OregonPatchWorks

It is better to give than to receive. This is a quote that most of us know. For me, it is also very true. I love Christmas, birthdays and other gift giving occasions like new babies, weddings, anniversaries, housewarmings, and more. I adore giving hostess gifts whenever we are invited to someone’s home as well. I just love giving gifts. I’ve never been able to afford extravagant gifts, but I think that my joy in giving shows in the choices of the gifts.

With my love of quilting, machine embroidery, crochet, cross-stitch and decorative painting, along with soap-making and cooking, I’ve given my share of homemade gifts over the years. With rare exception, my gifts have always been much appreciated. I’m very glad I took up soap-making and made time for embroidery as these are the quickest of crafts!

During a recent online discussion at a machine embroidery group, it came up that those of us who make homemade gifts rarely receive homemade gifts. Instead, we receive purchased items. While any gift is appreciated, it is the consensus that we would all love to receive something that was crafted just for us.

While I do create homemade items for my friends who are also crafters, they never reciprocate. They show me their projects for praise and pointers, overjoyed when I compliment their work (I always pronounce ever project as perfect). But, I am never the recipient of their artistry. Maybe they feel that it’s not good enough, or maybe they feel that I could just make it myself if it was something I wanted in the first place.

I had been quilting and doing my other fiber arts for 10-15 years before I finally allowed myself to purchase that first embroidery machine. I had convinced myself that I just didn’t have time for it with everything else that I was doing. I was both right and wrong in that assumption. While learning the intricacies of machine embroidery and discovering all the free embroidery designs I could find online, my other fiber arts suffered from neglect. But, once I stopped discovering and started stitching, my new embroidery passion enhanced all of my others crafts! I’d call that a win!

Not long after this, and after a huge bout of stocking up on new-to-me embroidery supplies, I realized that I would like to digitize my own designs. While I could find just about anything I wanted to stitch, I like to think that my style is just a bit different, and I wanted to be able to reflect that in embroidery. So, new software and thick manuals once again took time away from my quilting. I forgot how to crochet and cross-stitch entirely. Cooking became a dirty word!

Like many before me, I had the thought that I no longer need purchase beautiful linens or someone else’s embroidery designs. I could do it all myself. And, like all those before me, I was woefully wrong! While I gained the knowledge and skill to be able to make just about anything my heart desired, I still lacked all the time in the world to do it all.

Ten years later, I have a system. I will happily buy pretty linens and clothing if they fit in my budget. If not, I will think about the time needed to digitize similar designs. If I can find something close at my favorite embroidery design gallery, I will humbly succumb to another digitizer’s artistry. It’s all about time, now.

It works great for me. Now, if I could only convey to my crafty friends that I really can’t just make whatever I want and would love one of their homemade hand-painted silk shopping bags or crocheted cashmere scarf, my world would be complete!

I’ve been looking forward to moving back into my sewing room now that Molly and her almost fully grown, but still quite young, kittens have been moved to an outside enclosure. They took over the room for four months! I have lots of cleaning to do and lots of organizing; I also had even more enjoyment of them living and growing safely while they destroyed the room!

I had planned on doing the cleaning and organizing this weekend so that Monday morning would see me bright eyed and bushy tailed getting some of my backed up embroidery projects done. And, then, my loving husband springs some news on me. The house we are interested in will be vacant in three months. Last time it was vacant, we couldn’t afford it. Now we can.

As a bit of background, we all rent here in Greece. We have a housing office that shows us houses that should meet our requirements. Unfortunately, not all the best houses are always available. We were shown three houses and had a tough decision between two of them. One had everything we wanted except a view and a pool. However, it had modern amenities and plenty of space for my machine embroidery and quilting activities. The second house had the view, but still no pool. We chose it. It wasn’t set up as well as the other one, but we’ve made it work for the past three years. The house we are interested in will be ours if we want it, since the owner has known us the whole time we’ve been here. We won’t have to deal with the housing office telling us it isn’t available (because one of their friends wants it). All of this is in our favor.

