Did you know the nation’s largest event for sewing enthusiasts takes place right here in the Pacific Northwest? The Sewing and Stitchery Expo is a non-profit educational event that features inspirational seminars daily, hands-on workshops, style shows and vendors from all over the country with booths that specialize in the latest in fabrics, tools, and supplies! This year Sew Expo will be taking place February 28 – March 3rd at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. In addition to all the daily happenings, special guests, such as, Nancy Zieman, Mary Mulari, and the “HotFusing Chicks” will be flying in to make special appearances . Nancy and Mary will be presenting their second “Kick it Up a Stitch” and if you joined them last year, you know how much fun time with them can be! in addition, television host Ellen March, will be conducting a live audition for her television show “Sew it All”!
Be sure to check out Sew Expo’s website for all the details you need to know about the show. You can download a registration brochure which features all the seminar and class descriptions. Additionally you can register for the daily seminars on the Expo website. You can purchase Sew Expo tickets at all Quality Sewing locations while supplies last. Pre-sale tickets are only $10.00, they will be $12.00 the day of. The Sew Expo website also features an updated blog and some fun links including:
Pillowcase Patrol As a part of the “Million Pillowcase Project”, the 2013 Sewing & Stitchery Expo will be a collection point for handmade pillowcases. Create cheerful pillowcases for the children who are undergoing treatment at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Check out the Expo web site to download your free pillowcase pattern. Expo collected more than 5,000 pillowcases last year. How many more can we give this year?
Be Sure to Visit the Quality Sewing Booths – This year we will have an exciting notions and threads booth in the Pavilion. We have been shopping and negotiating with our various vendors for several months to bring you an amazing array of hot buys! We have combed our stores for close-outs and one-of-a-kind items that will all be priced to sell fast. We will also feature the new items that Nancy Zieman and Sue Hausmann will show in their seminars, all at special Expo prices.
We have many sewing experts on-hand this year and this will be a great opportunity to meet them. Across from the notions booth in the Pavilion, we have multi-needle embroidery expert George Moore and special guests long arm quilting expert Denise Applegate-Schober. Be sure to visit Simon Haskins, all the way here from Australia, over in the Showplex building. He will be showing his amazing techniques and designs along with his brand new designs that have just been released. In the Showplex, you will also find our main booth which will be filled with awesome special on machines and Floriani products. Across from our main booth, we will have special guest Ed Moore, the lead designer for Koala Cabinets. This event is not to be missed as it only happens once a year! View our 2013 Sew Expo Buyers Guide that showcases some of the fabulous deals to be had at this year’s event.
Brother’s new V-Series machines—the DreamWeaver Innov-is VQ3000 sewing & quilting machine; and the DreamWeaver XE Innov-is VN6200D sewing, quilting, & embroidery machine—have some amazingly innovative, industry-first features. Here are just a few:
Advanced Droplight™ Embroidery Positioning Marker
Trying to guess where to drop the needle is a nightmare of the past with V-Series! Use the embroidery foot with LED pointer to easily see your needle drop position. No more guessing or raising the needle up and down to test. It is also helpful while using the stitch forward and backward keys.
MuVit™ Digital Dual Feed System
The new MuVit™ Digital Dual Feed can powerfully feed fabric from the top AND bottom. This digitally-controlled, direct motor driven accessory foot was designed for difficult projects which require special handling – so you can rest assured that your ability to move it smoothly is just a touch away. Adjust the speed of the belt right on the LCD display screen. This makes it incredibly easy to sew precise, uniform stitches on a range of fabrics like leather, faux fur and silk.
Sew Straight™ Laser Vision Guide
One of the biggest challenges for quilters and sewers is sewing straight. This built-in laser gives you the straight and narrow to a straight line. The laser light moves in half millimeter increments within a 14mm area, and can be positioned on either side of the foot. A must-have feature for quilters doing piecing, edge joining, pintucking and for aligning multiple lines of stitching.
V-Sonic™ Pen Pal System
You use the sensor pen to place your embroidery pattern automatically by touching the desired center and upper portions on the fabric. For precise corners and borders, touch two points on the edge line of the pattern’s embroidery square field to align it easily. It also helps to set placement points for sewing.
We’re very excited to be able to offer this brand new series from Anita Goodesign. Anita Goodesign Project Collections are collections that include all the instructions you’ll need to make complete projects from start to finish. These Projects aren’t confined to “In the Hoop” either. They incorporate embroidery and sewing in easy-to-follow, step-by-step tutorials with detailed pictures that make the whole process easy while teaching you new and interesting techniques. Each collection also includes a detailed shopping list of everything you’ll need to complete the project.
The embroidery designs are exclusive to the Project Collections. As always, each CD has multiple designs, each in different sizes to accommodate different hoop sizes. You can use these designs with the specific projects or add them to anything else you like.
