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Gorgeous Tapestry

Posted on April 1, 2013 by admin

Have you seen the gorgeous gold and green tapestry hanging in The Quilt Store? It’s new, and it’s beautiful, and you could make one for yourself.

Ours was stitched by Sandy Donaldson, an avid embroiderer and regular visitor to our shop. She’s a member of the Anita Goodesign Platinum Club, and jumped right on board with the special edition CD, Golden Tapestry from Anita Goodesign.

The CD cover doesn’t show the beautiful borders, how they look like gold leaf, but Sandy’s quilt certainly does. She used Gamut embroidery thread in a gold colour (not a metallic), and the stitching just glows.

The Golden Tapestry designs are created as rectangular tiles, and come in a variety of sizes to fit in hoops from 5×7″ to 8×12″. As with every Anita Goodesign collection, there are file formats to work with almost every brand of embroidery machine out there.

Here are some tips for creating your own Golden Tapestry:

Follow the instructions. Anita Goodesign is very good about including complete instructions with all of their projects. Read them and follow them. Once you have completed a quilt-as-you-go in-the-hoop project and experienced the whole process from start to finish, then you may go ahead and make adjustments to your liking.

When working with silk, we recommend using a soft, iron-on interfacing applied directly to the back of each piece of silk, in addition to the required stabilizer and batting. We like Presto Sheer (TQS#1926) because it does not change the hand or drape of the silk, but it adds a little stability and keeps the fabric from puckering excessively during handling and embroidery.

Change your needles. There is a lot of stitching in these designs. Don’t be cheap! Treat your machine to a few fresh needles during the course of this project. Old needles can create puckers or runs in your fabric, loops in your stitching and can shred or break your thread more often. This tapestry project is a big investment of your time, energy, thread and fabric, so it’s best to do everything possible to make it a success.

Use proper bobbin thread. As we mentioned, there’s a lot of stitching here, and you certainly don’t need the extra bulk of thick thread on the back of your work. Bobbin thread (sometimes also called Lingerie thread) is finer than regular sewing thread, and it is what your embroidery machine expects – the tension settings were calibrated based upon the use of bobbin thread – so using anything else will have an adverse affect on your tension.

Consider using a tool from HoopSisters, called the Trimmer by George (original or 2.0). this tool will help you easily remove the excess batting and stabilizer from around the outside of your stitching, without trimming any of your top layer of silk fabric. Click here to watch a video tutorial on the Trimmer by George 2.0. This will make it easier to sew each block together without bulky seams.

Trimmer By George 2.0 from HoopSisters – with edge slipped under top layer of fabric; flip ruler down on top of embroidery to protect top layer, and trim off under layers

Just to add a little more presence to your modern work, check out some background info on the history of tapestries:

http://www.tapestry-art.com/history.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapestry

Making Samples and Turning Twenty

Posted on February 22, 2013 by admin

Our staff at The Quilt Store are working hard and having fun. Yes, we’re helping you make decisions and colour choices, but we’re also making quilts!

Our newest staff member, Ann-Marie has been playing with her new baby, the Janome Horizon MC 8900 QCP, learning all its great features and enjoying its speed and precision, all while stitching up two great examples of the projects in our latest arrival, Turning Twenty : Stained Glass & Scraps.

Tricia Cribbs has released the eighth book in her Turning Twenty series of pattern books, and this one is even better than the rest. There are five exciting new quilts to choose from, with something for every taste. Whether you like Sports, Cowboys, Asian fabrics, or love the look of Stained Glass with batiks, this book has something for you. If you’ve got a great panel or an exciting piece of fabric that you simply cannot bear to cut up, use it as a centre piece, and collect some scraps or Fat Quarters to build a brilliant border.

Her instructions are clear, and make every step easy and fun. In fact, these patterns are perfect for Fat Quarters and other pre-cuts! (Read Our Blog In Praise of Pre-cuts for more information.)

Not only is Ann-Marie keen, she’s quick and talented, too! Have a look at the rich red Stained Glass sample she’s made:

And the bigger version, using several batik Fat Quarters and plain black Kona cotton:

Trish has been working away, too, doing free-motion stitching on the Handi Quilter HQ Sweet 16 which comes with a Tru-Stitch stitch regulator for happy, perfect stitching:

And check out the beautiful baby pink “bus quilt” Trish made from Windsor Lane pre-cut charm packs.

