Sewers New Year’s Resolutions
It’s that time of year when many people reflect on what they have accomplished in 2007, and make a new list of things to complete or do differently for 2008. As a sewer, there are many things that will help start the New Year on the right foot and expand your sewing talents. Below are 11 resolution suggestions that can help us become better and more organized sewers.
If you have additional sewing New Year’s Resolutions, I would love to hear from you. Add your own suggestions by leaving a comment at the end of this e-mail!
1. Clean your machine – start the New Year with a clean sewing machine. If you have had it serviced within the last 6 months, take time to remove the stitch plate, the bobbin case and the hook. Brush out all the lint, and if you machine requires oil, place a small drop in the proper place. If you don’t know where you should be oiling, call me and I can walk you through it. Or bring in your sewing machine and we can show you exactly where to clean and oil. Did you know that you should clean your machine after every 4-5 bobbins? If it has been over a year since your last sewing machine service, bring in your machine for its yearly check up. Same day appointments are available by calling ahead. Click here to read what our expert sewing machine technicians check and clean when your machine is in for service.
2. Discard bent and dull pins – pull out your pin cushion or pin magnet and sort through your pin collections leaving only your favorite pin type. I love having all the same length of pins on my pin magnet. I try to keep out any strays that I have picked up along the way.
3. Sharpen scissors, rotary cutter blades, and kitchen knives too – gather them all and have them professionally sharpened for 2008! Ryan does an excellent job on all types and sizes of tools. Wow – what a difference! Scissors – $5, Rotary Cutter Blades – $3 and Knives – $4.
4. Separate out old or different brand bobbins – if you have recently purchased a new sewing machine, be sure you are not using the old bobbins in your new machine. Each machine requires different bobbins. Remove the temptation of using those old bobbins in the new machine by packing them up and keeping them with the older sewing machine. If you know that the older bobbins are wound with quality thread, purchase extra new bobbins and transfer the thread to use with your new machine. If you can’t remember when you originally wound the older bobbins, or with what kind of thread, discard the thread immediately. If you pass on that older machine to someone else don’t cause them to struggle with old or poor quality thread. Click here to read a past tip, “Can I Use Any Bobbin In My Machine?”
5. Clean and organize the drawer you use the most – nothing feels better than a little cleaning and organization of an area that you use often. Take a couple minutes to empty out and organize that top drawer that houses all your favorite sewing tools.
6. Take a needle inventory – Lay out all your sewing needles. Check that you have a variety of different types and sizes for upcoming projects. Sewers should keep the following needles on hand in a variety of sizes: Denim, Stretch, Ballpoint, Quilting, Topstitch, Universal, Microtex Sharps, Leather, Double needle and a Wing needle. This way you will have the right needle for ANY project you want to sew!
7. Designate a wall or folder to keep “ideas” in. This way when you need some sewing direction, you will have plenty to choose from.
8. Sign up for a class or Sewtopia Club 2008 – take time to advance your sewing education. Try new techniques and expand your sewing knowledge base.
9. Computer backup – When was the last time you backed up your computer? Are all those digitial pictures safely stored on CD’s should anything happen to your computer? How about all those embroidery designs you have purchased? Take an afternoon to save all your precious hard work.
10. Update software – check all software programs to be sure that you are using the most current version. Budget for upgrades if you are not using the current version. By keeping all software programs updated (i.e. Accounting software, embroidery software, photo software) will help keep your computer working for you instead of against you. If you plan to update your computer in 2008, updating software will insure a seamless upgrading process.
11. Double check power strips / battery back-ups – take time to dust off those power strips that are probably out of sight most of the time. Check that all cords are safely plugged in completely and that no cords have been damaged. Click here to read a previous tip “Sewing Machine Insurance“.
If cleaning and organizing your entire sewing room is on your 2008 “To Do” list, click here to read The Domestic Diva’s suggestions for organizing every part of your sewing room. She offers suggestions and pictures for all types of sewers needs in her “Sewing Room Organization Challenge”.
For additional “Healthy Sewing Habits” to practice year-round, check out the 2007 list.
Add your own sewing New Year’s Resolution’s to this list! I would love to add more suggestions to the 2008 list. Click on “Leave a Comment” to write in your own personal Sewing New Year’s Resolutions.
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Happy Holidays 2007
The entire Heirloom Creations’ staff would like to wish you and your family a healthy and safe holiday season.
Thank you for your continued support, the sharing of your creative projects and trusting us with all your sewing needs. We look forward to being your favorite place to stop while in Sioux Falls when you need a creative “fix”!
Be on the look out for a special sewing related New Year’s Resolutions list next week!
(The following Holiday Eating Tips has been floating around the Internet lately. Please enjoy!)
Holiday Eating Tips
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it’s rare. In fact, it’s even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can’t find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas! NO rum for the eggnog – go next door!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. Wearing a sweatshirt with a center pocket is good attire for this ploy.
8. If there is a bar and someone is making drinks in shot glasses that contain more than one type of liquor have one of each type. This is also the one time of year that pastel drinks are accepted.
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don’t feel great when you leave the party or get up in the morning, you haven’t been paying attention. Reread all tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”
Healthy Sewing Habit – December 2007
Sewing is the enjoyment of life, the balance of sanity, and the pursuit of creativity.
Where NOT to Store that Extra, Full Bobbin…
We’ve all been there…sewing along with no bobbin thread! So this time, you decide that since you had to stop sewing to wind one bobbin, that you get ambitious and wind TWO! (Insert grumbling to yourself that the next sewing machine you buy will have a bobbin sensor.)
After winding an extra bobbin, you notice the unused vertical spool pin near the bobbin winder and decide to store the extra full bobbin there until you need it.
