Sewing Secrets

Celebrating 200 years at the Craft & Hobby Show

2012-02-01T13:36:00.009-05:00

Coats & Clark is celebrating its 200th Anniversary this year! In 1812, Patrick Clark built the first mill for making cotton thread in Paisley, Scotland and the rest, as they say is history!! Read all about it in our on-line history museum: Coatsandclark200years.com.

We launched our celebration at the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Trade Show in Anaheim, California this week. Our booth featured a work by artist Devorah Sperber, the Mona Lisa 8, which is made up of 1482 spools of Dual Duty XP. At first glance, it appears to be a random arrangement of color. (Actually the camera improves the image so that it is recognizable). When viewed thru a clear acrylic sphere, it "pixels" into an image of the Mona Lisa and rotates it 180 degrees like the human eye. This shift in perception emphasizes the subjective reality versus an absolute truth. Learn more about Devorah's work at DeborahSperber.com.

At the show, we displayed items from our archives spanning from 1850 to present day.

This thread cabinet is an example of what would have been in country stores in the late 1800's.

We will be sharing more of our story and archives throughout the year, so check back often. You can read our story and share yours at Coatsandclark200years.com. You will also be eligible to win 1 of 10 special anniversary prizes when you share your story.

Vintage Inspired Modern Style Design Challenge

2012-01-18T09:34:00.010-05:00

Amy Barickman has created a design challenge,Vintage Inspired/Modern Style , that combines the history of Coats & Clark as we are celebrating our 200th year and Singer as they are celebrating 160 years and a tribute to Mary Brooks Picken who was the American authority on fashion and sewing in the early 1900's and wrote sewing books for Coats & Clark and Singer during her career.

Amy was inspired by Mary to write the book Amy Barickman's Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Cooking, Sewing, Fashion and Fun. The book shares the timeless teachings of Mary and her Magic Patterns for basic garments which are at the heart of this challenge. The book includes 12 Magic Patterns and Amy is offering 4 free down loadable Magic Patterns for the Challenge.

See all of the rules for the contest at BurdaStyle/vintage modern. Prizes totaling $3000 include a 160th anniversary sewing machine from Singer, thread and 200th anniversary tin from Coats & Clark and patterns from Indygo Junction. In addition, the winner will have the opportunity to have her pattern published by Indygo Junction.

Learn more about the Challenge in this interview with Amy Barickman.

Sewing on Fleece

2012-01-05T13:09:00.007-05:00

Fleece can be used in so many ways. It is a favorite for no-sew projects because it doesn't ravel, but it is also simple to use for sewing projects.

Our Snowflake Fleece pillow takes advantage of the no-ravel quality. The front and back is sandwiched wrong sides together and the cut edges form the flange border.

The only negative to sewing on fleece is that it is very hard to rip out stitches, but the good news is-- it is a very forgiving fabric. The stitches are buried in the pile, so if they are less than perfect, no one will be able to tell!

Here are some tips for sewing with fleece:

Fleece is a pile fabric and should be cut using the "with nap" layout.

Use long pins with glass or plastic heads so that they do not get buried in the fleece.

Use Coats Dual Duty XP General Purpose Thread in a color to match your fabric or one shade darker.

Set machine for a long (8-10 stitches per inch or 3 mm) straight stitch or a narrow zig zag.

A size 12 (80) Universal point needle is the best choice for most fleece fabrics.

Be sure of fit before you sew because stitches sink into the pile and are difficult to remove.

Trim seam allowances to 1/4" to reduce bulk.

No seam finish is needed because fleece does not ravel, but zig-zagging seams together reduces bulk

When installing a zipper, remember the fleece will stretch, but the zipper tape will not. To prevent a wavy appearance, sew with the fleece underneath the zipper, so that the feed dogs will gently ease the fleece to the zipper tape.

Sewing Christmas Stockings

2011-12-02T15:32:00.002-05:00

Families have different traditions when it comes to Christmas stockings. Some families have matching stockings, in some families each person has their own individual design. Some people have used the same stocking since they were a baby and others change stockings to match their decorating theme each year.

Here are five stocking patterns, just in case you need some ideas for a gift or need to refurbish your family's stockings!

Beaded Stocking

Zipper Tree Stocking

Snowflake Glow in the Dark Stocking

Christmas Dangles Stocking

Fleece Stocking

We are Sewing - Along!

2011-09-08T16:08:00.007-04:00

Are you "Sewing Along" with Gretchen and Peter on BurdaStyle.com? They are doing a fantastic job leading us step by step sewing the skirt and dress. In fact they are doing such a good job leading our Coats & Clark/Free Spirit Sewing Month Sew-Along, that I've decide to just "Sew Along" with all of you.

My very girly lunch box was my inspiration. I love the black and white accented by pink.

My first step was to select my fabric. I "shopped" in my fabric stash and found these positive/negative prints by Jennifer Paganelli for Free Spirit. I have to admit it is a real perk to work on same floor as our sister company Westminster Lifestyle fabrics. The temptation to hoard fabric is irresistable!

For the "pink" I pulled one of our Dual Duty XP fashion bright threads, Neon Pink 9213. I'm not sure how I'm going to use it yet....Any suggestons?

Next I selected the pattern. Another perk of working in the home sewing industry is going to great sewing shows. The pattern companies will present a fantastic fashion show featuring their newest patterns which they just happen to offer in their booth at a terrific show price. I can't resist this temptation either. This skirt is one I purchased at the American Sewing Expo (which is coming up Sept 23-25 in Novi, MI by the way).

I'm old school-- so I've prewashed my fabrics and straightened the grain--which was easy since these are quilting cottons and were torn on the crosswise grain. It really is best to pre-wash fabrics to remove shrinkage. Even if fit isn't an issue, if your fabrics shrinks and the thread doesn't you will have puckered seams.

Next step: Fitting pattern (Horrors--must take measurements!), layout, cutting and marking.

Sewing Month Sew Along

2011-08-16T12:45:00.019-04:00

We are celebrating National Sewing Month with a month-long sew along.
Learn new sewing techniques and have some creative fun during the FreeSpirit Fabric and Coats & Clark® Sew Along celebrating September’s National Sewing Month.

The sew-along will be hosted by BurdaStyle. Designer Tula Pink will share a multitude of ways to rev up the two sew-along projects with Coats & Clark® thread and zippers.

To participate, log on to BurdaStyle.com between September 1 and September 30 and follow along as BurdaStyle's Gretchen Hirsch and Peter Lappin share their interpretations of the projects and tips. See how Tula added borders, zipper piping and more to a skirt and halter dress pattern. Any pattern in these basic styles is acceptable including BurdaStyles's Skirt with Front Pleats and the Halter Dress.

Our models are featurning fabric from Tula's line for FreeSpirit Fabrics, Prince Charming.

Sign up here for email updates: Sew Along Updates

Then log onto BurdaStyle September 1 to be a part of the Sew Along.

Sewing in a Straight Line

2011-07-22T15:02:00.008-04:00

Have you ever thought about how much of sewing consists of stitching in a straight line? It's true and Brett Bara has put together a book of 26 projects that can be created by simply sewing straight line.

Sewing in a Straight Line is a collection of 26 projects for home decor, gifts, quilts, clothing and accessories that can all be made by simply sewing straight lines. Brett says, "My inspiration for this book came after many years of people telling me they’d love to learn to sew but they just didn’t know where to start. One day it hit me that so much of what I sew is super easy to make — in fact, much of it is sewn with straight lines only. And anyone can sew a straight line! So I set out to make a book that would show readers that they can make cute projects even with very simple skills."

We liked her ideas so much, Coats & Clark sponsored three videos that give you a preview of projects from the book.

Sewing in a Straight Line by Brett Bara – How to Sew a Round Bowl with Straight Lines Only from Rarebit Productions on Vimeo.

