Kreinik Metallic Threads

I love unique products that are easy to work with and enhance the beauty of my projects. So when I found the vibrant metallic threads from Kreinik, I was overjoyed. These threads glitter and sparkle, adding pizzazz and vibrancy to many of my projects. I use them for embroidery or even just to sew a hem and am always pleased with the results.

These threads come in many colors and are available in a variety of sizes to accomodate all your sewing and craft needs. Choose from textures such as ribbon or braid and watch your sewing and craft projects come to life.

These threads can be a little irritating to work with when they curl or twist, but there are a couple simple tips I've discovered that can solve both these problems. Neither of these tips apply when using Kreinik metallic threads in a sewing machine. First, when taking the thread off the spool, wet it just a little. That will get rid of the curl. And if you find your thread twists as you work, try using shorter lengths. This will also help preserve the quality of the thread itself.

These and other specialty threads are a little more expensive than your average sewing thread, but they're well worth the cost whenever you need something with a little spice.

A Creative Sewing Box and Storage Solution

Traditionals sewing boxes and kits are simply not that large. They'll hold a few notions and maybe even some scraps of fabric, but forget storing patterns or larger pieces of fabric in there. If you love to sew, you probably have more supplies and fabrics than you can store in that sewing box, so you end up with bags, boxes, and storage tubes filled with supplies all over the house. Hey, it happens.

But there is a creative solution, though you'll have to go to your local hardware store to get it. Invest in a giant tool box. One of those ones with a dozen drawers that rolls around on wheels. These are often called tool chests or tool cabinets, and some of them have power outlets, radios, and even little mini refrigerators (though you might not need one that elaborate).

These chests have drawers for all your notions and supplies, and you'll probably have enough space for frequently-used patterns and fabrics. And they come on wheels so you can move them when you need to. If you really need the storage space, you might want to get two!

Creating Multiple Sewing Stations

Have you ever been ironing a piece of fabric and needed scissors but you simply couldn't find them? It's happened to me, and on more than one occasion. This situation inevitably leads to a frantic hunt for sewing scissors. Or maybe you need your seam ripper while sitting at your sewing machine and you just can't remember where you left it. If this happens to you, you might want to considering setting up and organizing separating sewing stations.

Start with your basic sewing station. The sewing machine. If at all possible, set it up so you don't have to constantly take it down. A separate table is ideal. Keep a selection of pins and pressure feet here. Also thread and all the needles for your sewing machine. And don't forget a pair of scissors and a stitch ripper.

When you're sewing, you'll often need to iron fabric, both before you start using it and during your project. So you'll need an ironing area. Stock this area with pins, a lint roller, and a quality hem gauge. And a pair of scissors so you don't have to run to your sewing area every time you need to snip a thread.

Cutting tables are ideal for laying out your fabric and cutting your pattern pieces. At this table, you'll also want marking tools such as pens and your marking wheel. Also put all your rotary cutters in this area, even if you don't use them very often. At least you'll know where they are when you do need them. And, of course, a quality pair of sewing scissors.

These are your three basic sewing stations. Keep them separate and well stocked and you'll find your projects are suddenly completed more quickly and with greater efficiency.

Keeping Track of Sewing Supplies

Sewing supplies have a way of getting away from you. Pins roll onto the floor. Scissors and marking pens get lost under swaths of fabric. Beads and buttons end up all over the place. And you never can find that sewing machine manual when you need it, though it will turn up when you don't.

Everyone who sews needs to track of those sewing supplies. And different supplies require different solutions. For all those little pins and whatever other metal tools you might have, try magnetic trays. You can find these simple items at your local hardware store and they'll keep your pins from rolling away. And, if the tray is knocked over, most of the pins stay in the magnetic tray.

But a magnetic tray doesn't help when it comes to marking pens and cutters. So try recycling an old silverware basket, the kind that come in most dishwashers. You can use these baskets to hold marking pens, scissors, cutters, glue sticks, and other supplies. It works magic and allows you to keep your sewing area organized.

Then there are those tiny little items such as buttoms, crystal, trim, and even the pressure feet from your sewing machine. While some of these might fit in the silverware basket or conveniently stick to the magnetic trays, some of them are just awkward. try an old fishing tackle box. These boxes fit almost anything and tend to conserve space better than traditional sewing boxes. They're also cheaper.

And what about all those manuals, supply instructions, magazine article, printouts, and other random papers? Don't toss them in a drawer. They'll get crumpled and perhaps even ruined. Instead, invest in a good-quality three-ring binder and some inserts. Also pick up a few pockets to fit in your binder. This way, you can store all the paper you need in one convenient location.

Keeping your sewing area organized will cut down on the time you spend searching for the items you need. Get creative and find unique ways to keep track of all your sewing supplies and you'll find your life gets a lot easier.

Steadying Sewing Spools

Have you ever bought thread spools with a center hole too large to fit on your spool holder? Well, I did. The colors I needed didn't come in the size that would fit my holder. When using these spools, they rattle all over the place and sometimes even fly off the machine. A quick fix was certainly in order.

I had two options. I could do as a friend of mine suggested and unroll the entire spool then reroll it on a spool that fits. I keep the old spools for my children to use in their many craft projects, so I had plenty of spools around. However, even using the machine, this would take a while and I'd have to do it again every time I purchase this particular sized spool. Not my idea of a good time.

