Sunday, December 25, 2011
A Review of the Husqvarna Embroidery Machine
I will be reviewing here the Husqvarna Designer SE Limited Edition embroidery machine. This is a combination embroidery and sewing machine and is the latest in a large range of machines from the Swedish company Husqvarna.
The touch screen is possibly the largest screen around. You get an amazing 3D picture of your chosen design so that you can see exactly what you are going to get before you sew even a single stitch.
Everything you choose can be viewed first, this is such a boon, you won't make mistakes that are time consuming to rectify, you will be able to get it right the first time.
The presser feet are sensitized so that they can recognize different thicknesses of fabric and adjust themselves accordingly and the machine adjusts pressure too. You then have both hands free to guide your fabric. If you are sewing something large like a quilt this is really important to be able to support and guide with both hands.
You don't have to have little trials when you are using different material. Simply instruct the machine as to what type of material, what thickness and the type of sewing technique you want to use and the machine will do the rest. Setting everything just right for this particular project. So again, no mistakes.
You can save designs or transport them using the 32mb USB embroidery stick. You also have the choice of storing them straight onto a CD or floppy drive [if you have bought these options].
This limited edition is the happy result of collaboration between the engineers at the Swedish company Husqvarna Viking and dedicated skilled sewers worldwide.
The lighting system to illuminate your working area provides the optimum light required.
The Designer SE has an increased embroidery speed which is very good news indeed for anyone who does this kind of work as a business also you can find out how long each color will take to embroider.
I have seen reviews by several disgruntled owners of the Husqvarna embroidery machine, the Designer SE Limited Edition and I am sorry to say they regretted changing or upgrading from the model they had. On the other end of the scale everyone else is over the moon with the quality of performance.
This gives one pause for thought about why there is this discrepancy between different owners views. Have they all just got lemons, and if so why were their problems not sorted by the company?
In some instances the dealers who supplied the 'bad' machines were less than helpful and I can't help but think that Husqvarna should be more careful about the people who sell their machines. Their unhelpful responses must reflect badly on the manufacturer.
Find Out More
Click Here For More Free Information and Reviews
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Organize your Craft Supplies
When you start a craft project, you end up spending more time looking for your tools and supplies than you actually working on your craft? If you do this, you're not alone! If you do any type of crafting or creative work, the supplies that you use quickly spread and take over your home. The more crafts and hobbies you do, the more you need for organization.
Organize your supplies and tools you can quickly find the items that you must complete a craft. Organization will also save you money you don't have to walk at the last moment and buy a new pair of scissors or yarn strict replacing the ones you don't find it!
There are two different ways to organize your craft supplies, and opportunities are better for you than the other. If you are only one or two kinds of crafts, such as scrapbooking and knitting work, it is easier to get yourself a complete kit for each vessel. That way you can pull out your Pocket scrapbooking and getting started, without grabbing tools from a bunch of different locations.
If you have a large variety of crafts--one day, the following must do beading sewing and soap making a week later, then you can organize your deliveries per type. That way you don't have to dig through your sewing stuff to find your scissors whenever you want them for a project.
Organize by Craft:
If you decide to organize your supplies by the type of craft that they are for, make a kit for each vessel that you do. In the ideal case the kit include everything that you will use the craft, along with your tools and raw materials.
Begin collecting all of the supplies that you have in one area. This will allow you to get an idea of exactly how many items you have and how big of a container you must save them. Once you have everything in one place, or buy a container, select apply all items. Check out the storage of your local craft shop, and the scrapbook section also--punching machines have mastered the art of preserving, and you can check out their pieces for a craft that you desire. You should also check out the selection of address boxes on your local sports store, they are designed with small items in mind.
Choose a cheap pencil box for tools such as scissors, tweezers, needles and related items, so you can find what you need quickly. Use small containers such as plastic film barrels and storage containers in which little items so they don't get lost.