Sewing in a Straight Line by Brett Bara – How to Sew a Skirt in One Hour from Rarebit Productions on Vimeo.

Sewing in a Straight Line by Brett Bara – How to Sew the Easiest Zippered Throw Pillow from Rarebit Productions on Vimeo.

Brett will be doing a blog tour with a give-away at each stop of her book and a great assortment of our Dual Duty XP Thread. Find out more on her website, Manhattan Craft Room. You can also find where to purchase the book and a sneak-peek at other projects.

Pro-Am Sewing Exhibition

2011-03-16T16:30:00.016-04:00

Coats & Clark sponsored a Pro-Am Sewing Exhibition at the Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup Washington. We wanted to plan an event that would promote sewing, showcase the talents of the fantastic instructors and people from the sewing industry who are at the expo each year and that would be entertaining. After much brainstorming with Expo planners, we came up with an event modeled loosely after the "Pro-Am" sporting events. A "Pro" was paired with a local teen (a.k.a. the "Am") who sewed --most were involved in 4-H in the area. Each Pro was to plan a project with their "Am". Most of the the mentoring with my "Am" was done through email--since I am in North Carolina and she was in Washington, but this was the case for many of the Pro-Am pairs. Each teen also had a local mentor to help them through the process.

I was so excited when I finally met my "Am", Tyra, and saw her project. She used our new Fashion Metal Zippers in this cute faux suede leopard print skirt. She used McCalls M6289 and added side pockets closed with an exposed zipper and a longer exposed zipper in the back. She did such a great job. Tyra is 14 but she has been sewing for 7 years!

Then it was time for the show! Each "Pro" commentated their "Ams" outfit. The garments ranged from skirts, to tailored jackets and sportswear. One very young sewer created a matching skirt for her doll!

The show went off without a hitch and everyone was impressed with the talents of the young people. The future of sewing looks bright if this group is any indication.

Pillow case Patrol nets over 2300 pillow cases!

2011-03-10T11:23:00.009-05:00

We had the privilege of sponsoring a charity event at the recent Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup (it's near Tacoma!) Washington last week. Mary Bridge Children's Hospital was the benefactor and received the proceeds from ticket sales to our Pro-Am Sewing Exhibition. But all expo attendees had the opportunity to get involved by sewing a pillow case to donate to the hospital and bringing it to the expo.

Over 2300 pillow cases were received!! As you can see in the pictures, the pillow cases were fun and colorful! Some were embroidered, others had a quilt design pieced in the border. They were sewn by sewing guilds, girl scouts, 4-H clubs. The stories people shared were heartwarming. One woman's mother had recently passed away and she made pillowcases from her fabric stash. Read more stories on the Sewing Expo Blog or the Sewing Expo Facebook page.

Mary Bridge Children's hospital was presented with a generous check at the end of the show, but the special part of this event is knowing that the pillow cases will comfort many, many children in the future. A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who contributed.

Coats & Clark Pro-Am Sewing Exhibition

2011-02-15T11:34:00.019-05:00

We are excited about the Pro-Am Sewing event we are sponsoring this year at the Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA. The Expo is March 3-6, the Pro-Am event is Sunday, March 6. The concept is that teachers and authors from the sewing industry (aka Sewing Stars) have been paired with a sewing rookie. We have mentored our rookies through a project and the final results will be presented at the event.

Right is mentor Laura Mendosa and a "rookie". Most of the mentoring for my "rookie" has been via email, since she is in Washington and I'm in North Carolina.

The proceeds from the event will benefit Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma, but the children will also benefit in another way. People coming to the event or to the Expo in general are bringing pillowcases they have made for the hospital. Barbara Littrell from Mary Bridge says, "These pillowcases mean the world to the kiddos staying here at Mary Bridge. They brighten their rooms and their spirits." At left is Leanne, who plans to make 100 pillowcases.

Another plus for the pillowcase project is a free embroidery design created just for the event from Lisa Shaw of Buzz Tools. To further sweeten the deal, we will give everyone who brings pillowcases to donate at the show a spool of thread.

Visit the Expo blog for more about the event and the pillowcase project.

Coats & Clark on Facebook

2011-01-26T15:16:00.016-05:00

Join Coats & Clark's on Facebook!

This Facebook page brings together those who love to sew and quilt using threads from Coats & Clark.

We will be sharing sewing how-to's and tips, news from the sewing & quilting world and things that we think you may find interesting related to sewing, quilting, thread and Coats & Clark.

Love to knit and crochet? Join the fun on the Red Heart and Aunt Lydia's facebook pages.

BurdaStyle Giveaway

2010-12-01T09:43:00.005-05:00

If you love to sew and love free stuff, check out BurdaStyle's Giveaway. All through December they will be giving away great prizes including sewing machines, patterns, books, fabric and THREAD! Some lucky sewer will win a 50 spool assorment of our Dual Duty XP General purpose thread and an 24 spool assortment of beautiful Coats Rayon embroidery thread.

Quilt Market means new threads, fabrics and more

2010-11-08T14:42:00.024-05:00

Quilt Market and Festival is held annually in Houton Texas. Last week over 50,000 quilters attended the Festival which is open to the public. Market is held prior to Festival and that is where companies show their new products for the coming year. There was so much beautiful fabric, millions of yards of thread and every notion and conceivable quilt pattern –it was overwhelming to try to take it all in.

Coats & Clark featured our Star brand of quilting thread in our booth along with our Dual Duty XP threads. Star Threads are especially for quilters. Thread artist Terry White was demonstrating thread painting using Star Multicolors in our booth. She created 24 new multicolor combinations introduced at Market. Be sure to visit our Star website to learn more about Star threads.

The big buzz at Market was the appearance of Ty Pennington from Extreme Home Makeover. He has designed a line of fabrics for Free Spirit Fabrics and was there to present the fabrics, and oh yes, sign autographs.

A big attraction at Market and Festival are the beautiful quilts. All of the winning quilts are on the Quilts, Inc website. They are the highest level of skill and talent.

One of my favorites was this haunting portrait by Hollis Chatelain from Hillsborough, NC. If you look closely, you can see faces in the quilting of the overall face.

Another favorite was a pattern from Ruth Powers called “So Much Thread.” I think it would be fun to make this in some of our new Star Multicolor combinations!

The booths themselves are fun to see. Some of the vendors are very creative. This booth was like stepping into a cloud of pink!

Here are some more views of our booth! Look for new Star Threads and many more new quilting goodies in your local quilt shop.

Breast Cancer Awareness and Sewing

2010-10-20T16:07:00.001-04:00

Red Wool Needlecase

Women who sew share a special kinship when it comes to the cause of Breast Cancer Awareness and searching for a cure. Through sewing, we are able to make a sister a little more comfortable and to let her know we care.

I'd like to share with you a very special gift that I received with the hope that it will give you an idea for a way to use your sewing skills to honor someone in your life. It is a little wool needlecase made from a suit that belonged to my mother who died of breast cancer in 1992. My mother taught home economics in a rural school in South Carolina for 35 years. One of her former students made each of the members of her quilt group, many of whom had been mother's students, and me a needlecase from the suit fabric, with a note that encouraged each one to use it every day as a reminder of their friend and mentor.

If you know someone fighting breast cancer, find a way to use sewing to let them know you care.

The American Sewing Guild has patterns for Chemo Caps and "Anti-Ouch Pillows" on their website. These are both items that can be a gift for a friend to show you care, or a group project for a cancer center.

Fun at the Expo & Bra Challenge Winner

2010-10-05T15:06:00.020-04:00

Everyone had fun viewing and voting at the Show Your Support Bra Challenge held at the American Sewing Expo in Novi, MI.

All of the entries were exhibited with a number and attendees cast their votes by placing a dollar in the corresponding box. Stuffing the ballet box was definitely encouraged because all of the votes went to support the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center.

The winner of our on-line challenge was Women Uncensored. At the show the Viewer's choice award went to the comical "Night of the Living Bra".

