Archive for August, 2009

Instead of sorting through the thread scattered all around our workspace, Havel’s Sewing wanted to get organized.  We’ve got spools in jars and spools in our sewing kit, but we needed a nice, tidy solution that keeps the thread neat and offers us the ability to view our choices all at once.  Here are a few thread spool storage solutions available for purchase online:

June Tailor Thread Rack from Create for Less

The June Tailer Thread Rack from Create for Less offers space for 30 mini spools of thread.  Thenatural wood rack has 6 rows with 5 pegs on each row. The rack is approximately 7 1/4″x 13″ and the legs spread out approximately 6 1/2″. 

Thread Train from Crea8tivePapa

Or, if you’d like to hang your thread just above your machine, you can choose the Thread Train Sewing Spool Storage System handmade by Crea8tive Papa and available at Etsy.com. 

Etsy.com offers a variety of vintage project through sellers who specialize in vintage items.  Here are a few of our favorite vintage spool storage solutions:

For those of you who love the traditional:

Antique Oak Thread Spool Holder or Caddy from recycleeh

Vintage Sewing Caddy from allthingswhite

Vintage Spool Chest from eclecticarmadillo

Vintage Plastic Shell Shaped Thread Spool Holder from NittyGrittyVintage

Although sewing can be a solitary endeavor (think of those times you’ve been hunched over your machine, hours into a project, ripping seams in silence) Havel’s Sewing would like to take a moment to shine a spotlight on all the ways sewing has become a mighty social force. Whether you’re in an informal sewing circle with a few of your old college friends or you meet at the local coffee shop once a week for a Stitch n’ Bitch session, sewing and crafting brings people together.

Best Friends Quilt Shoppe

First, there’s the fabric shops. Many offer classes, of course. But Havel’s Sewing has found that many also offer clubs and social events aimed at avid sewists. Best Friends Quilt Shop in Cincinnati, Ohio hosts a “Stash Pot Pie” every 3rd Saturday. Customers can join in the fun, eat pie, take advantage of free patterns and the company of other quilters. We’ve even heard of ladies playing poker for fat quarters with their fabric store friends!

make workshop nyc

Stitch Lounge is no longer around, but a crop of similar studios have popped up around the country. The concept to these “sewing lounges” is that you have a place to meet up with other sewists and either use the studios machines and notions or bring your own and create in good company. Classes are often offered, and other sewists are there to answer questions. A few studio owners have even published books full of fun sewing projects.

American Sewing Guild

The American Sewing Guild offers local chapters who meet regularly to discuss various sewing topics. They also offer discounts at fabric stores and with notions dealers AND host a national conference where members can take classes with nationally recognized artists and designers.

But if you’re a little too busy to get to the meeting, then you can always login online and enjoy the vast social sewing networks the internet has to offer. Almost every fabric designer seems to have a Flickr pool where you can check out projects made with their fabric – or upload your own! Also, BurdaStyle is an excellent source for ideas and patterns.

No longer do those seams need to be ripped in silence. Meet up with your friends and gab while your stitch. Share your projects and your expertise online. You’ll certainly gain inspiration, and maybe learn (or teach) a thing or two.

Closures are important components of any garment, but are often an afterthought when it comes to getting creative with your handmade wearables.  Whether you use the buttonhole function on your sewing machine or the Ultra Pro II Seam Ripper & Buttonhole Cutter, there’s a wide world of button options to explore.  Buttons are an inexpensive way to dress up your sewing projects or update old clothes.  Havel’s Sewing has collected some fun button designs for your inspiration. 

Face Buttons by RouDesigns

Wear your boyfriend’s face as your sweater buttons!  Or mix and match faces on your cardigan for an original button facelift for your clothes.

Antler Buttons by AnterQLWear

Add a natural, outdoorsy touch to your leather or suede jackets by buttoning up with these deer antler buttons.

Mushroom Fabric Buttons by vintageinspiration

Cover your buttons in your favorite fabric to create a statement – a testament to your personal taste.

