Tag Archives: crafting

A Stitch of Hope


Posted by tlcinspirations

With Valentines Day around the corner, what better way to share love than to use your creativity to help some special children feel  l❤ved and supported?

 

Put Your Passion to Work!

If you are interested in putting your sewing, knitting, or crocheting talents to work for the good of others, I invite you to join the current “Littlest Warriors” (Project 16) at Craft Hope. We have participated in past projects and found it to be a great way to give back something creatively.  If you haven’t heard of them, please learn more about Craft Hope on their website. Jade Sims is the founder of Craft Hope, and continues to bring crafters and causes together to create items that are needed during crisis. Haiti, Birds rescued from the Oil spill, dresses for little girls in a Mexico shelter, and sock monkeys for the littlest burn victims, are just some of the successful projects at Craft Hope.

 

Cancer Breeds Warriors

The Littlest Warriors is their most current project, and they are asking for handmade beanies and bags for children that are facing a challenging journey with cancer. The children can carry their bags, filled with all their favorite things for their hospital visits, or treatments. You have the option to fill the bag with items that would delight any child (please use good sense, and keep safety in mind). Cute, unique, funky beanies are also desired (all sizes from babies to teens). And, don’t forget they need items for both boys and girls. It’s a great opportunity to create “stitches that count.” It doesn’t matter if you make one item, or 20, they are all needed, and wanted.

 

I hope that you will consider creating a special beanie or bag for a child that is so brave, and so appreciative.  The deadline is March 12, so there is still plenty of time. You can find all the information you need at Craft Hope.

 

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” ~ Dalai Lama


TLC Inspirations “Tutes” on You Tube


Posted by tlcinspirations

Watch & Learn!

We are on You Tube, in case you haven’t heard yet! We started doing craft tutorials a couple of months ago. We started with  beginners crocheting, and sewing tutorials. Rachel did a great tutorial on Vintage Bottlecap Magnets, and Crochet Basics.  My videos cover some sewing basics, such as Threading the Machine, Sewing a Seam, and the newest, Blind Hemming. Creating videos has been a challenging, but rewarding experience for us. We love being a part of your creative journey, and providing support. And, we are learning a lot too, especially about making videos, which I had never done before! There is a certain amount of discomfort that comes with putting yourself “out there” and speaking into a microphone. I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone, but I am enjoying every minute of it. I know I have more to learn, but that’s part of the process, and it can only get better from here. I would have never seen myself producing video tutorials, but sometimes your path can lead to an unexpected place.

 

Our goal is continue to create, share, and inspire through our blog, You Tube Channel, and our handmade treasures. We wish to thank all of those that follow us, and if you are not a follower, we hope you will consider following us.


Sewing ~ Fear Not


Posted by tlcinspirations

Are you paranoid? Overwhelmed?  Don’t know where to start?  Threading a sewing machine, or winding a bobbin can be a little intimidating, and sometimes downright scary, especially if you have never done it before.  I created this tutorial to help beginners get over their fear.  I will be using a Brother SE 400 Sewing and Embroidery machine.  Although all sewing machines are a bit different, they all share the same technology.  My intent is to get you to a place of comfort and realize it’s not as complicated and scary as it looks.  You will need to refer to your sewing machine manual for your machine’s specific features and instruction.  You must know how to thread your machine before you can begin to sew.  I did a video tutorial on threading my machine that may help get you started, but your manual is the best instruction for your machine.

The following tutorial will guide you through sewing a basic straight seam.  For practice, cut a couple of 6″ squares of fabric, that you can sew together.

Step One:  Place your fabric with right sides together, and line up the edges, where you will sew your seam.

Step Two:  Raise you presser foot, place fabric under presser foot, lining it up with one of the seam measurements located on your needle plate. (It should say 5/8″ for normal seam) You want the edge of you fabric to be on that line.

Step Three:  Lower you presser foot, then sew slowly 3 or 4 stitches, then place the machine in reverse sewing for a couple of stitches (this is to lock your stitches, so they don’t unravel)  Your reverse button should be located either on your front panel of the machine, or on your handwheel.

Step Four:  Now continue sewing forward (at a comfortable speed, to maintain control and keep you stitches straight) until you have reached the end of your seam.

Step Five:  Again, at the end of your seam, reverse a few stitches, and then finish to end of fabric.  Lift presser foot, remove fabric, cut threads!  Congratulations!  You have just sewn a seam!  That was easy, right??

But Wait!

Next, you need  to press your seam.  This is one step that a lot people seem to skip or ignore, but it is extremely important if you want your project to look crisp, and professional.

Lay you sewn piece on the ironing board with seam up.  Separate the seam, and press it open (a little steam is helpful)  Now turn you fabric piece over, and press again.  You should press all seams, and your project throughout the process to give it that nice finished look.

See? It isn’t so hard, but if you prefer a video tutorial, I invite you to watch Simply Sew ~ A Straight Seam

Happy Sewing!
Bonnie