Great Turn out for Sew Day!!!!

The weather outside may have seemed a little dreary, but inside - wow what colors and bright smiles.

The ladies out did themselves getting things around for the sew day and the Applique Class.

Great turn out with 17 ladies that were there to sew, to demo, to watch, to have fun.

This is the scissor / rotary blade cutter case the class attendees were making.

First the bias stems - already sewn on the case - with two types of how to sew them down given.

One - every which way but loose

Two - getting the ladies introduced to hidden stitches

What a good way to start out - no worrying about how to do this or that, just sit back and sew a little.  Most everyone knew the first step, if you hand sew on a binding - you already know the technique.  Vevia's grandmother taught her that if you are going to do the work - let people see it.

Step two - Susie taught the hidden stitches and made sure everyone got the hang of it.

And talk about thread.........egads!  Lets not.  hahaha

There are so many kinds - so many, that no one has to be without their own favorite - just keep looking till you find what you like.  That goes for needles too.

Susie brought in these pre-wound bobbins (and had two included in everyone's sewing case).

Click here and go under products to see the 80 wt cottonized polyster shown above and the

Invisa fil shown above here.  Believe Susie said she got them in Des Moines at the quilt show.

You can also check out "Midwest Sewing Center" in Wichita, "Cosmic Cow" in Lincoln, NE, or "Quilting Bits and Pieces" in Eudora.  Wonderfil has a place to check out who carries their products.  I would definitely call first as some of these are a little bit away.

Susie also encouraged the ladies that if they really liked the batik fabrics included in their kit, don't go off and buy yardage, start with a charm pack first - shown in above picture.

And then there is silk thread.  Little more cost involved, but very good for hiding your stitches.

Susie is working on a project right now with the needle turn, this is the book she is using.  You can see her blocks in some of the following pictures.

Check out the back of one of her blocks - this is how your stitches should look

T I N Y

but it does not come over night.  So don't be discouraged, just get to where you are consistent in your stitches and then work toward itty bitty.

Sewing down the stems was relaxing enough that conversation abounded.

Or not!  hahahaaha  Some of us had our nose to the grindstone so to speak, working on getting the stitches the way we all wanted them.

Course as with any sew day - part of the fun is to see what others have in their sewing supplies.

Isn't this the most darling pin cushion you have ever seen?  Geri bought it for Kay.

Geri thought she got it at Herrschners.  We could only find a 

metal bird one listed now.

And then Deborah B. had this darling sewing box that she made.  She got a plastic box with supplies in it for her work - took the plastic box home and covered it with left over fabric from a dress she made her daughter, put some lace left over from her own wedding gown, button is from her great grandmother (I think), etc, etc, etc.

Gorgeous, full of memories and very practical.

Deb taught everyone on fusible for the first flower.

She had everyone use Pearl Cotton thread for the blanket stitch to go around the flower. Susie made sure everyone had the color they wanted.  This thread came from the Thread Art company.  Susie was going to place an order so everyone that wanted some, should check with her - save on the shipping.  To see what they have, click here.  There is a sale going on right now also.

Freezer paper, fabric and fusible and off you go.

Above is one of Susie's blocks on the table.

Those that wanted a refresher demo on the blanket stitch got it.

And then everyone was sewing around the edges.

Vevia got everyone going on the Apliquick method.

There are several you tubes on Apliquick, including a couple by Lynette Anderson - click here to see one of her demos that shows the techniques for points and inside curves that we did not get to use this time.

Susie showed everyone how useful a sandpaper block was when you are doing needle turn.

And then gave everyone a chance to get up close to see the needle turn hidden stitches technique.

And then off the ladies went and put all that knowledge into action.

After lunch Verna Lee showed us this quilt that she is going to have Susie quilt.  

Then everyone worked on the last leaf with heat resistant mylar and a little starch.  Vevia had first learned this technique from Barb C.

Whether working or taking a moment to say hi and check out how others were doing - before you knew it................

Ladies were finishing up and packing to head home.  This was one project that only takes a few minutes on the sewing machine when you get home - and your little applique workshop project is complete.

Thank you everyone for a wonderful day.