May's Here Already!

Time to prepare for warmer weather. Darn it anyway. Wouldn't that be nice to keep the cooler weather we had recently? Oh well, no since wasting time dreaming because that's never going to happen in good ol' Bake-o-field!




May Embroidery Club


This month is a really cute pillow. I like it, ok!

PINTUCKED PILLOW PINACHE SUPPLY LIST
One corner embroidery design. Keep to no larger than 6” square. Your software has several designs that would work. Embroidery thread(s) depending on your design.
Fabric:
½ yd for pillow
1/3 yd for contrast flags
2 ¾ yd decorator insertion cording.
Sewing thread for constructing pillow. Also contrasting thread for the pintucks. Need an extra bobbin of this thread.
Pintuck foot
Appropriate twin needle (look at the little instruction sheet that came with your foot as that will tell you the needle size). Your Bernina Features books also contain this information.
Pillow form – 12"x16” form.
Tassle
Pins
Medium weight tear away stabilizer

I'll take mine into the store this week so you can see it. I used the cotton velveteen that we have for the pillow and the fabric used in the decoration flaps was also from the store. Black thread used for pin tucks and embroidery. Another nifty gift idea for your stash.

OUR BRAGGING CORNER

Our Lily has become quite the accomplished digitizer and quilter. Witness this latest project of hers.Great job Lily! Oh and we've been bragging on your project so everyone is asking you to bring it to May Embroidery Club so they can see it in person. Pretty please!!

Next is Pam. Pam always puts together the neatest fabrics and designs and is really enjoying her Bernina 830 that Santa brought her. She found these designs and thought they needed some fabric inserted and darned if she wasn't right! Don't you love her flip flops? I'd like to find some like these to wear!Things coming soon;

2009 Bernina University (BU) is scheduled on the weekend we normally have Embroidery Club. Let me know if you would be interested in moving the June meeting to June 13th, which would be a week earlier than normal.

I have a document that I put together a year ago that I will be sending out to you all. It lists all the different types of equipment/methods used to communicate with our machines. I ran acrossed it in my files and so have updated it and will share it with you.

New quilt project in the works. This will be one that you can digitize it or purchase the embroidery designs - you choose!

UPDATES

Don't forget the May block from http://willowberrydesigns.typepad.com/willowberry_designs/

Just today, Sheryl has posted a preview of June's block.

See you soon!

Willowberry Updated 4/2/2009

Click on the picture above to link to the Willowberry page for block 4 in this darling collection. Those at Embroidery Club in March saw the first 3 clocks that my Mom had completed. If stitching by hand you only need a single strand of floss because these are so finely drawn. Just darling.

Becky

APRIL EMBROIDERY CLUB

We just finished the first mastery classes on the new 830 machine. This machine continues to amaze us all. One feature I thought I'd share with you all is "Absolute Check". Remember the "Check" option from your layout screen in your machine? Well, the beauty of this feature takes that one to a new level. You can touch the screen on any portion of the embroidery design and the needle will advance to that position in your design so you identify precisely where each portion of the design will land on fabric or project in your hoop. I LOVE this feature and can see how this will save many projects with embroidery or at least improve your positioning ability. Next time you stop by Strawberry Patches ask us to show you this feature and I'm sure you will be as impressed as I am.

APRIL EMBROIDERY CLUB

For April we will have a software lesson for class. You will need at least Editor Plus to be able to go through the exercises. No sewing, just hands on with your laptops. The lesson is Fun with Fonts so will look forward to seeing you for the class on April 25th.

Watch for an announcement of a Halloween embroidery project in June/July time period. That will allow us to get the project finished in time for use this year! Something to work on while trying to stay cool this summer.

Table Runner Class

It was so fun to see all the batik table runners come together at class yesterday. I am leaving mine at the store in case you need to trace yours for the shape. For those of you were unable to make the class there are a few of the fabric kits still available and I will have the design and the pattern instructions available for purchase through Strawberry Patches for $20. These are quick gifts to make that will be used year after year!


DUCK SITING!

Thanks to Mary Nicks she started a duck digitizing frenzy. I just received this picture to share with you of her finished throw for a relative. Don't you know this surely will become a family heirloom! Thanks for sharing the picture Mary.