Instead, I hit the craft store and went immediately to the wooden beads section, spool firmly in hand. After a little trial and error, I found a bead that fit snugly into the thread center hole. An electric drill helped me to drill a hole though the center of the bead to fit the spool holder perfectly. The best thing? I'm keeping the beads. Next time I have to buy that sized spool, I'll have a bead all ready to go.

Building Your Own Ironing Board

This week I was ironing fabric by the masses. I have a lot of sewing to do as graduation season approaches. A lot of girls need their grad dresses. But I quickly found myself frustrated by the small size of my oversized ironing board. I never can get enough raw fabric on the board to save myself any amount of real time. I also can't find an ironing pad large enough.

So I deciding to make my own ironing board. I took a large piece of plywood and layered wool on one side to create a 1-inch pad. I covered the entire thing in a solid cotton fabric that was large enough to stretched over the wool and around to the underside of the board. I secured the cotton with hook-and-loop tape. This would allow me to remove the cotton and wash it if necessary.

Finally, I took the board and positioned it on two large construction sawhorses. I could have used anything, but I had two sawhorses that weren't being used for anything. I didn't attach the board to the sawhorses, simply because I wanted to be able to take it down and store it when I wasn't using it.

Now I have a large ironing board that accomodates most of my fabrics and really any pattern piece. Problem solved. Crisis averted. Ironing large pieces of uncut fabric is no longer a cause of frustration while I'm working. And it didn't cost me anything, because I had all these things around the house somewhere.

Steadying a Moving Serger

I was over at a friend's house the other day, talking about sewing and demonstrating projects, when she pulled out her serger. As she used it, it virbrated and jumped all over the table. Mine never does that. It took me a moment to notice the difference. My serger is steadied with ... kitchen sponges.

So I shared my tip with her right at that moment, just like I'm sharing it with you now. To keep your serger from vibrating and boucing on your work table, get two rectangular kitchen sponges and cut them in half so you have four squarish pieces of sponge. Wet the sponges and wring them out until they're dry. Place one piece of sponge under each corner of the serger machine. The sponges will cushion the vibrations and keep your machine steady. No more bouncing!

This is a simple but effective tip for keeping a serger steady. It can also be used to steady other types of machines, including your everyday sewing machine.

How to Organize Your Sewing Supplies, Part 1

It's finally spring around here and I'm doing my annual spring cleaning. In  my sewing area, this means tidying up and organizating any sewing supplies and materials that have migrated over the past few months. Buttons kept in odd locations. Scissors left on the table just because it's easier to leave them there. Fabric that ends up piled instead of stored properly. All of these things need to be put away and organized properly.
Everyone has their own unique was of organizing a sewing room. But there are a few tips that can make the process easier and help you to find what you need when you need it.

1. Keep buttons in clear jars according to color so you can find them in short order. Also consider organizing fabrics and thread by type and color. I also use binders and expanding folders to hold patterns and magazines that relate to sewing. It's better than keeping all these things scattered around the room. I also like to keep those little pieces that came with the sewing machine in little plastic bags so nothing gets lost.
2. Fabrics are best stored out of direct sunlight to prevent fading and other damage. But don't seal them in plastic containers or you could allow mold or mildew to grow. Instead, choose something that allows air to circulate, such as a cabinet. Or consider hanging them on dowels or towel rods, but keep them out of the sun.
3. If you have an old entertainment unit that you're not using, considering converting to hold your sewing supplies and fabrics. Most of them already have drawers and cabinets, so very little has to be done to use it for sewing materials. Also consider plastic drawer units on rollers. These are versatile and handy to have around.
4. Try to put everything back in its place at the end of the day. Put all your sewing notions and supplies in their bins or cases and make sure everything has a regular storage space. This makes things easier to find the next time.
5. If you like to hang things, invest in some brackets for the walls. You can hang whatever you need for however long you need to hang it. This work especially well if you like to store sewing materials in tote bags.
6. Keep a tray or basket on your work table to hold the items you're currently using. This way, if you stop mid-project, these items will be readily accessible the next time you sit down.

There are many other things you can do to keep your work space organized. Use a method that works for you and try not to be constantly changing everything or you'll never remember where you put anything!

OLFA 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter Review

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a little slow to try new products. I like the old fashioned way of doing thing. Slow but reliable, the old fashioned way gets it done every time. But I received an OLFA 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter for my birthday this year, and I love it. The slow snipping with scissors is a thing of the past for me now. Instead, I use my new toy.

This product features a blade constructed from the highest quality tungsten steel, so it never fails to do the job. Its precise cuts are perfect for cutting out many pieces needed for sewing, especially if those pieces have straight edges. But I've also used my OLFA rotary cutter for curved edges. It cuts through multiple layers of fabric and can also be used on leather and vinyl, which did indeed impress me. I've also used it for things other than sewing. All in all, I love this product. It lets me fly through projects as a speed I've never enjoyed.

The best thing about this neat little tool? I also received a selection of blades. I have a straight blade, but I also have a pinking blade, a scallop blade, and a wave blade. Perfect for most projects. And there are other blades I can add as well. I highly recommend this product to novice and experienced crafters alike.