These Projects are perfect for creating gifts for the holidays (which are right around the corner already). Here are the first four Project Collections:
These designer-inspired clutches feature a new product that gives a unique texture to any fabric. Using your embroidery machine to stitch one of three different design motifs, Stitched Flower Echo, Stippled Monogram Oval, or Stitched Grids, plus your choice of fabric and texture will highlight your personal style. After a little steam from your iron, your ordinary fabric transforms into designer chic. Finish by using your sewing machine to insert a bound zipper, lining with your choice of handle options.
Make three unique stockings with this project collection: Traditional Stocking Shape, Cowboy Boot Stocking, and the Folded Fabric Stocking. There are eight individual embroidery designs, and the folded fabric design comes in 3 sizes. Make one stocking for a quick gift or make a whole set for your family. The fast and easy construction will have you decorating for the holidays by the weekend!
Three unique travel bag projects. Collection includes 23 individually stitched designs. These fun and flirty embroidery designs add an artistic element that turns a plain drawstring bag into a “Chic Accessory”. After making a set to compliment your own suitcase, these bags make quick gifts for your best friends or a bride-to-be!
Anita Goodesign Sunbonnet Sue In the Kitchen Project Collection
Create the perfect gift with the “Sunbonnet Sue in the Kitchen” projects. Added bonus… Quilt Block designs are compatible with all the Mix and Match collections! 10 Individual hand stitched designs in 2 sizes, for the 5×7 and 6×10 hoop. 10 Quilt Block Designs in 4 sizes.
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!
Creating beautiful embroidered greeting cards couldn’t be easier with the new 5D Card Shop. The templates perfectly place all sides of your card flawlessly. If you have created cards before and wanted to do them in one hooping but got confused on which way each side should be set, upside down, right side up…5D Card shop has that all figured out for you.
Start with selecting from one of 41 themes. From Anniversary to Wedding, there is a theme for every occasion. Decide which layout you prefer, folding, double or single sided.
Select the template you wish to use. Each theme has a number of templates from which to select.
Select the size of the card, your hoop, and if you want it all to be stitched at one time, or each side individually. Selecting the 360mm x 350mm hoop and Single Embroidery would place all four sides of your card in one embroidery, aligning and flipping each side properly for folding. (See example of embroidery at the end of this article.) If you do not
have a 360mm x 350mm hoop, then you would select Multiple embroideries to stitch each side of your card separately.
That’s it! But wait…
What if you want a different design other than the one that is provided? Or, you want to remove a detail? Or, you want to add more detail? That is not a problem. Save your card and QuickLink to 5D Embroidery Extra or 5D Stitch Editor. Open the card into the work area and make any changes you want and save it.
What would the design look like in the hoop? Perfect!
With 5D Card Shop you will create delightful greeting cards, postcards, invitations, announcements and certificates that will be treasured by all who received them.
Stop by Quality Sewing and get a demo on the new 5D Card Shop and see how easy it is for yourself!
Enjoy your sewing adventures!
Lana L Jones
Educational Consultant
Snap-Hoop has always been a great hooping system. It comes with a flat magnetic top and flat metal bottom frame. Simply lay the fabric over the bottom frame and snap the magnetic top frame in place! Voila! The fabric is secured. You can tug the fabric around between the two layers without distorting it so that you don’t have to worry about puckering. Check out a video demonstration here.
Well, now they’ve just added three new Snap-Hoops that fit more Brother, Baby Lock, and Singer embroidery machines:
Snap-Hoop Version A4 for Brother/Baby Lock:
130×180 mm (5″ x 7″)
Slide on attachment Fits:
Baby Lock Ellageo Plus ESG, ESG2, ESG3
Brother ULT 2001
Brother ULT 2003
Brother ULT 2002
Snap-Hoop Version A6 for Brother/Baby Lock:
130×180 mm (5″ x 7″)
Clamp down attachment Fits:
Baby Lock Ellure Plus
Baby Lock Ellure
Baby Lock Esante E SE2
Brother Innov-is 1000
Brother PE-700
Brother PE-750D
Brother PE-700II
Brother PE-750D
Brother PE-700II
Brother PE 770
Brother PE 780D
Brother 8500
Brother Innov-is 1250D
Brother Innov-is 1200
Brother 8500
Snap-Hoop Version G1 for Singer
4½” x 6¾”
(Screw-on attachment) Fits:
Futura CE-100
Futura CE-150
Futura CE-200
Futura CE-250
Futura CE-350
SES2000
If you’ve ever wanted to get the Snap-Hoop but haven’t had a compatible machine, chances are much greater now! All Snap-Hoops are on sale for only $179.99. Snap hoops are available for most current model Pfaff, Viking, Brother, and Baby Lock machines as well. You can view the complete list of Snap-Hoops here.
Bernina Convention was just a few weeks ago in San Antonio, Texas. Sandi from the Tacoma store and Robin from the Puyallup store both attended this education-packed event. The most exciting new thing that Bernina debuted was their new Bernina 5 series! Sandi was lucky enough to take a class on the new machine and she loved it: “The new Bernina 550QE, which I sewed on, is geared toward quilters and comes with the Bernina Stitch Regulator (BSR), walking foot, and 1/4″ quilting foot… everything you need to quilt up a storm!”
