Sew a Dresden Sunflower from Fabric Scraps,Sewing Tip—Easy

Sewing With Nancy on the Road at Quilt Expo
This week’s Sewing With Nancy online video leaves the studio and takes the show on the road! During this
special program, we visit the Quilt Expo, showing you the newest trends in quilting, techniques, fabrics, and more.
Watch online right now—just click here.
Here’s a preview of the TV show!
New machines and products
We head to the Baby Lock booth for a visit with Educator Cathy Brown. Cathy demonstrates a longarm sewing
machine with a Stitch Regulator that communicates with the machine. So whether you move the quilt sandwich
slow or fast, the machine makes consistent stitches.
New Fabrics
Diane Magidson of Sew Batik tells us about hand dyed batik fabrics. She explains the importance of thread count
for quilt backings. I didn’t know thread count was important for the back of quilts, did you?
Prize Winning Quilts
NQA Certified Judge Klaudeen Hansen details what makes a prize-winning quilt while showing a quilt made by
Betty Ekern Suiter. Betty’s quilt was the Best of Show. Amazing!
Special Quilt Exhibits
Native American Quilter, Viola Colombe, shares techniques featured in her quilts as they hang in one of the Special
Exhibits at Quilt Expo. See more of Viola’s quilts in my previous blog posting, Stunning Lone Star Quilts—Learn
From a Master.
Kids’ Quilt Contest
The annual Kids’ Quilt Contest is open to all girls and boys ages 15 and under. The creativity of these young
participants is amazing! Watch interviews with a few of the talented kids as they talk about the process of making
their quilt.
Community Service Project, Quilt to Give
Next, watch my interview with Sharon Raimondo–a repeat volunteer at the Quilt to Give–Quilt Expo’s
Community Service Project. During the 3-day event, 13 quilts were stitched and completed by attendees. Plus,
an additional 16 bed-size quilts were generously donated to the Quilt to Give Project.
WMQFA Yurt
The most unique exhibit at the expo was the quilted yurt! See a glimpse into the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts
and Fiber Arts Quilted Yurt—a portable, circular dwelling on a collapsible framework, traditionally used by
nomads in Central Asia. The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts is currently seeking new quilted wall
hangings to grace the yurt. Read how to enter their challenge. The winning quilted wall hangings will become
part of the yurt for future touring exhibitions.
Sewing With Nancy on the Road, a 1-part Sewing With Nancy series, is this week’s online Sewing With
Nancy feature. Watch online or on PBS.
There are 52 programs to
watch online, or on your iPad,
iPod Touch, or iPhone. Have
you downloaded the app?
Bye for now,
Content in this feed is © copyright 2014 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission.
You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as
content on a blog or other website.
Seams Unlikely—Nancy Zieman Explains Why She Wrote An Autobiography
It ended up being a watershed day when
I keyed “Nancy Zieman” into the
Google search box. The terms “Nancy
Zieman face,” “Nancy Zieman stroke,”
and “Nancy Zieman smile” instantly
popped up. My first reaction was
embarrassment. Then I thought,
“What—not a mention of sewing or
quilting!”
That casual search caused me to pause, think, and realize that all of you watching Sewing With Nancy or paging
through a Nancy’s Notions catalog had good reason to wonder why my face is not symmetrical. After all, it’s
something I can’t hide!
What happens to us does not define us unless we let it.
Okay, I admit, writing an autobiography might appear like a rather pompous project. But all is not what it seems
or seams as in this case!
My reason for writing is this: Each of us faces challenges. Some are larger than others. But what happens to us
does not define us unless we let it. If this book can help others gain confidence in the face of challenge, that will
bring me great joy.
Read a sample chapter online or view the video
I’ve written a lot of books, but this is the first book without a single sewing or quilting tip or technique. To read a
sample chapter, visit SeamsUnlikey.com and click on “The Book”.
Or, view this short video.
httpvh://youtu.be/-mugEwLlxOU
I am generally a private person, but . . .
… once deciding to write an autobiography, I had to tell the story. (I liken it to wearing a skimpy swimsuit on a
crowded beach when you have no business wearing a bikini. Gulp.) Here are a few images from the book and
topics that are covered.
I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Bell’s palsy hit early, when I was 14 months old.
4-H played an important part of my life. That’s me hiding in the back row. Beth, Valerie, Vicki, Peggy, and I were
all wearing the jumpers and blouses we made in the second year of 4-H.
