As many hip parents know, baby slings have become an increasingly popular mode of transporting your child around – from A-list celebrities spotted wearing a designer Baby Bjorn with baby in tow, to everyday moms and dads on the go who choose to use a variety of baby slings and carriers, the baby carrier is the way to carry your little one in style!

Saving Green…

With today’s ever-tightening economy, some parents are choosing to get crafty – and get sewing! While there are many gifted homemakers who enjoy making their own baby clothes, others are merely looking to save a penny or two and design their own easy-to-sew or no-sew baby wrap.

Going Green…

There are also environmentally-conscious parents who would prefer to start their child’s life on a green note – and organic baby slings are easily made, using natural fibers and textiles (such as hemp and unbleached cotton) as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic materials used in traditional baby carriers. Choose the colours you want the baby sling to be may you coud have a green a baby sling!

                          Check Out How To Tie Your Baby Sling In The Video Below!

Making a Scene!

Still others choose to express their creative side – crocheting, knitting and hand-stitching hip baby slings to suit their own personal style, crafty folks everywhere can consult a multitude of craft magazines and websites for how-to’s and blogs when creating their own original baby sling designs.

Ready, Set…Sew!

So, whether you’re on a budget, looking to express your artistic or creative side, or simply trying to live a greener lifestyle, it’s easy to make your own cheap baby slings – below, DIY instructions to sew your own baby wrap!

HOW TO MAKE BABY SLINGS:

For anyone who has basic sewing skills, this is a fairly simple project:

1. First, choose your fabric at a local fabric store – since you will be sewing (or serging) the edges, you may choose woven cloth that is unfinished, as well as fleeces and cotton knits, as long as they don’t curl up when cut.

2. Next, cut your cloth to the proper dimension – if you’re purchasing your fabric in person, the salesperson can cut the cloth to your specifications; we recommend 20 to 35′ wide and at least 5 yards (15 feet) long.

3. Finally, you will finish the edges by serging all four sides of the material.

If you do not have your own serger, we recommend hemming all the way around the four sides of the baby wrap. You may also choose to visit your local sewing machine store, which might let you borrow their serger for free or for a small fee; visiting a tailor or dry cleaners is another affordable option for finishing your baby wrap.

IMPORTANT TIP: DO NOT buy 2.5 yards of 2 different materials & sew them together to create 5 yards – this will result in a WEIGHT-BEARING seam, weakening your baby wrap & making it less safe!

Although this is a moderately easy sling project for some, sewing isn’t quite an option for everyone, especially when you consider what you’re transporting! For the rest of us less-than-crafty folks who want to carry their precious cargo stylishly (and safely!), it’s not difficult to find inexpensive and  cheap baby slings. There are many online sources, including Babysling.com, where you can find a great assortment of affordable baby slings & infant slings, including the ERGO baby carrier, Hotslings brand, Moby Wrap, Maya, Ellaroo, Baby K’Tan baby carrier and more! Whether you’re looking for a baby backpack, a linen baby sling, a Velcro sling, organic slings or any other type of kid sling, you’re sure to find a wonderful selection of moderately-priced, eco-friendly and stylish options at Babysling.com!

By: Philip Morrison

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Fabric Friday + Announcements « Sew,Mama,Sew! Blog

My WIP includes 4 sewing kits for Christmas, one doll, a baby sling, a few ribbon blankets and toys, 3 Christmas stockings and a tree skirt. 

Green Baby Bargains: The Peanut Shell Baby Slings – 66% off

The Peanut Shell baby sling cradles and comforts your baby. They are made of a variety of fabrics with stylish and thoughtful details and just the right amount of flirt to go with your style. After all, you’re a mom, not ‘your’ mom.

Super Chic Baby Sling

I love the stylish designs and all the fabric options of these great baby slings by The Peanut shop. And I truly love their motto of "Your a Mom but not ‘your’ Mom". Would you use these? Happy planning, Shafonne.   

Baby-Wearing: Why and How

Enter the baby sling, a piece of fabric I imagined sitting on a shelf next to the little-used blankets and newborn dress-up clothes. In her sling, my daughter was happy. 

Newborn Slings – There is Simply Nothing Safer | Baby Slings 

Newborn slings do not have this extra material because they are made from a single piece of fabric. 

Hugamonkey Organic Baby Sling Review | Mom Most Traveled

I used the money to get an Organic Baby Sling for $29.99 and a Black Baby Sling for $24.99. I paid about $5 over my certificate because I wanted to spring for the Organic fabric. 

Make a Baby Sling for Your Toddler – Baby – Families.com

Finally…you’ve been waiting for it…the lazy way to make a toy baby sling! It’s the baby wrap! Find some lightweight fabric that does not run when you cut it. 

Baby Sling-reversable-u Choose Fabric

Baby Sling-Reversable You Choose Fabric And size ^Sherbet^ Essie Designs pouch style slings are made of high quality designer fabrics and are 100% cotton and reversable to a solid color for two different looks. 

After years of making lots of mistakes sewing window treatments… I’ve learned a few tricks of the trade.

Listed below are 11 powerful sewing tips that you can apply to any sewing project… to help you save time… avoid frustration… and hopefully help you become more successful with your projects. I’ll explain many of these techniques in terms of window treatments, but these apply to all sewing projects.

Amazing Sewing: Avoid puckers with long stitches

One of the most frustrating moments when sewing seams is the very nice fabric you bought for your project is puckering as you sew. Argh! (no, I’m not a pirate for Halloween). Anyhoos, the reason your fabric puckers is because your machine is feeding the fabric too fast under your pesser foot… thus causing your fabric to almost gather at times and the needle stitches over a fold in the fabric. The best way to avoid this is to set your machines stitch length to as long as it will go. This will move the fabric through at the same rate, but your needle isn’t moving as fast. I’ve found that this adjustment alone has made all the difference when sewing my seams… or sewing across a panel.