Place your objects in the storage container, with the largest things such as books, materials, and other large pieces on the bottom. Top with the smallest items, and close the lid. When you are ready to work on a project, just pull your box and get to work, without wasting time looking for loose objects and delivers.
Organize by Type of delivery:
Creative people often Excel in more than one area. It is not unusual for someone who enjoys on craft such as quilting, beading, embroidery to spread in or even knitting. As they learn more techniques, yet they more deliveries. If this sounds like you, you will probably work best if you sort your items by type.
Having all your fabrics on one location you can find out things for a project very quickly. If you sort by color, you can get a good sense of what you have and what you need before you head to the store. You can also save all your scissors and cutting tools together, and grab a few handy or you sewing or working at a paper craft.
To start your items by type-converts all the beads in one location, all substances in a different sort. Markers and pens that can be stored, such as adhesives. Choose a container for each type of item and the container a label. That way when you work on a project you can gather what you need, and get a good sense of what supplies you have at hand.
In this way can help to organize the creative process-sometimes just seeing that all your materials can help you see things together in a new light, and trigger new ideas.
Regardless of which technique you choose, organize your stash of craft supplies can help you quickly find things, and spend more time crafting and less time looking for lost objects.
Whether you're looking for craft supplies or items, factory direct Craft ready has it all. If you feel the creative urge, craft supplies you can just about any that you may have. Whatever you need we are certainly have!
Breast Cancer Awareness – Free Patterns from the Blog-o-Sphere
Many of you have been requesting more Stitch Pink patterns to stitch for Breast Cancer Awareness.
In addition to the wonderful patterns given here on the DMC blog site, including the ribbon, pink flower, pink bird and the crown, there are other patterns you may wish to stitch.
Check out the pretty pink ribbon with a yellow rose designed by M. Schier and featured on the crosstitch.com site, or the Angel Ribbon from Little MoJo.
Quilters can stitch these free Think Pink and Ribbon Angels quilt blocks, designed and offered by Sindy Rodenmayer over at the FatCat Patterns site.
Applique the designs to the blocks by machine using machine embroidery or quilting threads.
Crocheters can work up these gorgeous pink crochet and beaded earrings designed by Cynthia!
These would look terrific worked in DMC Color Variations Size 5 Pearl Cotton in colors 4180 or 4190!
A complete tutorial for working the stitches over the wire is included on her site.
Happy Stitching!
~Emma
Friday, December 23, 2011
Oct 7, Working Blackwork Embroidery Stitches
The double running stitch, also known as the Holbein stitch, is the cornerstone of blackwork embroidery stitches. Blackwork is often worked as a filled area with an outline. Usually, you use a thread of equal weight to the threads in the fabric as a fill and outline in a thicker thread.
To make the double running stitch, sew across the row in one direction and then sew back in the other direction, filling the gaps. It's easy and reversible. Double running stitch is the most common outline stitch. Filling stitches are usually made up of the cross stitch, backstitch, and running stitch. They're combined in various geometric patterns to create the fill.
Blackwork stitches offer good fills to cover large areas in mixed works, too, especially texture on buildings, houses, and roofs.
To stitch blackwork, you should use an evenweave fabric, or use waste canvas to stitch designs to clothing. It's best to stitch blackwork embroidery in a hoop or frame for even tension as you work.
Work from the center out. It's easier to do partial stitches as you reach the edges than it is to start there.
Remember, it can be in color, too! Try redwork or bluework for a change. It looks really neat worked in some of the new DMC Color Variations multicolored embroidery threads.
A lot of people have asked me about the order for working the stitches in the complex fill patterns. That is only important if you're trying to do reversible blackwork. Otherwise, do whatever order you want to, just try to keep the back from turning into a tangled bird nest!
Check out this advice when you're ready to end a thread in the double running stitch.
