After that flurry of sewing (which I only do as flurries -- I never keep up with my finishing, for heaven's sake), I remembered and learned a few things about sewing and finishing projects.
A well-maintained sewing machine is a must. After having to abandon the machine half way through my SIL's stocking (and finish sewing it by hand), I took it into Blow's Sew and Vac (they do machine sales and repair). Wow! What a difference a little TLC makes. The tension is perfect, and the machine runs so smoothly. I guess you have to take it in more than once every 10 years. Huh.
I purchased one of those cutting mats, clear rulers and rotary cutters like quilters use. What a dreamy way to trim perpendicular squares and rectangles. It made quick work of measuring and trimming the pillows I needed to sew, especially the ornaments. And by using the grid marked on the ruler, I was able to see that the amount of room between the stitching and the edge of the fabric was the same on all four sides. It's a little bit of an investment, but the gal at the quilt store said the blades last quite a long time (and they're easily replaced.) Remember not to roll your cutting mat (unless you have one that can roll.)
A medium grey sewing thread is a great color to use on a multitude of projects, as it blends in with almost everything (also learned this from the gals at the quilt store.) I finished some ornaments with white linen and backing fabric with white thread, but the rest could be finished with that neutral grey. I had picked up some "invisible" thread at the quilting store, but one of the employees told me that it can melt under an iron -- whoops! Good thing she told me! Then she handed me the grey, and I was set.
There are so many wonderful fabrics available now. It was great fun to look for fabrics that complemented my projects: a black fabric with faded outlines of leaves and splotches for Halloween pieces, folksy apples for the back of Betty, crisp white fabric with snowflakes and glittery sparkles for my ornaments. And now I have a little more of a fabric stash for more finishing projects (please, someone, remind me that I DO NOT want to learn to quilt!)
Ironing makes a big difference in how finishing turns out as well. I kept my iron out and hot while I was sewing. Nice flat pieces of fabric are much easier to work with. I also really liked the stuffing that I had (polyester may seem "unnatural," but poofs out to make such an evenly filled pillow). When finishing a piece as a pillow, sew with the right side of fabric and stitching together, leaving a hole large enough to flip it inside out. Then fill using small pieces of the fiberfill at a time. Make sure to get the corners filled first, because they're easy to forget (and they look all limp and sad if you forget them.) If you pack it nice and tight, it'll be a heavier, more solid pillow. I put popcorn in Apple Betty's seat so she'd stay put. My kids think she's a riot. When you're done stuffing, hand-stitch that last few inches closed, and you're ready for cording, tassels, buttons, a hanger, or whatever.
I hope you have fun with your finishing projects this winter. We had five inches of snow here last week (which, fortunately, is gone for our trick or treating right now.) The weather man says this winter will be brutal. My sewing machine and my hands are ready!
Happy Halloween -- eat a candy bar for me (did you know a candy bar has no calories if you eat it FOR someone else? In exchange, I'll eat one for you!) BOO!
"I count myself in nothing else so happy/As in a soul remembering my good friends." (Wm. Shakespeare, King Richard II)
© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com