Ta Da!!! Here is my finished big block of appliquéd Folk Art embroidery designs!

It was great to see so many embroidery and appliqué enthusiasts join in on the fun live show this past week! Being on with Ashley Jones, lead educator for Designs in Machine embroidery was a real treat!

My appliqué quilt block was still in a work progress as I showed the steps to take an appliqué file from my Brother embroidery machine to the Brother ScanNCut to pre-cut all my pieces, in prep for placing them on my pretty Folk Art block. Designs shown above    are part of Folk Art motifs included with my new Just Jackets embroidery and appliqué design collection. Any and all of the appliqués from the collection could be prepared in the same manner.

If you missed the show, you'll find the replay below.

Just to re-cap, our goal for the show was to present a wide variety of options for getting all those appliqué fabric pieces cut in preparation for stitching, with the Just Jackets collection as the featured set of embroidery appliqué designs. My new collection is for so much more than Just Jackets! You can purchase this item as a direct download from Dime, or as a physical package HERE on my site. I encourage you to check out the options and see what works best for you.

Of course, the techniques covered in this close to 90 minute video will work for other appliqué designs as well. With or without software, and with or without a digital cutter, watch this show and learn how to cut appliqués by trimming in the hoop, using an electronic cutter, printing a template, and stitching a template directly on the appliqué fabric.

Check out the links for specific instructions:
Time stamp 20:25 - Overview of the many ways to cut with Ashley showing trimming in the hoop and pre-cutting with a stitched template. Both of these methods work with no added software or equipment needed.

Prepping fabric with Serial Magic fabric stiffener and then an application of the Dime Fuse Me webbing is something featured in our projects. I like to use this light weight fusible web a majority of my pieces, using a small craft iron and fusing as I go by carefully taking my hoop off the machine and placing my hoop on top of my Totally Tubular Hooping Station.

Time Stamp 32:01 - Discussion of the Fuse Me fusible webbing product.

Time Stamp 39:57 - Making use of a digital cutter, with a demonstration of "coding" the appliqué using the combination of a Brother machine and a Brother ScanNCut with the capacity to read the appliqué data from the machine. I used the Brother Luminaire and the Brother ScanNCut DX for my demonstration. Check with your Brother dealer for compatibility of other machine models and ScanNCut pairing combinations.

Time Stamp 57:40 - Last but not least, Ashley showed how to use the Dime Patches and Applique software program to turn appliqué cutting data into the file formats usable on various brands of digital cutters. With a few simple clicks in this new and full featured software program, you're ready to head to your cutter so your pieces are ready to such when you start up your embroidery machine.

Comments were coming in fast and furious so I'm sure I missed the chance to answer some of your questions. Feel free to leave your comments here and I'll do my best to answer. The subject of Embroidered Appliqués is quite a broad topic. It's one that I'm passionate about and I plan to delve more into this in  future blogs and videos so stay tuned for more!

You've got questions and I've got answers! I wrapped up  a year of monthly Let's Go Sew LIVE shows by broadcasting a show filled with questions sent in by fellow sewing enthusiasts on my email list. The questions I received included a variety of subjects. They were very insightful and I'm convinced there were many others who benefited from hearing answers to the questions they submitted. I know I had a great time visiting with everyone who joined the live show! You can watch a full replay of the 1 hr 23 minute show by clicking on the video below.

Before you read on, I'd like to tell you that I had so many questions, I'll need to schedule a Q&A part two in the near future!

Question #1 - Connie from Kirkland WA asked about thread storage, which led to a discussion of threads, bobbins, and bobbin cases.

If you are changing bobbin cases for any reason, be sure to check your manual or machine manufacturer to be sure you are removing and replacing parts correctly. CLICK HERE for a tip sheet showing how to remove the bobbin case from most Brother machines. 

Question #2 - Cindy in Gladwell MI wants to know more about embroidery categories. She knows about Applique embroidery and In-The-Hoop embroidery but would like me to shed some light on bobbin work, redwork, & regular embroidery designs. Video shows samples of the following:

• Fill stitches, also known as tatami stitches. These run stitches are used to fill up large areas of an embroidery design and they can be even or created in a way to form a wide variety of patterns.
• Satin stitches (Steil stitches) which are zig zag stitches placed close together. They’re commonly used for lettering, outlines, and some details in a design.
• Running stitches, they are the same kind we are familiar with on the sewing side of the machine. Bobbin work embroidery designs are made up of long straight "running stitches that have no tie off. 
• Bean Stitch, AKA a triple straight stitch. This is just a straight stitch but sewn three times on top of itself, producing a thicker, more prominent stitch. Redwork designs might be made up of a bean stitch or a regular running stitch stitched one or more times. Note: Redwork can be any color and is often referred to as redwork because designs mimic the old fashioned iron-on transfer designs that were stitched by hand in red embroidery floss.

​Learn more about Bobbin Work HERE in this video and HERE in this free tip sheet.

Learn more about Redwork in this blog post HERE.

Question #3 - ​Margo writes from Fayetteville GA asking what Osnaburg fabric is used for.

If you read my blog post on redwork you’ll see me mention one of my favorite fabrics, Osnaburg cloth. An economical fabric, it looks a little like muslin, but it is thicker, more loosely woven and has characteristic brown flecks. 100 percent cotton it has a homespun look that is great for curtains, crafts, and anything where you want and more natural or old-fashioned look. I l love using it to make table toppers, napkins, tea towels, & bread bags. It pairs beautifully with natural colored lace such as Cluny lace. As a bonus it's easy to fringe! Always pre-wash as it shrinks a bit.

Here is a link to the table runner project featured in the video: Fringed Osnaburg Table Topper

Question #4 - ​Jan in Greensboro NC  asked the following serger question, What is the cleanest way to end a serger stitch? The slide show below shows the steps.

Question #5 - Patti W. asked about choosing and using serger stitches. Aside from tips in the video, you'll find more serger info in this blog post HERE.

Question #6 - Cindy Ball asked if I use a cover hem machine and we talked about an alternative which is to use a 4.0mm stretch twin needle. Patti W. also asked what causes skipped stitches/broken threads on a cover hem machine. 

Watch It's Sew Easy TV show 1611 HERE and you'll see me sew a dress/swimsuit coverup with cover hem stitchery!