Buttons are classic, but they can be also be crazy, wild and cool.  One of our favorite flea market finds here at Havel’s Sewing is a mason jar full of vintage buttons that we can mix and match on our sewing projects.  If you can’t make it to the flea market, check out the vintage button selection on Etsy.

Green Buttons in a Jar by morrjm

Sometimes we like to make our own buttons out of cute badges and earrings.  Found objects can make wonderful buttons that may not be otherwise available for your creations.  Just use a little imagination and a good buttonhole cutter, and the options are limitless!

We have a fabric obsession here at Havel’s Sewing. Like others who are fabric obsessed, we often purchase a yard here or a yard there of fabric we like, but we have no idea at the time what we’re going to do with it. Well, one of our friends recently started remodeling her living room. She has lots of art, but wanted to incorporate some of the bolder colors from her fabric stash. After a quick internet search, we headed to her house with our newfound patterns. Now, she’s the proud owner of one-of-a-kind artwork. Whether you sew the silhouette or paint the silhouette is up to you. You choose the fabric and you choose the colors. If you’re feeling really creative, you can even make your own shapes. Havel’s Sewing is happy to share our three favorite fabric silhouette projects.

Paint the silhouette.

Martha Stewart offers these quick and easy instructions to create marvelous art for your walls. Great for dressing up your living space or giving away as gifts.

Sew the silhouette.

Amy Butler Nigella Silhouette Project

Amy Butler offers this free pattern with instructions on how to sew silhouettes. She offers instructions that allow you to vary the size of the pattern.

Applique the silhoutte.

ModHomeEcTeacher's Fabric Silhoutte Project

ModHomeEcTeacher at Curbly.com offers a photo tutorial with instructions on how to create these wonderful circular silhouette masterpieces. She mentions that you can play around with materials and find what works best for you. Havel’s Sewing highly recommends such experimenting. Make something that is truly your own.

The Havel's Sewing Craft Knife makes smooth, precise cuts.

Each set of instructions mentions the need for a good craft knife. Havel’s Sewing offers our Professional Style Cushion Grip Blade Handle and AC11 or AC72 Craft Blades. When the blade dulls, you simply toss it out and replace it from our box of 100. Be sure to use a cutting mat when cutting out your silhouette patterns. Otherwise, you may need to make a pretty new tablecloth to cover the cuts on your work surface!

Gutermann Thread from Red Rock Threads

Avid sewists often have strong opinions regarding thread preferences and which weight/color/material to use per project. But for the less seasoned sewer, thread can become an afterthought. After all, once you’ve figured out what fabric to use and how to apply the pattern, thread seems like a simple pick: the one that matches the fabric. Well, Havel’s Sewing knows there’s a lot more to learn about thread…and why that education matters.

Beginning sewers will be glad to discover two great tutorials they can read online. The first is by Debbie Colgrove, the Sewing Guide at About.com. Take a look at “Is There A Difference In Sewing Thread Brands? You Be The Judge!”The photos are particularly helpful in examining why one type of thread is better than the others.

Google Books also offers an excerpt from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Sewing by Lydia Wills. Chapter 2 is titled The Eyes Have It: Needles and Thread. Here you’ll learn about how to determine thickness and size, as well as a few tips and tricks on how to care for your thread stash.

Havel’s Sewing did find lots of love all around for Gutermann brand thread. All-purpose polyester thread seemed to take the trouble out of choosing thread, as well. Several experienced sewists seem to prefer threads just a shade lighter than the color of their fabric or a neutral color to accommodate several fabrics. But they’re quick to point out: make certain your thread is appropriate for your fabric and project.

Under the Sea Patterns from Sublime Stitching

We’ve seen a lot of traditional hand embroidery patterns here at Havel’s Sewing. We’re not knocking ‘em, but we wanted fresh and contemporary patterns to apply to our current batch of bibs and onesies and tea towels (oh my!). We wanted to discover a life beyond the selection of leaves and scrolls and cupcake patterns we see every day. And we’re thrilled to find an embroidery world of mid-century modern lamps and mermaids! Jenny Hart from Sublime Stitching is a very talented embroidery artist who sells unique patterns, kits and embroidery supplies, as well as promotes hand embroidery as an art form.