The American Sewing Expo is 3 days packed with sewing fun.

Here are some scenes from the show:

The Sew Cafe offered a "menu" of Make & Take projects.

Free lectures ran throughout the day in three classrooms right on the show floor.

Vendors demonstrated new products in their booths. Dig the crazy sewing machine!

The Art of the Quilt Exhibit featured quilts inspired by classic American automobiles.

Designers participated in the Baby Lock Passion for Fashion contest. They created their garments right on the show floor, then presented them on live models in a fashion show.

Of course, some people had more fun than others! Bless the husbands who support our love of sewing!

Vote in the Show your Support Bra Challenge

2010-09-09T10:46:00.014-04:00

View Entries and Vote

Vote for your favorite entry in the “Show your Support Bra Challenge!" The entries range from hilarious (including the titles!) to sophisticated. Everyone gets one vote, so view them all before selecting your favorite.

There will be an exhibit of all entries American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan, September 24-26. The exhibit is to promote Breast Cancer Awareness and the proceeds will be donated to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

The winner will be selected by popular vote on-line, then announced at the show on Friday, September 24. Voting closes September 17.

See entries and vote

Show your Support Challenge

2010-08-23T15:09:00.011-04:00

Join the American Sewing Expo and Coats & Clark for the Show Your Support Bra Challenge. Pick up a new bra and use your creativity and sewing skills to embellish it. Make it fun, serious or pick a theme! All entries will be accepted with a $5 donation to Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. Fabulous prizes include a sewing machine from Janome and lots of thread from us, of course!

The deadline for sending in your entry is SEPTEMBER 1. To enter, just mail your embellished bra and donation to the Expo. It's that easy.

Then visit Coatsandclark.com or the show website, sewingexpo.com to vote for your favorite on-line September 10 through 17. Winners will be announced at the Expo on September 24.

Click here for entry requirements. Entry form. Rules

Confused by Thread sizes?

2010-08-11T10:30:00.017-04:00

Thread sizes can be almost as confusing as dress sizes! Part of the confusion comes because there are different sizing systems used. For most of our threads, rather than put a numerical weight or size on the label, we use a descriptive term such as Machine Quilting, Upholstery, Fine, All-purpose or Heavy.

We would like to try to clear up some of the confusion about thread size. Thread sizes are based either on a fixed weight system or a fixed length system.

Fixed weight systems describe the length of thread needed to weigh a specific amount. In these systems, the higher the number, the finer the thread. Two systems are the Cotton count which is based on 840 hanks =1 lb and Thread weight based on 30 meters = 1 gram.

Fixed Length systems use the weight of a given length of thread. In these systems the higher the number the larger the thread. Two examples are Tex which is the weight in grams of 1000 meters and Denier which is the weight in grams of 9000 meters.

Then there is size… This is an older system that groups threads into fine (Size 60), medium (Size 50) and heavy (Size 20) categories, with again, the higher number being the finer thread.

For an in-depth explanation of thread size, read “Unraveling the Mystery of Thread Size” by Ken Nelson, Sr. Product Manager-Sewing Thread, Coats & Clark.

The chart below gives Tex and weight for Coats threads.

A Remake of a Classic!

2010-06-11T13:34:00.013-04:00

We knew all along that quilter's were using our Dual Duty Plus--the cotton-wrapped polyester thread--for quilting and, in particular, piecing. We also knew quilters prefer 100% cotton. When we introduced new Dual Duty XP, a 100% polyester thread, we didn't forget the quilters. We increased the color range and amount of 100% cotton threads in our store assortments. That way we figured those who chose not to use Dual Duty XP for quilting (although it is really a great thread for quilting), would have plenty of cotton to choose from.

Well, quilters let us know (and were frankly, quite vocal about it) they still needed the cotton-covered, Dual Duty Plus.

We listened! We have used the new technology developed for Dual Duty XP to produce a smooth, low-lint cotton covered thread, but we didn't stop there!

New Coats Cotton-covered is 35 wt thread for piecing and quilting. It is a 3-ply thread (Dual Duty Plus was 2-ply) for added strength and a rounder thread. It has the luster of cotton and the strength of polyester. It has beautiful stitch definition and a new finish to ensure consistent sewing performance.

Look for it on the spa blue spool trap spool.

Zippers everywhere!

2010-05-21T11:50:00.014-04:00

If you have been in the stores lately or looked in any fashion magazine, you have seen zippers being used in everyway, shape and form! Zippers are certainly not just for zipping anymore!

Zipper rosettes can be used to embellish just about any accessory-- a head band, shoes, purse or add a pinback and use on a lapel.

They are easy to make-- all you need is a Coats Heavy-wei ght Brass Separating Zipper and Dual Duty XP Heavy thread.

Basically, you will unzip the zipper and cut off the lower end. Gather the tape using Dual Duty XP Heavy thread. Roll the tape into a rosette taking a few hand stitches on the back to hold the layers in place as you go. Complete Rosette instructions are on Coatsandclark.com.

Sewing with Outdoor thread

2010-05-14T14:39:00.011-04:00

This time of year we often get questions about what type of thread to use for sewing or repairing outdoor items like deck chairs and cushions for benches and chairs. The constant exposure to the sun, chlorine and the elements are very demanding on fabrics and threads.

Coats Outdoor thread is a bonded polyester, designed for this purpose. It is actually the same construction as the thread awning manufacturers use. This thread is resistant to almost every form of weather-related abuse including UV rays and moisture.

It is a Tex 90, which is a very heavy thread---the heaviest that can be used on a home sewing machine.

Here are some tips when using Coats Outdoor thread:

Use a size 18 or 20 (110 or 120) needle

Use a longer stitch length, 6-8 stitches per inch, or 4 mm. A thick thread needs more space to form a stitch

Increase top tension

Sew slowly. The thread is thick and less flexible than all-purpose thread. Stitch quality will be better if you slow down!

Giving Back by Sewing for Others

2010-05-07T10:39:00.019-04:00

As of late, there seems to be so many natural disasters which leave people with literally the shirts on their backs. Earthquakes, floods and hurricanes occupy the news and give us reason to pause. Sewers, generous by nature, love to share their abilities with others by using this wonderful lifeskill to give back. Such was the case of a small church group in Indiana that spent a day making dresses for little girls in Haiti.

The fabric and embellishments, including thread, were donated. Sewing knowlege was not required to participate, just a desire to do something good for those in need. The results were 124 simple dresses sent to Haiti through an organization called Missions of Love.

A local quilt shop and doll club in Alameda, CA are joining forces to sew dolls and teddy bears in the hopes of bringing comfort to the children in Haiti. The shop selected a day in May in which they are asking the community to gather together to create. The only requirement, a desire to give back. Volunteers were needed to cut fabric, sew button eyes, package dolls and yes, to sew.

Sewers have always known that it is fun and cool to create using fabric, thread and a sewing machine. Even better, the craft of sewing is a way to gather together people from all walks of life, creative or not, for the betterment of society or your community. Check around in your community. Make sleeping bags for homeless children. Sew for newborns in crisis. Or join the crusade to make One Million Pillowcases in your own community. Then, share with us your charitable sewing ideas and stories. Together, let's spread the word and sew! For a comprehensive list of charitable websites, click here.

How Do We Make Thread?

2010-04-01T13:38:00.011-04:00

Coat & Clark has been making thread for almost 200 years! Much has changed and much has stayed the same since that first cotton thread was spun in Paisley, Scotland!

The editors of American Patchwork and Quilting came to us and asked us to show them the process of threadmaking and they were amazed at the complexity. After touring our facilities in Marion, North Carolina and Toccoa, Georgia, they put together a comprehensive article which will appear in the May/June 2010 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting magazine.

In addition, they compiled a slide show which you can view now and see just what it takes to get the thread that you are using on that little round spool!

