ISSUE1 www.throughtheneedle.com Sewing Adventures Patchwork Floor Art CoolCool SpiceSpice&& Beaded Cocoon Necklace HotHot ChiliChili PepperPepper THROUGH THE NEEDLE ONLINE Table of Contents Susan’s Designer Handbag 2 This designer-inspired handbag is so easy to make, one won’t be enough! With a secret zipped pocket on the outside, this handbag is adapted from the “Steel Ball Frame Purse Pattern” by Quilt Plus. Beaded Silk Cocoon Necklace 6 A gorgeous necklace is the perfect accessory for turning a little black dress into something special. Guest author Cindy Tazelaar created this dramatic necklace with a pack of YLI Painter’s Threads Potpourri and decorative cording created on her serger. Adventures with My bernette 46 8 What happens when a 7-year-old super-stitcher gets her own sewing machine? If you’re Sophie Rubin, you create quilts for charity and take your show on the road! Japanese Garden Shirt 10 Do you have a boring cotton pullover in the back of your closet that you never wear? Here’s an easy way to turn it into a designer original. A little bit of bleach, some embroidery, and it’s done! Thinking Outside the Box: Patchwork Floor Art \OO Quilter program in BERNINA Embroidery Software 6. Cool Spice & Hot Chili Pepper: Small and Large Totes featuring CutWork and Embroidery "##$%&'(')*+/34 this easy tote bag. Its smaller twin can be stitched in almost any large hoop. Sarah Vedeler describes her design process, and provides a free download of the CutWork and 5595#: Simple Summer Shirt 20 This top is unbeatably quick and easy to sew, and the perfect place to showcase your favorite oversize print. The more interesting the design, the better! Sewing Republic 22 Have you visited www.sewingrepublic.com? If not, you’re missing out on a cool assortment of sewing projects created by some of our favorite bloggers, as well as practical sewing videos and information. The 90/10 Stitch Solution 24 Trouble-free stitching is a joy, but it’s really frustrating when your machine doesn’t deliver a beautiful, consistent stitch. If you have a “bad stitch” situation, here are four areas to check that will often solve 90% of sewing problems. The Last Word * >9@999 Through the Needle Online. ISSUE 1 Needle Notes J\Through the Needle OnlineK5# new software, creating an online format, coordinating with authors, taking pictures, making last minute changes, #9K)M5S9S59MS 59#Through the Needle Online, due October 1. We hope you like our new electronic format. Since you’re viewing Through the Needle Online on your computer S#M99 when pages are printed, and added links to connect you directly to additional information on our featured topics,, contributors, and sponsors. And we’re still dedicated to providing a variety of articles in every issue, ###M5MM##MM quilting, crafts, and much more. (#XMXZ 59]\]M99 and serged cord. Plus, an essay on the sewing adventures of our youngest contributor yet, 7-year-old Sophie Rubin. A gorgeous set of embroidered bags by Sarah Vedeler covers some BERNINA CutWork Software and Embroidery Software basics, and we’ve S#5 download. In addition to projects from our staff and BERNINA National Artisans, we’d love to include articles from readers. If you have a project to share, send it to [email protected] for consideration. We haven’t posted any submission guidelines 5#KX#5 project, including sewing techniques and accessories used. We can’t promise to use every idea, but we can guarantee that we’ll look at each one. Along with the new online version of Through the NeedleMS# througtheneedle.com! You may have noticed the address on the front cover of this issue. It will #9#_5 viewing pleasure. Thanks again for subscribing to Through the Needle OnlineX555 sewing friends! 3` Editor Managing Editor / Creative Director Through the Needle Online is published six times Jo Leichte a year by BERNINA of America, Inc. for machine Contributing Editor stitchers and embroiderers of all types and all Barbara Weiland Talbert skill levels. Graphic Artist This publication may be shared and reproduced Lisa Klingbeil in its original format, with the stipulation that credit be given to Through the Needle Online. Contributing Authors Susan Beck 3702 Prairie Lake Court, Aurora, IL 60504 Linda Lee www.berninausa.com Alice Voss www.throughtheneedle.com ©BERNINA of America, Inc., 2010 1 THROUGH THE NEEDLE ONLINE Susan’s Designer Handbag SUSANSUSAN FEARSFEARS byby This designer-inspired handbag is so easy to make, one won’t be enough! With a secret zipped pocket on the outside, this handbag is adapted from the “Steel Ball Frame Purse Pattern.” Follow the instructions in this article to create the decorative panel, then construct the bag following the general sewing instructions included with the pattern. #Z$%&'(')] Supplies #$Z$%&'('))$ #PQ5} +)] #5~//9} #%`#J#")5_ #+@ZP)Q # $] #$9 #Z9] #3M_*/ #)Z] #JZ"5"] #`#Z]] #9>~/# #+*88## 5# #8"_ #'5"# #D8*8 #D8*8## #~88 #}"Z$%&'(')9+ 9~] #%#Z$%&'(')%#/] #J9#Z$%&'(')J9#~/] BERNINA 3 Series: The Designer Handbag shown in the photo was sewn using the new BERNINA 380 sewing machine. 