Answering requests...

****edited**** okay so this is a combined post with what I wrote last night but I added more stuff & pics! I just felt that this was the post for everything to be written in.

The craft show this weekend was fantastic. I met some outstanding quilters & they have INSPIRED me. I couldn't stop thinking about you guys today! And so Louise, I accept your challenge. Wall to wall of examples, patterns & colours.

isn't that neat colours? the lime with the brown and a hint of pink.

I like how quilts tell a story.

this is one of the programmable images. I thought it was so elegant!

Okay, I was asked quite a bit how to carry over sewing, embroidery & the quilting theme into scrapbooking many many times this weekend. I've always sewed on my pages and have received grief for it. But I love the look. I've just never taken it very far. But after this show, I want to try more unique patterns and stitches! And I'm up for the challenge ... So I thought to myself, first off, the sketch/theme needs to be very basic. Don't start with complicated sewing techniques. And I want this to be for the average person who isn't familiar with sewing, and especially sewing on pages. So I did a little research for simple basic pages  & tips to start with. Here's what I came up with:

Tip #1: learn how your sewing machine works. I had a chance to meet the "big wigs" in the sewing machine industry. They all agreed that sewing on paper DOES NOT affect the machine. Instead sample out what "tension" works with your medium (in this case paper).

Tip #2: Then make sure you have a nice size needle. Ones that are too big are going to just rip your page.

Tip #3: Pick out an appropriate weight of paper to use. If the paper is too thin, it will just rip so if you really want to sew on that paper than back it with a thicker cardstock. The thicker medium allows it to be guided through the machine much easier.

*****edited****

heres Anam's tips: (this girl has it going on! thanks for additional advice!)

1 - use gutterman thread.  it slides through the paper easier
2 - vaccuum your sewing machine every so often to get rid of the paper dust - epsecially in the bobbin holder part
3 - user gutterman invisable thread in your bobbin - then you only have to change the top thread for each layout :)
4 - i use size 14 or 16 needles
5 - drop the feed feet on your machine to help with corners and swirls.
6 - experiment on scrap and basically just play.

************************

So this is my challenge to everyone out there and myself. Lets try  to do some pages this week that involve sewing. If you would like to send me them, I'd love to post them. your choice!

But to get you started with a simple sketch that we can follow, I chose this one. It has so much room for personal interpretation.

This is a great site for Beginner Scrapbookers (heck all scrapbookers, often I look here out of interest!) 

For this sketch, let's fill in some of those squares with pictures and maybe fabric???then step it up with some fun embellishments. Sounds cool hey?

I'll show my layout for this at the end of the week.

****** Kate, I was also led to believe that fancier sewing machines would break if you used paper with them. At the Husquarvna (sp?), Brother, and so many more sewing machine brand booths, they aproached us about what they've done on paper. They were quick to offer to do examples on their super pricey machines too! The one booth had programmable sewing machines that started at around $2000, and they told me so many things that they do with paper! So don't get frustrated, just make sure you take all the care you would with different material types like lycra or silk, as the tension definitely needs to be changed for those!**********

Kelli, sorry I didn't get your email before I left, it would've been fun to see you there!

Comments

[Amber]

Awesome info, I wanted to try sewing on paper but didn't know where to start. Thanks.

[Kelly Malacko]

I love the sunflower quilt. My mom's an exceptional quilter (remember her from CSC4K?) so I have quite a few in my house at the moment. I love how homey they make the place feel.

[Leica]

Anam, I actually do sew lot's already but I'm going to try more "patterns and do more technique stuff with my sewing. I'm so glad you gave more tips, I'm going to post them in the actual post! Thanks!

[Kate]

THANK-YOU FOR THIS!!! I sew on my layouts quite a bit and my Hubs is always shaking his head at me and reminding me that I am "wrecking" my machine. I used to make baby quilts before I scrapbooked...now not so much. But the machine is a good one and he bought it for me as a gift so was disappointed when I stopped sewing conventionally. Now I can let him read it in print...it's simply not true! Also, for those with a bit fancier machines, don't forget about all those cool stitches you can do!

[Lacintha]

Hmmnnn...good tips! This girl cannot sew to save her life...but I've been thinking about getting a scrapping sewing machine...I may just do it! :)

[anam]

hehehehe i sew on every page - it is awesome!!

glad you are going to try it - it is addictive.

heres my tips
1 - use gutterman thread. it slides through the paper easier
2 - vaccuum your sewing machine every so often to get rid of the paper dust - epseiclaly in the bobbin holder part
3 - user gutterman invisable thread in your bobbin - then you only have to change the top thread for each layout :)
4 - i use size 14 or 16 needles
5 - drop the feed feet on your machine to help with corners and swirls.
6 - experiment on scrap and basically just play.

[Angie]

Thanks for posting about the sewing. I've been wanting to try this for awhile..just didn't know where to get started...thanks for all the tips!!

[Kelly Malacko]

Thanks for helping promote my retreat! What a great spokesperson!

I'll try and send you some sewing layouts. I'm working on one for a challenge at Just Cre8, a Canadian kit club I like to visit, too, so my sewing machine will be busy!

[Theresa]

It's so funny that your post is about sewing on paper. I have always wanted to sew on a page, but have never been able to, thanks to my, (pretty much), complete lack of sewing knowledge. My Step Mom gave me a mini sewing machine 3 Christmases ago & I have NEVER used it - because I don't know how to thread it - lol! This weekend I sat down & spent about 1/2 hour trying to thread this cheap & very small sewing machine. I eventually gave up b/c I had other things to do. I am going to figure it out & get this done. Thanks for the motivation!

[Sasha]

I haven't been around visiting blogs for awhile, so I have some reading to do! Glad you had a good time at the show in Edmonton. I'm jealous.