Frantically rummaging through every closet in the house, I stumbled upon this sequined dress I bought in 1994. I’ve been hoping to shrink back into it, but desperate times call for desperate measures and out came the scissors and a roll of Steam-a-Seam. I cut nine inches off of the dress and placed Steam-a-Seam along the lower edge. After removing the Steam-a-Seam backing, I secured the hem in place with the iron, using a silk organza press cloth. Within 15 minutes I had an acceptable top to pair with a black silk skirt I bought in 2004.

“Not so quick, Mom.”

My daughters, home for the holiday, advised me to shorten the sleeves to give some distance between the sleeve edge and the top of the glove.  
 

Another 15 minutes on the sleeves and I was ready.

“Do you have a sash, Mom?”

Fortunately I had a black silk organza sash.

Now I was set.  30 minutes and zero $$ investment.

Luckily it all worked out, but I vow to be better prepared next time – even if I do decide to upcycle an 18-year-old too tight dress!

Steam-A-Seam 2 Iron-On Double Stick Fusible Web- 12 Inch x 25yds

Product Description

the warm company steam a seam 2. pressure sensitive on both sides for a temporary hold to both the applique and background materials pieces stay in place and are repositionable until fused with an iron. once fused the bond is permanent and machine washable and dryable. lite is made especially for sheer light weight fabrics and regular is for use with heavier fabric paper card board wood and glass beads. quickly create hems seams and applique. easily apply lace trim and ribbon. this package contains one 25yd bolt of 12in web. made in usa.

Steam-A-Seam 2 Iron-On Double Stick Fusible Web- 12 Inch x 25yds Feature

• Stick entire appliqué in place before fusing
• Try on wearables or pin projects to the wall before fusing to check appliqué placement
• Set project aside and come back to it later; pieces won’t shift out of place
• Once fused, Steam-A-Seam is washable and dry-cleanable
• Unfinished edges won’t lift or fray. Sew through the pressed appliqué without gumming

Steam-A-Seam 2 Iron-On Double Stick Fusible Web- 12 Inch x 25yds

Product Description

Steam-A-Seam Double Stick, has the pressure sensitive adhesive on both side which allows for a temporary hold to the applique material.

Trace, stick, cut, press. Sticks to a wide variety of surface from paper to glass. Easy to use! The “sticky back” sticks to the fabric or material before it’s ironed!

Steam-A-Seam 2 Iron-On Double Stick Fusible Web- 12 Inch x 25yds Feature

• Stick entire appliqué in place before fusing
• Try on wearables or pin projects to the wall before fusing to check appliqué placement
• Set project aside and come back to it later; pieces won’t shift out of place
• Once fused, Steam-A-Seam is washable and dry-cleanable
• Unfinished edges won’t lift or fray. Sew through the pressed appliqué without gumming

Introducing the newest member of our family, Charlie Brian Paul, born May 1st at 1:00 AM. 8lbs and 5 healthy ounces of pure sweetness!!!

O’ my goodness he is adorable!!!

Charlies dad, my nephew, is in a band called “The Noise”.  He’s the one playing guitar on the left.  Yes I am a proud aunt / great aunt!

The lead singer in The Noise is Ian Blackwood who just happens to be the brother of Sarah Blackwood from Walk Off The Earth.  I’ve included links so you can check them out.  So much talent!!!

So my creations this month started off with with some fun stuff for Charlie.

I grayscaled some music notes on my printer and podged them onto wooden blocks, then added the initials with vinyl that I cut on my cricut.  They’ll be a fun way for Charlie to learn to spell his name one day.

This tiny little jean jacket caught my eye.  I could picture The Noise’s newest and most awesome fan wearing it.

I painted the band logo on the jacket with tulip soft fabric paint and for Charlie and his sister I made an “I Love Charlie” tshirt, a matching headband and the onsie using steam a seam and fabric paint.

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I finished my 3rd sign in a series of 4 that I am adding to my Etsy shop.  Life is Cool by the Pool is available with or without the heavy duty plastic pegs for hanging towels.

This door knocker was an Esty order.  No Boys Allowed Except Daddy. Love It!!!

