Resolve to make sewing fun
Dear Readers: These New Year’s resolutions are from my mother from 10 years ago, but they are still perfect for today:
It’s time to think about New Year’s resolutions — at least we can make them and hope for the best! First and foremost, always plan to make your sewing fun.
If you have any quick projects that are unfinished, complete them. Just do it, and you’ll have a clear conscience.
Begin now to plan your spring projects; we all have a little more free time at this time of year (don’t know why she thought that).
Look through your wardrobe to see what pieces you can add to give it a new look.
Check your sewing area and clean up and discard any clutter.
Maybe this is the time to think about upgrading your sewing equipment. A cabinet is the most amazing new accessory to encourage your sewing. Sergers make things easier; embroidery machines are like magic — so much fun.
Dear Vicki: I’d like to sew for my first grandchild, but I don’t know yet if a boy or a girl is coming. What can I do right now that will be useful later? Thanks. Meggie C. Dear Meggie: You could start embroidering onesies in different sizes. If you don’t have the “Doodle Stitching” book, then find designs elsewhere. Bibs are always popular and useful things to start on. This Indygo Junction pattern, called Tiny Tot Bibs, is very good with instructions for sewing bias. There are several different styles and suggestions for cotton lining and vinyl covering for easy cleaning. There is one that ties and one that fastens with Velcro. I like the pocket myself — from experience, it’s good to have. As always, try to find the pattern at your local shop, but if you can’t, then send me a check for $13.25 and I will send the pattern to you.
Each week I share a reader’s tip and thank him or her with a set of 100 fine English hand-sewing needles from John James. This week is another tip from Peggy Craig, of Norfolk, Va. She writes:
“I keep an old bottle of colored nail polish at my machine, and every time I purchase a new spool of thread, I find the little slice in the spool that hooks the thread to hold it, and I place a colored dot next to it so it’s easy to find. A permanent marker also works well.”