~Joanne Banko, Brother Sews Ambassador This multi-purpose stitch has been a favorite of mine for many years. It’s called an elastic zigzag stitch. While it is ideal for sewing elastic, that’s a topic for another day. Since it’s not actually in the category of overcasting stitches it often gets overlooked for this purpose. However, … Read More
Stitches
Accessory Spotlight: Candlewicking Foot
Learn how to use built-in Candlewicking stitches, and see how you can create a custom Candlewicking stitch with the Brother My Custom Stitch feature. The Brother Candlewicking foot, SA193 was designed to coordinate with unique candlewicking stitches included with select Brother machine models. These prominent stitches are best sewn with a special foot. The … Read More
Gold Confetti Gift Bag
Festive fabric DIY gift bags are fun to make! They can make small presents extra special. I used sheer organza and snippets of fabric, sparkling gold ribbon, and strands of embroidery thread to make this little confetti bag. Follow along as I show you this confetti technique. Once you see how easy it is, you’ll … Read More
Options for Sewing the Rick Rack Stitch
The rick rack stitch has always been one of my favorite decorative stitches. It’s a common stitch on many Brother machines. In reality, it’s a simple zig zag. However, because it sews twice, the thread builds up, giving the stitch noteworthy prominence. When sewn with top-stitch thread, it resembles the time-honored rick rack trim. I … Read More
Embroidered Pumpkin Pillow
It may still be 90 degrees here, but I’m totally getting into the fall spirit! I’ve been sewing with beautiful fall fabric lately and drinking pumpkin spiced coffee and trying to imagine that it’s getting cooler. I’m super excited about this fall throw pillow project today. There are so many ways you can create something … Read More
Beach Cover Up
Summer may be coming to a close, but there’s still time to hit the beach and catch some fun in the sun! But before you pack your bags, make sure to sew this cute beach cover-up!! You will need: Brother Sewing Machine A Yard of Fabric Bias Tape Marking Chalk Scissors Straight Pins Measuring Tape … Read More
Outdoor Throw Pillows
Supplies: 1/2 yard Outdoor Fabric 18” x 18″ Pillow Inserts Four tassels 12” Invisible Zipper Brother Stellaire Innov-ís XJ1 Instructions Cut two squares fabric at 17” x 17” With the front side of pillow facing up, place the tassels in all four corners making sure the tassel itself is facing the center of the pillow. … Read More
Mr. & Mrs. Wedding Pillows
A pillow is a wonderful way to give the gift of handmade especially when it is personalized! This is an easy DIY gift that anyone can do- especially with the BROTHER Pacesetter line up! Supplies: Hi-res image of the couple (from the wedding or an engagement photo) Brother Pacesetter PS 500 sewing machine Brother Pacesetter … Read More
Quick Tip: Stacking Decorative Stitches
Here’s a quick tip for expanding the use of decorative stitches built into your machine. Call it stacking, combining, or layering, whatever name you choose this technique is just plain fun! The pre-purchased pillowcase you see in this project was trimmed using this technique. Pillowcases are a welcome gift any time of the year and … Read More
Quick Tip: Straight Stitching on Sheer Fabrics
There are a variety of options for sewing on super fine fabrics like chiffon. Knowing the accessories available for your Brother machine, along with recommended machine settings for straight stitching on fine fabrics will help you achieve smooth seams and hems on sheers. Are you ready? Let’s go sew! Here are some basic tips: Begin … Read More
Get Your Summer Chic On with Zipper Necklines
In the past year, I’ve seen a few friends wearing shirts that had zipper necklines. Of course, my first thought was… “Well, I could make that,” and I’ve been thinking about it for many months. This summer, I decided I had to try it out, and the finished result is just perfect. Today I’m going … Read More
Quick Tip: Sewing Stretch Denim
Brother Sews Ambassador Angela Wolf shows off a quick tip for sewing stretch denim with her Brother Sewing machine. With a few steps, Angela picks a decorative stitch and adds it to her favorite fabric. Try this today!
Quick Tip: Exploring Options for Elongation Stitches
Elongation style stitches are much more fun than their rather technical name implies. The term elongation simply means that patterns in this category of decorative stitches can be re-sized in a range from 1 to 5. As they are re-sized, the pattern or shape of the stitch is maintained. Examples in the photo above show … Read More