Notion of the week

Have a quilt that you'd like to display on your wall? We have a variety of quilt hangers for that special heirloom.

Why not grab one to display that special quilt you're doing this winter?

Tip of the Week

 Sewing machines, even the beginner models, come with a lot of different stitches these days. Depending on your model, you may have stitches that can make a variety of projects different, more interesting, or just plain, easier and professional.

I had a quick project for Christmas that involved using a couple of reasonably priced fleece remnants that I cut into squares, added a little embroidery, and with a couple of those decorative and utility stitches I had a simple Christmas gift that cost pennies and was a cute mini quilt.

I used a stretch utility stitch to join my squares and finished the edges with a cute decorative stitch that really looked cute and added a special touch.

So next time you have a project you're working on try one of those other stitches besides the straight stitch or that zigzag. And take a look at your book and find all the uses for your utility stitches. You'll be surprised how much of a difference it makes in your project when you use one of those stitches that came free with your machine---whether when your sewing knits or just want to add a special something to your next project.

Notion of the week

5D Professional Software can bring your projects to a higher, personal creativity level. Creating, organizing, and manipulating your designs has never been easier.

With this software package you can create a design, view it in 3D on your project and adjust colors and stitches right on the screen.

You get complimentary fonts, clipart, and frames to include on your projects or to embellish and create your own.

The software works with a variety of hoops and machines and for multi-hooped designs you're able to stitch helper stitches onto your project to insure your design is lined up each and every time.





This package contains:

• 5D Family Tree
• 5D Express Monogram Wizard
• 5D PortraitStitch
• 5D Design Creator

For a complete list of features, benefits, and system requirements click here to review the brochure.

And, just in time for Christmas, for one day only, on December 23rd, there is a special deal on this valuable software as part of our 12 Days of Christmas Gift to Customers.

Make 2012 a 5D Creative New Year!
    

Tip of the Week

Planning to complete that first quilt? Wondering about thread?

Depending on your particular project you'll want to take the following items under consideration as you select your thread for your heirloom quilt.

• What Color is usually a question asked by quilters and the answer is ---it depends. For the piecing a color matching the darker blocks maybe what you need. For quilting, if the quilting is the part of the project that you want to pop then use a contrasting thread. For beginning quilters a matching thread that blends stitches into the background may be called for. Whatever color you select do a sample before you apply to your entire quilt to make sure you are getting the affect that you want to achieve.
• Quilting and Piecing Thread or is All Purpose all right to use? Quilting and Piecing Thread is specifically designed to be used in quilting. Using a fine piecing thread can help keep your piecing seam accurate---the finer the thread the easier you'll find it to keep accurate. A cotton thread of size 50 is recommended by expert Debra Wagner in her book Teach Yourself Machine Piecing & Quilting.    

Be sure to make a sample run of your project. Adjust tension, if necessary.And make sure your creation is exactly you. 
       

Notion of the week

There are times when even the most experienced sewers need help. And since today's 12th day of Christmas gift is buy two get one free on sewing machine feet, I thought it would be timely to give you the scoop on a sewing machine foot that can help you out.

This is the walking foot. This foot will keep those quarter inch seams straight and well fed through your machine for perfect stitching all the time. It can also help with quilting, feeding those difficult, slippery fabrics that need some extra help, or when you have thicker items that could use an extra boot through the machine.

The other day during quilting classes at our Highland store, store manager and quilting guru, Joan, noted that one of the students was having difficulties with those seams going through on the straight and narrow. Joan recommended the walking foot for the student's machine.

Sure enough, the seams were PERFECT and trouble free too. So hurry in and get your walking foot today and take advantage of the buy two get one free deal on all feet!

Tip of the Week

The gifts keep on coming at the Northwest Indiana Sewing Center's 12 days of Christmas. So our tip of the week is to hurry over to the website and take advantage of the special deals by unwrapping a present each day from now until Christmas Eve. Today is Day 10. Open the package by clicking on that pretty heart shaped package on our tree. 

Our special gifts to you make it easy to fill those stockings and under that tree with joy and happiness. And so you don't miss out on any special deals or class information in the new year don't forget to sign up for our newsletters.

Merry Christmas!

images of packages credit:Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Image: Master isolated mages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Image: scottchan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tip of the Week

Only 18 more sewing days to go! Need some inspiration for decorations and last minute gifts?

Point your browser over to these sites for patterns and designs.

And for your sewing supplies come see us with that Friends and Family coupon today for some real savings.

• Viking/Husqvarna
• Singer Sewing
• Coats and Clark
• Embroidery.com    

Come See Us Tomorrow for our Friends & Family Extravaganza!

You are cordially invited to attend Friends and Family Extravaganza on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 We're going to have fun kicking off the holiday season and hope you can come and enjoy some time browsing through our store, looking at sewing machines, and grabbing some bargains.

And to help you with your holiday stocking Stuffers, here is a coupon for you to bring for a savings on all regularly priced notions (restrictions apply):

 

Your Friends at Northwest Indiana Sewing Centers.

Notion of the week

Have you heard that we now carry a complete line of Floriani Threads! Hundreds of new colors to choose from---can you imagine what you can add to your projects? Is there a specific color that you've been unable to locate in other lines? The perfect color just might be in the Floriani line.

Floriani has very high quality standards throughout the factory. They control and track lot numbers back to traced right back to the manufacturing process.

The thread has been proven color-fast with a high tensile strength by an independent international lab.

Not only that, the Floriani company has a real dedication to the environment; making sure that the dyeing and manufacturing process has as little environmental impact as possible. The company has been known to change the use of certain dyes to become more environmental friendly.

Add some sheen and luster to your projects today with some Floriani Thread!