Tips on Tuesdays -> Pressing

Hi!  I thought today would be a good day to do a tip.  I feel like I'm suddenly overflowing with them.  So here's the thing - I tell you a tip of mine, and you leave your favorite tip in the comments.  It's like take a penny, leave a penny.

Today's topic is Pressing.  Many of you have probably seen this product before.  It's about $5.  Like the label says, it's a 'starch'.  People use it prior to quilting or applique.  It helps the fabric to stay where it is by adding a little starch.  You simply spray it on and press.

BUT DID YOU KNOW... 

I discovered that applying this solution will take out ANY and ALL wrinkles in the fabric!  Even stiff batiks that have been neatly folded for a year... hand dyed fabrics that hold on to those nasty rumples.  No kidding.  I tried hot, hot steam irons, and still some wrinkles just do not budge.  I thought I'd give a spritz of Best Press and sure enough, the nasty wrinkles are gone like magic.  Isn't that cool?

Got any pressing tips?  Please leave them in the comments for everyone to share.  If you'd like to find more useful tips like this one, you can click HERE which links you at all Tips on Tuesday posts at My Sweet Prairie.  Don't forget to read through the comments!  There's a wealth of knowledge in there!  ; )

Have a wrinkle-free day,

Expanding Your Horizons

I had a good time on Saturday at Creative House.  It was a small gathering and more informal than we had anticipated.  Wendy bought SO much food.  Her grand kids and my children got to pig out on fresh fruit and cheese for the rest of the night, so it all turned out great.  : )  Thank you to the women who came!  I had a great little catch up with an old high school friend who showed up, not knowing that it was me she was coming to see!  ; )

Pretty Penny did a good job.  I am really surprised how often I meet Janome and Horizon 7700P owners that didn't know about awesome features or can't get something to work (hey- I was one of them!).  I had two phone calls this month plus an email asking for Horizon advice.

Did you know there's an extra-high presser foot lift?  That's great for stuffing quilts under, or a stabilizer hoop.

Did you also know that there's a little screw to adjust the height of the presser foot for free motion stitching?  You don't need a screwdriver.  You just use your fingertip to adjust it.  You'll want it lower if you are working on scrim or any thinner surface.  You'll want it higher if you are quilting a big fat quilt.  How high?  I tell people to set it at the lowest level you can that will not create any drag at all.  You want it somewhat close as it acts to stabilize the fabric at the point of quilting.  When the foot is too high, your fabric can bounce while you FMQ or threadpaint, and this will ultimately cause skipped stitches.

Another tips with the Horizon is to get the needle plate engaged for FMQ.  Again, this stabilizes the fabric while quilting and will prevent those horrible skipped stitches when you free-motion pretty curls. Read your manual.  It's easy to do.

Hands down, the Horizon loves Topstitch needles.  I do use a lot of Wonderfil thread, and they also suggest topstitch for nearly all their threads.  Maybe that's the variable.  So... Topstitch it is.  It has a long, long eye and I never get shredded threads ever.

When most people free motion quilt on a domestic machine, they lower the top tension to achieve even stitches that meet-in-the-middle of the quilt sandwich.  If the top is too loose or the bottom is too tight, you will get those horrible eyelashes / feathers on the back.  With the horizon, you can leave it on auto tension for the top, and change to this alternate 'blue arrow' bobbin case.  The blue arrow bobbin case is pre-set with a lower tension and creates PERFECT FMQ stitches.  You don't have to fiddle and test on a sample first.  I used to get eyelashes all the time no matter how carefully I sewed or how precise I thought I was setting my machine tension manually.  I found that when I tightened up the top thread, I would ended up getting my top thread snapping during quilting.  Everything was too tight: top and bottom.  That's enough to make me cry.  This blue arrow case is brilliant, it's only $25, and OMG it fits my old non-computerized Kenmore!!  wow.

With that in mind, I popped my other loosely-set 'play' bobbin case (yes - I have another case for bobbin work) into that old 12 stitch Kenmore.  It worked!!  I marked it green for fun with nail polish.  This is the one I play with and set very loose according to the cord / floss I use.  I don't want to play around with my other ones because they are perfect and I would like them to stay that way.

bobbin play sampler

Now I'm really looking forward to doing bobbin sewing on my Horizon - all the pretty stitches she has!

So I was thinking...
If any other Horizon owners would like to get together to experiment with the machine together, or if you need help troubleshooting, I would love to gather at Creative House in the sewing area.  We can set up and sew together for a couple hours. If you are upgrading from a Kenmore to a Janome, the presser feet are the same on the low shank machines FYI.  The bobbins & bobbin cases are all the same for high or low shank Janome & Kenmore. 

I'm linking this in as a "Tips on Tuesdays".  I hope many of you find this helpful.  : )  And yes - I drop the dogs, especially when threadpainting on a low, thin piece.  On quilts, I don't notice drag if I forget.

