Sew over it:
You pull the serger tail back a bit from the edge and sew it down either by hand or using your sewing machine. The type of stitch you use depends on the fabric. Straight stitch for woven and a stretch stitch or zigzag for knits.
After that I turned the fabric right side out and laid it flat. I measured how much space i would need for each pillow and used pins to divide up these sections. For the pillows I used, I needed approximately 17 inches of height. I used a cotton jersey fabric so I knew there would be some give/stretch. You'd need to adjust this with a non-stretch or woven fabric. I used my quilting ruler to help keep my line straight. I used the pins as a guide to sew lines to separate each pillow's pocket. I used a regular sewing machine to sew these lines using a tiny zig zag stitch.
I know many have wondered what they can make with different fabric bases. As mentioned in our Fabric Bases Offered our minky has two-way stretch so it can be used in many different projects.
These projects can include:
Each of these projects can use anywhere from scrap pieces to 2-4 yards of fabric depending on what you are making and who you are making it for.
Below are some examples that our admin team and strike off sewists have made using our minky.
]]>o Many may know this as Cotton Lycra. Lycra is a brand name for Spandex, so because of that, we choose to use Spandex in the name of our fabric base. This base has excellent stretch and recovery. It does not have a great drape as it has more body than thinner cotton spandex jersey and will stick out a little while holding its shape. It works well for many garment types.
o Spandex French Terry also has great stretch, but the recovery is not nearly as good as the cotton spandex jersey. We would not recommend using French terry where excellent recovery is required. It is looped on one side, normally the opposite side of the print. We recommend using French terry for items where stable fabric is ideal such as pants, shorts, jackets, sweaters, etc.
o Polyester Spandex Knit is our swim base. It has excellent stretch and recovery. It is treated with a 50 UPF. We recommend using a lining fabric when making a swim garment, but many have also used our swim material for workout and running clothes.
oOur minky is a single sided base with a 2 way stretch. This allows for the base to be used on any garment that requires two way stretch such as cardigans, jackets, joggers, or other looser fitting items that do not require significant recovery. It is also perfect for blankets. The back of the base is a little rougher than any other base we have so many opt to line it. Although I will add that it hasn’t caused any complaints from my picky toddler, so it may not be an issue for you.
oCotton Sateen Woven is the woven base we offer. This also has a small bit of 2-way stretch. It is smooth and has a little bit of a shine to it. This can be used for any product you would use a woven base for. If you want to ensure the stretch isn’t an issue, interfacing can always be used, but many of our sewists have had great success using this base for anything from purses and wallets to clothing and curtains.
oPolyester Spandex is also known as Double Brushed Polyester. It is about the same same thickness as the cotton spandex jersey, warm, and slightly fuzzy as it is brushed on both sides. Again, this base as excellent 4-way stretch and recovery, although it does not allow the skin to breathe as well as a natural base such as cotton. It is very versatile and can be used for anything from socks and leggings, to tops and dresses.
this minky is double sided base with a 4 way stretch. This allows for the base to be used on any garment that requires 4 way stretch such as cardigans, jackets, joggers, or other looser fitting items that do not require significant recovery. It is also perfect for coats and robes. The back of the base is the same softness as the front, only not printed.
**The width of the fabric can vary between 56"- 66". Please expect that some of selvage or a few inches at the edge of the fabric may come imperfect or unusable. Any flaws found within the 6" inches of the selvage is expected but not the usual, No compensation is to be given for this.
***Please note that it is an industry standard to have a variance of 10-15% for the final products. This is in consideration of the color and the weight of the fabric.
-Melissa Keane
]]>A regular sewing machine can sew any base we offer. It is recommended to use a universal needle for woven fabrics and ballpoint or stretch needle for knit fabrics. Some also prefer to use a stretch thread in the bobbin when sewing with knits.
Any sewing machine will do. You can sew with a vintage machine, a simple budget machine, a heavy duty consumer machine, or an industrial machine. I personally use a Janome HD1000 that I received as a Mother's Day gift. It was approximately $300-350, but has served me well. There are many machines available in many different price ranges, it may take a bit of research to find the perfect machine for you.
These are some thoughts to consider while shopping and before purchasing:
How easy is it to use?
What are others' thoughts on the machine?
Is it easy to get help/support?
Does your local repair shop know how to service the machine?
Is the machine going to fit in your sewing space?
Will the machine easily store?
Is it easy to find parts (needles, bobbins, replacement pedals, etc.)?
Can you take classes on the features of the machine, locally or online?
Will it be able to handle the thick fabrics you may want to sew (pinky, multiple layers of cotton, polyester, etc.)?
What stitches does it offer? Normally you want at least a straight stitch and a stretch stitch. Others depend on what else you'll be sewing.
We recommend getting the best machine you can afford and it is always a great idea to ask others about how they like or do not like a specific machine. It will help give you an idea on how long the machine will last, how difficult it may be to use, or if it is worth its weight in gold. I personally love my Janome. It performs better than a simple budget ($50) machine I was gifted at 22 (almost 8 years ago). That same older machine I gave to my sister who is learning to sew and it still serves her well. You don't need to spend a lot to get a quality machine.
-Melissa Keane
]]>We will share the different patterns we use in each post. We will also include what fabric based is used and why we may have opted to use it.
And now, a little bit about Sweet N Charmed and the names you’ve come to recognize.
Sweet N Charmed is a custom fabric business started in August of 2013 and has grown over the years into the group we now know and love.
Adrienne and Lukas are the owners and operators of Sweet N Charmed. They are the reason we have such beautiful fabric. They set up our preorder forms, handle invoicing cut, fold, ship, and process all of our orders. They work with designers on prints. They work with the printer when it comes to issues, improvements, and making sure we have the best product possible for you. Adrienne and Lukas have four beautiful children and live in the alligator infested lands of Florida. In their spare time (which is rare), they enjoy swimming, trips to Disney, and traveling.
Shannon lives in the dairy capital of America, which is weird, because this coffee addict drinks her daily two pots of coffee black. She has a house full with two kids, two dogs, and three cats. She definitely needs large amounts of coffee to keep up with all those. She is a rock star and runs her own sewing business. After a long day of dealing with kids, animals, and orders she enjoys sitting down to an almost quiet house with some chocolate and a glass (or two) of wine.
Melissa lives in the hot desert of Arizona where the summers are brutal and the winters are like northern summers. Melissa has five children (for now) one girl, one boy, a husband, and two pups. Yes, they all are “children”. She taught herself how to sew and has been sewing constantly for about 3 years now. She learned how to sew cloth wipes on a budget machine that she was gifted. This developed a desire to create clothes for mostly herself and her children, occasionally her husband and her dogs.
Valerie is a homeschooling mother of 7. She spends most of her spare time creating. There is a very good chance that she needs an intervention for her fabric and crafting addiction. Val enjoys being with friends and family. Some favorite past times are sewing, crafting, painting, camping, church camp, bonfires, gardening, canning, and FISHING!
Candice is also a homeschooling mom of 7 who lives in Albuquerque. When not sewing or chasing kiddos around, she and her husband of 16 years love to play video games, ride motorcycles, watch football, and joke around. She once entered a state fair baking competition purely so she could claim that she has the best buns in New Mexico (and won)! Candice loves sewing custom clothes and quilts for her family. She is really excited to be a part of the SNC team.
We all love sewing and love giving you ideas on how to make your own amazing creations.
If you have anything you’d like to see in a blog post, feel free to send us that information and we would be happy to work on it for you.
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