Facial issues were not my only physical challenge. That was a long, hot summer in leg casts.
I started Nancy’s Notions literally from the kitchen table. (Obviously my outfit that day was less than coordinated!)
Our first warehouse was once a chicken house!
As the business grew, more family members became involved. (My father-in-law Earl, and our son Ted, moving
into a new warehouse.)
Eventually, Nancy’s Notions home grew to this!
Sewing With Nancy had equally humble beginnings. Early TV shows were economically produced. It appears we
didn’t use the vacuum cleaner very often. Those are tape spike marks that show the placement for the
demonstration table. The studio was so small that we had to reset the studio between videotaping table and
sewing machine segments.
Now its lights, camera, and sewing action!
As Sewing With Nancy and our business grew, so did our family. This photo was taken on “Gotcha” Day, or the
day Tommy, our youngest son, arrived in our lives.
Our family has grown!
There’s a lot more in the book!
Seams Unlikely is a 300 page book with an extra 16-page section of photos. The book is now available in stores.
For a listing of stores/web sites where Seams Unlikely is available, visit SeamsUnlikey.com and click on ”Where
to Purchase”.
A portion of the proceeds from book sales will be donated to adoption services.
Read an online article from Book Fun Magazine, see page 52.
Ebooks now available
Seams Unlikely is now available at Amazon for Kindle readers, on Google Play for Android devices, at Barnes
and Noble for the Nook and from Apple in iBook formats. Enter search words, “Seams Unlikely”.
Blog Tour!
Today kicks off the Seams Unlikely Blog Tour. Twenty-eight talented bloggers have been sent an advance copy
of Seams Unlikely. Over the next two weeks each blog=ger will share a review of the book at their blog. Mark your
calendar to click below each day and read new insights into the book. Here’s the schedule:
February 4
Nancy Zieman
http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog
February 5
Eileen Roche
February 5
Pat Sloan
February 6
Melissa Stramel
http://melissaslilaclane.blogspot.com
February 6
The Long Ladies
http://www.mariemadelinestudio.typepad.com/
February 6
Tori Thompson
February 7
Amy Barickman
February 7
Melissa Mora
February 8
Shari Butler
February 8
Vicki Christensen
February 9
Carolina Moore
February 9
Kate Mclvor
February 10
Amy Ellis
February 10
Melissa Mortenson
http://dzgns.com/blog/
http://patsloan.typepad.com/
http://totallystitchin.net
http://www.indygojunction.com/blog/
http://mellysews.com
http://www.doohikeydesignstudio.com/blog/
http://www.sewinspiredblog.com/
http://alwaysexpectmoore.com
https://theconfidentstitch.squarespace.com/blog/
http://amyscreativeside.com/blog/
http://www.polkadotchair.com
February 11
Ilene Miller
February 12
Liz Hicks
http://happyvalleyprimitives.blogspot.com/
February 11
Rachael Pannepacker
February 12
Bill Gardner
February 12
Elizabeth Evans
February 13
Amy Webb
February 13
Lindsay Wilkes
February 14
Gertie Hirsch
February 14
Veronica Philips
February 15
Jenny Gabriel
February 15
Laura Wasilowski
http://artfabrik.com
February 16
Frieda Anderson
http://www.friestyle.com
February 16
Rita Farro
February 17
Cindy Cloward
February 17
Joan Hawley
http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/blog/
February 17
Patty Young
http://modkidboutique.blogspot.com
February 18
Nancy Zieman
http://blogerisms.blogspot.com/
http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/
http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/blogs/insideqn/
http://www.simplesimonandco.com
http://www.amylouwhosews.com/
http://thecottagemama.com/blog/
http://www.blogforbettersewing.com
http://cloverusa.wordpress.com/
http://www.sewvacoutletblog.com
http://ritassewfun.blogspot.com
http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/blog/
http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/
We’re giving away twenty copies of Seams Unlikely. Please leave a comment below to qualify for book
giveaways. Twenty random winners will be announced February 18, 2014.
Thought for the day!
Improbable. Doubtful. Unlikely. We often say those words out loud or plant them firmly in the back of our minds,
but they don’t have to be true.
Bye for now,
Nancy Zieman—author, pattern designer, businesswomen, producer, and national sewing authority—is the host of
the popular show Sewing With Nancy®, which appears exclusively on public television stations across the United
States and Canada. Follow Nancy’s Blog at NancyZieman.com/Blog and sign up to receive Nancy’s E-News for
the latest news in Sewing, Quilting, & Creating.