You'll find a PDF with more instructions HERE.

Question #7 - Lucy from Georgetown TX wanted to know the secret for sewing decorative stitches that stay straight. On the Brother Luminaire the laser gridlines can be extra helpful for stitching straight, especially with the oversized decorative stitches. Re-size the grid until it matches the right and left side marking and sew slowly, keeping the lines parallel. See image below for reference.

Question #8 - Cyndi B. had the following question for me, “What is the most difficult sewing challenge you have ever been asked to do. I shared the story of a velvet dress and cape made from very expensive fabric, and I showed some embroidery samples that were quite a challenge, including the lapels on a ready made jacket shown below.

Question #9 - Last but not least, Cindy from Odessa TX, wanted to know more about my design collections. Here is what she wrote: How do you come up with your Inspirations for your Design Collections? Your Jean Jacket collection is so Beautiful, as is the Wrapped in Embroidery. I didn’t know if you have an Art background that gives you the ability to create your Beautiful Collections? Would love to hear how you decide on your designs and transfer that to Embroidery.

Watch the video for my plain and simple answer. You can learn more about Wrapped in Embroidery HERE, and the Jean jacket collection HERE.

Many thanks to all everyone who sent in questions and watched the show live, or via the replay. I can't wait till next time when we talk sewing and tackle even more topics!

I had the chance to spend some time with my friend Eileen Roche from Designs in Machine Embroidery as a guest on her Between Friends show Thursday December 16th. The topic we chose to talk about was something that has become common and somewhat essential in the world of embroidery these days, and that is embroidery software. I know, some of you are software aficionados and others are skittish about using software.

Truth be told, I remember the very first software class I had many years ago and I am here to admit I left the class in tears. I was used to making a sewing and embroidery machine sing and dance. However, the idea of having to mix that fun with what I perceived was the high-tech, new, and unknown world of software, threw me for a loop! So, yes, I sulked for a few hours but then the well of determination within me said wait a minute! No . . . I won't be beat by this!!!

In actuality, the gentleman who taught the class that left me tearful was a die-hard techie and he didn't realize thee were those sitting in class who only had a molehill of experience compared to his mountain of knowledge. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who left class confused and bewildered. As is typical, when you are already confused, you don't tend to ask questions for clarification. When I later began to teach software myself, I never forgot that experience. As a result, I strive to guide "wanna be" software users slowly and gently into the big world of embroidery adventures made possible with software options.

Today, software is something I use almost daily to enhance the potential of my embroidery projects. Below, you'll find the full video replay of the 35 minutes Eileen and I spent talking about the benefits of software and showing software tips and tricks. 

Could you use a few quick gift bag ideas? If the answer is yes, this post is here to help you stitch a few quick and easy projects. Previously posted on the Brother blog, note that these all fit into the "easy" category and are made from low cost, readily available materials. I created some of these for an embroidery machine, while others require only simple stitches on your sewing machine. First, I'll share the newest one with you.

Note: Pages on the Brother blog load slowly. Be patient when clicking on the images.

This little bag is currently featured on the official Brother blog. Made from inexpensive felt with a free embroidery design for you to download, be sure to snatch the free design before December 31, 2021. Click on the above image of the bag to view and download the written instructions. Below, you'll find a recent video where I demonstrate the steps for making this bag during a Brother live show broadcast on YouTube and Facebook.

The next little bag is one of my favorites. Instructions call for small bits of fabric to make confetti and the bag itself is made from commonly found polyester organza. 

This bag is one of my all time favorites. It takes a bit longer to make but is truly a gift in and of itself, one that will likely be kept and put on display. Add the family name to the roof for a fun custom touch!

In this project you'll learn some neat ways to use Frame Shapes included in the embroidery menu on all Brother embroidery machines. You only need a 4-inch hoop for this project! If you don't have an embroidery machine consider cutting appliqué shapes that mimic the ones you see here and add buttons or trim to accent the shapes. Click on the above image to view and download written instructions for the bag. 

You won't find the wreath design in the instruction file, so you'll need to download the design separately HERE.

Sew up this bag with festive fabric and add some trim for a quick and easy last minute gift package. Instructions call for a special pearl sewing foot to apply craft pearls found on a string. You can skip this step if you like, or simply add trim of your choice. Click on the above image to view and download written instructions for the bag. ​

This fifth and final bag features pearls at the top edge just like the previous bag. I made mine from polyester organza for an extra elegant look but you could use ordinary quilt weight cotton or something similar if you like.

Custom printed ribbon is a unique addition to this bag and the ribbon itself can serve as a gift tag. The Brother P-Touch Ribbon & Tape Printer is a creative tool that allows you to print custom messages on satin ribbon of various colors. Decorative patterns are built in to the printer, with themes celebrating all sorts of hobbies and special occasions.  custom printed ribbons are sure to get ooohs and ahhhs from everyone who sees your pretty packages! Check your local craft supplier for machine availablity, or look for a retailer online and find out more about this item HERE.

I hope you enjoyed this ideas for hand crafted gift bags. I'd love to read any comments you care to share!

Follow along with me as we look into time-honored sewing techniques from the past, learn a bit of history along the way, and see how vintage can be "made modern" with Amy Barickman from amybarickman.com. Watch the video and read the entire post and you'll get a chance to win your choice of one of Amy's popular DIY courses! More info at the end of this post. 

On the 4th Monday of each month I go live on my Let's Go Sew with Joanne Banko YouTube channel at 7PM EST, where I'm joined by a special guest along with chatting friends in the live chat window. My most recent show was filled with delightful conversation, unique samples, and a glimpse into sewing history with my guest Amy Barickman. You can watch the entire show by clicking on the YouTube video you see at the top of this post. You'll also find contact information so you can connect with Amy in the show notes for the YouTube broadcast. 

​Here, I wanted to share some highlights from our conversation, give you more sewing resources to explore on your own, and provide links to FREE downloads from Amy.

First, a little about Amy . . .

Amy’s has designed over 1200 patterns and 80 books and introduced new brands such as her Vintage Notions book series and Fabriflair®, dimensional paper piecing designs.

​Recently, Prym Consumer, USA maker of Dritz® and Omnigrid® acquired Indygo Junction. Amy is now able to put her full attention to her passion for sharing fabulous vintage textiles & projects stitched by hand and sewn by machine. Her repertoire includes embroidery, quilts, fabric & notions, as well as DIY publications from the past with modern relevance.

