Part 1 of 5 Part series Making Your Project Look Store Bought

Hi all,
What a great week! Weather in the 70's, canned the Salsa (14 pints) and tomatoes(10 quarts) and getting ready for the Sewing School to start . I am so excited!

I thought a lot about what I should do for this weeks blog. My most asked question about sewing is "How do you make your project look more store bought"? Well, this is not as hard as you might think. It is more about doing some basic things than being a great seamstress. Although the more you sew, the better your projects will look.

Part 1 in this series is Getting to Know Your Sewing machine
It will surprise you how just spending some time getting to know your sewing machine can make such a difference in your finished project. A few years ago I got a computerized sewing machine. I have been sewing since I was 12 (or there abouts) and I could use almost any machine. The Basics were the same but it had features that I had never had before, like an automatic threader. Boy do I love that! Most of the new machines have threaders now, even the basic ones. But just getting able to use it was hard. Once I mastered it, what a difference it made. It was such a small thing, but what a time saver.

So I will give you some basic things to do, and when you sit down to sew a project you will be more comfortable with your machine. Then you can concentrate on your project and not be worrying about running your machine.

1. Get out your manual and read it front to back. You will be surprised what you will learn by just reading your manual.
   
2. Buy some painters tape. Most of your projects will be sewn 5/8 ". It really helps to put a piece of tape on the 5/8” mark and line your fabric up on the tape and just sew. Cut up an old sheet and just sew. Practice lining up the fabrics on the 5/8 inch mark and start sewing straight.
   
3. Start from the front of the manual and get familiar with the parts and names of your machine. When you start reading patterns, look up help online, or take a class, you will know what they are talking about.
   
4. Keep turning pages and do whatever they do. Change the feet and do the stitches that correspond with each foot. Wind the bobbin, do as much as you can. I realize if you have never used a machine before some things in the manual can be a bit over a newbies head, but do what you can.
   
5. New machine. If you bought a new machine and they offer classes, take them. It will do what I just had you do.
   
6. Read the troubleshooting guide in the back of the manual. If you read this, then you will have an idea of what is wrong when there is a problem. You will still need to consult it each time but it will help you not to be so nervous about what is not going quite right.
   
7. Practice Practice Practice. Take a week or so and practice using your machine. Become as comfortable with your machine as you can before you start that big project.

Again, making your project look store bought is following some basic things and getting to know your machine is the first thing. Happy sewing!

Up and Coming Events

Hi all,

What a wonderful morning. I love late summer mornings. My garden is full and over flowing. I went out to get tomatoes and make salsa and at first look I thought maybe I would have to wait till the weekend. BUT NO!! I retrieved 50 pounds of tomatoes , peppers and onions enough for a couple of batches of salsa. And have I told you I love canning. The sound of the lids popping and the sight of jars on the counter all full with food is the best sight ever. Well enough of that.

I promised I would tell you of up coming events. The one I am most excited about is our
Sew for Others Day. This year I hope to do several of these but our first one is to going to help the children at Shriner's hospital. We are going to make Bright Fun Pillow Cases. These kids need something to help Brighten there day as they go through things that even Adults would have a hard time with.

Here is how it is going to work. We will ask for donations of bright fun fabric. If you are a sewing student or read this blog you can donate and /or ask others like grandparents, friends, teachers or close neighbors to donate. I will have a box in my Sewing class room and each week we will collect until Saturday October the 24Th. On the 24Th we will spend the whole day and Sew for Others. The 4Th Saturday of October is Make a Difference day. I thought this would be a perfect day to have our first Sew for others day. Mark you calenders, start collecting and see you there October the 24Th from 9 until we are done. Bring a sack lunch. I will provide snack and something good to drink.

Well I better go I can hear the tomatoes calling to me COME MAKE ME IN TO SALSA. Till next week. PS. I Love to SEW!!! JoLene

Up and coming classes

Well hello there,
What a great week. Much cooler, harvesting many tomatoes, and having fun getting ready for my new classes.


