It’s National Craft Month: If you’re ‘gonna show it, you ‘gotta sew it!
Hi Sewing Friends,
I’m just back from the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo in Lakeland, FL and it was fantastic! If you’re looking for new ideas and inspiration, The Expo is a great event to attend. On the exhibit floor, you’ll see vendors for machines, fabrics, threads, embroidery designs, quilt kits, scissors, cases, patterns, stabilizers, unusual accessories and more! There are plenty of live demos showing how to use the products, along with what seems like an endless quilt display. Drop in on the live fashion show or sit in on a lecture delivered by an industry expert. The classrooms were all full and covered everything from beginner basics to advanced tailoring, with everything in between! All sewing, all weekend, all inspiring! Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been sewing your entire life, there’s a class for you at The Expo! Check to see when it comes to your area and go have some fun, get inspired and let your creativity shine! You’ll be glad you did!
Fashion Flower
“If you’re ‘gonna show it, you ‘gotta sew it!”
It’s National Craft Month and we’re not talking about popsicle sticks and doodle loops! Fabric is a popular medium for hundreds of craft projects, and more and more crafters are adding a sewing machine to their toolbox. Using your machine in crafting has never been easier, and you’ll have quick, clean, professional results!
Since spring is in the air, I wanted to share this easy-to-assemble mum. The wire-stem makes it a super versatile fashion accessory. Wrap it around a handbag, bend it into a headband, gift it as a bookmark….whatever its purpose, it’s a happy reflection of your creativity – without any glue!
Supplies:
Cut the following in felt (the heavier grades work better)
- 4, 2.5″ x 1.5″ olive green felt leaves
- 2 lime green leaf centers
- 2, 3″ circles for flower base
- 1 piece of 16 gauge 18″ floral wire
- 12, 2″ squares of color #1 (dark)
- 1, 19.5″ x 1″ strip of green felt
10, 1.5″ squares of color #2 (medium)- 10, 1″ squares of color #3 (light)
- 2, 2″ circles for the center (lightest)
- Sewing threads to match the felt colors
Directions:
- Carefully trim opposing sides of the squares with a full curve.
- Fold the two curves in toward center to make a petal. Trim off the bottom.
- Snip slices around the small circles toward center to make ‘fringe’.
Double the leaves and stitch together along the sides. A pin-stitch will wrap the edge.- Use a decorative stitch to attach the lime green leaf center.
- Fold the long strip in half lengthwise and stitch across the bottom close to the edge. Turn and work your way up the long side edge, being careful to insert a leaf at 4″ and then the second leaf 1-2” from the end. Angle trim the leaf bottom before inserting so it doesn’t stick out straight!
- Insert the wire into the stem casing and stitch the top closed. Don’t hit the wire!
- Stitch the 3″ circles together around outside edge.
- Fold a large petal and stitch in place .5″ from the edge. Repeat around the circle.
- Fold medium petals and plea inside the stitching of the large petals.
Repeat for the small petals.- Place both ‘fringed’ circles in the center and tack down. Fluff with fingers.
- Baste the 4″ stem end onto the back of the flower and you’re done!
*Tip: Give your mum a sprits of your favorite cologne for an all-day sweet aroma!
I hope you’ll try something new this month. Remember, there is no right or wrong in the fabric arts! Just have FUN!
When to Watch:
- March 2nd – 10 a.m. & 3 p.m.
- March 3rd – 4 a.m. & 2 p.m.
- April 10th – A brand NEW Singer Today’s Special! More to come!
Hi Darlene,
I received the Singer Supurb last Thursday and am just tickled pink with it. It is my first computerized machine and I can’t praise it enough. I do need your help tho. I unpacked it so carefully, by myself, in the middle of the living room floor, everything was included but the clear invisible zipper foot. Searched over and over again, but no foot. Contacted Singer that day, still no response. Please help me get my zipper foot. P.S. You need your own show. You are a super.