Content in this feed is © copyright 2014 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission.
You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as
content on a blog or other website.
Machine Embroidery Hooping Technique—No Slipping or Sliding
Hooping fabric for a machine embroidery project can be a little like learning to ice skate. No Choctaw turns, just
the hoop slipping and sliding around the table top and the possibility of your fabric being askew in the hoop.
To solve that issue, I like to use the No-Slip Hooping Mat.
Here’s how the No-Slip Hooping Mat works:
The mat has a large, cushy, no-slip surface to use with small to large hoops.
The laser-etched lines assist to accurately hoop the fabric. You can easily see the lines through most stabilizers.
There are seven nonslip feet to attach/adhere to the underside of the mat. Why feet? The height of the feet gives
the mat natural spring for less strain on your wrists when hooping the fabric.
Here’s how to hoop fabric, using a cut-away or tear-away stabilizer:
With the inner and outer hoops together, place them on the mat and align the vertical and horizontal hoop marks
with the mat lines.
Then, remove the inner hoop. Place the stabilizer on top of the outer hoop.
Determine where you’d like to center your embroidery. An easy way to align the fabric is to give it placement
lines—fold and/or press mark the fabric vertically and horizontally at the center point of embroidery placement.
Align the marks on the mat with the press marks on the fabric.
Unfold the fabric. Then place the inner hoop into the outer hoop.
Press down on the hoop. Bingo!
Next, here’s
how to hoop
when using an
adhesive
stabilizer:
This hooping is much like the previous process. Only this time, the self-adhesive or water-activated adhesive
stabilizer is hooped between the outer and inner fabric.
Remove the protective covering from the self-adhesive stabilizer or apply water to the water-activated adhesive
stabilizer.
A little sewing trivia: As I was keying in the term, “water-activated adhesive stabilizer” I couldn’t help but think
about the first stabilizer I used when sewing decorative stitches, hmm…The stabilizer? adding machine tape!
Next, place the hoop/stabilizer over the mat, again aligning laser-etched lines and marks on the hoop.
Press mark the fabric and align along the laser-etched marks on the mat.
Unfold the fabric, and finger press.
Now the fun part begins—attach the hoop to your computerized embroidery machine and stitch the design.
Check out more
details of the
No-Slip Hooping
Mat.
To read more about this hooping mat, click here. Or, view the video by clicking on the arrow icon.
httpvh://youtu.be/V9XSc_uvIZc
Bye for now,
Content in this feed is © copyright 2014 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission.
You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as
content on a blog or other website.
Absolute Easiest Way to Sew Piping
Sewing piping in a
seam adds great
detail to handbags,
accessories, and
home dec projects.
It’s a process that
may look challenging,
but as you might
guess, it isn’t! Here
are my favorite tips
on how to sew piping.
Cut 1-1/2″ wide bias strips if using 1/4″ seam allowances or 2″ wide bias strips if using 5/8″ seam allowances.
Join the strips. Align right sides and overlap ends as shown allowing 1/4″ to extend at each side. Stitch from Vshape to V-shape. Press the seam open .
Use fusible piping, called Wrap ‘n Fuse; the cording is sandwiched within a strip of fusible web. Using fusible
piping eliminates one stitching step!
Fold the bias strip in half, wrong sides together, and sandwich the cording in the fold of the fabric. Be sure that
the fusible web on the piping is covered by fabric.
Use the tip of an iron or Mini Iron to fuse the cording between the layers of fabric.
If needed, trim the seam allowances to either 1/4″ or 5/8″.
Align the cut edges of the piping along the edge of the fabric. Stitch using a zipper foot with the needle position
along the left side of the foot, allowing you to stitch close to the cording.
Or, use a Pearls N Piping Foot, the foot straddles the piping. It’s one of my favorite specialty presser feet.
This time, the needle should be positioned to the right side, as featured.
Keep the same foot on the machine with the needle at the same position.
Meet the fabrics, right sides together.
Stitch the seam, sewing along the same stitching line that was sewn to attach the piping.
Bonus tip!
To join ends of the piping, allow for a 1″ extension of fabric beyond the cording at the starting point. Fold back the
extended fabric.
Begin stitching 2″–3″ from the starting point.
When reaching the starting point, nest the end of the piping within the beginning point. Trim the cording pieces so
that they “kiss.”
Wrap the fabric around the ending point.
