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The top 5 summer embroidery projects to embark on this season

Accounts Franklins Group — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 23:55:32 +0000

If you love using your embroidery machine for applique projects, this adorable crab applique project is perfect. Whether you want to buy the appliques elsewhere or make them yourself, the bold and bright colours of this DIY make it a great candidate for your summer project. Plus, how cute are that bucket and spade?

2. This vibrant sunflower embroidery hoop

Nothing says ‘summer’ more than flowers – sunflowers most of all! Dedicate your next home sewing project to this beautiful sunflower embroidery hoop, which could easily take pride of place anywhere in your home. They can also be easily personalised and make fabulous gifts for any summer babies in your life.

3. This juicy jean customisation

If you’re someone in the process of mastering sewing skills and garment making, be sure to include this fruity jean embroidery on your list. Though the link above shows strawberries, you can customise your jeans with any fruit you want! It’s sure to be a positive topic of conversation for anyone you stop to chat with – and a point of envy, of course!

4. This quaint garden scene embroidery hoop

Perhaps sunflowers aren’t quite your thing. Perhaps you prefer the unpredictability and freedom of UK wildflowers instead. If that sounds like you, maybe give this stunning garden scene embroidery hoop idea a look. Take a look around your own garden or local areas to see what flowers you can find, and immortalise them in your next summer project!

5. This nautical inspired patchwork doorstop

Summer is often synonymous with the beach. That’s why we started this top 5 with a sweet crab inspired project, and are ending it with this cool nautical themed doorstop. Switch and swap out blue fabrics as you please to recreate the sea and sky, and anything else beachy you like!

For quilting techniques, dress patterns, and anything else machine embroidery related, choose Britannia Sewing. We upload how-to videos, blog posts, and everything in between to inspire you on your sewing journey. Sign up to our newsletter for the latest offers, news, and ideas.

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4 garments to create this summer!

Accounts Franklins Group — Mon, 18 May 2020 03:51:50 +0000

As we rapidly approach the start of summer, you may be looking for craft projects to keep you busy. Now is the perfect time to create a new summer wardrobe for yourself and experiment with garment making. If you’re interested in mastering sewing skills, why not try and create one of these summer garments…

1. Kimono sundress

If you are struggling to decide between dress patterns, a kimono sundress may be the right choice. Kimono sundresses are light and airy, making them perfect for summer errands or to wear whilst walking on a beach.

2. Square top

If you are looking to make a simple garment, you may wish to make a square top. Creating a square top is incredibly simple, and you can then cut and customise the neck and shoulders of the top in any way you like.

3. Matching accessories

Do you have leftover fabric from a project you have completed? Create accessories from the fabric to complement your garments. For example, you could make a scrunchie, tie or headscarf out of your leftover material.

4. Customised outfits

If you don’t want to make a garment from scratch but have an old, plain garment you want to elevate, stitch patches or sewing designs on your old garment. This will breathe new life into an old piece of clothing and prevent it from becoming forgotten at the bottom of your wardrobe!

If you want to make beautiful clothes this summer, browse the selection of elite sewing machines on Britannia Sewing. If you have any questions about garment making or our machines in general, do not hesitate to contact us.

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3 Reasons Why It Is Important To Invest In A Sewing Machine

Accounts Franklins Group — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 16:03:23 +0000

Different people pursue sewing for different reasons. While some have made sewing their hobby, others use it as a source of income. Home sewing is also popular, with many choosing to repair damaged or worn out dresses or shirts themselves.

With your own sewing machine, all you need to properly repair your torn clothes is a needle and thread. To prevent the tear from spreading, clothes should be stitched as soon as possible.

This is where sewing machines such as the coverstitch come in. Below are three other reasons why having your own machine is important:

1. To get an accurate and neat stitch

When using a sewing machine, you only need basic skills to attain a uniform stitch. If you choose to sew by hand, you’ll find it is much more difficult to achieve neat and accurate stitches.

2. To sew heavy fabric

A lot of materials are heavy, which makes them hard to be sewed by hand. Good examples are wool and denim. Sewing machines such as a quilting machine use double threads, ensuring you achieve a perfect stitch.

3. To sew quickly

If you run a sewing business, time is crucial. Using a sewing machine will help you to complete your projects on time and according to your customer’s specifications. Hand sewing will take you forever and this automatically means fewer projects will be attended to with a lower level of accuracy.

At Britannia Sewing, we offer different sewing accessories and machines to help you succeed, whether you’re running a business or sewing for fun. Take a look at our full range today.

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Three reasons to get into patchwork

Accounts Franklins Group — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 07:06:11 +0000

If mastering your sewing skills is on your list of things to do, then bringing patchwork into your hobby can be a great way to do this. Making a patchwork quilt can be very satisfying and rewarding, or if you don’t feel like taking on a big project, patchwork cushion covers, bags or other smaller items can be just as fun to make. Here are three reasons you should get into patchwork:

1. You’ll never be stuck for gift ideas

Everyone loves to receive handmade items as gifts, and patchwork items are even more special. Most people would be delighted to receive a patchwork quilt or cushion that you have taken time and care making especially for them. If the recipient loves fashion, why not consider making a patchwork bag or purse?

