Whatcha using Wednesday?
 

Hey ladies!! So the question today is... whatcha using? What is your current craft project, what materials, tools... are you using?

I have been trying to use my sewing machine lately. I love stitching on projects but I am just not coordinated at it and many of the things I sew end up in the trash. I did manage to sew a holiday stocking with OK stitching. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get my stitches straighter? I am a self taught seamstress LOL and actually have a nice machine that hubby bought me. The only thing I have ever sewn on is paper and I can't sew straight to save my life.

Here is my stocking...

Oh my gosh- HOW cute is that/! I MISS my sewing machine! Wah! I have to order another one- my old one croaked! I've been waiting for the Janome Sew mini to go on sale- if anyone sees an ad, let me know please :)

I've got my Copics out. My kids have a 1/2 day today so they are gonna get crafty with me when they get home shortly!

Hi, to keep your stitches straight use the metal plate under the foot for a guide. In fact, there should be guide marks on the machine itself. look closely at your plate and to the left or right of it. Do you see measurements like 1/8, 5/8, etc.? if you do use those as your guides. start slowly and keep the edge of your material on that mark. Hope that helps.

Also, stitch more slowly. :) The faster you go, the harder it is to stay straight!

I just picked up a FABULOUS box of 50 note cards by My Mind's Eye. I have the coordinating paper pack, so I'm going to use the cards as a base and embellish from there by adding ribbons, cutout images (TGF of course!) and other blingy things. :)

Oh Shaela you will be having fun with those!

OK thanks for the stitching 101 lesson... so how do you turn corners, same method or is there a trick?

Hi from Italy
 

Hi ladies, I like stitching but on my cards it is a bit scary...I envy these clever girls who do great machine stitching on cards... Mostly I do it by hand to make sure it will be pretty.
This evening I have finished a card for my blog, entered the FFF old lace challenge the other day with an altered photo frame...and I am now thinking about the SCS TGF challenge. This evening I have also commented cards for my DT blogs.

Have fun whatever you are all doing!!

Hugs Blankina

Blankina creations
DT ANYONE FOR ANYA
DT FOREVER FRIENDS
DT MARIANNE DESIGN DIVA'S

Hi Everyone,
I love sewing/ stitching my cards too. I'm a self taught as well, what I do is I tried to sew slowly too. Been very busy today, we went out and take the kids to the park and I found a new craft place. I was excited to see the new craft place and while I was browsing there didn't find my favorite stamp ever!!! So I told them to check the TGF and hopefully I will see the TGF stamps there soon :) Now I'm multitasking doing laundry, online, crafting a little bit here, lol!

To turn corners: Stop when you get to the point you want to turn, lift your presser foot so its not holding down the fabric/card base, make sure the needle is through the material/card, and in the machine, turn your card, put the presser foot down and continue sewing. It is called pivoting.

That's a pretty cool stocking, Melissa :)

cool thanks for the tip :)

Farmers market today and I purchased some stamps...woot woot! This is like second in a row for me this week I must stop, lol!

oh gosh, what a cute cute stocking!!!

My current craft project is to organize everything so when baby comes i won't be so stressed about finding where all my stuff are :) I have so much junk lying on the floor that its so bad to the point where i can't find my a, b, and c plates for my bug so i can't emboss or cut anything :(

did you happen to purchase a second set of the Pretty Hat Anya, lol? I missed out on it

hope to get some coloring done later today...we have a local high school closed today due to a threat of violence made online by a student....drove my kids to the elementary school today...so scary ... making a quick road trip to see a friend that ordered a October Afternoon scrapbook kit for me...so I'll have some new goodies today...and having coffee with my friend who had her second round of chemo yesterday...trying to keep my mind busy and not worry about my kiddos...
Hug you kids tonight extra hard and hope that this poor kid that feels so desperate gets the help he needs before he lashes out...

xxoo
Lynda

No, I purchased some of the single ones. I know those sets was gone pretty fast :)

That is the scariest, it should be the school is one of the safest place but it's sad that it's not like that anymore :( My kids are not in school yet but knowing that they will go to school nxt yr. it worries me to the highest level. I hope everything will be safe there with you and to your friend to feel better soon.

Oooh I was continuing to sew, no wonder they always look awful. Thanks:)

Now I'm jumping up and down I'm so mad at myself. I wanted the Pretty hat AND the Chef one. I waited too long to go back and get them - darn darn darn!!!! :x :x :x :x

School violence is very scary and it's so sad there are so many troubled kids out there. We had a kid bring a knife to school last year to stab another kid with - it didn't happen thankfully, but what a nightmare.

I really would like to see some of your stitching after the brief little lessons! Hope you post some soon.

Ughhh, me too, totally missed out! Had my days mixed up! I really wanted Pretty Hat!! grrrrr...

yeah for trying to use more sewing! I love my sewing machine!

I am trying to actually USE my DP instead of hoarding it b/c I'm trying to switch to buying dies instead of DP, lol!