Needle Eyes, Points, and Tips Matter!

February 24, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Universal Needles

Color Code:   None
Feature:    Slightly rounded point.
Fabric Use:    Numerous – wovens and knits. A great general purpose needle. Works with all household sewing machine brands.

Carded, 10-Pack – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/Universal-Needles10-Pack-1
Carded, 5-Pack – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/Universal-Needles-99999
Carded, Chrome, 10-Pack – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/CHROME-Universal-Needles10-Pack-100189
Carded, Chrome, 5-Pack – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/CHROME-Universal-Needles5-Pack-100190
Bulk – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/130705-H-15X1-Universal-Needles-Box-of-100-100052
Bulk, Chrome – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/CHROME-Universal-Needles-Bulk-100207

 

Embroidery Needles

Color Code:   ORANGE BROWN
Feature:   Medium ballpoint.
Fabric Use:    Knits and some stretch fabrics. Made especially for sewing on knits. The medium ballpoint does not damage or break knitted fibers. Also known as Jersey Needles.

Carded, 5-Pack – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/Embroidery-Needles-17
Carded, Chrome, 5-Pack – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/CHROME-Embroidery-Needles5-Pack-100192
Bulk – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/Embroidery-Needles-Box-of-100-100070
Bulk, Chrome – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/CHROME-Embroidery-Needles-Bulk-100203

 

Microtex Needles, Chrome

Color Code: Purple
Feature: Chrome plated. Very slim acute point.
Fabric Use: Micro fibers, polyester, silk, foils, artificial leather, coated materials. Very thin acute point creates beautiful topstitching and perfectly straight stitches for quilt piecing when precision is paramount.

Carded, Chrome, 5-Pack – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/CHROME-Microtex-Needles5-Pack-100194
Bulk, Chrome – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/CHROME-Microtex-Needles-Bulk-100204

 

Super NonStick Needles

Color Code: None
Features: A Super Universal Needle with a non-stick coating of NIT (Nickel-Phosphor-PTFE). Extra-large eye is suitable for embroidery work. The eye corresponds to a needle two sizes larger (i.e., the 70/10 NonStick eye is similar to a size 90/14 regular Universal eye). A distinctive scarf with a special design of the eye ensures the prevention of skipped stitches. A slightly rounded point provides trouble-free sewing on most materials. Strong conical blade reinforcement easily handles thick fabrics like denim.
Fabric Use: Machine embroidery; hook and loop tapes; general sewing.

Carded, 5-Pack – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/SUPER-NonStick-Needle-Carded-100254
Bulk – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/SUPER-NonStick-Needles-Box-of-100-100255

 

Metallic Needles

Color Code:   LIGHT PINK
Feature:   Elongated eye.
Fabric Use:   Metallic and other specialty threads. A “must-have” for sewing with sensitive metallic threads. The elongated eye prevents shredding and breaking of metallic threads.

Carded, 5-Pack – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/Metallic-Needles-19
Twin, Carded – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/Metallic-Twin-Needles-20

 

Hemstitch Needle

Color Code:   None
Feature:   A wing on each side of the needle.
Fabric Use:   Light or medium weight loosely woven fabrics. Popular for heirloom sewing and to create decorative cutwork.

Carded, 5-Pack – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/Hemstitch-Needles-11
Twin, Carded – https://www.schmetzneedles.com/item/Double-Hemstitch-Needles-12

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Quilting in the Valley

February 17, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

(Originally published in SCHMETZ Inspired to SEW #80, August 2020. Written by Rita Farro.)

Lisa Furleigh, Quilting in the Valley Owner.

This story sounds so much like a fairy tale, it should start with Once upon a time . . . .

In 2014, a woman who loved quilting decided to cash in her 401K and open a little quilt shop in a small town in the middle of the country. Business was so good, Quilting In The Valley in LaSalle, Illinois was forced to move to bigger quarters not once, but TWICE. Quilting In The Valley has become a BRAND, and by the end of 2020, QITV will have stores in four cities. Plans are in place to expand to 12 locations.