Have a great day everyone!  I hope this was helpful.

Tips on Tuesdays! -> Spools

It's been a long time!  Today I feel like doing a Tips on Tuesdays post.

 

Remember those?  I post a topic and you add as many related tips in the comments section as you like.  It's like take a penny, leave a penny.  : )  You can see all the Tips on Tuesdays posts by going to the My Tutorials link at the top of this blog.  The topic I'm picking for today is Thread Spools.  Why?  I bought these big 1000 meter spools of Wonderfil, and the spool cap doesn't have room.  These spools are just a little too long for my Janome and for my Kenmore.  See?

You go like that... and this happens...  PLOP.

I was trying to chop off the spool's tube end, but that was a big disaster.  Then (eureeka!) I turned the spool cap around.  The pokey park slips right inside the spool tube.  See?

 : )  It works like a charm.  Easy.

Tada!  I feel like Dora the Explorer when she runs into a complication and calmly orders the panicking monkey to "Let's stop and think".  : )  haha

Any tips you'd like to share on the topic of threads / thread spools?  What do you do when something doesn't fit?

~Monika

Tips on Tuesdays! - > Printing on Fabric

Welcome to Tips on Tuesdays!  This is a sharing post, so please leave your ideas in the comments section for others to read.  If you blog, you can grab the red button on the sidebar, which links to all Tips on Tuesday posts.  Each week is a different theme.  This week, the topic is "Printing on Fabric".

I have only printed on fabric a few times.  The first thing I had to learn was that you need an ink jet printer, not laser.  You don't need anything fancy.  Most people want to get rid of theirs because the ink is so expensive.  I got one for free through FreeCycle.  You could check things like Kijiji also.

Printing on fabric is not waterproof unless you find specially treated fabric that will hold the ink even through a wash.  I have never printed for a quilt, but I have printed for art or postcards (things that won't get washed).  One way you can do this is to cut a piece of freezer paper the size of a printer sheet.  You then lie the fabric onto the waxy side of the paper and press.  The heat will temporarily met the plastic, causing the fabric to stick to the freezer paper.  People use this method for applique.  One you are done, trim the fabric perfectly to the size of the paper.  Now you have a sheet that you can feed through your printer (hopefully) without the fabric getting caught or jammed.  PLEASE be careful if you are trying this, and make sure your fabric is completely stick to that paper!  Then press print.

printing a photo I took of my black-eyed Susans from the garden in the fall.

Then what?  Well, I did some free motion stitching to outline this one.  It made a striking effect.

detail

You can also free motion stitch in coordinating colors.  This is a photo I took of a columbine.

I then printed it onto fabric, and stitched it to create a postcard.

I'm happy how this one turned out!  Beads in the center for embellishment.

If you are worried about things smudging, I've sprayed the printed fabric with this.  It helps to keep the ink from smudging onto your hands while you sew.

spray it outside or in the garage.  POISON POISON

How about you?  Have you ever printed images onto fabric?  What is the most permanent way you have found?  Do tell!  We would love to learn from you.  Share your tips or links to useful webpages below.  It's like take a penny, leave a penny.

Thanks so much!
~Monika

Tips on Tuesdays! -> Color pt 2

Hello and welcome to Tips on Tuesdays! This is a sharing post, so please feel free to add tips or links in the comments section at the bottom of this post.  Every week is a new theme, and if you click on the red button in the left sidebar, it will list all Tips on Tuesdays! blog posts for you to read.  Feel free to grab the button if you are a blogger.

The theme is week is COLOR.

What about color?  One mistake I often make is dashing out in the middle of a project empty handed, only to stand in the fabric store and stare at 50 shade of blue, thinking "darn!  I swear I'd remember which one I needed!"  Thread, fabric... I do it all the time.  I don't want to haul around what I'm working on, and I don't always have a sample to take.  So, Tip #1 is to take a sample to the store.  Color-matching Plan B would be to use these fabulous and free samples.

paint sample cards from the hardware store

I have a whole schwack of these in a big ziploc bag.  It really comes in handy.  So often I think I can pick out the shade of grey or green from memory... but as my kids would say, "FAIL".  These color sample cards are really great when you want to audition a new color into the mix you already have.  Plus, the backs are white so you can jot little notes on the back if you need.

My last tip is a repeat from one of my earliest tips.  I still use it a lot.  It's the selvedges.  If you are trying to coordinate with a particular print, just take a look at the selvedge.  It contains a dot of every ink used in the fabric itself.

Coincidentally, the black circle it's in will tell you if the color was printed properly or not according to the design.  I'm always amazed at what colors I will notice I didn't notice at first.  Take this fabric for example:

And now look through the color dots.  There are likely to be some good ones you may not have seen right away.