STOP!
This is NOT the place you want to store this fresh wound bobbin, this waiting-in-the-wings savior for the next time you run out of bobbin thread.
WHY?
It so happens that also near the bobbin winder, and the obvious empty storage on the vertical spool pin, lurks the high-spinning-thread-sucking action of a sewing machines’ hand wheel. Though we never hear or feel its sucking power, it has the ability (along with the sewing machine’s constant vibration) to work a single strand of thread loose from either an unused spool of thread or full bobbin. Once it has this unsuspecting strand of thread within reach, it will begin to unwind the entire spool into the depths of the hand wheel workings, never to be seen again.
When you finally reach for that extra bobbin, you will hear yourself murmur, “I thought I had wound an extra bobbin last time…”
It’s the sewing machine “gremlins” busy at work.
Your sewing machine may feel like it is running a temperature. (You did not know a sewing machine could come down with the flu, did you?) Or maybe you notice a minor symptom that the hand wheel is now harder to turn. (Do you think the 80+ yards of thread from that missing bobbin has anything to do with that?)
Our sewing machine mechanics have pulled out many spools of thread (sometimes multiple colors) from the hand wheel area of many machines. It is one of the first things they check each time they completely open up a sewing machine for service.
The worst case of a hungry hand wheel was when they found a good portion of a spool of monofilament invisible thread. It not only had wound so tight that it took a razor blade to remove it, but the strength of the nylon thread had worn grooves into the metal of the hand wheel shaft!
This can also happen to serger owners. Always remove any spools or cones of thread that are not actively being used. A serger can not only wrap thread around the hand wheel, it can easily drag unsuspecting thread in with the threads being used. Now that’s a mess!
So let this be a friendly reminder from our service technicians to restrain from storing any unused thread or bobbins on those extra spool pins.
© 2007 SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.
Versatile 5” Scissors – The Perfect Size – The Perfect Gift!
Selected “Best Holiday Choice” by Heirloom Creations employees, the 5” Gingher scissors was voted as our favorite size!
The versatility of Gingher’s 5” sewing and craft scissors makes them a favorite with quilters, embroidery and sewing enthusiasts. The knife edge can cut through layers of material, clip curves and notches, and cut buttonholes. The handsome, double-plated chrome-over-nickel finish is durable, and the scissors come with a fitted leather sheath for storage. (Did you know that even Santa keeps a pair of 5” Gingher scissors at his work table?)
Most people own two sizes off scissors: a pair of traditional 7” or 8” sheers and a small 3” to 4” pair of scissors for trimming small threads. Not having a medium sized pair of scissors sometimes force you to use the small scissors to cut through more layers than it should. For other projects the larger pair is too bulky to work through tight areas. This is when the 5” scissors becomes the Perfect Size – your new favorite size!
I used this perfect size scissor when cutting out the shoes featured in my “Kickin’ It Early” miniature quilt series. What a difference it made when cutting around those strappy high-heeled shoes!
To read all about scissors, go to the Sensational Scissors tip.
See the Holiday Wish List for more ideas for perfect gifts for sewers.
© 2007 SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.
Kickin’ It Early #1 – SOLD!
I am so excited! My first Priority Quilt “Kickin’ It Early #1″ sold for $75.00. All proceeds will go directly to Alzheimer’s research.
If you are the owner of this quilt, I would love to know at least what state you live in. Please log in and post a comment.
To see more of Cleo and my quilts, please visit Ami Simm’s website and read more about her Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative.
Sara’s First “Priority” Quilt Is Up For Auction!
Question: What is approximately 9” x 12”, fits in a USPS Priority Mail envelope and helps raise money for Alzheimer’s research?
Answer: Mini quilts up for auction on Ami Simms’ website for the “Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts” project.
The “Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts” project was so named for the urgent need for research dollars and the requirement that these quilts must fit into a cardboard USPS priority mailer without folding. They are small works of art no larger than 9 inches by 12 inches, auctioned on the first day of each month at (see below) or sold outright on the Internet or at selected venues across the United States. Since January 2006 the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) has raised and donated more than $110,000 for Alzheimer’s research! The AAQI is a grassroots effort to raise awareness and fund research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
Cleo and I have teamed to up participate in creating small Priority Mail sized quilts to be auctioned on the Internet through Ami Simms’ website to help raise money for Alzheimer’s research.
The December 1 – 7, 2007 auction currently has Sara’s first Priority quilt up for auction. If you would like to own Sara’s very first Priority Quilt in her series “Kickin’ It Early” then click here to place your bid. I would love to know that someone in our area owns one of my first creations!
Here are the quilts made by Cleo Snuggerud and Sara Snuggerud. Watch the Heirloom Creations e-mail, the www.sewsara website and Ami Simm’s website to see when these quilts will be up for their Internet auction or when they are sold through any one of Ami Simm’s many lectures or private sales.
Next quilt to be up for auction – “Kickin’ It Early 2″.
3rd quilt to be up for auction – “Kickin’ It Early 3“.
Cleo Snuggerud’s First Three Priority Quilts
Watch for the following quilts to be auctioned or sold through Ami Simm’s lectures and private sale for Alzheimer’s research. Click on the pictures to see them in more detail!
To view current Priority quilts for sale, to view quilts that have sold and to read the stories, please visit the official Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative website.
View over 900 sold Priority Quilts, read the artist statements and be inspired by beautiful fabric creations. After reading through this special march to help raise money for Alzheimer’s research, please let us know know if you too make a Priority Quilt. I would love to help advertise a local designer’s quilt when it is up for auction.
© 2007 SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.