2 ISSUE 1 _9 InstructionsI 9_ Cut the Fabric Pieces :)5 ># M_#_# %>%:> X#: MM]: #:>_ _ 9:>~*8*8 99:& #: _9:J :> M##ZPQ] #@ : : Create the Pieced Pocket (3# 9> :)_ 9Z# ]:J##M# # _M 9] _ "5 : _: J __# : Customize the Pocket with Text and Decorative Stitches _: #5#S5 5M#M _ #ZMM : #M:]:'(5 @M `5_#5 ## #~*8*8 Z]: :M## 9: `#J#")5_ :)## # 5 9 :# #: X Add Ribbon Embellishment to the Bag Front :) ###5 # #M : _9: _9 9MX #M M #:## ###: 5# : : 3 THROUGH THE NEEDLE ONLINE # Stitch Combinations in Memory 5S5:5 (S#5 :Note: If $%&'(')S$+*/ your machine is not equipped with these features, #: add a line of decorative stitching in place of the % lettering (or omit this step). 5 Add Buttonhole Embellishment : to the Bag Front ):9 #M5 M,8M # ##:ZE8] X#: 9:Z5#S (# # 5 5:]># ++M+M++: 9:> (# 8#:# +# ]5: ]: : Easy, Effortless Buttonholes $+*/ 9#5S 5K ))$+) / /: )X # : \ Cutting the buttonholes open. \ 9M Assemble the Purse Pieces M #@"# M# #:M +8": ##: #M}9 &:># M":$ 9 #: M 9 ##: }9&# 5 :$ 5: Arranging the bag pieces 4 ISSUE 1 `5#M#M :$# ]: #M9"9# ##9#+8" ## :`# #: ###:># B380 Note: If the stitch is too loose to whip the folds M## together, tighten it by moving the tension dial to 7 #: \ )# $## : : #M# (#9 #M## #:& ##: #:# Quilt the Layers #M## )9#: #55#: 9@ 5#5#""" P"@Q$+*/# : # 8### ] %$+*/5 : XM:> J9#M ## *89: @: Complete the Purse Construction &##5 M# 5:)# M_#_#M #+:#:M 4 THROUGHBeaded THE NEEDLE ONLINE Silk Cocoon Necklace by CINDY TAZELAAR Finished length = approximately 21” Materials Serger Serger Cording Foot 3 yards of YLI Designer 7 for base of serger cord 2 cones of YLI decorative serger thread for loopers, such as: #Candlelight #Designer 7 Instructions #Pearl Crown Rayon Create the Knotted Cord #Shimmer Cut three 1-yard lengths of Designer 7 and tie all 1 cone of YLI Elite Premium Serger Thread three pieces together at one end. 1 pack of YLI Painter’s Threads Potpourri (includes silk cocoons) Set the serger for a 3-thread rolled hem, with 1 card Silamide beading thread (40 yards) decorative serger thread in the upper and lower Hand-beading needle (recommended: Milliner loopers and polyester serger thread in the needle. needle, size 10 ) Remember to engage the rolled hem lever to 35#Z5] disengage the stitch #1 crab clasp #: #color-coated jewelry wire Install the Cording #beads Foot on the serger. #head pins Insert the bundled #3 decorative caps Designer 7 cords into Awl or large-diameter hand-sewing needle the guide in the foot. Jewelry pliers 6 ISSUE 1 With a large diameter needle (or an awl), create a hole in the top of the cocoon. Push an eye-pin through the hole, and then top it with a purchased decorative cap. Create an eye with jewelry pliers to hold the cap in place. Repeat these steps for all three silk cocoons. Serge over the entire bundled length of Designer 7, Assemble the Necklace creating a 1-yard long cord. Set aside. Create three pairs of Embellish the Silk Cocoons overhand knots in the Remove the three silk cocoons from the Potpourri serged cord – one pair in pack. Z*8 apart), the other pairs Thread the beading needle with a 1-yard (or slightly 5*8# longer) length of Silamide beading thread. Z*8]: String beads onto the needle, covering a little less Use an eye-pin and pliers to attach one cocoon than half of the thread length. inside each pair of knots. Place a seed bead at the end of the bead string # (this will be the anchor bead). Thread the needle from the Potpourri package, plus other beads and back through all the beads, skipping the anchor #: bead. There will be two strands of Silamide at the beginning of the bead string. Attach the clasp to one end of the cord by threading the cord through the opening, doubling the cord, Working through the opening in the cocoon, push the and wrapping the doubled end tightly with jewelry threaded needle through the top of the cocoon, from wire. Finish the other end by doubling the cord back the inside to the outside. on itself to create a loop, then wrapping both ends Unthread the needle and re-thread with the other tightly with jewelry wire. end of the Silamide thread. Finish the other end by doubling the cord to create Repeat the stitch through the top of the cocoon, a loop, then wrapping the end and cord tightly taking care to put the needle through the cocoon a together with jewelry wire.