When in doubt, make some test samples. Cut out strips of fabric and lining… mimic whatever it is that you will actually sew… and test out your stitch settings. This is the only fool proof way to ensure your stitching is just right for your particular project.

Amazing Sewing : Put the pressure on… make your ironing board your new best friend.

You should be pressing your fabric at all stages of your sewing project. This may become tedious… but the habit of pressing will result in a truly professional looking window treatment. Press your fabric well after you have cut it and before you start sewing. You can’t sew good seams if your fabric is creased and wrinkled.

After you’ve sewn your seams, press them open. There are times when you’ll need to press them to the side, like when sewing the sides seams for a lined drapery panel or roman shade. But pressing the seams before you turn things right side out will make your life a whole lot easier. Otherwise, you’ll be fighting with the seam… because it won’t lay all in the same direction within your sewn panel.

Learn To Sew Like A Professional, Click Here!

Press your panel once it is right sides out. This will give the edges of your panel a crisp clean look.And press one more time before you hang your window treatments. Press, press and press!!

Amazing Sewing : Get more done by working in time chunks

If you’re like me, you have a life outside of your sewing projects. Well… unless you do this for a living… then well… good for you!! But, like the rest of us, it’s difficult to find time to make my roman shades or to finish those lined curtains. In fact, if I can’t find the time, then I’ll just put it aside until I do… and who knows when that will be.

I’ve found that breaking my sewing projects down into doable chunks makes my projects easier to manage.

For example, I know that cutting my fabric takes up most of my time. And it requires most of my attention. So, I’ll block off an hour or 2 a night to finish cutting all the fabric. Even if I get just one panel cut… that’s more than nothing done.

Learn  To Make Roman Shades Click Here

Then, I’ll move on to side seams. I dedicate a half hour to an hour a night sewing side seams. Again, even if you just sew one drapery panel… that’s one more thing done.

Other chunks of time may include bottom hems, preparing drapery headings, marking for roman shade rings and installation.

Try not to get overwhelmed with the big picture, because it is so easy to get discouraged and not do it at all. Break it down into manageable chunks and take it one step at a time.

Amazing Sewing: Square fabric

When cutting your fabric, it is critical that you square your edges. This means that the top and bottom edges should be at 90 degrees to your side edges. Putting special attention to this will save you so much time when you’re sewing your side seams and bottom hem. Nothing’s worse than finishing your roman shade only to discover that the shade hangs crooked because the fabric wasn’t square. Or your drapery panel hangs too low on one end.. hitting the floor. Ugh.Take the time…. square your fabric when you cut it.

Amazing Sewing: Add fullness and insulation with interlining

Interlining your window treatments adds fullness and body… especially when working with silk or thinner fabrics. Lining alone just doesn’t add the level of professionalism as does interlining.

Interlining is a thin flannel layer that you lay in between the face fabric and lining. It doesn’t look like much, but when it’s all sewn your window treatments will look softer, fuller and feel just wonderful. Plus… that added layer will help insulate your windows.

Amazing Sewing : Less seam is more

I am not a perfect sewer… are you? No matter how hard I try… I never got my seams to be exactly 1/2″ or whatever the instructions call for. In fact, many times my sewn panels come up about 1/8″ short. And this drives me crazy. In most cases, this shouldn’t matter. But when making roman shades… it matters. Plus, when sewing, the fabric takes up… maybe more than expected. And this also makes things shorter.

So… I’ve learned to sew just inside the seam line. Or the imaginary seam line. If you plan on sewing a 1/2″ seam… pretend there’s a line drawn there and sew just to the inside of that line. I’ve had great success with this little trick!

Amazing Sewing: Overbuy fabric

More is definitely more in this case. Always, if you can afford it, buy at least an extra yard of your fabric. There are so many times where I thought I needed 12 yards… and then realized I shouldn’t bought 15 yards! So, to be safe, buy more fabric than you need. Plus, you can always use the extra to make decorative pillows to decorate your room.

Amazing Sewing: Quality lining

Don’t cheap yourself on lining. You don’t need crazy expensive lining, but you should choose a lining that drapes nicely… has a nice finish… and just feels nice. Avoid the cheap, paper thin cotton linings. It pretty much defeats the purpose of lining when you go this thin. And don’t forget your option of blackout lining. This is thicker… but provides excellent light control.

Amazing Sewing: Explore tools

Before jumping into making a roman shade or sewing a pleated drape, be sure to check out the tools available to you. For example, if you’re planning on sewing pleated drapes, you may discover that some nice triple pinch pleat tape is well worth the investment… to save you lots of time! Or maybe some 4 prong hooks and deep pleat tape.

Or you’re going to make a slatted roman shade. Well, you’ll discover that you don’t need to sew all those casings and rings.. you can just use roman shade rib loop tape… that only needs one row of stitching and gives you a casing and loops to thread your lift cord through. There’s all kinds of supplies available to you that will save you hours of work. So, look around first before diving in.

Amazing Sewing: Avoid being dull… sharpen everything!

When starting a new sewing project, make sure you have a new sharp needle for your sewing machine. I know this seems obvious, but I have pushed my needles to the limit… and all it does is cause the needles to break, jam the thread, drop stitches… yeah…. go put in a new needle.

Make sure you have some nice sharpened fabric scissors. Or if you’re using a rotary cutter… go put in a new blade. Otherwise you’ll be sawing at your fabric… and that leads to ugly frayed edges.

Amazing Sewing: Good instructions

If this is the first time making a particular window treatment…. make sure you have GOOD and easy to understand instructions on hand. Nothing’s worse then getting a quarter of the way into your sewing project, and then hitting a brick wall… because you have no idea what to do next. So make sure your instructions have clear diagrams, lots of detailed steps… and maybe even videos to back them up.

May I recommend a few of my publications that have helped literally thousands of sewers become successful at sewing window treatments?

