Have you visited our shop lately? Please say yes! We are so over the moon with the new look and feel of the shop and hope you are too. There are still minor tweaks being made here and there; if you notice something hinkey or have a comment about how things are working (or not) we’d love to hear about it.
One thing I’d like to take just a second to talk about is the ‘fly out’ menu. If you like you can just hover until you get where you want to click. If fly-outs make you crazy then you can click on the pink box at any time and be taken to that sub category
New this week
That funny monkey, Bobby Jack, makes an appearance on jersey knit. These are great prints for any age. With peace signs and monkey/cross bones you can sew this fabric for older kids and tweens without a hitch. And I don’t know a toddler that would like a monkey blowing bubble gum bubbles!
The highly anticipated cow hide print and vintage flowers are both in stock and moving quickly.
We also recently added some fabulous cotton lycra jersey stripes. These are sample rolls for next spring so you’re sure to get lots of mileage out of the great peacock blue, greens and pinks! These fabrics lean to the heavy side on weight, and have great stretch and recovery. They are perfect for leggings or to use for the top part of a bodice with a lighter knits flowing below!
Christmas and winter knits are here! There are only 202 days left until the big day and here’s no time like the present to start planning your winter sewing. I wonder if sewing winter themed items in the heat of summer will keep you cool? 
Check THIS out: I found the most amazing double sided voile and SILVER denim! My girls are chomping at the bit for something completely amazing to be sew them!.
Coming Soon
A sweet little fairy knit is about to sprinkle some magic dust around here; I only hope she knows the spell for ‘tidy up’ I could really use some help! In addition, there are mini-dinosaurs, more star fabric, all kinds of Halloween and even some colorful stripes.
Available for pre-order is this totally radical, groovy, cotton poly jersey. It’s expected to be here by Thursday, be the first to get this funky fabric by pre-ordering it today.
Stenzo fabrics are also in route, we’ve got a smattering of delightful knits and poplins ordered and can’t wait until they get here!
Hilco
Fresh from Europe we have replenished our supply of Campan knit and added some funky retro poplins. Guys, this stuff is simply the best!
On Sale
Speaking of Euro imports, we have some on sale right now! You must experience the awesomeness that is European Fabrics! These are the same high quality fabrics that Hilco offers. The knits are all 95% cotton 5% lycra and are the best weight – not to heavy not too light- and oh so soft! This week only you can try them for only $12.49 a yard! Poplins, linen and also seersucker are also included in the sale, at great savings.
Quilting cottons for $6.29? That’s right, we’ve got great selections of lines like Flora and Fauna and Nicey Jane at this low price. Check them out!
Happy Stitching,
Corie and Terry
RTW jeans, at least on my girls (and me if I'm telling the whole story), have a tendancy to travel south. Does everyone have this problem? I mean I KNOW I don't have enough butt to keep my pants up, but between the three girls you'd think one of them would have a butt that could do the job. Maiah's in the best shape and that's only because her pants still come with an elasticasized back.
All this to say that it was high time for some cute belts!
With the girls all 2 years apart I wanted the belts to be interchangable. This means that M has a fair amount of extra tail and O has a little less than optimal. It's a trade-off I'm happy to have made, since as it turns out the pink skulls are the clear choice for 2 girls and there's one dog lover that's not giving that one up for anything.
The process to make these is pretty straight-forward but I did learn a few things along the way so I thought I'd share my process and tips.
Gather up your supplies:
- webbing
- ribbon
- jeans needle
- heat n bond, ultrahold
- iron and thread
- D-rings
Measure the waist (or to be more precise the waist/hip area path that the belt will follow). I measured the waist and ended up a little tight on extra length. Add 8" to this measurement. This is the amount of webbing and ribbon you'll need. The webbing I used was 1" wide, found at hobby lobby or hancocks as well as a myriad of online shops.
I tried several options for securing my ribbon to the webbing before sewing. This is an important step because you don't want your ribbon sliding around your webbing while your trying to sew it.
Double sided special scrap-booking tape (it's a little more narrow than standard DS tape) was suggested to me. I picked up some at Michael's and while it would, sort-of, stick to the woven backside of the ribbon it refused to stick to the textured nylon webbing.
Next idea. I had some stitch witchery on hand and I've had good luck using it to secure ribbon to fabric by blasting it with heat. But since I'm working with nylon and didn't really want it melting on me, I tried a medium heat setting. No workey.
For me the heat n bond was, hands down, the product of choice for this project.
First: Iron the heat n bond to the back side of the ribbon then secure the ribbon to the webbing by ironing on med-med high heat and a light weight pressing cloth.
Using your jeans needle, sewing machine, and whichever thread you like (on some I used regular thread, on this dog one I used embroidery thread that's more shiny). Secure the ribbon to the webbing. When using a straight stitch I like to lengthen it a little to a 3.
