Love isn't only for Valentines Day

by Susie Tilton

Does any holiday illicit panic like Valentine's Day? When I was a teenager I was afraid I wouldn't be noticed. As an adult, I have mixed feelings. I would love a velvet box....but we need to recarpet the TV room. I'd love a romantic getaway, but we need to buy a plane ticket for our college age son to get home. Oh well, the good thing about being creative and crafty is that you can invent your own fun. When the big V Day falls on a weekend, a dinner party is they way to go. Whether it is for 2 or 12, a set of beautiful napkins will make your Valentine's dinner special.


My dinner party began with the table setting. I have a pretty fair collection of tablecloths and placemats, so I chose a solid color to begin with. I have these great black bamboo placemats, and I love the sophistication of black with everything. At my local fabric store I bought this cute, but basic red heart fabric. My plan was 9 napkins. 8 for dinner, 1 for the bread. Even if you never serve bread, it's a great formula whether you are buying or sewing. This way, if you have a napkin that is badly stained or lost, there is an extra. Three yards will give you plenty of room to cut out the napkins. A perfect size dinner napkin is 20"X20" with a double hem and mitred corners.
I use my cutting board, long sturdy ruler and rotary cutter for 22"X22" napkins. Plan a 1/2" hem around the napkin, press, and then fold over for another 1/2" hem. The mitred corners are illustrated in the Home Decor DVD, and once you learn to do it, you'll never accept the cheap turnover corners again. The finish is clean and professional.
Once the napkins are finished, you will realize there are many occasions to sew this simple project. Halloween, Christmas, Fourth of July, Birthdays and Easter. If you plan on the fun in the napkins, you can keep your eye out for great solid colored placemats and tablecloths to complete your table.
Wondering what to serve for this special day? Check out the blog by my alter ego, Sweetie Petitti, who spends her days in the kitchen. There will be a great romantic dinner posting coming up. And make sure you look at the cute heart shaped tuile cookies. Happy Sewing!

Handmade IS Better!

Yes, we all know I LOVE to bake for people. It is a creative, cathartic process. And I enjoy the whole concept of gifting. Sometimes a little sugar brings pure joy to someone, I like that I can be responsible for that. So of course I gave away plenty of sweets this past holiday, but I had a few gifts looming in the sewing room. And finally, I have finished! Since I am a pretty talented sewer I decided to put this here as well as for my faithful baking readers on SweetiePetitti blog.

First up is the Chicken Apron. My frind Mel gets an apron a year from me. I am always looking for an idea to embellish a great canvas apron (wonder where I buy those?) I have monogrammed, embellished, left blank and even embroidered some clever saying. She loves an apron and especially likes the full ones that go over the head. I am a butcher apron girl, but more on that later. I gave her an appliqued apron like the ones that follow, for her birthday in October. But when I was at her house gifting her, she showed me the apron a family friend made for her about 30 years ago when she was married. The photo follows. It is green ticking with a calico chicken whip stitched on the front. It is stained and well worn, and obviously her favorite. So I asked to borrow it. Yes, I know it is January and I have held her favorite apron for almost 3 months, but I think she may feel it was worth it. How cute is this? I found green ticking with no problem. Then I spent hours (honest) trying to find coordinating calico-type fabric for the chicken. I think I got some updated colors, instead of whip stitching I appliqued, and well, the result is pretty darn cute. She's off playing in Vegas this week, but she will be gifted this weekend. My other apron gifts were for friends and family. I admit I get into a groove and stick with it. The groove now is applique. Big loopy letters in great fabric, way more fun than a boring old monogram. Take a peek.


Back in the fall I did an article for Family Corner appliquéing beach towels, I just can't stop! I have been hitting the clearance shelves with the fleece throws in lots of colors to applique for the hundreds (okay maybe just 30) graduation gifts.

Finally, I just couldn't resist an apron for me. But my needs are quite different. I wear the classic apron at work, so I am not interested in wearing it at home. I love a long apron with long straps and a straight cut. A butcher's apron if you will. I can whip one up pretty quick in a fun cotton for whatever mood or holiday stirs me. They don't really hang well, so you'll have to trust me on the finished product. Better yet, come on over when the ovens are fired up, I am certain to have one on. So, get in there and bake!

Make it Yourself this Holiday Season

Times are tight this Holiday Season but nothing says "thinking of you" more than a gift you made yourself or bought from an independent crafter. Better yet, recycle something old into something new!

If you're in the Los Angeles area, there are a few events worth checking out.



The Unique LA independent design and gift show and Renegade Craft Fair are always winners. Here's their list of things going on:

+ Shepard Fairey's Studio No.1 has partnered with this event so that every attendee will get a free cotton tote bag featuring exclusive artwork

+ Over 300 designers/artists selling their goods

+ Free DIY Workshops all weekend

+ Eat from the amazing Tiara Cafe, Gram & Papa's, and Platine Cookies, who will all be serving up meals and treats at their pop-up locations within the show

+ Get snapped by the amazing Oh Snap Studios

Enjoy!

The Sew/Fit Method with Ruth Oblander and Nancy Zieman

Years ago, a very talented Chicago seamstress went on a talk show and spoke about how professionals alter clothes to fit their clients. The talk show was flooded with calls from viewers wanting to know more. The seamstress, Ruth Oblander, decided to write a book about fitting for the home sewer and the Sew/Fit Manual was created. She hired a young woman who was a talented seamstress and as beautiful as a model - Nancy Zieman - to help her.

Thirty years later, the method is still widely practiced and the Manual continues to be a top seller at our website and with some top fashion and apparel schools. Nancy Zieman went on to run her own very successful business, Nancy's Notions and wrote Fitting Finesse based on the Sew/Fit Method.

The Sew/Fit Manual addresses some key points:

1. How to take proper measurements of your body
2. How to understand how patterns are made and how to properly measure a pattern
3. How to use this information to buy the correct size pattern
4. How to alter that pattern to fit your body with a pivot and slide method

With a little time and a little patience you too can make your clothes fit! This method works with any commercial pattern. Try it today with our books and DVDs at Hip Line Media!