The “bus quilt” idea is from Wendy, who came up with the design for her own quilt, and has recreated it using Double Chocolat charm squares and jelly rolls. She’s embellished the quilt with decorative stitches on the Bernina B580E.

Wendy also whipped up a “Baby Blue Quilt” from a Windsor Lane Junior Jelly Roll. Isn’t it pretty? You can get your own free pattern from our Free Projects page.

Yeah, there are pictures here, but you really do have to see these beauties in person to really appreciate all the detail and the work involved. Drop in and have a coffee while you admire these quilts…and find inspiration for your own!

Stay tuned for more quilts and projects made by our staff….

Tech Tip : No Tape!

Posted on December 31, 2012 by admin

Welcome to a new installment in our series of Tips from The Tech Shop.

Tech Tip for December

Direct from the mouth of our technician: please, don’t put tape on your machine!

“But, why?” you ask, “it’s just tape, it’s not permanent.”

Lloyd sees lots and lots of machines each week, and he would like to inform everyone that tape – no matter what kind – marks up your machine, decreases its value, and invariably makes it difficult for him to get into your machine to clean it because you’ve taped the front and back covers together, or covered screw holes or overlapped your stitch plate. So, he takes it off, and spends time cleaning up the dried-up, super-stuck-on adhesive, and does his best to get your machine running and looking like new.

The very same rule goes for markers, too. Put down the Sharpie, and step away from your machine. Head directly to The Quilt Store (do not pass Go) and pick up the right tool for the task.

If you need a hem/seam guide, check the accessories that came with your machine. It’s very likely that you have one in your collection. We have them at The Tech Shop starting at $1.99.

If it looks like the photo above, a metal piece and a screw, then you will find a hole in the bed of your machine and, placing the bent part nearest your presser foot and the slot somewhere over the hole, insert the screw through the slot and tighten. You will be able to slide the metal guide left and right, adjusting the width of your seam by using the measured markings on your needle plate. Run the cut edge of your fabric against the bent edge of the guide to ensure even seaming.

image from michelequigley.com

Be careful when moving the guide close to your presser foot. Make sure the guide isn’t hampering the movement of the feed dogs. Use the hand wheel to check that the needle bar or screw doesn’t hit the guide.

You might even want to look deep inside the box your machine came in, because you might have a weird looking piece of plastic that you’ve never used. That thing is a seam guide for your extension table.

Attach it to your extension table or the bed of your machine, and slide it along to the measured marking that you need…even bigger than the markings on your needle plate. Voilà! Easy, no-thinking-required, perfect hems…and you may even be able to put the guide to the left of the needle!

If you don’t have one of those handy things in your kit, there are proper removable, reusable products you can stick on your machine. For example, Sewing Edge is, as the packaging states, a reusable vinyl stop, available at The Quilt Store for only $5.99 (a package of 5 strips). When you place it on your machine, do trim it in sections if it covers your bobbin cover or accessory tray – you want this to help, not hinder, your sewing. Click here for a Sewing Edge video tutorial.

If you need a place to stick your pins as you remove them – like every good sewist does – or even a spot to hold your scissors, you still don’t need to employ adhesives, just suction, with the Pin Place/Scissor Spot. It sticks to your machine (or other surface) with a clear suction cup, and holds your snips with a magnet. This is better for your machine, as the magnet is further away from its moving parts.

Tape and markers may be cheap, but they cause more damage than they help. There are several affordable options available to aid in perfect seaming, that do the job properly. If you expect quality results for your work, treat your machine like the valuable assistant it is, and use the proper tools for the job.

* The Tech Shop has moved! We are now across the plaza, behind door #14.

Tech Tip : Walking Foot

Posted on November 30, 2012 by admin

Welcome to a new installment in our series of Tips from The Tech Shop.

Tech Tip for November

This month’s tip is about the Walking Foot. Sometimes a mystery, sometimes a saviour, this sewing machine accessory can be a little confusing if you haven’t used it before. The walking foot is designed to help feed multiple layers of fabric as you sew. There are feed dogs underneath your presser foot which push against the bottom of the presser foot and slide the fabric along. The walking foot has teeth or pads that press downwards and work with the feed dogs to grip the fabric on the top and the bottom.

Typically, we recommend using the walking foot for quilting. You can also use it for any tricky or unco-operative fabrics like plaids, minkee or fun fur.

