Notion of the Week

Are you having problems finding designs that suit your projects? Still looking for embroidery designs that are just right for that pillow, quilt, or scarf?

If you believe that your creativity is all in the details and the details available are not quite what you need, it is time to try digitizing your own embroidery designs. And the top of the line software for digitizing is 5D Professional.

5D Professional makes it fast and easy to create your own designs with the following features:

   

• Multiwave fills that shape and provide 3D effects to your embroideries. Make realistic leaves and flowers. Shape hair, skirts, coats, and shirts on your designs of people---put realistic fur on those cute puppies and kitties. With just a couple of clicks in 5D you can do things with a design that would take you a few hours to do in other software!
• Create color gradients making your designs more detailed and realistic. Again, in a fraction of the time your design has more detail and looks more professional.
• Have some clipart that you've can't wait to embroider on a pillow or quilt? A school mascot or slogan? Using the Express Design to digitize will get those designs from just computer drawings to embroidery in short order.
• 5D also organizes all your designs, allows you to change colors on all designs and provides a realistic view of embroidery right on your screen so you don't have to guess what your end results will be. Use your own library of theads to plan out colors and view right on the screen!

5D software helps you create projects never dreamed of. Stitch family trees, include old photographs. Or commemorate a family vacation, honeymoon, or reunion with stitched photos and memories. Create memorable, keepsake cards for family and friends. Digitize designs made just for your grandchildren's interests. Make a memory quilt that can be passed down from generation to generation.

And one of the nicest things about 5D is that we provide classes and support after your purchase. And Husqvarna Viking has a site full of fun and interesting tutorials and projects and ideas just for 5D software customers.

Today's heirlooms start with 5D software. And a special deal on this software starts tomorrow. Visit our website tomorrow for the details.
          

Notion of the week

Already have the Designer Sewing machine of your dreams? Now you're wondering how to organize all your beautiful threads so you'll be able to locate the color you need without all that searching, or, worse yet, running to the store and buying a duplicate because you can't find the particular color you need.

Hemingworth thread has a wonderful solution---drawers full of thread you can use right out of the drawer---no longer do you need to search for and pull the correct color and later make sure it's filed back into the proper place so you can locate it next time you need that color.

The drawers are made in the U.S.A. of Baltic Birch and come in three colors: white, black, and natural. They are attractive in addition to being so handy and functional.

This is a special order item that the sewing center can order special for you. Because of the many options we don't usually keep them in stock. Just ask at the counter and we'll be able to have one ordered for you directly.Seven drawers full of colors are available. So if you're looking for a solution to your ever growing thread collection....have us order you a drawer.

Notion of the week

There are so many stabilizers and as many uses for those stabilizers. Should you use a tear away, a topper, a heavy or lightweight? If you're like me and get confused by all the options and combinations our notion of the week is for you.

The Inspira Stabilizer Guide Wheel is a handy little tool that will provide you with the answer to your stabilizer questions for your next project, giving you the perfect stabilizer solution just for you!

Stop by the sewing center today and get yours today.

Notion of the week

Fat quarters are so convenient and handy and they're not just for quilting either. We have several quick projects planned for our in store classes this winter.

We also have a great deal on a limited supply of a bagfull of bright colored fabric just perfect for this winter's spring sewing and quilt projects. Come by the store and check out the great deal on these packages of fabric perfect for fat quarters and fat eighths. 

How many great things can you creat from the bundle? Contact the sewing center with your ideas and we'll highlight them in a future blog post.      

Notion of the week

Potholders are important, handy, and easy to make, but what is that stuff in between that prevents those burnt fingers?

Look no further than Northwest Indiana Sewing Centers for the insides of your potholders---and don't just trust your fingers to regular batting. The product you need to keep your fingers in tact is called Insul-Bright. It's a special batting product with a heat resistant Metalized Polyester layer---that's what protects your fingers. The product is heat resistant---don't try to stick it in your microwave oven---there's another product for that use.

Insul-Bright comes with a handy oven mitt pattern right on the package. Sometimes there's a question regarding the right or wrong side of the product---never fear there is no wrong side to Insul-Bright these days!

This product can be difficult to find locally but we have it in stock. And if you need an idea for a Valentine or hostess gift for a friend---how about a cute potholder or oven mitt---everyone can use another; don't you think?          

Notion of the week

This is Joan, now our manager and educator at our Highland store, a couple of years ago when she was taking a class in Merrillville. Joan became such an expert at sewing she was hired!

Jan, our manager in Merrillville, has a lot of experience in sewing, quilting, embroidery. She can answer just about any question you have and if you're having a problem she won't rest until it's fixed.  Jan taught Joan everything she knows.

If you'd like to become an expert too or would just like to learn a few things about your machine and what you can do with it, then our in store classes are recommended.

We already have some classes planned, and there are new classes added every day. Point your browser to our class schedule for Merrillville or Highland. Download our schedule right to your calendar to stay up to date. And if you don't see exactly what you are interested in we're open to suggestions---use our handy contact form.

Notion of the week

Ever had a problem with skipped stitches or broken needles when sewing over heavy seams on your blue jeans? Your machine may need a little help with the traction between the feed dogs and the presser foot.


And that is just what a Jean-a-ma-jig helps out with! This handy little helper tackles all kinds of thick seams. And it's so reasonably priced every sewing box should have one!  

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?

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!
    

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

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!     

Notion of the week

Our notion of the week is the Dakota Collectables Holiday Ornament Design CD. This CD makes a 20 Lace Applique Ornaments all in the hoop.

These ornaments will delight young and old alike. The possiblities are endless:

 

Add a set or two to your tree.

 Add one to a package for a decorative and elegant wrap.

Great Christmas gift as a set or individually for those hard to buy for office gifts.

Make one for the postman

Elegant for teachers.

Beautiful hanging in a window.

And they're so fun to make! Contact the Sewing Center now. They're going fast!   

Notion of the week

This week's notion is a real time saver. The Frixion Pen is an erasable pen. It goes on smoothly and accurately and the ink stays where you want it, doesn't smear, or disappear before you need it to.

When you're done and want the ink to disappear just touch with a hot iron and voila--it disappears!

This pen is highly recommended for applique.    

Notion of the week

It sure is getting dark earlier and even if your sewing room has a lot of nice windows, you're likely to find yourself working with artificial lighting this time of year.

It's always nice to have a little extra light to work with and this week's notion of the week is a tiny light that clamps onto your machine and provides more light whereever and whenever you need it.

We've got a limited supply of these handy lights in stock---they'd actually be handy outside of your sewing room too.

And as we head towards the darkest days of the year, we all could use a little extra light.

Makes a great stocking stuffer too!     

Notion of the week

Joan, in the Highland Sewing Center, is always looking for new tools to make sewing more fun and easy. And we're really excited to announce that we're getting in machines to help with cutting quilt fabric this week.

The new tools are called Accuquilts and we'll have Accuquilt Go and Accuquilt Go Baby's in stock. These machines cut fabric and with the great assortment of dies the opportunities are endless.






Just check out these cute quilts. And can you believe some of these patterns are available for free:

I can't wait to try these machine out; can you? The ladies who are taking the Christmas Red class get a sneak preview on Friday.

Joan will be planning events soon regarding this creative tool; so watch our website, blog, or sign up for our newsletter so you won't miss out.

P.S. I hear we may have a special promotional price too. Stay tuned....     



 

Notion of the week

One of the chores of machine embroidery is snipping all those threads.

Snip-a-Stitch squeeze type scissors make the job easier. You simply squeeze the handles and the thread is cut.  This lessons hand fatigue more than conventional scissors.

These snips come in a couple of different varieties; one has a notched end for grabbing and removing stitches and there is a no-notched version for just clipping embroidery threads. They were hot items at our recent class events and students loved that this notion made the job so much easier.

Come by and see us at the Highland or Merrillville Sewing Centers and pick up your own set of snips.