Darlene’s Thread: How to Recycle Old Clothes into New Styles
One curb against inflation is to reuse clothing items for several seasons. A complete style overhaul seen below uses a Diane Gilman comfy long sleeve tee-shirt tunic from 2009. The challenge: give it a fresh look to re-wear in 2010.
» More sewing Ideas & Tips: How to Get the Look for Less
1) Removed skirt from shirt body. Removed all gathering threads and pressed. Fold in half to prepare to cut two sleeves.
2) Cut off sleeves leaving a shoulder cap.
3) Cut bottom of shirt leaving a 1 1/4″ hem allowance.
4) Position sleeves on sheer and make chalk markings for new sleeve. Cut sleeves from sheer. You’ll notice that the bottom was already finished with a factory machine rolled hem (time saving layout trick!)
5) Stitch each sheer sleeve using a French seam.
6) Pin top of sleeve in tee–shirts armcye seam allowance. Stitch sleeve into shirt.
7) If needed, mark taper lines on the shirt’s inside and take in with a serger or overcasting stitch.
8) Press hem up 1 1/4″ using a fusible adhesive strip (Stitch Wichery) to hold in place. If you don’t have fusible tape, you can use pins.
9) Using your cover stitch on the serger or a twin needle on your conventional machine, top stitch the hem so that the stitches on the backside encase the top of the hem allowance.
10) Embellish your new styled Tee by stitching on strand sequins and/or pressing on fusible stones. Wear with a smile!
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Tricks of the Trade
When you’re stitching an applique and the image comes to a point, you can adjust the stitch width while you’re sewing. The tapering technique is easier if you have a machine with center needle orientation.
When you are organizing your paper pattern pieces, there are usually a few creases from packaging. For best results, press out the wrinkles before laying out your new pattern. A little steam press will have the pattern looking pristine!
Three Reasons to Love Embro
idery
1) Did you know that there are no copyright laws on the built-in Futura embroidery designs? You are free to sell some of your finished embroidery masterpieces!
2) One of the greatest benefits to owning your own embroidery machine is to be able to customize your belongings with professional looking monograms. I embroidered this book bag’s opening flap on the Futura SES2000 for my trainer’s daughter. Use sticky stabilizer and be prepared to hold the bag for the entire process (only 10 minutes) since the weight of the bag would otherwise pull on the hoop and distort the stitching.
4) For best results when embroidering on your Futura, Remember to select the “SPEED LIMITER” option when using the Cross Stitch and Photo-Stitch!
Don’t miss Gifts for Her on HSN TV November 27 at 6am & 2pm EST. I’ll be showing you two sewing machines, both are Price Busters & amazing holiday prices end at midnight!
More Sewing Tips from Darlene Cahill:
» Top 10 Sewing Tips to Always Remember
» Choosing the Right Scissors to Make the Cut
» Which Sewing Machine is Right for You
More Sewing and Crafts from HSN.com:
» Shop Sewing New Arrivals
» Stay steady and organized with a great sewing table
» Shop all crafts and sewing supplies
Hi, Darlene. I,too enjoy watching you and learning so much. You’re an excellent educator. I was wondering what the difference is between the Quartet and the SES2000. Thank you so much.
I don’t know your e-mail address, or I would send you an e-mail with my other questions. Again, thank you for all of your wonderful demonstrations.
RHB
Darlene, Sunday as I scanned the TV one last time before bedtime, landed on HSN b/c of the sewing machines. You were just coming on to the set, I absolutely loved the multi color blouse you wore. I went nuts over it! I also loved the Singer featherweight electronic sewing machine and ordered one. I would like to ask if you have a pattern for the blouse? Love what you have done with style, keep sewing.
Hello! I just bought the Brother Sewing and Embroidery machine for my daughter the 499. one and was wondering what kind of carrying case should i buy for it?? She travels a lot and thats why I bought her this smaller lighter machine. I wish it came with a carry case because I just have no idea what to buy. Thanks, Sandy
Hi Katcrze,
Great purchase, your daughter will love this little powerhouse!
