Learn the techniques of lace shaping with the new DVD from Martha Pullen.
This "how to" DVD titled Lace Shaping, is in stock now and ready to ship!
Fabric News
We are currently sold out of the Lilac color Bearissima Swiss Batiste. Bear Threads Ltd. told us that it will be several weeks until more of it arrives from Switzerland. We'll let you know as soon as it comes in.
Photo above: Lilac color Bearissima Swiss Batiste with French Lace, Catherine pattern by Kay Guiles
Our mid-winter heirloom fabric sale continues..... All of these sale fabrics are first cuts, that means they are not remnants. They will be cut fresh and wrapped in Heirloom Naturals Acid Free Tissue for you.
Bearissima Swiss Batiste - Ivory 30% Off
Bearissima, from Bear Threads Ltd, is the creme de la creme of Swiss batistes. It's perfect for so many heirloom projects, everything from baby garments to ladies blouses.
It is a dream to work with and is absolutely beautiful. It is approximately 55 inches wide, giving you about 23% more fabric per lineal yard than the 45 inch fabrics. See our fact sheet on Choosing a Swiss Batiste For Your Project.
This is a very nice soft, subtle shade of Ivory. (It is not a creme or yellowish color at all.)
Now's your chance to stock up on the Ivory Bearissima at 30% off the regular retail price.
Mettler Thread 60 wt - Ivory 30% Off
You'll need thread to go with that Bearissima. Use the 60 wt Mettler thread for heirloom sewing by machine on batiste and other lightweight fabrics.
French Insertion Lace - White 20% Off
Our most popular French insertion lace looks beautiful with the Ivory Bearissima Swiss Batiste. At 20% off, you only pay $2.72 a yard.
Bearlin - Pink 30% Off
Bearlin, also from Bear Threads, Ltd, is a beautiful blend of Irish Linen and Swiss Cotton. It looks very much like 100% linen but it is softer and does not wrinkle as much!
The sample dress in the photo (the dress is under construction) is made with the pink Bearlin. The dress is hanging on a dark blue dress form, allowing you to see the sheerness of the fabric. A white slip will be worn under the completed dress.
This is a very high quality heirloom fabric. It too, is wide, giving you more fabric per lineal yard than the narrower, 45 inch wide fabrics. We want you to try this beautiful Bearlin and so we are offering it to you at 30% off the regular retail price. It is perfect for spring dresses.
Reminder - Previous Sales are Ending Soon
The 30% off on the Swiss Wool Challis and the Swiss Flannel ends this weekend.
The 25% off on the Olfa Rotary Essentials Kit also ends this weekend. The kit includes an Olfa 12"x18" rotary mat, 18mm rotary cutter, 45mm rotary cutter and an Olfa Rotary Brochure.
I have 2 of these, one by the sewing machine and the other by the serger. I especially love the 18mm rotary cutter, it cuts around the small corners and curves of tiny baby patterns easily.
This tip may be particularly helpful to beginners, especially if you are nervous about machine sewing, lace to lace.
I've often recommended using a little piece of tissue as a stabilizer at the beginning of the seam to prevent the lace from being pulled down into the sewing machine feeddogs. That's works fine until you sew past the tissue.
After you get past the tissue, it can get tricky keeping the lace headings butted together and preventing them from overlapping at times. Or trying not to stretch either piece of lace.
With a little practice, you can get the hang of it and will soon be joining lace together like a pro. But what if you don't have time to practice? What if you will be joining yards of lace to lace for a fancy band and need to do it right, the first time, without any mistakes?
Here's a little trick for perfect lace to lace heirloom sewing......
First, get a roll of Floriani Wet-n-Gone Tacky water soluble stabilizer. Yes, I know it is made for machine embroidery, but that's ok, we're going to use it for heirloom sewing anyway. (It comes in a big 10 yd roll that will last you forever, if using it for regular sewing)
Next, cut some strips of the Floriani Wet-n-Gone Tacky. Cut the strips wide enough to accommodate the width of the two pieces of lace that you will be sewing together. (i.e. if you are joining two 1/2 inch wide lace insertion pieces, cut the stabilizer a little over 1 inch wide.) If you have a rotary mat and cutter this part will be a breeze.
Now, peel off the paper backing from a stabilizer strip and neatly place the two pieces of lace on the sticky side of the stabilizer. Make sure the lace is straight, without gaps and not overlapping. Repeat this as many times as needed, depending on the length of the lace that is to be joined.
Next, set your zigzag stitch on your machine and sew away! When you're finished sewing, rinse the lace in water and the Floriani Wet-n-Gone Tacky rinses out completely.
Here's a photo of some lace I joined using this technique. It was fast and easy!
Wool Challis
We absolutely love the beautiful, festive Red Wool Challis from Bear Threads Ltd and we think you will love it too!
Those little square graphic scans of the fabrics on the website don't do the heirloom fabrics justice. The red wool challis is sooooo pretty! It would make up into a gorgeous holiday dress. It's lightweight and drapes beautifully. Very nice. We want you to try it so we put the red wool challis on sale at 25% off.
And speaking of red............
Featherwale Corduroy
The Red Featherwale Corduroy from Fabric Finders is in stock now. These are great fabrics, you can dress them up or dress them down. They are strong and durable, yet almost look like velvet.
The Snow White featherwale corduroy is beautiful! The last time we stocked the Snow White color, it sold out almost immediately.
Black French Lace and English Netting
Since there seems to be a rising interest in black French lace and black English netting, we thought you might like to try some. This is the same heirloom lace that you've being using in white, ivory and ecru, except this is black. It is elegant and pretty.
Stay tuned....................... coming up next, for beginners, a mistake-proof tip on how to sew lace to lace and end up with perfectly straight seams!