I thought I would tell you more about the sewing classes I am teaching. The first camp I had this summer was with 2 of my granddaughters. I needed to practice before I actually taught kids I did not know. My Granddaughter Hallie is 6 and I was so afraid to turn over a sewing machine to her. I followed all the instructions in teaching the first lesson and WOW!! She did great. So did my other granddaughter Madisen (but she is almost 10 . Not as worried about her). They did great! They sewed straight, curves and put in elastic and hand sewed. I was so impressed. And now I cannot turn them off. Madisen lives in the Gig harbor area and Now all she can do is talk about how much she loves to sew and wanting to come back and sew. My other granddaughter Hallie saw I was mending one of her fabric Dog houses and she would not let me do it. I set her up and she did it all by her self. (remember she is 6).
The second camp I did was a great success. By the last class we all did not want it to end. They had time left over and were making other projects with their left over fabric. We were all sad to see it end. I would call that a great success.

The Kids can sew & fashion Design program, is designed for for 6- 16 years of age. Students gain confidence and self-esteem while learning a life skill that is almost lost to young people these days.


Weekly lessons, teach children to sew crafts and useful items and clothing of their own design. The curriculum is just wonderful and is designed to be fun and always with safety in mind. No additional sewing time is required outside of class.


New students are always welcome, but classes are designed to coincide with the school year from September to June, and cost less than music or dance lessons.
My School is in my home in Portland, Oregon in the woodstock area.


Just as on the Home page of this Blog:

• One hour per week


• Only 4 students per class


• One sewing machine per child


• Use my sewing machines and supplies


• $50 a month


• $35 one time registration fee per year-


• Holds place in class and cost of workbook for year.


• STUDENTS CHOOSE THEIR OWN FABRIC


• LIST OF RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES WILL BE GIVEN PRIOR TO CLASS

I am running a special as listed below. Just call and tell me you saw the coupon on my blog.
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COUPON GOOD FOR ONE FREE CHILD CLASS
WITH ENROLLMENT IN YEAR PROGRAM
Mention that you saw this on my Blog
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Happy sewing JoLene

Home Based Sewing School

Welcome to my Sewing School Blog. In April 2009 I lost my job of 14 years. With no jobs out there I went looking for some way to make a living. My daughter Stephanie and her family live with us and she suggested that we started a daycare, which we did. We got state registered and all that (which by the way was a lot of hard work). We have 8 part time kids and 3 of my grand kids and we have a lot of fun. It keeps us busy but I knew that when School started that most of that income would be gone.

Sewing has been part of my life since I was very young. My Dream has always been to own a Fabric or Quilting store. So naturally when I lost my job, Sewing was the last thing I thought of for a business. Maybe it should have been my first but I didn't even consider it. A good friend Alina made the suggestion that I teach sewing because she always wanted me to teach her. I just threw it out. Then one night while surfing the net, I found the "Kids can Sew "web site and it looked like what I was looking for. The rest is history. My wonderful mother gave me starting up funds (thanks Mom!) and I became the proud owner of "JoLene's Sewing School".

My daughter Nicole suggested that I do a sewing blog and she set it up for me. A special thanks to her for all her help. I think it looks very nice. Now that means that I have to actually write something. I am not so good at that. My sister Donna is the writer. I should have her do this for me. The problem is she doesn't have a computer anymore so I guess its up to me.

Well then for my first blog I just wanted to announce that I have started a Sewing School in my home (with pics to come). I live in Portland, Oregon in the Woodstock area. I will be starting classes on the 9Th of September 2009. Teaching kids from 6 to 11 and teens 12 to 18 and Beginning adult classes. Classes are listed on the side of my blog. I had 2 camps this summer and they were so much fun. When they were over we were so sad the end had come. I will also be offering a day class for any home schooled kids out there that would be interested.

I love kids and Sewing so what better job to have than teaching kids to gain the love of sewing like I have. So anyone in the area that wants to learn to Sew give me a call Or email and join the fun.

A special thanks to Jerry my husband for his fix'em up skills,(sounds like I just won a Emmy and maybe I have) daughter Stephanie for all the things she does 2 numerous to mention, my granddaughter Madisen for all her help this summer, My mom, sisters Donna and Tonya for all their support . All my Friends (you know who you are) that listen to me when I need an ear.

Well that's it for now. I am thinking that I will blog things about sewing and my sewing school in general. If you have any suggestions or questions feel free to ask. Not guaranteeing I know the answer, but I will try. I love you all!! PS I LOVE TO SEW!