BUNNYHILL

Patty Young brought her blocks to March embroidery club to share with everyone. She's downloading the free patterns from their site and digitizing them using her Bernina software. For $5 you can receive the fabric pack for a monthly block from Strawberry Patches, and that includes the background fabric. Call the store to be added to the list for the fabric packs. This block of month started in January and the April pattern will be available through their site soon after April 1st, no foolin'.

See you all soon!

March Embroidery Club

Saw something that inspired me to totally come up with a new project for March embroidery club. I think it turned out pretty cute, even if I do say so myself! It's a table runner with the bunny face embroidery design that I digitized.

Here's the supply list for March Embroidery Club on March 28th.

12 fat eighths different fabrics

2/3 yd fusible fleece

2/3 yd backing fabric

2"finished Thangles

My plan is to package this as a kit with the embroidery design and offer it for sale in the store. That way those that can't make it to class and at least make the project at home. Of course, if you take the class the embroidery design and the pattern instruction is included with the class, and will be less than the price of the kit.

UPDATE 3/11

Don't you love batiks! Well, these are just in so Suzanne and Amanda have put together some fabric kits just for this project:

kit includes the fat eighths so you can select your preference for backing and binding.

Make your selection from the sbelow and then contact Strawberry Patches to reserve yours!

Don't the colors remind you of those wonderful Easter egg colors? Just perfect for this project.

SCISSORS

I firmly believe one can't have too many pairs of scissors. The new heritage brand embroidery scissors that I found have come in at the store. Amanda ordered a few to see how we liked them. Silly me I forgot to buy a pair on Saturday. So, if you want a pair give the store a call so they can put your name on one. This is the brand that has the blue cushy around the finger holes so cutting is more comfortable. We also have a new applique scissor coming for us but those have not arrived yet - they're coming from a different vendor but I expect them next week.

QUEEN ANNE's DIAMONDS

We have new fabric in as of Friday that would be perfect for this quilt. I'll probably offer the class again in the fall if you missed out on taking it this time around. The fabric is by Moda (surprise!) and the line is called Patissere from Fig Tree Quilts. The line has 2 or 3 beautiful stripes that would be an excellent choice for the sashing in QAD, not to mention others that would be an excellent choice for the remainder of the different pieces needed.

Just beautiful fabrics!