Stitch the seam.
All my favorite sewing tips are in one book
The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew chapters include:
Sewing Notions
Sewing Machine Confidence
Serger Spotlight
Patterns
Fabric Facts
Sewing Basics
Beyond the Basics
Watch Sewing With Nancy online.
For additional sewing insights and my favorite sewing techniques, check out my 3-part Sewing With Nancy
online TV series, The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew.
For a chance to win a of package of Wrap ‘n Fuse piping tell me what sewing topics you’d like to see in future
blog postings.
Bye for now,
Content in this feed is © copyright 2014 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission.
You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as
content on a blog or other website.
Add Designer Details to Towels in a Few Simple Steps
By Donna Fenske, Nancy’s Notions Guest Blogger
Give your kitchen or bath an instant upgrade by sewing ruffles to the bottom hem of toweling fabric or premade
towels. Discover this easy technique and dress up plain towels for yourself, or to give as gifts.
Start by laundering toweling fabric or purchased towels, as well as the fabric to be used for the ruffles. Press with
Best Press Starch Alternative to remove wrinkles and get nice, crisp fabrics to work with.
Next, cut the fabric strips needed for the ruffles and trim. You’ll need one 4″ wide crosswise strip for each ruffle. In
our example, we made three layers of ruffles. Also, cut one 1-1/2″ wide crosswise strip for the trim to cover the top
ruffle.
If using toweling fabric, hem the short edges to get a clean-finished edge. Use your serger, a zigzag stitch on your
sewing machine, or press under 1/2″ twice along each short edge and topstitch.
Mark the lines for attaching the ruffles on the towel. Starting from the bottom edge, use a marking pen or
pencil to draw a placement line from side to side at 2″, 3-1/2″, and 5″ from the edge. Mark an additional line at 51/4″ from the hem edge for trim placement.
Prepare the ruffle strips before attaching them. Fold each strip lengthwise, right sides together. Seam the short
edges with a 1/4″ seam allowance, trim, press, and turn right side out. Use the Bamboo Pointer Creaser to get
crisp, sharp corners. Turn strips right sides out and press. Serge or zigzag the long raw edges of the strips, leave a
long 3″–4″ thread tail on each.
Next, prepare the Ruffler Foot of your sewing machine, adjusting the Pleat Fullness Lever and Pleat Depth Screw
to achieve desired pleating on ruffles. The Pleat Fullness Lever controls how often the Ruffler Foot makes a gather
or pleat—either every stitch, every 6th stitch, or every 12th stitch. The Pleat Depth Screw regulates how deep each
pleat will be. Tighten for deeper ruffles; loosen for more shallow ruffles.
Attach the Ruffler Foot to the sewing machine, and adjust the stitch length to a basting stitch. Ensure the needle is
in the center position, and raise the needle bar to its highest position. Attach the Ruffler Foot to the machine,
placing the Fork Arm over the needle clamp screw.
Next, create ruffled strips using the Ruffler Foot. Hold the thread tail of one of the fabric strips, and weave the strip
under the pronged Separator Blades in front of the foot. Continue threading the strip under the movable Ruffling
Blade teeth and back to the Separator Guide. Hold your strip in place and stitch at an even, steady speed, gently
guiding the fabric and allowing the foot to feed the fabric evenly. Ruffle all finished fabric strips in this manner.
Determine the order in which you want the strips on the towel, and begin by pinning the bottom ruffle first, at the
marked line 2″ from the edge. Topstitch the ruffle to the towel, and repeat with the middle and top ruffles.
Finally, create the trim strip to cover the raw edges of the top ruffle. Start by pressing the fabric strip to give the
trim extra body. Cut one of the short edges diagonally, and insert into a 3/4″ Bias Tape Maker. Advance the strip
through the tape maker with a straight pin, and press the folded edges flat with your iron as they come through.
Measure the finished width of your towel, and add 1/2″, then cut the strip to that measurement. Open folds at both
short ends and press under 1/4″. Refold on the pressing lines. Align the top of the trim strip on the 1/4″ marked line
above the top ruffle, covering the raw edge of the top ruffle, and pin in place. Edgestitch all four sides of trim strip
to the towel.
Embellish your completed towels with details that give them a true designer look—add machine embroidery,
appliqués, fabric flowers, decorative buttons, ribbons, crystals, or other embellishments to complete the project to
your taste.