Sew with Laminated Fabrics!

2010-03-16T16:24:00.026-04:00

Have you tried sewing with laminated fabrics? These fabrics are perfect for projects that may get wet or need to be water-repellent. The fabric is 100% Cotton with a soft protective finish laminated to the face of the fabric making clean up easy. It's perfect for raincoats, totes, tablecloths and placemats.

Today's patterns are fresh and sophisticated--not your Grandmother's tablecloth. Designers like Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner and Heather Bailey have added laminated fabrics to their collections for Westminster Fibers and FreeSpirit.

There are some things that it will help you to know before you sew on laminated fabric.

Tips for sewing on laminated fabric

Use All-purpose thread. Dual Duty XP or Coats Cotton All-purpose

Use Size 12 or 14, sharp needles. A smaller needle makes a smaller puncture hole.

Presser Foot: A Teflon coated presser foot will prevent the presser foot sticking when sewing on the laminated side. This is especially helpful when topstitching. A roller presser foot may also be used.

Use a longer stitch length (3mm or more) for seaming and topstitching. Shorter stitch lengths can have the affect of perforating the fabric.

It isn’t necessary to straighten the grain on a laminated fabric, it will not shift due to the coating.

Holes may remain in fabric, so place pins in seam allowances and avoid having to rip seams. If making a garment, be sure of fit and make alterations to pattern before cutting out.

Do not touch an iron to the right side. Use a warm iron on the wrong side.

Welt, flat-fell or topstitched seams will lie flatter than a plain seam, since seams cannot be pressed open.

These fabrics are ideal for baby items.

To get started try our Mini Diaper Bag. It's great for holding a few of baby's essentials when running errands.

For more sewing tips see the Spring Issue of Fabric Trends magazine. The instructions for the Trio of Bags shown above are on FabricTrends.com

It's Prom Time

2010-03-09T21:45:00.015-05:00

For a girl, prom is a time to dress like a princess. Up dos, manicures, pedicures, corsages and picture taking galore, it is a magical time in a teenager's life. Even in today's economic climate, a girl can still dream big, thanks to an organization called Donate My Dress.

Donate My Dress is the first national campaign to encourage girls to donate their prom or special occassion dresses to those who cannot afford them for proms, formals, Sweet 16s or quinceaneras. The site features a directory of local dress drives where you can donate or receive a dress.

In the St. Louis area, DIYStyle is getting involved by opening their workshop for seamstresses to alter dresses for local girls. Even more amazing is one lucky girl will be selected to fly to New York City and appear on the Wendy Williams Show to promote Donate My Dress.

Or, here's a chance for some enterprising teen to make her own prom outfit and possibly win cash, just in time for the college savings account. JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts is hosting Own Your Own Look Prom Contest in which the grand prize winner receives $50,000 cash. Guaranteed no one at prom would have the same dress as you, plus you can make your dress in the exact color, the exact fabric and exactly as you wish; you can make it you!

Winners of the Pink & Red On-line Challenge

2010-02-18T15:21:00.010-05:00

Thanks to the 118 creative people who entered our Pink & Red On-line Challenge.

The winners have been selected by popular vote and you can now view them on BurdaStyle.com.

The variety of garments entered ranged from formals, p.j.'s, historically inspired gowns, and wearable art to a doggie jacket , undies and childrens' clothing. The complete albums of all of the entries can still be viewed under the photo tab at BurdaStyle.

Congratualtions to the winners!

The Pink & Red event will culminate in a Charity Fashion Show at the Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup,WA, February 28. The show will benefit the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. Please remember the two causes this challenge is promoting: Breast Cancer and Go Red for Women

30 Students Take Part in Kent State Design Challenge

2010-02-16T10:47:00.026-05:00

If you were given 5 yards of random FreeSpirit or Westminster cotton fabric, 4 yards of trim from Wrights and 18 hours to design and sew a garment, could you "Make it work?" That is what 30 sophomore, junior and senior design students at Kent State University's Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising were asked to do one cold Saturday morning during the second annual Coats & Clark Design Challenge. The students were vying for a plethora of prizes including a $1,500 scholarship from Coats & Clark as well as other fabulous gifts from industry giants like Bernina, Singer, Simplicty, BurdaStyle and more.

The 30 student's in a flury of fabric, thread, yarn, trim and minus any drama miraculously designed some incredibly fun, wearable garments, showcasing plenty of talent we can all admire and look forward to wearing in the future.

The judges selected the top designs based on predetermined categories related to a learning experience. Judging were former Kent State fashion design instructor Elaine Thomas, recent fashion school graduate Natalie Paukewicz and Jessica Paulson.

Taking best of show and the money was sophomore Sean Rice. Rice was “mortified” by the fabrics given to him as part of the challenge. To subdue the colorful “confetti” look, he dip dyed the top of the skirt on his garment and, using the fabric’s wrong side, dyed the bodice. The skirt was a simple layered chenille look with raw edges featuring rows of ric rac couched together to form a belt. To bring out the remaining color on the skirt, Sean knitted a choker collar from fabric tubes and wove scraps of fabric off of the belt.

“I never thought in a million years I would win,” said Rice. “My dress turned out so sophisticated, different from what I usually design. Coats & Clark will always be close to my heart.” Amazingly enough, Rice learned to sew about a year ago when he changed his major from architecture to fashion design. He just learned to knit over the Holiday break.

Senior Kristy Howard, last year’s scholarship winner, won a Bernina active 220 sewing machine from Bernina USA and the Sewing Republic, a beautiful collector’s Bernina book and a 50 spool collection of Coats & Clark Dual Duty XP™ all-purpose thread for the most creative use of stitching and trim. She transformed Brandon Mably’s Ripple fabric into an artistic summery dress with a skirt woven with right and wrong side fabric strips. The bodice was embellished with free motion stitching and yarn accents. Adding the finishing touch was the belt woven with Rowan yarns and beaded trim from Wrights. Kristy also won the People’s Choice Award, selected as the audience’s favorite.

Other winners included Kelley Welch, best quality, Haan® Steamer and Simplicity Bias Tape Maker; Kelly Sizler, most creative patternmaking, SINGER® Confidence™ 7470 and a collection of Coats & Clark rayon thread; Holly Thompson, most creative fabric manipulation, Haan® Steamer, Simplicity Bias Tape Maker and Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner; Aaron Nicholas, most creative draping, SINGER® Fashion Mate™ 7256 sewing machine; Kelley Welch, best quality, Haan® Steamer and Simplicity Bias Tape Maker; Chelsea Eck, internship with BurdaStyle.com in New York City.

Each student went home with a Bernina tote bag filled with goodies from Bernina, Sew News, Amy Butler Designs, Wrights, Coats & Clark, Quilting Arts and Stitch magazine.

Last Minute Valentine

2010-02-12T14:27:00.002-05:00

Need a last minute valentine? Create these cards using scraps, red and pink Dual Duty XP thread, the decorative stitch patterns and the alphabet letters built into your sewing machine. These can be mailed as a postcard. At this late date, however, you will need to hand deliver them to your Valentine! Click here for instructions!

Vote Now!!!

2010-02-09T09:26:00.004-05:00

Voting is now open for the Pink-Red online challenge! Voting will be open through midnight February 16. We had so many fantastic entries that the slide show of the garments had to be divided into 2 parts. Be sure to go through Part 1 and Part 2 and vote for your favorites. To vote, go to BurdaStyle.

To vote you must be a member of BurdaStyle (membership is free) and signed in.

Breast cancer and heart disease affect so many women and many of the entrants share their personal connection to these causes. The live Pink-Red Fashion show at the Sewing and Stitchery expo in Puyallup will benefit these two causes.

The variety of entries is amazing! We hope you enjoy seeing the incredible garments.