EMBROIDERY TIPS

“Proper Needle Selection” Released March 6, 2009
by Denise Gartner
When you choose a needle for embroidery it should be the smallestsize that will accommodate the weight of your thread and the materialyou are stitching on.
The reason we choose the smallest sized needle is so that it willform the best stitches when embroidering. Embroidery stitches arevery small, very close together and most designs are comprised ofmany stitches.
As your needle punches the material and stabilizer to form the firststitch, it then rises back up, then back down again to form the nextstitch. There is a small amount of space or material and stabilizerleft in between the first stitch and the next stitch and subsequentlyin between all the stitches.
If you use a larger needle than is necessary, not only is the holethe needle makes larger than necessary, but the amount of materialand stabilizer between stitches is lessened, meaning there is also lessfor the stitches to hold onto. This can cause finished design problems,weakening the material and stabilizer that you are stitching on. It canalso cause thread problems while stitching.
Organ Needles for Home Machines offers sharp points and ball points.Both of these needle types come in regular chrome and also titaniumcoated chrome (Perfect Durability). Titanium or Perfect Durabilityneedles are made to last longer before the points wear down.
Remember to use sharps for woven fabrics and ball points for knit fabrics.
For 40 weight embroidery thread use any of the following chrome needles:Organ Regular Point (Sharp) Needles 15×1, HAx1, 705. Organ Ball PointNeedles 15×1, HAx1 BP.
For 40 weight embroidery thread use the following Titanium (PerfectDurability) Needles: Organ Regular Point (Sharp) Titanium Needles 15×1,HAx1 PD. Organ Ball Point, Titanium Needles 15×1, HAx1 BP PD.
For metallic or decorative threads use the following Chrome Needles:Organ Regular Point (Sharp) Large Eye Needle 15×1 ST, 705H-E. OrganBall Point Large Eye Needle 15×1 ST BP.
For metallic or decorative Threads use the following Titanium (PerfectDurability) Needles: Organ Regular Point (Sharp) Large Eye TitaniumNeedles 15×1ST PD. Organ Ball Point, Large Eye, Titanium Needles 15×1STBP PD.
Schmetz Needles:
*I know that Schmetz used to color code their needles by type, but I’mnot sure they do ‘now’, so you may want to check.
For 40 weight embroidery thread use the following Chrome Needles:Schmetz Embroidery Needle Packs are marked as - Embroidery Needle130/705 H-E. A Red Colored Horizontal Band located just below thebottom of the shank of the needle indicates that it is an embroideryneedle.
For metallic or decorative threads use the following Chrome Needles:Metallica Needle - marked as - Metallica 130 MET. *The packages ofMetallica Needles that I have here are not color coded.
For embroidery on knit fabrics with Schmetz Needles I would recommendtrying the following needles:
Universal Needle 130/705H-15×1 size 12/80. The Universal Needle has aslightly rounder point that is intended for use with both wovenand knit fabrics. I have used this type of needle for both knits andfree standing lace (FSL).
Needle Sizes:
For most fabric weights a size 75/11 or an 80/12 embroidery needleshould work just fine. If you’re embroidering on very fine materialsuch as silk, you may want to use a smaller needle, perhaps a size 70/10.
If you are embroidering free standing lace, try using a 75/11 or an 80/12sharp point needle (but not any larger) since free standing lace is madeup of many layered stitches, thus using the smallest needle possible isthe best choice so your designs stitch properly.
Ball Point Needles:
The reason we use ball points for knit type fabrics is because it isnecessary for the more rounded needle point to push the fibers of theknit fabric ‘apart’ when it goes through the material to form a stitch.If we incorrectly selected a sharp, we would actually be ‘cutting’ thefibers when our needle passed through the fabric, which is of courseundesirable because it would cause holes and/or runs in knit fabrics.
I have heard from a couple of professional embroiderers that they useball point needles in their commercial machines for all fabrics with theexception of leather and other specialty fabrics (here again researchingfirst is probably best to insure you are actually selecting the correctneedle for your needs).
Ultimately, the decision is yours, so consider testing some of these needletheories to see what works best for you and your designs!
Hope this helps answer some of the needle questions.

FREE DESIGNS

You can find some wonderul samples at http://www.embroideryarts.com/. Their alphabet designs are the best. Put your name on their mailing list so you can receive notification when they have a new alphabet available. These would be perfect to make more of the thermos drink holders for gifts to your friends. Can't beat the price. They do offer an individual letter for $4.95 so that's fine when you just need one letter for that perfect gift.

This month the new alphabe is Lattice 1 and the L letter is free.

LOOKING AHEAD

Found a terrific sweater set at a "steal" of a price last week at Macys. Let's plan on a sweater project towards the end of the summer. That way we'll be ready when the weather starts to cool.

I also have projects in mind involving a sweatshirt with embroidery of snowmen for this winter. So check the sale racks now for something along this line and you'll be ready for the Fall classes.

My daughter drives one of those Scion vans and belongs to a car club sponsored by Bill Wright or the other Toyota dealer. She just got word they are wanting to provide shirts for the card club and asked you know who to digitize the logo. So, my next project is waiting for me. What we won't do for our kids. The Bill Wright logo goes on the edge of the sleeves, the car club logo goes across the back and then a logo on the left breast side. The car logo is kind of a satin stitch outline so that one shouldn't be too bad but the Bill Wright logo that is to be stitched on the sleeves will probably mean that I will have to open up the sleeve seam before I can do the embroidery. Plus the back logo is most likely going to be mega hoop size because it goes across the back of the shirt, about shoulder blade height. I think only 10 shirts and they want them by the end of April. Maybe I need to show my daughter how to use the Bernina software and she can then do some digitizing.

Yeah, right!

Happy stitching and see you soon!

PS

Here is one of Patty Young's machine embroidered blocks from the free download available at the Bunny Hill site. Since she has the 830 and the really large oval hoop she's able to avoid reducing the designs like the rest of us have to do so they will fit in the standard large oval hoop.

Didn't she do a wonderful job?

Suzanne has posted about this site on her blog but if somehow you've missed out on this just click on the picture below.

Bye for real!