A recent article from Interweave‘s Sew Daily newsletter hits it right in the ditch:

The walking foot helps keep thick, slippery or sticky fabric layers from shifting as you sew.

When is a walking foot “Optional”?

This knit on this raglan sleeve

was topstitched without

the benefit of a walking foot.

Look what a difference using

a walking foot makes!

Comparison photos courtesy

of The Sewing Workshop.

If the designer is a little more opinionated, it may read: “optional, but helpful …”

So what does this odd-shaped foot do, and is it: “optional, helpful, or … necessary?

Basically, the walking foot provides a gripping action from the top of the fabric which coordinates with the grip of the feed dogs which are built into the bed of your sewing machine. As the bottom feed dogs pull—or feed—the fabric under the needle so that even stitches are created, the walking foot is gripping and pulling the fabric through from the top.

So when is a walking foot “Optional”?

• If you’re working with two layers of a fairly stable woven fabric, there is very little need for a walking foot. The pressure of your feed dogs against a standard foot provides all the friction necessary for the fabric layers to move through smoothly.

What are the “Optional, but Helpful” uses?

• When working with laminates or oilcloth, a walking foot definitely helps to keep these “sticky” fabrics moving.

• If you have several layers of fabric or heavier, canvas-type fabrics, it’s often difficult for the machine foot to provide enough pressure to keep the fabric layers from shifting. Frequent pinning may solve the problem, but a walking foot is, well, helpful.

And is there a “Necessary” category?

• If you are quilting layers of fabric with batting, a walking foot keeps all the layers stable and moving smoothly. This is true whether you’re making a bed-size quilt or a small tote.

• And here is a little known—but my new favorite—use for the walking foot: topstitching on knits. You no longer have to watch the knits creep and bunch as you topstitch seams, finish neck edges, or stitch up the hems. I learned this trick from Linda Lee of The Sewing Workshop and now can’t imagine working with knits without my walking foot.

That being said, may I also say that I’m always a bit hesitant to use the word “necessary” when talking about sewing supplies? I’ve done a tremendous amount of fairly complex sewing on an old Sears machine which has no bells and maybe one whistle. So when I use the word “necessary,” I don’t mean that it is absolutely impossible to complete a project without it. It is simply that the process is so much less laborious and the results are so much more successful with the foot than without it.

Walking feet are not inexpensive, but depending on the type of projects you work on, your sewing can be a lot more pleasant when you use one.

If you’re working with two layers of a fairly stable woven fabric, there is very little need for a walking foot. The pressure of your feed dogs against a standard foot provides all the friction necessary for the fabric layers to move through smoothly.

What are the “Optional, but Helpful” uses?

When working with laminates or oilcloth, a walking foot definitely helps to keep these “sticky” fabrics moving.
If you have several layers of fabric or heavier, canvas-type fabrics, it’s often difficult for the machine foot to provide enough pressure to keep the fabric layers from shifting. Frequent pinning may solve the problem, but a walking foot is, well, helpful.

Is there a “Necessary” category?

If you are quilting layers of fabric with batting, a walking foot keeps all the layers stable and moving smoothly. This is true whether you’re making a bed-size quilt or a small tote.
And here is a little known—but my new favorite—use for the walking foot: topstitching on knits. You no longer have to watch the knits creep and bunch as you topstitch seams, finish neck edges, or stitch up the hems. I learned this trick from Linda Lee of The Sewing Workshop and now can’t imagine working with knits without my walking foot.

~ Rose DeBoer, Stitch magazine

Savvy? Your next question might be, “So, how does this compare with my built-in feeding system?”

There are several machine brands that offer a built-in walking foot. If it has only one “toe” – whether it be in the centre or on the side – it will definitely offer higher visibility of your stitching while you work. However, if it’s only the single feed, it isn’t as aggressive as having a set of two upper grips.

If your built-in system has an independent motor, it may be able to feed both frontwards and backwards, allowing for its use with decorative stitching. Typically, the standard walking foot only works in frontwards-motion stitches, and is not recommended for detailed decorative stitching.

Both the built-in feeding system and the walking foot are helpful, and they will each work better in different situations. You can do a whole lot with just your regular sewing foot, but there are presser feet designed to do specific tasks better. Sometimes a small investment in a new accessory will repay you endlessly with sewing happiness. We’ll wager that the walking foot is one of those.