Watch a step-by-step demonstration of this technique, and download the free pattern instructions:
Thank you to Donna Fenske, of Nancy’s Notions, for today’s guest blog.
Bye for now,
Content in this feed is © copyright 2014 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission.
You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as
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How to Make Fleece Hats for Kids
Nancy Daly is the
enthusiastic
coordinator of
the busy Hat
Ladies! Make
that Hat Ladies
and Gentlemen,
as two men have
recently joined
the group! To
date her group of
volunteers has
made over
37,000 fleece
hats for causes
and those in
need. Nancy Daly
started sewing
hats 17 years
ago for her own children and their sports teams, and it just grew from there. An invitation to sew for a Head Start
class 13 years ago got her started sewing for programs in the community. Nancy and her group now sew for every
Head Start child in Dane County (Madison, WI), four Madison elementary schools, homeless shelters, free clothing
sites, YWCA, Neighborhood Centers, the Salvation Army, After School Programs.
I invited Nancy to be part of a Nancy’s Corner segment on Sewing With Nancy to share her special Hat Ladies
and Gentlemen program in hopes that you’ll be encouraged to sew hats for children in your community.
Fleece Hat pattern dimensions and instructions:
Draw two perpendicular lines, a 4-1/2″ horizontal line and a 7-1/2″ vertical line centered on the 4-1/2″ horizontal
line.
Measure 2″ above the 4-1/2″ line and draw another 4-1/2″ horizontal line.
Connect the outer edges. I drew free hand.
Write the word “Grainline” along the vertical line and “Stretch” along the horizontal line.
Cut out six hat panels. Notice the grainline.
Cut a 6″ x 22″ crosswise band (the stretch of the fabric).
Lastly, cut a 1″ x 3″ tassel, cutting fringes 2/3 the length of the tassel. If you like a fuller tassel, cut three 1″ x 3″
tassels.
For an adult head size, use 1/4″ seam allowances. For a child’s size, stitch with 1/2″ (or larger) seam allowances.
Seam allowances can be adjusted, made deeper, to fit a child. (The Hat Ladies sew the hats with the children
close at hand. They’ve made so many hats that they know which seam allowance is best for the age/size child.)
Stitch three sections of each hat panel to create two hat halves.
Pin the tassel to one half.
Stitch the two hat halves together.
Stitch the short edges of the hat band with the chosen seam allowance. Fold hat band in half, wrong sides
together, meeting long edges.
Quarter mark the hat band and the hat.
Pin the hat band to the hat at the quarter marks, pinning fabrics right sides together.
Slightly stretch the band to meet the hat. Stitch.
Turn the band downward.
Ta Da!
In the spirit of the Hat Ladies, please use this pattern and instructions for donating purposes only.
What a prolific
group!
In a typical season the Hat Ladies and Gentlemen host about 45 Hat Gigs. All the hats are donated to the recipients
at a school or program–all with high concentrations of low income children.
Often, the children select the colors for their hat, and they sit with a Hat Lady or Gentleman to have it sewn to size.
For many of the children, this is the first piece of brand-new clothing that belongs just to them.
If you’re inspired to make hats for children in your community, or would like to know more about this organization,
please contact Nancy Daly at [email protected]
Updates from Nancy Daly since taping the TV show
On December 5, 2013 the Hat Ladies and Gentlemen made 571 hats in one day at a school and finished before
the end of the school day! At one point they had 20 Hat Ladies and Gentlemen sewing at once and several
others to keep the children flowing through the line. They came back a second day and sewed an additional 173
hats!
In November, 2013 the Hat Ladies and Gentlemen sewed for the girls on the run of Dane County and raised
$2,010. Prior to the fundraiser the Hat Ladies and Gentlemen sewed 584 hats for every girl participating in Girls
On The Run of Dane County.
As of January 24, 2014, they’ve made nearly 5,429 hats this season, with a grand total of over 37,000 hats!
The Hat Ladies and Gentlemen donate all their time, materials, and hats to worthy children.
Over the past 13 years, 9,500 hats have been sewn for Head Start children.
Watch my interview with Nancy Daly online.
There are 52 programs to watch online, or on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone. Have you downloaded the
app?
Hats off to Nancy Daly and her group of Hat Ladies and Gentlemen! I commend you all on your giving spirits and
willing hearts.
Bye for now,
Content in this feed is © copyright 2014 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission.
You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as
content on a blog or other website.