Voting for Pink Red Challenge

2010-02-05T10:41:00.008-05:00

Voting will begin Monday, February 8. We have almost 100 entries!! We will post the link here on Monday to take you to the slideshow on Burdastyle, or you may go directly to Burdastyle.com. Remember, in order to vote, you must be a member of Burdastyle. Membership is free and simple to do. Burdastyle is an on-line sewing community. It is a great resource for patterns and tutorials and a great place to for to connect with others who love sewing.

Please remember the two causes this challenge is promoting: Breast Cancer (American Cancer Society) and Go Red for Women(American Heart Association).

Be sure to check in on Monday and vote!

Coats & Clark Sponsors Second Annual Scholarship Design Challenge

2010-01-28T09:22:00.015-05:00

This weekend, in the blustery corner of the world called Kent, OH, Coats & Clark will sponsor the second annual Project Runway type Design Challenge at the Kent State Univeristy Shannon Rodgers & Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design. Initiated by Coats & Clark, the scholarship program brings the world of sewing and the pressures of "Make It Work" to Sophomore, Junior and Senior design students. They will have a weekend to design and sew a garment based on certain criteria. Last year, nearly 30 students put their creativity to the test.

Joining Coats & Clark this year by providing supplies and/or prizes is Westminster Lifestyle Fabrics, FreeSpirit Fabrics, Bernina USA and the Sewing Republic, Singer Sewing Co., BurdaStyle, Haan, Simplicity, Amy Butler Designs, Quilting Arts, Sew News and Vogue Knitting.

Nashua Handknits is sponsoring a knitwear challenge in conjunction with the sewing opportunity.

Ultimately, the grand prize winner goes home with a $1,500 scholarship courtesy of Coats & Clark.

"This competition gives the students experience in performing their best under pressure as well as the opportunity to gain valuable professional exposure and resume-building experiences," says Dr. Sherry Schofield-Tomschin, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Fashion Design and Merchandising.

Pink & Red Challenge Prizes

2010-01-22T14:57:00.014-05:00

Are you planning to enter the Pink & Red On-line challenge? Would these prizes for the top vote getter entice you to enter?

You have one week left to send your image to submissions@burdastyle.com or upload it directly to BurdaStyle.com.The details are in our last post. One question that we have gotten is can the garment be for anyone and the answer is yes. It can be a for a woman, child, or man-- but good luck getting your man to wear pink & red!

We can't wait to see the entries. Remember, voting will be on Burdastyle.com February 8-12. Be sure to register on Burdastyle (it's free) so you can vote.

This challenge is in conjunction with the Pink & Red Charity Fashion Show at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA. We encourage you to support the two charities: The American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. Heart disease and breast cancer are the two biggest silent killers of women.

Pink & Red On-line Challenge

2010-01-08T13:37:00.026-05:00

Coats & Clark is sponsoring a Pink & Red Fashion event to benefit the American Heart Association and The American Cancer Society at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA, February 28. Heart disease and breast cancer are the two biggest silent killers of women and we would like to raise awareness and support for both of these organizations. “Sewing Stars”—your favorite authors, TV personalities and national teachers will model their creations that combine the colors pink and red. Garments shown here are from the "Go Red" 2009 show.

Now you can be a part of this fashion event too! Coats & Clark is sponsoring an on-line Pink & Red Challenge. Entries will be posted on BurdaStyle.com for viewing and voting. Here in a nutshell is the criteria:

Criteria for Pink/Red Challenge

1. Garment must be predominately pink and red. Any shade of pink or red can be used and the colors do not have to be in the same proportion in the garment. For example, a garment may be red with pink trim or accents. Neutral colors such as black or white or a coordinating print can be part of the garment, but pink and red must be the main colors.

2. Thread must be a design element in the garment. For example—decorative stitching, embroidery, thread painting, topstitching—be creative!

3. Garment may be from commercial pattern or original design. Free downloadable garment patterns can be found at BurdaStyle.com/patterns.
4. An image of the completed Pink & Red garment must be submitted to BurdaStyle between January 11th and January 31st 2010. E-mail photograph(s) of your entry with your name, complete mailing address and e-mail address to BurdaStyle: submissions@burdastyle.com or upload it as a project to the BurdaStyle website . Please put “Pink & Red” in the subject line or title of the project, if this is not somewhere in the title, we cannot guarantee it will make it into the slideshow.

5. Judging will based on popular vote. Judging will occur at www.burdastyle.com between the dates of February 8 - 12, 2010. Consumers can vote for their favorite Pink & Red Garment on-line by joining Burdastyle.com. Membership is free. You can vote for more then one garment.

6. The Sewing & Stitchery Expo staff will contact, via email or phone, the top ten winners on or around February 17, 2010. The top ten winners will be announced on BurdaStyle.com on or around February 17, 2010.

Did we mention there would be prizes and the opportunity to participate in the live show?

Prizes:

The image of the garments will be posted on BurdaStyle for viewing and voting.

The top ten vote getters will receive:

1. 18-spool Assortment of Dual Duty XP All-purpose thread from Coats & Clark

2. Ticket to the Expo, Sunday Feb 28 (travel to expo not included)

3. An invitation to model (or have their garment modeled) in the live Pink & Red Fashion Show, February 28 at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA. (travel to expo not included- see rules and regulations)

4. BurdaStyle Bow-Tie Kit and Organic T-shirt kit

Grand Prize:

1. 50-spool Assortment of Dual Duty XP All-purpose thread from Coats & Clark

2. Amy Butler gift package including fabric from new “Love” collection

2. Ticket to the Expo, Sunday Feb 28 (travel to expo not included)

3. An invitation to model (or have their garment modeled) in the live Pink & Red Fashion Show, February 28 at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA. (travel to expo not included- see rules and regulations)

4. BurdaStyle Bow-Tie Kit and Organic T-shirt kit

For more information and the "official rules & regulations", visit Coatsandclark.com or the Sewing Expo blog.

Independent Handbag Designer Awards

2010-01-06T09:39:00.017-05:00

Happy New Year! With the start of a new decade, comes many new opportunities to involve those in the world of sewing with our thread. One such, is the Independent Handbag Designer Awards. This year, Coats & Clark is sponsoring the Best Handmade Handbag category.

What is so exciting about this opportunity is Coats & Clark is in very good company; Kate Spade, Carlos Fachi, Swarovski Crystals, to name a few. It also allows us to share some important sewing and thread tips with designers and those who visit the H andbag Designer 101 website. Coats & Clark will be providing tips on a regular basis throughout the year.

There also seems to be a real trend in making bags. In our travels, we have noticed more and more sewing enthusiasts with some really fun, unique bags. We have to ask . . . did you make your bag? The trend seemed so prevelant we even started to take photos. The best part, the bags really are a reflection of the sewer's personality and the fact that when you sew, you can make it your own.

We'd love to know if you have made your own hand or tote bags. Leave us a comment or two about that special bag you designed or made for yourself, as a gift or for a friend.

Pink & Red Fashion Show!

2009-12-04T14:14:00.010-05:00

The Sewing & Stitchery Expo held February 25-28 in Puyallup, WA is the largest consumer sewing show in the country. Last year, for the first time the show held a Charity Fashion Show at 8:30 AM on Sunday morning. Organizers were worried that people would not come to the early morning Go RED Fashion show. But sewing enthusiasts not only came, they WORE RED to honor the charity – the American Heart Association.

This year, The show is kicking off Sunday with a PINK AND RED Fashion Show and we are happy to announce that Coats & Clark will be the official sponsor.

For the show, we are partnering with both the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society to fight the two biggest killers of women in America -- heart disease and breast cancer.

