Wish Upon a Quilt Blog

Happy Lucky 2013! We have been very busy getting ready for 2013.  We have rearranged the store, organized our fat quarters in new easy to view containers, added lots of new clubs and programs and completed our inventory.  Our biggest and most exciting accomplishment is the opening of our Janome Sewing Machine Department.  We are just thrilled with these fabulous machines.  Janome has been the World’s Leading Manufacturer of Home Sewing Machines for over 150 years.  If you haven’t come by to give one a test drive – come in and check them out!  Lori is our new Director of Janome Sales and Education.  She’d love to meet you and share all the exciting plans for our machine area with you.  These machines offer lots of great features, awesome prices and amazing sewing possibilities.  We are stocking genuine Janome Accessories as well and have plans to open our service department in early 2013.

We believe this is the year to change your sewing luck and spread your sewing wings.  Here’s a list that will help you take on some sewing challenges, experiences and conquer some sewing fears.

1. Organize and de-clutter – No matter which space in the house is your sewing space – it’s nice to start the year in an organized and de-cluttered space.  This always creates a new perspective and going through things can sometimes inspire you to think of your “stash” in new way.  Maintaining the new tidiness is often difficult.  Moving forward, do a little bit each time you sew and your space should stay relatively organized.
2. Stretch your wings – sign up for a class or club that uses a technique that is new or is rusty.  Exposing yourself to new ideas makes creativity feel fresh and powerful.
3. Be Resourceful – From books to magazines to blogs to social media – there are lots of ways to find what you want to make.  Make use of search engines and your local quilt shop.  There is definitely a way to find the perfect project!
4. Share – Sewing is definitely a group sport!  Join a club (Block of the Month), join a bee or teach someone you love to sew!  Sharing what you know helps reinforce your knowledge at the same time.  It’s a win-win.
5. Be Complete – Finish at least one project you have been sitting on for a long time.  That feeling of accomplishment just might jump start your momentum.
6. Improvise Artistically – Learn new improvisational techniques that free you from cutting and piecing restraints.  Try new colors and textures in your projects.  Name your quilts as though they are going to hang in a gallery.
7. Treat your sewing machine like an oracle – have it cleaned and serviced to keep it running perfectly.  Make sure to use the right needle for your project and change your needles often.
8. Improve and modernize – Treat yourself to a new tool or new sewing machine.  Technology has brought us many tools that make our sewing success easy.  From amazing clips for holding binding in place to state of the art, top of the line embroidery machines – there’s a new tool you can find to inspire great feats of sewing!
9. Dress It Up – Embellish your projects with buttons or trims.  Utilize the decorative stitches on your machine and variegated threads.  Experiment with hand stitches, hand embroidery or machine embroidery.
10. Emulate the pros – why not try a French seam or a blind hem?  Give an invisible zipper a try.  Who says installing cording or piping is difficult.  These little details translate into big sewing success.
11. Overcome – Tackle a sewing fear!  Is it free-motion quilting, handwork or applique?  Hit those fears head-on and overcome them.  There is no better feeling than turning a fear into a skill!
12. Be a cut-up – repurpose your old clothes, linens and abandoned projects.  Giving an old item new life is fun and great for the spirit!
13. Go calling – visit your local quilt shop.  They are your sewing family.  They love to see what your working on and offer advice on colors, textures and patterns.  The Internet is a wonderful place, but there’s nothing like the collaborative spirit you find in your local shop.

We are always happy to be part of your quilting and sewing dreams here at Wish Upon A Quilt.  You are the reason we keep trying to improve and grow.  Thanks for so much inspiration and support.  We know together, we can make 2013 the luckiest year ever.

Hugs and stitches,

Cathy and Team Wish

Tags: Happy New Year, Janome, Sewing solutions

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 1st, 2013 at 11:24 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.