Sew On - Sew Off Method
Ok I know we all want to use that wonderful thread...you know the one I am talking about! That expensive spool of extra-long staple Egyptian cotton thread for piecing like the King Tutt from Superior Threads. After all, if we are using good fabrics it doesn't make sense to use cheap thread right? Well being the penny pincher that I can "bee" I love to save on this thread as much as I can. I want to share with you my method for making that spool last way longer that you can imagine! Here's how. Take a piece of scrap fabric...say a 2" square and fold in half. Then when you come to the end of piecing, sew this in right behind that last fabric. See picture below!
This eliminates pulling out several inches of this really good, expensive thread not only from the top spool in the machine but also from the bobbin! (Double savings here!) Once you have sewn onto this small scrap, just take your small pair of scissors and snip that little connecting thread and voila! You have only used about 1" from the top spool and 1" from the bobbin instead of perhaps 5" to 6" off of each. This translates to yards of thread being saved instead of ending up in the clippings basket, less spools over time purchased and more money in your pocket!
Now to begin again...you simply just take your next fabrics to be sewn and lead them in right in behind your small piece of scrap fabric that is still in the machine. Sew as normal and snip the little scrap and reuse! See picture below.
Now as a rule of thumb, I used to tell my students beige thread for warm colors, grey thread for cool. This way the thread blends so much better and your stitches don't show on the top of your quilt!
- Date:
- January 8, 2012
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I finished the baby bud wreath a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed doing the rosebuds! I can't tell you what a time-saver it was to do them with wired ribbon. I just simply took approx. 2" of wired ribbon, folded it into a triangle shape and twisted at the bottom. Then I inserted it into the calyx of the rosebud and stitched away! Also to make it extra secure I tacked it down at the tip of the rose bud with a little gold seed bead. I also find that I can take my needle as I am stitching my rosebud in place and manipulate the folds of the rose bud to get just the right look I want before I stitch it in place. That is very helpful!
Now you may notice that the embroidery was done using the 3 strands of embroidery floss I talked about in a previous newsletter about 3 months back. I absolutely love this method. It, to me, is so much better than varigated thread. (Now this is just my humble opinion!) I will include a close up picture so you can see. I didn't need to twist the strands together I just threaded my embroidery needle and let the stem stitch do the work for me! Truly a tip worth sharing!
- Date:
- November 11, 2011
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Well here it is. This is the foundation of my first crazy quilt block. Not too bad! I was thankful I was in a class with a teacher because at first I thought oh no problem. I will just through a few of my favorite velvets, silks, etc. together and then I can get to my favorite part...the embellishing! Well that's not quite how it works! There's lots more matching than I thought! I am also thinking of doing an all white and cream one which I was told will be less stressful matching wise than this one. All in all I am please with how it is coming out. That night after the class I went home and got out a piece of venice lace I dyed in a different class a while back and put it against the red velvet. Perfect! I sewed it down and I am putting pearls and beads on it. I will post pictures of it periodically!
- Date:
- April 22, 2011
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