Did I mention that the house has a pool and a view! Not to mention a perfect setup for my hobbies and my husband’s, too.

I had just finally gotten settled in my sewing room before Molly had her kittens. I’m just getting ready to get back in there. But, if we are moving in 3 months, I should concentrate on packing. At first, I was really stressed out about it and then I remembered something.

When I set up my sewing room this time, I made sure that all of my furniture pieces were either portable or could be taken apart, or both. I don’t have any large items that will be hard to move as most of them are light enough that I can move them myself. This is a huge plus! And, I still haven’t unpacked most of my embroidery supplies or fabric, and all of my embroidery designs are on the computer, so that’s less packing I’d need to do.

I’ve always been interested in sewing room setup since I got my first dedicated room ten years ago. Besides setting up areas for machine embroidery and/or quilting, it’s important to also have an area for cutting and pressing, and these should be set up at an ergonomically correct height (about 1-2 inches below your bent elbow), whether you stand or sit to do them. If a space needs to do double-duty, it needs to be thought out ahead of time and then tweaked until it works. Nothing should be set in stone!

I love the look of the commercial sewing tables! They are beautiful and look so organized. The truth is that they actually limit what can be done by offering only “stock” spaces. Whether you are trying to complete some large embroidery patterns or put together your latest quilt, the spaces are not big enough. Instead, opt for inexpensive smaller pieces like student or office desks. On average, it’s possible to buy 20 of these and use them how you want for the price of one of the commercial sewing tables. No, I don’t have 20 desks! I have three office-sized ones! Plus some folding tables and small pieces like stacked cubes. Everything on wheels.

And, a great sewing room can truly be put together for very little money! Use items you already have, repurposing where necessary. For a cohesive look, it’s easy and inexpensive to simply paint all the pieces the same color. Add a good desk chair, from the office supply not the sewing supplier, and you’re good to go!

If you set up a room on a budget, it leaves you wiggle room for that new embroidery machine or lots of fabulous machine embroidery designs! You decide!

There’s been quite a bit of chatter this week on one of my groups for machine embroidery about the proper fabric to use for embroidery. While I have used and agree with some of the suggestions, I have learned a lot about fabrics from making quilts, home décor items and fashion. While all fabrics can be proper for something, not all are good for everything!

Since fabric for making quilts is all-around good, sturdy cotton broadcloth, let’s start there. We will assume that all of these cottons are good quality! From basic muslin to the priciest designer prints, we choose these fabric for our quilts for several reasons; they are inexpensive; they have a good weave and even hand; they last forever; and, they are easy to work with, having few issues with raveling, stretching, etc.

However, the relative affordability of quilting cotton is still too much for some, and they choose polyester or poly-cotton blend fabrics for making quilts. Since this is the worst choice for quilts for many reasons, this is one area where I say never! Polyester fabrics are too thin, too stretchy, and melt/warp when ironed under the high heat required for proper patchwork piecing. It is not sturdy, can be difficult to work with, and it is made from a dwindling, expensive resource … petroleum.

While some quilters are quite brilliant in making quilts from satins, silks, woolens, velvets and other heavy fabrics, most of us choose plain reliable cotton. There’s really nothing to argue about when quality meets every expectation at a reasonable price.

In the world of machine embroidery, though, we aren’t just making quilts. We create fantastic heirloom christening robes and wedding dresses; sturdy totes and fancy purses; fun toys and soft books; and anything else we can fit into or onto our hoops.

For each project, we choose the fabric we want to work with. We wouldn’t make a tote from sheer organza any more than we would make a wedding dress from burlap! Instead, we match the project desired to the fabric required. Hopefully, the embroidery designs we want to use are appropriate for the type of fabric! Ah, I bet you forgot that part, didn’t you? It’s okay. We all do it. Once we figure this out, we must decide how to stabilize the fabric and design for optimum stitching. It goes far beyond just the best fabric!