There is also a new sewing and embroidery machine coming: the Bernina 580. We don’t have much info yet, but I am sure it will be fabulous. The ladies also got to preview some amazing new embroidery designs like the new 3D Embroidery Designs and Christmas Collections from OESD. Plus Bernina has 2 new attachments coming out – a Spanish hemstitching foot and a needle punch attachment for the rotary hook machines. Look for all of these exciting new things in stores this Fall.
Nashville is really hot, and it is not just the weather. The new Brother 2012 products are amazing, and I wanted to share some of them with everyone as soon as possible! Here are the highlights:
New Brother Quattro 2
New Top of the Line Quattro 2, NV6700D:
Quattro 2 has all of the features of the Quattro 1 including the original Upgrade 1 that features scanning and built-in resizing, plus all the new features from the Upgrade 2! (See below for Upgrade 2 details).
A new, improved Advanced Super View (ASV) HD LCD touch screen. It is actually brighter and clearer then the current one (I couldn’t believe it either).
Already have a Quattro? Both of the new Upgrades work on your machine too! Are you ready to take your Quattro to the next level of sewing and embroidery fun?
Color Shuffling
Quattro® Software Upgrade Premium Pack II:
My Custom Design™ feature allows you draw and auto-digitize on the sewing machine screen without needing a computer – AMAZING!
Includes a 10″ Pen Tablet that connects directly to the Quattro and makes sketching designs, editing and signing your creations easier than ever before – SO COOL!
Exclusive Color Shuffling™ Function allows you to pick a color and shuffle between possible choices to match the color. Used when you have the perfect design, but the wrong colors for your fabric or style. Just tell it what color you want to match and then choose from a random selection, gradient, vivid, or soft color palette. Use with the onscreen scanning to match designs to fabric perfectly. Check out the video here.
10 new embroidery designs
2 new embroidery fonts
Quattro® Software Upgrade Premium Pack III:
PATTERN CONNECTION FEATURE! Wow, where do I begin? How would you like to place any embroidery design or border seamlessly without having to use templates or thread marks? How would you like to do it with the exclusive InnovEye® camera? Now you can!! Using two Snowman markers you can align designs by corners or center points on each end in any direction. Everyone who owns a Quattro will want this. Works with any hoops and works with any pattern shapes. This is not just for borders – it is for connecting any design, and makes your hoop size endless!
Exclusive Color Shuffling™ Function allows you to pick a color and shuffle between possible choices to match the color. Used when you have the perfect design, but the wrong colors for your fabric or style. Just tell it what color you want to match and then choose from a random selection, gradient, vivid, or soft color palette. Use with the onscreen scanning to match designs to fabric perfectly.
10 new embroidery designs
2 new embroidery fonts
I am so excited about all of these great new products. I am off to class to learn about more of the new products and will be sure to report back soon. These new upgrades will be available in the stores later this month. You can be one of the first people in the nation to get to have these awesome new features! Call a store to reserve yours today.
Did you see the crystal-encrusted sewing machine that Brother will be awarding to this season’s winner of Project Runway?
This machine was unveiled today at the Brother Convention and will truly be a “shining” symbol of the winner’s achievement.
Wouldn’t it be a fun machine to have?
It makes me wonder how long it took to place each of the stones with such precision. The lettering on the machine is readable and even the buttons are all dressed up.
So if you are wondering what machine they dressed up for the event, this is the Project Runway Limited Addition NS40. In its original form, the NS40 models a fashionable shade of subtle pink and it has functions and features that make it easy to create beautiful designs of your own. With 40 built-in stitches, one-step auto-sized buttonholes, and smooth free-motion sewing, this machine can just about do it all.
In addition to the NS40, there are 6 other machines in the Project Runway line. Prices for these feature-packed machines start at a very affordable $300.
The newest addition to the Project Runway machine line is a great serger that is very easy to thread and runs very smoothly: The 5234PRW. I really like this machine! It has a free arm and even comes with a generous, extra-large extension table that also opens up to hold whatever notions or feet you may want to have on hand.
You can see all of the machines in the Project Runway line on the Brother website.
Who knows, maybe one of us will win a machine like this someday!
Are you ready to be inspired? This may be just what you are looking for! The Pacific West Quilt Show (formally known as the APNQ Quilt Show) is coming to the Tacoma Convention Center August 26-28, 2011.
The centerpiece of the quilt show will be the 227 finalists in this year’s contest from the 18 US states and Canadian provinces of the Pacific West region: Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, The Northwest Territories, Oregon, Saskatchewan, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and Yukon.
Love to shop? There’s also will be a Merchant Mall featuring over 100 vendors where you will find beautiful fabrics and all types of sewing items as well as see the latest in sewing and quilting technology. Make sure to come see us at the Quality Sewing booth!
