Bratz Doll Clothes – Easy Sew Designs

April 25, 2012 – 3:36 pm

Bratz dolls are indeed very popular. Maybe you are a Bratz doll fan, too If you would love to sew some clothes for them to wear, try some of these great doll-clothing design tips. My clothes are very easy to make, and they are quite fashionable, too. I try to design styles that are both kid-friendly and parent pleasing, using bright complimentary colors and textures.

Doll clothes patterns are available to purchase in many fabric stores, but I have not yet found any patterns for Bratz dolls. So, I came up with these designs through trial and error. Using inexpensive fabric such as muslin, I experimented with new items until I had some that fit the Bratz dolls "just right." I then traced the muslin clothing items onto paper to use as patterns for future sewing. This sounds scary, I know. But actually, it allowed for greater freedom when sewing dolls clothes to fit "exactly the way you pictured them in your mind." Sometimes I had to resize and sew up a muslin item many times before getting it to fit well. In other instances, I got things "right the first time."

Designing your own patterns allows you to incorporate your own style ideas into the clothes. For instance, I made a dress with only one sleeve, and added a vinyl belt that fastens with Velcro. I also created a night shirt pattern that has sleeves cut right in. For that reason, they did not have to be sewn in separately. This worked out well, because I have never really enjoyed sewing sleeves onto the bodice of a garment. Also, I prefer to put an elastic waistband on pants so that it is easier to slide the pants onto the dolls. Being able to adjust patterns, I was able to include this elastic waistband feature on the doll pants.

The best way to go about a project like this is to make sure that you are in a calm, relaxed state of mind. You do not want to feel rushed or irritable, or you may be setting yourself up for frustration. Be patient and allow yourself to make mistakes with the muslin. You may have to "fine tune" your attempts to make the clothes. For remember, some of the best ideas start out as mistakes

Fran Matthews is a mom who enjoys crafts and cooking. For photos of this project, see [http://www.bestdesignercrafts.com/]

By Sandy Rutherforde | Posted in Sewing Machine | Comments Off

SINGER(R) Introduces New FUTURA(TM) Line of All-in-One Sewing and Embroidery Machines: PC and Sewing Machine Merge, Providing Gateway to Creativity for All Levels of Sewers

April 25, 2012 – 3:36 pm

HAMILTON, Bermuda (PRWEB) July 25, 2007

"Over half of all sewers who do not currently embroider are interested in learning how," said Don Fletcher, CEO of SVP Worldwide. "And those who attempt to embroider typically encounter the challenges of the complexity of the craft and expensive equipment. The new SINGER FUTURA machines are easy to use and very affordable. Whether you are a beginning embroiderer who wants the ability to create trendy looks and personalized items or an avid sewer longing for an embroidery machine, the new FUTURA line is for everyone."

The new SINGER FUTURA machine, with its unique link to a computer, makes embroidery much easier. With the SINGER FUTURA machine, the embroiderer prepares everything on their PC and simply sends the complete design, with all colors, through the USB Port directly into the SINGER FUTURA machine, ready for stitching. Sewers can view their designs in full color on their PC versus an LCD screen built into the sewing machine. The USB connectivity makes transferring the design effortless without scrolling through menus or files.

The embroidering possibilities are endless using the SINGER FUTURA machines. In addition to the 120 built-in embroidery designs, the new product line can receive, adapt and embroider designs from other manufacturers as well as thousands of elite embroidery designs available online. Additional software packages are also available for use with the new SINGER FUTURA machine with the following tools that make advanced embroidery techniques easy to accomplish.

-- AutoPunch(TM) - Converts clip art into embroidery

-- Editing - Personalizes existing designs

-- HyperFont(TM) - Converts your PC's TrueType font into embroidery

-- Auto Cross-Stitch(TM) - Converts clip art into cross-stitching design

-- Photo Stitch(TM) - Converts photos into stitch-filled embroidery designs.

In addition, three StayBright LED(TM) lights provide an extra bright sewing surface and a new sensor will stop the machine if it detects the thread has broken.