Havel’s Sewing is also fond of Urban Threads. Here you can find featured artists who’ve designed patterns for the site, a blog and tutorials. Besides the large variety of contemporary hand embroidery patterns, Urban Threads also offers machine embroidery patterns. Just think of the crazy cool designs you can apply to hoodies and jeans, socks and scarves. Pillows and purses could also use a little embroidery love. Stitch your mark to make a statement!

Martha Stewart's Elegant Thread Velvet Pillow

The very talented desigers at the Husqvarna Embroidery Center in Sweden developed a very beautiful embroidery technique that is best completed with Havel’s Sewing Ultra-Pro Seam Ripper.

The technique does not refer to velvet thread or velvet fabric. The name “thread velvet” comes from the feel of the threads once they are cut. If you run your finger over the finished product, the embroidery design feels like velvet. The Husqvarna Viking “Designer Diamond” embroiders the design of your choice – and completes the design so that the backside is secure and the threads will not come out. Once the machine is finished, you simply take your Havel’s Sewing Ultra-Pro Seam Ripper and cut through the middle of the threads in the design. Be careful not to cut through to the fabric. Give the threads a little fluff and the result is an elegant design with a rich feel.

Martha Stewart features the thread velvet technique on her television program. You can watch her demonstrate the technique here.

Sue Hausmann also features the thread velvet technique on America Sews with Sue Hausmann. She offers step-by-step instructions in PDF format you can print out for reference here.

Thread Velvet designs are available for garments and home decor. See Sue Hausmann’s list of supplies, gather your materials and create something glamorous.

Pincushions are a necessity in any sewing workspace.  And they’re often a fun and rewarding sewing project, as well.  Here at Havel’s Sewing, we’ve collected our favorite pincushion projects from around the web.  Feel inspired?  You can buy the pattern for a few of these beauties, check out the Flickr tutorials, or click on the picture to go directly to free directions.  Pretty up your sewing space with a practical place for your pins.

Take a look through this inspiring little book from the “Pretty Little” series from Lark Publications.  How About Orange? featured a little mushroom from this book a few days ago.  The Flickr tutorial walks you through the steps.  Click on the picture to buy the book.

Pretty Little Pincushions

We can’t resist this cactus pincushion made by Megan from Crafty Intentions.  Your pins are the prickly points on this imaginative pincushion.  Although we couldn’t find a pattern, you can purchase other plush items through her Etsy store.

Cactus pincushion from Megan at Crafty Intentions

Doesn’t this cupcake pincushion make your mouth water?  We think it would make a great birthday gift for the sewist in your life.  Or from the sewist in your life!  The pattern is available at The Calico Cat.

Cupcake Pincushion Pattern from The Calico Cat

This dainty teacup and saucer pincushion is as elegant as it is useful.  And a great way to repurpose never-used china!  Invite other crafy ladies over for tea and teacup pincushion assembly.  Click on the photo to go to the free pattern from Tipnut.

The Flower Pot Pincushion from The Long Thread offers an invaluable way to use some of your larger fabric remnants.  We like this particular project for its flexibility in size and materials.  Make one for your workroom and never lose a pin again.

Flower Pot Pincushion from The Long Thread

What do you think of the wristlet pincushions for projects while you roam?  This wearable wrist pincushion from Planet June is as useful as it easy appealing.  Click on the pic to go to the instructions.

One for Your Wrist from Planet June

Anna Maria Horner has a wonderful free pattern for a Wildflower Pincushion from Better Homes & Gardens. Use her fabulous fabric for a wild and wonderful burst of color in your sewing room.

Wild Flower Pincushion by Anna Maria Horner

For more pincushion projects, check out this list from Tipnut of 60 Free Pincushion Patterns. Craftershock has a wonderful post on 9 Precious Pincushions that will awaken your crafty ambitions.