2. It’s a craft where you can see your progress

Many craft projects can take a long time until you start seeing your progress, this can be off-putting for many and often results in the crafter giving up before they’ve finished. Patchwork crafts can be very satisfying in terms of seeing your creation grow quickly as making a patchwork quilt doesn’t take as long as you’d think.

3. It’s a great form of mindfulness

We are often advised to try things that help to keep our minds healthy as well as our bodies. Practising a bit of mindfulness is a good way of doing this. Patchwork crafts are a great way to give your brain a rest from rushing thoughts and allow you to be in the moment and focus on a task.

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Skills every sewing beginner should learn

Accounts Franklins Group — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 02:55:22 +0000

When starting out as a novice, it is easy to feel overwhelmed with the wide range of skills you need to grasp. You want to be able to create the most intricate designs, but it’s important not to get ahead of yourself. By mastering the basics, you will have the core skills required to produce complex designs and make garment alterations. Here are some basic skills that you should practise at the start of the learning process.

Learn how to operate your sewing machine

Understanding all the settings on your machine and what they do is essential in order to develop your sewing ability. Whilst it can seem like a chore, read the manual to gain a comprehensive understanding of your new equipment.

Understand the terminology

You may be reading the manual without being able to absorb any information as you don’t understand the terminology that is being used. You know that sewing feet are important, but what does this actually refer to? These queries are a major barrier for many beginners, so it is worthwhile learning the terms to grasp new concepts at a faster rate. There are many options to enable you to do this, from taking a local sewing class, buying a physical guide, or looking them up online.

Master basic stitches

Whether you prefer to operate a machine or sew by hand, there are still a couple of basic stitches you should be able to master without manual assistance. A good place to start is with the straight stitch, as it is both the most basic and the most versatile. Of equal importance is the zigzag stitch. Often used for decoration, it ensures that your stitching doesn’t unravel and spoil all your hard work.

Pressing

The ironing of the sewing world, pressing is important for the appearance of your garments. This involves pressing an iron against the fabric and lifting it up intermittently. It is a necessary skill that helps to keep the seams flat and secures the stitches into the fibres of the fabric for long-lasting wear.

It is important to remember that making mistakes is an inevitable part of any learning experience. Should you require any assistance, contact Britannia Sewing today to discover how our range of products can help you to improve your home sewing skills.

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Serger vs Coverstitch vs Overlocker: The differences

Accounts Franklins Group — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 15:09:34 +0000

If you are just discovering the world of sewing, you have probably heard of the ongoing debate about the differences between serger, cover stitch and overlocker machines.

First of all, the most important thing to learn is that serger and overlocking refer to the same machine. So, what you’re deciding about really is whether to buy a serger or cover stitch. Both are valuable machines for finishing touches in sewing, but they have their differences.

But spoiler alert: for mastering sewing skills and garment making, you will eventually need both or some kind of a cover stitch/serger combo.

Their key roles

Overlocker machines are generally used to stop the fabric from unravelling from the inside of clothes. It resembles knitting more than traditional sewing. Opposite to that, cover stitch machines delicately finish hems, with a seam that won’t break, the so-called “stretch stitch”.

Number of loopers

Coverstitch machines only have one looper since you only need one bottom thread for hemming garments. Overlocker machines normally have two loopers that can be fed by different thread cones.

Number of needles

While both sewing machines use the same number of threads (four), they have a different number of needles. Also known as the embroidery machine, the cover stitch machine has three needles, while overlockers normally have two. Some of the older models had only one needle.

Working area size

The two machines have different working areas. While overlockers function with a narrow working area on the left (because of the sewing needle), the needle plate and side cover of a cover stitch machine is bigger and allow more movement.

Blades

An overlocker possesses two blades or knives for cutting the edges of the material. On the other hand, a cover stitch machine has no blades at all, since it’s necessary for hemming or attaching lace and other delicate fabrics.

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Quilting Mistakes You Should Avoid Making

Accounts Franklins Group — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 01:08:02 +0000

No matter how many years you’ve been sewing, whether you’re a beginner or a pro, it’s always easy to make a mistake. Thankfully, with the wealth of knowledge available online, it’s easier than ever to find out how to correct your patchwork quilt mistakes.

Make sure your equipment doesn’t let you down

A good rule of thumb when it comes to quilting is ensuring you have a 1/4 inch seam allowance. For the best quilt, make sure your machine is set to the correct setting and check the foot on your sewing machine – if you don’t have patchwork feet, you may find your quilt in trouble down the line!

Don’t rock the boat

‘Making waves’ refers to the common problem of a wavy seam. Caused by not ensuring the top of the quilt is even when it comes to width and length, it can be easily solved. Before diving into stitching, ensure that first, you measure your borders and then you cut them – this prevents you from accidentally adding too much fabric which creates the waves. As the adage goes, measure twice and cut once!

Pressing isn’t the same as ironing

Even though both make use of domestic iron, mastering pressing is a key part of mastering sewing skills and garment making. Use the iron to gently work along the edge of the seam to ease it into the seam allowances. These seams will give your stitching projects a higher overall standard and better durability.

Even the best quilters among us make mistakes sometimes so don’t beat yourself up if your quilts aren’t perfect yet! The key is to persevere, so the worst mistake you can make is to give up before you’ve even got started – keep practising and you’ll see your sewing come on leaps and bounds.

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Keeping Your Sewing Machine In Good Condition

Accounts Franklins Group — Mon, 20 May 2019 03:49:19 +0000

Maintaining your sewing and embroidery machine on a regular basis is important. Sewing and quilting machines are delicate and need to be treated as such. Caring for your machine means that the quality of your sewing will be better overall and fewer repairs will be needed in the long run.

Here are some top tips on how to maintain your sewing machine.

Use high-quality thread and needles

Low-quality thread and needles should be avoided when home sewing. Threads that are cheaper contain an excessive amount of lint, which can get stuck in the machine. Glazed and waxed threads should not be used on a sewing machine, only when hand stitching.

If you are working with a bent or dull needle, the quality of your work will be affected. It’s recommended you change the needle after 10 hours of stitching, or 4 bobbins’ worth of sewing, to get the best results.

Oil the machine

A sewing machine has many moving parts which need to be oiled regularly. Oiling a machine helps it to run smoothly. The oil used for sewing machines is clear in colour, only use a few drops. Always refer to the manual for instructions. Depending on how often use your machine gets, you should aim to oil your machine every 3 to 4 months.

Keep the machine clean

Every time you use your sewing machine remember to clean it afterwards. Dust, threads and lint gather around the machinery and should be removed regularly. If not, they will find their way into the machine and prevent it from working properly. You should also brush out the bobbin case when you change the bobbin to get rid of any fibres hiding in there.

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What Makes Embroidery Such A Great Hobby?

Accounts Franklins Group — Mon, 06 May 2019 06:17:23 +0000

Are you looking for a fun and relaxing hobby that you can do from the comfort of your own home? If so, embroidery is one you should definitely consider. Once considered an old-fashioned pastime, embroidery is now one of the trendiest crafts to take up. It’s not hard to see why. Not only is it relaxing, fun and suitable for all ages, it’s also really easy to start.

Embroidery is easier than it looks

Those beautifully embroidered pieces you see on Etsy and Instagram may look incredibly complicated. Luckily, you can begin making beautiful embroidery artwork using just one simple stitch. As you gain confidence you can add more stitch styles. Before you know it you’ll have it mastered.

For absolute beginners, there are kits you can purchase that simplify the process even further. They come with colour coding and patterns that ensure you’ll end up with a beautifully finished piece. Even better, you can opt to take up machine embroidery using a free-hand embroidery foot. Using an embroidery machine allows you to create art and patterns that look hand-embroidered on almost any item.

Embroidery can help combat stress

If you find it hard to wind down at the end of a busy day, taking up a craft hobby like embroidery could be just what you need. In today’s modern world we’re always on the go. Making time to sit down and do something crafty gives you some much-needed relaxation time.

According to this study, just 45 minutes of an arty activity like embroidery combats the effects of stress. It works by lowering the amount of cortisol in your body.

Up-cycle old items using embroidery

Embroidery can turn even the dullest item of clothing or soft furnishing into a work of art.

You can use embroidery to breathe new life into old cushion covers or clothing. You can even create your own personalised wall hangings as gifts for friends and family.

So, if you’re looking for a fun and practical hobby, you can’t go wrong choosing embroidery.

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The Essentials for Starting a Sewing Hobby

Accounts Franklins Group — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 00:55:53 +0000

As a beginner, you’re not expected to purchase every single sewing tool available. There will be items you won’t need immediately. For example, you won’t need an embroidery machine if you just want to do basic garment alterations.

So, what should you include on your initial shopping list to get your sewing hobby started? Here, we’ve included not just the obvious tools but also optional items that will come in handy as you improve your skills.

Fabric Scissors or Shears

While we can rely on whatever scissors happen to be lying around, the pair you use for fabrics shouldn’t be an afterthought. Purchase sewing scissors that can handle a range of fabric and cutting needs.

Tape Measure

A tape measure is a must-have not only for sewing beginners but for professional dressmakers as well. A soft, flexible tape measure assures accurate body and fabric measurements.

Thread

To match the thread colour to your fabric, buy a variety of coloured threads. Purchase neutral colours like black, white and cream as a back-up for emergencies. Choose high-quality threads as the cheaper ones may break easily or cause the sewing machine to malfunction.

Pins and Pincushions

Pins are used to hold multiple layers of fabric together until they are sewn. To keep them organised, keep the pins in a pincushion when they are not in use.

Fabric

Projects may require different types of fabric depending on their characteristics and uses. You could opt for cotton when making clothes and beddings. Alternatively, linen would be a good choice for making curtains, towels and placemats.

Now that you have your sewing essentials, the next step is to purchase your own sewing machine at Britannia Sewing. We offer a range of high-quality sewing machines and accessories. For any enquiries, please call us on 01206 574758.

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