Favorite Photos from Sew Fun March 2012

April 24th, 2012

Every month each of our Quality Sewing & Vacuum centers hosts a Sew Fun lecture/demo class that is Free for Sew Fun Members (if you don’t know about Sew Fun, be sure to learn more about Sew Fun Classes & Memberships).

A big part of each Sew Fun is the show & tell, and photos are taken of the wonderful creations that get displayed. I’ve gone through and picked my 10 personal favorite photos from Sew Fun March 2012 show & tell from amongst all the stores. Here they are:

From AAA Burien

From AAA Burien

From Ballard

From Ballard

From Bellingham

From Bellingham

From Everett

From Everett

From Federal Way

From Federal Way

From Kirkland

From Kirkland

From Mount Vernon

From Mount Vernon

From Puyallup

From Puyallup

From Silverdale

From Silverdale

From Tacoma

From Tacoma

Aren’t those amazing? If you’d like to see more, we post the full photo sets on Facebook, and you don’t even have to be a Facebook member to view them:

• AAA Burien Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Ballard Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Bellevue Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Bellingham Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Everett Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Federal Way Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Issaquah Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Kirkland Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Mt Vernon Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Northgate Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Puyallup Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Silverdale Sew Fun March 2012 Album
• Tacoma Sew Fun March 2012 Album

If you are on Facebook and don’t already “like” us, be sure to click the like button here to keep up-to-date with all the tips, projects, photos, deals, and more that we post there daily:

And be sure to sign up for a Sew Fun Membership if you haven’t already. It’s an amazing value: Free Sew Fun classes plus a free gift at each seminar, 20% off accessories all the time, discounts at local fabric stores, and we often give discounts to in-store special events for Sew Fun Members too.

What do you think? Do you like these photo choices? What would you have chosen differently for your Top 10? Let us know!

Happy Sewing,
Chris

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Watch New Episodes of “It’s Sew Easy” Online Now!

April 17th, 2012

You can now watch the PBS sewing show “It’s Sew Easy” online!

Watch this episode on the It's Sew Easy website!

Watch this episode on the It's Sew Easy website!

Visit the It’s Sew Easy website anytime all week long to watch the latest episode. New episodes are posted every Friday.

“It’s Sew Easy” is a wonderful show full of wonderful tips, tricks, and project how-tos. From their website:

Welcome to It’s Sew Easy where our many experts break sewing into manageable parts as they share their own unique style in projects and techniques. Whether you’re a novice or experienced sewer, It’s Sew Easy will enhance your sewing skills so you can create personalized apparel and home accents.

Now that they’re posting new episodes on their website every week, it makes it much easier to watch. You don’t have to worry about trying to catch it when it airs, or trying to record it; you can watch it at your leisure any time during the week.

Happy Sewing,
Chris

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My Favorite Time-Saving Features of the Brother PR-1000

April 13th, 2012

A while ago I wrote about how excited I was to get the new Brother PR-1000 and how much time I thought it would save me. It has done that and much more.

The Brother PR-1000 Multi-Needle Embroidery Machine

LED Indicator Lights

LED Indicator Lights

There were some things that I didn’t realize would be so useful:

One favorite feature is the way the machine remembers what colors I have on the spools. When a new design is selected it highlights the spools that need to be changed for the next design. For example: I was doing a set of designs from a collection. All the designs had similar colors with just a few changes for each design. As soon as the new design was selected the colors that needed to be changed were highlighted in blue, making it very quick for me to get the new thread colors in position. It remembered that Prussian Blue was on spool 3, and even though Prussian Blue was the first color in the new design it was automatically assigned to spool 3 instead of me having to move it to spool 1 or manually re-assign it myself. In many cases I only needed to change 2 or 3 colors for the new design.

The Name Drop feature has saved me more time than I dreamed possible, especially when it is teamed with the LINK function. The Name Drop feature lets you save series of names that it will place in the proper position on a design. As soon as a design is completed a message pops up and asks, “Do you want to do the next design?” If “OK” is selected the finished design will clear and the next name in the queue will load in the next design automatically. I used a design from an Anita Goodesign holiday collection with Name Drop and completed a monogrammed Christmas stocking for every member of the family. Everyone loved them!

Aligning with the Snowman

I have done plenty of large designs using the FF jumbo hoop and the alignment system in PE Design. I’ve never had problems with alignment, but I was careful and followed a “procedure” to make sure it lined up prior to stitching. Now I just divide the design in PE Design NEXT and let the Snowman® do the alignment. This requires no thinking on my part. I just need to be able to read and follow the simple steps that are displayed on the screen!

- – - – -

If you have a multi-needle machine, what are your favorite features? If you don’t have a multi-needle embroidery machine, be sure to stop by your local store and take a look at one in action. You’ll be amazed at how much time you can save!