The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew in a Zipper
How to sew a zipper into a seam is a commonly requested sewing technique. I’d like to share with you the absolute
easiest way I’ve found to insert a zipper. Use tape instead of pins. Curious? It’s found in my book The Absolute
Easiest Way to Sew.
How to Sew a Centered Zipper—A Pinless Technique
Purchase a zipper 2″ longer than needed. With the longer length, you won’t have trouble stitching around the
bulky zipper pull.
If the zipper is more than 2″ longer, wrap fusible interfacing below the finished length, press the interfacing, and
trim off the extra zipper tape.
Baste the seam of the zipper opening with right sides together.
Backstitch at the end of the zipper opening, then stitch the rest of the seam with a standard stitch length.
Press the seam open.
Put the right side of the zipper next to the seam allowance with the pull tab extending past the top of the fabric.
Use strips of 1/2″ wide tape such as Sewer’s Fix-It Tape to hold the zipper to the wrong side of the fabric.
On the right side, center another piece of 1/2″ tape over the zipper seamline.
Attach a zipper foot.
Stitch across the bottom and up one side of the zipper, guiding the foot along the tape.
Repeat, stitching across the bottom and up the other side of the tape. Stitching in the same direction for each side
of the zipper helps eliminate puckers.
When stitching is complete, pull the thread tails at the bottom of the zipper to the wrong side and tie, then clip.
Remove the tape on the outside and inside of the zipper.
Remove the basting stitches in the seamline.
Bartack (zigzag at a zero stitch length) across the top of the zipper tape on each side, move the tab down into the
fabric, and cut off the excess tape above the bartacks. (Optional)
That’s it!
All my favorite sewing tips are in one book.
The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew chapters include:
Sewing Notions
Sewing Machine Confidence
Serger Spotlight
Patterns
Fabric Facts
Sewing Basics
Beyond the Basics
Watch Sewing With Nancy online.
For additional sewing insights and my favorite sewing techniques, check out my 3-part Sewing With Nancy
online TV series, The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew.
Bye for now,
Content in this feed is © copyright 2014 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission. You’re welcome to forward the email
to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as content on a blog or other website.
Three Days Only–Hexagon Mosaics Quilting Class 50% Off
Bruce
Seeds was one
of the featured
teachers at the
2013 Quilt
Expo. Bruce
creates
stunning
mosaic
quilts! Bruce
went from
architect to
quilter and now
he creates
these stunning
quilts.
Bruce’s Six Sides to Every Story: Hexagon Mosaics lecture was recorded and is now available for online
viewing. If you missed the class or would like to take the class again, go to the Quilt Expo E-Store and watch
the lecture at your convenience anytime, any day! This week for three days only, January 21, 22, and 23, 2014,
Bruce’s lecture is 50% off, only $5. What a deal! Plus, after you purchase the video, you may watch it as many
times as you’d like!
Three days only—January 21, 22, & 23—Bruce Seed’s lecture is 50% off!
Receive a 50% discount at checkout when you enter the promo code BRUCEQUILTS and click apply discount.
More Streaming Video Lectures Online!
If you’d like to see more inspiration from Quilt Expo, click here for streaming video classes.
I Quilt, Therefore I Am with Laura Wasilowski
Fabric to Dye For with Frieda Anderson
“The Loyal Union Sampler From Elm Creek Quilts” with Jennifer Chiaverini
Amazing Quilt Makeovers with Nancy Zieman
Lone Star Trunk Show with Viola Colombe
Playing with Scraps—The Fun Continues with Dianne Larson
Scrap Buster Quilts with Ann Wanke
“Seams Unlikely” with Nancy Zieman
The random (really, thanks to random.org) winner from my blog titled, An Applique From The Heart is Joan in
Nebraska. Her comment was: What a perfect gift for Valentines Day! And it resembles a stamp, so appropriate
from me…a postal employee . Thanks for the giveaway and the many years on television. I still learn something
new every time I watch.
She won my laser cut fusible applique, P.S. I love you!
Bye for now,
Content in this feed is © copyright 2014 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission.
You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as
content on a blog or other website.
Denim Makeover—Shirt to Hobo Tote
While cleaning
my closet, I
stumbled
across a denim
shirt that
hadn’t been
worn for years.
Not wanting to
give away my
name-sake
shirt, I decided
it was time for
a makeover.
Converting the
shirt into a
Hobo Tote is
the perfect way
to give this
shirt a second
chance.