Amy's Mom was a big influence. Introducing her to sewing at a very young age! You'll learn more about her mom's background in the video.

During our time together we talked a lot about projects, tips, & tidbits taken from the Vintage Notions book. 

May I say Vintage Notions is one of my all-time favorite sewing books! It's a unique collection of month by month, seasonally themed chapters with photos, patterns and project instructions, heartwarming essays, and yes, even recipes! Each chapter takes you back in time to an era when homemaking and handcrafted items were valued as special skills elevating not only the lives of the individual but the family unit and society as a whole. While the projects may be from a past era, you'll appreciate their time-honored status at home in our modern lives as well. The book is full of inspiration and projects suited for modern times, but I love picking up the book when I just feel the need to relax and unwind as I read and view pictures that take me back to a slower time.

In the book, Amy begins with a history of Mary Brooks Picken, her sole inspiration for the book. Mary Brooks Picken had accomplishments too numerous to mention in this paragraph, so I invite you to read more in the book. Mary was a pioneer in sewing education and a champion of elevating the various creative arts practiced in the home, sewing and otherwise. Learning sewing at a young age, she eventually founded The Women's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences in Scranton PA, attracting students from around the world. Her school helped empower women of her day to achieve status through their domestic accomplishments. 

As modern-day creatives we recognize the fact that Mary's time was obviously quite different from our own. However, we still want the world to know that creative expression, and sewing in particular, deserves high status and praise for making our own lives and indeed the world at large a better place.  

Continuing the tradition of educating and empowering creative enthusiasts, both women and men, Amy offers online DIY courses based on her fabulous collection of vintage fabrics and notions at VintageModernMakers.com. Would you believe there's even a course on Pearl Buttons? During the live show Amy told us how these beautiful buttons were made in the past. Who knew their origin was the Mississippi River?!?

​Personally, I have a small but cherished collection of both old and modern "shell" buttons as I call them. With their multi-colored hues, I find them to be the perfect choice for so many of my garment projects. I've even been known to remove plastic buttons on a ready-made blouse and replace them with pearl buttons for a quick up-cycle project.

If you love buttons too, I encourage you to read one of Amy's own posts about identifying pearl buttons HERE. You'll also find some really special button images as part of her unique digital image collection, specifically Mother of Pearl Card collection images.

Check out all of Amy's course offerings at her site, VintageModernMakers.com. Grow your appreciation and knowledge while you create practical projects. Be inspired by Amy’s interviews with textile experts as well as artists and makers! Each “Primer” course includes sewing patterns and technique tutorials. Amy shares fascinating history lessons including field trips to museum exhibits.

Speaking of printables, in the video we showed a sewing themed coloring page. This is a Freebie offered by Amy. Click on the above image to download your own copy. It would be fun to color it in and hang as art in your sewing space. Join her newsletter for more FREE printables HERE.

Yet another favorite project we touched on in the video was aprons made from men's shirts, one of the "magic patterns" included in the Vintage Notions book. I have this page bookmarked in my own copy. As an added resource you'll want to read Amy's blog titled Let's Up-cycle! A Shirt to An Apron!

​We chatted between ourselves and interacted with friends who joined us in the live chat for a little over an hour. The time flew by! Now it's your chance to re-watch or watch this video for the first time. While you're on YouTube I encourage you to subscribe and sing up for notifications on my channel, so you'll know each and every time I add a video or begin a new live show.

Now, about that promised give-away. . . Amy has generously offered my Let's Go Sew community the chance to win your choice of one of her great courses. Simply leave a comment at the end of this post, telling us what you enjoyed about the video along with one new thing you learned while watching. On Saturday November 27th, 2021, I'll put all the names into a random drawing and pick a winner to be notified by email.

I hope you enjoy the video and feel inspired by the samples shown and stories told. I'll close with a quote from Amy: 

"Let the beauty of vintage textiles & the history of handmade ignite and enrich your creative spirit!"

November 27, 2021 was the day we drew a winner! Judy O'Dell wondering the random drawing and she'll receive a free online course of her choice, courtesy of Amy Barickman. Congratulations Judy!

Make a mat for your machine and you'll not only have a pretty surface where your machine sits, you'll have handy storage pockets for the tools you use most often. You can customize the size to fit any machine you have in your sewing space!

I have two versions of this custom machine mat for you. The first one was created using a Brother machine that falls into a category of machines that are a bit below mid range, meaning it's an affordable machine with features that can take you beyond beginner sewing. I'm referring to the Brother Pacesetter PS200T model.

You can create a similar mat using nothing more than a straight stitch for the cross hatch lines of quilting, a zig zag stitch for attaching the appliqués, and decorative stitches to define the pocket spaces. Below you'll see what the finished mat looks like.

You'll find complete instructions for this version on the official Brother blog when you CLICK HERE.

Version Two of the mat was originally featured on It's Sew Easy TV show 2006-2

This one has embroidered pockets as shown in the photo below:

Would you like to watch the show? I've included it here for your convenience. You'll find coordinating downloadable instructions when you CLICK HERE.

Pockets on this mat were created using a special fill stitch feature in the Brother Luminaire machine, with the fill added right in the embroidery mode.

Brother Dream machine owners and those who have the Stellaire model have a feature call My Design Center. Machines with this feature have the capability to create a similar pocket using shapes and fancy fill stitches. I thought you might like to know how to make this pocket style with My Design Center machines so I made a 5 minute video for you. 

Between the videos and the written instructions, you'll be able to create your own custom mat and spruce up your sewing space with something practical and pretty! Enjoy!

P.S. I'd love to know to hear from you and read your comments! If you've made one of these or plan to do so, please let me know!

Sewing for babies and making baby gifts is always a fun way to use both sewing and embroidery capabilities on your machine!

Admittedly, the only "babies" I ever raised had four paws, fur, and answered to the call of "here kitty kitty!" However, I have made many baby items for gifts. I've seen the joy on an expecting mom's face when she received hand-crafted items perfect for her upcoming bundle of joy.

In this post I'll share some of my favorite baby days projects created for the It's Sew Easy TV show and the Brother blog where I regularly contribute as a Brother Ambassador. Follow along as I share some photos, descriptions and links to instructions.