* The Tech Shop has moved! We are now across the plaza, behind door #14.

Tech Tip : Classes

Posted on November 1, 2012 by admin

Welcome to a new installment in our series of Tips from The Tech Shop.

Tech Tip for October

The Quilt Store is proud to offer in-house technical service, cleaning and repair for sergers, sewing and embroidery machines. It is important to us that your experience with your machine is enjoyable from start to finish. Part of the technical service that we offer is introductory machine classes.

Now, we know many of you have been sewing for years, and you have plenty of completed projects under your belt. We have no doubts that you are a talented and capable sewist. However, we will still recommend that you attend the Basic Machine Intro class that we offer to you for free with the purchase of your new machine. Here’s why:

We want you to be happy with your new machine.

There’s good information in the class about the care and cleaning of your machine.

The class also covers information about needles and thread, which you may not have known or have forgotten over time.

There’s always new innovations, features and buttons on the machine that we think you should know about.

Our technician teaches the class.

image from sownbrooklyn.com

1. Happy = comfortable. In our minds, it’s easiest to be comfortable with your machine when you can play with it yourself. During the demo in the store there are a lot of features discussed very quickly, and it’s easy to get distracted by excitement. The Basic Machine Intro class provides you with a chance to get comfortable with the way your new machine looks, sounds and functions.

2. Care and cleaning isn’t something we generally think about. In the class, you will go through the steps of taking your machine apart and cleaning the necessary areas…with guidance and assistance, and someone to help if you get flustered. Most likely, you will be surprised at how easy it is to take care of modern sewing machines.

image from buzzle.com

3. Needles, thread and tension are the foundation of sewing. There are many variables involved in the combination of these three elements, and no matter how long you’ve been sewing, it’s good to have a refresher as to how each affects your sewing. You will learn how to troubleshoot your own sewing difficulties and make simple adjustments to improve your stitching.

4. New machines have new stuff. Even though they’re supposed to make your sewing easier, sometimes all those buttons can be daunting. Allow us to walk you through some of the new features and how they will work for you, not against you! Even if it’s a simple, basic machine, it’s new to you.

5. Our technician is the teacher. Who better to learn from than the one who fixes your machines? If you’re afraid of breaking something, this is the time and place to get over your fear: if something happens, the technician is right there to help.

They say we learn more from our mistakes…but wouldn’t it be better if you could avoid some of the embarrassing little ones? Our Basic Machine Intro class – and Serger and Embroidery classes – will arm you with good, solid, basic information that reinforces the foundation of your sewing knowledge.

Just for the record: our Intro classes are also perfect for refreshing your memory if it’s been awhile since you’ve sat down at your machine. We really do want you to sew happy!

* The Tech Shop has moved! We are now across the plaza, behind door #14.

Tech Tip : Innovation is Good

Posted on September 26, 2012 by admin

Welcome to a new installment in our series of Tips from The Tech Shop.

Tech Tip for September

We love our machines, all of them. There are some truly amazing old beasts out there that sew the cleanest stitches ever made, and there are some incredible new machines that perform beautifully (and quickly!). Necessity is the mother of invention, they say, and, dare say, so is nagging!

Quilters are a particular bunch of sewers with specific needs and wants, and most are not shy about it. They want perfectly straight stitches, unwavering 1/4 inch seams, and consistent stitch length even while sewing without the aid of the feed dogs. The original straight stitch machines did nothing but straight stitches, and remain the most reliable – provided they’ve been taken care of over the years.

Newer demands have been for more space and more thread capacity on the bobbin.

Lots of machine manufacturers have answered the call for “more space”. Bernina is the one company who has also developed ways to get more thread onto the bobbin. Their innovative 8 Series machines introduced a huge new bobbin case that rotates to present the bobbin to the user, then rotates back into the machine for sewing. This Jumbo bobbin holds 40-60% more thread than conventional bobbins.

Now Bernina has come up with another new bobbin system with their 7 Series, called the B9 Hook. There’s lots to love about this one, so let’s start with the most obvious: it holds up to 80% more thread than conventional bobbins. Yup, even more than the 8 Series Jumbo bobbin. Seriously.

It’s impossible to insert the bobbin incorrectly. You can’t even put it on the winder the wrong way – it only fits one way! This means you don’t have to worry about where the thread is dangling before you put in the bobbin, nor which way it spins when it’s in the case. It only goes one way.

