Hardback Book Into a Visual Journal

It's time to start a new journal!  My eco friendly heart wanted to do something a little more inventive this time around, so I decided to turn a book into my next journal.  Lately I've been getting into found poetry and I wanted a book with delicious text to craft into poems.  This book is perfect for my spiritual side and it called out to me.  My friend gave me the book a while back, so I thought it would be perfect to turn into an art journal and create a keepsake from it.

Collage cover of my new journal

To collage the journal, I began tearing out images and text from some magazines.  I cut out the images and played with the placement, then glued everything down with a glue stick.  After that dried I put a coat of Collage Pauge over the top to seal it.  There is also some black ink along the edges of the collage which was also sealed.  Mod Podge would also work or even an acrylic sealant.  

Indy and the new journal

The last step was to thin out the book a little bit.  Because my book has leafs which were stitched with thread, I turned to the middle of each leaf and removed a quarter of the pages so the book would be even all throughout.  I've set aside the pages that I removed to use in other projects.

And bam!  A new art journal from my own bookshelf!  Try this out the next time you want to start a journal.  I'm planning on using mine for found poems and collage art.  It's also going to be a junk journal to document the stuff I do this summer.  

Go forth and get crafty!

A few tips for Beginning Seamsters

When I first started sewing I ran into a whole host of problems.  My new hobby was like a little cute Mogwai, and what I failed to realize was that there are certain rules to follow when you use a sewing machine.  To keep the Gremlins and frustration to a bare minimum, here's a short list of rules to always follow when you use your sewing machine.

1.  Always roll the hand wheel toward you, never turn it away from you.  I learned this the hard way at first, and every time I turned the hand wheel away from me the needle would get stuck, break and a whole slew of swear words would follow.  

2.  Keep your sewing machine covered when it is not in use, and be sure to clean and oil your machine when it needs it.  With my sewing machine I can tell that it needs cleaned if it starts skipping stitches.  The manual that comes with the sewing machine should be kept in a safe place so that you can refer to it for the proper care instructions for your sewing machine.

3.  Keep the thread tension set to standard, and if the sewing doesn't look right change the needle.  I used to try to set the tension on my sewing machine and it was damn near impossible.  So if you have a sewing machine with a standard tension setting, don't stray from that setting too much.  Even shifting the tension dial a few millimeters makes a huge impact.  

4.  Some people change their sewing needle for each project, however I don't follow that practice.  I tend to use a larger needle, Size 14 or 16 for just about everything.  If the sewing starts to look off or the needle starts catching the fabric, then I change the needle.  I have had it happen where the needle breaks, which happens if it gets a burr or chip.  So if you want to change the needle for each project then go for it.  I also change to a smaller needle for delicate fabrics...most of the time.  :)  

5.  The two basic stitches I use for every project are the straight stitch and the zig zag stitch.  Typically I set the straight stitch to a 4 stitch length and set the needle so it's in the middle setting.  For zig zag stitch and finishing edges of fabric I usually set the stitch length to 5 and the width to 5.  Basting stitches are when you set the stitch length as high as the number will go, and are good for when you sew sample projects that aren't meant to last.  I rarely sew basting stitches because they don't stay in the fabric very well.  Also if you set the stitch length too low for straight stitch it makes it damn near impossible to pick out the seam if you make a mistake.  

Over the years I have developed my own methods for sewing.  I like to think of them as contemporary.  Through my blog posts I will share my methods and if you find you like doing things a different way than that is great too!  Everyone does things in their own way and you will develop your own habits in time.  Hopefully this list will help your Mogwai sewing hobby stay cute and adorable and fun!  Keep the gremlins at bay and your sewing will be smooth sailing!

Basic Sewing Kit

Once you get a sewing machine, there are a few more things you will need.  Here are the items in my basic sewing kit.  With these materials you can sew most things, however if you are drafting clothing patterns you will need additional tools.  To start off, gather the items that make the most sense for what you plan to sew and then you can always pick up additional items as needed.

1.  Cutting board, rotary cutter and plastic ruler-My cutting board is only 12x18 and it works fine for me.  However if you will be doing lots of quilting you may want a larger board and ruler.  Be sure the ruler is either as long as your board or longer.  These materials last a very long time, so invest in quality to start out with.

2.  Fabric scissors and a small pair of trimmers

3.  Pins and a pincushion-You can easily sew a pincushion if you would rather make one yourself.  Simply sew a small pillow or cube that is stuffed with fiber fill and you will be all set.  

4.  Safety pins-I only use safety pins when I'm assembling the layers of a quilt, however they also come in handy for applique, hemming pants and more.