This practical terry wrap is perfect for baby's bath time! Originally featured on It's Sew Easy TV show 1513, you can make this wrap entirely on the sewing side of the machine or choose to add embroidery for the triangular shaped hood. Packaged bias binding makes it fast and easy to finish but you can also consider making custom bias binding for a super cute color coordinated finish. CLICK HERE to watch the video on my YouTube channel. Download a PDF copy of the instructions with an easy step-by-step method for an inconspicuous seam on continuous bias binding HERE.

Make this quick and easy bath mitt using a wash cloth and a bit of embroidered ribbon trim. The little duckie design is available as a free .pes design download from Brother, included with the project instructions. This fits in a 4-inch hoop, making it ideal for new or entry level machine embroidery owners. CLICK HERE to download instructions and the design courtesy of Brother Sewing Machine Company.

Another quick and easy project, this baby bottle cover is super cute with added embroidery and it can be easily trimmed with something simple like decorative stitches or classic rick rack. To learn how to make this CLICK HERE to watch It's Sew Easy TV show 1503. You'll find the instructions for measuring and making a custom sized cover, plus a free bonus burp cloth pattern HERE on my site.

This blanket has to be one of my all time favorite baby gifts to make and to give. Simply cut a rectangle of one or two fabrics and purchase a package of satin blanket binding and you're on your way to making a blanket with a professional finish and a soft edge baby will love to cuddle under. Once you learn the technique for mitering the corners you'll likely keep this as one of your "go to" baby gifts for future baby showers and gift giving. I spent quite a bit of time working out the details for making this easy and effortless. I suggest you watch the video HERE on this page and download the included written instructions for step by step photos to help you master this technique.

Yet another burp cloth, cos what new parent can't use more of these!?! Grab a package of cloth diapers, some bright strips of fabric and decorative thread and you are ready to whip up one or a half dozen in no time at all! I  recently created this project for the Brother Stitching Sewcial blog. You'll find the instructions HERE. Design ideas include picking a few favorite baby themed embroidery designs, choosing fun sayings to use with built-in lettering, or consider using just decorative stitches or fabric appliqués if embroidery is not in your repertoire.

I hope you enjoy these baby days projects! Great for gift giving but quick enough for  a creative parent to be to make as well!

Save the instructions so when you here the news that so and so is expecting you'll be ready to stitch something cute, made with your sewing skills, love, and a little help from your sewing machine!

I'm starting the slow process of cleaning. clearing, clutter busting and rehabbing my sewing space. I have no set deadline and plan to move at a pace that does not stress me out. I thought I would share so of my ideas and invite you to join me in the journey in the hope that it will help you to get the clutter under control, perfect your workflow, and generally make your creative space more inviting. I want you and me too, to feel inspired and rejuvenated each time you enter it! 

Today we tackle the menagerie of magazines. I should start by saying that I have gone through the process of culling magazines and sewing periodicals many times in my sewing life. Before easy access to the internet became commonplace, we didn't have any other way to learn and be inspired with reading material except for magazines and books. For almost ten years I had the privilege of contributing to what I considered to be the premier machine embroidery magazine, Designs in Machine Embroidery. Copies of my contributions are on my must keep list. The batch of magazines that remain are going through the should it stay or should it go process. Below you'll find my best list of ideas and methods for tackling this stack of shiny paper full of pretty pictures and golden information.

​Begin by sorting a pile of keepers and discards. Think through your list of sewing friends that may benefit from magazines you are through with. Discards may be newfound treasures for them.
 
Now it’s time to go through the keepers pile. If you don’t have the dreaded FOMO (fear of missing out) syndrome like I do, you may be able to breeze through the index of your saved magazines to see if anything is there that still interests you just by looking at the titles in the index. You may be like me and want to leaf through page by page just to make sure you are not in fact missing out. Now you are ready to plough through and see what you can’t part with. See if any of the following ideas work for you.

I hope you found some of these ideas helpful. I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas about managing the menagerie of magazines!

My most recent Let's Go Sew LIVE show on YouTube featured Ellen Miller as she shared delightful samples found in the pages of her book titled Creative Couture embellishment.

I first met Ellen on the set of It's Sew Easy TV and helped configure the machine so she could demonstrate bobbin work and Sashiko style stitchery. Ellen was used to sewing on an industrial straight stitch sewing machine and quickly adapted to the fancy schmancy computerized Brother machine she needed to use for taping the show. This was Ellen's debut appearance on TV and if you listen to her tell the story, she did not expect to have to sew at all. However, she was thoroughly prepared to show all of her step-by-step samples. She quickly adapted to the show format and did both, showing and sewing Sashiko samples. Watch show 1505-1 HERE on the KS Productions website and you'll walk away with a great appreciation for Ellen's detailed instructions and inspiring samples.

I knew Ellen would be a great guest for my Sew Tell Me interview series. Her book is filled with incredible techniques that would translate well into special embellishments not just for clothing but for home decor and art quilts as well. Watch the video and you'll see Ellen show samples from the book and share tips for easy embellishment.

Ellen also told us all about some great resources for beads, fabric, and trims. Below are a few of her favorites.

• Beads:

https://www.firemountaingems.com

• Online Fabric Resources:

www.emmaonesock.com
www.gorgeousfabrics.com (Ann Steeves)

• ​Brick and Mortar store in Midtown Manhattan:

New York Elegant Fabrics
www.newyorkelegantfabrics.com

In the back of her book you'll find even more resources, plus a glossary for techniques that will enrich your sewing knowledge and pique your interest to learn more.

Below is a link to a replay of the YouTube show on my channel:

Hope you enjoy the interview! If you have more questions for Ellen please leave them in the comments section at the end of this post and I'll forward them on so we can get answers directly from her.

Follow Ellen at her website here:
https://creatingembellishment.com

Find information about ordering Ellen Miller's Creative Couture Embellishment book here:
https://creatingembellishment.com/the-book/​

Contact Ellen directly here:
https://creatingembellishment.com/contact/​

My friend and fellow Brother Ambassador Angela Wolf, hosts the twice weekly Brother live shows and invited me to share tips for preventing embroidery puckers on this recent show. Below, you'll find an outline of the tips presented. I went into a lot more detail and showed lots of samples during the show.