Denim Makeover Tips
It seems I can never have enough totes or bags, so I turned to my “fav” big bag template from Clover, The Trace
‘n Create Hobo Tote Collection.
There are two templates in the collection, offering three layout variations: four-fabric, two-fabric, or one-fabric
options. The templates are color coded for ease of use. I chose the four-fabric option, which was ideal for using my
old denim shirt.
Tip #1: Cut the shirt apart.
First, trim off the cuffs.
Cut along the underarm seams of the sleeves and shirt.
Trim off the collar.
Cut along the shoulder seams. The shirt should now be in four main pieces: Front, back, and the two sleeves.
Tip #2: Stitch the openings closed.
Button the shirt and stitch the front opening along both sides of the placket.
Stitch the cuff plackets closed.
Stitch the pleat to the back of the shirt.
Tip #3: Place the templates on the shirt.
Audition the placement of the logo. Since the templates are transparent, positioning is easy.
After determining the placement, trace around the outer template edges.
Trace four pieces of each template: two with the template print side up and two with the template print side
down.
Utilize the plackets, pleats, and other details as parts of the Hobo Tote.
Cut out the pieces.
Tip #4: Cut out the shape of the
Hobo Tote from a craft stabilizer,
such as Pellon’s Peltex.
Overlap the templates along the horizontal seams. (The width of the seam allowances is 1/2″.)
Trace the outer edges on the Peltex.
Flip the templates, overlap the seam allowances, and align the templates along the center front. Trace.
Cut out two layers from Peltex.
Tip #5: Trim away the inner seam allowances from the denim to reduce bulk.
Since there are several layers of denim, eliminate the interior seams. Trim away 1/4″ as shown.
Place the denim layers on the Peltex; baste the denim to the interfacing. The edges will “kiss” together.
Trip #6: Add trim.
Cover the “kissed” edges with trim. Topstitch the trim to the denim/Peltex unit.
Finish the tote, following the instructions in the Hobo Tote package.
The back of the tote is as interesting as the front.
Check out this
previous blog
posting, which
highlights
Eight Creative
Options for
Totes and
Handbags.
For a chance to win Clover’s Trace ‘n Create Bag Template—Hobo Tote Collection, please post a comment
sharing your next sewing “makeover” project.
Bye for now,
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How-to Sew Modern Threads for Cool Girls!
Sewing for little girls doesn’t have to be about ruffles and lace. Create a modern wardrobe that’s comfy, yet sewn
with style featuring bright, bold knit fabrics. Today on Sewing With Nancy you’ll see how to create fun outfits that
can go from school, to dance class, and then to her favorite Thai restaurant. To showcase these modern designs
and to show us how to sew them, I’ve invited Patty Young, author and designer of Sewing MODKID Style, to be
my guest. Sewing MODKID Style is this week’s featured online video. Click here and watch the 1/2-hour
Sewing With Nancy show!
Yoga Shorts
The first MODKID style Patty and I show how to sew in this episode is a pair of Yoga Shorts. Whether wearing them
to yoga class, as lounge wear, or for fun, these shorts are super easy to sew. There isn’t any elastic to add, the
ribbed waistband provides the style and the fit. So inhale, exhale, and relax—then, sew!
Leggings
Once you know the basics of sewing knit shorts, the next step is to create a pair of leggings. The selection of fabric
is the most important part of the process. The stretch and recovery in the fabric must be able to keep up with the
busy lives of modern kids. Best of all, the sewing takes less than an hour!
Twirly-Tiered Skirt
Patty’s Twirly-Tiered Skirt was designed for all those little girls who love to giggle and twirl. The three full-gathered
panels give this skirt maximum twirl power, plus it is comfy, lightweight, and ideal for layering over leggings.
Leg Warmers
Get that special girl of yours in a retro mood and stitch ’80s style leg warmers. They sew up in a snap and can be
paired perfectly with designer jeans or leggings. How easy are they to make? Just cut three rectangles and stitch
five seams!
Sewing MODKID Style includes instructions for 20 projects from accessories, tops, bottoms, dresses, and
ensembles! Plus, it includes multi-sized pattern sheets for toddlers (sizes 2T–5T) or girls (sizes 6–10).
Watch Sewing With Nancy online.
Click here to watch the second episode of Sewing MODKID Style. If you missed the first episode, click and
enjoy! Or, watch on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone. Have you downloaded the app?
Bye for now,
Content in this feed is © copyright 2014 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission.
You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as
content on a blog or other website.