Because the audience got into the spirit and wore RED last year – we are asking everyone to again create an outfit – this time PINK AND RED. The Expo and Coats & Clark are partnering to make “audience participation” an important element of this event. Here’s what's planned so far. If you want to make a “pink and red” outfit – plan send a digital picture. The Expo will put the pictures up on the internet, and for one month prior to the show, the public will be asked to vote for their favorites. The TOP TEN vote getters will be invited to model in the show. All ten winners will receive a prize from Coats & Clark – and the TOP VOTE GETTER will be announced at the Fashion Show and receive a GRAND prize. The final details will be announced on the Sewing & Stitchery Expo website and newletter and on CoatsandClark.com. Be thinking about your potential pink & red outfit and how you can feature THREAD in your design.

Follow the coutdown for the show on the Expo's blog.

Thread Painting and Star Thread

2009-11-05T10:33:00.018-05:00

Inspire your creativity. Don't let the prospect of using your sewing machine to create quilt art scare you. The truth of the matter is, the key to beautiful colorful thread painting is all in the thread. Here , in a video featured on allpeoplequilt.com, Terry White, thread lover and author of Thread Painting Made Easy, shows Jennifer Keltner, executive editor of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine, how Star thread from Coats & Clark makes creating easy. As Terry points out, Star thread offers all the qualities you want for your quilting, free motion and decorative sewing including a smooth finish, low lint and superior stitch quality. In the Star Multi-Color threads, Terry finds the depth and mix of colors she needs in one spool thanks to the long random color changes which add a liveliness and natural look to any of your sewing. Watch and see how thread painting is the most fun you can have with your sewing machine and thread. Afterall, according to Terry, the thread is the Star of the show!

Seen at Quilt Market

2009-10-19T10:25:00.024-04:00

This was the 30th anniversary of Quilt Market in Houston, TX. The market is a trade event where shop owners come to purchase fabric, thread, patterns, books and more (lots more!) for their stores. It is also a chance for them to see the newest products and latest trends. Quilt Market is one trade show I enjoy, even though the days are long and my feet get tired! I enjoy it because most of the shop owners are quilters themselves and are passionate about it and then there's all of those beautiful quilts!

Here is a shot of our Coats booth. We featured our cotton machine and hand quilting threads and our Dual Duty XP threads.

Another fun part of market is seeing the fantastic quilts in the booths and in the Special Exhibits. I was partial to this one of old spools in the Lavender Rabbit booth. I love the spools threaded on the dowel for a hanging rod.

The designer booth's are another favorite at market. Fabric designer's go all out to create a booth that reflects their creativity. Here is Amy Butler's booth featuring her new collection "LOVE" for Rowan fabrics.

Love fun notions & tools? There is no shortage of them at market. I thought these bright purple gloves were great! Color makes everything fun. These are called GrabAroos and they protect your hands and give an extra grip for free motion quilting, sewing and embroidery.

Speaking of color-- with all of the quilts, fabrics and threads, market is great place to see color trends. It's a little overwhelming because you literally see everything, but still, themes do emerge.

One of the trends this year was softer colors. Not pastels exactly, but strong feminine hues like those in Amy Butler's collection above and in the photos below.

Heather Bailey's new collection, Nicey Jane for Free Spirit fabrics, combines green, aqua and pink.

Pink was prominent at Quilt Soup pattern company:

This quilt, Dancing Flowers by Sue Harvey combines all shades in the same intensity:

Wish you could go? Market is a trade show but it is followed by the largest quilting show in the US--Quilt Festival. 50,000 plus quilters descend on Houston to see the quilts, attend classes and shop. If you have never been and love quilting, put it on your calendar for 2010--and take an empty suitcase!

Re-contruction Zone

2009-09-30T16:39:00.015-04:00

I've just returned from the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan. Do you get motivated to sew when you go to quilt shows or sewing shows? I do! I see so many ideas I want to try when I get home.

Coats & Clark joined with Janome sewing machines and Threadbangers to man the re-construction zone. We had a big wheelbarrow full of old jeans people could use to make bags, backpacks, totes and more. They could embellish their creations with machine embroidery or they could felt yarn into the denim with felting machines.

Machine Embroidery

Felting:

More Embroidery

It was great to see young sewing enthusiasts sew their bags. Our youngest designer was 8 years old. She and her sister, age 11 both made bags, with a little help from their grandmother (below).

Here are a few projects on our website created from jeans:

Denim Organizer Denim Cuff Zippity Purse

You can see video from the Expo on Threadbangers.com.

Choose the Right Thread

2009-09-15T12:42:00.014-04:00

When it comes to sewing and quilting, choosing the right thread for your fabric, project and technique is an essential ingredient to success. Our friends at Better Homes & Gardens American Patchwork & Quilting help take the mystery out selecting thread in a new video featured on allpeoplequilt.com. Watch and let us know what you think.

Win 50 spools of thread!

2009-09-03T16:36:00.007-04:00

Do you love thread? Which do you have more of --thread or shoes? Our friends at C & T Publishing want to add to your collection (of thread that is!). They are giving away 12 of our gift boxed 50 spool collections of new Dual Duty XP on their blog, CTpubblog, during the month of September.

C & T Publishing produces quilting and crafting books. Their blog is filled with tips and project ideas. Take a look and join in the conversation, you may just win!

Kids Just Want to have Fun!

2009-08-28T09:46:00.032-04:00

"Dear Wendy, I had a great time sewing my jean bag. I loved the dangly trims. I want a sewing machine too. Love Sammy." Now that is what we like to hear. One child at a time, learning the lifeskill of sewing, building self-confidence and having fun, too.

Such is what happens at a small studio here in Matthews, NC. Sew Fun is run by entrepreneur and passionate sewer Wendy Orenstein Berglass who looked at the typical birthday party and saw an opportunity to share her love of the craft. This mom of three just knew that with the right fabric, trim and kewlness (yes, today it is kewl), she could reach out and create future sewing enthusiasts, plus earn a living, all while having fun. "The kids get to create and take home something they have made instead of a goodie bag. It is a productive and creative alternative to a 'princess party' or a character of the moment party," says Wendy.

The studio offers birthday parties for girls and boys and events for groups like the Girl Scouts, Y-Guides as well as classes and camps. Step inside the front door, and the brightly painted walls display the creations of her students including a wall of photos proudly displaying smiling, successful kids showing off their creations. Set up, ready to sew, are 16 new sewing machines, giving kids a taste of today's technology in sewing. "Kids today are so tech savvy with ipods, computers, IMing that it was important they see machines from today, technologically designed to make sewing fun and easy."

Once the birthday child selects the project of choice, the kids are free to choose their fabrics, trims and embellishments. Because the majority of kids who attend a Sew Fun party have never sewn, Wendy spends time introducing them to the sewing machine, teaching about seaming and allowing them to test drive the machine before they create. She says the kids are so excited to get to the Embellishment Station they easily whip through the seaming, all for the chance to add their own personal touch to their creation. That's what sewing is all about!

"I have such passion for sewing and creating that I love to see the kid's discover this art," says Wendy who is a school teacher by trade and learned to sew because she was frustrated by the cost of drapes. The best part, according to Wendy, is the parents don't just drop the kids off for the party, they usually stay. Not only is she nuturing the next generation of sewing enthusiasts, but she is influencing their parents as well!

Learning has never been Sew Fun!

The Invisible Zipper Foot

2009-08-14T10:05:00.051-04:00

I sometimes get a call from someone who is trying to put an invisible zipper foot on their sewing machine and for the life of them, can't figure it out. A picture is worth a thousand words so...... Let's take it one step at a time!

When you purchase Coats Invisible Zipper Foot, it has a red, yellow and blue shank and a white presser foot. One of the three shanks will fit your machine. It will most likely be the red or yellow. The blue fits very old machines that thread left to right, instead of front to back. We will look at the red and yellow. First you must determine which fits your machine.

Begin by removing EVERYTHING from the presser bar. If your presser foot snaps on, you will remove it and the shank (the metal piece connecting the presser foot to the presser bar). Your presser bar should be "naked"! You are now ready to determine if you have a low or high shank machine.