Angela and I enjoyed having a lively conversation. As usual, comments coming in from viewers always spark good sewing conversation and lots of clever questions. 

During the show, I happened to mention the benefit of embroidering on pre-quilted fabric. I shared one of my favorite projects for single faced pre-quilted material, a custom hanger cover. Many asked for instructions so I'm including a link to the download HERE. You'll also find a 2 minute coordinating video showing a variety of hanger cover samples. These are quick and easy to make for your self or to give as a welcome gift. 

Looking for even more in-depth information of preventing puckered embroidery? Many of my tips were included in a recent It's Sew Easy TV show. CLICK HERE to watch Preventing Puckers on It's Sew Easy TV show 2012-3. You'll find a detailed tip sheet I wrote to coordinate with this 7 minute show.

I'd love to hear about your embroidery experiences, with or without puckers. Please leave your comments below!

On the fourth Monday of each month you can look forward to a Live YouTube show on my Let's Go Sew with Joanne Banko YouTube channel. In this post you'll find the replay for my April show along with follow up details and extra information I thought you would enjoy. This month my guest was Beth Sweet, owner of Quilts and Lace quilt shop in Melbourne, Florida. You can read Beth's full bio at the end of this post.

I met Beth Sweet a few years back while attending a Brother convention. We had a warm relationship from the very start and knew we would eventually connect one day for a special event.   

Well, it turns out Beth planned a really big special event in the fall of 2019, putting together a Caribbean cruise with myself, Beth, and Aira Kekäle teaching 21 enthusiastic sewing enthusiasts as we sailed, sewed, and had a wonderful time visiting island destinations together. Allan Reid (aka Aira's hubby) was our invaluable assistant throughout.

Beth and I have stayed in touch ever since! In this new series of interviews, I knew Beth would be the perfect person to talk to about patchwork and machine stitchery both for seasoned quilters and those who are just starting to explore the world of quilting.

Beth shared her own personal sewing journey and told us how she actually did not like sewing at all when she initially started in school, and how she ended up being passionate about piecing quilts. We talked about many ways to get started with quilting and continue advancing your skills with tips, tricks, & tools. She showed us inspirational samples and gave us a peek into classes offered in person for those who are near the shop, and online offerings for everyone else interested in sewing new and fun projects.

More about Beth Sweet . . .

So, how did her journey lead her to owner/operator of Quilts and Lace? Here is the story in Beth's own words:

Throughout the years, I have had many jobs that I believe contributed the bits and pieces that prepared me for owning a quilt store.  Hard to fathom that my first job out of college selling switches for Micro Switch of Honeywell to other sales positions, being a wife, mother of two, substitute teaching, volunteering in the community to most recently working at quilt stores led me to have, I believe, a few of the skills needed to owning a business!

I knew that I loved to teach and appreciated the variety and challenges that happen every day at a sewing store.  Because of this and due to the joy I receive when working with people, learning constantly about fabrics, notions, social media, computers and how to use the sewing, quilting and embroidery machines, I decided to write a business plan. I found that developing ideas for how I would manage a quilt store very exciting. A wonderful series of events led to me working at the same store I now own. Through the guidance and support of the previous owners, I purchased Quilts and Lace on November 22, 2016 and became the new owner of Sweet Time Quilting LLC DBA Quilts and Lace! 

Is your serger collecting dust? Recently, I asked a group of sewing enthusiasts what they have been doing with their serger. One honest friend replied collecting dust! I'm afraid this is all too common, especially when someone is new to the world of serging and is intimidated by the dials, knobs, and general strangeness of this machine when compared to a sewing machine. After all, most of us can sit down at just about any sewing machine, thread it up and at least sew a straight seam.

Sergers, also known as overlockers, seem to look just a bit different and while there are some similarities between sergers and sewing machines, they are truly two different animals. 

In this post I'll share some simple Do's and Don'ts to follow. Whether you are a seasoned serger stitcher or a newbie when it comes to overlockers, I think you'll find a tip or two that will work for you.

My final don't? Don't let your serger collect dust. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks for using your serger to the fullest. CLICK HERE and check out this Let's Go Sew tip sheet and learn more about how sergers and sewing machines differ.

Want to see a video with tips for when to sew and when to serge? CLICK HERE to watch Sew it or Serge it, as seen on It's Sew Easy TV show 2101-1. On this show you'll see me demonstrate a variety of techniques using both the sewing machine and serger.

Would you like a PDF version of the Do's and Don'ts to print and keep by your machine? CLICK HERE.

As a Brother Ambassador, I enjoy helping sewing enthusiasts make the most of their machines and the available accessories that come pre-packed with the machine or are found as optional accessories. If one of these accessories interest you, I suggest checking with your local sewing machine shop to see what's available for your make and model.

We answered lots of questions during the show, and I welcome any additional questions in the comment section at the end of this post.

Below, I'd like to provide links to a few extra resources to compliment information presented on the show.

For more details on the walking foot I invite you to CLICK HERE to download Let's Go Sew Tip sheet titled the Wonders of the Walking Foot.

You'll find a link to the actual manual that comes with the foot below:
SA101 Dynamic Walking Foot Manual

​This manual shows how to attach this low shank foot to a high shank Brother machine, using the "S" adapter. Learn more about this adapter HERE in a previous Brother Stitching Sewcial blog post.

Watch for a new post with more details about the Dynamic Walking foot coming soon on the official Brother blog.

​Looking for some videos showing the Dynamic foot in action? Check out these links form the Brother Support Sewing YouTube channel:

The Digital Dual Feed Foot, also known as the Brother MuVit Foot, was included in the tutorial. Below, you'll find a video showing basic set-up for this attachment from the Brother Support Sewing YouTube channel.

This foot has several accessory options that snap on, including a couching attachment for embellishment with cording and yarns, an open toe sole, and 1/4-inch sole with guide, and a Stitch-in-the-Ditch sole. You'll also find quilt guides that attach to the foot.

Since this accessory plugs into the machine, it is adjustable using the setting mode. In addition, connection to the machine means  you simply can't choose a stitch that is incorrect. It's adjustability and constant contact with the fabric also makes it very special. There's a lot to learn about this very unique attachment. I invite you to explore the links below to learn more.

