Sewing with Metallic Thread

Sewing with metallic threads can sometimes be a bit tricky. But with a few tips from the pros anyone can add a bit of sparkle to their embroidery project.

Use a good metallic thread like Floriani Premium Metallic. It helps to provide the thread with plenty of unraveling room---use a freestanding thread holder set a good distance from your machine. If you haven't been to the sewing center to obtain the thread holder and need to get your project done now, try placing the spool on the floor and threading it up to your machine.

And if you're in the market for a new sewing machine take a look at a Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond Deluxe or Designer Ruby Deluxe with the unique deluxe Stitch System only available from Husqvarna Viking. This stitch system automatically handles the unique properties of metallic threads for you for trouble free stitching.

Feel free to post a question in the comment section of the blog and our team of experts will provide answers on future posts. Keep sewing!

       

A Sweet Deal on a Designer Ruby Deluxe!

Supplies are limited, so hurry in today!

 

Sewing a Bit of Love...

I once asked a new Designer Diamond owner what she embroidered when she first took her Diamond home. She said she embroidered pillow cases, towels, and just about everything she had in the house. And when she ran out of household items she embroidered hearts on her husbands underwear.

The hearts could have been a private moment of love between a husband and a wife except that the husband was a fireman who had to dress in front of other fireworkers sporting his snazzy shorts!

Such is life with Husqvarna Viking Sewing enthusiast! We just love Valentine's Day and the projects are being sewn at our classes at the sewing center. We have so many---make sure you check our calendar because we are adding all sorts of wonderful projects.

If you can't make it to a class we often have the patterns of projects in the store. Come see us, email, or visit our website. And if you need even more inspiration don't forget the holiday scrubbies---the Valentine's scrubbie and matching towel applique are favorites!

And adding lips to a pillow, bedside caddy, or other project places a kiss just where someone will need it like in our caddy project shown here.


And there are plenty of inspirational projects from around the web so shoot over to our Pinterest page and be inspired.

And while your at the store picking up a pattern, design, or taking a class be sure to pick up the tools to make your project go smoother---like one of the new small (80mm x 80mm)hoops for those tight spots in smaller areas where you need those lips and kisses to go.

And for those binding projects----make it easier with a binding foot---watch this video to see just how easy sewing binding to a project can be:

 

Come in and see us for your sewing supplies for all your hearts and kisses.

         

Winter Sewing Classes---Join Us!

