Category: Crafts

Book Review: Born to Shop – Life Lessons

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Born to Shop – Life Lessons

Two things that I have always enjoyed are hand stitching, and chocolate. Well, I’ve finally found a book that let’s me combine both of these loves together. And isn’t that saying on the cover just perfect?

There are ten humorous cross-stitch designs just waiting for you to stitch them into fun projects for your home, or as gifts for friends. This book puts a humorous spin on all of life’s little lessons that we learn as adults. There are great sayings about your first cup of coffee, the dreaded exercise we ‘gotta’ do, stress, friendship, our opinions, our love of chocolate, and more. This book will be new in HancocK Fabric stores this March, most stores will probably receive by the end of the month.

Even if you don’t do a lot of cross-stitch, the book is worth having in your library of crafts just for a laugh when you need one!

The picture below may not be easy to read – the stitching had already been placed in a glass frame when I took the picture.

Saying reads: There is nothing better than a good friend – except a good friend with chocolate
I know I can agree with that – how about you?

This design was first stitched on regular aida cloth, then a border of fabric was added. Finally, it was put into a 12” square picture frame. The fabric used to border the cross stitch is one of the candy calico fabrics that have just started to arrive in the quilting departments at Hancock Fabrics. This spring I’ve seen several different fabrics that have chocolates. The best part is – they’re fat free!

While I’ve pictured a framed piece for my review, I can see these sayings worked into all sorts of things – pillows, totebags, wall hangings, or all ten sayings would look great on a quilt.

And if this book doesn’t give you enough chocolate humor – check out this site: Chocolate Humor. For all you quilters out there – tell me what you think of #18 on the second list from the top: Quilting is my passion, but chocolate comes in a close second. Does that describe you?
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila

Sew Mini Sewing Machine

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You may remember that I featured Kwik Sew Pattern #3596 on here a couple of weeks ago (see picture at left).

Well, I decided it was time to retire the Valentine apron, and make a new one for Spring. This week I am in Washington at one of the largest sewing expos in the country. We are featuring the Sew Mini Sewing Machine from Janome – so I thought my new detergent apron was a great time to try out the machine and get some photos of the stitching it produces.

Sew Mini
People will travel to this expo from all over the United States, and of course it has always been difficult to travel with a sewing machine. But because they are sewers, folks at this event are always looking for a sewing machine that they can carry with them. This Janome machine is very affordable, and is a great little machine to get you through a class, or to carry with you if you need to do some sewing while traveling. It only weighs 5 pounds, and takes up very little room, which makes it a great traveling companion!
I have also found this to be a wonderful machine to get a child to start sewing, being much less intimidating than a full-size machine would be.

Features on the Sew Mini

  • It is not a toy – it does work.
  • It does straight stitches and zig zag stitches.
  • Has a drop in bobbin.
  • Weighs approximately 5 lbs.
  • Tension adjustment.
  • Button to Reverse Stitch.
  • Uses regular needles.

Features you May Miss Having –

  • There is no light.
  • It is slower and is a little noisier than a regular machine.

However, to get someone new started sewing or for sewing when you are traveling it might just fit your needs.

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Here is a close-up of the stitching.
This was stitched through five layers of fabric.

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And here is a close-up of the back of the project.

And finally, my finished apron. It’s going to look great at the sink!
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila

Free Tips on Fabric Napkins

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Now that my Easter table-runner and placemats are done, I needed to finish the set with some fabric napkins. As you will see from the notes below – this can be a very quick project that yields excellent results.

When I make fabric napkins I always use the product “Wonder Tape”. The product has a ¼” paper attached to one side of a double-sided tape.

For making napkins, I take the Wonder Tape and place it at the very edge on the top side (right side up) of the fabric. I stop taping ¼” in from the ends which will become the corners.

After you have put the tape on all 4 sides, go to the ironing board. I fold the edge over ¼” and iron, leave the paper on the double-sided tape while you are ironing. After I go all the way around once, I turn a second time ¼” hem and iron as I go.

Now go to your sewing machine, unfold your pressed hem and take off the paper off one side at a time as you sew your ¼” hem. Because the tape holds everything in place as you sew your fabric doesn’t shift as you sew (which would leave puckers). Instead it lays very flat and you can sew around the napkin in no time at all. Note – you can note that you can sew right through the tape and it won’t gum up your sewing machine.
You will have a beautiful hem when you are done – without getting a major headache in the process!

Next – make coordinating Napkin Rings!
To make the napkin rings, I used the fusible Peltex cut into strips: 5½” X 1¾”.

Cut the fabric for the rings into 4” wide strips. You will then lay the Peltex strip down in the center of the fabric. Iron to fuse the Peltex. This will provide strength and shape to the rings. As you can see, I left a small space and simply fused all of my Peltex onto one piece of fabric, then I went back and cut each strip to size.

Stitch down the center to hold the fabric to Peltex after pressing. Overlap the two ends and hand stitch the ring closed. Add a fabric yo-yo made with the ex-large yo-yo maker and a leaf.

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Now you can make your own napkins in no time – just imagine the possibilities! And feel free to share your ideas!
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila