The Sewing Machine Accessory Bible by Wendy Gardiner & Lorna Knight

The Sewing Machine Accessory Bible by Wendy Gardiner & Lorna Knight  ISBN 9780312676582
I purchased this book the other day and am very pleased that I did. It is certainly a book to keep near your sewing machine, especially if you have a Janome sewing machine. Most of the illustrations feature Janome presser feet which is a rarity to see in sewing books. Other brands of machine feet are also shown so you don't have to be afraid that the book won't be of help to you.
This book is very well set up with Chapter 1 on sewing essentials including anatomy of a sewing machine and the different notions and gadgets now available to help you achieve sewing success.
Chapter 2 presents Basic feet with pictures of each foot being discussed, ideas for at least 6 sewing techniques that the foot can do and step by step instructions on the basic use of the foot. Each different foot section is 2-3 pages long in full color with pictures that are large enough to follow techniques. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 are set up the same way only they deal with Specialty fabric and technique feet, Pretty edges and Fancy Stitching. The last chapter of the book is a buying guide for machines.
Chapters 2-5 are the meat of the book and show many excellent ways to achieve different looks. If you don't have one type foot, you might find that you do have one that can mimic the same thing. You also might find that you will see feet that you want to put on your wish list or go buy immediately, as they will solve a particular sewing difficulty that you might have. I know I saw several feet that are on my wish list and seeing what they do and how they work helps me to know if they is something I really want. Some presser feet can be pricey so you want to be sure they are what you need to purchase.

I have many sewing books and this one is the best for discussion of sewing feet attachments. This book is a keeper. For logical set up, great pictures, and thoroughness, this book gets five stars from me.

August Free Embroidery Designs

Don't forget to pop on over to Secrets of Embroidery to pick up their latest free designs and to see the other great designs that have just been published or are on sale.

Also it is time to visit Embroidery Library to pick up your August freebies until August 31, 2011. After that time they will be available at their regular price. This month there is an anchor and ship's wheel and in their continuing series another flower pot, this one featuring sunflowers and watermelon -- perfect for summer!

Maternity Patterns

Back in the early 1980's when I was pregnant with my two boys, I made all my own maternity clothes. Little did I know then that I would be selling sewing patterns on line 30 years later. Who had ever heard of a personal computer or the Internet? Those were things of science fiction. Several weeks ago I bought some maternity patterns to resell at our store. What a trip down memory lane!

The above pattern, Simplicity Pattern 8606 was one of the patterns I tried to make. Actually I had it almost done. I had made and installed the Peter Pan collar and had trimmed it with lace and was just about done. I had to get up from my sewing for a minute or two. When I came back I found a huge hole in the tummy part from my toddler practicing his scissor cutting! I could have cried as I had no idea how to fix the mess. Strange thing is, I don't think I ever saw Ron with scissors in his hands since. Crafting things didn't interest him.

This pattern, Simplicity Pattern 8381, was my absolute favorite top. I combined the sleeves on the dress with the length of the top. The sleeves had a hem detailing that I had always wanted to try again, so I'm going to take a peak at the instructions before it goes to it's new home. As I got near the final days of my second pregnancy, I had grown out of most of my maternity clothes as babies over 10# can do that to you! So I whipped up a maternity dress like the one pictured. After the baby was born and I was up to going to church for the first time after having the baby, I realized that none of my clothes fit yet so without thinking I popped the dress over my head and was on my way. All was well until the baby started making hungry sounds and I realized my mistake. There was no way to nurse the baby with this dress on and taking your dress off at church is generally frowned on!

Life moved on and my babies are grown up now. One is getting married next Saturday with his younger brother as his best-man. I don't know if other moms get nostalgic when their children are getting married, but I sure have especially when I was faced with memories of the very clothes I wore and made while carrying them.

If you need to make some memories, we have a great selection of maternity patterns in our store plus over 7500 other sizes and styles of patterns.