A Modern Sewing Blog.

Thursday, August 28, 2014


Happy thursday everyone! We've got several new fabric lines in the shop. We gave you a sneak peak of these two collections several months ago. They're finally here!

From Moda comes the linen like toweling fabric. I love this fabric and think it would be perfect for fifties inspired embroidered tea towels or lovely kitchen curtains. I really like the wholesome feel and look of these fabrics. Click HERE for details.


Secondly we've got the Cotton + Steel collection. I have been looking forward to this new fabric line for ages. What you see below is just a taste of all their fantastic prints. The designers have such a new and fresh look. Click HERE for lots more.


Before I go, I have to tell you about this project I finished. I used the Bali fabric Caramel and Kaufman Cornucopia and the Valorie Wells sewing card placemat and napkin pattern. This is the first time I've used batiks. Did you know that batiks don't have a wrong side? That is so cool! From start to finish this project took only a few hours. The only thing that I didn't like was that the fabric requirements were for just one placemat. Who would want just one placemat? Anyway if your looking for a quick project to make for a wedding or house warming gift and your low on time then I think this project is the one.


Happy sewing everyone!
Love,



Thursday, August 21, 2014

Meet the Shop

We're starting a new segment on the blog that I'm calling "Meet the Shop." We thought that it would be nice to put faces to the great products, classes, and customer service we offer at Sew Unique Threads. I should be starting with the owner, proprietor and sewing rock star of this lovely fabric oasis but she's been out of the country and I thought it might be a bit much to ask her a bunch of interview questions while jet legged. In that case, we're going to start with me. I'll do my best to give you information that I think makes us more personable but if you have questions you'd like asked please leave them in the comments.
I'm standing in front of my current favorite fabric
"Cooking Italiano." It sums up
my love for cooking in a funky vintage print.
Click HERE for details.

I'm Jessie Heninger I'm 33 years old. I'm a married mother of two boys and I'm a vintage girl at heart. I blog about my experiences trying to find that elusive fifties housewife buried deep inside me at www.jessieheninger.wordpress.com.

I've been sewing for twelve years. When I was a newlywed my husband and I were buying our first washer and dryer and I fell in love with a small blue ultra light kenmore sewing machine. I walked past it and I swear it spoke to me. I've been slowly increasing my skills ever since.

I love to sew and craft and I've made all kinds of things including toys, dolls, clothes, crib blankets, pillows, and bags. My favorite things to sew are decorations for the home, nerdy messenger bags, and most of all women's apparel. I really love taking fabric and turning it into a well fitting garment... It doesn't always work out that way of course, I've made plenty of duds, but I keep on stitching.

The last thing I made was a cheery knit strawberry dress for my birthday and patchwork pillows for my some-day camper. I'm hoping to make a teal colored dress for fall soon. On my table now is a fabric for a couple of placemats and cloth napkins for a wedding shower gift.
My new project. There's never a shortage of ideas and inspiration in the store!

My role in the store is that as blogger and tech girl. That means as far as our online presence goes you probably hear from me more then the others. I get to shop sit once in a while and I love working with customers in the store.  My favorite part of working for Sew Unique Threads, is getting to make projects and feature them on the blog. I love sharing ideas and my love of fabric with other like minded people.

That's me, in a felt nutshell, pleased to meet you.
Happy Sewing,
Love, Jessie


Thursday, August 14, 2014

In the Shop Monday.

This post was originally written on Monday but because of technical difficulties wasn't posted until today.

Just popping in from the store today. We're in the midst of changing from rubber banding the bolts of fabric to using clips. Fascinating, I know, and you may be wondering how I could pull myself away to write this... The cool thing about this project is that I get to see lots of fabric. Some of it I've forgotten about and some of it I've never really seen, it's actually pretty cool.

There's so much going on in here. Lot's of new kits being made for fall, more to come on all that I assure you. Plans to completely rearrange which is both exciting and scary. Very thankful that I am not in charge of that project, I just get to show up and help. Looking forward to a new look for the shop.

Last week I tie-dyed t-shirts for the first time with some students and now my nails are red and blue. It does not look as cool as it sounds. Fun project though, I had never experimented with dying fabrics before and it was really satisfying (even if my hands are now blue). I'm also completely engrossed in this season of Project Runway. Are any of you into that show? I don't love the drama but I do love seeing their ideas come to life. It's amazing, and as someone who sews I really appreciate what they can accomplish.
I am so lucky to get to work with Jr. High girls. So much fun.


This was a pinterest project that actually worked! Click HERE
for the original pin.

Not too much to report on, except that Hazel the Hedgehog kit is still on special for this week. Hope all is well in sewing land.

Happy Sewing,
Love,
Jessie and Sue.


Thursday, August 7, 2014

Easy Patch Work

Today I wanted to share with you a trick I picked up for making patch work pillows, bags or other decorative items. I originally gleaned this piece of information from Posie Gets Cozy my favorite sewing blog. I've been reading her posts for years, filled with wonderful pictures and great indie patterns.

Instead of sewing each square one at a time there is a much quicker way. I don't know that this would work well for an actual blanket because the ending result is a bit stiff, however, for home decor and accessories I think this is brilliant. I've used this method to make pillows, cushions, and even purses!

I'll be making a pillow for this example.

1. Cut a piece of fusible interfacing as big as you need it to be. (I was really professional and lay the pillow form on the interfacing and cut around it.) Lay it fusible side up.

2.  Lay your squares on the interfacing, touching but not overlapping.

3. Using an iron affix your squares to the interfacing.

4. Fold over the first column of squares and iron.

5. Sew the entire length of the column at one time!

6. Fold over and iron and sew each consecutive column, followed by each row.

7. You now have a square of perfectly lined up patches in no time at all!
I need a slightly bigger pillow form. Fabric is from moda's smore's collection.

We have a new kit on special for this week and next. It's a hedgehog appliqué tea towel. 13.95 includes all the fabric and the towel. 

Crazy how fast summer is slipping away. Already I can feel a chill creeping around the edges and am shocked to see night coming on sooner and sooner. I'm not ready for this season to be gone. I'll just keep sewing campy little pillows and garden things.

Happy Sewing,
Love,
Jessie and Sue