Sewing machine reviews: Brother SE400 Computerized Embroidery Sewing Machine

The Brother SE400 Computerized Embroidery Sewing Machine takes the SE350 up a notch by adding a USB port so you can download embroidery patterns and stitches and update your machine through your laptop or computer.

For its price range, this is a phenomenally functional machine – bordering on professional use due to the wide variety of features and sewing types that can be performed.

Brother SE400 Stitch Patterns
Because this is a combination sewing and embroidery machine, there are loads of stitches to accomplish either type of sewing. There are 67 general utility and sewing stitches such as 10 styles of 1-step buttonholes, Straight, Zigzag, Overcasting, BlindHem, Applique, Stretch, Patchwork, Quilting, Eyelet, Smocking, Decorative, Heirloom stitches and Side Cutter stitches. (Side Cutter stitches cut the fabric off at the seam during sewing similar to what a serger does for seam edges.)

Those stitches can be modified by adjusting the width or height or applying a mirror, twin or multi-directional stitch function.

For embroidery, there are 70 built-in embroidery designs including flowers, roses, baskets of flowers, animals, plants and birds. You choose the pattern and the machine will guide you through step-by-step including thread color selection. The LCD screen shows how much time it will take to complete each step.

Letters and characters used for embroidery and monogramming are excellent additions to today’s sewing machines and the Brother SE400 includes 5 different fonts.

There are 10 styles of frame stitches you can use as a border around your work including a square, circle, and diamond and 12 different stitch styles to use in sewing those frames for a total of 120 frame options. » Continue reading Sewing machine reviews: Brother SE400 Computerized Embroidery Sewing Machine »

Time Saving Sewing With Easy Baby Quilt Patterns

While searching for an easy baby quilt pattern I came across several ideas for beginners. There are many reasons for wanting to make quick quilts and it is not always for lack of interest or talent. Sometimes we just do not have the time to piece a quilt and than do the hand quilting. There are a number of ways to find and make up easy baby quilt patterns to produce quick and yet beautiful gifts.

Not every one wants or has the time to get involved in the nitty gritty of quilt making but still love the finished product. When you learn how to make strip quilts and the various assembly of the strips and blocks you will find quilting is fun even when time is short. » Continue reading Time Saving Sewing With Easy Baby Quilt Patterns »

How To Make 1920s Flapper One Hour Dress Costume

THE ONE HOUR DRESS
1920′s Flapper Dress Pattern plus 4 Free Bonuses

One Hour Dress Made in 34 Minutes!

When announcement was first made in 1923 that Mary Brooks Picken of the Woman’s Institute had developed a new plan by which an attractive dress could be made in an hour, it aroused tremendous interest among women everywhere. Some doubted that such an achievement was possible, until the dress was made in a public demonstration in the Grand Central Palace, New York, in 34 minutes, a fact recorded in the New York newspapers and attested to by officials of the National Merchandise Fair.

At left – Mary Brooks Picken wearing a One Hour Dress, sketched by the Woman’s Institute Fashion Artist, Alice Seipp.

Excerpt from “The One Hour Dress

“A smart, up-to-the-minute dress cut out, completely made, all ready to put on within an hour! You may receive a “phone call at one o’clock inviting you to a little impromptu gathering of friends at three, and you can go, if you wish, wearing a dainty new frock make in the time you would ordinarily spend wondering what to wear. Such is the delight you can find in making your own clothes now that it is easily possible to make an attractive, becoming dress in an hour.

And you can have as many “One Hour Dresses” as your heart desires — in infinite variety, for the “One Hour Dress” is not a style of dress, it is a method of making. It is a new and simple plan by which the dress you select from the many designs in this book can actually be cut out, put together, finished all complete in sixty minutes. And you can create other “One Hour Dresses” for yourself, because different combinations of colors and materials, different finishes and touches of decoration will enable you to have just the dress that appeals to your taste and have it quickly and at little cost.” » Continue reading How To Make 1920s Flapper One Hour Dress Costume »

How to make a T-Shirt Dress

In tune with the latest fashion and trends, school-age girls can be fastidious and finicky when it comes to clothes selection, especially on the first few days of the new school year. To keep costs down and to satisfy these chic-conscious youngsters, Carol’s adorable yet stylish T-shirt dress can be made by simply attaching a skirt to a shirt.

Materials:

  • shirt of your choice
  • 1-1/2 to 2 yards of fabric
  • sewing equipment
  • heavy nylon thread
  • fusible hem tape
  • ruler

Steps:

1. Determine the waistline on the dress, and cut off the shirt 1/2-inch below that point. » Continue reading How to make a T-Shirt Dress »