I also have 2 books from our guild library that deal specifically with color.  They are fantastic, and fairly new.  One is "Quiltmaker's Color Workshop" by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr.  WOW.  I would have photographed every page to show you, but that's just wrong.  It is a fabulous book.  The second book I picked up is this one which is equally as good.

a really great read for the summer

Okay, now it's your turn.  You have to leave a tip.  It's like take a penny, leave a penny.  Anything goes, as long as it is related to sewing and color.

Thanks!
~Monika

Tips on Tuesdays! - > Picture Perfect

Welcome to Tips on Tuesdays!  This is a sharing post, so feel free to leave tips or helpful links in the comments section at the end of this post.  The red button in the left sidebar links to all Tips on Tuesdays posts if you feel like staying a while and looking around.  The topic this week is all about taking photos of your work.

I am not a professional photographer, but I have learned a lot about getting good photos of my quilts and art through trial and error (mostly error).  Everyone will tell you that lighting is important.  It's true.  I don't even bother snapping pictures for you to see after the sun has gone down.  Any amount of color & lighting correction doesn't seem to help.  It always looks orange.

The same goes for daytime photos.  There is such thing as bad daytime lighting.  When it's too dim, my photos always seem to look a icy blueish, and I end up having to warm them up a bit after I load them onto my computer.

Lately I've become really good at taking photos that require no post editing, which is a HUGE time saver.  My camera has a brightness adjuster, and a blue/red color adjuster that I can manually set before I snap the photo.  Even my phone can do that.  I use it all the time now, and watch closely in the camera monitor to ensure the color looks true to life.

I never use a flash because it makes artificial and harsh shadows.  I put my smaller work on a light surface in a naturally lit room (but not in direct sunlight), with white sheer curtains that diffuse the light well, and white walls nearby.  So far it seems to really work good.  I also use a tripod or set the camera on something stable.

Those tips can make the difference between this:

night / artificial lighting.  Blurry & orange.

things look blue on a cloudy day

and this:

diffused sunlight, daytime shot, true to original color

By the way, THANK YOU JO in Nova Scotia for this lovely postcard!!  

It is always a favorite everywhere I take it.  : )  

Another tip - I take all my blog pics on the smallest resolution possible, so I can blog longer.  'Big' photos eat up space fast, and some people's home computers might not be able to load your blog at all (my mother in-law, case in point).  As far as I can see, PC mode looks just the same on the blog as a 1200 megapixel shot.  Now if you are photographing your work to submit to magazines, they'll tell you what size they want, but for printing purposes, go with the higher settings always.

Have you ever snapped a photo of something square, and it comes out ballooned, like it's in a fish-eye-lens?  The trick to taking square photos is to stand back and then zoom in if you need to.  I do this with postcards and quilts alike.  It isn't an issue with my new camera, but it was with my five yr old camera.

Finally, when photographing stitchery, do it BEFORE you add the glass.  ; )  Again - I learned this through trial and error (but mostly error).  lol  Otherwise, your reflection will be in the photo... or your stack of dirty dishes behind you...  or your kids fighting over Lego.  You get the picture.

Got any tips!??  See any great links or posts?  Please share!

~Monika

Tips on Tuesdays! -> Light

Welcome to Tips on Tuesdays!  If you are new here, this is a sharing post.  It's like 'take a penny, leave a penny'.  If you blog, you can grab the red button on the left sidebar.  By clicking it, you will link to all Tips on Tuesdays posts where you can find lots of brilliant ideas in the comments.  This week's theme is LIGHT.  You can leave your tip at the end of this post.

Lighting your work is so important.  I would love to hear your feedback on any of the following illumination issues:

Lighting in your sewing room

Lighting your work on display

Lighting while hand or machine stitching

Lighting while matching colors / fabrics / thread

Lighting while photographing your work

Do you use any particular lighting for when you are working on your projects?

Piecing isn't so much a big deal for me.  I can do that any time.  But I do find that I cannot do my fibre art at night.  I just don't have enough lighting that keeps the colors true.  I have one big window in my sewing room, and I work best during the middle of the day.

For photographing, I like a well lit room full of natural light, but not direct sun on the item being photographed.  I have white sheers hanging in the window which really helps diffuse the light more evenly.  I also found that my whole work space lights up when I have white walls.  If your walls aren't white, you can put up a big styrofoam board which also serves to put up your work.  You could use white flannel or even hand a white curtain just to light up the space better.

I came across this article yesterday which has good tips:  CLICK HERE

What about you?  Do share!

Have a terrific Tuesday!
~Monika

Tips on Tuesdays! -> Marking

Welcome to Tips on Tuesdays!  This is a sharing post, like take a penny / leave a penny... You can leave your tips in the comments section at the end for others to read.  The Tips on Tuesdays button on the left sidebar will link you to ALL Tuesday posts.  Feel free to copy & paste the image and link info to you own page if you like.  Each week is a different theme.  This week's topic is "Marking".

