Getting edgy

Posted on by Linda Matthews
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Have I ever mentioned that machine wrapped cording is my favorite embellishing technique? I’m sure I have once or twice. And because I love using wrapped cording so much I’m always experimenting with different ways to use it.

One of my favorite applications, which also tops the list for most asked about technique by you all, is to use wrapped cording to finish the edges on many of my three dimensional projects including my art bags …

Art Bag

… fabric postcards …

Fabric Postcard

… journal covers …

Fabric Journals

.. and an endless variety of other projects where I use Peltex stabilizer.

I’ve already written a short tutorial on how to use wrapped cording as edging and you can find it here, but I’ve also rewritten step-by-step instructions with photos and diagrams, and included it in my new book Machine Wrapped Cording along with a project for a fabric postcard.

Machine Wrapped Cording Technique

If you enjoy making things like fabric postcards and book or journal covers, I’m sure you’ll love this technique. It’s fun and easy to do and it will add a very professional finish to your projects.

You can find out more about the book here. And of course with every purchase of the book you also get an invitation to join my book club where you’ll find free downloads and additional resources.

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Exploring Digital Grounds on Fabric Online Class: Redux

Posted on by Linda Matthews
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With the opening of my new website which I set up for the primary reason of giving my book owners a place to hold their “Book Club” groups – more information about that here – it also has given me the opportunity to implement another idea that’s been rolling around in my head for a while but I wasn’t sure quite how to make it work, and which is to make my online classes available 24/7, all year round, forever and ever or until you’re done, whichever comes first.

It’s challenging
One of the challenges of taking a traditional online class, and by “traditional” I mean that the teacher guides you through the lessons, is of course that you have to set aside a definite time to show up and work through the lessons. This is really challenging because as you know, “life” often gets in the way. I know. I’ve already taken a number of online classes this year with good intentions of showing up and doing the work. But it’s so easy to get distracted or sidetracked with other things (sigh).

Good news
So to get the ball rolling over on the new website, I’ve set up my first “home study” online class which is “Exploring Digital Grounds on Fabric”. I presented this online class earlier this year and I know many of you wanted to take the class but were unable to because of prior commitments. So good news for you – if you did miss out on taking the class when I first presented it, it’s now available to you as a home study course!

This means that all the lessons and all the videos and all the other resources and information I provide in my online classes, can be accessed online at any time of day or night so you can work through them at your own pace at a time that suits you. And there’s lots of information! Not just videos, but also full step-by-step pdf downloadable lessons, a photo gallery with close up shots, and a resource library.

PLUS
You get to download my beautiful “Waiting for Spring” digital art design set for the project that’s included in lesson four. You can find more information about the project here.

DOUBLE PLUS
I check in daily to answer any questions you might have about the techniques presented in the lessons. Phew!

More info
You can find more about my online classes here

To purchase the class, please visit the store.

And of course if you any questions, please email me.
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My Favorite Embellishment

Posted on by Linda Matthews
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Can you guess what my favorite embellishment is? I use it on most projects I make and I never tire of making it or thinking up new ways to use it. Can’t guess? Why it’s Machine Wrapped Cording of course.

If you’ve never heard of machine wrapped cording, it’s simply a piece of cording that you make using yarn, nice top thread, and the zig-zag stitch on your sewing machine. If you’re looking for the tutorial for machine wrapped cording, you can find it here.

Machine wrapped cording is a really versatile embellishment and can be made slim and elegant, or chunky and funky depending on what technique you use to make it. It’s best feature is that it can be made to coordinate with your projects in either color or texture or both.

I mention this of course because I have a new book coming out very shortly, all about machine wrapped cording. You can find more details here. But in the meantime, there are some of the ways that I use it…

I use it a lot on book wraps as a wrap-around tie …

Embellishments

For edging and wrap-around ties on my fabric journals …

Embellishments

I use it for edging and also to hide the joined edges on my fabric boxes …

Embellishments

As well as for more functional purposes as part of the closure on the lid of this fabric box …

Fabric Box

You can also use it with the circular sewing attachment to edge circular applique blocks ….

Embellishments

And for decorative elements on art quilts …

Embellishments

If you haven’t tried machine wrapped cording yet, give it a try.

You can find lots of free embellishment tutorials in the tutorials section of my blog which can be found here, and even more techniques can be found on my Titivations DVD. Please visit the store for full details.

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