Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries: Sewing Tips

Today I think I will give you a few sewing tips and information on needles and bindings. I know all of us do different kinds of sewing and crafting so today I would like to touch on a few different things like information on needles and bindings. 

First......have you ever really looked at your sewing machine needle? I never did until one day when I saw this chart. I new the different sizes, but never realized the different types of needles. This needle chart from Feathers Flights shows the parts of a needle, kinds and sizes. Nice to have this chart in your sewing room. 

Do you need a quick way to determine the yardage needed for that quilt binding? Quilting Tidbits has this chart to show you how to do that. 

I do a lot of embroidery also when I make my little stitchery pillows and embroidering on my pot holders. For all of you embroiders here are some basic stitches from Tip Nut. Most of these stitches I have used, but there are actually a few I didn't know and have never used! I will have to try them out. :)

Now....how many of you buy bias tape? I use to until I started making lots of pot holders for my markets and craft shows and thought I needed to come up with a way to make my own. Now you can buy machines that does this like this one.......

 or little bias tape maker clips.............

But me.....being "cheap" ( I call it "thrifty", but my kids call it "cheap") I make my own by just cutting and ironing them. :)  I do so many of them that I have this down to a routine so it is very simple to do. 

First I cut a 2 inch with of fabric strip. 

Then I fold both ends to the middle. 

Iron it flat.

And whalla..................bias tape!! :)

Well I hope some of these tips are useful for you. I always seem to find tips that I have never used or didn't know about. So excited when I do! :)

Have a good day!! 

Colleen :)

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries Blog

Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: The Great Outdoors

Summer is a time of relaxation and enjoying the great outdoors! Time for exploring, observing, and lingering with laughter.  For summer essentials turn to the vast resources of Etsy up-cycle experts to make this a summer to remember.

Take a first class seat  under the sun with a custom chair from

TCBarrelWorks. Made from up-cycled California wine barrels, each chair is expertly hand-crafted. So elegantly simple, nature will envy the owner.

Don't miss a single thing with ultra cool binoculars! From bird watching to fireworks to woodland walking, this vintage pair from  OddandFound helps maintain the path with a built-in compass.

Turn routine summer lunch into a backyard expedition!  Classic peanut butter and jelly tastes like fun on vintage trays in rainbow hues. Pick up this colorful picnic basket and tray set at vakvar.

 Summer learning can be fun with the right tools!  Grab these vintage Native American books at injoytreasures at take the kiddos on an educational hike.  Teach them about recycling after the hike by up-cycling the books into summer scrapbooks.

Fun for kids of all ages are these wee bug collection bags from bethmoscreations!  Okay, okay.... these are not up-cycled or vintage but oh my goodness are they cute! Affordable and oh-so-adorable, they even look like tiny camper tents! 

For more up-cycled summer wonder search recycled summer on Etsy.

LOVE  &  UP-CYCLE NATION!

Jacquie Wheeler

Hand of Bela Peck

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Handofbelapeck?ref=si_shop
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BelaPeckHome

http://handofbelapeck1759.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hand-of-Bela-Peck/294397987277061?ref=hl

Blog Party Sunday - Show Us Your Handmades

Welcome to our Sunday Blog Party. We would love to have you show us what you are making.

You are allowed to add 3 links to your shops or your blog.

The rules are simple:
1. Follow our blog
2. Handmade items only.
3. You may list up to 3 items each week.
4. Family friendly items only.

The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops,  post about it on your  blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.
Just click on the Add Your Link button below and add your items.
And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.

<a href="http://www.byyourhands.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy110/ByYourHands/blogparty.jpg">, </a>

An InLinkz Link-up

Handmade Spotlight - Flowers To Brighten Our Homes

These lovely floral handmade items would look great in just about any home. To get a better look at each one CLICK HERE.

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries: The Perfect Porch

I love my back porch. I spend as much time out there as I can just enjoying the quiet and sounds of the birds and nature. It isn't a real big porch, but I can put a few flower pots out there and put my chair out and sit in the sun. Living up in the north country we soak up as much sun as we can so when the sun is shining I try to take a little time to sit on my back porch. 

This article from The Country Register of Minnesota is on having a screen porch, but some of the ideas could work for an outdoor porch also. 

A porch is a quiet place to sit and relax. It is a place where people often sit and read the morning paper, or perhaps their favorite decorating magazine, while enjoying a cup of coffee. If offers the sights, scents and sounds of the outdoors along with the comforts of indoor living. A three season room or screen porch is an extension of your home. Decorate this space with the same gusto and creativeness that you would when decorating any other room of your house.

ADD ACCESSORIES

Use outdoor furniture with indoor features, such as pillows and throws. Toss a quilt over the back of a chair. Yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores are perfect places to find these items.

REFLECT YOUR PERSONAL STYLE

Make sure your patio fits your personal style. Treat it like any other room of your home. If your home is decorated in the primitive or country style, be sure to incorporate those tastes into your outdoor patio.

BRING THE OUTDOORS IN

Potted flowers bring the elements of the garden up onto your porch or patio. Choose coordinating colors to go with your furniture or theme. Place potted flowers inside crocks and wooden boxes. Add garden-themed items such as vintage watering cans, birdhouses and gardening tools.

DON’T HAVE A PORCH OR PATIO?

Create your own special space by placing furniture in a secluded area in your yard. It will create the perfect spot to sit and enjoy your favorite magazine!

 Reprinted in part with permission from The Country Register of Minnesota

So if you have a screened porch or just an outdoors porch and area have fun decorating it to your style and enjoy it while we can before the winter comes again. 

Have fun decorating! 

Colleen :)

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries Blog