"Our extensive worldwide research has provided the knowledge we needed to create products consumers want," said Brad Hunsaker, Global Vice President of Sales and Marketing for SVP Worldwide. "Whether sewers are ready to upgrade from an entry level machine or take their skilled sewing to the next level through personalization and embellishment, the new SINGER FUTURA machine's unique computer-linked embroidery machine is their answer."

About SVP Worldwide(R)

SVP Worldwide, a global company headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda and doing business through its affiliated companies in over 190 countries, specializes in the design, manufacture and sale of high quality household sewing machines and related products under the SINGER(R), HUSQVARNA VIKING(R), and PFAFF(R) brand names. For more information about the Company and the company's brands view the following websites: http://www.svpworldwide.com, http://www.singer.com, http://www.pfaff.com, and http://www.husqvarnaviking.com.

About Singer:

Founded in 1851, Singer is one of the world's leading sellers of consumer and artisan sewing machines. To date, Singer maintains a strong international presence, with manufacturing facilities in Brazil and China, 10 overseas marketing operations and a network of third-party distributors selling product in more than 190 countries. The company has a long history of innovation in the sewing machine industry, having produced, among other breakthroughs, the world's first portable machine in 1921 and its first computer-controlled machine in 1978.

http://prweb.com/printer/542618.htm

By Sandy Rutherforde | Posted in Sewing Machine | Comments Off

How to Find Free Quilting Patterns Online

April 25, 2012 – 2:59 pm

There is decades of history behind quilting whereby women used whatever fabric scraps they could find which dates back to the early USA history and women usually designed their own patterns. Believe it or not but this trend is still carried out by the quilting communities. If you are looking to find free quilting patterns online there are hundreds of different patterns available. Freepatterns.com is a good website as well as pmquilting.com. These patterns come with step by step instructions and useful tips for all levels of quilters.

A way of getting people to visit the quilting sites is by offering free patterns. You will find numerous listings on the Google search engine n particular. You will be able to find easy quilts for babies as well as traditional USA quilts such as floral designs, log cabin, Disney and many more. There is no shortage when it comes to designs as there are butterflies, traditional designs as well as nautical and the list goes on.

San Francisco Singer Sewing Machine Retailer, Sunset Sewing and Vacuum Announces Discounted Singers Confidence and Jukis Sewing Machines

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 28, 2011

The San Francisco Singer sewing machine retailer, Sunset Sewing and Vacuum announces a sale on the popular Confidence model 7470. The regular retail price is $589 but clients can obtain the Confidence at the discounted price of $389 during the month of August. This is in addition to the ongoing sale on the Jukis models 735 and 623. Jukis model 735 is on sale for $999, down from the regular price of $1,200 and model 623 is discounted from $499 to $350.
This is my first brand new machine. I had always received hand-me-downs before and they were never good machines to begin with. I would rate myself as a decent sewer. I recently got into quilting and found that this machine will give nice stitches so you don't have to worry about your project falling apart. If you have ever had that happen, you know how devastating it can be. I think this machine would be good for anyone, even if they are new to sewing. The manual is super easy and so is winding the bobbin and threading the machine. I did a lot of research and for the features, this was the best quality for the price, said Brand Roberts.
The Confidence model has an automatic needle threader that can help save time and has the ability to sew shapes and patterns as well as letters and numbers. The sewing machine includes different accessories such as an all-purpose foot, buttonhole foot, zipper foot, satin stitch foot and blind hem foot. Also included are needles, bobbins, auxiliary spool pin, spool pin felts, spool pin caps, seam ripper/lint brush, screwdriver, dust cover, power cord and an instruction manual.
The MO-735 has the distinction of being one of the least expensive sewing machines on the market that features a five thread serger with the ability to do a cover stitch. Additionally, it is quiet and uses regular sewing machine needles.
Interested clients can visit the store located at 1512 Irving St. San Francisco CA 94122 and view different machines and accessories or call (415) 564-1802 for more information. They may also visit the stores website at http://www.sanfranciscovacuums.com.
About Sunset Sewing and Vacuum
Sunset Sewing and Vacuum is a one-stop shop for everything sewing. They sell machines, supplies and offer repairs. They have been serving the city of San Francisco for more than 38 years. The family-owned store also carries a full line of vacuums, with the best models in stock from Miele Vacuums and Dyson Vacuums to just name a few. They offer same-day service and free estimates.