Happy Sewing!

Jennifer Thoden

15/05/2008

Making Roman Blinds – Tips and Tricks: Fed Up With Fusty Curtains

Discover video and audio of even more sewing tips, how-to’s and resources by visiting HowToSewWithJennyT.com. You’ll even be fef able to subscribe to these weekly sewing tips and how-to’s and receive them through your iTunes or podcast player. … Then sew a 1/2″ casing at the top edge. String some cord through the casing and draw tight.

Making Quilted Shower Curtains

Before engaging yourself in this project you need to be well equipped with some information and tips that may seem trivial but will prove useful along the way.This is why I invite you to read right to the very end and you will be realise how useful … Instead of sewing the quilt to the plastic liner you can make the buttonholes across the top of the hooks. This way you can wash the liner separately or throw it away when it wears out. Tags: shower curtain, shower curtains.

Learn to Sew and Save Money for a Lifetime

I can buy the fabric and make them myself for $50, even if I buy expensive fabric and make Roman shades. Simple café curtains for the kitchen would set me back all of $10. Of course, there are some cases where it’s cheaper to go down to … I don’t have specific tips, but I think it would be difficult to earn a full living at the beginning. 

Home Depot Kits, Roller Shade Kits Blinds, Roller Shade Supplies

levolor Roller Shade parts , Roller blind rep fef air Kits , roman Shade Kits , Roller Shade replacement parts , no sew Roller Shades , Roller Shade Kits clutch , fuse a Shade , Roller … Cool, List, New, Shades, Them, 23-5/16″w, Tips, Multi-functional, Choice, Code, Teacher, Great, Download,

11 Amazing Sewing Tips on Making Roman Shades and Sewing Curtains

Discover 11 powerful sewing tips that you can apply to any sewing project. You’ll learn to save time, avoid mistakes and endless frustrations when sewing your window treatments and other home decor. 11 Amazing Sewing Tips on Making Roman Shades and Sewing Curtains.

Why Does My Roman Shade Pull Inward When Raising It? – Sewing

Does your roman shade pull inward or collapse when you raise it? This is a common problem after sewing your roman shade. Jenny T. has some quick tips to help with this problem.

When Making Roman Shades…

Learn how to calculate the distance between your lift cords when making roman shades, plus Jenny T. shares with you a quick and easy formula for figuring out the number of lift cords for your roman shade.

Sewing Tips For Roman Shades; Basics For Sewing Curtains

After years of making lots of mistakes sewing window treatments… I’ve learned a few tricks of the trade. sewing roman shades. Listed below are 11 powerful sewing tips that you can apply to any sewing project.

9 Expert Tips on Making Roman Shades | Square Scarves

Try to avoid that too many seams showing on the front of the Roman shade. Often one can not avoid it. Try to sew a blind hem stitch to the bottom hem of your blinds.

Sewing machine is a very common thing, but the world would be a different place without it. Directly or indirectly, it has special place in the life of every individual irrespective of their gender, education or socio-economic class.

Like other inventions in the world of gadgets and devices, the sewing machine has come a long way with its technology and functionality. These days, the automated sewing machine has taken place of manual stitching device. The automated stitching mechanism of the machines has enabled the manufacturers to produce piles of high-quality, well-designed dresses in a cost-effective way and with minimal expense.

 Sewing machines  are like any other gadgets; several models of the device are available in the market from different makes. The models range from low-end, conventional machines to high-end, sophisticated machines that can be connected to a computer. All the models and brands of sewing machine differ in their prices, features and performances. 

The user:

Before investing in one of the sewing machines, it is important to know whether the device is being purchased for a beginner or an experienced user. The beginners can start with less expensive machine with some of the basic and essential features. Whereas, the experienced and skilled sewer can opt for the machine that has more sophisticated features. Even, you can consider the toy sewing machine for your kid.

The purpose:

Your purpose behind buying a sewing machine will make a world of difference in your selection process. Whether you are investing in it as a professional sewer or for domestic use, your machine should fit your purpose. The stitching machine used for professional use such as dress making, crafts and quilting, must have wide range of stitching features along with manual and automated controlling options. If you are taking the machine just for repair, alteration and home furnishing, a basic machine also can solve your purpose.

 Learn Sew Like Professional, Click here!

Frequency of use:

Generally, the professional sewers use sewing machines more frequently and hence, they need machines that sport a large range of stitches. Whereas, if you are not going to use some features frequently, it is better to look for the machine that is designed with the necessary features that you require for your purpose.

Storage:

When space is at a premium, look for the sewing machine that provides stor 1000 age for the accessories. Some machines come with underneath storage area.

Types:

While selecting from different types of sewing machine, make sure that you know much about them to make informed decision on buying. Electronic sewing machines are best for home sewers with their wide range of prices, functions and number of stitches. Computerized sewing machines with precise control enable the users to produce hundreds of different stitches. Overlockers, also known as sergers, offer exceptional finish to garments.

  Click Here, To Learn How To Make Roman Shades 

 Users of sewing machines can best evaluate the features and stitching options available with different varieties of machines. Selecting a sewing machine can be a difficult task if you don`t know about your requirements. Once, you are aware of the purpose you can ask the sales person of the store to help you select the most useful sewing machine for you. Alternatively, you can search required information on the web and read the expert reviews to select the most suitable sewing machine.

By: Roberto Sedycias

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

How To Choose the Best Sewing Machine

Whether you want to save money by making your own clothes or you just enjoy working with fabrics, choose the best sewing machine so your projects turn out great.  

How To Choose the Best Sewing Machine Video | Sewing Videos

Video: How To Choose the Best Sewing Machine. Whether a seasoned sewer or a tailor in training, here’s great advice on picking the right sewing machine.

Brother Embroidery Sewing Machines – The Best Sewing Machines 

Highlights: – Using sewing machine built-in decorative stitches – Setting up your sewing machine for machine embroidery – Choosing and using appropriate stabilizers.