2013-01-15 Winter Sewing Classes 

Highland Events | Merrillville Events | Sewing Machines| Indiana Sews Blog
Highland Sewing Center: 2845 Highway Avenue Highland, IN 46322 (219)838-5433 Fax: (219)838-5434 Hours: Monday-Friday 10-5 Saturday 10-2 Closed Sunday Merrillville Sewing Center 7752 Broadway Merrillville, IN 46410 (219)736-7748 Fax: (219)736-7397 Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00 Saturday 9:00-2:00 Closed Sunday Class schedules are subject to change due to inclement weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Please check our website calendars for updates before you venture out. Most classes require registration in advance so we can be prepared for you.	Happy New Year!   We hope this finds you well and rested after the Christmas Season!  We are getting lots of samples done and we are so excited to start a new season of classes! We'll be quilting and embroidering. There are beginning sewing classes. Be sure to check our event calendars regularly, subscribe to our news feed so you won't miss a thing, and check our blog for news, tips, sales, and projects. This is just a sampling of what we've got planned this winter! Advanced registration is required for most classes---simply call & come in for the project list---simple as that. We love hearing from our customers!  Have a safe and Happy New Year!
Computer Classes 5D Group 4-These classes teach everything you want to know about your 5D Extra software! Highland:1st Saturday of the month 8-10:30 AM Merrillville:1st Saturday of the month--- Digitizing 8-9 AM Software--9:30-10:30 AM Photo---10:30 AM Quilt Classes! Picnic Quilt-We're going to be starting the Picnic Quilt in Highland this month! This fun quilt is just covered with summertime fun like icecream cones, soda's, pies, corn on the cob, and, chicken legs. Learn how to use a specially included product to give your quilt a textured effect. Learn to make checkboards in no time at all! Sign up today for this really fun quilt. Highland---Wed Jan 30 8 AM Learn to Quilt-Always wanted to make a quilt and don’t know where to start? We'll will walk you through all the proper steps! By the end of this class you will have a beautiful quilt top of your own! Merrillville---3rd Tues of the month 1 PM Stipple- Learn how to stipple or come in, practice, and pick up some pointers. Become a pro. Merrillville---1st Fri of the month 8-9 AM Sewing Classes! Beginning Sewing-Want to learn how to make a PJ pant from a pattern? Gwen will teach you all you need to know to get started sewing! Highland and Merrillville---Call for schedules Kitchen Aide Cover -We're covering our Kitchen Aides with this fun class. An embroidery machine is required to embroider the Kitchen Aide design on your cover, but you can still join us with a regular sewing machine and stitch without the design. Stop by to get the project list and sign up.Merrillville---Feb 6 8AM Applique Classes! Teapot Quilt- Jan Brown's exclusive design full of Teacups, Teapots, and warm words of friendship. This class is just getting started---hurry and sign up today before it's filled up. Merrillville---Wed Jan 23 8 AM Stitcher's Garden-This class teaches you how to use the special stitches and feet available for your machine. We're currently in the middle but everyone is welcome to come and join us after registering. Sign up today---make pillows or a table topper!     Merrillville---3rd Wed of the month 9-2 AM	Embroidery Classes Seeing Double Table Topper! This is a double sided table topper that you make in the hoop. Joan's made the store sample in hearts for side one and side two is full of shamrocks for St. Pat's Day. This is a great project that only takes a few hours of time. Highland Jan 16 8-2AM Beautiful Heart Battenburg Lace-Learn all the tips and tricks of making freestanding lace with just thread and Aquamagic stabilizer. We have special thread and Aquamagic in stock for this project.Highland Wed Jan 23 8 AM-2 PM Stitch a Prayer Wallhanging -Use an Anita Goodesign to make a wallhanging. Choose from the Serenity Prayer, The Lord's Prayer, or the Footprints in the Sand poetry. We have the designs in stock and choose one of our new hangers for purchase so that you can hang your beautiful quilt when you arrive home. This makes a great gift for a loved one in a nursing home or a shut in too. Make them for Easter gifts.Merrillville Wed Feb 6th 8 AM   Home Tweet Home-Join us for a class making an adorable door hanging! Jan is just getting the sample done, and it is so adorable. This is an Anita Goodesign Collection that includes designs for the whole year. Make one for spring, summer, fall, and winter and all the holidays in between. Purchase a hanger for hanging on your front door and welcome your guests to your home with your handywork! This is a fun class you won't want to miss.   Merrillville Tenatively for Wed Mar 6 8 AM Sew for a cause Sewing for Hospice Give your time and use your sewing machine to help make hospice patients and families more comfortable. Come join us, enjoy the fellow sewing enthusiasts, share ideas, and pick up new skills. Highland---Second Thurs of the month 8 AM Quilts of Valor--- Sew quilts for the troops. Get together with other quilters and learn new skills at the same time. Merrillville---Begins Thurs Mar 21 at 2 PM

Get Your Designer Diamond Deluxe Now!

If you've been thinking about trading in your sewing machine for a Designer Diamond Deluxe now is the time!

Now through February 15, 2013 you get 5D Professional Plus Software absolutely FREE with the purchase of a new Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond Deluxe. That's like getting $2000.00 free!

The Designer Diamond is the top of the line Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machine with these great features:

***Long free arm; nearly 10 inches of sewing surface!
***Fully customizable for your tastes with sounds and screen options
***Progammable stitches
***A huge embroidery area 360mm X 350mm capability (with optional hoop)
***Built in quick reference advisor for sewing and embroidery!

Add 5D Professional Plus Embroidery software that includes 3 excusive modules, 11 modules in all to this wonderful machine and you've got a professional package with no limits to your creativity. With 5D Professional Plus you'll be able to create picture perfect embroideries with realistic fills, create lace designs in no time, and digitize fonts that are your very own. Worth over $2000, this package is absolutely free with your Designer Diamond Deluxe purchase from now until February 15, 2013.

And we offer free classes with your purchase to teach you how to get the most out of your machine. We also fully support 5D Software with optional classes and creative instruction.

Hurry into the store today. Supplies are limited. Other restrictions may apply. Please see store for complete details!

           

Sewing Notion of Note

One of the first things that you learn in quilting class is that precise cuts are imperative to your finished product. Fortunately, the sewing center has many tools to help you get all your cuts done accurately and easily so you can get to the sewing part!

One of the best investments you can make is in a good quality cutting matt. It doesn't need to be large---but if you have the room you should consider this 24x36 version from TrueCut.

The matt features measurements to the 1/8th of an inch, angle marks of 45, 60, 90 degrees for making cuts and when you need to find the bias just set your fabric on the lines and cut. This is a superb quality matt that should last you years.