Be adventurous and go for a decorative stitch sometimes 
I used a match to heat seal all the ends, you could choose to use fray check if you want. I knew I was short on length and also didn't want the extra bullk that turning it under would make.
On the left side on the belt thread it through 2 D-rings, fold down and stitch a square. I made 2 passes for extra security. IMPORTANT: for 1" webbing use 1 1/4" rings, you'll want a little extra room so your belt can move. I tried the 1" rings and felt it was too snug.
On the right hand side of the belt turn the end under and secure with a line of stitching (again I went over it a few times for strength). You can see this in the very top picture. You may also notice that I didn't match my bobbin to the webbing. This is less apparent on the straight stitched belts and more apparent on the thicker, fancier stitches.
One note about using decorative stitches; the pink skull belt was secured with a hemstitch stitch that passes over the same x shape several times. I noticed that my ribbon got a little bunchy in places with all the back and forth. If this bothers you I recommend a 'lighter' decorative stitch.
Our family doesn't normally go out for the Rodeo and usually my kids barely squeek by with a bandana from the dress up box on Rodeo Day at school. Lucky me that I've had this shirt in the hopper for a while. It would have been done sooner but after starting construction (with the intent of using the brown/black stripe for the neckband) I didn't think it had enough stretch to make a good band and that was that, it sat. All the while this great rib, Ringel, kept staring at me yelling "use me for that neck", and I just didn't. I'm happy that I finally did.
I took a bunch of close-ups of the hems and neckband so you can see how they look. I used the coverstitch for hemming and as you can see when switching from mid-weight jersey to lighter weight thermal and all those serged seams on the side there was a little bit of wobble, but not too bad. To sew the neckband I stitched my piece into a circle, folded it in half, marked each quarter, made the same markings on the shirt neck pinning them together and stretched as I sewed. I debated about top stitching and didn't. Mainly, I was running out of light and wanted to get the pictures done. I might go back and add topstitching, but then again I might not. I'm already buzzing through another project
coverstitched hem on thermal and jersey knit
hemming knit fabrics
and one just because she's beautiful
and every thing nice.
This girl and her clothes fit the bill, both sweet and a little saucey. Full of complimentary contrasts, texture reigns king on this ourfit.
The skirt is the Redondo pattern, with added flounce, made from nice nice soft corduroy, smooth woven cotton and using a rolled hem. The pattern design screams I'm not your ordinary twirl skirt but made in brown, pink and off-white still looks sweet as sugar.
The sporty double sleeved tee pattern Quiara is a contrast to the cute pink little dogs. Thermal fabric, and soft jersey in dots and stripes play with texture and the green and off white dots pop and pick up the green from the dog fabric.
Sewing with thermal:
Thermal, this thermal anyway, is a just lightweight knit with texture. I didn't do anything special to sew it… just popped the jersey needles in the serger and away I went. Seriously, if you have sewn knits before don't let the fact that thermal has a little texture to it throw a curve ball at you. If you haven't sewn knits and like the look of thermal … just do it. It's not hard! And if you don't have a serger, DON'T let that stop you. You can use your sewing machine. Lengthen your stitch length a little and give it a go.
Side note: I snapped these pictures before school, better ones will follow
Getting ready for gift giving is a bit challenging. I mean right out of the box, WHERE do you keep your list? I can't check it a second time because I haven't got it made in the first place. My kids aren't overly snoopy, and a good thing too or there'd be no surprises. But I need a list that won't be uncovered at an inopportune time, like say anytime in the next month. T and I keep talking about what to get the kids but can't seem to finalize it and we're starting to run out of time.
We're pretty flexible with our devices and let the kids use them pretty much anytime but that takes them out of the running for list making. I did start making one with actual pen and paper and I just hope it got washed in my pocket otherwise there's no telling when or where it will turn up.
One think I know for sure is that the 2 kids that wear pajamas are in dire straights. Both of these girls keep eyeing the David and Goliath rack of fabric and make comments about how great they'd be for p.j.'s.
Point taken. I see some quality time with a ball point needle in my weekend
Random quotes from the day:
"Why, there's a turkey in the popcorn bucket!" (said in a very British accent)
"Come take a look at this dough, somethings … not … right …"
"I'm thankful for … Bacon" said by the last person at the table after everyone else has offered up very heartfelt Thanks.
"May I please have an alternate dessert"
"I'd like to make a toast to fizzy, sugary, goodness"
"You should cover everything in fabric, it makes it look so much prettier"
Speaking of fabric, this is an enlarged version of TINI, made from corduroy, lightweight cotton, and ribbon trim.
Jumping back into this space with a little Mellow Yellow, because beauty is where you find it.
Our First family Kayaking trip … everyone loved it!
Sewing with Campan one of my all-time fav fabs.
