Showing posts with label Sewing Machine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sewing Machine. Show all posts

Monday, December 16, 2013

Geometric Ribbon Pillows

Have you seen the wall of ribbon at Mary Jo’s Cloth Store?  It is amazing! This is where you will find satin, grosgrain, velvet, printed, lace and sheer ribbons, plus ric-rac, sequins and other decorative trims.

Ribbon has so many uses!  You can tie ribbon around a jelly jar, use to hang pictures or ornaments, sew to hems in skirts or pants, make hair bows, decorate presents, use to make necklaces, tie-back curtains and much more.

Ribbon makes a wonderful trim for your home decorating projects.  The pillows below were created with cotton fabrics and colorful grosgrain ribbon.


Here are the steps to make geometric ribbon pillows:

Start by cutting the front and back pieces to the size needed (adding for seam allowances).  Apply blue painter’s tape to the front piece of the pillow; inset the distance you would like the ribbon to be.  This will give you a nice line to follow. 
Place the ribbon along the inside of the tape, folding a miter at each corner and pin.  A 7/8” wide ribbon was used for this pillow. 
Continue around the pillow, creating a geometric design.  You can make the pillow as simple, or complex as you would like.  When you have finished pinning the ribbon in place, you can remove the tape.
Add more color by weaving a second color ribbon into the design.   This gets a little tricky!  Pin the ribbon in place and hide the beginning and end under a solid piece of ribbon. 
For the smaller, rectangular pillow only one color ribbon was used, with a less complicated design.
Sew carefully along each side of the ribbon using a matching thread. Sew the front and back pieces of the pillow together. 

You can add an invisible zipper at the bottom or hand-sew closed after adding the pillow form.

The finished pillows are colorful and trendy!  Stop by Mary Jo’s today to see all the ribbons and fabrics that you can use to make your own geometric ribbon pillows.


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Countdown to Christmas: Holiday Quilting Classes at Mary Jo’s


Our store has been a flurry of activity with customers buying fabric and supplies to make Christmas gifts and buying gifts for a special sewing someone on their list. 

Our sewing lounge has been humming like Santa’s workshop with students cutting, sewing, laughing and creating beautiful things! 

We thought you would enjoy a peek inside at one of our recent classes, where quilters gathered together to work on this cheerful Christmas tree quilt design.

Class instructor Aimee Griffin has years of experience as a quilter and teacher.  Students love Aimee’s fun personality, enthusiasm and extensive sewing knowledge.  Here Aimee is helping a student with the layout of her quilt pieces.

In our quilting classes you will learn techniques for selecting fabric colors and patterns, how to cut and use your fabric efficiently, sewing methods and the tools and supplies used by quilters to make quilting easier.

One of the exciting parts of attending a class is that you get to be with others who share your love of sewing and quilting.  

It’s fun to chat about your finished (and unfinished!) projects, ooh-and-ahh over fabrics and make new friends. You will be inspired by each other’s creativity!

Would you like to learn to quilt?  We have the perfect class to help you get started!   In addition to quilting, Mary Jo’s also has classes that will teach you how to make clothing, crafts, tote bags, curtains, pillows and more.   Be sure to check the class schedule often, as new classes are added every month or call 704-861-9100 to sign-up today. Click [here] to view the latest class schedule. 


Monday, October 28, 2013

Tailored Linen Table Runner

Turkey, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, table décor…. 

What?  TABLE DÉCOR! 

Don’t worry!  You still have time to make beautiful linens for your holiday table.

Sign up today for the “Table Setting” class with Sindy Burgess on Monday, November 4, 2013 from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm and learn how to make a tablecloth, placemats and napkins. 

Create the perfect look for your dining table from the wide variety of fabrics available at Mary Jo’s Cloth Store.  Turn your table into an elegant affair with velvet, silk and fringe or create a fun, conversation-starter by using quilt fabrics printed with just about theme from food to football.

One of the most popular trends in home décor is to use burlap or linen for table linens.  The woven texture and solid colors give a neutral background for dishes, candles and floral designs. Add antique china and it’s romantic,  pottery and wooden bowls it’s natural and earthy or set the table with square, white plates and platters and it will be chic and modern.

Above is a little inspiration we found online at Facebook.com/OnSuttonPlace.
Here is a simple table runner that you can create with linen, or a linen blend fabric. It features a box pleated ruffle with button details that you will enjoy all year long, not just at Thanksgiving. Use this to decorate your dinning table or buffet, with our without a tablecloth.

Sewing step-by-step:
Measure across your table and add 8 inches.  This is the length you will cut the main piece of the table runner by 16 inches wide (includes seam and hem allowances). 

For the pleated ruffle on each end, cut two pieces 26 inches by 8 inches. 

 1. Sew a doubled ½ inch hem along the edge of one long side and both short sides of the ruffle pieces. 

 2. To create the pleats, fold under 2” on each end and press. Then mark the center and measure 4 inches from the center on each side and fold the fabric to meet in the center, creating a box pleat and press. The ruffle will be 12 inches across.  

3. Place the ruffle pieces face down and centered on each end and pin in place.  Fold the extra fabric on each side over, and then back and pin in place.  
4. Sew the ruffle to the table runner and then serge the raw edges.  
5. Turn the ruffles right sides out and press.  Fold a doubled 1-inch hem down each side of the table runner and sew. 
6. Make 4 covered buttons (or use purchased pearl or wooden buttons) and sew to the center of the pleat on each end.  



Thursday, October 10, 2013

Halloween Goodies From our Friends at Baby Lock








Time to Bring the Sewing Machines out of Storage

Sewing makes a comeback among a younger generation

For generations the art of sewing has been handed down from family member to family member. Over the past several decades, the time honored tradition of a mother passing her sewing machine to her daughter has almost disappeared entirely. This skill, which was common among most grandmothers, suffered a decline during the later part of the 20th century.

Things are changing. Aimee Griffin, Mary Jo’s Cloth Store’s Sewing Director, said the store’s traditional older clientele are now being joined by clients in their teens, 20s and 30s.

Makinzy and Andrea.
During Mary Jo’s inaugural holiday event earlier this month, 9-year-old Makinzy accompanied by her grandmother Jeanette, saved her money to buy her first sewing machine. 

Excited about making her purchase, Makinzy saved $100, just enough for the BL9 Baby Lock machine. The entire team at Mary Jo’s was so taken with this little girl’s enthusiasm for sewing that they presented her with a $500 machine instead.

‘The look on her face was priceless,’ said Andrea, the Mary Jo’s team member who sold Makinzy her machine. ‘To have someone that young and excited about sewing, it is inspiring to us!’

A lot of young mothers now want to learn how to sew clothes and make curtains or quilts for their families. Whether it has been spurned on by Pinterest (an online website which features multiple do-it-yourself projects), or by the national economic climate, an increased interest in sewing is evident.

Starting this weekend, Mary Jo’s and the Girl Scouts Peaks to Piedmont organization are partnering together to launch a series of sewing classes specifically tailored to the Girl Scouts. The hope is to inspire younger girls with a passion for sewing and creating. It has been too long since a Girl Scout was able to sew her own badge onto her sash.

Check back for more information on the Girl Scouts and their classes. Also if you are interested in signing up for a class the online schedule can be found at maryjos.com/sewing-class-schedule.