Hello, Darling Darlene. :). I was given the Futura CE 350 from 2005, but can’t get it going with my laptop that has Windows 7. Can I use the Futura and the extra software (photo stitch, cross stitch, etc. That came with it) on a laptop running on Windows Vista? Or is there a better way to get it to work? This Futura had never been used.
Hi Darlene, I have a question. I’ve seen you sew with gold metallic thread with no problems. When ever I try, it sews a little bit then breaks. What tension do you set your machine at? Is the thread 100% poly? I just finished my first pieced table & buffet runner that I quilted and put a binding on!! Turned out pretty good, Utube ideas!! Also, we crafters get such good ideas from you! I’m running out of room for machines, the ext-tables eat up room! Mmm..bigger house? Ha! Ha! Basement??
Hi Darlene, I have a question regarding Futura emb software. I added the 2.5 upgrade for my Futura 200 recently and I am wondering does it have the capability to delete sections of the design or not and if so how. I have tried it on one design with no success. I was wondering if maybe I saw you demonstrate doing this using the “editing software” package that is available. Your reply will be greatly appreciated.
HI craftylady35, If you keep the blocks in different colors,you’ll see them listed separately along the bottom color bar of your computer screen. You can click on a color and then hit delete key. This action will completely remove that color block from your design. As far as fills, stitch directions, changing outlines, etc…then yes, you would need to add the Editing software.The upgrade you installed will allow the software to run on a newer operating system: Windows7,XP or Vista 32/64 bit.
Darlene I am searching for a good Singer machine and really like the Futura Quatro and was wondering when it will be back. How does the SES1000 comare to the Quatro? I want a machine that will sew, quilt,serge and embroider. It looks like the SES1000 will do that too. Need one soon. Please hel.
Hi grandmagail53, You asked a smart question! The Quartet has a larger hoop and is capable of multi-hooping which means HUGE designs (11″ x 19″) along with AUTOPUNCH, HYPERFONT and PHOTOSTITCH software….A super buy in the world of machine embroidery and especially here at HSN where the accessories bundles are bigger:) The SES1000 is a great package with 2 smaller hoops but also has AUTO CROSS-STITCH (additional software) Both are Super values.The SEQS6000 (Quartet’s cousin) will be on April 10
When is the Singer 160 Anniversay machine returning to HSN and is it possible to be put on a wait list for it? When Googled where to purchase this machine HSN always appears but no one is able to say in customer service when and if the machine will be returning.
Hi Proactive, The Anniversary 160 machine was so popular in it’s world launch , it has been difficult to restock—everyone wants one! We are hoping to have them back by May—July at the latest. With the demand so high, it takes a little longer to manufacture such volumes. Your patience is appreciated. My mama always said, “Good things are worth waiting for!!”
Hi Sewthankful,
Thank you for your reply. I will wait patiently until then.
Proactive
Darlene Cahill, this is a real nice project, but I have a question for you about a product. Singer’s 5 hour Tutorial CD says it’s only compatable with CE-150,250,350. Will it not help me with the Singer’s SES1000 that I bought a few years ago here on HSN? I want to purchase it if it will help me with my machine. Please get back to me and let me know before it is out of stock like last time it was aired.
Thank you
Marti
Dear Martidale, the SES 1000 is a duplicate of the CE150. Same stitches just different color trim. I have the CE150 and a co-worker has the SES1000. She said there is no difference. If there is it would be just improvements. Same design, same stitches as my CE 150. The tutoria; will work with your machine as well as the SES 2000. The SES 2000 has the same design as the CE 250 and the CE 350 just a different color trim and some of the stitches are different.
Hi Kyucker, you have done your homework and you’re absolutely right about all the machines being related to each other! The differences are mainly in the accessory packages. The SES1000 has many more feet and software than the CE150….and the SES2000 has many more feet than the CE250. That’s what makes shopping at HSN such a great value—larger accessory packages than elsewhere..the names change to avoid retail confusion. Thank you for your comment!
Hi Martidale,
Your instincts were right. The 5-Hour tutorial will definitely help you with your SES1000 software:) It sells out really fast whenever we have it in stock so next time, pick it up as soon as it lands on dotcom! Thanks for asking !!
Darlene Just found the blog and love all your info. Bought the Singer Sew and Go or as it re-appeared the 1000 stitch. The instruction manual is very difficult to understand. Is there any other info for this machine? I replaced a Kenmore metal decorative cam machine and the instructions from 1976 were much more detailed.
I have the basics down it’s the memory and enlarging of the letters that get me. Thanks for any help and can I get your facebook info as well.
Hi Nurse298, Thank you for your question. You may find singer’s website helpful. The lettering does not enlarge beyond the 7mm size of the other stitches. For memory press “M” select a pod 1-2-3or 4. Select up to 20 characters and press “M” again to store and close the memory pod.You have 4 pods with which to store in permanent memory. You can turn the machine off and come back on another day …your data will still be there! Select “M” and choose 1-2-3 or 4–presto! It’s back! Happy Sewing!
I’m wondering if the anniversary machine will be coming back anytime soon? I wasn’t able to purchase one when you were on, but have been hoping it will come back so I can get it this time around.
HI Stevie…as they say, ‘pick a number and get in line’!!! everyone wants a chance to own Singer’s classic Anniversary machine!!! We’re trying to get them back in stock for May, July at the latest. I hope you’ll keep checking back… they will be in soon:)
Darlene
When will the Singer green heavy duty machine be back in stock at HSN?
Hello Sewforfun, You asked a popular question….it does not look as though the ‘green machine’ will be making a reappearance on HSN. Singer is always innovating new models for their brand so keep checking dot com and maybe there will be a new and improved Heavy Duty on the horizon:) Thanks for asking!
Hi Darlene,
I bought a Singer Futura Quartet 4 in 1 off HSN. However, it doesn’t have a decorative stitch I like. I notice the Singer Superb for a much lower price, comes with 1000+ stitch functions.
Is there a way we can download stitches that were not included on to the Futura Quartet? Or is there a way to buy them?
I asked this on your Oct. 12th blog. Do you respond to your blogs?
Is there any way I can find out this answer?
Thank you for any help you can give.
Hi Heavenly Days, So sorry that your October question slipped by me. Thank you for your patience and for trying again:) You cannot program additional stitch patterns into the Quartet sewing machine. The 1000+ refers to ’stitch functions’…not true stitches. So the existing stitches can be elongated, mirror imaged and saved in different combinations using the memory feature.With varying features factored in, you can get more than 1000 different looks and combinations. Which stitch do you want?
Darlene, thank you for your reply. (Your reply almost slipped by me- but it is still March. If there is a place to click to get e-mailed for blogs, I can’t find it.)
It is a beautiful one shown one time on air, I don’t know the name, but it is on the Singer Heavy Duty 4423, letter ‘F’ in the user manual, page 31. On the Heavy Duty dial, it is one stitch to the right at the bottom.
Thank you for your help.
I Googled an image of the 4423 Heavy Duty dial, and it is the 6th stitch clockwise from the top, and directly across from the stitch that looks like a buttonhole.
Dear Darlene, Glad to see you are keeping us well informed. I know you have such a busy life ! I recently purchased a different sewing machine from HSN and was wondering if you could answer a question in regards to it. I am getting the Juki F400, I am a little confused as to the description HSN has for the stitch patterns 456 sewing patterns, including 16 buttonholes and 3 alphabets.But when I go to other sites for information, they say 157 . Can you shed some light on this ? Thanks :D
Hi shopnevada, Thankyou so much for shopping with us here at HSN! The Juki F400 looks like a sweet machine but to be honest, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting it yet! I hope that by now you have your machine and are loving it:) s to the number of stitches….it could be 456 true stitches, mirror imaging and elongation factored in….The main thing is that it inspires you and takes your sewing to the next level! I hope after you’ve received it you’ll drop us a line and let us know.Sew Happpy!
Oh my gosh I have got to print this off and try it. Darlene this is fantastic.
Thanks Ginger! So glad you like it. Thanks for stopping by and reading my monthly sewing blog:) I appreciate it!