Ten creative ways to use the decorative stitches on your sewing machine

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Linda Matthews

I simply *love* using the programmed decorative stitches on my sewing machine, but I know that some of you struggle to come up with ideas on how to use them.

Struggle no more! These creative ideas are sure to inspire.

1. Stitch in the ditch
Instead of a straight stitch, use a decorative stitch instead when stitching “in-the-ditch” on your quilts.
Decorative Stitches

Decorative Stitches

2. Bindings
Instead of hand sewing the bindings on your quilts, a decorative stitch can be a super quick and interesting way to sew down your bindings.

Decorative Stitches

3. Couching
Instead of a standard zig-zag or straight stitch when couching decorative fibers or ribbon, add additional embellishment by using a decorative stitch.

Decorative Stitches

4. Machine lace fabric
Make beautiful machine lace fabric. (Free project tutorial here)

Decorative Stitches

5. Surface texture and decoration
Use decorative stitches to add surface texture and decoration to your fabric. For example, I often use them when making fabric beads. (Free tutorial here)

Decorative Stitches

6. Faux ribbon effect
By adding a couple of narrow rows of straight stitch on either side of a decorative stitch, you can quickly make a faux ribbon effect.

Decorative Stitches

7. Raw edge applique
Use your decorative stitches to finish off the edges of raw edge appliques.

Decorative Stitches

8. Decorative top-stitching
Use decorative stitches to embellish or top-stitch. For example, I’ve used them to top-stitch the pleats on this pleated insert used on art quilt.

Decorative Stitches

9. Focus fabric from ribbon or fabric strips
Make focus fabric by placing strips of ribbon or fabric side by side (I love hand dyed ribbon for this technique) and use a decorative stitch to sew the strips together.

Decorative Stitches

10. Machine lace edging
Use your decorative stitches to make delicate and contemporary machine lace edging. (Free tutorial here)

Decorative Stitches

Did I mention once or ten times that I *love* to use the decorative stitches on my sewing machine?

I could add more, but I’ve run out of time. However I’m sure this is more than enough to get you started using your decorative stitches and once you start using them, you’ll probably come up with dozens more ideas.

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Timtex vs Peltex

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Linda Matthews

art bag As you know, I’m a big fan of Pellon Peltex and I use it a lot particularly for shaping my art bags. I used to use Timtex years ago, (which I loved) until they stopped manufacturing it, then I switched over to Peltex because this was the only equivalent on the market.

If you’re not familiar with Peltex or Timtex, they are both similar in type and are a very thick stabilizer that’s used to hold the shape of three dimensional objects, but you can sew through it very easily.

Peltex

Well Timtex is now being manufactured again by a different manufacturer so I recently bought a bolt (why can’t I just buy a yard) and I’ve used it on a couple of projects, but you know what? It isn’t quite the same as I remember; it just doesn’t seem to have the same stiffness or flexibility as Peltex which I prefer. Or maybe I’m just remembering differently.

Either way, here’s the bottom line because I’ve heard stories about Timtex being stiffer than Peltex. This is not entirely true.

Peltex has three different types – 70, 71 and 72. They are all similar in thickness BUT..

Peltex 70 is plain stabilizer and quite soft and flexible.
Peltex 71 is fused on one side so it’s a little stiffer, and this type is similar in stiffness to Timtex.
Peltex 72 is fused on both sides and it’s the stiffest of all; much stiffer than Timtex.

So ultimately Peltex 72 is my favorite of all the thick stabilizers. So now I just need to find a way to use up 10 yards of Timtex! (sigh) Any suggestions?

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Sewing 101

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Linda Matthews

How are your sewing skills?

I like to think I have excellent sewing skills. I’ve been sewing constantly since I was a very young child – I simply love to sew and to create things from fabric and I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a needle in my hand. If I couldn’t find a sewing machine, I’d sew by hand. And when I was a child, if I couldn’t find a hand needle, I’d nag and nag until a grown up found me one, and some fabric and thread to go with it of course.

Over the years I’ve taught myself just about everything there is to know about sewing and about fabric and threads. I’m constantly fascinated by sewing and everything related to sewing; about the way fabric can be manipulated and molded and worked into extraordinary shapes and designs. The colors and textures of fabrics are a constant fascination for me.

So for as long as I’ve been sewing (and that’s now a very long time indeed) I do like to think I have excellent sewing skills, but every now and then and more often than I’d like to admit, I’m brought back to earth with a loud thump when I realize that I simply don’t know quite everything there is to know about sewing and notions and fabric and thread, and since I’ve been following this excellent video series from the people over at Threads Magazine online, I realize I’ve still got loads to learn.

If you’re just learning to sew or simply want to improve your skills, I highly recommend the Sewing 101 Series. There’s lots of videos already available, and if you sign up for their newsletter you’ll get notified when new videos are available. And also take time to browse their website; there’s a lot of wonderful information available.

Happy sewing!

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Attaching Invisible Magnetic Snaps

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Linda Matthews

I’ve been playing around making purses with unusual shapes and I really like this one with it’s wavy asymmetrical top edge. For both the inside and the outside of the purse, I used some fabric that has been airbrushed. I didn’t airbrush the fabric myself, but I picked it up at a quilt show some years ago and finally found the perfect project for it. The fabric on the front of the purse has a lovely ginkgo leaf design.

Fabric Purse

And the fabric on the back of the purse has a beautiful airbrushed “sweep” of color.

Fabric Purse

As this purse doesn’t have a closure flap, I used invisible magnetic snaps in order to keep it closed. Recently I posted a tutorial on how to attach standard magnetic snaps, so let me show you how easy it is to attach invisible magnetic snaps which are great for projects where you don’t want the snap to be visible.

This is what the invisible snaps look like – they are small circular magnets enclosed in a plastic pocket.

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Decorative Stitches in Focus

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Linda Matthews

I posted the other day about a jacket with focus fabric I made using a machine needle felting technique for the lapels and cuffs. Well after cleaning out the sewing room a little more I rediscovered this jacket using the same pattern but with a different technique for the lapels and cuffs …

Decorative Stitch Jacket

Again, it’s all in the detail …

Decorative Stitch Jacket

And a closeup …

Decorative Stitch Jacket

This technique uses some beautiful hand dyed ribbon fused edge to edge to a backing of fusible interfacing. I sewed along the line where the edges butted together with a decorative stitch on my sewing machine using some metallic gold thread. The result is very striking and you could use this technique to make any sort of focus fabric. The hand-dyed ribbon makes all the difference. I think this jacket also could do with a little edge trim so I might try adding some.

The jacket pattern I used is probably my favorite jacket pattern. It’s Butterick Fast & Easy Classics #6473. It’s very easy to make and has a classic line and it always fits well, plus it’s the perfect pattern for showcasing a focus fabric on the lapels and cuffs. I think it’s out of print by now but you might find it on ebay.

Buttereick 6473