Tips For Selecting A Sewing Machine

Bridget Holmes likes to sew crafts and do embroidery with her best sewing machines. Sometimes she also does quilts. 

Sewing Machines For Sale

Specializing in providing information to find the best sewing machine for sale. 

When first learning to sew, you will read or have many people tell you to stick with cotton or cotton polyester blends for your beginning projects.

You will read or have many people tell you to stick with cotton or cotton polyester for your beginning projects. I do agree that these are some of the easiest  fabrics  to work with. However, my girls thankfully removed my fear of working with other materials.

 Learn To Sew Like A Professional, Click Here! 

When I first started sewing I tried to understand all of the differences between the fabrics: the fibers (natural vs. manmade), the fabrications (woven, knit, non woven)… After being overwhelmed, I stuck with cotton and polyester/cotton blends. Then my kids got involved in choosing their own fabrics and I threw all cares out the window. Anything shiny, see through, or furry were the most exciting to them. We also combined different fabrics, using anything and everything together in the same projects! (That last statement would make most professional seamstresses croak.)

Through this we learned :

What we did like working with, what was difficult and why, why some fabrics didn’t work well together, which fabrics needed special seams, some that we would prefer using a serger with…the list goes on. All the things that we could have read about, but we completely understood why through our hands on experiences. Again, barriers were broken down, and problem solving skills were sharpened. We noticed that certain needles worked better than others and we needed special seams for certain fabrics to deal with fraying… Although we still couldn’t name all of the different types of fabrics we recognized them by feel and look. We are just now starting to identify all of them by name.

Just the other day my youngest daughter and I were looking for fabric for her Christmas presents. We picked up a beautiful linen fabric and she immediately was able to identify that it would not be good for her project because she needs to sew these pillows with the edges exposed. We had done a previous project with linen that had fallen apart over time from the stress on the seams.
There are some excellent books that discuss all the types of fabric, as well as the special treatment they need. My favorite is Singer’s Complete Photo Guide to Sewing. It is an excellent beginners book .

If you are wanting to stay with the easier fabrics, look for:

1. Does it unravel easily. Look at the bottom edges of a bolt where the fabric has been cut. Is it coming apart real easy or staying together?2. For matching seams; solids and small prints are best.
Fabrics are either Directional or Non directional. Directional fabrics or fabrics "with nap" – means that it either has a design that can only go in one direction, or the fabric looks lighter or darker depending on how you hold it. This type of fabric must be cut in a certain way so that both sides look the same (i.e., the design isn’t upside down). When working with directional fabrics you might have to buy extra to accommodate the design. *Don’t let this stop you from buying these fabrics. However, if you or your child are perfectionists I would steer away from plaids, starting off. Non directional or "without nap" – means that the design can be turned any way and it looks the same, or there is no design at all.
3. Fabric that do not stretch alot. Some examples of "easy to work with" fabrics include: cotton, polyester cotton blends, denims, firm knits (not as much stretch), wools, broadcloths, poplin, flannel, sweatshirt knits, seersucker, calico…the list goes on. (When I first started, I would look at a list like this and say, "I don’t know what all these are – help". Remember, with you and your child’s first projects being small, you are not having to buy large quantities of fabric, so don’t feel limited. Look, feel, and experiment! )

Three suggestions for finding fabric:

1. Buy on sale only. There are great deals out there. *If you go into a fabric store, ask if they have a discount table. Internet sites will have a link to their discount fabrics .
2. Use old clothes. My husband works on our family ranch and goes through clothes like crazy. We use his old shirts, jeans, and socks. My youngest daughter at 3 even used a pair of her old underwear, stitched the legs up, and made a hat for herself (she was only allowed to wear it in the house with family).
3. Use other people’s old clothes. My grandmother was getting rid of a huge bag of clothing, so my girls asked if they could have them. We made the cutest quilts, headbands, and purses with her silky shirts.

Very Important – Let your kids choose their fabrics – even if they don’t match and are ugly!!

One more thing to consider: will what your making need to be washed often? Fabric is either washable or dry clean only. For the projects that we will wash a lot (our clothes, doll clothes, and some of our tote bags) we buy washable fabrics, due to the expense of dry cleaning.
**You will be amazed at all of the beautiful faux fabrics available now, that are actually machine washable.

Preparing fabric for sewing:

*When buying fabric, look at the information on the care of the fabric (i.e., washing, dry cleaning, if it has been pre-shrunk, or if it will shrink). At stores this is found on the end of the bolt. When buying over the internet they post this info. for you. If the fabric has colors that might bleed, or if it states that it will shrink some when washed – wash it. A great habit to get into is, right when you get your fabric (if it is machine washable) wash it. We put ours in the wash to pre-shrink and we add a little vinegar to help set the colors. We then dry and press.

This way your fabric is ready when you are ready to sew. I learned this the hard way. I made some precious 4th of July US flag quilted placemats. Although, I didn’t have to preshrink the fabric, we couldn’t use them to eat on because I didn’t set the colors. If I were to wash them now our white stripes would turn pink; we still use them to decorate with.
Another example: Your child makes their first shirt, it fits perfect, you wash it, it shrinks, and they can’t wear it again! If it states that the fabric will shrink, take the time to wash it!

Dry clean or machine washable?

The important thing is to take into consideration what you are making. Will it need to be washed often? If yes, buy machine washable. We use a lot of dry cleanable upholstery fabrics for our pillows and purses. We also use this fabric for special dresses.

