Totally Cute Knit Top

Before I even begin I HAVE to show you the cutest top!

I'm sure if you have gone to the mall lately you may have noticed a huge trend in knit blouses.  Everywhere I look I see unique designs in  knit, ribbon, and flowers, all sewn onto clothes. At Sally's Fabrics we are noticing the same thing. One of our talented seamstresses brought this shirt in last week for display.  Didn't it turn out great??  If you are interested in making this blouse, first off  you will need to purchase McCalls pattern  M6031; and, follow the directions for Style B.  This is a DYI pattern and is so cute (I'm sure I already said that!)  This stylish shirt would look great  pared with jeans or leggins.

Now, of course, when you see this pattern you will notice right off that Kathy,  has "dressed up" the shirt.  The first thing she did was add sleeves, which is purely optional.  She was able to pattern the sleeves after one of the t-shirts she had seen in a clothing store; but, if you feel a little nervous about doing this, you could easily copy a sleeve pattern from one of your shirts at home.  Kathy did sew in a small strip of 1/8" elastic to form the "sinched up" look on the sleeve that is shown.

Next, Kathy added a gathered knit piece onto the top of the blouse. For the running knit that you see, she cut a piece of knit 1" wide.  Underneath, Kathy used "Chiffon," and cut her fabric pieces to 2 1/4" wide.  For the flower she just pulled the gathers up to form a flower.

On the bottom of the blouse Kathy attached more of the 1" knit on top of the 2 1/4" chiffon.  

Overall the blouse did not take long at all, and turned out so cute!

Conversation Hearts!

 Okay - if you are looking for a very EASY Valentine's Day project.... then look no further!  See just how cute these conversation hearts turned out.

I made three additional hearts; and, HONESTLY, they each only took me about 15 minutes.  First, I have to pay respects to where respects are due:)  I purchased the embroidery design at SWAK Embroidery... quickly becoming one of my favorites!  FYI - the other four hearts say "You Rock," "Text Me," "I Do," and "Love You."  I love this website (SWAK) because the directions are so complete, and so easy to understand. 

For those of you who are new to embroidery, these six hearts were made entirely "in the hoop."  This term used to kinda freak me out because honestly... "all in the hoop? Do I do nothing??"  Well, as the seamstress, you do do a few of the steps, like hoop your stabilizer, and place the felt on the hoop, but seriously, that is about it.  Your embroidery machine directs you through the rest of the project!

See.... so cute!  When I was done with all six heart pockets, I went to the store and bought conversation heart boxes, and they fit inside just perfectly.  And voile!    ....all done.

Just a quick note on embroidery sewing machines...  When you first go to price an embroidery machine, just to prepare you, you will exclaim "holy cow!" when you see the price.  But, as the customer, you must realize what exactly you are buying.  First, you are buying an excellent sewing machine, with like the BEST computer made by man, built right inside the machine.  Your sewing machine will do close to 100 stitches - and that is just the beginning.  It will thread your needle, tell you when your bobbin is running low (very important in embroidering,) will memorize stitch sequences, preform mirror images, sew fast, sew slow... your embroidery machine will almost preform heart surgery! (just kidding.)  Just know... embroidery machines will do all of that plus so much more - PLUS it will also quilt, and (most importantly) it will embroider thousands of designs including letters.  It's so fascinating; it is mind boggling.

For now, I just have to get on my "soap box" and say when you are in the market for an embroidery machine, buy from a dealer (ALWAYS) and buy quality, quality, QUALITY!  Oh, all right.... just come to Sally's and I'll help you out personally:)

Here's my machine.... Isn't it absolutely B E A U T I F U L????

Until next time.....

New Year - New Projects

Okay..Okay..  I've decided that I am not doing my best at keeping up with the Sally's Fabrics blog so, here goes my new year's resolution:  I promise..I promise I will keep up the blog with up-to-date projects, and sewing news.  Sooo... here is to a new year!!


Once I got over my extreme fatigue of completing all of my holiday projects, I picked myself right back up, and began the new year with some machine embroidery projects.