5.  Needle-Although I don't typically sew anything by hand, there have been certain occasions when a hand sewing needle is useful.  Sometimes I finish quilts with ties, or do occasional embroidery and that is where the hand needle shines.  They are also great for sewing on buttons.

6.  Thread is fairly self explanatory, and the best brands are Gutterman and Coats and Clarks.  The cheap threads tend to break so it's important to stick with a name brand.  Beige thread will match almost any project, I tend to buy large packs of thread with lots of different colors.  That way I always have colors to add decorative sewing to my projects.

7.  Fabric markers or sharpies-There will be times when you will need to trace patterns onto fabric, or you might also enjoy writing on fabric or even adding sketches and drawings to a work. Sharpies work great, and they also have a line of fabric markers that come in really rich saturated colors.  To heat set the marker simply set the iron to the appropriate setting for the fabric, and iron for a few minutes.  Sometimes I use a swatch of muslin as a pressing cloth, especially when I heat set drawings.  Simply put the muslin over the top of the drawing and iron.

8.  Iron and ironing board-steam irons are fairly inexpensive these days, so invest in a quality one if you plan to do a lot of sewing.  I've had the same ironing board the whole time I've sewed...since 1999!  They sell replaceable covers for ironing boards so you can recover it at a later time if the cover wears out.

With these items in your tool kit you can sew just about anything you can think of!  I use most of these items every time I sew, so they are a great investment and will get you started off right.

Make a Found Poem

Checklist for Buying Your First Sewing Machine

When I first began sewing it was on an old vintage Singer.  I found the sewing machine in my parents' basement, it had belonged to my Grandmother.  She sewed most if not all of her own clothing and typically made gifts for us kids when we were growing up.  I was hooked the very first time I put needle to thread.  So I went to the store to buy a used sewing machine.

It is key to know a few things about sewing machines before you buy your very first one.  When I bought my first machine, I didn't know a thing about features to look for.  So while my first one was decent enough, in time I needed something that had more of the features that make sewing easy and fun.  

Here is a checklist to consider when buying your first sewing machine.

1.  Step One is to research some brands and prices online.  Off the top of my head I can list some of the best brands, however certain brands really shine for different types of sewing.  Singer, Janome, Brother and Pfaff are all great brands to consider.

2.  What kind of sewing will you primarily be doing?  If you are going to be mainly sewing clothing, a basic utilitarian machine with straight stitch, zig zag stitch and a few other fundamental stitches will work great!  I've seen sewing machines that are designed specifically for sewing fashion, which could also be a great choice.  If you will be quilting or sewing all different kinds of projects, a more general machine with a lot of decorative stitches might be your thing.  I have a Confidence Quilter Sewing Machine and Singer Serger.  Sergers are excellent for sewing clothing and for doing quick seams, however getting them threaded can be quite a challenge.  I prefer to use my basic sewing machine most of the time.

3.  Be sure the sewing machine tension is easy to set.  Sewing machines have a tension dial, and the best machines have a standard setting where you will be doing most if not all of your sewing.  Setting the tension on a machine is really hard to do and it can mean the difference between creating items that last for years and years, or making things that fall apart in one wash cycle if the tension is not set correctly.  Ask about the tension setting when you buy a machine to be sure that it will be simple to use.

4.  The top drop in bobbin.  My first sewing machine had a front loading bobbin, and it was a total pain in the ass to use!  Front loading bobbins are these contraptions where you load the bobbin into a little metal casing and then put it into the sewing machine.  Tension has to be set on top of the sewing machine, and if you have a front loading bobbin then tension also has to be set on the bobbin as well.  A top drop in bobbin is where you simply place the bobbin into the machine with total ease.  This type is much easier to use, so I would say be sure your machine has this feature.

5.  Make sure you know how to care for the machine.  Some sewing machines have a self oiling mechanism, while others need to be oiled periodically.  Keeping the machine clean and oiled is optimal for the best performance of the machine, so ask the salesperson how to oil the machine.  Sometimes in sewing machine manuals it can be tricky to tell where to oil, so it doesn't hurt to ask.

6.  Does the machine come with a cover or will you have to make one?  Making a sewing machine cover can be a fun project, however if you don't want to make one then make sure the sewing machine comes with one to start.  The biggest way to keep your machine functional for years to come is to keep it dust free, so it must be covered when it is not in use.

Nowadays you can buy a sewing machine for as little as $50 to $100.  If you want a nicer machine at a deal, a used sewing machine can be a great option.  

I hope this checklist helps you when you go to buy a sewing machine.  In the next post I will share a basic sewing toolkit, so that you can get sewing!