Be sure to take care of your matt---avoid exposure to excess heat (don't leave it in a hot car) and don't roll or fold it---there's a handy hanging hole for wall hanging when not in use. Priced at $59.95---you won't be able to find this kind of quality elsewhere for this amazing price.   

New Sewing Classes!

A New Year means some great new classes planned by Joan, our manager in Highland, Indiana and Jan, our manager in Merrillville. We are so excited about these brand new classes.

Merrillville 

In Merrillville Jan is starting classes in an applique quilt called the Teapot Applique. This is an exclusive design featuring quilt blocks with a teapot, teacup, and a really wonderful tea related saying on each. As always, if you don't have the time and/or resources to invest in making a quilt, you can always use the design in other ways and still attend a couple of classes. This design looks wonderful in hoop frames for a kitchen wall or would be a great gift pillow for a friend. Or use one of those wonderful blocks on a tea cozy, mug rug, or appliance cover for your Kitchen Aide.  This is a class and a design that you won't want to miss. You'll need to see Jan at the Merrillville store to pre-register for this class and receive a list of items to bring to class.

Class is currently scheduled for January 23rd and, as always, is dependent on required participation before it's fully scheduled.

Are you interested in 5D software skills? On the 1st Saturday of each month Jan holds classes on how to use 5D, another on digitizing designs with 5D, and digitizing photographs with 5D photo digitizer. You must have the software to attend the class and registration in advance is required to attend.

1st Saturday of the month: Software 9:30--10:30, Digitizing 8:00--9:00, Photo 10:30

Have you always dreamed of making a quilt of your very own? The third Tuesday of the month is the day for you---our Beginning Quilt Class! Join us to learn how to quilt as we guide you through all the steps from beginning to cuddling your favorite loved one up in the dreamy warmth of your own home sewn creation. It's easy once you know all the inside tips of the trade.

3rd Tuesday of the month: 1pm---register in advance please 

Highland

Joan, in our Highland, Indiana store, has been busy planning some really wonderful classes for you too. We're putting the finishing touches on our Applique Quilt. What a run through our sewing machine feet and decorative stitches this quilt was and we all learned so much!

Wed Jan 9th 8AM

A holiday center piece, table topper, or wall hanging, the Seeing Double all in hoop embroidery design class is a great class to get your feet wet with beginning embroidery and applique. This is a proven design---so easy with some eye catching pizazz. Simple, fast, and easy this design is fully reversible and the sewing center's sample is being done with Valentine's on one side and St Patrick's Day shamrocks on the reverse. So versatile and beautiful! Advanced registration is required. Stop in at the sewing center to sign up, get the design and project list today!

Scheduled for Wed Jan 16th at 8:00AM

Winter days require warm cups of tea and we're sewing up teacups. The design, called Fill 'er Up, has patterns for placemats, table runner, and table topper. Add elements to your tea cups and serve coffee or cocoa instead to make your finished teacups your very own.

Schedule TBD

And, finally, Joan is so excited to announce the beginning of the Picnic Quilt Class. This quilt is so adorable and can be finished just in time for picnic season. Covered with appliqued corn on the cobs, pies, sodas and chicken legs it is as fun to sew as it will be to picnic with. And what picnic isn't complete without ants? And this quilt is covered with ants. Checkerboards complete the quilt---and once you learn Joan's secret you'll be making those checkerboards in no time at all. This is the most fun you'll have all year making a quilt and you'll be cheered with thoughts of picnics to come as you stitch the quilt this winter. You'll need to pre-register and buy the design. A table runner that is just as fun is included in the design packet if you don't have the time to make the entire quilt.

Schedule TBD

Come join us this winter! New classes are added every week---check our calendars for all the details and subscribe to our calendar feed so you don't miss an opportunity to get together, sew, and celebrate life.

See you soon!

    
   

Embroidery Designs

Did you get an embroidery machine for Christmas? Are you planning some winter sewing projects? Need some designs to inspire you? Look no further than the sewing center. We have catalogs full of designs to delight and inspire all your projects. We've just got some new designs from Dakota Designs, Anita Goodesign, and Inspira's collections. If you don't see what you need with all that, we'll help you get what you need.  Here's just a small sampling of what is available:

New from Dakota Collectibles for those little ones:

 

When they get older try a shirt Tatto from Husqvarna/Viking

 

Start on your Valentine's Day Cards

 

 

Make a Purse!

 

 

Get ready for a summer picnic!

 

Cheer up that Winter Day with a Butterfly

 

Hope to see you soon! We have some classes and open sew days in the works. Visit our event page.