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Here’s my “summer” letters and my tipsy pots in my garden.

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and these are my new form of creativity … YIKES!!!  not really yikes.  I did alot of research on these pupsters before I invested in a pair for me and my daughter.

I do agree. So far, so good even though I’ve only used them a few times.  I was able to do a few laps on a track that I wouldn’t have made 1/2 way around with runners on and nothing hurt the next day.

Now I just need discipline and time!

Anyway

It also involves one of my least favourite things – progammed embroidery. It’s a great pity that I didn’t realise this until after I had practically sold the shirt off my back to acquire one of the machines that are needed to do these designs. Consequently,  I hardly ever use this feature – although the sewing machine – sorry computer – itself is pretty good if a little oversized…

But when the idea for this beach hut cushion came into my head, I thought seaside, seagulls, clipart, – you can see where I’m going with this…

So here they are – the cheeky chappies – and they actually required quite a lot of on-screen faffing before they were fit to be let loose to the machine.

Sea Shanty Cushion

Here they are in detail. The herring gull is not as clean an image as the black-headed gull but let’s just call it seaweed!

Herring Gull

Black-headed Gull

And of course once I got started on the programmed route, I thought it’s got to have a name just as cheesy as the image.

The Sea Shanty

Of course everything else is steam-a-seam and free-arm embroidery. But what’s wrong with combining the two?

I appliqued these little onesies to match the pink and purple tutus for the twins 1st birthday.

They ironed on so well I didn’t think it was necessary to sew around the edges but had I wanted too, I could’ve  without gumming up the needle.

 I’m pretty sure I’ll be working on more projects this year with steam a seam. It’s fun!!!

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 I crocheted this blanket last year and set it aside waiting for a baby boy to come along.  I figured if I had to, I could get away with adding a pink ribbon that would’ve made it suitable for a baby girl.

As you can see pink was not necessary.

I was able to stick with the blue plan. I finished it off with navy blue ribbon for my new great nephew Sam.

Isn’t he adorable!?!?

It’s a Northcott panel from their Rhapsody line of fabric, by Jane Spolar of Quilt Poetry.

Rhapsody panel by Northcott

The clerk pointed out the companion attractive fabrics in the line, but I will find something on hand for the borders.

Upon returning home, I started looking for orange & turquoise fabrics & could hardly wait until after dinner was out of the way to tackle the project!

Here it is, ready to quilt. I plan to couch the fuzzy yarn around the narrow Fairy Frost borders after it is quilted.

Signature quilts begin with an inspiration

and desire to share a  theme ,

be it

history,   memories

a  personal accomplishment  ,

a landmark celebration,

or a beloved collection .

Once you have a purpose , then you need to a group of participants.

How many are willing to make a square ?

Can anyone sew ?

Does anyone have time to sew or learn?

Will you  do the  majority of the assembly  ?

Or can you hire someone whose passion is quilting ?

Take the time to look though some books.

Many talented  quilt authors have assembled

ideas and examples in books and on the web ,

that might spark you.

Simple squares

 maybe with  scrap  sashing , with or without

prints or appliques ,can be the basis of a great  quilt.

Use   Bethany Reynold’s  friendship  block   to create a pieced block quilt.

Consider using   precuts charm squares  to save time.

Confident quilters can consider   a traditional friendship  block,

or a  simple  paper pieced block.

Most important is  ensuring  that there are enough squares for the quilt

and that they are all the same size.

Distributed  your squares, fabric  or blocks with very clear instructions.

Mark “no write“  seam allowance 

or provide frames to center and  trace .

For less stretch and tug when drawing , iron on

freezer paper .

Mention NOT to write on the paper side, but the fabric side.

“Do not underestimate how your carefully crafted instructions will get misinterpreted!”

For more fun, and control, assemble a party and create together  .

demonstrate

encourage practice  of signatures and quotes

with Y&C FabricMate fabric pens

 or our favourite

Fabrico pens .

Try Lumiere for printing   or  painting

or

Crayola Fabric Crayons

for drawing.

They are the easiest to use…we highly recommend them !

Signatures or further   embellishment can be done with  with Lecien floss,

and new  Sparkles thread.