Measure from the set screw to the throat plate. If your machine measures 1/2 inch, use the red shank. If your machine measures 1", use the yellow shank with the 'X' down. If your machine has a slant-needle, use the end of the yellow shank without the 'X'.

Slide the white presser foot onto the rectangle on the front of the shank.

Attach the shank to the presser bar, using the set screw. It may be necessary to take the screw off of the presser bar to position the shank.

Lower presser foot. The bottom of the presser foot should rest on the feed dogs. If it is too high, some adjustment can be made by loosening the set screw and shifting the shank down slightly. This is why the opening for the screw is 'U' shaped.

Shift the white presser foot so that the needle is centered over the hole. Test to make sure the needle goes through the hole when you turn the hand wheel and that the needle clamp clears the presser foot. In the picture below, the needle clamp is hitting the presser foot. You would not be able to use the invisible zipper foot on this machine.

The Coats Invisible zipper foot is a generic foot that fits most machines but not all. Many sewing machine manufacturers offer an invisible zipper foot in their presser foot options. These work nicely with the smaller coil of the Coats Invisible Zipper.

An invisible zipper can be installed with a regular zipper foot. The blog, Sew Serendipity, has an excellent tutorial.

Invisible zippers are quite easy to install and many sewing enthusiasts agree with me, they are actually easier than regular zippers. I like that there is no topstitching! Instructions for installing Coats Invisible Zippers are included in the zipper package. Instructions can also be found on Sewing.org.

Zippers Exposed!

2009-08-04T10:03:00.026-04:00

Simplicity 2568

Have you noticed how often exposed zippers are showing up these days? Zippers are being installed with their teeth exposed in pockets, jackets, bags, sportswear--you name it.

A pocket with an exposed zipper on a jacket or bag is something you see frequently in ready-to-wear, but we often shy away from it when sewing. Adding this designer touch is not that difficult. Here are the easy steps:

Cut Pocket Lining fabric: Length: 2 times pocket depth +1 1/2" Width: zipper length + 3"

Step 1

Mark zipper opening on right side of garment, wrong side of lining. For an all-purpose zipper, opening will be 1/4", for a jeans or sport zipper, 3/8 - 1/2". On lining, center of zipper teeth should be 1" from upper edge.

Step 2

Pin lining to garment, right sides together, matching the markings. Stitch around the opening. Slash through the center stopping 1/2" from the ends. Clip into corners. Turn the lining to the inside and press.

Step 3

Center the closed zippper in the opening. Using a zipper foot, topstitch close to the edge around all sides.

Step 4

Fold the pocket lning up. Stitch the sides of the pocket with a narrow seam. Zig zag or overcast edges.

Step 5

Turn to the right side facing up. Fold the top above the zipper down, so that you see the narrow seam. Using a zipper foot, stitch across the top of the narrow seam.

You are done! Still feel a little nervous about trying it? Use this technique to add a pocket to the lining of a purse. It gives a very finished appearance and you can "test drive" the technique in an inconspicuous place.

Thread as Art

2009-07-21T17:04:00.062-04:00

Have you ever considered all those beautiful colors of thread as something more than a fiber, fed through the eye of a needle, precisely joining two pieces of fabric together? Artist Devorah Sperber relies on colorful spools of thread as one of her mediums to convey amazing beauty to the world studying how art, technology and science intermingle.

Devorah takes breathtaking and iconic works of art like the Mona Lisa or Andy Warhol’s infamous Soup Can and translates these masterpieces using colorful spools of thread as her dabs of paint. The works of art are installed so the imagery is upside down and from a distance look like fields of pixilated colors. It is only when viewing these amazing pieces through an optical device do the images come to life, creating a moment of true revelation and one to make you definitely say “wow!” To see how Devorah brings her art to life, from conception to fruition, click here.

Carol Shinn, known internationally for photo-realistic machine-stitched images, also creates art using thread. With her sewing machine she interprets images using layers and layers of rich thread colors to create beautiful, detailed machine embroidered works of art. Jessica Hemmings wrote of Carol’s work, “[Her] embroideries are a study in the complex and minute details it is possible to render in thread.” Carol recently authored Freestyle Machine Embroidery: Techniques and Inspiration for Fiber Art (Interweave Press. It is an inspirational guide book that explores the possibilities of freestyle machine embroidery and its applications for quilting and fiber art.

As you can see, there is so much more to a spool of thread then meets the eye. A simple spool, gradients of colors and the beautiful finish of its fibers offer many artistic possibilities – ah, the beauty of thread.

"The spool of thread is such a beautiful object in and of itself."

Devorah Sperber

How Thread is Made!

2009-07-06T12:45:00.018-04:00

Questions like this plague mankind. Not really, but if you sew or quilt, you might have considered a time or two just how does that small spool of thread, so humble, make it to the store shelf? When I started working at Coats & Clark over a year ago, I was sent on a whirlwind tour of different manufacturing plants to learn how thread is made. I have sewn most all my life and never once did it cross my mind until I saw the processes, science, technology, skill, quality measures and care that go into every single spool under the Coats & Clark brand. It was fascinating!

I returned destined to tell one and all that Coats & Clark holds the world together with thread! Whether on the shelf at your favorite fabric store, or the string in your tea bag, thread is an integral part of our lives. Consider your clothes without thread? Thread holds together the airbag in your car, your shoes, mattresses and even major league baseballs, to name just a few items.

I ran to the phone and called my friends at Threads magazine. What a perfect title to tell the story of thread! In April, editors Deana Tierney and Judy Neukam boarded a plane in Connecticut and made their way to Charlotte, NC where we preceded to wow and dazzle them with both consumer and industrial thread-making information and tours at various manufacturing facilities. The results are on the newsstand today in the August/September issue of Threads magazine.

So, to satisfy your thirst for knowledge while learning a tidbit or two about an important sewing staple (after all, every sewing machine needs thread), pick up an issue or two. We think you'll be amazed!

New Thread Colors & Numbers

2009-06-23T13:28:00.000-04:00

Anytime you make a change there are questions, and one that we’ve been getting recently through the website, phone, and letters--plus we’ve even seen it pop up on a few blogs-- is “Why did Coats & Clark change it’s color numbers?” Followed by, “Is there a conversion chart?”

Yes, there is a color conversion guide and it is available on our website. Color Conversion Guide. If you are on www.coatsandclark.com , you can find it in the Sewing products section on the Dual Duty XP page. Please use the color conversion chart as a guide. New Dual Duty XP is 100% polyester and Dual Duty Plus was cotton wrapped over a polyester core. While the colors are very, very close; an exact match in different fibers is not always possible. Different fibers dye and reflect colors differently. If you are trying to match a spool that you have had for awhile, factors such as exposure to light and other conditions in the way it was stored may have affected the color. Always check the colors visually to assure you have the best match.

If you find yourself running out of thread in the middle of buttonholes or topstitching with a color that was retired, or that isn’t an exact match—contact us through the website and we will try to help.

For an explanation of how the new color range and color numbering system was developed, I’m turning the question over to our thread “guy”, Ken Nelson.

"The development of Coats & Clark Dual Duty XP gave us a chance to start with a clean sheet of paper. One of the things we wanted to do was to bring some logic back to our color numbering system. Our existing color numbering system was developed over 100 years ago when no one could have imagined having over 300 colors of thread! When colors were added, it wasn’t possible to do so in a sequential manner. In a range that had less than 900 numbers, Color 31, 320A and 495 were all in the pink family. We actually had four colors with the number 4 and a letter – 4A Medium Blue, 4B Pilot Blue, 4D Firmament Blue, and 4E Miracle Blue.

The new system is sequential and logical. Here’s the breakdown for the color families:
0001 to 999 White / Black / Greys (Neutrals)
1000 to 1999 Pinks
2000 to 2999 Reds
3000 to 3999 Purples
4000 to 4999 Blues
5000 to 5999 Aqua / Jades
6000 to 6999 Greens
7000 to 7999 Yellows / Golds / Oranges
8000 to 8999 Browns (Including Natural, Cream and beige)
9000 to 9999 Special Effects (Multi-colors, Twists, Metallics, Fluorescents, Tints, etc.)

