Read HSN Blogs for up-close and personal opinions, news and
stories from your favorite HSN celebrities and experts.
HSN Blogs
Jewelry

Get glamorous with buying guides from jewelry experts

Beauty

Get lovely with our beloved beauty brands and experts

Crafts & Sewing

Get creative and make something completely unique

Fashion

Get fashionable with advice from celebrities & trendsetters

Home Decor

Get decorating with expert tips and advice

Show Hosts

Get personal with our on-air personalities

HSN Blogs » Crafts & Sewing

June Sewing Blog

Submitted by Darlene Cahill on June 11, 2009 – 4:40 PM7 Comments

darlene blog June Sewing Blog
Hi Sewing Friends,Can you believe it’s already June? This is the perfect time for you to consider taking a personal inventory to check your goals, give yourself a hand for all your accomplishments and tweak your path for the next few months. Start by writing a list of all the projects you completed, the amount of money you saved (by altering, repurposing, creating…), the number of days you worked out, the weight or inches you lost or the new recipes you tried, etc… and celebrate. Now write down the new techniques you would like to master and choose a date/time window on your calendar to begin and pencil it in. Life is a beautiful journey and I am so thankful that you and I are sewing through it together!QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

There are dozens of tote and bag patterns from the various commercial home pattern companies. Browse through the catalogs in the accessories section at your local fabric store.

darlene’s sewing projects
Decorative Shirt Inset
 
Decorative Shirt Inset Revamp a top into a whole new look in a few easy steps.» make this project
more projects
» Water Bottle Cozie Sewing Project
» Concierge Footwarmer Sewing Project
» Funky Sweater Sleeve Neckwarmer Project
Before you go on the web, create a folder in a convenient place in your computer. For example:

  1. Click start (bottom left of your screen)
  2. Move your curser to My Computer, then click Local Disc C
  3. Move your curser to File, then NEW, then click on folder
  4. New Folder will appear blinking at bottom of list ( type in a new name such as “Embroidery Designs”) The folder will be empty. You can click on the folder and go into the empty folder to repeat step 3. Each time you do this you will get a folder inside the Embroidery Designs folder such as “Downloads” “Discs” or “Digital Artwork”.
  5. Now you have three folders inside the one “Embroidery Designs” Folder. Open up ‘Downloads’. Now you can repeat step 3 and open new folders inside the download folder such as “Flowers” “Fonts” “Holidays” etc….
  6. When you are satisfied with your folder collection and how you have it organized, close everything.
  7. Use your browser to go on line. When you have found a design you would like to sew, click on the “download” button. A new window will pop up on your screen asking you what location you would like to download to. You will now navigate along the same pathway that you used to create the files to dump the design into the proper folder. I use My Computer/Local Disc C/Embroidery Designs/whatever file you would like to store the design.
  8. Then Click OK or Apply or Download now (whatever it says ) and the design should transfer to your computer into the file you chose.
  9. Hoop your fabric and attach the hoop. When you open a Futura software, for example, Auto Punch or Auto-Cross Stitch the wizard windows will take you step by step until you choose a design (through the window’s prompting) from your computer’s folder that you just downloaded into. Double click on the clip art and it will appear in the wizard window. Complete the wizard selections and then the clip art will auto-digitize and appear on your computer screen inside the Futura Hoop. Now click the Futura Sewing Machine icon in the top bar to transmit to machine and thread and sew!

NEW ITEMS

My Melrose Embroidery Thread is launching three brand new assortments. Each of these ‘must-have’ 24 piece value packs will have a special HSN Birthday Pricing of $49.95! Available in vibrant non-fade 40-weight Trilobal polyester, the 600 yard double snap spools have a lustrous sheen and high tenacity for beautiful consistent embroidery runs.

1
Brights
darlene Cahill blog240 pastels June Sewing Blog
Pastels
darlene Cahill blog240 neutrals June Sewing Blog
Neutrals

My husband George and I are going on a two week cruise to the Mediterranean where I’ll be on the hunt for new and exciting fabrics from Turkey, Italy and Greece. I’m looking forward to seeing you in July when we’ll take sewing to the next level with tips, tricks and treasures from Europe? Until then, amaze yourself with your sewing creativity and courage. Take on something you have been procrastinating and share your victory with all of us.

Have an extraordinary June—-because YOU are!

Darlene

» 7 Comments

  • sheryl, GA says:

    Darlene

    Could you re-post the water bottle cozy project from June. I can no longer access the links. thanks

  • EM, FL says:

    Darlene ~~ I agree with Sally from PA. You really should do a book, or even better a DVD.
    I know you are a busy lady, but an instructional DVD from you would sell like CRAZY.

    I just wish the HSN hosts would let you do more of the presentation ~~
    ~~ the hosts ‘TALK TOO MUCH ‘…some are worse than others.

    YOU are the expert & ~ WHAT YOU SAY SELLS THE ITEMS ~…NOT the hosts.
    Please ask HSN to let you do the talking. YOU DON’T NEED A HOST.

  • NAncy, OK says:

    Hello Darlene

    I bought a few months ago the Brother HE240 I love it and am getting to know the machine,
    easy to thread and the needle threader is awesome, one thing I have yet to download patterns from the web with the USB the instructions that came with it are not that great and I’m pretty computer literate, I was reading your embroidry 101 lesson and wanted to know if this would work with my machine? I’m going to try it but would like your expertise on this please I bought a blank disc.

  • Sunshine, AZ says:

    Enjoy your cruise. I went on the same cruise last year for 22 days. It was wonderful. While in Italy enjoy a cup of coffee grappa. Thanks for your help. My grandson loved his fireman’s quilt and slept with it and the pillow each night I was there. What fun I had in doing that. The SES 1000 is a great machine.

  • Gloria, AZ says:

    Darlene, I always look forward to your presentations. I always find them by (happy) accident. Please post your upcoming presentations on your blog. Watching you program and sew on your embroidery machines has helped me learn about mine, although a different brand. Visual learner learns by HSN!!! Thanks, Gloria

  • sally, PA says:

    Darlene, Think you are great, you have inspired me to keep up my sewing and learn something new everyday.It would be a great idea for you to create a book that would give all the hints you have for setting machines for special effects. I have heard you on air, talk about moving the stitch lenghth or width to another # and will get a better effect. And you have ideas for the sergers too. The knowledge you have would help so many of us. thanks very much, sally, from pa

  • Joyce, OH says:

    Watch and tape all of your shows and enjoy all the new ideas and tips plus updates on the latest sewing products. Please try to schedule another spot showing the Singer felting machine, I own one and would love more ideas and projects. Thanks again and have a great cruise.