New Stuff from Sewfest!

Greetings!

I promised to bring you news from the Husqvarna Viking SewFest events across the country. These are special meetings held for Husqvarna Viking Dealers. This year we introduced two new sewing and embroidery models, the Husqvarna Viking Designer Topaz 30 and Designer Topaz 20. The sewing and embroidery machines have many wonderful features. If you have friends or family looking for a Husqvarna Viking Sewing and Embroidery machine that has many features including the Husqvarna Viking exclusive Sensor System and Sewing Advisor but very easy on the pocketbook, suggest they visit a Husqvarna Viking Store soon!

Kim Novak, Dealer Event and Program Manager shared the Education Programs and Events that are taking place all across the US. Go to http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/, USA, Events to find a fun filled Sewing and Embroidery event near you!

Highlight of the introductions was the new Husqvarna Viking Mega Quilter 18 by 8 long arm quilting machine with built-in stitch regulator on the new Imperial Quilting Frame with the “brain” provided by QBOT. See an earlier blog for more information about the Imperial Quilting Frame and QBOT. The new Mega Quilter 18 x 8 has 18” of space between the needle and the machine and is 8” high from the bed of the machine so that you will have loads of quilting space on the frame. If you have unfinished quilt tops or are ready to start quilting, this is the home quilting studio solution for you!

We also introduced some very requested accessory feet and some of the most beautiful embroidery designs I have ever seen! One of my favorites is #200 Husqvarna Viking In Full Bloom. These fabulous designs are for the Majestic Hoop and feature many 3D embroideries. The Talk of the Town Tote project included in this blog was created by Marie Duncan using one of these amazing designs. I also love #204 Elegant Art Embroidery which features a new “long stitch” digitizing that really looks like handwork. You will want to stitch this on garments as well as home dec projects.

The new Cactus Punch collection If Wishes Wore Wings by Nadine Knecht is a wonderful way to make special gifts that tell people you care. Nadine began making angels, wall hangings, notebooks, filled with words of encouragement. She hand dyes beautiful fabrics and has even provided the files on the CD for you to print her beautiful “hand dyed fabric” with your ink jet printer onto printable fabric. Wow! There are words to print and of course darling designs. You need to see this one!

The new Husqvarna Viking accessory feet are four that owners have asked for. First, the mini piping foot has a “tiny tunnel” on the underside which is perfect for the small cording that comes with the Piping Hot Binding tool. This size piping is perfect to insert between a quilt and the binding, into collars and cuffs of children’s garments and to finish edges on just about anything. Marie and I will use it in our class at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup next February.

The Clear A foot set is something many Husqvarna Viking sewers have been wishing for. This set includes a Clear A Foot, Clear A Edge Stitching Foot and Clear A Edge Joining Foot. Of course the clear means you will have the visibility you need for special technique sewing however many people prefer a clear foot for all their sewing and now you have just the feet you need!

The important difference between all Husqvarna Viking A feet and B feet is on the underside. B feet have a "tunnel" on the underside so that the foot will feed smoothly over a satin or decorative stitch that builds up some thread height in the stitch. When you sew lightweight fabrics without stabilizer and/or stitches such as a straight stitch, bridging stitch, etc that do not have a thread build up, the tunnel can allow the fabric to "tunnel into the tunnel" allowing some fabric movement and/or puckering. This is where the A foot really makes a difference in the quality of the stitching.

These new Clear A feet are flat on the underside which holds the fabric flat as the stitch is being formed. This is great for straight stitch sewing and for lightweight fabrics especially. Heirloom sewers will love the new clear A feet set for joining and edge stitching!


After the San Diego meeting we had dinner with our son Bob, granddaughter Lyndi and her friend Cory at a restaurant right on the Pacific Ocean. Bob and Cory came down to visit Lyndi at San Diego State.


Elizabeth Anderson from Stoneybrook Sew and Vac wore a wonderful jacket she had felted with yarn.


She also brought a black shawl with a really neat felting design. She has a great way to mark the design on the shawl. Use quilting stencils and Pounce to mark the outline to felt with roving. If you have not used the Pounce, the white Pounce is like a chalk but it irons off beautifully. Be sure to “prime” your Pounce container the first time you use it. Simply bang it on the table up to 50 times to bring the Pounce into the felt pad. Then wipe the felt pad over the stencil. It is really amazing how well it marks and even more amazing when you iron over it and it completely disappears! In the picture below you see the right and wrong sides of the shawl. Either side could be the right side. With the Huskystar ER10 Needle Felting/Embellishing/Punching machine, one side is brighter and the other side more subdued in color. If you do not have one of these “sewing tools” yet, why not ask Santa for one?