I don't do a lot of marking, but when I need to, I really like the markers that are air soluble.  It's like magic ink.  It goes on purple, and in 24 hours it vanishes mysteriously.  I use those markers (by Unique) for some of my small works before I stitch.  They don't go on smoothly... you have to scratch it on, but they do work.  I like them because I don't need to heat or wash it to remove it.  I did test it on white cotton first, and it did disappear completely.  (Please excuse the crappy photo, from a store website.)

There is a great reference page HERE if you'd like to check it out. 

I did mark an entire quilt with a blue chalk wheel marker once, and by the time I had finished 1/4 of the quilting, all my markings were gone.  (Note to self:  mark sections at a time.)  The chalk just rubbed off as the quilt was handled during the quilting process.

I have also used masking tape when I need a straight-line guide.  You could use this method to quilt from point to point.  You simply quilt beside the tape.   I did this with the poles, to keep my stitches straight.  I couldn't fool with chalk because this piece will not be washed.  I've also used tape to hold guides down, like this:

What about you?  What marking methods have you disliked (and why), and what marking methods are you favorite (and why)?

Thanks for sharing!  Quilters learn best from each other.  ; )

~Monika

Tips on Tuesdays! -> Your Favorite Gadget

Hi!  Welcome to Tips on Tuesdays!  This is a sharing post, so please add your links or tips into the comments section.  This week's topic is GADGETS.  To see all Tuesday posts, simply click on the button in the sidebar.  You are welcome to add the button link to your blog page if you like.

So here we go!  My favorite gadgets include some brass Clover brand notions.  First, I love my adjustable ring thimble.

If I need a thimble, this is what I like.  It won't fall off my finger tip for one!  And I wear it in the spot that I typically would stab myself.  This happens to be on the middle finger of my sewing hand, between the middle two knuckles.  So that's about halfway between my fingernail and where you would position a jewelery ring.  Then all my other fingers are free for sewing. 

My other favorite gadget is this, also by clover.  It's another adjustable ring, but this time it comes with a blade!

I used this a lot when we were stuck in waiting rooms or in the van while one of the kids took lessons.  (dance... you know how it is!).  So I would do my binding and this worked pretty well.  You just have to remember you're wearing it or you could chop out some of your hair.  lol  I'm just sayin...

And my other favorite gadget are these titanium spring loaded snips.  They lock on the back and come with a blade cover.  These rock.  I use them for fabric, embellishments, and thread. 

I believe they are made by SoftKUT.  What else?  Embroidery needles are terrific, especially for binding and redwork.  The eye has a goove so that the thread lies flat as you pull the needle through without that tug&POP!

I could go on and on.  So, do share!  What are your top picks when it comes to favorite gadgets?  Why do you like them so?

Thanks for sharing!
Tell a friend  : )

~Monika

Tips on Tuesdays! -> Spring Cleaning

Welcome to tips on Tuesdays!!  This is a sharing post, so please leave your ideas in the comments section below.  This week's topic is SPRING CLEANING.  So see all Tips on Tuesdays posts, click on the red button in the left sidebar.  You can also grab the button for your blog if you like.

I'm glad you are all loving my before & after shots of the sewing room!  What a disaster it was.  The art supplies make the biggest mess.  I have beads and ribbon and embroidery floss and decorative yarns and buttons and lace and ...  you get the idea.  The problem was, if I need yellow embellishments, then I end up taking out all my supplies.  I got smart, and now all my yellow everything is in one clear box (with the exception of fabric).  My red embellishments are together in a box, all blue in another box, etc...  I do the same with fabric in bins.  I've folded the big pieces and bagged the scraps.

embellishments by color in boxes, fabric by color in bins.  easy.

My embellishments are divided into the following colors:

Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Purple, Orange, Black, White, Brown.

Yes, brown is a color in my world.  This system works really great for me.  For instance, if I'm doing snow in a scene, I'll take out the white box and from there I just look for the right texture or sheen.  Maybe beads, maybe angelina fibres, maybe dryer sheets.

I also found these two fabulous ideas for my thread.  #1 - big 12x12 clear flat stackable scrapbooking boxes for $6 from Michael's on sale:

I have four stackable boxes, and the lids lock shut.  love it.

Fabulous idea #2 - Marathon Incredible Tape.  I got it at Creative House Sewing & Embroidery Centre.  It's like window decal static-plastic on a roll.  That's the best I can describe it.  It's not sticky tape at all.  So now I'm wrapping my 197 spools of thread so they can lie in the boxes and not unravel.  Those rayons & metalic threads are the biggest culprits!  Now, I've got it all under control.  It's mobile too.  Awesome.

And what about you?  Do you have any Spring Cleaning stories to share?  I would love to hear them!  ; )

please share!  Links welcome.

~Monika