Embroidery designs that are light and airy can be stitched on just about any fabric, although care must be taken with thick items like bath towels or the designs won’t show up. They will stitch beautifully and then become invisible. No fun! A layer of tulle on top of the towel loops can keep this from occurring!

Dense embroidery designs should not be stitched on anything other than very sturdy fabrics! Denim and twill are good choices for totes, purses and anything else that you’d normally make for strength! Did you notice that I did not say that dense designs could not be stitched on anything but denim or twill? Yes, they can …

If you have dense designs that you want to embroider on a less sturdy fabric (linen or cotton), you can choose a heavier stabilizer to make the fabric more able to withstand what is demanded from the embroidery designs. This does not, however, mean that you can stitch a very dense design on sheer fabric by using more stabilizer. Eventually, the stabilizer must be removed, and thin fabric may not support the design.

See? It’s still not just about the best fabric! Fabric + stabilizer + design = perfect machine embroidery designs. Always!

No one person has all the answers because each design, fabric, stabilizer, and machine we use are completely different. It is necessary to do research and try various methods until we find those that work for us. Because I spend so much time making quilts, I start with muslin and go on from there.

For me, the best fabric is not the cheapest I can find. It is the one that will work for the project type, along with my choice of embroidery designs and the stabilizers that I have.

 

It’s the day after Christmas and I am stuck at home. Well, honestly, I could go out, but the weather is cold and wet while the house is warm and dry. This is our first Christmas here, out of three, that the weather hasn’t been sunny and somewhat warm. We had developed a habit of going into Chania for lunch and coffee, sitting outside and watching the local Greeks in the most jovial moods they will exhibit all year.

Since my hubby has to work today, I had planned to continue the new tradition. But, going places here isn’t the same as going places in California. Back home, I can pick my destination and then park in the conveniently close parking lot. Here, I have to choose where I want to park and then hike into the center of town to my destination. While my house is only 10 minutes from Chania, the weather can be very different, so I also have to plan my wardrobe accordingly. That’s a lot of work for an omelet and some cappuccino!

But, isn’t our crafting a lot like that? A lot of the time, I really want to do one thing, let’s say machine embroidery, but I end up working on making quilts instead! Why is that? Several things can come into play, but a lot of times it stems from not having the proper embroidery supplies, or that those supplies are difficult to get to. In the latter, laziness is the culprit since I know I have all the proper quilting supplies at my fingertips. In the worst cases, I just won’t do any stitching at all. That’s no fun!

For months, I’ve been getting my sewing room set up to receive my giant long-arm quilting system. I love my sewing area, and was loathe to change it to fit the twelve feet of tables that needed to also fit. As a result, except for any machine embroidery or quilt blocks that I had to make, very little was done in there are all. Sheer stubbornness on my part!

Then, last week, I was setting my schedule for making quilts in 2012. I remembered that I have a huge, unused basement where my twelve foot long-arm quilter will fit perfectly! It’s not like I use it every single day, so there really was no reason for it to be in the sewing room. For months, I’ve wasted time on this, and the decision was such an easy one to come to!

In fact, the solution is a perfect one! Not only will my quilter be in a large space that will allow me access to all sides, but I can now expand my sewing area that I love so much in my sewing room. This means more storage space inside for my stash, too! Currently, I keep 90% of my supplies down in the basement.

I’m actually quite excited by all the changes, even though none have really been made! Instead, it’s a matter of mind-set. If I can get it all set up efficiently, I won’t have those days where I plane on machine embroidery and end up making quilts! Even if I’m stitching, I’m much happier if I do what I set out to!

So, instead of going into Chania and freezing, maybe I’ll spend the day in the sewing room with my new iPod stereo dock, cleaning and organizing for the new solution. But, that also means I have to fold all the laundry in there and pick up the colorful blizzard of gift wrapping scraps.

Oh, darn! More decisions!