...
More »

Many of these quilting websites will redirect you to other valuable quilting sites for quilting patterns. Over the years quilters have passed their patterns down from one quilter to another. There are so many patterns and you are sure to find the patterns you are looking for and more. If there is a particular pattern you are looking for, you will most definitely find it online. If you have just started out, you will most definitely have to familiarize yourself with all the tools and accessories required. Besides patterns these websites also offer an array of quilter's tools, fabrics and accessories.

The free patterns online include designs such as plaids, baby designs, country themes, appliqus and an array of animal designs. You can chose from over two to three thousand different quilting patterns and if you are creative you can combine some of the various patterns off these websites. When starting off work around your present dcor as a theme can be difficult to choose.

Hexagon Quilt – Lessons I Learned From Making a Quilt

A Hexagon Quilt is not just a quilt made from hundreds of hexagon-shaped patches. It is a lesson in

a) patience; b) ingenuity; c) discovering how to take pleasure in making something slowly; d) plus finding yet another fabric to add to the variety. I will expand on these qualities later in the article.

Old quilts, perhaps 100 years old or more, have been found to often still contain the paper templates, usually old letters or newspapers, it is fascinating reading these bits of family news or snippets of world affairs.

I had wanted to make a Hexagon Quilt for many years. I first saw one on a visit to the Sovereign Hill Pioneer Settlement, at Ballarat, Victoria (Australia). This wonderful tourist attraction takes all day to tour and discover, and you could still go back the next day to finish the job. In one of the Pioneer Cottages, one of the more affluent pioneers who had three rooms, my first glimpse of the bedroom included that item I had always admired on the single rough timber bed was a hexagon quilt. Not showing a particular pattern, as many do, but with lots of different fabrics, as they would have been made in those difficult circumstances, using any available scrap of fabric. I call it Country-style. I was entranced, by the fresh appearance and by the work that had obviously gone into it - as a woman who has sewn many items, I was only too well aware of the amount of time and effort that it would have taken to construct. I decided there and then that I would one day, soon, make one myself, little knowing the life lessons that it would impart to me.

I did start that year. I looked up some instructions, and discovered they are usually made using English Paper Piecing. This means;

a) a paper template is cut and a piece of fabric slightly larger is folded over the paper, pinned, tacked and sewn down; paper is removed; b) after making hundreds of these, they are oversewn together; c) the piece is lined, quilted, and finally slept under.

After my initial burst of enthusiasm, I was caught up in other things, and it became a UFO (unfinished object) temporarily. Then my husband had a stroke, and while he was in hospital, I needed some distraction from my worries. I pulled out my hexagons, checked out my...

Visit the quilter's forums as well as mystery quilts and the quilters nuggets where you will find different patterns or you can ask family members or join up with a quilting community in your area. Quilting patterns that are truly valuable are those of your grandmothers or friends grandmothers which they have kept all these years. You will find that most of the best aspects of quilting are searching for patterns as this can occupy you for hours on end.

There are great ideas when it comes to beginners patterns or if you want to quilt quickly. You will find comprehensively well illustrated free block quilting patterns. There are also pinwheel blocks as well as full and half cabin block patterns. Patterns for wall hangings, beds and much more are available online. One can quilt accessories such as beach bags, coats and jackets. There is no limit when it comes to quilting.

By using your computers you can also do transfer printing. There are eco friendly websites that have quilting patterns made from recycled materials such as denim and old shirts etc. you will find valuable information such as hand and machine sewing as well as how to starch and a mired of other ideas and tips.

Michelle Reynolds really loves quilting, and wants to share her passion for quilting by giving ideas on where to look for free online quilting patterns. She highly recommended this site [http://allthingsforquilting.com/category/quilting-patterns/]

By Chloe Gib | Posted in Quilting | Comments Off
-->