Use a hoop and try a simple

stem stitch .

Colour and symbols can be added with

raw edge applique ,

basically a  fabric collage  using  Steam a Seam ,

or  needle and  thread.

Lace and photos  can be incorporated .

The more complex the embellishment and construction of individual squares,

the greater the challenges when piecing together.

Blocks  may need  some sorting

pressing and squaring  up.

Once your squares are consistent

make your  plan

 and   sew your top, block to block ,

and row by row, to assemble the top.

Sandwich together the layers,

then tie ,

or machine quilt .

Bind the edges,

Wrap

and enjoy !

Now, I’m a firm believer in hand stitching your binding to the back and take great pride in how my stitches are buried. My mom taught me well! The first quilt I made, I whip stitched and quickly learned that was not the “proper” way to hand stitch binding down.

No way am I going to spend hours hand stitching this quilt. In some instances, I can accept where it’s appropriate to machine stitch the bindings. A seasonal wall hanging, a table runner, place mats, even a kids quilt that will be repeatedly washed, or…….. a ruined quilt.

Vicki, over at Accio Fabric, gave the SewMod girls a tutorial on quick binding with Steam-a-Seam. I had never done this before and found it kinda fun. It took the pressure off hand binding all those extra items. I thought I’d share it with you.

It’s Steam-a-Seam 1/4 ” double stick fusible web, available at Joann’s.

Attach your binding the way you normally do. After the binding is sewn down, iron your binding flat. This helps you pull it around to the other side. BTW, this is the best iron ever! I didn’t think anything could ever replace my Maytag cordless iron but this Reliable iron is sooo awesome!

Turn the quilt to the wrong side. Cut a strip of the Steam-a-Seam the length of one side of your quilt and begin pressing it along the 1/4″ seam that you created while sewing your binding on. Make sure it’s sticky web side down and paper side up.

Working one side at a time, peel the paper side off the strip and press your binding around to the back of the quilt. Make sure the binding is overlapping your 1/4″ binding seam.

Now do the next side, working your way around the entire quilt. Tip: Don’t go all the way to edge of the binding when attaching this next strip like you did the 1st strip because your mitered binding wont cover the Steam a Seam and you will be left with a sticky residue at the corner. Go in just enough to “catch” the corner.

Using an open toed foot and matching thread, stitch into the “ditch” on the front side of your quilt. Go slowly grasshopper…it does require concentration to stay in that ditch.

You will always catch the backing with this method. Here’s a view of the Snowbound binding I attached using this method.

And your done in a fraction of the time it took to hand stitch!

Another tip to speedy binding…always cut your binding right after you finish your quilt top. That way there’s no procrastination when it’s time to sew it on. I keep all my binding hanging in my sewing room. I told my mom-in-law that if something should ever happen to me, she could just count the binding hanging on the clasp and she would know how many quilt tops I have in the closet or at the quilter:)

Flying the flag for the Toronto FC

We got a call two years ago this month from a young student who wanted to stick some letters on a T-shirt. He said he couldn’t bring the shirt, but he could bring a drawing. A large U of T engineering student arrived a short time later to explain his problem.

He was in the University’s TFC fan club. The T-shirt turned out to be 45 FEET LONG! It was a banner to raise at a strategic moment during the weekend TFC game and they needed to add the letters and flashings to replicate a club t-shirt. The red material was a satin suit lining – very slippery and easy to fray. It had cost most of their budget. So they had little funds left and a fast approaching deadline.

Carol showed him how to iron the letters on with small bits of  Steam a Seam II and off he went with four packages (a quick calculation showed it would be just enough to temporarily adhere all the letters until they had time to sew them in place.

A few days later he called to say her suggestion was a success and sent us three photos of the project in use at the game.

I bought a set of 4 t-shirts for Cara from Next with the idea that I would decorate them. So, a piece of Sandi Henderson’s Farmer’s Market Apple Dot Pink, some wonderfully easy to use Steam-A-Seam, five minutes on the sewing machine and voila.

When I showed Cara, her response was “I like green apples.” So, it’s a good job I love this pattern so much, I’ve also got it in the green!

Before:

After: