Making a silk purse out of a placemat?

pat71896 — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:00:00 GMT

Just when I think I am not going to be able to come up with another blog, something crosses my computer screen and I get excited all over again.

I saw an embroidered purse and I just could not resist giving it a try. In addition, I wanted it to be really colorful and WOW, I found Robison-Anton on SALE! I love a sale and at 30% off, it is one of the best deals around. It brings the cost per spool to $3.50!

My blog on colors of thread talks about how to decide on what to select when you buy thread. After all, there must be a zillion (or close) colors of thread that are usable for embroidery. When on sale, I always take advantage of sets of threads for a good reason. They are normally put together by artists or someone with working knowledge of how to put together colors. After all, I don't know about hues, saturations, contrast and lightness. I need someone who understands how to use color and put them together.

I selected the Color Medley Collection-Spring Flowers which is one beautiful array of colors. Additionally, Robison-Anton has taken the time to include the Pantone(R) Numbers with these thread collections.

What does that mean to you? A LOT! It means that if you wanted to do a project for a friend anywhere in the world, they could say "I want a red." Well, how many red colors can you think of? You can ask the friend to check on Pantone colors (they are universal and meant to be that way), and say that I want #193 which is a lovely scarlet.

Getting back to the purse, it is created just like an applique with the addition of a stitch on for a sew on place for the lining. I am using a faux leather placemat that was already lined. I removed the lining and placed it back on when it was time. This pattern called for tearaway stabilizer (my favorite is AnnTheGran) but I ended up using cut away because of the multiple times of stitching around the edge eventually broke down the tearaway stabilizer.

Using the colors from the package, I matched them to the colors of the original pattern.

I created a back, front and front flap. Each piece had its own lining and assembly was easy. I just sewed the flap to the back and then the front to the back.

It took less than an hour.

I think it was a great hour and love the outcome!

The only change I would make would be to trim closer to the original stitching before doing the satis stitch. I was a little too far away from the stitches for fear of triming the stitches. I also think I might have wanted to place some kind of trim around the edge if I wanted something more interesting.

Portable Loyalty

pat71896 — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:35:00 GMT

When I first heard the term "Portable Loyalty" I thought that it did not refer to me. I am a loyal client. I buy where I am treated well. That goes for all of my purchases. A good example is the AlphabetXpress available here at AnnTheGran.com. I always check out new font/words programs because I do so much of it, but I never have found a better software at any price. I know that it is a quality product and I really don't mind paying a little more if I feel like I am being considered to be someone of interest to the seller. If a hankie is ruined because of the software, it is no bargain. AlphabetXpress is really quite inexpensive for the power of the program.

Conversely, with the people I patronize, I have found that loyalty can be a bit transient when it comes to the cash register. I had some specific needs during my family emergency (which has not yet ended) and was a little surprised by the responses I got when I needed help locally in southern California. Because of that treatment, I may be seeking out new, local embroidery shops for my needs.

While in Phoenix, I needed some embroidery supplies, and anyone in that metropolitan area knows the 'go to' store is 35th Avenue Sew and Vac. There I got the attention I needed and help with a small burr on my bobbin case - at no charge and immediately. I came away feeling like a princess. I was there no more than 20 minutes and I know that sometimes they cannot do the same thing under different circumstances, but this time, they were my heros!

I still had a problem with my thread. I had been using different brands trying to figure out why my thread was shredding. The shredding was different that when thread breaks cleanly. I did not keep any of that thread, but you may have found some of it yourself. Some how the 2, 3 or 4 threads that are braided together to make embroidery thread start to 'tear' one piece at a time until there is barely a spider web thin piece of thread left.

Here are some of the things I had tried to get the shredding to stop: (I actually kept track of everything I tried)

loosened/tightened the tension (always remember to rethread the machine after the change)
changed the thread brand
Changed the needle
changed the needle from Universal to Metallic type
changed bobbin (tried prewound and machine wound)
clean the race
reduced the speed of the stitches
used more stabilizer
used silicon on the thread (see my blog )
reduced the 'fill' amount for the stitches

OMG! That was a lot of trying to resolve the issue but I did not have success anyway.

Well, there is a store on Northern Avenue but also a store on Grand Avenue. I am very close to the one on Grand and visited there late on a Saturday afternoon. The store is small, probably less than 30' wide and 40' long; but, it was well stocked and very organized. There were many items that larger stores don't carry and that was impressive to me. I even found this little treasure (that is a quarter in the photo) -

(623-583-0070) $2.99 + $1.00 s/h.

I started speaking to the manager, Fran and two clients and we had a lively discussion on embroidery issues. I love talking embroidery. While I am not an expert, I like to share what I have experienced and they did as well.

Fran made a simple suggestion, change the size of my needle. Use a larger needle. And with that, my issue that I have had for at least a year (off and on) was solved. What does all that have to do with loyalty? Well, I can be loyal but still visit stores, big and small, in my area and still have loyalty to where I am treated the best. My business matters, whether I am spending a few dollars or thousands of dollars. Along with that, I can enjoy meeting new people who have different thoughts to make my embroidery the beautiful work for which I can be very proud. That is my bottom line!

I know that I have discussed AlphabetXpress many times. I have encouraged you to give it a try for yourself. I have discussed how very well it is designed with excellent underlay (not found on all other digitizer's fonts). In addition to all of that, they are always coming up with new and innovative fonts for my selection. I never liked those 'cutesy' fonts with strange things around them - - with the exception of Halloween fonts which have a reason to be silly and funny.

This weel AlphabetXpress and the fonts are ALL ON SALE at 40% off. The prices are very good normally, but when you add 40% off, it is a bargain that you will appreciate for a long time to come.

Another reason I like AX is that I often have a need for very small fonts for my bridal hankies. I have several that are really beautiful, but you may notice that there is a recommendation for the smallest and tallest size for each font. I am going to get the Adrian because it can go as low at .35" (9mm) to the height of 1.58 (40mm). That is an excellent range and the font is very simple and practical.

If a bride likes a script style font, Carnation is excellent because it can go from .31" (8mm) to 2.36 (60mm). With the Carnation, I not only can do writing, but I can also create a very nice Monogram from it and frame it with one of the frames on my machine. Talk about versatile!

Lastly, I always need to have a fancy/heirloom style of font available and the Yorkshire fits that bill well. In this case, you will note that the smallest recommended size is 1"(25mm). There is a good reason for that - if you are using something so ornate, using it in writing must be done large or the details just look like someone dropped spaghetti on your hankie. It would be used for monogramming and be very antique in nature for your project.

And for those users who now have Windows 7, the program does work for that system as well. I am using it myself. If you have been using a 32bit system but upgraded to a 64bit system, the original file you downloaded has both versions in them. You are ready to go!

There is so much to love about AlphabetXpress, I hope you give it a try. It is an excellent program that you will use often. In fact, you will probably start writing all sorts of things on your project such as names (as creator, you should sign your work!), dates (it will become an heirloom!) or other fun/interesting thoughts (that is what grandma did on her 'sampler').

Start a tradition for children of all ages. Give a gift of embroidery, it is OOAK*

*One of a kind

The Avid Embroiderer : OOAK

Making a silk purse out of a placemat?

Portable Loyalty