HAPPY NEW YEAR It's 2009

I think we all enjoyed bringing in the new year by sewing all day at the New Year's Day Mystery Quilt held at Strawberry Patches. We started at 9am and didn't leave until after 6pm that night. A wonderful potluck was enjoyed by all. It was pretty amazing to think that in Bakersfield we were able to keep the salad and drinks outside to stay cool! Definitely not normal for our town but it was COLD!! Perfect day to sew, sew and sew some more!

Pictures will be posted as finished tops are photographed! Who will be first? Pam brought her birds by but I was in the middle of Mastery class this month so wasn't able to take a picture.

JANUARY EMBROIDERY CLUB

Yes, I have been a little slow on getting the projects lined up but I'm not breaking any New Years resolution so it's fine. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. >ggg<

I do have the samples sewn now for class next Saturday. We're personalizing a drink holder.

We're sewing on, are you ready? It's kiwi paper! I'll have the drink holders and an assortment of designs/colored paper for you to choose for the class (you'll pay the store for these supplies). I had a blast sewing mine out and have to remember this as a gift idea fduring the year! Perfect for someone who has everything!

Here's the deal with supplies for the class:

Machine
Laptop - of you own the embroidery software
If you don't you can use the lettering that comes on your machine
Embroidery thread - I know I'm going to have to post the paper choices or you'll not know the color thread you need.
Tearaway stabilizer for the hoop
Size 11 needle
The size of the monogram should not exceed 4"x4".


FEBRUARY QUILT CLASS
We're starting the class to sew Queen Anne's Diamonds by Janet Sansom. I don't know how Australia is able to produce so many talented embroiderers but add Janet to that list.

Her designs were a joy to stitch out. Very little thread jumps to clip. I did use 2 pieces of stabilizer when stitching these designs. In the hoop I used the "rinseaway" and floated a light tearaway under the hoop.


In the above close up shot you can see the embroidered diamond floral blocks with the cornerstones. I found this fabric at our 2008 Quilt show and is Decadent Victorian line from Moda. Suzanne checked recently but wasn't able to order the line from Moda. Good news it is still available via the internet.( I need to add that there is one piece of fabric that I swapped in the pieced diamond block - just didn't like the one I had purchased originally. Guess I have to say it's not 100% of the Decadent Victorian line.) I have to say after using the templates available for this quilt, if I hadn't had them I think it may have become a UFO!! The templates are very well made and worth every penny. Contrary to everything else the price of the templates has gone down since I bought mine. Seems strange, huh! Oh well, I think I've sent out the link to everyone on where to order these. Let me know if you have any questions or problems. Janet has several other tops that I think are terrific and if you've purchased the designs you might also think about ordering the coordinating templates at the same time. Paul is planning on sending the templates you all have ordered to my address to try to reduce shipping costs for us. I'll bring my templates to Embroidery Club so you see how well made they are and definitely worth it.

BUNNYHILL BLOM
Earlier this month I sent the email regarding the free block of the pdf that is being posted on the Bunnyhill web site. Several of you responded requesting the jpg image for use in the Bernina software. I'll create those each month and just send them out to you. I think it will be a darling quilt and just so perfect for MACHINE EMBROIDERY!!

Until Saturday, January 24th keep stitching!

November Embroidery Club 2008 Finale!!!

Hard to believe the last Embroidery Club meeting for 2008 is not that far away! Just think, by then all the election debates will be behind us and we'll know who the next president of the USA will be. I know who I'm voting for and I hope you will also cast a vote for your candidate.

Ok, back to something more fun. EMBROIDERY!!

For the November meeting we will be constructing a fun project of 3 small quilts each with a Christmas bulb that hang on a wire display. Perfect for a mantel, table or desk display. These each finish at 6 x 11 1/2" so very managable in size. Suzanne will be ordering the pattern and display stands for us. The size of one of these is perfect for the mega hoop, and I'll be providing the digitized version of these designs for sewing in class. If your machine does not take the oval hoops nothing to fear, I'll also have a version of this for your large rectangle hoop as well. You'll need to purchase the pattern but the class fee includes the embroidery designs, in your format.

Supplies for this class:

Pattern

Wire display stand

Fabrics:

1/4 yd of background fabric

1/4 yd of backing fabric

For each of the 3 only a single 2" strip width of fabric for the binding

For each bulb need 6" square fabric

fabric scraps for decorations on 2 bulbs

thread colors to coordinate with fabrics

For the greenery I used cotton thread - the heavier that we have in the store - think it is Madera.