For more visit: http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/

I don’t do production work. These are words I find myself saying more and more in regard to my machine embroidery. I take the compliment intended when someone says they should buy something that I make. Unfortunately, whatever it is I’ve made isn’t usually for sale! The politest thing I can say is that I really don’t do production work.

While I love making quilts or small embroidered items to give as gifts, it’s just not worth the time and effort to make these things to sell. Contrary to popular belief, making things on our own is not less expensive than buying it from a store! The only true benefit we get is by creating a one-of-a-kind item that is exactly what we want. If that option was readily available at stores, we would be expected to pay top dollar for it.

However, when someone wants us to make something for them to buy, they don’t seem to understand the true costs involved in making quilts or stitching intricate lace by machine embroidery. Instead, they see prices at stores and think our prices should be the same.

I can pick up a decent quilt for around $100 at a local chain department store. However, just the fabric costs to make one on my own far exceeds that price. This doesn’t include the costs of prepping the fabric for use, the time it takes to make, or any of the additional quilting supplies needed. The few times I have sold quilts, my minimum price for a crib size quilt is around $100. While my wanna-be customers have no problem paying that price for a designer name, they think my homemade crafts should be cheaper. The responses I get to my price quotes are sometimes quite rude, but I don’t mind. I just smile with the knowledge that I’ve, once again, gotten out of having to do production work!

When it comes to machine embroidery projects, I’m even less willing to stitch for others. The cost of thread and stabilizer alone would put me in the poor-house if I only charged what these folks wanted to pay. Of course, they don’t understand that there is a cost in maintaining our expensive, and very well loved embroidery machines, as well as an intricate inventory system for making sure we have the right needles, threads, and other embroidery supplies for our basic projects. If the person just insists that I make them something, I direct them to very expensive linen stores online. I ask them to compare the prices and let me know what they feel a fair price is. In all but very rare cases, this also has me smiling that I got away with not doing production work.

You may be wondering what my aversion is to stitching for money. Well, I consider what I do to be an art form. If I create for cash, it’s not artistic for me. It’s just work. Instead, I would rather spend my precious time stitching beautiful embroidery patterns for those I love. I love to spend rainy afternoons making quilts for all the babies that crop up in my little corner of the world (meaning … hubby’s co-workers). Sometimes, I like to just create an embroidery project or quilt just to do it. No reason. Nowhere to put it. Just pure, simple creativity.

Now, if someone wants to buy one of those things I’ve made just for the creativity, I will gladly sell them.

And, if you’re like me and feel guilty when saying “no” to people, just learn this simple phrase..I don’t do production work.

For more visit: http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/

Whether it’s making quilts or digitizing machine embroidery designs, I seem to be in a constant state of confusion lately! Since I make my living doing both, this is not good!

Years ago, I could happily check the state of my quilting supplies and just get to work on whatever idea popped into my head. Or, I could choose an embroidery design from my collection and make pretty things as often as I wanted. Then, I began teaching classes and all that changed!

Instead of just stitching for my own pleasure, I now had class samples to create; these had to be certain styles and consist of the new in colors, regardless of my own personal preferences. The longer I taught, the harder it was to just make a quilt. My mind was always revolving with class-type ideas. My stash of fabrics and threads began being dominated by the latest trends instead of what I love.

I let this sorry state of affairs continue for much longer than I should have! My reward was to lose my love for my fabric arts. It is said that artists do best creating from the heart instead of the pocketbook, and I can vouch that this was true for me as well. My beloved stitching became work! Oh, no!

It took me a while to realize the full effect of this; I then wasted more time brooding about it! Finally, a little at a time, I began working to change the habits that had filled my brain and held me back from the love of my craft.

I can honestly say that I am back to making quilts for fun and stitching embroidery for the love of beauty! It took me some time to get to this point, but it was so worth the effort!

If you’re a stitcher who has lost your way, let me help!

First, you need to decide what you love. If you enjoy making quilts, what colors and styles speak to your innermost heart? What embroidery patterns are your favorites? Whether you write it down or just think about it, this is the first step to reclaiming the love of your art.