It comes out easily, too. Just a gentle push on the metal bar, and the bobbin case pops out. Replacing it is equally simple, too: it only clicks into place one way.

The B9 Hook system works to make it safer to use. The bevelled edge is designed to push the hook outwards in the case of a thread jam, rather than locking the bobbin and case inside the machine. This makes clearing jams much easier.

Speaking of easier…there’s an oil well that provides even and regular lubrication to the hook, so you don’t have to worry about oiling it too much, too little or in the wrong spot. There’s two little circles inside the hook for oiling, and one reservoir beside the feed dogs, underneath the stitch plate. That’s it.

More good news: the hook is magnetic. That crazy circular piece of metal that never seems to stay put when you’re putting your machine back together now goes in easily, and sticks with a magnet in the proper position.

Who knew there was so much involved in getting more bobbin thread? Thank goodness there are some very smart people out there. Innovation is good. Bernina is a very innovative company…and they listen to what their customers want. That’s a very good thing.

* The Tech Shop has moved! We are now across the plaza, behind door #14.

Tech Tip for August : Service

Posted on August 27, 2012 by admin

Welcome to a new installment in our series of Tips from The Tech Shop.

Tech Tip for August : Service, Service, Service.

Do you remember the last time you took your machine in to The Tech Shop? It’s a good start if you do, and even better if it was within the past 12 months. We’re not just nagging you when we suggest you bring your machine in, there’s good, solid reasoning behind our comments.

Whether or not you use your machine a lot, Lloyd suggests that it be serviced at least every two years — even if you don’t use it very much. Why? Well, let’s consider some comparisons.

If you ran a marathon 5 years ago and were in tip-top shape, fit and strong, but for the past four years, you’ve done little more than the occasional walk around the block. Could you be expected to run a marathon tomorrow? No. Your muscles have tightened and haven’t been exercised in ages, and although you likely remember how to run, you certainly can’t do it as fast or for as long as you once did.

Now, machines don’t have muscles that tire. But they do have oil that can settle and harden, lubrication that can stiffen, and rubber and plastic parts that can turn brittle with time. Ever discovered a rubber band in the junk drawer that just crumbles in your hands? Yup. That can happen inside your machine, too.

Regular maintenance will keep the oil and lube from seizing, and it will give you a heads-up on the parts that are cracking or drying out.

What if you’ve been using your machine for years, here and there, and it’s been working perfectly fine since your grandmother gave it to you, and now all of a sudden it’s not stitching correctly? This can be compared to a car that’s just driven to the supermarket and back, with no long trips to rack up the recommended 5000 kms needed to justify an oil change. Even if you’re not putting the mileage on your car, it’s still best to get an oil change with the seasons.

Short jobs can put more stress on your machine because it doesn’t always get the chance to “stretch its legs” and get some speed and endurance training. Regular use and cleaning will help keep things from getting clogged (like fluff in your bobbin area, and thread bits in the tension disks).

One more car comparison: regular oil changes do not a service make. As you know, your brakes need to be done at least once in the car’s lifetime with you. Bringing your machine in for “just a cleaning” doesn’t mean that your feed dogs aren’t wearing out. You should treat your machine to a good service appointment, where it will be checked and fixed from end to end, inside & out.

If you’re running your machine like a fiend, fast and furious, five days a week (or more!) you must know that it will need an occasional trip to the spa, just like you! Everyone needs a good relax and a good scrub and rub-down. So does your machine. A quick, professional cleaning will help keep you and your machine happy, because your technician will be familiar with your machine and how you use it, and will be able to recommend repairs before they wreck your machine and your plans.

The Tech Shop is happy to receive your machine anytime. In fact, if you cannot make it in between 9 and 5, Monday through Friday, you are welcome to drop your machine off at The Quilt Store on Saturdays, and Lloyd will pick them up on Monday.

You can also book an appointment — which is highly recommended if you’re unwilling or unable to part with your baby for an extended period of time. Just call The Tech Shop at 905-853-6532 and we can arrange a mutually convenient time when you can drop your machine off, and it will be turned around in 2-4 days (pending technician’s approval).

If you’re one of the people who can’t remember the last time your machine was serviced (or worse yet, know that it’s never been done!), you can get an estimate done for $55, just so you know what needs to be done, and if it’s worth doing. If you decide to go ahead with the repairs, that $55 will be applied to the service. Otherwise, you’ve done some valuable research and not wasted any time finding out that you need to buy a new machine.

