Her idea for adding sleeves made from lace yardage is ideal for adding a whole new look to this top. I'm thinking this would be a nice addition to a summer jacket as well.

In this particular case Angela mixes a casual knit cuff with the lace sleeve on the blouse. Not necessarily what you might think of for standard styling but when you see the result, I'll think you'll agree that it works!

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Next up you'll see my Stitch Stacking tips.

Blending, combining, and stacking decorative stitches adds interest to any project. In this segment you'll see how easy it is to make use of the beautiful decorative stiches built in to your machine​.

I had a lot of fun creating this combination of stitches on the Brother Dream machine. Many machines will have similar capabilities for building a line of decorative stiches with space in between. Check your machine menu for available options.

​The idea is pretty simple. I started by creating a combination of stitches, adding straight stitches to create a space between the motifs. Then I went back and added a single motif on top of each of the areas with open space. Using a different thread color really makes the design combination pop!

Here are a few more combinations. For the final project I meant to show a pillowcase finished with rows of stacked stitches. Somehow that got left off the video. Here it is for you to see.

Click on the pillow case picture to view and donwload all the instructions for this segemnt on Stitch Stacking.

Towards the end she shares some beautiful samples of lace made with an embroidery machine. CLICK HERE for Rebecca's detailed instructions for this segment.

Making freestanding lace and lace appliqués with an embroidery machine has been one of my favorite techniques for more than two decades. Over the years I've created quite a few garments with this added accent, including the forties style slip dress/nightie shown during It's Sew Easy TV show #906. You can watch this show HERE. 

I have multitudes of pieces in my lace stash just waiting to be sewn on to something special. Making machine embroidered lace is a popular topic. There are a lot of both old and new designs that can be considered classics. Watch for a future blog post on this subject.

I'd love to hear your comments, thought, and stories about lace that may be in your stash.
Is machine embroidered lace a favorite technique for you too? Or, is this something you have not yet tried? Do you have lace in your stash? Feel free to leave your comments below!

Series 1700 is winding down with just two more shows to go. You've seen a lot of pieced patchwork sprinkled throughout this series. Show 1712 has two more for you to try and then a quick and easy quilt binding technique you can use to finish off your pretty patchwork.

I had the opportunity to kick off the start of the show with a favorite strip piecing technique sewn on the serger. Sergers are known for speed and efficiency, not necessarily for precision. Strip piecing on a sewing machine is a well-loved technique. Indeed, sewing strips is a very forgiving way to build a pieced project quickly. However, if you were finishing your piece with traditional methods, you will still need to layer and then quilt the item. Enter the easiest way ever to piece and quilt at the same time, all while taking advantage of the speed and efficiency of the serger!

In this short tip segment I  show the basics on a sample piece. You can download an instruction sheet outlining the basics HERE.

To download step-by-step instructions for an actual completed project, click on the image above and you'll find a Serger Style Quilt-As-You-Go placemat project I contributed to Stitching Sewcial, the official Brother blog.

Once you master this technique you'll find yourself using it to make more placemats, plus baby blankets, potholders, & more!

Paper piecing is the next technique you'll learn in this week's show.

My friend Emily Thompson is known for clear instructions that help you sail through the steps to creating something beautiful. Her paper piecing for beginners will give you confidence to try this method even if you have trouble thinking inside out and upside down. I say that because paper piecing is a little like that. You are working from the opposite side of the right side, which feels just plain wrong when you first get started!

Click on the image above for Emily's instructions and free pattern.

Caroline's binding tutorial is a fitting end to the show, with her Quick and Easy Quilt Binding instructions. If you struggle with sewing strips long enough to bind a quilt, or you can never remember how to miter the corners, this will be a great refresher for you.

After watching the show you'll want to CLICK HERE to download her instructions, which include lots of photos to guide you step-by-step.

As a side note, I once took a paper piecing class and the end result wasn't a pretty sight. In fact, after an entire day of stitching I tossed the pieced piece knowing I would never finish it. I think it was a case of not loving the fabric or being enthused about the sample photo on the cover of the pattern. You see, it was part of a kit and fabric selection was not an option. It was also my first experience with paper piecing, and I felt like I could have had an entire garment put together in the time it took me to piece a block less than 18-inches square. However, my points were all perfect, I'll have to say that!

After watching Emily, I'm willing to give it a go again. This time I'll choose fabrics that speak to me and follow her easy methods for paper piecing from start to finish! How about you? Do you have a paper piecing story to share? I'd love to hear all about it :-)