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Fabric Folding Pen
Fabric Folding Pen with Instructor Steve Butler Class 161 View at our website What is it? We get it, no one likes to take the time to press fabric pieces when putting together that new creative inspiration. The sewing machine is ready, that fabulous fabric is ready, the complimenting thread is ready and, most importantly, we’re ready. Taking the time to press those preparatory seams just feels anticlimactic somehow. The truth is though, those initial ironing steps are a significant factor in determining whether our finished project is something that is polished and…
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Tracing Paper “Clover Chacopy”
Tracing Paper “Clover Chacopy” with Instructor Steve Butler Class 160 View at our website What is it? When it comes to sewing, and that’s what we do, tracing our pattern designs onto fabric is one of our least favorite activities. We find that perfect pattern, amazing fabric and complimenting thread and we just want to jump right into the sewing process so we can experience that highly anticipated creative fervor. But hold on, there is still the drudgery of the not so exciting prep work. Bummer. Probably the least favorite is tracing the pattern…
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Hot Ruler
& Hot Hemmer Hot Ruler Large and Hot Hemmer Square with Instructor Steve Butler Class 159 View at our website Visit our website What is it? If we were to make a list of essential actions required to achieve our most lofty creative aspirations when sewing, pressing would be near or even at the top of that list. Precise pressing of our project component pieces during the construction process often marks the difference between a completed project that appears polished and professional or something that appears more homemade and amateurish. By pressing during the construction…
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Extra Credit: Hot Hemmer Square & Hot Ruler Large
Hot Hemmer Square & Hot Ruler Large By Shannon and Jason Well… Clover has done it again. Just when we were looking for a product, here they are with exactly what we need. They have expanded their line of pressing tools to include the Hot Ruler Large and Hot Hemmer Square. If you are a garment sewist, the larger ruler is something you are already familiar with, and it is this product we were JUST looking for to use in our own garment making as well as to adapt for quilting.…
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Tracing Wheels
Tracing Wheels with Instructor Steve Butler Class 158 View at our website What is it? The genesis of almost everything we create when we sew begins with a pattern of some form. Fashion, fashion accessories, heirloom, purses and bags, quilts, home decor, they all use them. In our selection process we identify potential candidates from the perfectly posed pictures on the pattern packaging. The next step is to look at the pattern itself to get an idea of what it will take to complete that project. Some patterns are very complex while others are…
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Extra Credit: No-Sew, Iron-On Octopatch
No-Sew, Iron-On Octopatch By Shannon and Jason Oney the Octopatch Here, in our part of the world, we are entering that time of year when the skies are clearer, the breeze is warmer, and the wind carries the unmistakable sound of screaming little folx who have looked forward to summer break for months but now they have entirely too much time on their hands and are sooooo bored with everything and what were you thinking giving them three juice boxes (they have how much sugar??) and maybe that giant Slurpee…
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Stitch Guide
Stitch Guide with Instructor Steve Butler Class 156 View at our website What is it? Ever watch an accomplished sewer lay down a line of stitches? It’s always perfectly straight or curved as desired. It looks easy, right? Well, easy until you drop the presser foot and the stitching begins. Then the skills of said sewist become glaringly evident. There’s nothing automatic about perfect straight or curved seams. It takes years of honing those skills to be proficient. And absent those skill enhanced perfect seams our sewn projects will constantly remind us, “It could have been better.” And…
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Mini Iron II: “The Adapter Set”
Mini Iron II: The Adapter Set with Instructor Steve Butler Class 152 View at our website What is it? First of all, why do we call it a “mini iron”? Because of its diminutive size? Yeah, pretty much. But that name is a true misnomer. Even though labeled as “mini”, the small size really packs a punch and makes it one of the most useful notions in any sewing or crafting studio. It’s simple, our pressing stations need to keep pace with the almost explosive growth of sewing and craft techniques and applications we see today. Let’s…
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Fabric Tube Maker
Fabric Tube Maker with Instructor Steve Butler Class 155 What is it? Jelly Roll™ projects of all types are more popular than ever. Home décor, fashion, fashion accessories, quilting, or any other application you can imagine. The three dimensional effect of the folded fabric tubes are particularly enticing. Add to that the unlimited selection of fabric colors, patterns and textures plus a vast array of thread colors and textures and the creativity quotient is off the charts. Okay, they’re great. We get it. So how do we make these fabric tube masterpieces? I Googled it. Let me…
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Extra Credit: Tracing Wheels
Tracing Wheels By Shannon and Jason Medieval torture devices? Baking for making those cool cuts in the top of your bread? What exactly are those strange looking wheelie-pokey-thing-a-ma-bob-tools that come in sewing tool kits and why should I learn to use them? If your first exposure to tracing wheels brought up these questions, you aren’t alone. Tracing wheels are for, just that, tracing pattern pieces. The pointy, sharp tracing wheel is perfect for outlining an existing pattern piece to create a duplicate. In our case, we use it to duplicate…