And we’re happy to help you with that, too.

* The Tech Shop has moved! We are now across the plaza, behind door #14.

ShopNewmarket.com Brings Us Home

Posted on August 13, 2012 by admin

There is a lot to be said for Going Local in a time of globalization, and ShopNewmarket.com is encouraging all of us to stay home, and appreciate our own backyard.

There are lots of local businesses whose owners are completely invested in their entrepreneurial ventures, and work hard to become viable contributers to the local community and economy. The Quilt Store has been at this same location for thirty years…with one change of ownership six years ago.

Vicky, Shannon & Ana were visited by the ShopNewmarket.com sign fairy

The Quilt Store has the biggest selection of high quality cotton fabrics in the area. Our latest addition of The Yarn Store also boasts the largest variety of premium yarns in York Region. The Tech Shop provides reliable service and support for the machines we sell.

We offer a broad range of classes, where sewers, quilters, embroiderers, knitters and crocheters of any age can come together and benefit from expert instruction and the camaraderie of friends and fellow students.

The Southlake Sew-A-Long volunteer charity group meets in our classroom to knit, stitch and serge up a variety of items donated to local hospitals and ICUs in the area. They receive grateful acknowledgement from the beneficiaries for their regular contributions.

Our staff live locally, and our customers come from far and near to shop with us, share with us and support our existence. We would not be here without you — and we thank you for that!

Supporting your local businesses isn’t about shunning the convenience of supermarkets, big box stores and shopping malls. It’s about recognizing the value of community, neighbourhood and not driving so far to get exactly what you need…with a little bit more heart.

Log Cabin Challenge, A Winner

Posted on August 9, 2012 by admin

As part of our 2012 summer sewing program for adults, The Quilt Store has a full roster of free classes, demos, sit & sew days and two “challenges”.

Participants were to arrive with instruction book (Eleanor Burns’ Quilt In a Day series), sewing machine and accoutrements, and all their fabric, pre-washed and pre-cut. No one wasted any time, and quickly got down to the serious (!) business of sewing.

Our shrinking violet, Ana, was the instructor and coach for our Log Cabin Challenge. She is known for kind, gentle and subtle guidance, and dispensed it sparingly throughout the day.

There were machines of all sizes and styles, and all were humming along with their quarter-inch feet attached.

Some would predict an element of unfair advantage for those who brought in their own iron and board. We say that’s just good strategy! (Besides…it turns out it’s not the iron that makes the quilter.)

Ana forced a 30-minute lunch break in the classroom-slash-sweatshop (it wasn’t that hot – our a/c works just fine!) and guarded the power switches with her OmniGrid ruler to ensure there were no fainting delays due to dehydration or low sugar levels.

Mid-afternoon Dianne Ferguson completed her quilt top with one set of borders and was declared the winner of the Log Cabin Challenge. Wendy and Ana presented her with her award and a brand new Bernina bernette 46 sewing machine. Isn’t it nice how the machine coordinates with her quilt?

In all, three gorgeous quilt tops were completed by the end of the day.

Congratulations to Karen, Lyn and Diane for completing the Challenge. Three cheers – Hip, hip, hooray! – to our other participants Cheryl, Saskia, Cathy and Lynda for their determined effort on their lovely Log Cabin blocks. For all the photos, click here to see them on Facebook.

The Quilt Store is happy to report that everyone had a good day with some friendly competition.

If you think you have what it takes to sew like a champ, join us for our Nine-Patch Challenge on Tuesday, August 14th. You could win your own bernette 46!
Call 905-853-7001 to register.

Tech Tip : How to avoid being a Red-neck

Posted on July 30, 2012 by admin

Welcome to a new installment in our series of Tips from The Tech Shop.

Tech Tip for July

Sewing is supposed to be fun. For many of us it’s a hobby, for some it verges on obsession, but occasionally it can be a source of frustration. Especially if our machines aren’t cooperating with us! In order to keep from getting all steamed and blowing your top, here are some tips to help you avoid being a sewing red-neck.

image from theroguewoman.com

If your thread breaks repeatedly: stop, breathe, and rethread your machine from top to bobbin. Sometimes thread jumps out from where it’s supposed to be, and if you cheat and just rethread the needle, your problem won’t go away. Re-do the whole thing and your frustration will dissipate.

