Archive for October, 2011

Quick & Easy Halloween Tutorial Round-Up

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Halloween is on Monday! If (like some of us) you’re a little behind on making costumes for you or your family, don’t worry; I’ve scoured the web and here I present a handful of simple project tutorials that you can easily complete over the weekend!

For Little Girls: Elphoba Witch Hat

From Momtastic comes this tutorial for how to make a delightful little girl’s witch hat that has some lovely floret details on it to set it apart from all those store-bought witch hats.

Halloween Elphoba Witch Hat

Head over to Momtastic and read the whole tutorial here.

For Little Boys: Easy Halloween Cape Tutorial

This cape tutorial from Plaid Apple is very easy; you can probably complete a cape in just a few minutes. It can also be modified to be either a superhero cape or a vampire cape with a collar.

Halloween Easy Cape Tutorial

Check out this tutorial over at the Plaid Apple website.

Grown-Up Witch Tutu Skirt Tutorial

From the How I Keep Sane Blog is this nifty tutorial on how to make a custom tulle tutu. You can use dark colors for a witch costume or bright colors for a fairy costume, or any color combination you can imagine! Pair with some decorative tights to complete the look.

Halloween Witch Tutu Tutorial

You can also easily scale this down to make it for a little girl (try pairing it with the witch hat tutorial for a complete costume). Find the whole tutorial over at the How I Keep Sane Blog.

Grown-Up Beekeeper Costume

From the inimitable Martha Stewart comes this is a great costume for dad. Just use some painter’s coveralls and work gloves you can get at a hardware store (see, he gets to go shopping at a hardware store for Halloween—he’ll love it) and a few other easy accessories, and you’ve got a simple and comfortable costume!

Halloween Beekeper Costume

Head over to Martha Stewart’s website for the full tutorial.

Easy Doggie Costumes

Don’t forget your four-legged friends this Halloween! Lark Crafts has a handful of easy dog costume tutorials, all based on doggie t-shirts.

Halloween Doggie Costumes

You can download the whole tutorial here!

Home Decor: Bat Mobile

Don’t forget to dress up your home for Halloween, too. The Sew4Home website has this super-easy tutorial that will have bats hanging from your home in no time!

Halloween Decor: Bat Mobile

Read the full tutorial over at the Sew4Home website.

Just for Fun: Mustache on a Stick!

I just couldn’t resist this one: Martha Stewart shows you how to create a Mustache on a Stick!

Mustache on a Stick!

Here’s the full tutorial on Martha Stewart’s website.

Pacific Fabrics Round-Up

In case you missed Pacific Fabrics’ email newsletter (or if you don’t subscribe to it yet), here is a round-up of downloadable projects that they have:

Spooky Felt Silverware Holders – Download PDF

Tricks, Tips & Treats for Halloween - Download PDF

Rustic Pumpkin Table Runner – Download PDF

Spider Pop Party Favors – Download PDF
Happy Scarecrow Pencil Topper – Download PDF

 
And there you have it. Hope everyone has a happy (and safe) Halloween! If you’re sewing anything this year, please feel free to tell us about it in the comments, or even email us a photo or two that you’d like us to share with everyone, or post them directly on our Facebook page!

Happy Sewing,
Chris


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Posted in Fast Projects & Gifts, Home Decor, How To Guides, Projects and Techniques | 2 Comments »

Brother Pattern Alignment with the Snowman™, Innov-Eye™, and the Continuous Border Hoop

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

A new Brother software upgrade will provide precise alignment tools through use of the Snowman™ and the Innov-eye™ Camera System on some models of Brother machines. When the software upgrade is added to the machine, the included Camera Pattern Alignment program will add new capabilities to make design alignment even easier.

The secret to having continuous designs line up accurately has always been in getting the fabric hooped correctly. The new camera pattern alignment program lets the camera work with 2 snowmen and the software does the work of making each design match up properly. Designs can match at 9 connection points and the points can be adjusted by sliding for a completely new look.

How does this magic work?

  1. Select this icon on the screen of the machine:
    camera alignment
  2. A new screen will open. Select the point on the grid where the next design needs to attach:Next design goes here!
  3. Stitch the first design.
  4. When finished, the machine screen will guide you through placing the 2 snowman markers where they need to be. It will scan the snowman locations. Remove the fabric from the hoop (DO NOT REMOVE the SNOWMEN) and rehoop the fabric for the next design segment.
  5. Select the point on the grid where the next design will attach to the previous design. The machine will scan the snowmen.
    This is where the next design will attach to the previous design.
  6. Choose the new design (it doesn’t have to be the same as the one used first). The software will align the new design to the previous one.
  7. Stitch the design (if you are planning to add additional designs, select the icon again prior to completing the stitching of this design. Select where the next design will line up to the design you’re about to stitch. This will let the software know you are planning to add to the design).

The Continuous Border Hoop is not just for borders! If you like easy hooping then this is the hoop for you.

If you have ever struggled getting the hoop together nice and tight; or if you enjoy working with specialty fabrics such as leather, velvet, some silks etc; then you owe it to yourself to swing by your nearest Quality Sewing Store and take a close look at the amazing Continuous Border Hoop from Brother.

The hoop is a clamp hoop. Lay the fabric in place on the soft non-marking base, and press one side latch. Then it is an easy task to make certain the fabric is lined up as desired, just check the alignment lines on each side of the hoop and press the other side latch to secure the fabric. The top side of the hoop has a rubber grip that will hold the fabric securely and will not leave any marks or “hoop burn.”

Brother Quattro Software Upgrade Premium Pack III

Brother Quattro Software Upgrade Premium Pack III including the Continuous Border Hoop

Happy Stitching!
Carol


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Why You’ll Love Brother PE Design® Plus Software

Friday, October 7th, 2011

Who needs more software? Many people struggle with the ones they already own. PE Design® Plus is a breath of fresh air for those who want good, really-easy-to-use software. The included tutorials will make learning a simple task.

One of the features that makes it so very special and different from other available software is that it includes the entire PhotoStitch™ program from PE Design® NEXT.

PE Design® NEXT has always been considered the benchmark of excellence in photo stitch programs. The stitch-outs are very realistic. The program will produce fantastic stitch-outs by just letting the software do the work of making the choices. It also includes many tools that are handy for those who want to make changes. It is easy to learn to use and there is an excellent training video on the Brother Sews YouTube site. The video demonstrates how to use most of the excellent tools and provides some useful tips to get the very best photo stitch:

There are 35 fonts that are instantly recalculated when resized. Underlay may be added and density (number of stitches) may be adjusted. The arc transformation for creating circles is also included.

There is an excellent auto-punch program that will turn simple clip art into an embroidery design in just seconds. It offers a choice of fill and outline stitches.

There is a design library of included designs. Designs can be imported and exported in most machine formats. The realistic preview mode and a sew simulator help determine if the design will stitch as desired. The stitching order of a design allows rearranging which part of the design will sew first or last. Designs may be resized with or without recalculation of stitches (this is useful when an existing design has too much or too little density.)

The program can also display thumbnail pictures of the designs in a file and show the details, ie: dimensions, colors, stitch time and much more. Brother hoop sizes are in the software, and additional hoops may be easily added. The print feature provides printing of actual size templates.

This software is compatible with nearly every machine available. It is easy to use. Best of all there are so many features you will actually use. Stop by one of our locations to learn more and pick up your own copy of this wonderful software!

Happy Stitching!
Carol


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Posted in Machine Embroidery, New Products | No Comments »