We used 4 digits so that there was plenty of room to add colors between the shades without disrupting the logic. The first digit signifies a color family, the second digit signifies light, medium, or dark and the last two digits reference the unique color. Within the color family, colors are further grouped by shade so a low number like 4010 is a very light Crystal Blue, 4470 is a mid-range Yale Blue, and 4900 is Navy which is a dark color.

The color range was also freshened with the latest colors in fashion and home decorating. We kept about 75% of the colors. Colors that were carried over into the Dual Duty XP color range, kept the same color name—only the number changed. Then the fun started—adding new colors and naming them. Things got pretty intense when we all disagreed on what color a rubber duck (new color 7270) was until I brought in one to prove I was right!

At the end of the day, what we wanted to do is to make it easier for you to find the exact color that you need for any sewing project." -Ken Nelson.

Zippity Purse Makeover

2009-06-04T16:06:00.000-04:00

The great thing about sewing is the option to (as they say on American Idol) "make it your own " with different fabrics and embellishments. In our Keep In the Loop June e-newsletter, we featured a zippered denim purse. It has the perfect arrangement of pockets for my "stuff"--maybe because I designed it-- but I wanted something a little more colorful so I selected these great fabrics by Amy Butler and coordinating Coats All-purpose zippers.

Here are the changes I made:

For topstitching, I used Dual Duty XP Heavy, color 8020 cream, instead of the Jeans Thread. For the decorative stitching, Dual Duty XP General Purpose in color 9314 Sherbert, a multicolor, added the right pop of color.

Follow the instructions through Step 3. Place regular presser foot on the machine and thread machine with Sherbert on top. Select a decorative stitch and sew across the edge of the zipper tape.

I also changed to a self-fabric strap. Here's a secret-I hate to sew and turn fabric tubes. I cut the strap 3" x 36", pressed 1/2" to the wrong side on the long cut edges and pressed a crease down the center. Then I aligned folded edges and topstitched both sides of strap with XP Heavy. I didn't make this strap adjustable, but it could easily be done by following instructions in the original pattern.

The results--a great summer bag!

Decorating with Spools

2009-05-28T15:51:00.000-04:00

Recently my wife had a suggestion for a new way to use thread and I thought it was a great idea to share with you.

Like many baby boomers we've decided to downsize and my wife was looking forward to decorating our new downsized home. This time she was going to have everything just the way she always wanted it. She had spent months looking at all of the interior design magazines and was ready to go.

Looking at the broad color range in the Coats & Clark Dual Duty XP thread assortment she got an idea – she selected three spools of thread in the colors she had chosen as her base color palette.
The spools were perfect for matching colors for bedspreads, fabric for her draperies and pillows, furniture fabrics, and even her paint. Best of all the spools fit neatly in her purse so that she was ready to color match whenever she found just the right piece of furniture, or fabric. Now she has a perfectly color matched home just the way she had imagined it as she dreamed over the magazines.

Spring Quilt Market

2009-05-19T14:17:00.000-04:00

We are just back from Spring Quilt Market in Pittsburgh, PA. Quilt Market is a show for the sewing and quilting industry where shop owners come to see what’s new and purchase fabric, notions, thread, patterns, sewing machines and so on. Each Spring Quilt Market is held in a different city. While Pittsburgh is generally known as the home of the Steelers, Pirates and the NHL Penguins, this weekend it was the home of hundreds of quilters!

As you can see, Coats & Clark was proudly represented by our product managers and sales department. Don’t think its all work for our team, as there is plenty of room for fun and of course walking the show to see what’s new.

We of course featured our Dual Duty XP™ thread line as well as our Star quilting thread. Also in the booth were quilts and samples featuring the beauty of our thread. One in particular was a red shrug which may look crocheted, but it is all machine embroidery using our Dual Duty XP™ general purpose thread, color 2250 Red. It is a soft to the touch as it is beautiful. Amazing!

One of the most innovative items premiering at market is the Simplicity Bias Binder . This little machine automatically folds and presses your bias strips, making them instantly ready for any project.

A favorite fabric collection introduced at market was Vicki Payne’s For Your Home for Fre eSpirit Fa brics. These 54” wide sateen weight fabrics retail for $15 a yard. Vicki, and her daughter Sloan, host the PBS series by the same name and is known for her Stained Glass work which is influenced in her line. If you are new to sewing and want to try your hand at a pillow or window treatment, or even if you are a seasoned pro, this collection gives you the economy to decorate in beautiful colors and vibrant prints to liven any interior.

Market would not be market without some of our favorite people like the incredibly colorful and talented Kaffe Fassett and equally as colorful Brandon Marbly. Amy Butler and Jennifer Paganelli who took time to connect and also pose for a photo. Plus magazine editors like Mark Lapinski from Quilter’s Home, designer Marinda Stewart who introduced a Needle Punch book using tons of thread, designer Patty Young with her fun fabrics and patterns, Handi-Quilter Brenda Groelz, designer Phyllis Dobbs, Anna Griffin and even the Wooly Lady doing wool punching from hand dyed wool strips. All this talent, color, flavor under one roof makes you understand what makes quilting and sewing such a great creative craft.

Of course, the highlight of any market is the beautiful quilt exhibits. A sampling of the garments from the Bernina fashion show Rendezvous was displayed so you could take in the beauty and detail of these masterpieces. Much like art in a museum , the breathtaking results when a quilt artists’ combines fabrics, threads, sewing, artistry and creativity never fails to amaze and inspire us all. Even the desserts were spectacular!

Hints for Handy Fabric Baskets

2009-05-08T16:57:00.000-04:00

This handy fabric basket was featured in our May Keep In the Loop newsletter. It is a great beginner project. I love it because it is so versatile. You can make it any size and customize it for anyone. Try an animal print, or hot pink for a teen diva or bright colors for kids.
Recently I taped a segment for America Sews with Sue Hausmann and I showed 3 sizes in coordinating Amy Butler Fabrics. Even the camera man thought they were cool!

The instructions are on our website, but here are a few things I learned while making these that may help you, too:

-Use a fusible fleece. It gives the basket more shape.
-When sewing the back and front together, sew with the fleece side up, that way the feed dogs will grip the underneath fabric and there will be less shifting.
- If you use a metallic thread, be sure to use a new size 14 or larger needle or a special needle for metallic threads. I always find that going up a needle size eliminates most problems with metallic thread.
- Multi color Dual Duty XP General Purpose makes a great accent on the ribbon, especially if you select a stitch that mimics the design in the fabric. This is what I did for the baskets shown on America Sews.

Have fun!

Welcome to Sewing Secrets!

2009-05-06T16:46:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Sewing Secrets! We will be sharing sewing how-to’s and tips, news from the sewing world and things that we think you may find interesting related to sewing, thread and Coats & Clark.

Our Coats & Clark Sewing Team has almost 90 years (we really aren’t that old!) of experience in the sewing and craft industry and each of us will bring a different perspective. Check out our profiles, but here’s a little summary.

Nancy and I are the sewing enthusiasts in the group and we want to share our enthusiasm with you through projects and what I’ll call “sewing adventures”. Ken is the Thread Product manager. Want to know how a new thread is “born”? He’s your man. Carmen is our Zipper product manager and new to sewing. Nancy and I intend to change that and will keep you updated on her progress.

Ok—We promised to share a secret, SO. .. What does O.N.T stand for? In 1866 when George Clark created the first thread suitable for using on that new fangled invention the sewing machine, he called it Our New Thread –O.N.T. and the rest is history!

Now you know what you do with a secret . . . Pass it on!

2009-04-03T16:58:00.001-04:00

Sewing Secrets coming in May