanks you so much!!
Hello Darlene, I loved your presentation of the One Plus, watched every program! I wanted to buy it just for the yarn foot but have no room for another machine. Would it be possible to buy just the yarn foot with guide from Singer to use on my HSN Athena? I have spent hours online trying to find one but nobody has them. Thank you very much.
Hi Darlene
got the new one plus sewing machine love it . could you please send me the cheat sheet for the flower foot? Love one . thank you Rena
i’m not on face book
I recently purchased the Singer one and really like it and would like to have a copy of your flower designs you offered. Also I can not figure out the gimp guide for the yarn and ribbon foot it will not fit in the opening in the back of my foot holder can you advise please?
Hello, I discovered the hole on the back of my Singer Athena foot holder is too small for a generic quilting guide that is supposed to slip through the hole. It’s possibly the same size as the thread guide for the yarn foot on the One Plus? I bought an extra foot holder with a larger hole and a set screw that tightens down against it and can use a generic quilt guide on my Athena now. Let me know if you would like more info about it.
Dear Mrs. Cahill
I purchase the singer one plus. I would like a copy of your 10 liked flowers. You can email it to me at oceanwish29@aol.com. Thank you very much. I enjoy sew and learned from my mother and grandmother who by the way still have the singer machine I learned with. Thank you
Hi Darlene,
You did an excellent job showing what Singer has to offer and I bought two machines last week because you did! Please email me the printouts if you would. I’m having a great time!
Thanks
Hi Darlene’ Can you send me the cheat sheet for the flower attachment? Can you also send a sheet on all the extra feet on which stitch to use with them. I have a Brother and it tells me. Thank You
Still trying to get those different printouts Diane offered while selling Singer machines. I got my machine today & would love to try some things Diane did on TV. Where do I get those printouts?
I love the gold and ivory placemat and napking ring shown on your demo of the Singer one plus computerized sewing machine on 1/17/13. Do you have the directions for them and if so, how can I get them? Thank you in advance.
Hi Darlene
Can u let me know how to receive the flower designs you offered on the air to use with the flower stitch attachment.
Thsnks
i just purchase the singer sewing machine i am so hope this is the machine for me i have my grandmother treadle and i still sew on it patching and mending mostly for lack of lighing but it still works very well…
Loved this recap I cannot wait to try these out on my singer sewing machines all 4 of them. Thanks abunch.