Really. This is happening.

To understand the secret sauce that is Quilting In The Valley, you’ve got to meet Lisa Furleigh. She is a Midwest girl born and raised. She was born in Indiana, attended the University of Iowa, and followed a then, now ex-husband to Illinois.

Growing up, she was passionate about music. She plays the classical flute. She had a double major at the University of Iowa in liberal arts: Flute Performance and French. At the time, her idea was to become a music librarian, which requires a master’s in music.

As a college student, she worked as a shift manager at a local Pizza Hut. At some point, she discovered that there were approximately 12 music librarians in the country, and they all made less than she would make if she accepted the promotion Pizza Hut was offering her.

Pizza won . . . .

Click HERE to read the whole story of how Lisa went from pizza to quilts.

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Coping with the Pandemic – Gail Yellen

February 10, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

After a February serger workshop for the Sarasota, FL ASG Chapter, the whole country shut down. Like thousands of sewists around the world, I made masks (between 150–200). My husband and I did a quilt themed jigsaw puzzle.

Then I decided it was time to get back to work. I did a couple of new YouTube Serger Tip Clips, but, due to social distancing, without my terrific videographer. It was quite a challenge!

Zoom has been a great tool for sewists to keep learning and stay connected. On Memorial Day weekend, I did a Zoom mini serger workshop “Decode the Stitch.” Here’s a link if you haven’t seen it yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRH4c6iXGtY&t=1051s. I also did a Zoom interview and demo for the Plano, TX ASG, and have a couple more scheduled for ASG National and the Chicago Chapter.

I’ve been trying to exercise daily and get in a bit of gardening along with sewing/serging adventures.

Hope everyone stays well and that we can get together in-person when safe!

www.gailpatrice.com

If you can’t wait to read the individual stories, you can view SCHMETZ Inspired to SEW #79 by CLICKING HERE.

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Coping with the Pandemic – Angela Wolf

February 3, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Being home for the past few months has been a huge lifestyle change; going from traveling every other week for events to working out of my studio and staying home. Ironically, I have come to cherish this time. Not traveling has allowed so much more time, time to write music and play the piano again (although I really wish I had the thing tuned before the quarantine). I gave a try at cooking, but I think I will leave that to Winn for now!

Thanks to today’s technology, I was able to continue working, hosting daily live Facebook and YouTube shows and virtual classes to stay connected with friends and fans. Although the reason for the quarantine is a tragedy, the time I was able to spend with my husband, enjoying coffee in the morning, dinner at home, and walks in the evening will be forever cherished.

www.angelawolfpatterns.com

If you can’t wait to read the individual stories, you can view SCHMETZ Inspired to SEW #79 by CLICKING HERE.

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Coping with the Pandemic – Cathy Wiggins

January 27, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Though the stay-at-home order has been detrimental to a small business like mine with the cancellation of teaching gigs and the loss of revenue from shows and classes, it has been a true blessing for my creative soul.

For almost a year, I’ve had signed contracts for two new books, but no time to work on them due to my travel schedule. In working on the books now, one on cosplay/costuming and the other on home décor, I’ve gotten to explore new areas of leather crafting and figure out how to combine multiple techniques to achieve different looks. I’ve discovered ways to create three-dimensional leather art forms that can be easily done at home with only a few special tools.

For the home décor book, I’ve made quilted Christmas stockings and tree skirts, leather vessels, masks, pine-cones, flowers, and more.

My goal is to use quilting as a way to introduce leather to the home sewer, then guide them to all the new possibilities leather crafting can bring. This pandemic, despite all the negative effects on my business, has given me the opportunity to take another step forward in achieving that goal by getting a good chunk of my first book done.

www.gypsywoodleathers.com

If you can’t wait to read the individual stories, you can view SCHMETZ Inspired to SEW #79 by CLICKING HERE.

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