Getting to know the MuVit Dual Feed Foot Part One
posted on the Brother blog CLICK HERE

MuVit Dual Feed Foot
Accessory SA204 Ditch Quilting Foot
posted on the Brother blog CLICK HERE

Quilt-in-a-Pillow created with various
MuVit Dual Feed Foot accessories
posted on the Brother blog CLICK HERE​

CLICK HERE for a tip sheet that coordinates with the above video.

I hope all of the above info helps you make the most of whatever "walkin" or "rollin" foot is available for your machine. Feel free to leave your comments and questions below.

Hello sewing friends! This blog contains highlights of a presentation that took place during the fourth anniversary celebration of the Quilts and Lace sewing shop in Melbourne Florida.

I had a virtual meet-up with Beth Sweet, owner of Quilts and Lace, as customers and friends shopped and celebrated in her store on April 1st, 2021! If you missed the live show, you can catch a replay HERE on Facebook. Below you'll find a re-cap of many of the tips I shared for using eight different sewing machines accessories. I matched up each accessory with a blue hyperlink link to a project or set of instructions. Simply click the links to learn more about each accessory. Enjoy!

So many accessories for so many different machines! Follow along as I outline each one, sharing projects and ideas for using these accessories for embellishment and utility sewing. Remember, there's a tool for every task! Knowing the power and potential of each accessory will help you experience successful sewing! These tools make sewing faster, easier, and more accurate so you can have more fun when you sit down to sew!

This flower accent was created with wool felt as the base, with wool roving and yarn felted into the base. A big center bead and feathers finish off the accessory.

As seen on It's Sew Easy TV show 1411-2. You can watch this show on my YouTube channel HERE.

​To set up for the felting attachment, barbed needles replace the machine needle and the machine is fitted with a new bobbing cover and dust cup, plus a finger guard that serves as a feeding attachment for felting with yarn. All the pieces and parts you need for machine felting come inside the box, including extra needles.

This accessory is specifically made for certain machine models. I can count a combination of about ten past and current Brother models compatible with the felting attachment. Brother dealers have the most updated information with a list of models that work with this attachment.

Pay attention to the machine set up outlined in the manual included with the package. You won't be using any thread in the top or bottom, and the bobbin case gets replaced with a special cover and a small cup to catch excess fuzz. Selecting stitch C-01 and checking the position of the barbed needles is essential before you start felting.

Felting is really a very simple process. You may have seen the tools used to create felting by hand. Machine felting is much faster and doesn't require the muscles it takes to felt using the hand method.

For felting, fibers, yarns, and materials are pushed into a base as you layer them and move across the base as if you were darning or doing free motion stitchery.

Here is a list of suitable fabrics for the base:

• Craft Felt
• Wool Felt
• Denim
• Fleece
• Silk Dupioni
• Lutradur
• Non-tear Stabilizers

Don't be afraid to experiment with a variety of combinations.
​
​For more information, you'll find a detailed video presented by Quilts and Lace expert instructor Aira Kekäle on their Facebook page HERE.

This box includes five fabulous feet in one package! I reach for many of these feet on a regular basis. Let's talk about one at a time. 

The gathering foot is the only one in this kit that attaches with a screw. It's a low shank machine, so you'll need the "S" adapter if you have a high shank Brother.

Th bottom of this foot is designed to push against the feed dogs on the machine.  When combined with an increased upper tension and a stitch length of 3-4, light weight fabrics are evenly gathered with this foot. If you'd like to gather one layer while sewing to a second, un-gathered layer, simply place layer to be gathered against the feed dogs and guide flat, un-gathered layer into the slot on the foot. Note that these gathers are not adjustable when finished.

Tip: Keep your index finger behind the foot as the fabric strip advances to push in slightly more gathers.

The Non-Stick roller foot is designed to help in what I call "sticky situations." There are times when a regular presser foot gets stuck on unusual fabrics such as vinyl, leather, suede, and waterproof tablecloth material.  

Materials like the PVC used for the apron have a vinyl coating and this slick foot will glide and roll right across the fabric without sticking. It's ideal for topstitching, or any time you are sewing against a surface that clings to the standard foot. 

Tips: For sticky fabrics that must be sewn against the feed dogs, layer with a piece of tear away stabilizer for smooth sewing, and carefully tear away when finished. Consider making your own vinyl coated fabric using Therm-o-Web Iron-on clear adhesive vinyl. 

The Stitch-in-the-Ditch foot has a long, prominent blade directly in the center of the foot. It's designed to run right along the point where the seam is joined, also known as the ditch, or well of the seam. The blade is springy so it can cross over layers with seams.

I used this foot to anchor the layers of my black and white pieced placemat, sewing each square where the seams are joined together. By the way, the placemat itself is made from cut up napkins, decorated with rows of fancy stitches. I wanted my coordinating napkins to match so I bought extra napkins and used them as fabric.

This is a "must have" foot for anyone who does quilting or patchwork. 

Tip: Most of the time this foot is used with a center needle straight stitch, but you can move the needle to a different position to sew  a specific distance from the seamline.

I love decorating pashmina scarves with embroidery and added ribbon! My book titled Wrapped in Embroidery includes three pashmina scarves with added accents from embroidered fabric and silk ribbons. I created another version for the TV show, using the edge joining foot to easily and accurately add ribbon trim. I lined up the guide on the foot with the edge of the ribbon and moved the needle off center for even edge stitching on the ribbon.

​Watch the entire show HERE on my YouTube channel.

This foot can be used with both utility and decorative stitches. It's perfect for joining multiple strips of fabric, trim, lace, and ribbon. The completed strip below was used as a border for a pillowcase.

See more about the edge going foot HERE on It's Sew Easy TV show 905-3.

This newer style piping foot allows for piping cord that's thicker than the standard dressmaker weight found in packages. It's easy to make your own piping with fabric and cording 3mm to 6mm in diameter. The potholder projects shows how to make bias trimmed piping from a small square of fabric.

​Notice the dual channels on the bottom of the foot. These channels come in handy when you want to sew your piping on the right or left side as you position the layers at the machine.

Check out the piped chair cushion project for It's Sew Easy TV show HERE. I think you'll find the decorative piping technique an interesting way to perk up home decor projects.

Adjustable Blind Hem Foot
​SA133

Naturally, the blind hem foot work perfectly for standard blind hems. The adjustable guide helps fine tune the foot for a wide variety of fabric types and weights.