The project below uses the wonderful new Husqvarna Viking embroidery collection #200 In Full Bloom. You will love the way this tote is put together because you make each piece individually and the backing becomes the “frame” around the embroidery. Enjoy!

I went to Sweden right from SewFest so will have lots to share in the next blog.

Happy Sewing!
Sue

Talk of the Town Tote
By Marie Duncan, Education Creative Coordinator

Everyone in town will be talking about your beautiful tote! But beware, the stipple police may be there because you “crossed the line!”

Sewing Supplies
Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond Sewing/Embroidery Machine
Majestic Hoop #920 222 096
Husqvarna Viking Embroidery Collection In Full Bloom #220
3/4 yard Fabric For Background of Embroidery and Back of Tote
1 Yard Silk Dupioni for Lining/Border
40 wt. Rayon Embroidery Thread
Bobbin Thread
Batting
Inspira Tear-A-Way Stabilizer
Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator by Cruise Control
Clear Open Toe Foot # 413 03 19-45
Clear 1/4” Piecing Foot w/Guide 412 92 74-45
Dual Feed Foot
1/4” wide Steam-A-Seam
1/2 yard of 1/2” wide Ribbon
Open Toe Free Motion Spring Action Foot #413037646
Purchased Purse Handle
Quick Easy Mitred-Binding Tool #140002480


Cut:
20” x 22” for embroidered bag front
Cut ribbon into four 4” long pieces

Stitch your favorite embroidery! Think BIG! We used design 2 from the In full Bloom Collection 220. This design features 3D Embroidery flowers. Follow the instructions in the Embroidery Booklet. You could also cut a piece of fabric 20” x 22”, mark off a 13 1/2” x 14 1/2” embroidery area and fill it with your favorite embroideries. BEWARE, we are going to break the rules! No stipple police allowed!

Remove the fabric from the hoop. Trim 1 1/2” from the edge of the embroidery on all sides to equal approximately 15 1/2” wide and 16 1/2” high. This will be the size of your tote, so adjust as desired.

Place your trimmed embroidered front on batting cut the same size. Cut lining 2” bigger all the way around. Place the front and batting on the wrong side of your lining centered. Pin in place.

Set your machine for free motion. Attach your Fab-U-Motion. Thread with sewing thread in a color several shades lighter or darker than your fabric, on top and bobbin.

Prepare to “break the rules”! The goal is to enhance your BEAUTIFUL embroidery! If you need to cross the lines to do it, then go for it! Stipple around your embroidery!

Cut the bag back the same size as your bag front. Place on batting the same size. Place the back and batting centered, on the wrong side of lining cut 2” bigger on each side. Stipple the back through all the layers, using one of the colors in your embroidery. When the whole piece is covered with stitching, thread with another color from the embroidery and stipple again. Repeat with a third color to create free motion abstract art on the back piece of your bag.

Trim the lining on each piece to 2” larger than the stitched fabric all the way around.

Following the instructions that came with your Easy Mitred Binding Tool, bring the lining around to the front and miter the corners.

Snap on your Clear Open Toe Foot. Thread with sewing thread in the bobbin and one of your embroidery thread on top. Select E1:23 , Stitch Length 8.0, Stitch Width 4.0. Touch as needed to adjust the position of the stitch. Stitch the mitered border in place.

Measure the width and height of your piece. Cut your bottom and sides 4” wide x these measurements plus 1/2” for seam allowances. Ours were cut one piece 16” x 3” for the bottom and two pieces 17” x 3” for the sides. Cut batting and lining strips the same sizes. Place the lining and the outer fabrics right sides together on top of the batting.

Snap on your Clear 1/4” Piecing Foot w/Guide. Select a center needle position straight stitch. Stitch all the way around each piece leaving a 3” opening for turning on one long side.

Clip the corners, turn and press. Insert Steam-A-Seam in the openings and press with steam to fuse the opening closed.
Attach your Dual Feed Foot. Stitch down the center, lengthwise of each side and bottom strip.

Using a 5/8” seam allowance, stitch the bottom strip to the tote front along the bottom edge beginning at the miter seam, and ending at the miter seam. Repeat attaching the back to the bottom strip.
Insert the side strips by beginning at the top edge of the tote/side seam (not at the miter) and stopping at the miter on the bottom. Sew with the tote front or back up, not the side strip. Repeat for all the side seams.

Stitch the bottom to the sides the same way, beginning and ending where the previous stitching ended.

Insert the 4” ribbon piece into the purchased handles. Fold the ends under 1/4” and pin. Place the handles centered, on the bag and pin to the bag.