If your bobbin thread breaks: take it out and rethread it. Yes, it is important which way the bobbin turns, so follow the guides on your machine or in your instruction manual. Make sure the thread goes into the slot (this controls the bobbin tension). If your bobbin is wound too loose or too tight, this will affect your stitching and keep the machine from functioning properly.

If you are getting skipped stitches: after rethreading everything and experiencing the same problem, change your needle. You’d be surprised what a difference this makes. (It’s like the angels that sing when you change the blade on your rotary cutter!) Please note that even a brand new needle can be flawed — it doesn’t happen often, but it does happen.

If you sew over a pin and bend or break it: stop it! Change your needle. There are several reasons why teachers tell you not to sew over pins, and breaking your needle is the least of it. The pins can scratch your needle plate and the bottom of your presser foot, causing undue wear and tear. If you snag either one badly enough, new fabric can get caught on the scratch and cause trouble and imperfect stitching. If you break the pin, pieces of it could get caught down in your machine, where it could etch metal or plastic parts, or plain old jam things up. If you break the pin, but not your needle, it’s still likely that your needle is damaged – bent or burred – and is no longer going to function cleanly. We highly recommend buying a huge box of your favourite needles, just so you don’t hesitate to change it up.

If you are getting thread bunching on the bottom of your work: rethread your machine, and check your upper tension setting. The average/normal settings are between 3 and 5 on most machines. This does not mean that you cannot change it. The fact that you have a numbered dial indicates that you should adjust your tension. 0 is low, and 9 is high.

If you are doing regular, everyday sewing with your tension set at 9 and you’re still getting bunching, we’d recommend a service appointment. Fluff and debris can build up in and around the tension unit and gradually lessen the effect of the tension discs.

If your decorative stitching jams into your machine: check the presserfoot you’re using. If you are just using the regular, multi-purpose zigzag foot, flip it over and look at the bottom. There will be a small slant towards the back of the foot, but it doesn’t go all the way; this is to ensure the foot has good contact with all of the feed dogs. If you are doing satin stitching or other dense, decorative work, get yourself a satin-stitch / embroidery* foot; it has a deep, wide space that goes all the way to the rear of the foot, allowing the thread build-up to travel under the foot without being squashed into the needleplate.

Another thing you might want to try is to place a piece of stabilizer underneath your fabric as you sew. Once your stitching is complete you can tear, cut or wash away the excess (depending on what sort of stabilizer you use).

* Embroidery is the first, original name for decorative stitches, because the first sewing machines only did straight stitch, and everything else was hand-embroidered.

If your needle unthreads when you start: make sure that the take-up lever is in its full upright position (that’s what’s stealing the thread from your needle). The best way to do this is to use the needle up/down button (if you have one) and raise the needle to its highest position. As well, while threading your machine, have the presser foot raised – this releases the tension so that the thread can get in there properly. While threading the needle, try lowering the presser foot down – this will apply tension to the thread, and give you more space to see the eye of the needle.

image from othereveiltwinsister.blogspot.com

If it’s still not working: go have a drink and walk around for a minute. Then, come back and clean out your machine. Unthread it. Take out the needle. Take off the presser foot. Unscrew and remove the needleplate and take out the bobbin case. Use a cotton swab or small paintbrush (even the lint brush that came with your accessories) to pick up and remove all the dust bunnies that you can see. (Including the stuff in and around the feed dogs – there’s no such thing as felt pads there!) Don’t blow the fluff back into your machine — that’s worse, and so is getting your spit on the moving parts — use a small vacuum if you must. Use tweezers to remove any bits of thread.

Take this opportunity to oil the metal bobbin hook, but only if it says so in your instruction manual. If you have a top-loading machine, you should not oil anything (that’s the technician’s job). Gently, slowly and carefully, put everything back together. Treat yourself to a new needle and rethread your machine. We’re willing to bet that it’ll work better now.

It seems repetitive, doesn’t it? But truly, most of the time, these steps are all that’s required to get things going smoothly. Following these simple tips will help you avoid becoming a sewing red-neck, and keep you and your machine stitching happily!

If you would like further tips or instruction, please call The Quilt Store at 905-853-7001 to join a class or book a one-on-one appointment.

* The Tech Shop has moved! We are now across the plaza, behind door #14.