E-newsletter

December 2010 Consumer E-newsletter

Winter Fun in your Sewing Room

Picture yourself cocooned in your sewing room making a new party dress or the perfect gift for someone. The weather is cold and grey outside, but you don’t care because you are in meditative lock with your machine and project. There is clinical study from 2000, commissioned by the Home Sewing Association, that stated that the “results appear to indicate that sewing helps people relax while they focus on a creative activity.”

It allows us to “get away from our worries and concerns for a while”. Wow, who knew that we were actually de-stressing instead of having fun?

Personally, I look forward to the winter months to start those projects that I planned in summer and fall. Some sewers sew all year round; others like me sew for fun in the winter and task related (need a new dress for an upcoming wedding or drapes for the cottage) in the spring and summer. There is something warm and cozy about sewing in the winter on grey days; even doing finishing during the evening is relaxing in the winter.

Take this time to check out your local sewing dealer class schedules. Maybe look into learning more about serging or cover stitch. Once you learn how to optimize these handy machines, you will wonder how you survived without them! Also a good time to get together with a group of friends or a scheduled time at your local dealer, to work on a UFO (Un Finished Sewing/Embroidery Object). This gives you encouragement to get the project done, and there is a pool of sewing experience on which to draw for tips and tricks.

Have fun and enjoy getting away from the everyday stresses this month, as you sew something unique and fabulous!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TIP OF THE MONTH

Are you using the right needle for your fabric? For the best output it is important that you use a new and correct type of needle for your fabric. A solution to skipped stitches or breakage is often quickly solved with the use of the correct needle for the job.

Several factors need to be considered when selecting your needle: type of fabric that you will be using to select the point and then choose the size of needle for the weight of fabric and type of thread.

General purpose sewing needles are a good general needle, but for best result, be specific in the type of needle you choose; Ball Point for knits and Sharps for silks or microfibers. Of course there is a range of specialty needles to choose from.

To name a few: Denim needles for denim, canvas and multi-layers, Machine Embroidery needles that are designed specifically to prevent thread shredding and breaking when going through dense designs or Quilting needles that are tapered with a sharp point for stitching through many layers of fabric.

When choosing a needle size refer to your fabric weight. The finer your fabric, the lower the needle size. Example: chiffon use a #9 and denim use a #14 or 16.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MACHINE OF THE MONTH

Innov-is NV1500D The Affordable Deluxe Sewing and Embroidery Machine

Designed for those who love to quilt & embroider, this full-sized combination machine is a fabulous sewing machine and embroidery machine in one. Dream up any creation and execute it on this extremely affordable machine. Large 10"x 6" embroidery area gives you plenty of room for your creativity.

Monochrome 4.6" x 3.5" LCD touch screen control panel allows you to easily manage all your sewing and embroidery functions on screen. Bobbin winding system allows independent bobbin winding while sewing or embroidering. Use the bright LED work lights to reduce eyestrain when sewing or embroidering. Unlimited embroidery potential with the built-in USB interface to your computer.

Check out these built in stitches and embroidery patterns:
• 283 built-in stitches
• 91 built-in Disney embroidery patterns
• 72 Built-in embroidery patterns
• 10 Built-in lettering fonts

Learn more

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACCESSORY OF THE MONTH

Embroidery Thread

Brother Embroidery threads are 50 Wt. high-multifilament polyester. Embroidery thread is heavier than regular sewing thread and has an increased sheen. Polyester is ideal for embroidery because it is designed to stand up to heavy duty washing so that your embroidery will look as good as the day it was created.

Polyester embroidery thread works well with high-speed sewing. Brother embroidery machines embroider up to 1000 Stitches per minute so it is important to use good, strong thread for optimum design output.

Brother offers over 40 colours of thread available in single 300 meter spools or in an assorted package of 40 or 12 spools.

Embroidery thread on the top and thinner embroidery bobbin thread on the bottom is important. Brother bobbin threads have been designed specifically for your machine. Use of the proper Brother Bobbin and embroidery thread will ensure the best possible results for your machine embroidery.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

Quick and Easy Toy Bear
Brother bear project by Lynn Swanson, Brother Educator.

Learn more