By Kristi Borchardt Vintage Fabric Whether a fancy frock or a pretty little pinafore, it’s often the fabric so carefully selected by the home seamstress that makes these garments so popular.  The Fabric Bar Amy from The Fabric Bar wants to give you some fabric! She has a beautiful new website with loads of designer fabric, Japanese goodies, and patterns. Choosing The Right Fabric In spring and summer, although you want a lighter, brighter effect, the curtain fabric should be heavier, both for privacy and good looks. A high thread count fabric is desirable. Sewing Ideas I’m also looking for tips on choosing fa fef bric to reupholster these chairs. Make Choosing Fabric for Your Quilts Even Easier « Learn How to Quilt One Response to “Make Choosing Fabric for Your Quilts Even Easier”. Misty Says: August 23, 2009 at 14:30. Great tips. I started a quilt using curtains, bedspreads, clotes and so forth that I used and discarded throughout my life. Types of Furniture Fabric Style: It is important to keep the particular furniture piece in mind when choosing fabric. In addition, the style of the room and home in which the furniture will be placed should be considered.

 Mail this post]]> http://www.bestsewingmachines.org/sewing-for-beginners-choosing-fabric-and-preparing/feed 1 http://www.bestsewingmachines.org/brother-sewing-machines-brother-cs-6000i http://www.bestsewingmachines.org/brother-sewing-machines-brother-cs-6000i#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:59:00 +0000 admin http://www.bestsewingmachines.org/?p=102

Brother sewing machines are known to be the best at doing the sewing job.  

Have you ever owned any of the Brother Sewing Machines?

What it includes:

The Brother sewing machine an assortment of feet that come in the box, including feet for buttonhole, overcasting, monogramming, zippers, even a walking foot. And if the ones that come with it aren’t enough to suit you, there are many optional feet available as well, including binder, cording, gathering, and a special quarter inch quilting foot. With the Brother CS-6000i,  simplicity meets technology and the user comes out the overall winner. Brother sewing machine  manual is also fairly easy to use.

While the CS-6000i may be the best sewing machine they make, there are many other Brother  sewing machines available, designed for everything from simple straight stitches to multiple thread, multicolor embroidery with some of their more advanced machines. No matter what your sewing project may be, there is a Brother sewing machine designed for the job

Be warned in advance, though, that the more computerization you get in your sewing machine, the higher its cost will be. Machines which feature over a hundred stitch functions often cost as much as three or four simpler models. And very few Brother sewing machines, including the CS-6000i, are able to handle stitching speeds greater than 1000 stitches per minute. For most embroidery, this is more than sufficient, but for long straight projects, the speed could be somewhat frustrating.

The CS-6000i from brother has many standard features, such as a free arm for sleeves and cuffs. It has the same preset height and pressure settings for the presser foot,which can be annoying, but attempts to make up for it by other bonuses, such as automatic needle  threading, and snap on presser foot attachments.

The super simple computer routines make even the newest novice a professional with a sewing machine.

Overall                      

For an all-purpose sewing machine, the Brother CS-6000 is the best sewing machine on the market. Amateur and professional users alike will appreciate the ease of use, and complete portability, making this  sewing machine  a joy to use.

Be warned that it is not the best choice for elaborate embroidery, because there are other Brother models betters suited for that. But for all-around usage, this is the obvious choice for most sewing applications.

There are other great sewing machines by Brother so it is a good idea to look at more reviews.

Return Back To Home Page

Author: Robin Cassidy

Follow the links for the Brother CS-6000 sewing machine and read more sewing machine reviews on other leading brands such as Elna, Pfaff and the Husqvarna sewing machine.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Walmart.com: Brother 60-Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine

Shop Low Prices on: Brother 60-Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine, CS-6000i : Appliances.   

Brother’s Quattro 6000D Sewing Machine

It’s not very often that we report on sewing machines here at Coolest Gadgets, but Brother’s Quattro 6000D is definitely worth talking about.

free embroidery downloads for brother sewing machines

Reynolds Bros.Sales & Service are Australian Impoter of Punchcard Knitting Machines Singer Models SK-280 / SK-155 / LK-150 

Brother Sewing Machines: A Beginners Guide to Creating | Embroidery

Your machine will create a professional and crisp embroidery design , without additional work by you. The unit also includes a built-in scissors, so you do not do to cut the thread.   

When teaching your children to sew, there are things you can do with your sewing space that will make them more comfortable while they are sewing, and even better, help encourage a greater desire to sew. Give them little project to complete, let them explore their creativity. This a bit of information about sewing for kids.

WHERE?
Although we would all love to have our own sewing /craft room, most of us have to find a small corner in the house where we can sew. Through experience I have learned, that if you want to learn something, or more importantly you want your kids to learn something, the source needs to be readily available. Otherwise, "out of sight, out of mind".

I started very early having "centers" around the house (primarily in the areas where we "lived" the most) for my girls. Some years we even gave up furniture in an area in order to have TOOLS for learning. A Reading center, Music center, Building center, Science center… If things were out (neatly organized, of course) and readily available, there was never a question that they would be used. 

 sewing was no different . We started sewing in the laundry room, which when everything was set up – the table and machine, we couldn’t wash our clothes. So the girls were only sewing when I set aside the time for it, and it had to be put away immediately afterwards.

When we moved to an area where it could stay out all of the time, the girls improved rapidly, as did I. Why? Because we could see it, we wanted to sew more often, and the girls didn’t have to always wait for me. **With my 3 year old, at the time, there were limitations.

Added Bonus
Moms, we rarely have a chunk of time where we can complete a whole project from start to finish. This set up is a huge advantage for us as well. I will see that I have 15 minutes to spare, and I can sit right down and sew several lines and then walk away!

SEATING
We’ve talked about where, now let’s talk about your child’s positioning. It’s very important that your kids are comfortable while they are sewing. It is also important that they are sitting high enough to look down on the needle and their hands. If they are older this is easy. If they are young, you have two choices for those little bodies.

1. Buy a small child’s table.
PROS: this is very comfortable for your child.
CONS: if you are sharing machines, it isn’t real comfortable for you.

2. Use a regular table.

If needed, use pillows to raise your child on the chair. For their feet, find a storage box to place the pedal on.