Haven't you noticed the HUGE move towards quilting??  I am so excited about this because it has pulled some new sewers into the market.  I admit quilting is very addictive; and, sewers young and old have hopped right on board towards completing all kinds of beautiful quilts. But, hence I have also noticed that embroidery is also making it's way back, but with a twist.  I remember the days when my Grandma taught me how to hand embroider (we will be teaching this soon at Sally's!)  And, I admit I still love doing it; but, I am amazed at the beautiful embroidery work that my sewing machine will do.  It is also very simple (I was shocked to learn this:)  So, a few weeks back I "Googled" modern machine embroidery, and proceeded to make up some projects that I have set out in the store for display.  Take a look below.

On each of these pillows I stitched my embroidery out on off-white muslin.  I also used some of our new Amy Butler fabric.  Each pillow turned out so bright and cheery.  For the above pillow I downloaded my design from "Meringue Designs."   On my pillow below, I used SWAK embroidery.  Both websites have so many embroidery designs.

Okay - next embroidery project:  design your own shopping totes!

To make this 15-minute grocery bag you’ll need:

1 piece of canvas cut 20”x34”

2 pieces of 1” handbag webbing cut 18” long each

heavy cardboard cut to fit bottom, approx 8”x10”

Fold the canvas in half, and sew the two sides of the bag , then sew an 8” gusset along the bottom of the bag with heavy triple stitching to reinforce the seams, fold down top of bag 1/2” and sew all around.  Attach straps with lots of stitching. Cut a piece of cardboard to fit the bottom. This gives it stability. All done!

It did not take me that much additional time to embroider my bags.  I admit.... I'm now addicted to embroidery.

Look at the detail.... very cool!

Boutique - TILL CHRISTMAS!!

We are starting a new monthly event at Sally's Fabrics.  I apologize if I have talked about it before, but there has been a slight change this holiday season in regards to this boutique.

Okay here we go......

Each month we are going to have what is called a "Girls Only Night."  It will be a fun evening, different most months, to provide V A R I T Y. I will always try to have some kind of "make -n- take," which I think is so fun.  And of course, there will always be delicious refreshments.  This Spring I want to start a new fun class called "Scrap-booking with fabric 90/10."  What this will be is a scrapbook compiled with up to 90% fabric and only 10% paper.  Many of the pages you won't even want to put in a binder, but frame because they are so beautiful.... Anyway, in January, I was thinking that it would be fun to actually come to our "Girls Only Night" and to make the first page - preferably for free... (That is my goal.)  I want to get our customers excited about this new class.

Also at "Girls Only Night," I will TRY to always have a boutique.  They items being sold are so cute.  Anyway the slight change I mentioned in the beginning is this:  We are leaving the boutique items from our Girls Only Night held on November 30 up through the holiday season.  I have included a few pictures to tempt you into coming into the store.  I have to say that each item is priced very reasonably, and would make a great handmade gift.  We have many hair accessories that are PERFECT for stocking stuffers.

Please note!  We only have 13 days left before Christmas.  Give the gift of fabric, a gift card, or a SEWING MACHINE. YEAH!!  Make it a Christmas they will never forget, and with each machine purchase, you will receive free sewing instruction, and 10% back on a gift card to use anywhere throughout the store. Our gift cards never expire.

Happy Holidays!!  We love our customers :)

                                                                 

Hoodie Towel

I thought it would be great to establish a pattern of putting "How to's" on the blog.  This particular towel is GREAT as a baby gift or can be made if you are having a baby yourself! (congrats...)  Anyway, the first thing I did was buy a towel - regular size, and a coordinating washcloth.  See the following pictures.
                                                                                                                                                                      

Now I bought the towel already sewn with flower embroidery; although, with my Pfaff embroidery machine I could have added the flowers EASILY....  I didn't have as much luck on the washcloth; so, I made sure I bought a washcloth with the same pile.  Because I couldn't just have a PLAIN white washcloth, (very boring) I added a small amount of coordinating Minky.

With the wash cloth you 1.) fold one side back approximately 3-31/2" and pin.  I then measured a minky scrap that fit the back 2/3rds of the washcloth and pinned in place.  2.) Next, I stitched the folded part of the washcloth in place.  My stitching is where you see the pins on the white part of the washcloth. 3.) At this point you will fold your washcloth right sides together, and stitch the back side of the washcloth (1/2" seam) turning right side out when done.  Your stitching line will be where the pins are placed on the pink minky (the pins going up and down) but, on the wrong side of the washcloth.