Transporting is much easier since the machine is so compact and lightweight. GOOD NEWS!~ The Brother carry case will house your daughter’s embroidery machine including the extra embroidery arm! Just make sure she uses a wad of soft fabric like fleece to surround it so it won’t bump and shift around in tote~~
Here it is—- Brother Hard Sewing Case Item: 237-098 Peace!
Thank you so much!!!
Wondering what the difference is between the Stylist II sewing machine and the Curvy that’s just been put on special pricing? They look like the same machine. Eagerly looking forward to it’s showing which I hope is tomorrow?
Great Question Sewing Addict,
You have clearly done your homework!
The Stylist ll and the Curvy are basically the same machine with the identical stitch selections and features but the extra $200.00 you’ll pay for the the Stylist ll DUO package will give you: the circular foot attachment and the sweet 2/3/4 SERGER w/open front, seam guide, needle threaders, built-in cutting knife and removable rolled hem finger. You could sell your old serger and recoop a chunk of change. Happy Sewing~
Hey Darlene,
I don’t think I posed my question right. I wanted to know if you could take like the dog, star and flower stitch and put them into memory and stitch them in one continuous stitch or are the memory pockets just for the alphabet. It’s fine if the memory clears when the machine gets turned off. Though it would be nice if it kept the memory. I know you can type in words into memory, but I wanted to know if you could make custom stitch patterns into the memory. thank you
JazzieJoanie,
Woops, I must have misunderstood your question.
YES YOU CAN!You can input a string of icons and stitch them out. There are two buttons or pods to access stitches. Any of the digits in the ‘alphabet pod’ are memory programmable.The stitches in the ‘decorative, functional pod’ are not.
You can have fun customizing your stitch selections on the Quantum Stylist. Enjoy!
Hi JazzieJoanie,
I love it when you’re watching our shows! Thanks for tuning in!The Quantum Stylist has a “working memory” which means that when you press any of the icon keys located in the Alphabet block, they will line up on the screen and you can stitch them out in the order that you selected but when you turn off the machine, the selections will be deleted. The Brother has a permananet memory meaning that selections stay when the power switch is off.
sherribilly,
My machine does the same thing!!!!! Very loud clunking noise while embroidering.
Hi CountryGinger,
I can’t even imagine what that may be. I used eight of these machines and not one of them banged or clunked! Please contact Singer right away! We want you to be thrilled with your new Quartet. By phone it is 1800-4-SINGER and the e-mail is talktous@singerco.com
Sew your dreams~
Darlene, I have the Singer Futura Quartet… quite a challenge..
And it makes a loud thumping/banging noise from the embrodiery unit while embrodering. Is that normal, or is something wrong with the machine? It has done that since I got it.
I played your videos and do not hear that noise coming from any on air programs.
I need to know if I have a defective embrodiery unit or machine.
Thanks… you are really a sewing artist.
Sherribilly,
You have me stumped! I have never heard the noise you describe coming from any of my Futuras. Please write to talktous@singerco.com or call 1800-4-SINGER and let them know what you are experiencing. Let’s get this taken care of right away and get you sewing happily (and quietly) with your new Quartet!
Keep us posted, OK?
There’s a couple things I check when my 3 year old Futura starts making a thumping noise. 1) try a fresh needle (dull or bent needles thump) 2) Try a different embroidery foot (the spring might be bent) So far, it;s always been the needle except one time it was the spring in the foot. Nothing wrong with my machine at all when it thumps so far.
Hey Darlene! Love it when you’re on hsn! I have a question, can the Singer Quantum Stylist program or put into memory a series of decorative stitches to customize your personal stitch? I believe the Brother 294 can do this, I was wanting to know if you can enter various decorative stitches into memory and make up your own stitch. I think with all of the Singer Quantum’s 600 stitches, you could really do some custom stitches. Let me know if it does that! Thank you! Joan