The batting is just a very thin batting or even flannel.

October embroidery club
As a reminder, embroidery club for October is free to you for bringing a project from a prior club or embroidery project if you need help getting it finished. If you are interested in completing a project from a prior club that you missed attending let me know so I can have the instructions with me for you to purchase.

Other Information

Tasty Treat- Puppy Chow!

I found this site that lists all kinds of ideas to help you create that wonderfully unique quilt label.



There's also a terrific new free design at the Bernina site. Click on logo:

Everyone likes a SALE!!

October 18th all Bernina purchases over $1,000 can be financed interest free for 27 months that's ( Jan 2011).
Super Saturday Bernina day is 10/18, accessories are priced at 20% off regular prices. If you can’t make it in that day give us your shopping list and we’ll take care of it for you so you take advantage of the offer. Remember, if you don’t currently own the Bernina embroidery software this is the time to purchase. Or those feet you have tried – now is the time to purchase.

Nov 19-22 is sale days for OESD items. All will be 20% discount – that is the Isacord embroidery thread, organ needles and stabilizers. Yahoo!! Stock up now. Remember, even if we don't have it in stock we'll order it and give you sale price on it.

Fall Class Line Up

Well, we had a great time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in August. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the vacation week.

Caitlin is totally obsessed with penquins! We were thrilled to find there was an exhibit at the aquarium. This little guy was just fixated with her through the glass. The rest of the little guys were just standing around like stuffed animals! It really was cute to see.

Back to business.

EMBROIDERY CLUB

Sept Club Supply List:

24 2” squares. I used a charm pack of a Halloween fabric for my top rows of the bag.
¼ yard for the bottom of the bag – I used same for the lining. If you want to use a different fabric just need another ¼ yard. If you’re using scraps a piece 6” x 9 ¼” is what you need for the bag bottom.
Batting – just a scrap 14” square. If you have pieces this is perfect. Remember the foot #10, sewn with a zigzag will attach those pieces for use in this project.
For the embroidery part I used 1/8 yd of a fabric where my embroidered words can be read. Once you make one of these you will want to make more for other holidays and you can make them larger if you want!
Bring the large hoop oval for your machine.
The embroidery thread will be the choice of your lettering. I used black since it was for Halloween.
If you cut your 2” squares before class you might still bring your fabrics.
Sewing thread for construction of your bag.
You will leave with a finished project.

October Embroidery Club :

My gift to you. Bring your unfinished projects and I'll be there to help you with any questions problems to help you get it completed. No charge for this class.

Digitizing The Duck

Also, we have the dates for the software class to work on digitizing the duck. Dates are Oct 29, Nov 5 and Nov 15. Anybody else remember the movie - "Disco Duck"?

Wildflowers

This class is back for another encore. Dates are being firmed up as we're going to be ordered fabrics so we kits can be prepared. I'll keep you posted. If you haven't taken this before this is a beautiful project to build confidence in handling your embroidery machine. This makes a generous lap size throw.

FREE THINGS

Zundt is a provider of fine Swiss embroidery designs. I received an email from them for several free designs to download, which is very unusual so I'm sharing this link with you all. Just click on the picture to get to the page. They will email the design file to you.

Check out their prices and you should really appreciate being able to download these beautifully done designs at no charge!

NEWS

I've figured out how to create a hyper link. That's where you can just click on wording that shows in a different color and usually is underlined. When you place your mouse over the wording you will see an indication that you can click on the link (the arrow usually changes to the finger, indicating there is a link attached).

A new collection at the Embroidables site by Dolly Lama's - Men are Animals! It really is cute so click on the title to see.

I almost forgot! The lastest book from Jenny Haskins is finally available! Check out Jenny's Heritage now. The price of the book includes all embroidery designs needed for every block in the quilt. Just contact the store or email me to have a copy reserved for you! This is the book that I talked about in the first post on this blog after the academy in June. This quilt started as 16+ pillows that everyone convinced Jenny to make into a quilt and that lead to this latest publication from Jenny and Simon.

Here's another beautiful floral shot that I captured from a web site that I wanted to share with you all.

Take time to smell the flowers!