PROS:you can use what you already have, and it is much easier to share the machine. 

CONS: at first it may feel a little awkward if your kids are real little. When my 3 year old started sewing, she worked at a child’s table. This was because she never knew where to place the foot she wasn’t using, when she sat at the larger table. However, by age 6 she preferred being at the "big" table with us.
Whichever one you choose, just make sure they are comfortable!

3.Buy your child a childrens sewing machine  

When you know and are surey are capable to work independently. Start giving them hand sewing projects and or just any sewing projects for kids, let their creativity shine out! 

Kristi learned to sew right along with her daughters. The girls were age 3 and 6, at the time! Because it was such an enjoyable experience she wants to encourage others to pursue this endeavor.

Kristi experienced the woes of feeling very ignorant just trying to read a pattern and was discouraged from trying to teach her girls on her own. After receiving a new sewing machine from her husband for her birthday, she became bound and determined to fulfill her desire to learn to sew.  
Kristi’s plan was to learn everything before she tried to teach her kids. But as she was learning, her girls caught her enthusiasm and in amazement she watched them flourish in learning to sew right along with her. Kristi says that, "quite honestly, because we knew nothing I experienced a real freedom in my own education".

At age 8 yrs. old, her younger daughter could sew her own dresses, and her older daughter, at 11 yrs. old, had a passion for sewing, and was a better seamstress than Kristi.

What Kristi wants to do, is share her journey in sewing; to help others know (with hindsight being 20/20) that the best way to learn is by doing. She has shared with friends and family their way of learning to sew, as well as, the projects and patterns that built their skills. She has seen it not only work for others, but truly bring a delight into the sewing experience.

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By Kristi Borchardt Published: 5/20/2007

 Children’s Boutique Sewing Patterns: Scoop Neck Dress Top Sewing 

Scoop Neck Dress Top sewing pattern: I have tested the revisions and will be working on the pattern to send out to testers sometime this week.

Les Petits Anglais: Sewing the t-shirt

I’m a stay-at-home mother and for the last few months, I’ve been setting up a business from home making european-style clothes for small children. 

Tips And Basics For Successful Sewing

From sewing hems to rolled hem sewing, you can learn it all with these sewing tips. Here are few of tips that I would like to share with you.

Sewin’ Sisters Sowing: Sewing list by priority

Marcellene Currens is an ordained minister, and the founder of Sewin’ Sisters Sowing, Sew Much for Charity, and Our Sewing Recital. She is passionate about teaching sewing to adults and children. Sewing was the very first profession, … We are self-supported, giving our own time and materials in both learning and teaching others basic sewing skills and tips.

Oh Sew Busy: Sewing Machine

This afternoon I put the last stitches into my new sewing machine cover while sitting on a quilt down near the cattle yards while the children played in the dirt and on bikes.

Alot of people when they first learn to sew find that they have alot of questions that they need answering. So, what i did was bring a few frequently asked questions and answers together. Hope it answers your questions.

What are the uses of a sewing machine?

The uses of a sewing machine are stitching garments, leather, green house covers, car covers, parachute, canvas, bags etc.

What are the two types of sewing machines used?

The two types of sewing machines are household sewing machine and industrial sewing machine.

What is an Industrial sewing machine?

Industrial sewing machines are used by textile manufacturers and customers who need a faster and professional job.

What are the differences between industrial and household sewing machines?

An Industrial sewing machine is faster and performs perfect stitches. They can perform only one operation at a time. While a household sewing machine can perform a straight stitch, a zig-zag, sew on a button or make a button hole with all operations built into the machine.

 Click Here To Learn To Sew Like Professional 

Whether a sewing machine can stitch heavy weight materials such as canvas etc.?

Yes, a sewing machine can stitch heavy weight materials such as canvas by using needle feed or walking feet or a combination of both with the sewing machine 

What are the classifications of sewing machines?

Sewing machines can be classified according to its usage. Its classification includes computerized sewing machines, embroidery sewing machines etc.

What are the names of companies who are famous in the market of sewing machine?

The companies which are popular in the production of sewing machines are Singer, Pfaff, White, Brother etc.

How can a sewing machine be purchased?

A new sewing machine can be purchased anywhere once the model is finalized by the customer. But a used sewing machine is best purchased from a trusted dealer. Dealers must have showroom and demonstration facilities.

How can one ensure about the right sewing machine?

By talking and asking questions to a local dealer of sewing machines. One can also get a free demonstration from the dealer.

Author: Alison Cole

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Online Fabric & Sewing Patterns

Feed: Online Fabric & Sewing Patterns Store – Singapore business services – Gumtree Singapore – Page2RSS – AggScore: 10.4. Visitor Rating: 1 (1) (Rate). Story Clicks: 0. Tags: needleandthread sewing patterns Singapore sewing.

ITCHING FOR STITCHING: NEW FABRIC AND PATTERNS

NEW FABRIC AND PATTERNS. It is always a delight to buy some new fresh fabric. I have purchased some new goodies from Sarah at Patchwork plus from her new online shop and they have arrived today. Just love the Figgy Pudding Christmas.

Pattern

Fabric patterns. Download hundreds of free Adobe Photoshop fabric Patterns. You can Load them in Photoshop Very easily. Big Collection of Free Photoshop Pattern. Floral Photoshop Patterns.

Sewing on the Bias – Sewing Blog | BurdaStyle.com

but if you’re making a dress like Shari that has a bias cut skirt, you might want to read up on some tips on sewing with bias fabrics (or vintage tips here) first to avoid using the seam ripper!

Sewing Patterns – 3 Easy Tips Just For Beginners 

In her website, you will learn and find more designer patterns like Grand Revival, Melly & Me, Australian designer fabric, stylish fabrics, sewing kits and many more free sewing patterns. 

 Sewing hems is pretty simple once you got the hang of it.