Aug 5, When to Use Different Stitches
by Amy
(Pennsylvania)
I am very new to hand embroidery! My mother did it a lot while I was a child, but I never had an interest in learning how to do it. Now that I am older, I love it and want to learn it so I can pass it on to my daughter.
I ordered and received some patterns and tools from Jenny Hart at Sublime Stitching. She described in wonderful detail how to do all the different types of stitches, but the patterns don't explain or recommend what stitches to use.
So, my question is, how do I know when to use what stitch while embroidering? Is it all a personal preference, or do certain stitches work better with certain patterns?
Thank you in advance for any and all help and advice!
Amy's Answer
Hi, Amy, love your name! ;-)
Usually patterns have a chart with a key that will tell you which stitch to use where. Are you talking about cross stitch or crewel embroidery?
Crewel is sometimes up to the stitcher. Some stitches are naturally better for lines and some are better for filling areas. Usually you go back and outline filled areas with the backstitch or running stitch, but be sure to do that last.
Recommended Reading
Basic Crewel Embroidery Stitches
Cross Stitch Beginner Guide
Silk Ribbon Embroidery Stitches
Needlepoint Novice
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Arts & Crafts Supplies For Your Next Project
If you have some spare time in your hands and you think you have a flair for the arts then why not start a hobby in arts & crafts? There are different ways to develop your skills in creating things that have practical and decorative uses. Arts & crafts have different types which include those involving textiles, wood, metal, clay, paper, canvas, and plants among many others. You just need to choose which one interests you the most and purchase arts & crafts supplies in the nearest shopping mall, arts & crafts supply store or online.
Arts & crafts supplies can be bought from stores or can be recycled from stuff you can find right at your home. It only takes patience and a lot of creativity to create handicrafts which you can use as accessories and decorations. Arts & crafts can serve as a hobby or a way to earn some extra money. This is why most schools have programs and subjects which include creating things manually to give children a chance to discover and develop skills which can be useful in the future. Parents in turn can help their kids to enhance their interests in the arts and crafts because this can also be a way to spend quality family time together.
Arts & crafts supplies can be bought in kits according to their different types such as:
* Textile arts & crafts - calligraphy, cross-stitch, crocheting, embroidery, knitting, macramé, needlepoint, quilting, sewing, scrapbooking, weaving and t-shirt art.
* Wood, metal or clay arts & crafts - woodworking, jewelry making, pottery, sculpture and metalworking.
* Paper or canvas arts & crafts - card-making, collage, origami, paper craft, papier-mâché, and rubber stamping.
* Plants arts & crafts - basket weaving, floral design, pressed flower craft and flower arrangement.
* Other arts & crafts - balloon animals, beadwork, doll and dollhouse making, mosaics and toy making.
Supplies may include the following:
* Brushes
* Canvasses
* Paints & inks
* Pencils, pens & markers
* Yarns & wools
* Glue & adhesives
* Fabric
* Foam
* Ribbons
* Candle & soap
* Leather
* Glass
* Beads
* Paper
* Dried flowers & leaves
* Clay
* Crayons & oil pastels
The easiest arts & crafts projects you can do with your kids are those involving paper and some crayons. You can do coloring and drawing activities, card-making for all occasions and the Asian art of folding paper called the origami. These are fun ways to spend time with the children and which can be done by everyone all at the same time. Arts & crafts supplies for these activities can be easily purchased from the bookstore or stationery shop. Your kids may even have these materials right in their school bags. However for more ambitious projects, it would be best to purchase arts & crafts supply kits which come complete with illustrations and instructions.
Zipcodez.com is a widely-used local business listings service and search engine. It features a complementary collection of useful topics and resources from "Arts & Entertainment" to "Wireless & Telecommunications." If you are interested in the topic of "Arts & Crafts" you might also want to read "A Variety of Craft Art Products - Craft Shops" and "Liven Up Your Fabrics with Simple to Intricate Designs - Embroidery" available at [http://www.zipcodez.com/article/featured-articles.htm].