Got to get back into the creative mode. Have been spending a great deal of time lately doing yardwork and getting my garden together. Still some things I need to get done outside, but have to get re-motivated to work on product.
Since I quit SVP Worldwide Embroidery Software Support team, I have been trying to keep connected with the 5D Embroidery Yahoo group and answer questions. I would like to be an independent educator on their software products along with being certified with several other product lines. Haven't had a chance to look much at the group questions for the past couple of days but have found that a large quantity of questions are coming from Great Britain and Europe where software support is lacking, unlike here in the US and Canada.
My niece's baby shower is today and I am missing it partly because I haven't had time to get her present made! Will be working on a fleece baby bunting set which will also be available on my website at www.misskatescreations.com. Have some adorable ideas for toddler clothing. Haven't sewn toddler clothes for years because of my inability to compete with the cheap toddler clothes coming out of China and other areas of the far east these days. By cheap, I don't only mean inexpensive, but lacking quality also. One children's manufacturer (Garanimals) has sold their soul to Walmart. Their clothing used to be sold only in higher end boutiques. Now they only sell to Walmart and do not wholesale to any other businesses. I had inquired directly with Garanimals to purchase wholesale and was told they no longer wholesale to anyone else. I used to consider their clothing line of great quality up there with Fisher-Price who is known for their great line of toddler toys. Not any longer. I predict Walmart will decide to choose another line of toddler clothing besides their own Faded Glory clothing line and Garanimals will be out in the cold. I have seen Walmart do this to countless brands and then this destroys the brand because they put all of their eggs in one basket. Wake up American brands!
Anything and everything related to small business retail, handcrafting, textiles, etc.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Using Unbleached Muslin to Trace Patterns
After 40+ years of sewing, I finally did something every sewer should do if they are going to be using a pattern which is multi-sized. Trace the pattern onto unbleached muslin. It's an inexpensive fabric and extremely strong.
This wasn't the easiest task in the world but I knew I would be sewing all 4 sizes included in the pattern package I was currently working on. I quickly discovered that the iron-on transfer pencils do not work. What I used instead was permanent markers. A Sharpie fine point marker works great to do the majority of the tracing. Lettering or small detail work was accomplished with a Sharpie Ultra Fine point. I used black but I suppose you can use other colors.
I didn't trim the pattern pieces down but instead left some of the unprinted tissue paper on each piece. Pin the tissue paper to the muslin so it doesn't move on you. Trace over one size at a time. Using a permanent marker soaks through the tissue paper just enough to create an outline of the details on the muslin. A new marker will give better results than one that has been around for awhile. Make sure you include all markings for the size. I started out doing the Large size first and then worked down. After you have traced through the tissue, unpin it from the muslin. The image will be faint on the muslin. Retrace over the image with the marker. I used a ruler for all the straight lines. Once you are satisfied with the markings on the muslin, then trim off the extra muslin from each piece. You will need to make sure you label each piece with the specific size. You will now have a permanent pattern piece for each size without worrying about wearing out the original pattern pieces. I also traced the one-size pieces so they wouldn't wear out with continual use.
Put each size together. I used a large manila envelope to store the entire pattern since all of the extra pieces are not going to fit in the original envelope any longer. I also had some clear adhesive envelopes to stick on the front of the manila envelope. This worked great for storing the original pattern envelope. You might want to write on the large envelope the pattern number in case you take the original pattern envelope out of the clear pocket and forget to put it back in. At this point the only reason you should ever need to take the original envelope out is to see the yardage needed to make the item. You can also make a copy of the back of the envelope and place it in a clear envelope and stick it on the back of the manila envelope.
If you have other suggestions for sewing enthusiasts, please let me know and I will include in a future blog post.
This wasn't the easiest task in the world but I knew I would be sewing all 4 sizes included in the pattern package I was currently working on. I quickly discovered that the iron-on transfer pencils do not work. What I used instead was permanent markers. A Sharpie fine point marker works great to do the majority of the tracing. Lettering or small detail work was accomplished with a Sharpie Ultra Fine point. I used black but I suppose you can use other colors.
I didn't trim the pattern pieces down but instead left some of the unprinted tissue paper on each piece. Pin the tissue paper to the muslin so it doesn't move on you. Trace over one size at a time. Using a permanent marker soaks through the tissue paper just enough to create an outline of the details on the muslin. A new marker will give better results than one that has been around for awhile. Make sure you include all markings for the size. I started out doing the Large size first and then worked down. After you have traced through the tissue, unpin it from the muslin. The image will be faint on the muslin. Retrace over the image with the marker. I used a ruler for all the straight lines. Once you are satisfied with the markings on the muslin, then trim off the extra muslin from each piece. You will need to make sure you label each piece with the specific size. You will now have a permanent pattern piece for each size without worrying about wearing out the original pattern pieces. I also traced the one-size pieces so they wouldn't wear out with continual use.
Put each size together. I used a large manila envelope to store the entire pattern since all of the extra pieces are not going to fit in the original envelope any longer. I also had some clear adhesive envelopes to stick on the front of the manila envelope. This worked great for storing the original pattern envelope. You might want to write on the large envelope the pattern number in case you take the original pattern envelope out of the clear pocket and forget to put it back in. At this point the only reason you should ever need to take the original envelope out is to see the yardage needed to make the item. You can also make a copy of the back of the envelope and place it in a clear envelope and stick it on the back of the manila envelope.
If you have other suggestions for sewing enthusiasts, please let me know and I will include in a future blog post.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Reevaluation of life's pleasures
I guess I haven't done much writing in the past few months. Quite a bit has gone on and much more to come. I finally made the decision last Wednesday to put in my resignation at SVP Worldwide as an Embroidery Software Support Specialist. Yes, if you've called SOS or the general number, you've spoken with me. It has frustrated me by time constraints to assist a call-in customer and constantly be looking at the time ticking away while trying to assist someone in resolving an issue with their Viking or Pfaff machine. This has made it look like I don't know what I'm doing, however, call-time time shouldn't have any correlation to performing a remote Webex session with a customer as long as it straightens out the problem. Well, after April 27th, I won't have to worry about it anymore. I would like to become an independent educational consultant with the company, but I do know that it will be a long time before I do a job like this again unless I have control over the situation and create a company which can provide all aspects of assistance like altering the computer's registry or recommending a different anti-virus software which is friendlier with the computer and software installed on it.
I'm pretty much going to relax, tend to my garden and finish scanning all of the fabric I have in my workroom so I can post it in the site and join other fabric retailers in a specific organization devoted to fabric retailers and quilt shops.
Decided life is too short to be doing something that is making you miserable. I think this world would be much better off if more people came to this decision. I figure I will be busier than ever now but doing what I enjoy doing. Your input would be appreciated.
I'm pretty much going to relax, tend to my garden and finish scanning all of the fabric I have in my workroom so I can post it in the site and join other fabric retailers in a specific organization devoted to fabric retailers and quilt shops.
Decided life is too short to be doing something that is making you miserable. I think this world would be much better off if more people came to this decision. I figure I will be busier than ever now but doing what I enjoy doing. Your input would be appreciated.
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