Happy Stitching,
Carol

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Easter Weekend Sewing Projects Roundup

April 6th, 2012

Well, it’s Easter weekend, so just as I did for Valentine’s Day, I’ve compiled some of my favorite free tutorials and patterns for Easter sewing projects! Take a look at these and let them inspire you:

Bunny Candy Pouch Easter Eggs Bunny Bag
Jelly Bean Garland Rabbit Bag Tutorial Bunny Hat
Quilted Easter Bunny Basket Bunny Toss Floppy-Eared Bunny Purse
Easter Dishtowel Skirt Marshmallow Peeps Marshmallow Peep Bunnies
  1. Easy Bunny Candy Pouch Tutorial
  2. Plush Easter Egg Sewing Tutorial
  3. Bunny Bag Pattern
  4. Jellybean Garland Tutorial
  5. Zakka-Inspired Rabbit Bag Tutorial
  6. Baby Bunny Hat Tutorial
  7. Quilted Easter Bunny Basket
  8. Bunny Toss Game Sewing Tutorial
  9. Floppy-Eared Bunny Purse Pattern
  10. Easter Dishtowel Skirt Tutorial
  11. Marshmallow Chick Plushies Tutorial
  12. Marshmallow Bunnies Sewing Tutorial

What are your sewing projects for this year’s Easter? Share in the comments please, or email a photograph to info@qualitysewing.com or post it on our Facebook wall. And if you try any of these projects, please let us know how they turned out!

Happy Easter Sewing!
~Chris

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Favorite Photos from Sew Fun February 2012

March 16th, 2012

Every month each of our Quality Sewing & Vacuum centers hosts a Sew Fun lecture/demo class that is Free for Sew Fun Members (if you don’t know about Sew Fun, be sure to learn more about Sew Fun Classes & Memberships).

A big part of each Sew Fun is the show & tell, and photos are taken of the wonderful creations that get displayed. I’ve gone through and picked my 10 personal favorite photos from Sew Fun February 2012 show & tell from amongst all the stores. Here they are; click on any of them to see them full-sized:

From AAA Burien

From Ballard

From Bellevue

From Everett

From Everett

From Federal Way

From Federal Way

From Mt Vernon

From Mt Vernon

From Northgate

From Northgate

From Puyallup

From Puyallup

From Silverdale

From Silverdale

From Tacoma

From Tacoma

Aren’t those amazing? If you’d like to see more, we post the full photo sets on Facebook, and you don’t even have to be a Facebook member to view them:

• AAA Burien Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album
• Ballard Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album
• Bellevue Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album
• Everett Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album
• Federal Way Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album
• Issaquah Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album
• Kirkland Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album
• Mt Vernon Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album
• Northgate Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album
• Puyallup Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album
• Silverdale Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album
• Tacoma Sew Fun Feb 2012 Album

If you are on Facebook and don’t already “like” us, be sure to click the like button here to keep up-to-date with all the tips, projects, photos, deals, and more that we post there daily:

And be sure to sign up for a Sew Fun Membership if you haven’t already. It’s an amazing value: Free Sew Fun classes plus a free gift at each seminar, 20% off accessories all the time, discounts at local fabric stores, and we often give discounts to in-store special events for Sew Fun Members too.

What do you think? Do you like these photo choices? What would you have chosen differently for your Top 10? Let us know in the comments!

Happy Sewing,
Chris

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Posted in Events, Show and Tell | 2 Comments »

Last Chance to Sign Up for Tomorrow’s Tips & Tricks of Machine Quilting on a Frame!

March 6th, 2012

Join Denise Applegate-Schober, an experienced Instructor specializing in the art of machine quilting, as she presents an informative Seminar focusing on machine quilting with a frame, a machine, and how the computer industry makes machine quilting a breeze.

Sign Up for this event now — there are still spaces available at our Everett Store tomorrow, March 7th!

Here is a video with Denise and Reva to tell you about it:

Watch This Video!

Denise will be bringing samples to inspire you and help you with your own quilting, as well as give you ideas for your current frame/machine setup. Learn how to get the most from your current frame and see the QBOT in action, doing pantagraphs and more. Join in on the discussion and see how wonderful your quilt frame can be. This event is designed to help and inspire current frame/machine owners as well as answer questions for those in the market for quilting system.

This is your last chance to Sign up now. You don’t want to miss this great opportunity!

Happy Quilting!
~Chris

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Sew Expo Day 1 Highlights, Don’t Miss the Fun!

March 1st, 2012

Are you coming to Sew Expo this year? It is better than ever! There are so many fun booths and great deals. It also sounds like everyone is having a ton of fun their classes. Check out some of our favorite highlights below and you can click any photo to see it full-sized.

See the new Viking Husqvarna 140 Tribute in the Viking booth. It comes with this great anniversary gift pack that is so adorable - Holly can't wait to show it to you!

Looking forward to seeing you at Sew Expo!

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Sew Expo Starts Tomorrow, March 1st — Check Out Our Preview Videos!

February 29th, 2012

Don’t miss the largest sewing show of the year!

We have been busily setting up our booths and are excited to share the fun with you. Here are two sneak peek videos:

We hope to see you all there!
Be sure to stop by our booths and say hello!