Is there a certain reason why you’re not creating what you want? Too many gifts? New babies? Charitable work?

When making gifts or quilts for newborns, it is difficult to just use the colors we like. We must think about the recipient. But, it is still possible to put our personal stamp on it by choice of pattern and other finishing touches. The recipient will love it no matter what.

When making quilts for charities, many quilters err on the side of false frugality. Many of the quilts look like the quilter used the worst fabric in their stash and didn’t really care if the finished product was attractive or not. While I understand that quilting can be an expensive endeavor and that these quilters may be doing the best they can, these quilts do not look like much love went into them. So, if you are making quilts for charities, why not take a little bit more of your time to create something completely from the heart?

Another thing that had held me back was that I am the only woman in a household of men. Even most of our pets were male! Since I’m not a frilly type of gal, keeping things neutral wasn’t that hard, but I was craving some of my favorite colors … pink, purple and fuchsia. I was tired of my bedroom being in shades of blue and tan. Actually, the whole house was in those shades!

In a fit of rebellion, I made a quilt in very light shades of pink and sage that just scream out that it is feminine. Strangely, even the men in the house love that little snuggle quilt. As a result of that, my whole home now reflects my taste in all shades of red without making the men feel like they are in a ruffle palace.

Not only did I reclaim my love of quilting and use of what makes my heart sing, but I made home my haven. That is the best testament to the power of making quilts from the heart.

Take charge of your art and make yourself happy!

For more visit: http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/

I love learning new techniques for quilting and fashion sewing. It’s wonderful when I figure out that I can use a technique meant for making quilts to also create interesting effects on clothing.

I am currently taking an online class for creating embellished vests. There is so much information and so many ideas that I am spurred to try many new things. I want to add machine embroidery and worried about the construction of the vest making it difficult. Then, I realized that I could use a quilting technique, called Foundation Piecing, to put the outer layer of my vest together.

Once my main fabric is attached to interfacing in the foundation piecing technique, I can add embroidery designs to my heart’s content. Then, I can stitch the vest and lining together which will sandwich the backside of my embroidery between two layers of fabric.

This is wonderful for two reasons. First, my embroidery will be protected inside the lining. Second, the vest will remain reversible with the back side of the embroidery hidden. If I am truly inspired, I could even add embroidery to the lining fabric before stitching the vest together, making it an embroidered reversible vest. Beautiful.

Whether I am making quilts, machine embroidering a project or creating fashion, I find that it is very important to think about what I want from the finished item. What do I want? How will it be used? How will it be cared for?

Based on questions like this, I plan the construction of the project from beginning to end. Because I like my home furnishings to be easily machine washed and dried, I begin with cotton fabric. If I want to be able to wash a rayon skirt, I wash the rayon for maximum shrinkage before I sew the skirt. For anything that may need to be bleached, I choose polyester thread since it can be bleached without ruining the colors. I make many decisions like this before I ever begin a project.

In the case of my vest, I will create a sloper (sample garment) by stitching a vest from interfacing. Using the sloper, I can make adjustments in the fit before cutting out my fabric. When I cut my pieces, though, I will also cut it from interfacing. Then, I will draw lines on this to show me where I want to stitch my fabric pieces together using the foundation piecing technique. I can use the sloper to try out different ideas before drawing these placement lines.

While all this may seem fussy, it is something we all do when planning our quilts or embroidery design projects. It’s the same as figuring out if we will utilize embroidery quilting and where we will place it, what type of design we want for a pretty blouse, and where it should be stitched. Whether we make a huge production of making these decisions or just do it on instinct, we all make these types of decisions with every project.

Because of the decision and planning I have made, my pieced seams will be very secure because of a quilting technique. This same technique will have stabilizer (interfacing) already attached to my fabric, making the hooping for my machine embroidery a snap!

What could be easier?

For more visit: http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/