After you prepare your washcloth, you will get your towel ready.  1.) Fold your towel in half lengthwise, and place a pin marking the middle of your towel. I find it very handy to also pin the edges of your towel together so that when you are measuring your pleats, you end of with both sides of your towel being even. 2.) Starting on one side of the towel measure 5" and fold back a portion of your towel 2" to make your first pleat. To make your second pleat you will measure 3" and fold back a portion of your towel 2" to make your second pleat.  Repeat last step to make your third pleat.  3.) Repeat the entire step #2 on the other side of the towel, adjusting the third pleat if necessary to make sure your sides are even. 4.) Once the pleats are in place, baste over the pleats to keep in place, and remove pins.

 

To attach the washcloth to the towel you are going to pin the right side of the washcloth to the right side of the towel.  The back seam of the washcloth pins directly to the marked middle of the towel. Stitch through all layers.  When finished, I like to hand sew a white pom pom to the top of the hoodie - making the towel even cuter.


                                                                                                  

** Now, I have to say here that I like to buy fairly plush towels - they last longer.  In fact, I have two towels that my kids are still using today.  They are as good as ever!  When making these towels you will notice that you will be sewing through several layers of towel especially if you add minky like I did.  When I use my duel feed on my Pfaff machine, (not JUST a walking foot, mind you) I never brake a needle.

GOOD LUCK!!

Black Friday SALE!

Guess what?  At Sally's Fabrics we have never had a Black Friday sale??  I love Black Friday so, I decided that this year we will host our first "Black Friday" event.  Come into the store - we open at 7:00am.  We will have sales (good ones too) from 7:00 am - 8:30am then another awesome sale from 8:30 - 10:00am.  From 10:00 to 1:00pm come yet for even more discounts.  If you are on our e-mail list you should have been able to print an additional coupon to use after 1:00pm.  We will also have a "Black Friday" tree to get specials.  AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST - WE WILL GIVE AWAY A NEW SEWING MACHINE!!

Come and see us - we look forward to seeing you!!

                                                                                      Kelli <3

Girls Only Night!

Welcome, Welcome to our first "Girls Only Night" to be held on November 30, 2010.

Girls Only Night will be a monthly event starting this November.  In December we will have a "Sew-In."  Wait...don't leave! I'll explain each in a few short sentences.  Girls Only Night - November - Come enjoy refreshments catered in part by Sweet Cakes, (Yummy!!) and take part in demonstrations, bundle sales, a BOUTIQUE, door prizes, and a chance to win a FREE block of the month quilt (you must be present to receive free item,) and a chance to watch, and leave with a free embroidered design (shown below.)  We are so excited to see all of our LOYAL customers!

Okay,  here is the deal :)  Come to our "Girls Only Night," and we will embroider this design for you for free!  There are just a few limitations:  We have preselected a few colors of embroidery thread that will be used for that night.  We have reserved the colors you see here as well as the fabric(for purchase) and pattern (for purchase.)  We will also have two other selections of embroidery colors that can be stitched out that night, colors that go with two other pre-selected lines of fabric for use with this pattern.




Of course, at Sally's Fabrics we have an entire range of colors of thread that you can use in your embroidery machine.  Come that night and see all of our new fabrics.  And hopefully by that night we will be stocked with all of our new notions!  We appreciate your patience.  At Sally's Fabrics our goal is this:  We want to be completely stocked with machines, fabric, and notions.  We also wish to become your favorite teaching store... meaning, at Sally's Fabrics be prepared to not only find your sewing machines, fabric, and notions; but come to us to LEARN HOW TO SEW!  On Saturday's, we also have our marvelous teacher, Lola, here to help you with your sewing projects.  Call ahead (before Saturday, or she might not be here,) and Lola will help you with that project that "you just can't figure out."  Lola is a whiz at sewing.


Okay - next....December 10th we will have our "Sew In, and a Movie" night.  This night will cost you only $10.00, and that includes dinner - pizza and drink, and of course, will hold your spot!  Call now, space is limited.  Come and finish those Christmas projects that you want no one to see.  Or, just come and enjoy as we stitch away and enjoy each others company.  If that's not a good enough reason - come and meet a new friend.  We look forward to seeing you for both.