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Valentine Weekend Sewing Projects Roundup

February 10th, 2012

This weekend is the last weekend before Valentine’s Day. Have you already started your Valentine Sewing Project? If you’re looking for some tutorials, we’ve collected eighteen projects here to get you inspired:

Ruffled Heart Valentine Dress Frayed Heart Applique Shirt Cookie Cutter Heart Valentine Shirt
Ruffle Heart T-Shirt Shaggy Heart Valentine Dress with Heart Knee Pad Leggings Boy's Monster Valentine Shirt
Make Your Own Heart Sweater His & Hers Pajama Shorts Box of Chocolates Heart Pillows
Cross-my-Heart Pillow Quilted Heart Throw Pillow Pretty Polka-Dot Valentine Pillow
How to Sew a Heart Pillow with Embroidery Felt Valentine Envelopes Chair Back Valentine Envelopes
Deep-Dish Candy Gift Baskets Chubby Valentine Heart Coasters Valentine Heart Sachets
  1. Ruffled Heart Valentine Dress
  2. Frayed Cutout Applique Heart Shirt
  3. Cookie Cutter Valentine Heart Shirt
  4. Ruffle Heart T-Shirt
  5. Shaggy Heart Valentine Dress with Heart Knee Pad Leggings
  6. Boys’ Monster Valentine Shirt with Template
  7. Make Your Own Heart Sweater
  8. His & Hers Pajama Shorts
  9. Box of Chocolates Heart Pillows
  10. Cross-My-Heart Pillow
  11. Quilted Heart Throw Pillow
  12. Pretty Polka-Dot Valentine Pillow
  13. Heart Pillow with Embroidery
  14. Felt Valentine Envelopes
  15. Chair Back Sewn Valentine Envelopes
  16. Deep Dish Candy Baskets
  17. Chubby Heart Coasters
  18. Valentine Heart Sachets

What are your sewing projects for this year’s Valentine’s Day? Share in the comments please, or email a photograph to info@qualitysewing.com or post it on our Facebook wall. And if you try any of these projects, please let us know how they turned out!

Happy Valentine’s Sewing!
~Chris

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Snowed-In Fleece Projects Roundup

January 20th, 2012

Well, if you’re here in the Pacific Northwest with us, then you know that we all got hit pretty hard with an ice-and-snow storm this week. A lot of us were snowed in and unable to get to work or school or the store. But one good thing about being snowed in is that it gives you plenty of time for sewing projects!

The below-freezing weather got me thinking about ways to stay warm, and fleece of course is an excellent material to keep cozy during short winter days and long winter nights. So I scoured the web for some great, free fleece sewing tutorials, and I’ve collected some of my favorites here.

Kids always love to play in the snow, so here are some great ways to keep little ones warm:

Fleece Mittens

This project by the From an Igloo website is very easy, and uses elastic to keep the mittens snug on little hands. You can make several pairs of these in a very short amount of time (because we all know how easily mittens can go missing).

Go to the Fleece Mittens tutorial

Here are two fleece hat tutorials to keep little heads warm out there:

Fleece Football Hat

From the Make It and Love It website is this comes this wonderful football hat that is deceptively simple to make. It’ll keep the little guy’s ears all tucked in and warm.

Go to the Fleece Football Hat tutorial

Warm Winter Hat Tutorial

This tutorial, also found at the From an Igloo website, is great because it is easily customizable to fit the personality of the wearer, boy or girl. Upsize it a little bit to make a fleece hat for grownups!

Go to the Warm Winter Hat tutorial

Easy-Peasy Bunched Fleece Scarf

Also great for grownups is this extremely easy bunched scarf tutorial from the Just Another Hang Up website. It’s so quick to make and uses so little material that it costs next to nothing!

Go to the Easy Peasy Fleece Scarf tutorial

Men’s Fleece Hoodie

Guys need to stay warm, too, so this Fleece Hoodie tutorial from Craftstylish is perfect. And you don’t even need a pattern—just a T-shirt that fits him and maybe another hoodie to get the shape of the hood right.

Go to the Men’s Fleece Hoodie tutorial

Even if you’re not going to be spending much time outside in the cold, there are still some great things you can make:

Wearable Fleece Baby Blanket

This project, also from Make It and Love It, is like a sleeping bag with arm-holes for a baby! It keeps him nice and warm but still lets him get around.

Go to the Wearable Fleece Baby Blanket tutorial

Clean-Cornered Fleece Blanket

For a more grown-up blanket, this tutorial from The Distracted Domestic can teach you how to make a fleece blanket of any size with nice, clean, sharp corners every time! You’ll be surprised at how easy it is.

Go to the Clean-Cornered Fleece Blanket tutorial

Fleece Monster Pillow

And finally, just for fun comes this adorable Fleece Monster Pillow tutorial from Bernina’s We All Sew website.

Go to the Fleece Monster Pillow tutorial

Even though it looks like the weather is clearing and all all the ice and snow is leaving us, these all still make excellent weekend projects.

Do you have any favorite fleece projects? Leave a comment and tell us all about it. If you try any of these projects, please email a photograph to info@qualitysewing.com or post it on our Facebook wall.

Happy Sewing,
Chris

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Posted in Fast Projects & Gifts, How To Guides, Projects and Techniques, Sewing | 1 Comment »

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