I like to use this blind hem foot as adjustable edge guide for topstitching and edge stitching. You can't see it in the photo, but this foot helped me stitch the tote very close to the finished edge, giving a fine finish and keeping the lining layer tucked inside the tote bag.

I also used this foot to stitch the self-fabric fish on the double layer flannel baby blanket shown below:

Picot Foot
​SA149

The Picot foot is designed to create a narrow rolled hem on lightweight fabrics. The small scroll on the foot rolls the raw edge under as fabric is fed into the slot. While a standard rolled hem foot is suited for a straight stitch, this foot is designed to be used with a small zig zag stitch. The deeper groove on the bottom lets the fabric slide under the foot while the hem is formed.

​Check the settings shown below and you'll see that the upper tension is increased to pull the zig zag over the rolled edge. The resulting hem has a scalloped appearance. 

I hope you enjoyed this summary of eight different Brother accessories! Feel free to leave comments or questions below.

This is a followup to the live show presented on the fourth Monday of March. Each month you can look forward to a Live YouTube show on my Let's Go Sew with Joanne Banko YouTube channel HERE. If you haven't already, I encourage you to subscribe and get notifications for future shows.
​
Monday's show featured Jaime Ruckel. Jaime is known for running her own Sewcial Bee Facebook page and The Sewcial Bee Etsy shop, where she sells some very unique patterns, including slippers for the entire family, specialized caps to sew for welders, bikers, and more! Jaime is also founder of the Facebook Sew it's for Sale group, where fellow sewing enthusiasts can buy and sell sewing related items. It's a popular spot for finding fabric treasures and for selling your stash.

Jaime and I had a delightful conversation that lasted well over an hour. ​Live chat during the show was full of active, fun, and friendly, folks! 

This post includes a few highlights and links we talked about during the show. You'll also find the video posted here too. If you come up with any questions while watching please feel free to leave them here and I'll make sure they get answered.

Lots of tips, tricks and resources were part of the conversation, not only from Jaime and myself but also from those who joined us. Here are some highlights:

Jaime's favorite 1 yard T-shirt top:
Ellie and Mac patterns - Everyday Tee pattern

We talked about sewing undergarments and swimwear. Here is a link to a great resource for notions including rubber elastic: SewSassy.com

Favorite leggings patterns came up as a topic and two were mentioned, Sandra Betzina's Vogue pattern 1376 and Emily Thompson's Life Sew Savory leggings pattern HERE.

Special pressing tools came up, made by Cheryl Avery's husband. You can find out more directly when you visit Jaime's The SEWcial Bee Facebook page.

Last but not least, the burrito method for making pillowcases came up and I promised to share  instructions I contributed to the Brother blog as a Brother Ambassador. You'll find a full post HERE.

Looking to connect with Jaime? You'll find her at the links below:

Etsy shop: 
www.etsy.com/shop/TheSewcialBee

Facebook The SEWcial Bee site:
​www.facebook.com/SEWcialBee/

Private SewItsForSale Facebook Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/sassysewingsales/about
(Note: You'll need to request being added to the group)

You'll find Jaime's YouTube channel HERE

Many thanks go to Jaime for being such a wonderful guest!

Sew with your feet!!! Accessory feet can make ordinary sewing tasks easier and more mistake free. Bit by bit and blog by blog, I seek to share tips and tricks for accessories that help you enjoy your sewing time each and every time you sit down to sew. Let's start with a peek at the possibilities of sewing with a Stitch Guide foot.

You'll find this foot with guidelines highlighted in red and labeled as the Brother SA189 "V" foot. This particular foot was designed to work with a former top of the line Brother Quattro series and a special feature known as automatic edge sewing. Since this is past history, I won't go into all the details but if you had or have a Quattro, this foot came packed in your standard accessory box. Details on using this feature begin on page 140 of the original Quattro manual.

The almost identical twin of the V foot is the Brother SA160 Stitch Guide Foot, as seen the photo above. They both work the same, but the red lines are really nice to have for extra visibility. Lines are spaced 2mm apart, giving you lots of options for seams and topstitching. You'll find that this snap-on foot fits many machines. If in doubt, consider heading to your Brother dealer with your machine in tow and give it a trial fitting. CLICK HERE to visit the official Brother blog and read a full post on the many ways to use this foot. It can help you sew straight in a variety of sewing situations. 

​I've seen a generic version of this foot too, sometimes called a ruler foot. 

The sewing world is full folks that are interesting, fun, and full of information! Some have a platform to share their enthusiasm and others have a smaller sphere of outreach and influence. I count myself one of the fortunate ones to serve both as a free-lance sewing educator and also play a role as a Brother Ambassador.

Along with regular visits to letsgosew.com, Many of you have been following my posts on Stitching Sewcial, the official Brother blog. In actuality, I've been designing projects for Brother for many years, contributing monthly content for their presence on the web since 2011.

Brother is in the process of revamping Stitching Sewcial to make it easier for you to access all your favorite sewing, embroidery, quilting, and crafting projects, free designs, and tutorials. Stay tuned for more news coming soon! In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts on future projects and tutorials. What accessories and machine features would YOU like to see me expound on? Leave your comments below or drop me a note HERE.

Speaking of fun folks in the world of sewing, I recently connected with Becky Thompson, the creative genius behind Power Tools with Thread.

Becky's enthusiasm and energy shine through in all her YouTube videos as she shares her quilting expertise, and teaches tricks on machines like the ScanNCut and ten needle embroidery machine. 

She reached out to me recently with the idea of doing a book give-away. Sure enough, one day her video popped up with Wrapped in Embroidery in her hand. Becky and I plan to collaborate on some things in the future. You can be sure I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, click the pic you see above and check out her channel.

While we're on the topic of YouTube, last month was the debut of the Let's Go Sew live show called Sew Tell Me. Watch for a new show going live the fourth Monday of each month at 7PM Eastern Standard time on my YouTube channel HERE.

If you missed the first show where I interviewed Reen Wilcoxson, you can read all about it and watch the video HERE.

My special guest on Monday March 22, 2021 is Jaime O'Berry Ruckel,  The Sewcial Bee Etsy shop owner, pattern designer of some very unique and special items, and founder of the Facebook Sew it's for Sale Facebook group. Hope you can make it to the live show but if not, that's okay. I'll post a link to the replay for you next week.