Do you know how to sew a hem? Sewing hems is pretty simple, and the following instructions will teach you how to sew a neat, almost invisible, hem every time. After, you learn the basics of  hemming you will know how to hem a pair of jeans.

To start with, iron flat that area of the fabric you need to hem. Now we need to turn up and pin the hem. The easiest way to do this is on a flat surface, such as a table. Your   fabric  should have the wrong side facing you. I know most patterns allow for 5/8" for a hem, but I allow a little more to ensure the hem is not too bulky. Start with a small section of the fabric and turn over about 1/2cm or ". Now fold over again another 1cm or ". Pin this in place. Because I am right handed, I now move to the left about 6cm or 2" and do the same again (if you’re left handed, move to the right). Continue in this way until you have pinned the entire hem. Now check and make sure that the hem is straight, with no bulky sections or gathers. If there are, just rework that section of the fabric until it is more even. Unpin, redo your folding and re-pin. At this point, you can turn the fabric back to the right side and iron it, but this isn’t necessary unless your fabric is particularly slippery (like satin or jersey).

Next, we need to get together our sewing kit.

 The most critical thing to ensure that your hem is almost invisible is to choose the right thread for your fabric. If your fabric is very light, filmy, or delicate (such as chiffon, satin, jersey, cheesecloth, etc) then choose a very light nylon thread.

If your fabric is a medium weight (such as cotton, linen, polyester, etc) then use a regular nylon thread.

 Learn How To Sew Like A Professional, Easy Guide 

And if your fabric is thick, heavy or bulky (such as denim, canvas, polar fleece, etc) then consider using a heavier cotton thread.

Once you have decided on the best type of thread to use, you must choose the right colour. If you can get a perfect shade match, well and good. If not, go for one slightly lighter than your fabric rather than darker, as this is less likely to show.

Your needle has to match the fabric and thread. So for light filmy fabrics use a very fine needle, a regular sized needle for ordinary fabrics, and a larger more robust needle for heavier fabrics.

To see whether you have the right needle, run it through your material once without any thread in it. If the hole you create with the needle closes up or disappears by itself, you’ve got the right needle. If you can see the hole afterwards, try a smaller needle.

Now – to sew!                        

Thread your needle, and leave the short end of thread about 20cm long or 8". (Note: I never sew with the thread doubled unless I am sewing on a button). Tie a knot in the long end of t 1000 he thread.

I find it easiest to  sew with the fabric   on my lap (or the part to be sewn on my lap).

The fabric should be wrong side up, with the pinned hem closest to you. Pick a starting point (a side seam is usually good), and insert the needle through the body of the fabric, as close to the top of the hem as you can, and without piercing through to the right side of the fabric (that’s why I usually start on a side seam). Now pierce the needle through the top of the hem by placing the tip of the needle slightly underneath the top of the hem and bringing it up through the outer part of the hem. You can see an image here.

Now place the needle about 1cm or " to the left (or to the right for left handers) **, as close to the top of the hem as possible, and insert through several fibres of the fabric (try not to go all the way through to the other side of the fabric). Again, place the tip of the needle under the top of the hem and insert through and out to the outer part of the hem. Repeat this until you are back where you started.

** How far apart you do the stitches depends on several factors such as how robust the hem needs to be (the more wear and tear, the closer the stitches need to be), the weight of the fabric (generally lighter fabrics can have stitches farther apart than heavier fabrics) and whereabouts on the garment the hem is (if fingers or toes are likely to get caught in the hem when putting it on, the stitches should be closer together).

To finish off the hem, sew 2 stitches one on top of the other, tie a knot in your thread, and you’re done. Iron your hem (and admire)!

By: Diane Ellis

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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How To Sew a Hem Video

Video: How To Sew a Hem. Sure, you can always use iron-on hem tape to shorten those pants, but maybe it’s time to join the 35 million Americans who can sew—yes, with a needle and thread—a hem. 

Projects How-To’s How To Sew A Lettuce Hem

Add a natural frill to boring hems and edges!   

How to Hem Jeans in Three Steps

Measure the length of the cuff; ignoring the hem; divide that measurement in half, and re-pin using the new measurement as the length of the new cuff. Sew the new cuff in place as close to the original hem as possible. 

How to Sew a Hem

Di Ellis asked: Do you know how to sew a hem? It’s pretty simple, and the following instructions will teach you how to sew a neat, almost invisible, hem every time. To start with, iron flat that area of the fabric you need to hem. 

Lead weight hem « THE SEWING DIVAS sewing

I love to wear linen blouses but I do not like the wrinkles and pleats of the back hem. I wear a long blouse so it creases a lot at the back hem due to sitting. I wondered if there was a cure to prevent any more bunching up the hem. 

 Brighten up any room in your home with Roman shades.

 Roman shades are primarily a type of window blind or a window covering, made of fabric which folds neatly to the top when they are opened. These are the easiest and most cost effective shades. Furthermore, you can even make them at home. So if you game to know about how to make roman shades. You get ready made roman shades but if you something unique then its always best to sew your own. Start to make Roman shades by following these easy tips.

 A touch of class and a touch of antiquity. This is what could perhaps be the best description of Roman shades. They are simple, yet elegant and better still, they are cost effective!  Roman shades  basically fall into the category of window blinds. It’s just a piece of fabric hung from the top of a window casing, which is adequately wide and long enough to cover the window glass. Now to know what is the system involved in that, you will have to read on a bit further. For example how to sewing, roman shades.

Now that you want to know the system, I guess, you would game for knowing the while story behind  making Roman shades . So let me open the magic box for you and lets get down to checking out Roman Shades . How to make roman shades, at first glance may seem confusing and cumbersome, but as the task proceeds, it will become clearer.

Making Your Own Roman Shades

The things you would need, piece of sheer fabric, shade cord, 1 eye screw per cord, small plastic rings, yard stick of wood, a small brass ring per cord and a sew-in-weight per cord and 1 cord cleat.

Thread 1:Measure your window so that you can mount your shade.

Thread 2: Now after the measurements, cut the fabric so that it allows 2 extra inches for hems on all sides. Then follow it up by adding 4 inches to both length and width measurements to go with the completed shade. Do not forget to cut the fabric on the grain by squaring the fabric.

Thread 3: Select the cords and rings and their placement. For windows wide till 24 inches, one cord on each side of the shade is perfect. Incase you want the shade to fall in two or three swags rather than 1, you might need another cord or two. Then, each cord should measure the same as the sum total of the length, breadth and width of the shade. You start off with lacing the cords from the bottom of the shade up, till the rings on the top of the shade. After that, the cord will go across the top of the shade to a side and then will hang down from the top.

Thread 4: For the top ring for each cord, a brass ring is used. Its because maximum pressure is on this ring. The rings are fitted horizontally up the shade. That will facilitate the folding of the shade horizontally when raised. This is an important step, in the how to make roman shades project.

                                    Learn More About Roman Shades Here 

Thread 5: Use a brass ring for every cord at the top of the shade and a plastic ring for cords at the bottom. Check the number of rings, if they are adequate enough, as you might just be required to adjust the number of cords, depending on the length of a shade. Don’t forget the sew in weights.

Thread 6: Follow this up by hemming the sides and bottom. Facing the wrong side up, lay the fabric down. Fold the fabric 2 inches on both the sides and bottom of the shade, fixing them on the spot by pins. You can also iron across the edges. Then fold the 2 inch strip of fabric in half, which tuck an inch under and iron to crease. Repeat this on the other side.

                              Tips On Learning To Sew Like A Professional

Thread 7: Now cut the 1 inch square highlighted by the creases at all bottom corners. Keep in mind that there should be no overlapping with the sides at this juncture. Fold the remaining 1 inch along the crease lines produced, when ironed.

Thread 8: Fold the corners and tuck under at each bottom corner to create a diagonal line. Pin the place. Now sew the hemming, starting from 2 inches down – from the top, one side down, through the bottom through the upper side and discontinuing, when you are 2 inches short from the top.

Thread 9: After you are done with the earlier step, mark the positions for the cord rings at the back of the shade. Now sew the rings on the shade, using brass and plastic rings for top row and plastic, as you go down. Placing the bottom row of around 1/2 inch in from the edge, sew the weights below the rings onto the bottom hem. Cut the cord into requisite pieces and tie the cords to the bottom row of the rings. Then lace each cord through the corresponding rings to the top and through the brass rings over to one side.

Thread 10: Straighten the shade to make it lie flat and tie the chords together, around an inch past the brass string. Now you are done with making the shade. Hold the shade to the window and mark on the underside of the top casing of the window from each brass ring. At each marking, screw the eye screws to make them suspend straight down. After that fix the cord cleat. Open the brass rings just about enough for slipping them over the respective eye screw. Press the brass ring close, once it slips over the eye screw. Now you can straighten the loose cord ends and tie them below the cord cleat or the required length.

There you are! We have just gone through a bit harrowing and an interesting session of how to make roman shades. So now the next time you go in for interior designing, shade your windows – Roman style!

Sewing has been around for centuries and has recently come back into fashion. Sewing is a popular and rewarding pastime, which has become more and more popular now that people are money conscious and thrifty.

However, sewing can be challenging and can become overwhelming for those who have just started to learn.One of the most important steps in sewing is knowing how to choose sewing patterns.

Knowing how to pick an appropriate sewing pattern can save a beginner a lot of frustration and disappointment, not to mention time, effort and money.   simplicity sewing patterns  are the best way to get started.

When choosing a sewing pattern it is important to consider the difficulty of the project and the experience needed to complete it successfully.Most sewing pattern companies will use a number system to rank the difficulty of their patterns and alternatively you can learn how to do costume sewing patterns

This information is generally listed on both the patterns package as well as in the pattern catalogues.

If a beginner is hoping to purchase a simple pattern to gain experience and become more comfortable there are also some  pattern companies which focus solely on simple, easy to follow patterns which are meant for this very purpose.

Difficulty level is not the only thing to consider when picking a sewing pattern. For most sewing beginners, cost should also be a huge deciding factor. It is easy to be mislead by the low affordable price of the pattern itself. However, the cost of fabric, zippers, button and any other additional materials can add up. 

   Sewing has been around for centuries and has recently come back into fashion. Sewing is a popular and rewarding pastime, which has become more and more popular now that people are money conscious and thrifty.

However, sewing can be challenging and can become overwhelming for those who have just started to learn.One of the most important steps in sewing is knowing how to choose sewing patterns.

Knowing how to pick an appropriate sewing pattern can save a beginner a lot of frustration and disappointment, not to mention time, effort and money.  simplicity sewing patterns  are the best way to get started.

When choosing a sewing pattern it is important to consider the difficulty of the project and the experience needed to complete it successfully. Most patterns will list all materials and quantities on the back of the package. If a pattern calls for a large amount of specialty fabric and numerous additional materials, it may not be the best choice for a beginner.

Measurements are another piece of information which can help when picking a sewing pattern. Most sewing patterns will be sized by measurements as opposed to large, medium and small.

The best approach is to purchase a pattern which covers many sizes in one package. This way the sewer can judge for themselves at home which measurements are best. Sometimes choosing the right sewing pattern has little to do with the sewer themselves, and more to do with their sewing machine. Some patterns will require a machine with specific capabilities, parts and functions.

If the machine being used can not perform some of the needed elements, such as embroidery, buttonholes or even zigzag stitching, then the sewer may find themselves investing more money into what should have been an affordable project.

Choosing a sewing pattern can be as much fun as choosing the fabric. Reading and considering all available information carefully will help to ensure that the project will be easy, enjoyable and successful!

By: Merrilyn Hannah

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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Patterns For Sewing