Okay! I'm ready to knot this thread and tie off this post. Happy Sewing!

Recently, I had the opportunity to be a guest on Eileen Roche's weekly live show. We had a great time chatting about machine embroidery, a favorite topic for both of us!

​I invite you to watch the show to see and hear some behind the scenes stories from the Set of It's Sew Easy TV, along with tips for planning, prepping, and achieving perfect placement for your own embroidery design projects! 

Sew tell me is back! Formerly presented in written format, the show now comes to you via a Live YouTube show, with the replay on my YouTube channel.

My debut guest for this new show is none other than my friend Reen Wilcoxson. Specializing in machine embroidery designs created for stitching entirely in the embroidery hoop, her designs stitch out so that little to no finishing is required at the sewing machine. This makes her designs ideal for both newbie embroidery enthusiasts and seasoned stitchers alike! embroiderygarden.com website is a treasure trove full of downloadable designs for machine embroidery enthusiasts!  

Reen and I worked together at a supersized embroidery event in Louisiana several years ago and made fast friends. 

Here we are on the set of It's Sew Easy TV where Reen presented some of her in-the hoop projects to the TV show audience for show 1704.

I'd like to invite you to watch the one hour show where I had the chance ask Reen about her sewing life both past and present. Highlights include behind the scenes stories plus tips and tricks to help you enjoy embroidering in your own sewing space.

Please feel free to leave your comments about the video below. You’re welcome to leave your questions for Reen too! She promised to answer any that roll in.

I designed this snack mat as an In-the-Hoop embroidery project. Project features a free scrolling heart design download courtesy of Brother sewing machine company, along with the free multi-sized designs I digitized in the Brother PE Design 11 program. You'll find links to files and step-by-step instructions below. Are you ready? Lets go sew!

You can read about my first version of the snack mat, produced for the Brother blog as a Brother Ambassador.

​View instructions and download the scrolling heart design shown by clicking on the image below to visit the blog. 

Now, let's get started with steps for creating my In-the-Hoop Snack Mat.

Step 1. Download the free design files from Let’s Go Sew. 

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Approximate finished size for size B: 9 1/2" wide X 7" long.
​
Size B files for 8-inch X 12-inch hoop:
LGS_Snack Mat_SizeB.pes
LGS_Snack Mat Outline_SizeB.pes 

Step 2. Cut a piece of solid or tone on tone print fabric to fully fit in your hoop. Cut a matching piece of 987 Pellon Fusible craft fleece and fuse to wrong side of fabric.

Step 3. Cut two additional pieces of fabric for creating the envelope style back closure. Fold each piece in half crosswise and press. See fabric sizes for each snack mat file below:

• Snack Mat Size A: 13" wide X 9" long, fold to equal 6 1/2" wide X 9" long.
• Snack Mat Size B: 12" wide X 8 1/2" long, fold to equal 6" wide X 8 1/2" long.
• Snack Mat Size C: 12" wide X 7 1/4" long, fold to equal 6" wide X 7 1/4" long.

Step 4. Download and transfer both snack mat files sized for your hoop, along with the free Brother February 2021 embroidery design shown below. Click on image to download file from blog.brothersews.com.

Step 5. Create a combination design as follows:

• Begin with Snack Mat file sized for your hoop. this file includes the four rectangular fill shapes.
• Add hearts to blank fabric areas, mirror imaging designs as needed and centering each one in the blank spaces.
• Add desired lettering in the center.
• Add the outline file last. Note that the thread color for the outline file is blue. You'll want to stitch this file with embroidery thread that matches your fabric.

See example of complete design combination below.

Step 6. Hoop fabric backed with fleece with right side facing up. 

Step 7. Center folded pieces over the embroidered front, overlapping by 1-inch in the middle. Note: Excess covers the design, leaving room for seam allowance. Use low tack, removable  tape to secure folded edges.  It’s important to keep folded edges flat so embroidery foot doesn’t catch while stitching. Stitch final outline. 

Tip: 3M Transpore tape is my preferred low tack tape. It's easy to find, you can stitch right through it if necessary, it's reusable, and removable. Just remember to take it off the fabric as soon as you're finished stitching.

Step 8. Time to finish! Carefully peel away tape. Remove fabric from hoop. Trim seam allowance and clip corners to reduce bulk. Turn right side out through back opening. Press and then topstitch close to the edge. You are finished! Enjoy!

Wearing my Brother Ambassador hat, I recently contributed this project to the official Brother Stitching Sewcial Blog. I named the bag you see in the photo above the Confetti Gift Bag. It's easy and fun to make with little more than a strip of organza, snippets of fabric, and strands of colorful thread! You can re-size this bag and use it for hostess gifts, thank you gifts, party favors, and more!

Instructions and a full tutorial are available when you CLICK HERE.

Wrapping gifts in something other than standard tissue and fancy paper has always been a "thing" for me. I've used colored comic strips from the newspaper, brown butcher paper decorated with stamps and stickers, and even fabric yardage in place of gift wrap. How about you? It would be fun to hear similar tales for recycling and using ordinary wrappers as coverings for gifts hidden inside.  

In the last few years, I've challenged myself to make some bags that are worthy of being kep and reused, or at least put on display for a period of time. Today I want to share a few more from past archives, in the hope of inspring you to make some of your own.

​Below you'll find some photos and links to full instructions. Most of these are from the archives of Brother Sews projects. When you see specialty feet mentioned, check your machine options to see if you have similar accessories to tackle specialty sewing tasks.

This Paisley Pearl trimmed bag features the two accessory feet, the SA150 Pearls & Sequins foot and SA184, Edge Joining foot. This one is a super easy to make! CLICK HERE for instructions.

I had so much fun decorating this one! It's almost like making a gingerbread house. Perfect for "housing" (sorry, I couldn't resist the pun) home-made goodies, this bag is sure to be a keeper. All you need is a bit of fabric, a few trims, and a piece of felt. CLICK HERE for instructions.

This bag and tag project shows you how to make an in-the-hoop tag using the Brother BES software program. The tag design is one of the built-in appliqués. It's perfect for a quick embellishment on a simple bag or any holiday package. You'll find instructions HERE on my site.

I hope these bags brighten up your holidays! Let me know if you plan to create your own pretty package wraps for gift giving season.